Mark's #25 - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (2004)

Cloud Atlas is as confusing as it is engaging.  Normally a difficult to follow plot (or plots in this case) is frustrating for the reader and quickly drains the enjoyment of the reading.  However, David Mitchell, is able to tell six seemingly disconnected stories that vary in time, location, and plot direction into a book that may be one of the most fun books I've read in a long time.

The book begins via The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing circa 1850 on a voyage East from a tiny south Pacific island to the west coast of the United States.  The author's writing style and tone reminded me of Nathaniel Hawthorne.  I was astounded by the depth and breadth of his vocabulary, and expected the rest of the book to follow along these lines...

After a few chapters following Adam, the journal abruptly ends mid sentence and the story takes a radical shift to be the Letters from Zedelghem.  Here the story follows the letters from of an english man named Robert Frobisher to a Mr. Rufus Sixsmith. Frobisher is a penniless young musician who is able to convince a great, but aging, composure to employ him as an amanuensis.

The story progresses into a mid-1970's Grisham like novel, where Rufus Sixsmith is a key figure.  This novel is being read by Timothy Cavendish, as we find out in the next part of the story through his autobiography: The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish.  This next section of the book is by far the most hilarious, as Timothy is eventually incarcerated against his will in a nursing home where he plots his escape. From here the book takes another radical leap in time and genre to a post-apocalyptic story about a 'fabricant' (cloned) girl named Sonmi 451 in South Korea.  She knows about Timothy Cavendish's story through a digital 'Sony' she watches in the future.  The final story line is presumably the final reference point for all the stories, which takes place in the very distant future on the Hawaiian Islands after the earth is completely polluted and nearly lifeless which is told from the perspective of an island native named Zachary in a thick hawaiian pidgin.  It seems Sonmi has led some sort of revolution by which she later becomes a sort of god for the inhabitants of the Island.

But that's not all, after progressing through all six stories to their mid-way point, the book then progresses in reverse order to bring about the conclusion of each of the six stories - ending with the completion of Adam Ewing's journal.

Yes, I said it was complex and confusing - and yet, I think I've done my best to make it as straight forward and simple as possible.

There are some interesting meta-narratives that flow throughout each of the stories, such as the depravity of humans.  The will to power and the tragic results that often follow when one does achieve power.

If you like a very multi-layered story, along with biography and science fiction, then give this book a shot.  You may just understand it and will be able to better explain it to me.

However, if you don't have time for such an endeavor (544 pages), you can watch the Cloud Atlas movie that comes out this fall with Tom Hanks and Halle Berry: http://youtu.be/hWnAqFyaQ5s

Mark's #24 - A Mind For God by James Emery White (2006)

In August, we'll be discussing this book during our monthly Apologia discussion group at The Harbor.  In preparation, I read this short book ahead of time, and was greatly encouraged in doing so.  A couple of years ago, Ron read and reviewed this book on this website (his review is better and more in-depth)

Like other books we've read and discussed for Apologia, this book raises an alarm at the lack of critical thinking in our culture in general and in the church specifically.  The author puts forth a short, but effective treatise for the Christian to recapture the life of the mind and live out a Christian worldview for the glory of God.  In addition, he encourages believers to engage their minds as they engage the culture at large in meaningful ways as Christians point the culture to Christ the King.  To do this, we are encouraged to enter the great conversation of the ages through consistent and critical reading.  He challenges the reader to be intentional about what they read and when they read.

If you're in Okinawa, we have some copies available at The Harbor ($10) if you would like to join us for our discussion of this book on August 29th.

Mark's #23 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1999)

Seeing as I am one of  the last holdouts in the english-speaking world to not read any of the Harry Potter books, or see any of the movies, I won't bother going into the details of the young wizard in training. I read this book aloud to my daughters.  I did this because I had heard about all the controversy regarding the series: "Those books are spiritually dangerous", "The fantasy of Harry Potter is different from that of Narnia or Lord of the Rings", "Oh, they're fine, there's nothing wrong with those books", etc.  As such, I wanted to see for myself what all the hullabaloo was all about.

So here's my conclusion: The (1st) Harry Potter book is neither as dangerous or as spiritually benign as some have claimed.

There is much to delight the young (or old) reader (listener) in terms of fantasy, hijinks, and adventure.  There is also the normalization of witchcraft and wizardry, ghosts, and the undead (Voldemort).

Since I read this book to my kids, I took advantage of the teaching opportunities given throughout the book to discuss these issues.  As such, we were able pause and talk about Saul and the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28), what the Bible says about witchcraft and ghosts, and issues of good and evil, courage, and discernment.

Personally I enjoyed the story... but I enjoyed the time with my daughters more.  They've all begged me to begin book #2 as soon as possible... Peering into my crystal ball, a return to Hogwarts seems to be in my future.

