These book reviews are provided by Ruth Sickafus. For more information, please contact the NPC Library by e-mail at Library@NationalPres.org or telephone 202-537-0800, x7529.

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Frazee, Charles A., TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO: THE WORLD AT THE TIME OF JESUS Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002. [D85.F57F73 2002]
There are countless books describing the world that Jesus inhabited during his lifetime. What is much less known is what was going on in other parts of the universe at the time Jesus lived, taught, and preached. This fascinating volume places his story into the context of the entire ancient world. The author, a professor of church and world history, explores the influence that the Jewish, Roman and Hellenistic cultures, which Jesus knew, had on his thought and his mission. He also provides detailed histories of the other civilizations and describes the religious beliefs and practices existing in those cultures during the Christian era. He speculates on the impact Jesus' message might have had if contact between his world and theirs had been possible, or whether we would know him at all today had he been born elsewhere. In Jesus' Middle Eastern arena, a relatively settled society and a degree of literacy created an environment in which his message of love, peace, and reconciliation could take root. Such was not the case in many other places. To the Celtic, Germanic, and other peoples of Northern Europe, survival was of primary concern and that was generally achieved through violence, a factor which was reflected in their belief systems. Conversely, China, the youngest of the worldÕs early cultures, had already made significant progress in science, arts and literacy by the time of Jesus, but Confucian thought which shaped much of their philosophy was definitely secular, focused on finding harmony in this life rather than on a "kingdom of God." In our own corner of the world, Native Americans saw good and evil spirits in everything, and Jesus' emphasis on the existence of a single God would have been incomprehensible to them, as it would have been to the Australian Aborigines and many peoples of sub-Saharan Africa. The widely divergent cultures of Japan and Korea, of India and inner Asia, and the other early civilizations are also concisely and vividly portrayed. This provocative one-volume history of the ancient world should send the reader hurrying to the library to learn more.

LIVES OF THE DISCIPLES Ð Recent Versions
Much has been written about the men Christ chose as his disciples. The following two books (well, three actually) offer the reader very different yet complementary experiences in learning about these men. John MacArthur, a noted bible teacher, takes what is known of them from the scriptures, develops vivid portraits of each, and uses their lives and work as examples of Christian faith and teaching. Parkash Samuel, long-time member of National Presbyterian Church, draws on a lifetime of bible study and a career at the Library of Congress to provide a concise compendium of fact, myth and legend, leading to specific lessons which contemporary Christians can learn from each of the disciples. And then there is an especially appealing childrenÕs book which will delight and inform children of all ages.

MacArthur, John. TWELVE ORDINARY MEN: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to Do With You. Nashville, TN: The W Publishing Group, 2002. [BS 2440M243 2002]
The most intriguing fact about the men Christ chose as his disciples is that they were Òhopelessly human, remarkably unremarkableÓÑthoroughly ordinary men who gave up everything to follow Him in a most extraordinary calling. John MacArthur, eminent author and bible teacher, explores what is known from the New Testament about the lives and characters of these twelve men, and draws his own conclusions about their personalities and discipleship from the limited evidence available. The result is a very human look at the men we probably think we know but donÕt (how many can we actually name?), and the way Jesus, in approximately 18 short months, taught and inspired and molded them, and sent them out on an impossible mission that changed the world. He shows us Simon Peter, impulsive and skeptical, who became Christ's Rock, a leader of the Twelve and of the Church; the aggressive, tempestuous John, who later came to be called the Òapostle of loveÓ and who wrote much of the New Testament; James, courageous and ambitious, whose work in the early church bore significant fruit, the first of the apostles to be martyred for the faith. The author reserves his greatest passion for the chapter on Judas Iscariot, whose flawed character and sinister motives he examines in great detail. While some readers may be put off by MacArthurÕs highly personal conjectures about these men, the result is an accessible and evocative look at Jesus' ministry and the followers who shared and continued it.

