This was a thoroughly creepy read. The book follows Edward Prendick, and Englishman who thrice managed to be adrift in the Atlantic in the course of one year. The first was due to a shipwreck that would leave anyone with PTSD, the second due to being the unwanted guest of a drunkard captain, and the third was self-inflicted out of utter desperation to get back to “humanity.”

Just when you think poor Edward’s troubles couldn’t get any worse, they get significantly worse. From nearly dying of thirst and starvation on the seas, to being on the brink of offering himself to the sharks after just two days back on land, the reader witnesses several occasions where Edward is ready to toss in the towel and prays for his own death. There is a great deal of death in the latter half of the story, though Edward comes out unscathed. Some of the death is caused by him directly, but much of it is a result of the island instinctively imploding on itself.

Dr. Moreau, an infamous biologist and megalomaniac, has sought refuge on a tiny island in the Atlantic where he can find peace and privacy for his progressive experiments of “re-shaping” animals into human form. He has a partner, Montgomery, who seems just as mesmerized by the doctor’s power as the creatures they create. Some are crosses between animals (though not by breeding–think instead of grafting a tree branch), while others are a single species altered to walk upright and to speak. Despite his relative success at playing God and making man out of beast, there is one area he can’t affect in the manner he desires:

The intelligence is oddly low, with unaccountable blank ends, unexpected gaps. And least satisfactory of all is something that I cannot touch, somewhere–I cannot determine where–in the seat of the emotions. Cravings, instincts, desires that harm humanity, a strange hidden reservoir to burst forth suddenly and inundate the whole being of a creature with anger, hate, or fear.

In short, Dr. Moreau couldn’t transplant a human soul into the creatures he was ripping to shreds and then piecing back together (all while conscious, of course).

To keep his creations from acting out and reverting to their animal instincts, Moreau trains them to abide by a number of laws. If a law is broken, the penalty is to return to Dr. Moreau’s work station, dubbed “The House of Pain,” for further alterations. If the disruption is severe enough, the creature will be killed as an example to the others. They both feared and worshipped Dr. Moreau. But once the creatures saw that their “god” was a feeble man, all hell broke lose.

I don’t want to give away more than I already have, but I will end with a disturbing quote from Edward Prendick, who managed to make his way back to England after a tumultuous and frightening year.

My trouble took the strangest form. I could not persuade myself that the men and women I met were not also another Beast People, animals half wrought into the outward image of human souls, and that they would presently begin to revert–to first show this bestial mark, and then that.

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First published in 1949, George Orwell’s dystopian novel increasingly seems less like a work of fiction and more like a prophetic vision.  This book was disturbing to read on many levels.  Thankfully society as a whole has not yet reached the level of totalitarianism that the book’s ‘Big Brother’ oligarchy has imposed on Oceania (think present day U.K. and the Americas), yet there have been pockets in history and in modern life that do come eerily close to the vision.

For instance, Stalin’s communist Russia, or China’s Mao Tse Tung’s gangs of youth lynch mobs, or Pol Pot’s systematic annihilation of the urban and educated classes of Cambodia, in North Korea, every person is property and is owned by a small and mad family with hereditary power, all of which mimic elements of 1984‘s IngSoc (English Socialism).   Or, for example, when I went to school in Prague after the fall of communism and stayed in a dorm room with a built in speaker (for disseminating information/propaganda) and microphone (for listening in conversations).  Even today there is the ubiquitous ‘tele’ which controls and ‘watches over’ the people, or the gross infringement of privacy at the local airport with full body scans, all in name of ‘security’.

This is a story about the direction of human society apart from the restraining grace of God on evil.  Imagine a society without God, where sinful human nature is let loose to do it’s worst… that society is Oceania.

It is a story about a common, middle-aged protagonist, who works for the outer party, and who secretly desires to fight the system and spark a revolution for freedom, individuality, and joy… While reading the book, I longed for and waited for this to happen.  After all, isn’t this what happens in all the great dystopia movies which ultimately turn back for the good of mankind? Perhaps more realistically, this is not the case with 1984.  Instead of a revolution, our protagonist is betrayed, imprisoned, tortured, forced into false confessions, and ruthlessly brainwashed so that, in the end ‘Big Brother’ wins.

The last lines of the book grimly portray the victory and cruel march of ‘Big Brother’ on into an indefinite future:

But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.