Mark's #22 - The Case For Life by Scott Klusendorf

If you are a follower of Christ, you must get your head out of the cultural sand, read this book, and begin to use your voice in the public market place of ideas and dialogue regarding the cause of countless millions of murdered, unborn humans.

Scott Klusendorf, president of the Life Training Institute, presents a very compelling, thoughtful, and sound argument on behalf of the unborn humanity for their right to life.  One does not need to hold to a Christian worldview to understand and embrace the majority of the scientific and philosophical arguments Scott puts forward.

As a pastor, I thought I was pretty clued in already to the tragedy of abortion and the cause of the pro-life movement.  Having read this book, I realized, I hadn't a clue.  Few books move me to such indignation (against abortion) and passion to fight for those who have no voice in our culture of murder for the sake of convenience, greed, and ignorance.

In part one, Klusendorf gets to the heart of the issue, "what is the unborn?"  Are they human or not?  If they are not human, then abortion is, as abortion-choice people argue, 'morally neutral'.  However, if they are human, it is reprehensible to try to justify the murder of countless millions of people created in the image of God.  Here Klusendorf shows from even the most basic scientific level, that human embryos are in fact - human beings. They are not merely a 'clump of cells', they are humans at the exact level of development and location where all of us once were as humans. Using the acronym SLED, the author shows that regardless of Size, Level of development, Environment, and Degree of dependency, the unborn human is still 100% human.

In part two, Klusendorf demonstrates that contrary to what abortion-choice advocates claim, they are neither morally neutral or tolerant when it comes to this issue.  Here he calls Christians to understand God's will regarding this issue, and rise to the occasion to put forth compelling and persuasive arguments.

In part three, Klusendorf does an excellent job confronting the most common abortion-choice argument, such as:

• The Coat Hanger Objection: "Women Will Die from Illegal Abortions"
• The Tolerance Objection: "You Shouldn't Force Your Views on Others"
• The Single Issue Objection: "Pro-Lifers Should Broaden Their Focus"
• The Hard Cases Objection: "Rape Justifies Abortion"
• The "I Don't Like You" Objection: "Men Can't Get Pregnant" and Other Personal Attacks
• The Bodily Autonomy Objection: "It's My Body, I'll Decide"

If you've encountered any of these objections (or others), or believe any of these objections, you owe it to yourself to read this book and be equipped.

Throughout the book, Klusendorf constantly points people back to the gospel to give them both grace and truth. There is hope and forgiveness before God through Christ for those who have aborted (and for all sinners).

As I was reading this book I realized that the pro-life arguments are so fundamentally solid, while at the same time the abortion-choice arguments are so fundamentally flawed, that if Christians, or people with simply a moral conscience would take the time to read, be equipped, and engage the culture, then this holocaust of the unborn could one day come to an end... it happened with slavery (many of the same arguments by the way), why can't it happen for the unborn?

Get equipped, and get involved... as a person who has been granted the right to life, you have a moral obligation to do so.

This Is Abortion Video from Steve Weimar on Vimeo.

Mark's #21 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (1985)

A classic of science fiction, Ender's Game is the story  from the far dystopian future of young Ender Wiggin's training (along with other children) to become an international  fleet commander to defend earth from a third devastating attack of alien 'Buggers'.   Ender's training becomes increasingly demanding and difficult, but with each new challenge he manages to rise to the occasion showing himself to be a tactical genius, even as a young boy of 11 years old.

Identified as the only hope left for  the survival of humanity,  Ender too eventually comes to realize the high and heavy calling on his life, regardless of his desire to be just a normal boy.   Along the way, those in charge of Ender's training push him physically, emotionally, and psychologically to the very edge of total breakdown.

The story is engaging, fast-paced, unique, and unpredictable.  If you like science fiction, then Ender's Game should probably be on your reading list.

Mark's #20 - Sexual Detox by Tim Challies (2010)

In preparation for last weeks sermon on sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3-14), I read this short book dealing with the issue of porn addiction. This is an issue that is the elephant in the pew in our churches today. Sexual immorality in all its forms is the most common issue I deal with as a pastor and counselor.

In this book, Tim Challies writes primarily to men struggling with porn addictions.  He shows the damaging effects this sin has on men, women, marriages, and families.  He guides guys to a path of hope and freedom from the vicious cycle.

The price of the book was worth it from this one paragraph alone:

Here’s a promise.  You will never stop until you begin to see the monstrous nature of the sin you are committing.  You will never stop until the sin is more horrifying to you than the commission of the sin is enjoyable. You will need to hate that sin before you can find freedom from it. That means you need more grace.  You need to cry out to be changed so you do see the monstrous nature of this sin, and then you need to act, in faith that God will meet you with grace as you seek to cut of the pornography and begin the reset.

Do yourself a favor and invest the few bucks and the hour or two it will take you to read this book, it will be worth it.