I am published!

I have had my first book review published in Journey   the Uniting Church Queensland Synod magazine.  The article appears in the November 2008 issue.

The editors deleted a sentence, I suppose to make it fit the space, so I include the review here in its entirety.

What Have They Done With Jesus? Beyond Strange Theories and Bad History

By Ben Witherington III

Monarch Books

RRP $24.95

This is a book for anyone who has been confused by or is interested in all the theories of Jesus’ life and relationships.  Ben Witherington sifts through many theories, rumors, historical documents and the Bible to determine what they reveal about Jesus.  

I found this book not only easy to read but delightfully insightful and compelling.  Ben does not adopt a view that extra-Biblical material should be rejected outright but reads the documents in their historical context to extract what they contribute to our understanding of who Jesus was.  He not only discusses issues around Jesus identity but also delves into his relationships. 

Ben is clear about where each idea comes from.  He presents each idea from its own context and allows the reader to make up his own mind.  He is also clear about when he is offering his interpretation and assumptions.  

The introduction of the book has a description of American culture in relation to his reason for writing the book.  I found for the most part that his explanation sits with the Australian culture but it still leaves the reader to make his own determination which is probably a good thing.  The book however quickly sets aside our culture and looks to answer the question, “What have they done with Jesus?”  

Caught out by compassion

My own.  I have a tendency to be a heart person, though over the years I have learned to balance head and heart and operate in a reasonable manner.  But last night the heart took over.  I was tired and have had a serious cold for two weeks and had the head operated at all, there would have been a different outcome.  That is not to say that this outcome is bad and the other better just that it would have been different.

I was at the airport in Guam ready to board my plane to Australia.  When they announced that the plane was overbooked and are there any volunteers to stay back.  I did not respond and noticed no one else did either.  As I was pacing, as is my custom before getting on a plane to sit for the next 4 hours, I happened by the counter and one agent ask the senior agent, “What happens if no one volunteers?”  The senior responded, “I have already arbitrarily picked people to stay back.”  

My heart was in action; how would I feel if I were one of the people arbitrarily picked?  I have witnessed this scenario.  People at the desk, upset, saying, “What do you mean I can’t board, I have a boarding pass.  I paid for my seat....”   I knew that is what I would say. 

My next thought was, how can I get on board knowing that my inaction put someone in that position?  I, of course, would feel bad.  The only pressure, I had was that my husband who I hadn’t seen in a week would be waiting.  And so driven by compassion for a person that didn’t even exist yet, I stepped up to the desk and asked if I volunteered what would happen and could I call my husband before I commit.  

I found very supportive and efficient staff.  They were on the phone immediately to work out connections.  After they were sure, I had good connections home they told me what would happen.  Then handed me a cell phone (not a mobile phone remember I am in Guam) so that I could call Mal.  I explained and although he was disappoint he agreed.  He too is compassionate. 

So, I stayed over in Guam and will later catch a flight through Japan to Brisbane.  It is longer but better because I will not be disrupted by getting gear off the plane at midnight and making my way to a hotel.  I can settle on the plane and sleep through.  Plus, I will start the trip not so tired.  

But had the head worked at all, I would have told the agent that I would volunteer, if the people he had selected really needed to get to Australia (more than I did).  As it turned out the people he chose were on a connecting flight with a tight connection.  And one of them was happy to stay back and his sense of adventure pressured the other to not complain.  The person who took my seat was like me, I want to get there but guess I could stay back.    So there was no upset person demanding to board.  I would not have had to feel guilty for getting on and leaving people behind.  

But this outcome was not all bad.  I called a friend here who joined me for breakfast and we had some good laughs.  I only get home 19 hours behind my original flight and I may be more comfortable in the end.  Plus, this beautiful view God made for me.

Also, I learned that when sick and tired and alone, I am a heart.  Much different when I am sick and tired and with my husband; because then it is about me and not others (including Mal).  I need a bit of balance in this area maybe.?! 

Why God won't let me take myself too seriously - Part 3

Well, Mal and I walked to church on Sunday.  It was a glorious morning.  After worship, we walked home.  We are maybe a kilometer from the church, following a bike/pedestrian walk that follows the creek.  

On the walk home, Mal and I are chatting and enjoying the time together, when suddenly, there was a sound a few feet behind me.  This noise I can best describe as a crunch of dry leaves.  At the sound of this unidentified, possibly life threatening noise, I instantly grabbed Mal's wrist, death grip, might be an appropriate description and I moved with lightening speed to a place in front of him where in the next instant, I would be able to thrust him between me and danger as some sort of human shield.  In that same instant, in my hyper awareness, I spotted the source of the unexpected noise.  You guessed it.  A bike.

Why, you ask is a cyclist not expected on a bike path?  Well, I can only imagine that I was so enthralled with the beauty of the day and time with my husband that I had no realization that the rest of the world was there.  Maybe not.  Anyway,  I started to howl with laughter.  Mal, then, asked if I would release his hand, he said something about blood needing to circulate.   I complied and continued to laugh.  

Later, when relating the story to my daughter and her husband, John asked, what kind of training have I had that would elicit such an immediate and perhaps, unthinkably, an important response.  Was it the military?  I don't think so.  I blame living on the ranch with my brothers who had nothing better to do than to scare (frighten silly, actually)  their sister at any opportunity.   I think now it is a response that would buy the precious time needed to decide, "Fly or Fight".

Mal and I grinned the rest of the day, as we recalled, how I was so willing to sacrifice him to protect me.  Funny, huh?

Last night I watched a movie

Last night a friend came over with a movie that we are going to show at church.  Our intention was to watch it and put together discussion questions.  The movie is As it is in Heaven .  A film from 2004 from Sweden.  What a fantastic film.!  After I wiped away tears at the end, I could only think of one question.  My friend was better off as this was the third time she watched it.  I don't like watching movies that will make me cry, my kids know this and I guess I didn't know that it was a tear jerker before I started.  

So what's this movie about you ask?  Well, you will just have to watch but I will tell you there are strong points of connection with real life throughout the whole movie.  And how does it end, well, As it is in Heaven, I guess.

I am really looking forward to watching this with my family.