Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Final Summit by Andy Andrews published by Thomas Nelson
In The Final Summit the reader is invited to sit in the gallery and eavesdrop on last meeting of the Travelers, those people throughout history to which God has given the mission to help the world. Their wisdom and insight is then made available to other Travelers as needed.
One of those Travelers is David Ponder who years before had been visited by Gabriel and taken on a quest. At this final summit, with the fate of the earth depending on their decision David Ponder is called to moderate this meeting of the minds. In the words of the promotional material, “There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship—and it is only two words. Ponder, along with a cast of famous historical figures, must work quickly to discover this solution. The fate of the world rests on their shoulders.”
And yet with the accumulated wisdom of the ages they miss it, in my opinion. The solution offered has its positive side but it is very American and it won’t save the world. There is no spoiler alert needed. I will not give away the answer but I hoped for a more transformative solution.
I did find the book entertaining, although a bit schmaltzy in places and it did force me back to my history books. Any book that gets me into another book can be considered beneficial.
Although I consider myself a history buff I had to do some research to more about Eric Erickson. When he was first introduced at the Summit I thought I was meeting the psychologist. Then as he was introduced as Red Erickson I thought I was meeting the man who discovered Greenland. Neither of which I would have imagined in God’s Conference Room.
A little research led me to the fascinating story of The Counterfeit Spy (played by William Holden in the 1962 movie of that name). This man was credited with bringing an end to World War II. If for no other reason I could recommend The Final Summit.
Although I believe all truth is God’s truth I have some questions about the presence at this final summit of those who refused to acknowledge God’s truth when they were on the earth. I believe that God is gracious but I think he prefers a nod in his direction before we leave the earth for our private summit with God.
This book would definitely be a good book for a discussion group on the condition of the world and what to do about it. My hope is that those who are still living would come up with a better solution than the Travelers.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Washington: A Legacy of Leadership by Paul Vickery for Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010
The dog ate my homework. Yes I am serious. I laid my copy of Washington: A Legacy of Leadership on my desk and the two year old lab jumped up, took it off the desk and devoured it cover to cover. Fortunately, the good stuff in middle was left intact, dog-eared but still readable. In fact the book was very readable.
It is not a scholarly treatise, though there are 18 pages of notes and bibliography, but it does give a good overview of General George Washington. It is one of a series of books in The Generals Series by Thomas Nelson and gives a look at the person of the Commander in Chief of the Colonial Army.
Parson Weems would probably not like the book because it talks about some of the failures and mistakes of the man who led the army in the War of Independence (For example Vickery suggests that Washington caused the French and Indian War) but I found great comfort in knowing some of our great leaders made mistakes. This book is definitely not a hagiography but on the other hand the author does not go in the direction of many modern biographies that dwell on warts and peccadillos.
After reading quotes from Washington’s writings and excerpts from his prayers I think that either the definition of Deist needs to be changed or we need to admit Washington was not a Deist. I found the following comments about Deists on a Free Thought website.
Most of the Founders were Deists, which is to say they thought the universe had a creator, but that he does not concern himself with the daily lives of humans, and does not directly communicate with humans, either by revelation or by sacred books.
And yet we find General Washington talking to this creator and asking for his intervention. In July of 1776, the very day the Declaration of Independence was approved, General Washington gave the general orders for the day, “…Let us therefore rely on the goodness of the cause, and with the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands victory is to animate and encourage us to good and Noble actions….”
Could a real Deist expect that some first cause would lift a finger to help? And at another time set aside a day of prayer to implore the help of the God? If this is a Deist bring on the Deists. They seem to have more faith in the power and presence of God than many church members.
This is not the place to determine the faith of Washington but his own words reveal faith in a God who acts on behalf of us humans. Vickery’s book is valuable for its insight into the man George Washington, husband, leader and man of faith.
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