Comforts of the Cross

I purchased Comforts of the Cross, by Elyse Fitzpatrick, as I am in the habit of reading some small section devotional writing or biblical instruction along with my daily Bible reading. I was looking for a new book to put in the queue, this book was offered as a Kindle Special, and I knew from reading another of Fitzpatrick's books some years ago that her emphasis on the good news of Jesus' incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension would be just right. And so it was and always is.

I find myself lingering at a major cross-road in my life, that of having my main life work of marrying, establishing a home, and raising a family behind me. Thankfully my marriage and family are still very much with me, but coming to a close is the period of my life marked with intense efforts at becoming one and then, a family of six. These days I find myself looking backward and forward all at once. What have I done? What will I do?

The thirty short chapters, a month of devotional reading, in Comforts of the Cross have been a balm for my soul as I am reminded that I must first and foremost ask and answer the questions: What has Jesus done? What will Jesus do? How often do I need to to receive God's truth in love to re-orient my heart? Many times a day! Like the author, I find that my heart is "so bent towards self-righteousness, pride, laziness, and despair", and so I am thankful for any and all reminders of Jesus: what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do.

I will read this book again--in fact, I've already re-read some of my favorite chapters.

20 Minute Book Notes~Brideshead Revisited

I've had so many good intentions to "write a little something" about the books I read. I've actually written about quite a few of them--in my head. When I read that my cyber-friend, J.T., planned to take a 20-minute a day writing challenge this year, I thought, "Yes! That's it. I think I can manage 20 minutes. It may not be eloquent and it certainly won't be exhaustive, but at least I will write something. So, here is my first 20 minute book review (written first with pen an paper--that's how I'm taking the challenge.)

I've wanted to read Evelyn Waugh's novel, Brideshead Revisted for some years now, and in my effort to read more fiction this year I picked BR for my first book of 2015. Besides seeing this book on "must reads" or "good reads" lists, the only impression I brought to this book was a reader's mention of Waugh's beautiful prose.

As soon as I finished reading the book, I turned back the pages--the Kindle pages, that is--to re-read particular scenes and conversations, which had become more meaningful, more poignant, now that the novel had concluded. I didn't feel this way reading the first half of the book. In fact, the thought of giving it up crossed my mind a couple times; the plot seemed indiscernible, and the lives of the skeptical characters, futile and unsympathetic. Shortly after the halfway point, the complex characters began to reveal their depth, albeit through Waugh's understated writing.

I waited to read any reviews or analyses of BR until after I finished the book. I'm glad that I did so that I could make at least some of the discoveries on my own. However, I wish I had read one statement by Waugh made about his book before reading it. He writes in a letter to his literary agent, A.D. Peters:

"The whole thing is steeped in theology, but I begin to agree that theologians won't recognize it."

God is always there, of course, even when it seems He isn't .

I enjoyed Thomas Howard's thoughts after reading the book.