Whores and hope.

Is that too shocking a title?
Maybe...
But Hosea is, in many ways, a shocking book.  First, there's the fact that Hosea is told to marry a prostitute and then go and fetch her back after she's run off with other blokes.
Then more shockingly, there's the revelation that this is just a picture of what God does for us.  "The love that was asked of him (Hosea) would be heroic - but that was the point, for it was to be God's love in miniature."
I really enjoyed this commentary.  It's pretty much in layman's terms - it doesn't dwell on the Greek or Hebrew (though explains bits where needed).  It's also written by someone who clearly loves Hosea (the book, not the bloke).  Obviously, this review kind of looks at the commentary, but also looks at Hosea itself!
There can't be many more powerful pictures of what God does for us.  This is an account of the sustained pursuit God makes, using both carrot and stick to draw His people back.  Kidner says, "...there is nothing arbitrary in His judgments, excessive though they will often seem to us, and as uninhibited as [they are]", but then points to, "the deep reluctance of God to resort to judgment".
He talks of compassion without compromise; the cycle of grace, disgrace, grace abounding; religion which permeates everything except the conscience

Of course, Hosea is not just the story of a man, nor the story of God and the Israelites - it is fundamentally our story too.  We benefit from the grace that abounds in the face of our disgrace.  We prostitute ourselves to the world and its meagre offerings, and yet are still gathered back to God by His judgment and grace.  He fiercely guards his glory, and therefore no compromise is made, and yet still he draws us back to Himself.
Verses like 11:8 are haunting in their revelation of God's heart - "How can I give you up, O Ephraim?  How can I hand you over, O Israel?"

I could say so much more, partly because I fell in love with Hosea itself as I read.  The call, of course, is not just to fall in love with God's message, but to fall in love with God.

A wonderful commentary, on a fabulous book.

Wasting Police Time.

As a book about the police, this is a book that is potentially close to my heart.
Is that possible?  Can something be potentially close to one's heart?  Who knows...
Anyway, it's an enjoyable read.  It's light hearted, not always politically correct (though claims to be factually correct for the most part) and very easy to read.  It's split into tiny chunks (what's a small chapter called?  A chap, perhaps?) so you can put it down and pick it up easily enough, with each chunk lasting about a page.
It's probably cynical, occasionally ascerbic and always interesting.  Coming from a background in teaching, it's easy to empathise with the frustration of not being able to do primarily what you 'joined up' for.  The author finds the mountain of paperwork that comes with even the most minor interaction largely pointless, and of course it serves to detract from actual policing.
As the guy who wrote it comes from Burton - just down the road from us - it's also fun to try to work out where he's referring to when he writes about various incidents.  (Names and places are changed for obvious reasons!)
I've seen some reviews of this book that criticise the 'constant moaning' aspect of it.  But then, if you're having to deal, day after day after day, with stuff that merely prevents you from doing what you actually want to do (and believe you should be doing) it's not surprising if you end up moaning a little about it!

Eyes turned skyward

Okay, so perhaps you've detected a link here between the last two books I've read.  Well, this one is another MAF book.  As such, it has the downside of nurturing the wanderlust in me.

However, I found this (like the last one!) a fabulously enjoyable read.  The stories are filled with adventure and excitement, but also grounded in the reality of a life lived in service of God.  There are, as you would expect, both triumphs and tragedies.  One chapter tells the story of Max and a friend's trip to a remote island to return a boy on the verge of death to his home.  It's a tale of the somewhat odd coupling of grief and gratitude.  An island people weighed down with their sorrow, yet thankful for the work of Max and his friend in returning their boy to them.

Many of the chapters conclude with a sort of 'thought' that brings the story back to God.  Maybe His provision, or His comfort, His power or His love.  Thus it is a book rooted in God, reflecting a life rooted in Him.

Meyers also tells of one Samberigi passenger on his first ever flight.

"'You no gat pret?' I asked him.  ('Aren't you afraid')

 ... 'skin bilong mi tasol i pret.'  ('Only my skin is afraid') ...

'What about the rest of you?' I asked again.  'What about under your skin?'

'I am not afraid under my skin,' he said.  'You see, I know the One who made the mountains.  I know the One who made the rocks and the trees.  I know the One who made the clouds and the rain for today.  He has told me that I don't need to be afraid.  Why?  Because He lives in me.  Inside my skin, and He has promised never to leave me.  Because of that, I am not afraid.'

The book is an amazing testimony to the work of MAF, to the dedication of those who serve through this mission, some of whom give their lives in the line of duty.  But above all, it's a testimony to God, who calls people to serve Him, and then journeys with them as they do so.

P.S.  Clicking on the picture of the book will take you to the MAF website.  They don't charge for the book, as such, but suggest a donation of £6.  I would suggest ordering copies through them, rather than elsewhere, as I suspect they get more if you do.  However, if you want an amazon link, (though as I write, they're not in stock) then click below.

