Televenge – A book review

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Andrea Anglin

Unconditional love and grace versus legalism is the core of the novel, Televenge by Pamela King Cable. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but the plot synopsis caused me to pause and take a look and I’m so happy it did.

Televenge’s plot focuses on Andie Oliver, a devout Christian woman who is caught inbetween the life she’s dreamed of with a husband and children and a controlling televangelist who threatens to destroy everything she loves. As a member of the House of Praise, an evangelical megachurch, Andie isn’t in love with the doctrine or as enthralled with the charismatic pastor, Calvin Artury, as the rest of the congregation (including her husband, Joe). But House of Praise is all she knows of God and faith and since Joe is caught up in being the “perfect” Christian, Andie finds herself on the losing end of a battle for Joe’s attention and devotion. Joe is much more concerned with making sure Rev. Artury is happy than he is his own wife.

Andie, an upper-middle class southern belle has wanted nothing more than to be married and create a beautiful home for her husband and children. But Joe’s obsession with the ever-popular Rev. Artury threatens even her ability to start a family and the secrets around the church begin to peel away as Andie stands strong against some of the most bizarre church rules.

The deeper into the story, the more twists and turns, the author is able to flawlessly coax from her characters. I was genuinely entranced with this novel, unable to put it down. At a considerable length of nearly 600 pages, it felt like little more than half that size because I was able to read it so quickly. The more I got to know Andie the more I rooted for her to turn her situation around and with each loss and crushed dream, I wept for her. But as God did with Job, she was rewarded for her faithfulness.

One element of the writing style I enjoyed was the various perspectives the author wrote from. Usually written in Andie’s voice, there were several sections of the book in which Andie’s best friend, Mavis spoke or even the evil Rev. Artury. These transitions were smooth and natural and added a richness to the story unlike any I’d read in a while. King Cable’s attention to detail in the book was fantastic. She transported me into another time, at the height of televangelism, before scandals rocked the religious world and tarnished the label, “evangelical”.

The seedy side of religion isn’t something I relish reading, but just like anything else, there is a darkness opposite the light, and the author captures this darkness in compelling and meaningful ways. Everything in the novel serves a purpose and helps the story of Andie Oliver and her life ease up from the muddy murk, float to the surface and finally begin to blossom, like a lotus flower.

Brilliant writing and characters put Televenge on the top of my recommendations for this holiday season and beyond.

Holy Moly…

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Andrea Anglin

I have a confession. I have a dark and twisty sense of humor. I tend to be a little morbid. A little weird. Sometimes inappropriate. This, dear friends, is why I tend to like Christopher Moore novels. But I’m also a woman of faith and that is a big part of who I am.So when a friend lent me the Moore book, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, I was tentatively excited. You see, I adore the bizarre worlds Moore creates, such as the one in which an ancient giant lizard creature comes ashore and attempts to mate with everything in sight. And my humor has often been called irreverent. But I felt weird about reading a book that seemed sacrilegious, I mean, we all know Jesus didn’t have a friend named Biff. His BFFs were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But this was a Christopher Moore novel, not intended to be a true gospel so I read it, and I’m so glad I did.

In Lamb, Biff is resurrected by an angel on orders from God so that he can transcribe his gospel, which fills the world in on those 20 years of Jesus’ life not covered in the Bible. Biff refers to Jesus as Josh, because in Hebrew, the name Jesus was really Yeshua (Joshua). Biff and Josh become fast friends although Biff is always creating some mischief that creates issues for his holier-than-thou (literally) friend. From the time they are children Biff is amazed at the miracles his friend performs, from resurrecting lizards and eventually, people, to turning water into wine. Despite his love for his best friend, Biff always wonders if Josh really is the Son of God but is unwaveringly loyal, no matter what doubts he may harbor.

Josh becomes convinced that finding the three wise men who presented him with gifts after his birth will help him discover his true destiny. Biff sets off to help his friend and in the course of the next twenty years they meet up with each of the wise men – all of whom have a lesson to teach. These lessons become the basis of Josh’s ministry back home when he and Biff finally return to Nazareth.

Before leaving, they find themselves entangled in a love-triangle with Mary Magdalen, also known as Maggie, who both boys love (though Josh knows he can never be with her) and who loves both boys. They also meet up with John the Baptist, Josh’s strange but lovable cousin who also had a prophetic destiny. In their adventures throughout China and India to find the wise men, they study “magic”, master Buddhist meditation (and meet a Yeti) and learn the ways of a Hindu Yogi. These life experiences and years spent with these wise men give Josh the knowledge he needs to return home and become a proper Messiah.

