The Scribe's Portion

"Once We Were Strangers: What Friendship with a Syrian Refugee Taught Me About Loving My Neighbor" Shawn Smucker A captivating read! I'm thankful that Shawn was moved to share his personal experience of being befriended by Syrian refugee, Mohammad. Shawn writes from a deeper place, the questions, and misconceptions he had about Muslims and middle east refugees that most of us American have. I learned so much as Shawn recounted Mohammad's life and how he escaped with his wife and sons from Syria to a better life in America.  Coming from a country torn by war and violence, Mohammad's view of life and the world is very different than the westerners who have lived in relative peace and we can learn from him.  Shawn thought he would be teaching his new Syrian friend a lot but it was Mohammad who taught Shawn the most. With humility, Shawn admits that before knowing Mohammad, he had these negative misconceptions about Muslims that honestly, I...

Faith For This Moment: Navigating a Polarized World as the People of God" Rick McKinley This is an important book for the current times. I believe every American Christian can see where we have gone wrong when witnessing to unbelievers. Witnessing, not just as in talking to others about Christ but in the way we live and the testimony we transmit to the world. This is a book that addresses just that and more. In "Faith for This Moment" Rick begins by talking about the work his church, Imago Dei Community has done to tackle the unchurch population problem in Portland. And gently but boldly exhorts the reader to take similar steps in their own communities. Rick talks about several problems within the American church including, lack of discernment, prejudice, obedience among others that either take a huge toll on the rest of the population or could make positive impacts. He then gives steps on how to approach these problems.  In the modern d...

"The Light Before Day" Nantucket Legacy (book 3) Suzanne Woods Fisher And just like that, the last book in the Nantucket Legacy trilogy has come. The characters and Nantucket itself have all become so dear to me I don't know how to get over the ending! I can always visit the island and I hope one day I will be blessed to go and check out all the places featured in the books. Anyway, onto the review. The Light Before Day tells the story through twin siblings, Henry and Hitty Macy, the grown children of Captain Ren Macy from the previous book. Both have inherited Grandmother Lillian's vast wealth under several conditions, one being the most difficult. They must both be married by 30, to someone in good standing with the Friends and a descendant from the founders. If the conditions are not met, the entire inheritance goes to their rogue uncle Tristram Macy.  They may be twins but Henry and Hitty are polar opposites. Hitty is a not so intelligent, f...

"Forgive Your Way to Freedom: Reconcile Your Past and Reclaim Your Future" Gil Mertz  This is a book that everyone can benefit from. Getting hurt is something we all have had to live through at some point, multiple times even. Sometimes, forgiving can be difficult when the pain inflicted has been intense but sooner or later we come to the realization that unforgiveness leads to bitterness and a miserable, unhappy life. Forgiving does indeed lead to freedom.  Gil Mertz has a great way of getting deep into the problem unbiasedly and patiently guiding you through the hurt. Reading this book is like having him as your counselor right there in your home. Mertz tackles several misconceptions about unforgiveness and explains why forgiveness is necessary for the hurt in order to move on and find the peace they so desperately need.  Writing from a Biblically sound perspective citing verses and giving the best Christian advice and counsel you may need to fo...

"Spiritual Gifts:  What They Are & Why They Matter" Thomas R. Schreiner "Spiritual Gifts" by Thomas Schreiner is a thought-provoking little book. The author considers himself a "nuanced cessationist" meaning that he believes that spiritual gifts have ceased in that they are not practiced today in the same manner in which they were practiced in the NT. I don't know that the author is a complete cessationist, he seems to be open to the possibility of continuationism and would probably change his mind if exposed to REAL manifestations of the Holy Spirit, which he doesn't seem to ever have been or at least is skeptical. In 11 chapters he briefly discusses the definitions of each spiritual gift, answers commonly asked questions, and spends the last few chapters explaining popular views and his own beliefs on the gift of tongues and prophecy.  As someone who was raised Pentecostal, I disagree with him on several points, especia...

"Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today" Greg Laurie & Ellen Vaughn  What an intriguing read! I've always loved Greg Laurie's sermons and follow his ministry, it was interesting and inspiring to read more about his life. Jesus Revolution recounts a big portion of Greg's life during the hippie and Jesus movements of the 60s and 70s. I learned so much about this era and the revival that moved through SoCal and expanded to the rest of the country.  As a Millennial who did not have the blessing of witnessing this amazing revival, I guess I always felt disconnected from earlier periods in history because I thought today the world is worse than it has ever been, and in part it is, but I also learned that many current problems youth struggle with are not new and the prevailing philosophies of the 60s are still prevalent today.  I learned to appreciate and understand the hippies better, sp...