Summer Reads, Mrs. Penny Keathley's Picks


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 Pennys 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

 Front Cover




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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