Eyes Turned Skywards

Wings like eagles

I first read this about 20 years ago. Then, earlier this year, I was helping to run a confirmation class and we were discussing the kind of books we like to read. One of the lads said he liked to read books about soldiers and war and that sort of thing. I thought maybe he'd like to read this...
Unfortunately, it's out of print, and therefore I didn't get hold of a copy straight away. However, I contacted MAF, who found some slightly beaten up copies in a store somewhere. They were happy to send me a couple (I figured I'd hang onto one to lend out!) and did so very speedily.
Anyway, I had a few vague memories of the book (like the story about narrowly avoiding flying into powerlines), but thought I should reread it before giving a copy to someone.
Anyway, I did so, and REALLY enjoyed it. It's amusingly and engagingly written, and does an amazing job of painting a brilliant picture of the coming together of two very different people. In some ways, this is the goal of the book - to bring together two people from opposite sides of the world. It starts with Marfleet's military work, and flips between this and the life of 'Moondi', a warrior. Moondi is a fictitious character from a very real tribe (the Hupla) in the Desa valley on Irian Jaya (now Papua). The authors explain that Moondi, while not a real person, is an amalgam of a number of people, and his story is one woven together from the stories and lives of some of his people.
After a number of years in military service, Marfleet says, "I - we - had a decision to take. Reference 'upwards' being the rule in the Christian's life, as well as in the army, I prayed very specially for some answers. They weren't long in coming." Throughout the book, his reliance on God for both safety and wisdom is crucial, and he refers and alludes often to the importance of his faith in his life. The result of the prayers led to work with Mission Aviation Fellowship, and a posting to Irian Jaya. Here, towards the end of the book, Moondi and Marfleet's lives begin to draw inexorably closer. Two 'warriors' whose decisions have brought them to within touching distance, despite the thousands of miles that once separated them.
This is a fantastic book. I really enjoyed rereading it and would recommend it most highly. It's both a fascinating story and a challenge to consider how we might best be able to serve. It's well written, with plenty of humour as well as an ability to retell a story and to paint a scene remarkably well.
Wings Like Eagles

Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the War Against the Taliban

Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the War against the Taliban
I was lent this book by a friend, with whom I'd been discussing Afghanistan.
I have to confess, I didn't read it cover to cover. It does cover a GREAT deal of time and I was not so interested in the really old stuff. I read some of the initial bits, and then skipped ahead past the Mongols and the like.

It's a fascinating read in many ways. Having lived next door to Afghanistan for a while, it was particularly relevant, and I guess you're unlikely to read it unless you're interested in the area, or in world history, but if you are, I'd recommend it.
It wasn't just fascinating though, it was also borderline depressing in some ways. The main things that bothered me I guess were 1) the ruthlessness of nations in wanting power in Afghanistan in order to further their own dreams and desires (England, Russia, America etc.) and 2) the way in which the country has been battered and bruised both from within and from outside. It evoked memories of listening to a young person talking about how they'd been abused. It all just seems so unfair on the country, and of course on the people who largely want no part in conflict, but do want to be free. They seem condemned to pursue the former in order to achieve the latter.
There are some interesting comments from the author in the afterword. (He generally remains dispassionate throughout the main text, sticking largely to the facts, though using irony and the like to demonstrate some clear follies on the part of invaders!). He suggests the possibility of a Swiss-like government, drawing parallels between the countries (terrain, ethnic diversity, independence from surrounding nations etc) to strengthen this argument.
All in all, I'd recommend it (I finished it on holiday in Spain - that's how much I got into it!) highly to those interested in the region.

Unlike the other books on here, I'm not currently in a position to lend this out, as it's not mine. However, I think I probably will get hold of a copy of my own.

Beyond Greed.

I haven't really fallen behind in my reading, just in my blogging about reading!

This is the latest book to help with the chapter on 'Simplicity'. I think the main themes are going to be simplicity, greed, generosity, contentment and stewardship (though the last one might not get much more than a mention...)

I bought the book yesterday, and read it today :o) The joys of a chunk of time to work in! (The HUGE downside is that I've spent the day working while Anna and Joshua are at Legoland - the sacrifice is great)

I found it helpful in the way it considers greed. There are also a whole bunch of 'Briefing' articles in this edition, which I guess fills it out a little, though obviously there's some overlap between the articles and the main text.
The book starts by claiming (I think rightly) that greed was viewed by the OT Jews and the early church as a very serious thing, and should be viewed no differently by us today. However, this is not a criticism of wealth, per se, but of greed. "Most of the hostility to wealth which can be found in the Old Testament is linked to the failure of the rich to act justly towards the stranger, the widow, the orphan and the poor."(p30)

There's a good (new) chapter on the 'prosperity gospel'. One thing that grabbed me was the prosperity gospel's interpretation of 2 Corinithians 8:9 [For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. NIV] The argument seems to be that Jesus left the riches of heaven so we could have the riches of earth... Two problems. One, the riches of heaven do not boil down to the fact that Jesus had piles of cash. They are not material-possession type riches. Two, it's ignoring the context of the passage, which isn't promising wads of cash, but equality in the (global) community of believers, so that no-one is in need (not so that everyone is well-heeled!)

Chapters 3 to 6 look at greed as idolatry, noting that greed is loving, trusting and serving the wrong thing.
Chapter 7 looks at contentment. "Enough is enough". Although, having said that, I think contentment would stretch to "less than enough is enough" otherwise Paul wouldn't be able to say he has learnt contentment, while also knowing what it is to be in need.
Chapter 8 looks at giving/generosity. Together with ch7, the 'solution' to greed is thus offered. "Giving and contentment are two sides of the same coin." Contentment is a willingness not to be grabbing possessions regardless of the cost, while giving is the willingness not to be keeping your possessions regardless of the cost.
There's a good section on Christian lifestyle (it's not really a chapter, as it's articles between chapters 8 and 9!)
The book concludes with a chapter on True Riches. Making the point, of course, that the greatest wealth is not financial, but spiritual. We are freed to be spiritually rich. There's a nice analogy in the final chapter. "The train is truly free only when it runs on the tracks, and, however inviting the alternative might appear, it would come to a grinding halt if it were free to plough into the field."

I think it's a great book. Challenges prosperity gospel and then challenges us to be radical in our Christian lifestyle. The trick now, of course, is to go and do it! To follow Christ's example in living sacrificially for the sake of others.