Reading Together

Reading quality books is a very good thing.  Indeed, as almost everyone would agree, such a practice makes a person smarter, more interesting, and more appreciative.  And discussing those books with others only increases those values.  This is why Claire and I started the Notting Hill Napoleons book club way back in 1992 – a book fellowship involving Christian friends who read a classic novel every month and then get together to talk about it.  That group, by the way, is still going strong for we see how important it has been in not only stimulating us to read more, but also in sharpening our skills in literary criticism, meaningful conversation, and the application of a book’s lessons to practical life.

It was for the same reasons that Vital Signs Ministries began hosting book discussions way back in the 1990s and our current practice includes both small and large group book discussions.  The former is usually an agreement of 1-4 people to read the same book and discuss it over lunch at a coffee shop or cafe, while the latter takes the form of an evening party or Saturday morning brunch which we host at our home. Either way, we're encouraged (and made accountable) to read.

And to waste less time in more trivial pursuits.

The books we choose for these discussions cover a wide range – history, the culture wars, literature, and Christian living.  But they are all selected for the purpose of making us more informed, effective, and consistent servants of Christ’s kingdom. Want a few examples? Sure, let me list a few of the more memorable titles and authors from over the years: 

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan; 
Heaven by Randy Alcorn; 
Judging Thomas: The Life and Times of Clarence Thomas by Ken Foskett; 
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali; 
A Christian Manifesto by Francis Schaeffer; 
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte; 
Eugenics and Other Evils by G.K. Chesterton; 
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame; 
Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas; 
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:
Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America by Mark Levin; 
Check with Chip on Stem Cell Research by Chip Maxwell; 
Enemies and Allies by Joel Rosenberg; 
Heaven: Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada; 
Everlasting: God’s Faithfulness to Israel by Stuart Cunliffe; 
The Rush Revere books by Rush Limbaugh; 
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. 
And the latest?  The Apostate by Dr. Mark Christian. 

If you are interested in joining us for these Vital Signs book discussions, please let us know.  And we will, of course, continue to promote them beforehand in our monthly letters and Vital Signs Blog.

Let's Talk Wilberforce...

Lord, Melbourne, one of the ardent supporters of the English slave trade in the 18thCentury, once vented his hatred of the winsome, persistence of Christian abolitionist William Wilberforce with this infamous slur, “Things have come to a pretty pass when one permits one’s religion to invade public life!”

Sound familiar? As in something you might hear from one of today’s progressive politicians who wants to receive communion while yet supporting the killing of preborn boys and girls by government-funded abortionists?

Well, on Saturday morning October 23 at 10 o'clock, Vital Signs is hosting a special Book Brunch at the Hartford home to discuss Eric Metaxas’ biography of William Wilberforce.  It’s a fascinating, enlightening, and challenging book and one well worth your time.  Indeed, for those of you with home-schooled teenagers, we cannot think of a better project to kindle their awareness of one of Christianity’s most important (though largely overlooked) heroes.  So, here's an invitation to grab a copy of Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas, read it, and then plan on joining us on October 23.

P.S. We are setting the date for the Wilberforce brunch a couple of months away in order to give people time to order copies of the book (used copies are plentiful through the internet) and to get it comfortably read. Also, RSVPs are profoundly appreciated.

Summing Up the Hobbit Brunch

Although last Saturday's "Hobbit Brunch" didn't draw the numbers we had initially hoped, the 11 of us who did show up for the 1/2 hour Peter Kreeft video, the food and drink, the sparkling conversation, and the long-distance contributions of a couple of good friends (Dr. Gardner from Birmingham, England and and Dr. Tim Sullivan from Indianapolis, Indiana) made for a really terrific morning.

It was a deeply challenging yet deeply encouraging time as we discussed the power of friendship, the confidence Christ bestows on willing warriors, the keen edge of spirituality that is honed through suffering and purposeful adventure, how the triumph of heaven affects our lives now, the power of art, and more. Wonderful.

Thanks to all who participated: John & Barb, Karla, Quint & Carol; Keith & Carol, Greg, and Tim.

Plans for our next next Saturday brunch discussion are already underway. Will it involve C.S. Lewis? Malcom Muggeridge? Francis Schaeffer? Or yet someone else? Stay tuned.

Coming Up Soon -- A Hobbit Happening!

An important reminder to those who love literature, adventure, spiritual inspiration, hope, quality fellowship...and breakfast!

