PT Media Picks: Books

An inspired collection

Firstlight: The Early Inspirational Writings of Sue Monk Kidd

by Sue Monk Kidd (Guideposts Books, 2006; 227 pages; $19.95, hardcover)

You don’t have to be a fan of Norman Vincent Peale’s nondenominational Guideposts magazine to enjoy Sue Monk Kidd’s new book Firstlight, although Guideposts devotees will especially like this offering. Kidd, author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Secret Life of Bees, has published  a collection of her spiritual and inspirational writings that have appeared in Guideposts, some more than 30 years ago.

In the introduction Kidd talks about the importance of stories in our lives. These stories range from life lessons she learned in childhood to ones her own children taught her. All of them point to spiritual truths: finding joy in insignificant daily events or learning from acts of compassion. Other sections of the book address themes of solitude, silence, the sacred ordinary and letting go.  In the tradition of Guideposts, the stories are uplifting and affirming. This is a book perfect for poring over slowly and meditatively and a nice gift for anyone who appreciates spiritual writing.

—Sally Curd, a member of Southside Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Ariz.

The facts about fasting

Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites

by Lynne M. Baab (InterVarsity Press, 2006; 144 pages; $13, paperback)

Fasting, an ancient spiritual discipline, is being reclaimed within Protestant circles as an aid to discernment, clarification of values and renewal of prayer. Lynne Baab, a Presbyterian minister and author of five previous books, including the 2005 book Sabbath Keeping, introduces the discipline of fasting to American Christians who may be hearing calls for fasting for the first time.

Intensely aware of the dangers that fasting presents to those who suffer from eating disorders, Baab expands the practice to include abstaining, for a limited period of time, from any activity that distracts the disciple from experiencing God’s presence. “Fasting, at its core, is not a discipline of withholding. Fasting is a discipline of making space for God,” she writes.

Many within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have called for a time of prayer and fasting as a way to help the whole church discern where Christ is calling us into new life. Baab sets that call within a Biblical, denominational and historical context, including the recent reemergence of the practice due to the leadership of the late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, among others.

For those unfamiliar with the practice, Fasting offers a context as well as guidelines for appropriate and healthy application. Each chapter closes with suggested questions for discussion, contemplation and prayer.

—Anitra Kitts, a member of Rose City Park Presbyterian Church in Portland, Ore., and a candidate for ministry under the care of the Presbytery of the Cascades

The Master of Secrets

by D.S. Lliteras (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2007; 268 pages; $19.95, hardcover)

The Master of Secrets, a Biblical novel, provides the reader with a thought-provoking story of the confusion surrounding Jesus' crucifixion as witnessed in the life of a young boy, Addan. The story chronicles Addan's dark adventures with those he meets on his journey to fulfill his mother's request that he find his father. Addan survives dangerous encounters with bandits, lepers and a bewildering stranger who challenges his core beliefs about Jesus and God’s presence in the world. In the end the boy draws strength and life from his experiences and discovers the true nature of redemption.

Lliteras engages the reader with his masterful description of Jerusalem, its inhabitants and its landscape during the time of Christ. His imaginative rendering respects both the Biblical account of the crucifixion and traditional Christian theology. He answers the many questions his novel raises with literary skill and mature Christian conviction. By wrestling with the mysteries of spiritual life, Lliteras ends a true champion of the faith and proves himself to be a master of secrets.