The story is outrageous, sometimes offensive and quite a bit naughty – but it’s Moore’s trademark wacky that makes Lamb an entertaining read, even for a good Christian girl like me.

What Does It Take to Have the Heart of a Soul Surfer? Bonus! A Present for You!

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Michelle Langston

Surfer Bethany Hamilton has been who the “Bravest Girl in America.” Raised in Kauai, Hawaii, Hamilton has been a surfer since the age of seven, and is said to have sea-water in her veins. Her love of big waves has never left her, not even after a shark attack on Halloween of 2003 that nearly took her life and severed her arm near the shoulder.

Most of us cannot fathom what life would be like after a catastrophic injury like what Bethany sustained. I find her resilience amazing, and inspiring. Instead of focusing on all the things she can no longer do, Bethany pushes herself to do things that would all but seem impossible to the rest of us. One of the scenes in the film that I found the most amazing was a quiet scene where Bethany strives to help put breakfast on the table. The simple act of cutting fruit for the family becomes an incomprehensible task. Yet Bethany quietly sits on the floor with fruit, cutting board and knife, and finds a way to make it happen. And if the simple act of cutting fruit with only one arm seems like an impossibility, then just wait until you see the scenes where Bethany gets back on a surfboard.

Bethany credits her family and her faith for helping her to persevere and get back on a board. Not only did Bethany re-learn how to surf, but she also went on to compete in numerous surfing competitions. Bethany has received numerous awards, including the 2004 Teen Choice award for Most Courageous Teen and the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete.

Bethany’s story has been turned into a feature length film, SOUL SURFER, starring AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood and Lorraine Nicholson (Jack Nicholson’s daughter). The film hits theaters nationwide on Friday, April 8.

A young adult book accompanies the release. Soul Surfer – A Movie Tie-In: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board is available for purchase now. Click here for more info on the book. If you are looking for a hero, someone your kids can really look up to, then pick-up this book and read it with them. You’ll both be amazed and inspired!

Now, for a little present for you. If you live in the Oklahoma City area, Bookend Babes wants to send you and your family to the movies, for free !

How would you like to see a special advance screening of the film SOUL SURFER, courtesy of Bookend Babes? I’ll not make you jump through any hoops, or even promising me your undying adoration. All you need to do is print this blog post, and take it to the theater with you, or simply print the picture of the admission ticket below! Screening takes place on Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 PM at the AMC Quail Springs Theater. If you decide to go to the screening, make sure you ARRIVE EARLY! Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. You really should be there at least an hour before showtime. I can’t stress that point enough. Get there early!

The film is rated PG. I’ve seen the film myself and wouldn’t hesitate to bring my youngest child with me. Some people may have an aversion due to the shark attack, but I promise, this is handled with sensitivity and without gory detail. This is a film that the whole family can enjoy, so I hope you get the chance to do just that!

Here’s the pass, and then you’ll find the trailer to the film. Enjoy!

An Altar in the World

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Malena Lott

Our Book in Bloom this week is AN ALTAR IN THE WORLD: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. I finished the book, though I didn’t want it to end. As the blurb on the cover says: it’s not a page turner, it’s a page lingerer. I highly recommend a highlighter (which I used on at least every other page) so you can go back and revisit your favorite passages. If you’re looking for a “thinking/feeling” book, and you like to read about faith and how to have a greater connection to the world, then this is the book for you. Although Taylor was a preacher, she isn’t preachy. She’s a gifted writer and that alone makes one dive into the material and get lost in it. The fact that she is also wise makes the swim a long, leisurely one. – Malena Lott

From the publisher:

In her critically acclaimed Leaving Church (“a beautiful, absorbing memoir”—The Dallas Morning News), Barbara Brown Taylor wrote about her experience leaving full-time ministryto become a professor, a decision that stretched the boundaries of her faith. Now, in her stunning follow-up, An Altar in the World, she shares how she learned to encounter God far beyond the walls of the church.

Taylor reveals meaningful ways to discover the sacred in the small things we do and see, from simple practices such as walking, working, and prayer. Something as ordinary as hanging clothes on a clothesline becomes an act of meditation if we pay attention to what we’re doing and take time to notice the sights, smells, and sounds around us. Making eye contact with the cashier at the grocery store becomes a moment of true human connection. Allowing yourself to get lost leads to new discoveries. As we incorporate these practices into our daily lives, we begin to discover altars everywhere we go, in nearly everything we do. Through Taylor’s expert guidance and delicate, thought-provoking prose, we learn to live with purpose, pay attention, slow down, and revere the world we live in.