Because of the "Great Hunkering Down" of recent weeks, the special Hobbit Brunch we had planned for our home on Saturday morning, March 28th was postponed until the powers that be would allow social gatherings again. We thought for awhile that we might try a Zoom version of that meeting but then decided it would be better to reschedule an in-person party and let it be a celebration of not only Professor Tolkien's superb tales of Middle Earth but also of the end of these restraining quarantines.

So here's the deal. On Saturday morning, May 30th at 10 o'clock at our home in northwest Omaha we will be serving up delicious breakfast items (fresh from The Shire), coffee and tea (no nut-brown ale at this time of day), and an intriguing 30-minute video from Dr. Peter Kreeft which explores the religious values inherent in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

It's going to be a fun, festive, and I dare say inspirational morning. If you're interested in attending, please let us know.

The Year in Books

It was another banner year for reading.

My booklist for 2018 finished this afternoon at 115 but that includes everything, including quickly-read mysteries and adventure novels. But along with the list itself I always keep a record of my responses. Those rating 4 stars are terrific books (many of them old friends) that I enthusiastically recommend to others. Those winning 3 stars are books of enjoyment and value that I would recommend in some circumstances and which might well merit a re-read at some time. The 2 star books are ones that I managed to finish but will probably never pick up again. And the 1 star books — well, actually, there are no 1 star books because if they’re that dull or offensive or annoying, I don’t bother to finish them and, therefore, they don't make the list. 

With all that said, though, 2018 was  a splendid year and I list below (by genre) all of my 4 star picks. (By the way, the ones with an asterisk are books that I had already enjoyed…at least once before. And, as you'll plainly see, with my advanced age and particular literary standards, I do a lot of re-reading!)

Novels:
* Ivanhoe (Walter Scott)
* The Hunt for Red October (Tom Clancy)
Before We Were Yours (Lisa Wingate)
* The Book of the Dun Cow (Walter Wangerin)
The Cruel Sea (Nicholas Monsarrat)
* Huntingtower (John Buchan)
* Killer Angels (Michael Shaara)
Fire Over England (A.E.W. Mason)
* The Man Who Was Thursday (G. K. Chesterton)
* The Magnificent Ambersons (Booth Tarkington)
Seventeen (Booth Tarkington)
* Little Dorrit (Charles Dickens)
* The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens)
* A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
Emma (Jane Austen)
* The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)
* The Christmas Room (Denny Hartford)
4 novels from Jan Karon’s delightfully engaging Mitford series, Out to Canaan, A New Song, In This Mountain, and Shepherds Abiding (Jan Karon)

Plays: 
* Our Town (Thornton Wilder), 
* Dr. Faustus (Christopher Marlowe)
* Cyrano de Bergerac (Edmund Rostand)
* The Love Girl & the Innocent (Alexander Solzhenitsyn)

Collections of Short Stories:
* King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Antonia Fraser)
* The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)
* The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)
* The Return of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)
* His Last Bow (Arthur Conan Doyle)
* The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)
* Grimm’s Fairy Stories (The Brothers Grimm)

History: 
* The two volumes of Memoirs (Ulysses S. Grant)
Deadly Times: The 1910 Bombing of the Los Angeles Times and America's Forgotten Decade of Terror (Lew Irwin)
* Seabiscuit (Laura Hillenbrand)
The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789 (Joseph Ellis)

Christian Life/Culture:
* The Holy Bible (both a read-through AND a listen-through with Alexander Scourby’s narration)
* No Little People (Francis Schaeffer)
Happiness (Randy Alcorn)
* The Adventure of Living (Paul Tournier)
Creed or Chaos (Dorothy Sayers)
The Treasure Principle (Randy Alcorn)
The Best Is Yet to Come (Tony Evans)
* Heaven, Your Real Home (Joni Eareckson Tada)
The Crisis in the Arts (Andrew Klavan)

Bookin' Along

Spring and summer are always especially busy times for Claire and I for, in addition to our Vital Signs Ministries duties, there is the lawn and garden work, extra exercise activity, and a quick trip to Colorado. And this year there were the trips to Fremont twice a week and the twice-daily exercises to deal with my torn calf muscle and lower back pain. Therefore, I’m not too surprised that my reading regimen dipped quite a bit from the first quarter of the year. Indeed, in the first 3 months of the year I read 38 books; the last 3 months only 18. I’m also not surprised that I have fallen behind in writing reviews here on The Book Den of the books thus read. So, like frequently happens, I’m cleaning the slate with a very brief catch-up list.

