Friday, October 03, 2003
I'm Reading...
East of Eden (Oprah's Book Club) One of my favorite writers is John Steinbeck but I've never read East of Eden until now. I stayed away from this book because I vaguely knew the plot was about a prostitute and her sons. However, the book is much more than that. In fact, Steinbeck wrote the book as sort of a family history living in the Salinas, California area.
After reading this book I'm ready to declare that this is my favorite Steinbeck novel despite some of the occasional profanity. This book, above many other books I've read, describes the classic struggle of good and evil that goes on in men's hearts and minds. I found Steinbeck's observation of human nature quite incredible. Here's an example:
And once a boy (Cal) has suffered rejection, he will find rejection even where it does not exist---or, worse, will draw it forth from people simply by expecting it. In Cal the process had been so and so slow that he felt no strangeness. He had built a wall of self-suffiency around himself, strong enough to defend himself against the world.
There are many other descriptions by Steinbeck in this book of the human struggle with the impulses of good and evil. The characters in this volume are rich and layered with deep emotions. And the ending of this novel is compatible with any Christian view.
I can highly recommend reading East of Eden (Oprah's Book Club) if you can tolerate a few occasions of profanity. This is one book I plan on reading and rereading for a study in developing characters. My only regret? I've finally read a book Oprah recommends.
Aloha, Glenn
East of Eden (Oprah's Book Club) One of my favorite writers is John Steinbeck but I've never read East of Eden until now. I stayed away from this book because I vaguely knew the plot was about a prostitute and her sons. However, the book is much more than that. In fact, Steinbeck wrote the book as sort of a family history living in the Salinas, California area.
After reading this book I'm ready to declare that this is my favorite Steinbeck novel despite some of the occasional profanity. This book, above many other books I've read, describes the classic struggle of good and evil that goes on in men's hearts and minds. I found Steinbeck's observation of human nature quite incredible. Here's an example:
And once a boy (Cal) has suffered rejection, he will find rejection even where it does not exist---or, worse, will draw it forth from people simply by expecting it. In Cal the process had been so and so slow that he felt no strangeness. He had built a wall of self-suffiency around himself, strong enough to defend himself against the world.
There are many other descriptions by Steinbeck in this book of the human struggle with the impulses of good and evil. The characters in this volume are rich and layered with deep emotions. And the ending of this novel is compatible with any Christian view.
I can highly recommend reading East of Eden (Oprah's Book Club) if you can tolerate a few occasions of profanity. This is one book I plan on reading and rereading for a study in developing characters. My only regret? I've finally read a book Oprah recommends.
Aloha, Glenn
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
I'm reading...
The book of Romans!
God is so amazing! I've started a new Bible reading experience and today something just spoke to me so I thought I'd jot it down here.
In the family of Christ, there are some people who believe that God has abandoned his people, Israel. But how could he have done so? His own son was born to Israel, and God promised he would always love them, though they are a stubborn and stiff-necked people.
So I'm reading in Romans today and this passage resonated in me: Romans 11:17-24
Basically, this is telling the reader that Israel is the Lord's cultivated olive tree and the Gentiles are like a wild olive tree. Some branches of the cultivated tree were cut off and some from the wild tree were grafted in.
But Paul warns the grafted-in branches not to think of themselves as being better than the rest of the tree. It is the ROOT that supports the BRANCH, not the other way around. By grace, the Gardener grafted in the branches, not because the branches deserved grafting.
Be afraid, Paul says to the arrogant branch. For if God would cut off branches of this tree that were a natural part of it, he can cut off branches he grafted in, as well.
Finally, Paul shows God's love in reminding the cut-off branches that they will be grafted in again if they do not persist in their unbelief.
I just thought this was cool. God's neverending love for a stubborn people is encouraging because I, too, am stubborn and I know he loves me anyway.
Praise the Lord for his faithfulness!
~~Sandi~~
The book of Romans!
God is so amazing! I've started a new Bible reading experience and today something just spoke to me so I thought I'd jot it down here.
In the family of Christ, there are some people who believe that God has abandoned his people, Israel. But how could he have done so? His own son was born to Israel, and God promised he would always love them, though they are a stubborn and stiff-necked people.
So I'm reading in Romans today and this passage resonated in me: Romans 11:17-24
Basically, this is telling the reader that Israel is the Lord's cultivated olive tree and the Gentiles are like a wild olive tree. Some branches of the cultivated tree were cut off and some from the wild tree were grafted in.
But Paul warns the grafted-in branches not to think of themselves as being better than the rest of the tree. It is the ROOT that supports the BRANCH, not the other way around. By grace, the Gardener grafted in the branches, not because the branches deserved grafting.
Be afraid, Paul says to the arrogant branch. For if God would cut off branches of this tree that were a natural part of it, he can cut off branches he grafted in, as well.
Finally, Paul shows God's love in reminding the cut-off branches that they will be grafted in again if they do not persist in their unbelief.
I just thought this was cool. God's neverending love for a stubborn people is encouraging because I, too, am stubborn and I know he loves me anyway.
Praise the Lord for his faithfulness!
~~Sandi~~
