Good Monday morning, SEBTS
ladies! We hope you had a wonderful
holiday weekend.
We are so excited to bring more
Good Summer Reads to you this morning. This
Monday’s list is from our own Penny Keathley!
Read on for Penny’s great suggestions…
The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English
Professor's Journey into Christian Faith
by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
In the
January/February 2013 edition of Christianity Today, I read the gripping story
of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield's conversion entitled "My Train Wreck
Conversion". The subtitle caught my attention: "As a leftist
lesbian professor, I despised Christians. Then somehow I became one."
It was a fascinating testimony. The end of the article stated that she
had written a book and was now living as a pastor's wife in Durham, NC.
Well, I just had to read the rest of her story!
Rosario did not
just live quietly as a lesbian - in her words, she was "an 'out' lesbian
in the same way that [she is] now an 'out' Christian". She writes a
very personal, gripping story of her journey to Jesus, and along the way shares
some very insightful thoughts on the way Christians are perceived by the gay
community. She also minces no words in exhorting us to intellectual integrity
and truly loving the lost. "There is a core difference between
sharing the gospel with the lost and imposing a specific moral standard on the
unconverted." (p. 7) "Sexual sin...won't be 'healed' by
redeeming the context or the genders. Sexual sin must simply be killed."
(p 83)
This book was enlightening as to how the gay
community thinks and feels about Christians - and how I might be more effective
salt and light to those in that community. My only negative take from the book
is that Rosario spends a good deal of time "preaching" reformed
theology. But since she came to Christ as the result of the loving witness of
an RP (Reformed Presbyterian) pastor, and is now the wife of a RP pastor, it is
understandable that she is now very zealous toward RP theology. I may
disagree with some of her theological convictions - but applaud her honesty and
transparency in sharing her full story, as well as her wholeheartedness in
serving God today.
Rosaria Butterfield will be on the
Southeastern Seminary campus this fall for a lecture and book signing scheduled
for Friday, September 6 at 7pm in the Center for Faith &
Culture (CFC) located in Patterson Hall. More information will be available on
the CFC website (centerforfaithandculture.com) soon.
The Shoemaker's Wife
(A novel)
by
Adriana Trigiani
Summertime
is when I like to read an engaging novel. But often it is difficult to
find fiction that is compellingly interesting with both plot and characters,
while not offending in language or content. In my estimation, this novel fits
the bill. Though not "Christian" by definition or publisher, it
upholds good character, integrity and moral strength, telling a real-life
family's story of love, tragedy and triumph.
This is a novel based on the true love story of the author's grandparents. The story begins in turn of the century Italy and continues over the course of two world wars, dealing extensively with the story of their immigration to America. It reads like an historical fiction, with a bit of romance thrown in, and the characters are engaging and likable. Be warned that the book is nearly 500 pages, so this is not a one-night read. However, this captivating story is worthy of your time if you enjoy historical novels as I do.
Extreme Grandparenting: The Ride of Your Life!
by
Dr. Tim & Darcy Kimmel
The
authors, Dr. Tim Kimmel and his wife, Darcy, are cofounders of Family Matters.
In this book they remind us that grand-parenting "offers us a chance to
help groom [a new] generation for greatness" (p 13) and that
grand-parenting is a "sacred trust" from the Lord, a responsibility
that requires our full commitment.
The
book does more, though, than just exhort us to embrace the important task of
grand-parenting. It gives very practical advice and tips for how to develop
our skills as grand-parents with chapters such as: "Positive
Spoiling", "Babysitting", and "rock 'n roll"
grandparents.
Even
if you are a long way from the grandparent stage, this book would be an
interesting read and helpful in understanding the valuable role grandparents
can and should play in mentoring grandchildren.
Penny Keathley is
the wife of Professor Ken Keathley, mother to two married adult children, and
grandmother to two preschool grandsons. She recently began working again
as a legal assistant; ministers with her husband each weekend at their interim
pastorate; enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, movies and shopping; but most of
all enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren and ministering to
those God puts in her path each day.
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