As is always the case, the books I read involve different genres, times, and topics. Also, about 50-65% of the books I read are ones that I have read before…sometimes several times.

So what pages have been turned since the last catch-up post here? Well, there were several pleasurable diversions: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (2 of 4 stars possible); Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (1 star); 3 adventure novels from Alistair MacLean (none of the 3 being anywhere as good as his best stuff); one of Donald Bain’s Jessica Fletcher mysteries (2 stars); the first of Fran Striker’s Lone Ranger novels (2 stars); and the 5 volumes of Conan Doyle’s superb Sherlock Holmes short stories. They all earn 4 stars.

My historical interests were well served in Deadly Times: The 1910 Bombing of the Los Angeles Times and America's Forgotten Decade of Terror by Lew Irwin (4 stars) and a re-reading of Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (4 stars). And history was front and center in two excellent novels as well: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (4 stars) and The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monserrat (4 stars).

I read another Jan Karon novel this quarter (A New Song, 4 stars) which is her 5th in the series.

And finally there was inspiration, challenge, and spiritual blessings aplenty to be found in my reading of The Adventure of Living by Paul Tournier (4 stars), Creed or Chaos by Dorothy Sayers (4 stars), The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn (4 stars) and Walter Wangerin’s unique novel, The Book of the Dun Cow (4 stars).

Okay, enough of what’s been read. It’s time for me to finish my day’s tasks so I can start in on some news stuff tonight!

What Are the Elderly (Some of Them, Anyhow) Thinking?

Thinking over the many conversations we have with residents of senior care facilities who attend our “When Swing Was King” shows, I recently recalled a passage from Booth Tarkington’s The Magnificent Ambersons. This penetrating and prescient novel, published in 1918, is both fine literature and history, telling as it does the story of the rise and fall of an aristocratic American family at the turn of the century. However, probably because of our ongoing “When Swing Was King” ministry in senior care facilities (and because the evidence of aging has come close to home with friends, family, and ourselves in recent weeks) my recent thoughts about the novel have centered on one particular passage.

Let me set the stage. The elderly Major Amberson is suffering from grief and loneliness as well as from the inevitable ravages of old age.  He sits for hours staring at the fire -- awake and yet generally disconnected from anything that’s happening around him.  The other family members assume that he is in some kind of mental limbo. If any cognizant thoughts do slip through, the family believes they are the Major's memories of his military service, the building of his business, or perhaps sweet dreams of his wife who died long ago. But Tarkington writes,

They were mistaken.  The Major was engaged in the profoundest thinking of his life.  No business plans which had ever absorbed him could compare in momentousness with the plans that absorbed him now, for he had to plan on how to enter the unknown country where he was not even sure of being recognized as an Amberson...

His absorption produced the outward effect of reverie, but of course it was not.  The Major was occupied with the first really important matter that had taken his attention since he came home invalided after the Gettysburg campaign, and went into business; and he realized that everything which had worried him or delighted him during this lifetime  between then and to-day – all his buying and building and trading and banking – that it all was trifling and waste beside what concerned him now.

A few pages later this scene (and Major Amberson's life) reaches its climax. 

He moved his hand uncertainly as if reaching for something, and George jumped up, “Did you want anything, grandfather?”

“What?”

“Would you like a glass of water?”

“No – no.  No; I don’t want anything.” The reaching hand dropped back upon the arm of the chair, and he relapsed into silence; but a few minutes later he finished the sentence he had begun: 

“I wish – somebody could tell me!”

The next day he had a slight cold, but he seemed annoyed when his son suggested calling the doctor, and Amberson let him have his own way so far, in fact, that after he had got up and dressed, the following morning, he was all alone when he went away to find out what he hadn’t been able to think out – all those things he had wished “somebody” would tell him.

Old Sam, shuffling in with the breakfast tray, found the Major in his accustomed easy-chair by the fireplace – and yet even the old servant could see instantly that the Major was not there.

I think you can see why I find that particular scene of The Magnificent Ambersons so compelling, evoking as it does so many connections to my own loved ones and the many elderly friends we’ve made through “When Swing Was King.”