Samuel, Parkash. JESUS' SELECT GROUP. Lahore, Pakistan: Allied Press (Pvt.) Ltd, 2006.
NPC's own Parkash Samuel brings meticulous scholarship to his study of the twelve disciples. His small volume is an easy and fascinating read, containing a wealth of information and inspiration. He provides the translations and meanings, from Greek and other ancient languages, of the names of the disciples, and of discipleship, the apostolate and sainthood. Details of each manÕs family background, profession, personal qualities and missions are accompanied by helpful biblical references. Useful appendices include a bibliography and an especially poignant description of the deaths as martyrs which the disciples endured. Of particular interest, Samuels draws three "bottom lines" about each of the Twelve which capture the essence of what their lives and work exemplify. For John: "1. Love one another, and then love a little more, in deed and truth. 2. Witness, testify that Christianity is a fact. 3. Change in life is possible; anger can be transformed into love and tenderness." This is a valuable accompaniment to MacArthur's book, or any other writing on the subject, and should inspire further thought and study.

MacDonald, Mindy. JESUS AND THE 12 DUDES WHO DID. Sisters, Or: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2004
This thoroughly delightful children's book features die cuts and distinctive three-dimensional faces of the twelve disciples along with enchanting illustrations in glowing colors. It is in a particularly creative format which will captivate children and their parents alike while telling the story of the Twelve in a most clever and concise wayÑa pertinent Bible verse and two-line rhyme about each that amazingly capture the essence of the man and his role as disciple of Jesus.

Yancey Philip. RUMORS OF ANOTHER WORLD: WHAT ON EARH ARE WE MISSING? Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. [BV4501.3.Y363 2003]
The author dedicates and directs this book to "those who live in the borderlands of belief," which probably includes a lot of us. One of today's most important writers on the Christian faith, Philip Yancey frankly acknowledges that he is at times "a reluctant Christian, buffeted by doubts," wondering if the world we see is really all there is, longing for something more. In this reflective book, which grew out of his own personal questioning, he invites the reader on a "journey of discovery" as he examines the "rumors," or intuitions, that there exist all around us, in all of God's creations, the clues to another world - a world invisible except through the eyes of faith but one of infinitely greater meaning than that which we inhabit. He draws liberally on the observations of many of the world's great scholars and thinkers, and illustrates his theme with fascinating examples from the natural world, such as the arduous reproductive process of Costa Rica's extraordinary leatherback turtles. In an especially moving chapter, he contrasts the outer appearance of the grossly misshapen, cruelly exploited "Elephant Man" with the warmly human John Merrick who was ultimately discovered to be imprisoned within that grotesque body. Yancey is always open to new revelations from any source, willing to reveal his personal experiences and weaknesses. His writing style is elegant yet comfortingly accessible, his thinking profound, insightful, lucid. This is a book that will stimulate and enrich.

Metcalfe, Gayden and Charlotte Hays. BEING DEAD IS NO EXCUSE: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral. New York: Hyperion. [GT3203.M77 2005
If you were fortunate enough to have grown up in the South, this hilarious book will be delightfully deja vu. If you're a Yankee, well - you'll love it anyway. Southern funerals are important social occasions for the whole community and they involve long-established rituals for assuring that the beloved dead are sent off in proper style. The authors describe specifically the way it's done in the Mississippi Delta , with special emphasis on the culinary last rites. Linens and polished silver are de rigueur and certain dishes are required fare at the post-funeral reception, first among them being Tomato Aspic with Homemade Mayonnaise (the mayonnaise is always homemade), "without which you probably can't get a death certificate." There's a whole chapter on stuffed eggs; another is full of recipes for pimento cheese (which the authors call "southern pate"). Who could resist Liketa Died Potatoes (with both cheddar cheese and cheese soup)? Or Boiled Bourbon Custard? Or Reincarnation Shrimp Dip? And I have it on excellent authority that the congealed Bing Cherry Salad with Coca Cola is fantastic. The recipes are tried-and-true southern favorites one can actually make (no Gourmet magazine extravaganzas here). The text is rich with anecdotes about funerals, the deceased and the southern ladies who assure that the final goodbyes are tasteful. It is laugh-out-loud funny, irreverent yet respectful of the dead, and deliciously entertaining - truly a book to savor.

* * * *

The recently released film version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first book in C. S. Lewis' celebrated The Chronicles of Narnia, has inspired much renewed interest in Lewis himself as well as his famed Narnia stories. Lewis, a confirmed atheist who later became one of the 20th Century's most eloquent defenders of the Christian faith, acknowledged that he had no particular love of children, yet in these stories he produced one of the greatest classics of children's literature. Books about Lewis and his work abound. The following two may be of particular interest to those wishing to become acquainted--or reacquainted--with this extraordinary man and the renowned Chronicles of Narnia.