Finally, one small example of historical revisionism similar to the scenes described in 1984:

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After the emotional roller-coasters of my last two books, I decided to give my brain a rest by turning to my old favorite, Sherlock Holmes. This collection of twelve short stories of the adventures of Sherlock and Watson ends with a bang–or rather, a plummet–where Sherlock defeats the most dangerous criminal he’s ever crossed. What makes Professor Moriarty the greatest danger to society in Sherlock’s mind is the fact that he has so many secretly doing his bidding that it’s nearly impossible to trace any crime back to Moriarty without finding yourself dead somewhere along the way. It’s unusual to catch Sherlock demonstrating fear, as he can typically smell danger from a mile away, but with Moriarty, we see Sherlock a little more vulnerable than usual.

What really struck me when reading this portion of the series are the uncanny similarities between Sherlock Homes and character Gregory House of the medical diagnostic series, House. From the mysteriousness of their skills of deduction, to their need to use assistants as sound boards as they walk through the facts, to their lack of “people” skills, the two seem to have been formed from the same mold.

I think my favorite story from this collection was “The Yellow Face.” It was about a husband and wife who are happily in love until a secret pushes them apart and drives the husband mad. The secret moves in to the cottage just down the road, and despite his wife’s pleas, Mr. Munro can’t control himself any longer–he has to figure out who or what his wife is hiding and won’t wait until she’s ready to tell him the truth. Munro finds that a young, African-American child is living in the cottage, his wife’s child from her first marriage to a wealthy man in Atlanta. Mrs. Munro feared her child would be rejected by her new husband, but couldn’t suppress her motherly affections for her daughter any longer and desired to have her close. This is how Mr. Munro responds as he scoops the little girl up in his arms to take her home:

I’m not a very good man, Effie, but I think I am a better one than you have given me credit for being.

Not only did it melt my heart, but his words cut deep and made me question how often I underestimate my husband.

I think the Sherlock Holmes series, like the Chronicles of Narnia, will be a series that I will revisit again and again, though the former I might not read to my kids until they’re a little older!

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For a while, I was too insecure about what people might think of me reading this book to actually buy it. I knew I really needed to see what Beth had to say, but made excuses because I didn’t want what I read to force me to deal with some of my junk. But God knew my tendency to hide, and gave me grace and the opportunity to go through this study in a group setting where I could not ignore or avoid what was uncomfortable. Our group at PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel–Fort Riley) hasn’t even had a chance to discuss chapter one yet, and I’ve already plowed through the book. That’s how good this book is, and that’s how much I needed to hear what Beth had to say–all of it.

Several things hooked me right off the bat. First, Beth’s writing style is witty, powerful, and encouraging. A number of times, I felt like her words were hijacked straight from my brain…from somewhere in the deep recesses where I really don’t want anyone to venture, myself included. I felt exposed, yet empowered. Second, Beth said this is the closest things she’s ever written (or ever will write) to an auto-biography. I was intrigued to hear more about her past and was curious to see what this women, who epitomizes Christian womanly I’ve-got-it-all-togetherness, had to say about insecurities. How much, after all, did she really have to be insecure about? I barely made it through the first chapter before comparing myself to her (sound familiar?) and wondering if her pains were as deep as mine or if her insecurities as difficult to shake as mine. Here’s what she says:

I’m a common woman sharing common problems seeking common solutions on a journey with an uncommon Savior.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who Beth is, who I am, or whether or struggles align. What matters is that we have Jesus, an uncommon Savior who is the only source of the security we are seeking. This book addresses the topic of insecurity so thoroughly and holistically that I don’t really know where to start. Beth discusses insecurities that are rooted in unhealthy view of men, cultural pressures, lies we believe about who we should be, insecurities in our relationships with other women, and how we seek the face of God to find relief from the mess. To put it succinctly, Beth’s goal is to help readers realize that we place too much of our identities (which should be wholly in Christ) in things that only make us feel worse about who we are. It’s a vicious cycle, and Satan loves when we get stuck in it.

Ladies, there is so much insight within these 350 pages that I’d be hard-pressed to sift through all of my highlights to give you the best nuggets. Please, just take my word for it. And men, don’t think this book wouldn’t be helpful for you. Have you ever been confused by a woman’s response that seemed a little insane or crazy and didn’t understand where all the emotions were coming from? Don’t blame it on estrogen, blame it on insecurities. Yup, we’re jacked up, but there are ways you can help and encourage us in our jacked-up-ness. If you love us, please read this book.

I want some soul-deep security drawn from a source that never runs dry and never disparages us for requiring it. We need a place we can go when, as much as we loathe it, we are needy and hysterical. I don’t know about you, but I need someone who will love me when I hate myself. And yes, someone who will love me again and again and again until I kiss this terrestrial sod good-bye.

