So in my quest of reading, I have also read Stink Alley by Jamie Gilson(http://www.amazon.com/Stink-Alley-Jamie-Gilson/dp/1887840656/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376066736&sr=8-2&keywords=stink+alley). This is a coming of age story about a little girl, Lizzy Tinker, who finds herself trying to live up to the expectations of the very strict, William Brewster. Lizzy never feels good enough. Lizzy and her family are part of the "radical" sect of Puritans who followed Brewster to Holland. Life had been better in England for Lizzy and her friend Will. Now, both of her parents have passed as well as a step-mother. Lizzy is living under the critical eye of the Brewster's and feels like an imposter. She finds herself more like the free-spirited Dutch children. Her friend Will and his brother end up fleeing the sect and the rigidness of the Puritan life.
I have mixed feelings about this story. I think the author does a great job of depicting life in the early 1600's. There is mention of the Puritans' time in England, reasons why they left, and their journey to Holland. All of this will serve to gently educate the reader.
My reservation comes from the fact that both Lizzy and Will find the Puritan way of life too restrictive. In the end both characters leave because they just cannot live within these restrictions. While I am not saying the Puritans were perfect in their beliefs, I don't like the mentality of children not liking the culture and beliefs of their elders and ditching them. Maybe that says more about me though. Hmmm.
I will say that in the end, Lizzy is a survivor as is her friend Will. That "I-can-make-it-after-all" attitude is a good thing!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
A few more books
I really don't know what is going on this year, but reading just doesn't seem to be taking priority. That said, with the upcoming start of our school year, I wanted to pre-read some of the books Palmer and Dempsey would be reading this year.
The first one of these books is Peace Child by Don Richardson(http://www.sonlight.com/130-15.html). This book describes how Mr. Richardson traveled as a missionary to New Guinea and introduced native tribes to Christ. I found this book to take a while to really get going. Part of the reason for this is because Mr. Richardson takes the time to introduce the reader to this part of the world, this culture has been previously unknown. But as events unfold and tensions increase the plot does pick up.
Mr. Richardson places himself in the midst of the Sawi people. Their culture makes legends of those who make friends with enemies for the sole purpose of betrayal. The bigger the friendship scam, the greater the hero. This culture is a violent one. The victim of betrayal is usually eaten.
Mr. Richardson finds himself asking how in the world is he going to have a message of peace mean anything to these who immortalize this kind of thinking? But, Richardson does not give up. He continually tries to comprehend the Sawi people and by doing so he finds a hole through which to explain the message of Christ.
For all of Richardson's work, we cannot ignore the courage of the first of the Sawi to stand up and say a big "YES" to accepting Christ.
Thank God for those people who heed the call to travel to all ends of the earth to make sure everyone has the opportunity to hear the message of Christ. They give new opportunities to people for salvation. In the process, there are also new opportunities for education and medical treatment given.
This was a rewarding book to read because it gave insight into a culture that may not be written about in history books. It also reminds us about the missionaries that choose to live their life with Gods' purpose in mind.
The first one of these books is Peace Child by Don Richardson(http://www.sonlight.com/130-15.html). This book describes how Mr. Richardson traveled as a missionary to New Guinea and introduced native tribes to Christ. I found this book to take a while to really get going. Part of the reason for this is because Mr. Richardson takes the time to introduce the reader to this part of the world, this culture has been previously unknown. But as events unfold and tensions increase the plot does pick up.
Mr. Richardson places himself in the midst of the Sawi people. Their culture makes legends of those who make friends with enemies for the sole purpose of betrayal. The bigger the friendship scam, the greater the hero. This culture is a violent one. The victim of betrayal is usually eaten.
Mr. Richardson finds himself asking how in the world is he going to have a message of peace mean anything to these who immortalize this kind of thinking? But, Richardson does not give up. He continually tries to comprehend the Sawi people and by doing so he finds a hole through which to explain the message of Christ.
For all of Richardson's work, we cannot ignore the courage of the first of the Sawi to stand up and say a big "YES" to accepting Christ.
Thank God for those people who heed the call to travel to all ends of the earth to make sure everyone has the opportunity to hear the message of Christ. They give new opportunities to people for salvation. In the process, there are also new opportunities for education and medical treatment given.
This was a rewarding book to read because it gave insight into a culture that may not be written about in history books. It also reminds us about the missionaries that choose to live their life with Gods' purpose in mind.
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