Shakel, Peter J. A WAY INTO NARNIA: A Reader's Guide. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005. [PR6023.E926C5384 2005]
An internationally known C. S. Lewis scholar, Peter Shakel has written two previous books on The Chronicles of Narnia. This latest is a particularly helpful guide into the fantasy land that is Narnia. The stories are often interpreted as Christian allegories, with the noble lion Aslan as the Christ figure. While acknowledging the "broad patterns of Christian meaning" in the Chronicles, Shakel argues that the best way to experience the magic of Narnia is to read the stories as fairy tales. He devotees a chapter to Lewis' use of fairy tale, fantasy and myth, and follows with individual chapters devoted to exploring and interpreting each of the seven books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia. He also offers a section of notes which clarify unfamiliar terms and obscure historical allusions. His text is lucid, his analyses illuminating. Reading this book will greatly enhance the pleasure of experiencing the fascinating land and creatures of Narnia, whether on film or the printed page.

Gilbert, Douglas and Clyde S. Kilby. C. S. LEWIS: Images of His World. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1973 and 2005. [PR6023.E926Z66 2005]
This 1973 book has been reissued to coincide with the release of the film, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is a personal and affectionate look into the life of C. S. Lewis, who was already writing and illustrating creative stories about an imaginary place called Animal-Land at the age of six. The text, while not a biography, offers a vivid look at his early life and the events and people who helped shape the man he was to become. It is filled with superb photographs, many in glowing color, of the land and landmarks which Lewis knew, and of his family and friends and colleagues, as well as some of Lewis' own drawings and manuscript excerpts. Included is a chronology of Lewis' life. It is a beautiful, timely, and eminently readable book about a remarkable man and his exceptional work.

McCollister, John C. GOD AND THE OVAL OFFICE: The Religious Faith of Our 43 Presidents. Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2005. [BR516.M377 2005]
This small volume is particularly timely, in view of the increasing focus on religious faith in our national life. In it, the author explores the spirituality of each of the presidents, often as revealed in their own words. Almost all of them, in varying degrees, spoke of God or divine providence in their public utterances, and all, with the possible exception of John Quincy Adams, took the oath of office with a hand on the Bible. George Washington personally added the words "So help me God" to the presidential oath, a phrase which has been repeated by every president since. Washington was raised in the Anglican faith and sometimes attended Episcopal services but, deeply committed to the freedom of religious expression, joined no denomination, a general philosophy to which Thomas Jefferson also subscribed. John Adams had studied for the ministry but then moved toward law and politics A Unitarian and another champion of religious freedom, he made few public pronouncements on the subject. Benjamin Harrison had also considered a profession in theology before turning to law and his life remained deeply rooted in the Presbyterian church. James A. Garfield was a lay preacher in the Disciples of Christ and during his brief presidency retained a deep devotion to that denomination. James K. (as in Knox) Polk was a direct descendent of John Knox but in later life moved from his early Calvinist indoctrination to a preference for the Methodist church. Grover Cleveland was the center of some scandals in his private life and, as a county sheriff in New York state, had actually served as hangman in two executions. However, this son of a Presbyterian minister continued to rely on his religious faith throughout his life and attended one of the predecessor congregations of National Presbyterian Church during his presidency. Another noted member of this congregation, Dwight D. Eisenhower, came late to church affiliation. Yet he strongly believed that faith in God and trust in a higher power gave him the courage to face the awesome responsibilities which had been his, and he is the only one of the 43 who began his inaugural address with a prayer. The greatest amount of space in the book is devoted to Abraham Lincoln. Although he never joined a church and was sometimes called an atheist by his political foes, Lincoln’s writing and speeches reveal a deep spirituality and love of the scriptures. He frequently spoke of his dependence on the guiding hand of God, and one of his famous quotes is that he often was driven to his knees in prayer because he had nowhere else to go. The Episcopalian church can claim the largest number of presidential members, eight (the same number as those who were unaffiliated). Presbyterians are next, with six. In addition to these fascinating glimpses into the spiritual lives of our national leaders, this book provides a short course in the highlights of American history. It’s an engaging read.

