Saint Julian

by Walter Wangerin Jr.

A unique novel fleshing out the life of the ancient legend of Julian the Hospitaller, set in the period of the Crusades. More violent than any other Wangerin book, but spiritually honest and hopeful. I couldn't help but think at times while reading this novel that on one level it was an autobiographical text. This is not to say that Walter Wangerin Jr. lived a life similar to Julian, but the recognition of our total dependance on God's grace, and how we can unintentionally hurt those around us, especially those who love us - this seemed to resonate as words from Wangerin's own life experience.

As I read this book I thought it similar to another novel about an ancient saint, the novel Godric by Frederick Buechner, also a recounting of the life of a flawed saint. Both books remind us how God can use we flawed, imperfect, and indeed sinful, humans to be God's hands and feet in this world. There is no life so lost that it cannot be redeemed by the God of severe mercy.

The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West Again

by George G. Hunter

This book has renewed my interest in evangelism, that is, in reaching the people in the culture around me.  George Hunter shows how the expansion of Christianity among the Celtic peoples has relevant lessons for us today. I have long appreciated the early Celtic Christian church, and after reading this book my appreciation has only deepened. Thanks to Chris Roberts who initially lent me his copy, which after reading a couple chapters I knew I wanted my own copy to mark up. Indeed this book is filled with highlighting, lots of significant insights, lots of quotable comments.  Perhaps the most significant thing for me was the author showing how elements and attitudes from early Celtic Christianity can find a place in our current context.  George Hunter put into words many of the things I have thought or felt as I reflect on bringing the gospel to the 'neo-barbarians' that make up much of western society currently.  I think this book should be read by any clergy or lay person who wonders how the gospel might be taken beyond our sanctuary walls.

Love's Immensity: Mystics on the Endless Life

by Scott Cairns

This American poet takes writings from Christian mystics throughout the centuries and reworks portions of their writing with fresh working.  Some of these grabbed my attention, others seemed difficult to grasp (perhaps due to the original material), but overall a worthy read, especially when taken in small doses.

The range of mystics is very wide, from the well known such as Saint Francis of Assisi, Meister Eckhart and Julian of Norwich, to the lesser known such as  Evagrios of Pontus, Saint Dorotheos of Gaza and Saint Nil Sorsky.  I only wished I had known some of this material in its original form so that I could compare with the reworking done by Scott Cairns.  The readings did seem fresh, at least in terms of language, and yet I believe Scott held true to the original tone and intention of the mystics.

Here is one example that I particularly liked from the book, one of the places where the poet uses the phrase that becomes the book's title:

The Death of Death

Put fear aside. Now
   that He has entered
into death on our behalf,
   all who live
no longer die
   as men once died.

That ephemeral occasion
   has met its utter end.
As seeds cast to the earth, we
   will not perish,
but like those seeds
   shall rise again - the shroud
of death itself having been
   burst to tatters
by love's immensity.

The original writing was from Saint Athanasios (c. 298-373).