Of course, the applications of this scene in the novel message are limited. For instance, not every nursing home resident is involved in the same intense search for life’s meaning as was Major Amberson.  And though some of those who are seemingly “locked inside” frail bodies and minds are genuinely out of our reach, not all of them are. That’s extremely important to remember and appreciate.  So too is the fact that we are usually unable to determine exactly what’s going on inside a person's mind.  Mercy therefore directs us to give such souls the benefit of the doubt, moving us to speak, touch, and pray for the person until the very end.

Another important point is that serving as the “somebody” who can explain spiritual questions to seekers like Major Amberson requires sincerity, patience, prayer, and the willingness to win the right to be heard.  This is true of all evangelism and discipleship.  In regards to hospital or nursing home visitation, the ministering Christian must be willing to be a genuine friend, to take the time necessary to shine forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and to demonstrate appropriate sensitivity to others involved, including family members and facility staff.

But with these practical issues accepted, the yearning for spiritual truth exhibited by Major Amberson should move all Christians to remember the important mission field that our senior citizens represent.  Neither should we overlook those younger citizens who are forced by disease or accident to also require the ongoing care provided by a nursing home.  These places are all around us and every one of them is filled with people who need our attention, our love in action, and yes, our answers to their questions about “that unknown country” that lies behind death.

Postscript: Vital Signs Ministries would love to help you develop your service to seniors -- both to those who yet live on their own and those whose care now requires assisted living or nursing homes. Whether it involves becoming a part of our delightful “When Swing Was King” program, finding out about other types of visitation or service programs, or perhaps joining in a concerted ministry with others from your church, please contact us sometime soon.

Next Up for the Wild Knight Literary Society

The first meeting of the Wild Knight Literary Society was held at our home last month where we enjoyed refreshments and a delightful conversation over Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel, Ivanhoe. The meeting started with a reading of a terrific review of the book from Dr. Greg Gardner of Birmingham, England which provided a nice stimulant to the subsequent discussion of the novel with Linda Scheffler, Matt Troutman, former English prof at Grace University Leonard Johnson, and his wife Diane; and Claire and me. We had a great time discussing a genuine classic.

And after the desert, we decided on next quarter’s book, the award-winning allegorical novel, The Book of the Dun Cow, by Walter Wangerin, Jr. The date? Saturday evening, June 23rd. That Wild Knight evening will begin with a “burgers and dogs” cookout party at 4:30. However, as will always be the case with this particular book club, we welcome “distant participants” as well as locals. Indeed, the club was formed to help provide motivation, accountability, and stimulation for readers of quality fiction wherever they are and to invite direct participation via email and Skype.

So, if  you are a local looking for all the blessings of a book club, please grab a copy of The Book of the Dun Cow and plan on joining us for the discussion on June 23rd. And if you are further away, read along with us anyway and send in your reviews so that we can add them into the mix. You might also consider joining us via Skype for the discussion. Claire has a few details as to how that can work.

Thanks for considering our invitation. And please remember, RSVPs are very helpful.

Catching Up, The First Wild Knight Meeting, and More

Even though Claire has struggled with a severe sinus infection the last few days, this week before we take off for a working vacation in Branson has been eventful and enriching. The highlights include: slow dancing together at Linda Potter’s fabulous birthday bash last Friday night; writing a couple of articles and a gang of letters; sending out a few signed copies of The Christmas Room; getting in several days of my walking regimen; hosting the first of our Wild Knight book club discussions; and presenting the last of this month’s “When Swing Was King” shows.

But we still have several things to do before we take off for the Ozarks and among them are two items regarding The Book Den. 1) A quick recap of Monday night’s meeting of the Wild Knight book club. and 2) Updating my reading list for the year.

1) The Wild Knight club deals with fiction, meets only quarterly, and encourages participation even from distant friends. Thus, last Monday night’s meeting started with me reading a terrific review of Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe from Dr. Greg Gardner of Birmingham, England. It provided a nice stimulant to the subsequent discussion of the novel by Linda Scheffler, Matt Troutman, former English prof at Grace University Leonard Johnson, and his wife Diane; and Claire and me. We had a great time discussing a genuine classic. And after the desert, we decided on next quarter’s book, Walter Wangerin Jr.’s The Book of the Dun Cow. Of course, if you’re interested in becoming a Wild Knight yourself, please grab a copy of Dun Cow and let us know.