Wallis, Jim. GOD'S POLITICS:Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2005. [BR526.W265]
The sub-title of this provocative new book is a clue to the author's balanced and unflinching critique of the political and social schisms tearing at the fabric of our country today. Jim Wallis is an evangelical minister, a conservative, and a faith-based activist, but in this book he is particularly critical of the religious fundamentalists who have "high-jacked" the Christian faith and who use religion to polarize and divide, claiming to speak for God and to hold a monopoly on moral values. He also condemns those he calls "secular fundamentalists," who dismiss spirituality and moral discourse as irrelevant in public life, ignoring the contributions people of faith have made over the years to such causes as social justice and civil rights. He accuses the right of having a vision too narrow, the left of having none. One of the causes about which he is most passionate is the plight of the poor and marginalized, and he provides shocking statistics about the pervasiveness of poverty in the world's richest country (one in six American children lives in poverty). He deplores the fact that politicians, instead of addressing those "scandalous facts," simply spend their time blaming each other for the problem, "one side citing the need for changes in personal behavior, and the other for better social programs, as if the two were mutually exclusive." Budgets, he contends, are moral documents, and he calls the government's budgets "a disaster for the poor, a windfall for the wealthiest, and thus directly [in] conflict with biblical priorities." He is especially compelling in his harsh criticism of the war in Iraq as unjust, unnecessary, politically unwise, and totally at odds with Christian theology; of the idea of "an American mission" to rid the world of evil; of equating dissent with a lack of patriotism; and of the disdain for the concerns and warnings of religious and political leaders around the world. Wallis points out that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, and warns that this nation must not allow either the religious fundamentalists or the secular fundamentalists to prevail in our country. In this insightful, disturbing, thought-provoking book he issues "a clarion call" to both our religious communities and our government to be more accountable to the key values of love and justice and peace, compassion, acceptance and reconciliation, which are at the heart of Christian teachings -- "a new vision for faith and politics in America." It could hardly be more important or timely.

Hollingsworth, Amy. THE SIMPLE FAITH OF MR. ROGERS: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor. Nashville: Integrity Publishers, 2005. [PN1992.4.R56H66 2005]
He was the beloved "neighbor" and friend of myriad American children—and often their parents--for more than 30 years, and none of them knew he was also a Presbyterian minister. Yet his quiet message to his young television viewers, inspired by a life devoted to prayer and informed by deeply held spiritual values, was infused with fundamental Christian principles. The author of this uplifting book, a Christian educator, writer and broadcaster as well as a pastor's wife, developed a close personal friendship with Fred Rogers after securing a rare interview with him, and she writes with admiration and affection of his life and legacy. Rogers expected to become a minister, but early on he began to work in television because he felt people so often demeaned one another in the early days of the medium, and he wanted to do something more positive with this powerful communications tool. A creative and gifted musician and puppeteer, he worked behind the scenes of a children's television program called The Children's Corner while continuing his seminary studies, and was eventually ordained by the United Presbyterian Church "as an evangelist with the unique charge to serve children and families through the mass media." Happily, his opportunity to do just that came almost immediately and, over decades, countless children learned invaluable lessons about patience, kindness, self-acceptance and respect in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. He never spoke of religion, never tried to impose his views on others, yet "every day he taught God's message without preaching a word." He taught especially that there is great merit in slowing down and appreciating silence; that feelings are all right and need not be hidden; that each person is unique and special; that all creation is deserving of respect–convictions that shaped his own life. "I've always been myself," he once wrote to the author. "I just figured that the best gift you could offer anybody is your honest self, and that's what I've done." It is an exemplary "self" revealed in this gentle and inspiring book.

Coffin, William Sloane. THE HEART IS A LITTLE TO THE LEFT: ESSAYS ON PUBLIC MORALITY. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1999. [HM665.C64 1999]
In the preface to this slim but powerful volume, William Sloane Coffin—noted preacher and social activist, former pastor of the famed Riverside Church, Chaplain at Yale, quotes Pope Pius the VI: "If you want peace, work for justice." Indeed, during his long, influential and controversial career, Coffin worked tirelessly for social justice, tolerance and peace. He has published here seven sermons delivered over the years, addressing the issues to which he was passionately committed: the politics of compassion; homophobia; the authority of the Bible; self-righteousness; the spiritual and the secular; civility, nuclear weapons, diversity, love. The sermons are illuminated with cogent quotes from the Bible and from the great thinkers of the ages, combined with Coffin’s own eloquent, uncompromising observations on the human condition and the state of the world, on our relationships with God and our fellow human beings. From one of the sermons: “There is no smaller package in the world than that of a person all wrapped up in himself. Love is our business; if we can’t love, we’re out of business.� From another: “Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without.� And another: “If we hate evil more than we love good, we become good haters, and of those the world already has too many.� There are those who will agree heartily with what Coffin has to say in these pithy writings; others will not. Surely all readers, wherever they may be in the political spectrum, will find much to ponder in these pages.

