ON LIVING SIMPLY John Chrysostom Book Review

On Living Simply: The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom
A Book of Ancient Wisdom
compiled by Robert Van de Weyer




Published by Liguori/Triumph, Liguori MO
ISBN: 978-0-7648-0056-6
Softcover
Retail price: $9.95
Size: 5-1/4 x 7-3/8 inches (19 cm)
96 pages


What is on the book's back cover:This meditational book contains more than 90 excerpts from the sermons of Saint John Chrysostom, a major but little-known spiritual thinker of the early Church. Robert Van de Weyer has selected thematic passages from the written record of these sermons in order to inspire, challenge, remind, and reassure a new generation of readers.


John Chrysostom was a spell-binding preacher and the leader of the Church of Constantinople during the 4th century. He chastised the rich for failing to share their wealth with the less fortunate, and he described generosity to another not as gift-giving but as a required repayment of a debt. He view the goal of marriage as companionship on the journey to heaven. This book brings these and other views across the centuries in a message whose modernity, bluntness, and vigor is undimmed by time.


Babamarusia's Review:Today I read On Living Simply: The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom, A Book of Ancient Christian Wisdom compiled by Robert van de Weyer, published by Ligouri/Triumph, 1996. It’s a pretty little book, and the pages all have lots of space that is empty–-and at that, it is full of wisdom and thought that is as useful and functional today as it was in the 4th century. Beginning with a brief biography of John the “golden-mouthed,” name for his eloquence and the outspoken truths in his sermons, John was eventually forced to leave the city where he lived because the rulers and the rich didn’t care for what he was saying.


There are 84 writings–very easy to read in one sitting, and also marvelous read one each day for 84 days. However it is done, it’s a good read. Now for today. After reading this book, I understand better the nature of being a steward of all that belongs to God–which is…. EVERYthing.


Why should I take care of my home and yard, my possessions? I should take care of them as a steward, keeping all in good order for the next steward to come.


Is it possible to be humble and meek, and be wrong? Most definitely so, and here is how. As John Chrysostom points out, humility and meekness can become an idol, a worship of attitude instead of a reflection of the Christian’s nature in relationship to God. When humility and meekness, and other forms of visible display–such as living frugally, relying on other for transportation and the like create a situation where someone else is put out in an yway–cause others to inconvenience themselves in an unnecessary manner, then the humble person has elevated him- or herself to a position above others.


A lot of topics are covered by John Chrysostom, taken and written in current English usage by the author. There are strong words spoken out of love, that come across as loving rather than harsh. Whether this is the nature of John’s message or the creativeness of Mr. Van de Weyer’s writing, I don’t know. The author worked from pieces and fragments as you might expect he would, given the age of the original manuscripts.


I encourage you to read this book that I now recommend to you.
....babamarusia

Review AMBROSE AND THE CATHEDRAL DREAM Sorenson/ Szegedi 9780814630044

Ambrose and the Cathedral Dream
Ages 4-10

Margo Sorenson, Author
Katalin Szegedi, Illustrator

Liturgical Press, Publisher
ISBN 13: 978-0-8146-3004-4
ISBN 10: 0-8144-3004-9

Retail Price: $16.99

Little Ambrose lives in the cathedral with his family, where for many generations they have made important service contributions to the maintaining and well-being of their church. In this episode, they are commited to helping in the building of the cathedral, just as the previous generation of church mice in their family did. When the workers would get sleepy, the brothers and sisters of Ambrose would do somersaults in front of the workers to keep them alert.

Ambrose wished to do something special to help William, the Master Builder. What could he do? The little mouse thought and thought, and then one day opportunity presented itself.

With rich, brightly colored illustrations created by Katalin Szegedi, Margo Sorenson creates a story that will show children no one is to small to do their part, and that no job is too small to be important. The story also demonstrates how church life and service can aid in strengthening family relationships.

I must admit that as much as I appreciate the fabulous illustrations, I found the story line a little on the weak side. Yet, I am not a child between the ages of four and ten. The story is not so long as to make reading the entire book in one sitting a challenge for younger children. I think that children will get involved in the dilemma of how to come up with something that will be helpful to others, and that they will relate to Ambrose as a tiny mouse trying to be helpful, as children often feel small also.

Reviewed by babamarusia

Ambrose and the Cathedral dream is available for purchase at QualityMusicandBooks.com

Quality Music and Books, QMB, is a retail Christian music and bookstore in Osseo, Minnesota, a northern suburb of Minneapolis. QMB stocks new, used and publisher's overstock books, as well as new and used music of various genres and styles, and thoughtful gifts. We offer generous group discounts, punch cards, and special orders with no finding fee.

We invite orders by telephone while our website is still in process of being created. If your book is not in stock it will be shipped for free. If you live in the Minneapolis area, you can order by telephone, pay by credit card, and pick up your order at your convenience!

QMB believes that quality does not have to cost what the traffic will bear, but should be offered at a fair price with a fair shipping cost.

The QMB Vision: Recognizing that our Christian faith grows by God's grace through the Holy Spirit, our desire is to provide materials and opportunities that equip believers to fully participate in the Body of Christ through Worship, Word and Witness.

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THE SIGN OF THE CROSS TAndreas Andreopoulos Book Review

The Sign of the Cross
The Gesture, The Mystery, The History

Andreas Andreopoulos, Author

Foreword by Frederica Mathewes Green

Paraclete Press, PublisherISBN 978-1-55725-496-2165 pages

Retail Price: $19.95

Having spent my formative and early adult years in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and then moving to a protestant denomination after marriage, one part of my faith practices that has never changed has been using the faith profession of making the sign of the cross. In this small book Andreas Andreopoulos has explained a lot of my unanswered questions. The Sign of the Cross is not a book only for Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, or any other Christians who use this gesture. It is for all Christians.

Andreopoulos, in every day language readily understandable to all, gives the background history for how this symbol of faith came into existance, the meanings of the various ways it is practiced, the related history of its development, and what it still means to Christians today. He covers how and why it is used by clergy and lay people. In essence, this book gives those who do not want to delve into deep theological writing or would have difficulty understanding such, a theological dissertation in a way that will be a learning experience giving deeper meaning to their Christian faith.

I found a lot that I didn't know, some information that affirmed what I believe, and a whole lot that I didn't know that I can put into practice. For example, why do Eastern Orthodox Christians shape their hand differently than others to make the cross? Why do Catholics go to the left shoulder first and the Orthodox to the right shoulder first? What does the cross symbol mean when I use it?

Although the facts about the initial use of the cross sign are sketchy, Andreopoulos presents what is known, and presents why different thoughts about its origins may or may not be true. He does not make any judgement about one denomination against another, nor does he say one practice is right and another wrong. If I might have one criticism, it is that Andreopoulos comes from the perspective that all Christians use the sign of the cross. Perhaps that will be his next book--how for some Christians this practice fell out of use and why.

I highly recommend this book.

From the Publisher

Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross—and have done so for centuries—as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?

The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Now and for the first time, young Greek scholar Andreas Andreopoulos explains the tremendous meaning, mystery, and history of this dramatic gesture shared by Christians worldwide. This readable account will fascinate and inspire all who desire to know more about the inherited spiritual practices of everyday life.

Andreas Andreopoulos was born in Greece in 1966 and is recognized throughout the world as one of the most eloquent young scholars of Christianity. He earned his Ph.D. in theology at the University of Durham under Fr. Andrew Louth and has taught in Toronto, Montreal, and Philadelphia. He is currently Lecturer of Christian Theology at the University of Wales.

Reviewed by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.