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When I was in Mrs. Neidz’s 9^th grade English class, I tried to bluff my way through discussions using only the Cliffsnotes version of reading Huck Finn. I hoped it was good enough to help me pass the quizzes. During the class, I found myself interested in the story and actually wished I had read the book. Never enough to actually read it, though. It took me over ten years to actually read it for myself. I earned a D in 9^th grade English, by the way.

Huck Finn is a classic for a reason: it is really, really good. Part adventure down the Mississippi, part friendship between Huck and Jim, part social commentary on the treatment of blacks in the South. It is an important book, and no high school student should graduate without reading it. Sadly, many teachers today shy away from it because of the overabundance of the use of the N-word, a hyper-reaction to political correctness. Most educated readers will quickly see that this is as racist as Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is cannibalistic.

I’ve taught Huck Finn many times, and I still find new aspects to appreciate and enjoy about the book. And for those familiar to the story, the scene when Huck tears up the letter and decided to “go to Hell” is perhaps one of my favorite moments in literature.

Huckleberry Finn the boy is the prototype of all teenage angst characters. There’d be no Holden Caulfield with Huck. No young adult fiction without him, although I think that might be a good thing.

Do yourself a favorite and listen to what your high school English teachers probably told you: Read Huck Finn. You will enjoy it.

Cool kids who have already read the book understand what this means:

In case you are wondering what my teaching handouts for students look like, here they are:

Unit 6: To Read or Not To Read Huckleberry Finn part 1
Unit 6: Huck Finn part 2

Huck Finn App for iPod and iPad 
Huck Finn audiobook for iPod

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Jim and I picked up this book based on the recommendation of the equipping pastor at our church. This weekend, we’ll be attending a course called “Geography of the Soul” that uses this text as a jumping off point for discussion on emotional health as a key ingredient to spiritual maturity and genuine discipleship. The author, Peter Scazzero, nearly lost his wife, family, and church by constantly looking “outward and upward” rather than inward into the depths of his own issues. He writes out of his own experiences and weaves refreshingly honest stories of his failures throughout each chapter.

The basic premise of the book is this:

Many are supposedly ‘spiritually mature’ but remain infants, children, or teenagers emotionally. They demonstrate little ability to process anger, sadness, or hurt. They whine, complain, distance themselves, blame and use sarcasm–like little children when they don’t get their way. Highly defensive to criticism or differences of opinion, they expect to be taken care of and often treat people as objects to meet their needs. Why? The answer is what this book is about. The roots of the problem lie in faulty spirituality, stemming from a faulty biblical theology.

While the book is written from a pastor’s point of view and directed at those who are leaders within the church, the material is valuable for anyone in the church involved in discipleship (which should be everyone). For the first few chapters, Scazzero lays out the issue of emotional health within the church and pleads for change. Before diving into his seven principles of an emotionally healthy church, he offers a five page inventory to determine where one might fall on the scale of emotional maturity: emotional infant, emotional child, emotional adolescent, emotional adult. It was a good punch in the gut, and it was spot on. Here’s where I scored:

Emotional Adolescent: I don’t like it when others question me. I often make quick judgments and interpretations of people’s behavior. I withhold forgiveness to those who sin against me, avoiding or cutting them off when they do something to hurt me. I subconsciously keep records of the love I give out. I have trouble really listening to another person’s pain, disappointments, or needs without becoming preoccupied with myself. I sometimes find myself too busy to spend adequate time nourishing my spiritual life. I attend church and serve others but enjoy few delights in Christ. My Christian life is still primarily about doing, not being with Him. Prayer continues to be mostly me talking with little silence, solitude, or listening to God.

Ouch. What’s even sadder is that I actually patted myself on the back a little for scoring in the top 75%.

Principle #1 is looking beneath the surface–developing an awareness of what we’re feeling and doing, asking ourselves why, examining these answers in light of the gospel, and then tearing down the facade that masks who we really are. Principle #2 is breaking the power of the past–identifying how we are shaped by our families, discerning the major influences in our lives, allowing the gospel to “re-parent” us, and recognizing that everyone brings their own baggage to the table. This section sparked some particularly good contemplation and conversation in our home. Principle #3 is living in brokenness and vulnerability–understanding that weakness automatically became part of our lives through the Fall, accepting whatever “thorn in the flesh” we’ve been given as God’s perfect will, and recognizing that vulnerability starts with the pastor. If the leadership hides their weaknesses, so will the congregation.

Principle #4 is receiving the gift of limits. As a person who likes to have ten thousand things on my plate and then wonders why I feel overwhelmed, this chapter was especially helpful. The chapter focuses on Jesus’ embracing of human limitations and poses questions to help the reader discern their own limitations based on their personality, season of life, physical capacities, etc. Principle #5 is embracing grief and loss. The author lost me a bit in this chapter, but these lines did sink in:

I used to believe that grieving was an interruption, an obstacle in my path to serve Christ. In short, I considered it a waste of time…I resisted stopping from all my busy activity [because] I did not want to face the sadness that was waiting for me.