Goldstein, Warren. WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN, JR.: A HOLY IMPATIENCE. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004. [BX9225.C6243G65 2004]
One of the most influential and controversial religious leaders of the last half of the 20th century, William Sloane Coffin was the preeminent voice of Protestant liberalism in America during that era, considered by many the heir of Martin Luther King, Jr.He was born into a wealthy and privileged family—liberally Presbyterian, philanthropic, energetic, "driven by a sense of noblesse oblige." The young Coffin initially trained to be a concert pianist, but service in the Army in World War II permanently changed that goal. After a post-war stint as a CIA agent, he concentrated his enormous energies on study for the ministry, first at Union Theological Seminary where his uncle, Henry Sloane Coffin, had been president, and then at Yale. At the age of 33 he became Chaplain at Yale and from that pulpit he plunged into the turbulent social issues of his time, in which he ultimately played a pivotal role and to which he contributed an uncommonly eloquent voice. He led a dangerous Freedom Ride in the south at the height of the civil rights movement, and was a defendant in the "Boston Five" trial for his role in encouraging draft resistance during the Vietnam War. Later, as pastor of New York's Riverside Church, he continued to preach and work for the social justice to which he was dedicated. His-less-than pristine private life was equally tumultuous and colorful. This insightful book is meticulously researched, with the advantage of unparalleled access to family, friends and Coffin himself (now 80 years old and in ill health). The author unflinchingly details the flamboyantly vibrant ministry, the often impulsive political activism, the three marriages (first to the daughter of legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein) and various other liaisons, the courageous advocacy for the causes in which he so fervently believed—a life passionately lived "in 'a holy impatience' with prejudice, injustice and war."

Coffin, William Sloane. CREDO. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 222004.[BR1725.C537A25 2004]
The Rev. William Sloane Coffin was widely acclaimed for the wit, passion and eloquence of his language, his uncompromising moral commitment and the deep, biblically-rooted faith of his ministry. Now, a treasury of cogent and insightful quotes from his sermons and speeches has been brought together in this inspirational book. Published by our denomination's Westminster John Knox Press, it was named Book of the Year 2004 by the Association of Theological Booksellers. Grouped roughly into categories, it is intended by Coffin to be "read slowly and in no particular order." However it is approached, it offers the reader a feast for the intellect, the conscience and the spirit. A few examples:
'It is often said that the Church is a crutch. Of course it's a crutch. What makes you think you don't limp?"
"Fear is the enemy of learning. It gives ignorance its power."
"One shouldn't be too upset about the way the ball bounces if one has dropped it himself"
"It is ironic to think of the number of people in this country who pray for the poor on Sunday and spend the rest of the week complaining that the government is doing something about them."
"Life being what it is, if we don't make a difference by trying, we'll make a difference by not trying."
"There never was a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope."