2) I guess I’m a little tardy in keeping up with updating my reading list. (My last “catch up” post was on February 7.) The schedule has been pretty busy — which worked to keep down the numbers of books read. But then the weather (cold, windy, snowy, rainy) kept me from walking as much as usual — which worked the other way. Anyhow, in the last couple of months I’ve read:

* More than a dozen novels of Donald Bain under the “Murder She Wrote” banner. No, this isn’t great literature but the novels (which feature Jessica Fletcher, Cabot Cove, and all the rest from the popular TV series starring Angela Lansbury) provides short, easy, and entertaining reading for those (like us) who enjoy what are called “cozy mysteries.”


* Re-reading Anthony Hope’s most famous adventure novels, The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau were also a lot of fun.

* Re-reading Alice in Wonderland and (of lesser value, in my opinion) Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll was enjoyable. Of course these books provide interest for those who enjoy the sound and rhythm of words, humorous turn of phrases, clever word play, satire, the fruits of a vivid imagination, and an adult reinterpretation of things you’ve known since childhood.

* On much more serious topics, in these past few weeks I finished a couple of books by Swiss physician Paul Tournier. They were both re-reads also but as provocative and insightful as ever. They were The Meaning of Gifts and The Adventure of Living.

* Captivating and inspiring was To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom by Newt Gingrich & William R. Forstchen. It was the February selection of the Notting Hill Napoleons. (Unfortunately, we missed the March book.)

* Two books that I’d been going through slowly, carefully, and with great spiritual profit were No Little People by Francis Schaeffer (a re-read from long ago) and Happiness by Randy Alcorn. I recommend both very highly.

* More unsettling than ever was my re-read of George Orwell’s classic study of a humanistic, totalitarian regime, 1984.

* A quite different kind of book for me was Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon by California preacher Greg Laurie. It was a bit long-winded for me, covering the same territory too many times. And yet the stories of both writer and subject were quite compelling. And so I would recommend it, especially to those of my own generation. For as important as anything, is that the book has already created several opportunities for me to talk to others about McQueen’s conversion to Christianity. And I'm sure they would both be pleased to know that.

* And finally, there’s the re-read of Ivanhoe by Walter Scott that I make reference to above. Terrific stuff.

Okay, on to the next titles!

An Invitation to the Wild Knight Literary Society

In January our esteemed literary society, the Notting Hill Napoleons, will begin its 27th year. Imagine it. 26 years of reading and discussing classic novels together — books that have enriched us, challenged us, and brought us all immense pleasure. And, of course, the discussions of those books have also been important as they have sharpened our skills in literary criticism and communication, expanded our fellowship, and contributed to our ongoing spiritual maturity. It has been a great experience and we are looking forward to the next 26 years! With all that said, however, Claire and I are looking for a few other bookish friends who might be interested in launching a brand new book club.

Our time with the Napoleons has proved to us how valuable and enjoyable a book club can be. Also, the book discussions we have sponsored over the years through Vital Signs Ministries (the ongoing Book It! program) have proven quite valuable as have our local church discussions of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles. But we are desirous of making 2018 a springboard for yet more people to find the motivation, discipline, spiritual growth, and joy of being in a book club.

The Wild Knight Literary Society (the name comes from both a poem and a short play of G.K. Chesterton’s) would be different from the Notting Hill Napoleons in two significant ways. It would also involve quality fiction but rather than meet every month, this club would only meet quarterly. This would allow the opportunity for persons with fuller schedules, more careful readers, etc. to participate. And it would allow everyone the time to read more ambitious (that is to say, longer) works. This is especially good for Claire and I because, truth be told, the Napoleons are not voting in the number of classics we once did. And we really miss the fun and achievement of tackling a substantial, well worthwhile book.)

The second major difference is that we are inviting even distant friends to join in this Wild Knight experiment. That’s right; even if you can’t make it to our home for the quarterly discussion party, you can still benefit from the motivation and accountability offered. (Not to mention being able to impress the folks at work by dropping the fact that you are in a special, international literary club!) Plus, with the creation of a special Facebook page for the WKLS and using technology like Skype and chat and so on, even club members living far apart can make contributions to the common discussion.

We’re planning on our first discussion sometime in March. And the first classic novel on our list is Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. So, what do you think? If you are interested in becoming a part of the Wild Knight Literary Society, even if you’re only thinking about joining us for one or two books a year, please let us know soon. And start reading!