Principle #6 is making the incarnation your model for loving well, which, the author argues, can only be done if progress is made in the first five principles. Scazzero focuses heavily in this chapter on active listening, though he refers to it as “incarnational” listening. I’m not really sure why he felt the need to rename it, but whatever. Principle #7 is slowing down to lead with integrity.

How often do we hear the world encouraging us to “slow down,” or to follow any of these principles, really? What I hear it saying is “put your best foot forward,” it’s the “survival of the fittest,” and it’s okay to use people as a “means to an end.” We enjoy watching shows like Jerry Springer and The Real Housewives of L.A. because their problems make us feel better about our problems, and we can continue fooling ourselves into thinking that perfection and strength can be attained (or at least we can appear to have attained them). I will end my mini-rant here, because no one says it better than God:

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. ~1 Cor 3:18-19a

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Wholly guacamole what a disappointing book.

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I am always amazed out how many different ways people make a living online. Though I would never use most of the income streams that the author refers to I really enjoyed the quick read and that thoughts that it stirred in me.

One of his current income streams is using Amazon FBA to deliver everything for him so that he doesn’t have to do the work and he hired an Indian at $3 an hour to manage his inventory. Genius.

Probably the hottest thing write now is building businesses that help offline businesses get more customers and Jim pushes the site that he helped develop that helps normal people do just that.

If you are looking to make income online this is a good book to get you started. It doesn’t have step by step instructions but gives you a good overview of how to get started and can help you think about what direction you would want to head.

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Books on the soul are always a little bit hard for me to get through. Though I often mock 21 laws to this, 7 steps to that and 4 secrets for success in your field, I love the simplicity of the thought that there really are 21 laws, 7 steps or 4 secrets.

That said I really did enjoy the book and think it is a great read for anyone who has been in Christian leadership for 10+ years.

Ruth Haley Barton, takes the life of Moses and walks us through his leadership and walk with God. She does a great job of pulling out principles without stretching the story as told in Scripture. On a side note, I was told by a counselor that he had come up with the concepts in her book a long time ago but she had been able to market them better.

At the end of leading people for 40 years Moses is not able to enter into the promise land. I have often that that seemed like a huge punishment for what seemed to be a small sin. Barton speaks to that in a way that made sense and also challenged me in my own life.

This part of Moses’ story does speak to the fact that when you choose the spiritual life the stakes get higher and higher. Behavior and attitudes that were good enough last year may not be good enough this year. A level of integrity that was good enough for one level of spiritual leadership disappoints others and yourself as you move into greater responsibility. There is a peace on this path and very deep rewards, but there is an even greater need to live authentically and more given over to grace. The more spiritual the destination the greater the the importance of our character and utter responsiveness to God in the journey is.

He no longer needed any role or responsibility or task to define him….And this is what I have come to see most clearly in the life of Moses: for Moses the presence of God was the Promised Land. Next to that, everything else had already paled in significance.

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In my continuing pursuit to recapture the english education I intentionally ignored growing up, I decided it was time to read this paragon of American literature.

As I see it, The Great Gatsby is a novel about the vacuous life of the social, political, and financially elite citizens of New York during the ‘roaring twenties’.  It was a time of peace (after world war I) and prosperity.  With the right connections in the underground world of bootlegging (this was the time of prohibition) Penniless nobodies like Jay Gatsby could reinvent themselves to become socialite millionaires.  Yet, in spite his lavish parties,  grand mansion, and overly smooth demeanor (he calls everyone ‘old sport’),  there is evident angst, loneliness, and unrequited love stirring in his soul.

No doubt Fitzgerald’s ability to paint vivid word pictures, coupled with his keen insights into the human condition are, like other great works, the leading factors which have led to the appropriate description of ‘classic literature’.  It’s paragraphs and sentences like this one which made this book thoroughly enjoyable:

“This is a valley of ashes–a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air. Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight.”

In sum, as I read this book and now have read several other classics I should have read back in the day, I am realizing that there really is some life-enriching value to these classics.  They help me see the world, and the world’s problems through different eyes.  As a pastor, I think these new insights can only help me in my understanding others and my attempts to point them to Christ.

But perhaps, like me, you spent your time playing video games instead of doing your english homework… well, I found something for you as well.  You can now play The Great Gatsby video game for NES here: http://greatgatsbygame.com/

Who needs a book when you can throw boomerangs at the waiters and party guests at Gatsby’s mansion?

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