Bobrick, Benson. WIDE AS THE WATERS: THE STORY OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE AND THE REVOLUTION IT INSPIRED. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001. [BS4552B62]
It is difficult to overestimate the profound impact that the translation of the Bible into English had on history, literature, law, the spread of Christianity and the evolution of the English language itself. This important book tells the story of the English Bible, from the first translation initiated by John Wycliffe in the late 14th Century to the magnificent King James version, familiar to us all, in the 17th. Bobrick, a gifted writer and historian, chronicles Wycliffe's life and work, interwoven with the turbulent political history of 14th Century England and the growing controversies within the Catholic Church. So concerned was the Church hierarchy with the idea that the people might be able to read and interpret the Scriptures for themselves that the lives of those connected with the effort, and even anyone possessing a copy of the Wycliffe Bible, were in constant danger. William Tyndaleâ 16th Century translation of the New Testament was a major source of inspiration, a century later, for the fifty-four King James scholars, and much of his felicitous language survives intact in the King James Bible (Ye are the salt of the earth; In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. However, he saw his work seized and destroyed by church authorities, and was subsequently burned at the stake. Many others who followed suffered similar fates but the work continued. Cleric and scholar Miles Coverdale was commissioned under Henry VIII to make a translation of the entire Bible, and although he was forced into exile for many years, his translation became the first complete Bible ever published in English. Many of his enduring phrases also enrich the King James version (Enter thou into the joy of the lord; the valley of the shadow of death). According to Bobrick, having access to the Scriptures in the vernacular, through the centuries, led people to question the authority of both their secular and religious institutions, ultimately resulting in reformation within the Church and in the rise of constitutional government. In addition to the fascinating story of the evolution of the English Bible, he gives us in this book an intriguing overview of English political, civil, religious and social history from Richard II through Henry VIII's long reign, Queen Mary's short and bloody one, and the Elizabethan Age, to Elizabeth's successor, James I, whose name will forever be linked to one of the greatest achievements in the English language. (The title of this book is of considerable interest. John Wycliffe had died a natural death, unlike many of those who followed him. However, years later he was declared a heretic by the Catholic Church which ordered his bones exhumed and burned. His ashes were cast into the River Swift, a tributary of the Avon. A prophecy arose among his followers: "The Avon to the Severn run\The Severn to the sea\And Wycliffe's dust shall spread abroad,\Wide as the waters be." How fully that prophecy has been realized was recently confirmed within our own congregation, six centuries later, with the completion by NPC missionary Steve Quakenbush of a New Testament translation into the Agutaynen language of the Philippines.)

Neal, Connie. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HARRY POTTER: SPIRITUAL REALITY IN THE STORIES OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS SEEKER. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002. [PR6068.093Z78 2002]

Killinger, John. GOD, THE DEVIL AND HARRY POTTER: A CHRISTIAN MINISTER'S DEFENSE OF THE BELOVED NOVELS. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002.
J. K. Rowling's wildly popular books about the intrepid teen-age wizard and his cohorts have been one of the great publishing phenomena of all time and have spawned a number of related industries. They have also evoked great controversy in religious circles where Harry Potter's world of magic, witches and wizards has often been seen as "satanic" and an assault on the Christian faith. These are two of many books which have been written to counter such criticism. Neal's book, which was published by our denomination's Westminster John Knox Press, studies the Potter books and finds numerous parallels with Christian themes (just as others have found evil connections from the same readings). She points out many specific lessons in Harry Potter that reflect stories from the Bible and also "reinforce the central messages of Christianity." Killinger, a minister and academic, also finds the Potter books to be "narratives of robust faith and morality," stressing over and over again the basic Christian belief of a struggle between good and evil and the power of love, and points out that much of that faith and morality come from classical myths and legends of world literature. While some of the interpretations and parallels in both books are strained and may do little to convince those who choose different interpretations, both provide insights into the world of Harry Potter that should only add to the pleasure of reading Rowling's elegant prose and the extraordinarily imaginative world and characters she has created.

Shanks, Hershel and Ben Witherington III. THE BROTHER OF JESUS: The Dramatic Story & Meaning of the First Archaeological Link to Jesus & His Family. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 2003.
It was headline news around the world in 2000 -- the discovery of a fragile limestone burial box known as an ossuary containing the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus," written in Aramaic, the language of Jesus. Supposedly found just outside ancient Jerusalem, this box could well be the first archeological evidence of Jesus ever found. It was reportedly purchased from an antiquities dealer by a collector who did not realize its significance until it came to the attention of a noted scholar of ancient Semitic inscriptions. The first part of this book is written by Hershel Shanks, founder and editor of Biblical Archaeology Review and author of many popular books dealing with Biblical archaeology, most notably about the Dead Sea Scrolls. Shanks describes the controversies which inevitably sprang up after the announcement of this startling but unprovenanced find, and details the exhaustive efforts which were made to validate the ossuary and its intriguing inscription. Shanks is totally convinced of its authenticity and continues to defend it in his magazine and elsewhere, despite subsequent evidence which suggests it may indeed be a forgery. In the second section of the book, eminent New Testament scholar Ben Witherington III deals with the life and times of James, and with the further controversy raised by the implication that Jesus had a brother. James was mentioned several times in the gospels as the brother of Jesus. Not one of the original Disciples, he became the leader of the nascent church in Jerusalem, known as James the Just. He was referred to by Paul as "The Lord's brother" and a "pillar" of the church. While much of what Witherington writes about James is of necessity conjecture, he presents a compelling picture of an important, devoutly Jewish and ultimately martyred leader of the early Christian church. Is the inscription on the much-debated ossuary authentic? If so, do those names refer to the James, Joseph and Jesus of the New Testament (they were all common names in that era)? Those controversies seem destined to rage for a long time to come. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating and eminently accessible book, introducing the reader to the often shady antiquities market; to meticulous Biblical and linguistic scholarship; to what is known of the family of Jesus and the Jewish world in which they lived; and most of all, to the community of Jews who, 2000 years ago and not yet realizing they were "Christians," nurtured a "movement that would become arguably the most significant religious tradition the world has ever witnessed."