About the Author
Barbara Brown Taylor’s last book, Leaving Church, was met with widespread critical acclaim including the New York Times, USA Today, NPR’s Fresh Air, and others. Taylor spent fifteen years in parish ministry and was named one of the twelve most effective preachers in the English-speaking world by Baylor University in 1996. She became a professor of religion at Piedmont College in 1998 and also teaches spirituality at Columbia Theological Seminary. Still a priest in the Episcopal church, Taylor has traveled the world in pursuit of sacred wisdom, finding most of what she needed in her backyard. She lives on a working farm in rural north Georgia with her husband, Ed.

Get the book here.

LOSING MY RELIGION

Posted on February 10, 2009 by malenalott

Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America – and Found Unexpected Peace by William Lobdell

First line: “By age 27, I had screwed up my life.”

The first thing a reader should know is that LOSING MY RELIGION is not anti anything. In fact, the author, a former journalist with the Los Angeles Times, purposely carved out a niche for himself as a religion columnist to find interesting, relevant stories to share about all religions because he didn’t think faith was getting good coverage. His hope? To give back and hopefully enrich his own faith along the way.

Lobdell’s memoir is heart-wrenching and honest, something all great memoirs should be. And like a great journalist, his stories were unbiased – he wrote of miracles and also of scandals. His personal position shifted like a tide waxing and waning. He was an evangelical before becoming a Presbyterian before studying to become a Catholic. His journey is thoughtful and poignant. Most interesting to me as a cradle Catholic-turned-retired Catholic (yes, I’m 36, but most Catholics retire before they expire) is that he would cover the Catholic sex scandal by day and go to his Catholic classes by night.

He shares in painstaking detail the behind-the-scenes stories of the columns he wrote for the paper- the televangelists, the faith healers, the huge Catholic priest sex scandal, and more, with the added layer of where it all fit in his spiritual journey at those times. Did the good stories make him more faithful? Did the ugly ones bring more doubt?

Another “revelation” for me in the book was the research and simple question we can ask ourselves about believers. Are Christians more moral than non-Christians? Do they divorce at a lower rate? Have fewer abortions? etc. You may be surprised (but not shocked) to learn that no, Christians are not less likely to sin. While reading the book, you will likely explore your own faith journey, no matter your age. I have often been amused that the people who claim to be the most religious are also the most close-minded and at least from their actions, spiritual in word but not deed. Why bother to ask What Would Jesus Do (remember those WWJD bracelets?) but then do whatever the hell you want anyway? You can argue all you want that it should be about God and not people, but who is the church filled with? Lobdell’s book focuses more on the people than the ideology, but there’s some of both in his story.

While I would hope LOSING finds a wide audience of believers, skeptics and non-believers, I have my doubts. Prove me wrong. Don’t judge the book by the “cover”, the title or more specifically the “sub-title.” For godsake don’t e-mail Lobdell and tell him that you haven’t read the book and yet you’re praying for him and hope he’ll write another one about finding it again. READ THE DAMN BOOK, and then do something – like say volunteer, feed the poor, help those less fortunate like Jesus wanted, not pester someone like Lobdell. Lobdell does not speak from a bully pulpit, but through his factual, real experiences and how that intersects with his true yearning for a faith he could believe in, and yes, practice.

If you were one of the nincompoops who stopped watching Oprah when she did A New Earth book club with Eckhart Tolle because you thought it was un-Christian (it wasn’t – you didn’t read the book either, did you?), then no, you are not open-minded enough to read Lobdell’s book. A little logic is required here. He’s not making crap up. Journalists will most likely relate to the book. Intellectuals will lap it up. Skeptics will find great source material because Lobdell himself became so well-read about dogma and doctrine and religious history. I’d bet you he knows quite a bit more than most cradle Catholics and people born in a particular religion.

The point is not to read it and then come to any conclusion yourself. It’s a memoir, not a how to. There are plenty of other books that delve deeper into ideology and atheism – this isn’t this book’s purpose.

If we are in fact a part of a new renaissance, where the majority of the country claims they are “spiritual but not religious”, then smart people like Lobdell enrich that experience with speaking his own truth and asking some hard questions that can bring us closer to our own authentic selves and ideas about the Universe. Thinking is a good thing, and it is in our brain that we begin to feel, including the spiritual energy that connects all things. While I might hope for that awakening for Lobdell, telling someone something does not make them feel it.

For: Exploring one man’s faith journey via two decades of insightful investigative religious reporting and pondering your own. - Malena Lott

Buy it at Amazon.