Davis, Ellen F. and Richard B. Hays, ed. THE ART OF READING SCRIPTURE. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2003476.A78 2003]
This helpful and important book grew out of the conviction of its two editors that the people of the 21st Century face difficulty in interpreting the Bible and relating it to their lives, not only in the secular culture but in the church itself. Is the Bible still authoritative for the church today? Has the church lost he art of reading the Bible attentively and imaginatively? To address these and other related questions, a group of eminent scholars and pastors met over a period of years in what became known as "The Scripture Project," to explore "the rich heritage of biblical interpretation in a dramatically changed cultural environment." They concluded that reading and interpreting Scripture is an art, and as such requires "apprenticeship" to the great historical masters of scriptural interpretation. They developed and present here a series of "Nine Theses on the Interpretation of Scripture," each including questions for ongoing discussion. There follows a series of essays by the fifteen scholars involved in the project, designed to amplify the theses and provoke continued fruitful discussion within the church and academia. The book concludes with six sermons by the two editors which they believe illustrate "practical biblical theology." This volume proposes a "quiet revolution" in the way the Scriptures are taught in seminaries and used by pastors and teachers. Most of all, the editors hope that it "will encourage readers to pursue the demanding but ultimately joyful art of reading Scriptures." [Co-editor Dr. Richard B. Hays was Scholar-in-Residence at National Presbyterian Church in the spring of 2004.]

Barnes, M. Craig. SEARCHING FOR HOME: SPIRITUALITY FOR RESTLESS SOULS. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2003. BV 4501.3.B37 2003
In this recent book, Dr. Barnes, former Pastor of National Presbyterian Church, brings an especially creative approach to one of his major themes --the searching and yearning of the human soul for happiness and fulfillment, which can ultimately be reached only by finding communion with the Holy Spirit. With illustrations from The Divine Comedy, he compares Dante's pilgrimage from the inferno through purgatory into paradise with our own search for our spiritual home during our nomadic journey through life. Dante's great poem begins with his waking "to find myself in a dark wood, for I had wandered off from the straight path." Dr. Barnes, drawing on personal and pastoral experiences and biblical teachings, shows that we, like Dante, are always searching for the path home, and that we are never lost to God during our sojourning, It is through Christ's sacrifice, he asserts, and through the church and communion--and grace--that we are finally brought, despite all our wanderings, to our true home, heaven--Dante's "Paradise." "Home," he says, "is the place where we were created to live eternally with our true family of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

Nicolson, Adam. GOD'S SECRETARIES: THE MAKING OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. [BS186.N53 2003]
It's unlikely that readers of the glorious poetry and prose of the King James Bible give much thought to the process by which that masterpiece of the English language came into being. That is an intriguing story, told in this book in fascinating detail. The author also provides engrossing insights into the history and culture of early 17th Century Britain in which that great document was created. In 1603 King James I inherited from Queen Elizabeth I a fractious, polarized England which had now, on his accession, merged with his own brawling Scottish domain into a kingdom rife with theological as well as political conflict. An intellectual and inherently peace-loving man, James envisioned a new English translation of the Bible as a way to meld "the kingliness of God with the godliness of kings," and thus, perceived by all as God's lieutenant on earth, he could create a united and harmonious realm. He commissioned some fifty scholars and clerics from Cambridge, Oxford and London who labored for seven years, translating anew the Hebrew and Greek texts and drawing on previous English versions. Many of the translators are little known to history and, according to Nicolson, they were all too human. This book, with impeccable research and scholarship, reveals how these "very ordinary men" miraculously produced an extraordinary literary work of unparalleled grace, elegance and power King James' hope for a unified kingdom in the wake of the new Bible were not realized. But the impact of the great Book that has borne his name for more than four centuries has surely surpassed anything he could have hoped or dreamed.

Ruth Sickafus
Book Review Editor