Hope is a Thing With Feathers...

I find it very comforting that more than a century after Emily Dickinson wrote these words there is still no better definition of hope for me. I think we all respond to the concept of hope because it provides the promise of constancy. If we can find hope in any circumstance we seem to feel some sense of a solid foundation when everything around us is shaking like earthquake. Emily Dickinson reminds us how very fragile hope is, and yet how endurably constant it is.

The sense of hope obviously affects the choices we make about the way we live our lives. The following books are rather specific choice areas, and I'm sure our readers know many other, more general, or even more specific. Nonetheless I offer these titles to begin our process of discovering hope in our choices, even when we think it is not there. It is perched in our souls!

There is almost a plethora of books on money, possessions and being Christian. Occasionally one or two will appear with a slightly different slant. Here are two with a refreshing outlook that begins with hope rather than guilt. Both however, caution that living responsible financial lives is messy, rough and complex.

A Christian View of Money begins with the premise that all we have comes from a loving and generous God. Basically written as a guide book for the Mennonite initiative "The Giving Project", the book is a powerful call for a change of direction for both individuals and congregations. It contains detailed materials for putting such an initiative into practice, case studies that are particularly thought provoking and a serious theological underpinning.

Neither Poverty Nor Riches is part of Eerdman's "New Studies in Biblical Theology" series. It is, therefore, a more scholarly treatise that traces the words of the Bible that concern material possessions. Beginning with an exhaustive look at the Old Testament (which is largely neglected by most writers of the "money books") Blomberg segues easily into a fresh outlook of the New Testament passages. An extensive bibliography and an impressive last chapter suggest the exciting possibilities and applications for all this background.

Virtues and Vices: Stories of the Moral Life by Andrew M. Greeley, Jacob Neusner and Mary Greeley Durkin.
    Westminster John Knox Press, 1999. 130 pages, hardcover $16.00.

I hope many have discovered Andrew Greeley's writings of deep faith and theological understanding, as well as his unique gift for storytelling. Conservative Rabbi Neusner is an equally gifted spinner of meaningful tales. Together they tackle here the "seven primary virtues and the seven deadly sins", with stories that hook us into considering how we too might fare in the battle of good and evil. Each draw on their own faith traditions which expands the issues for us beyond the usual, and both make important points about individual and communal responsibility. Greeley's sister introduces and summarizes their tales.

Predictions abound with the gloomy prospects for the future of the American church. Sometimes, though, a prophetic voice heralds hope. Steve Macchia's concern for the local parish is evident in this book, as well as his work as head of "Vision New England". Working for ten years with hundreds of congregations, Macchia has identified ten characteristics of a lively, growing, healthy church. By focusing on their areas of strength, churches can bring a balanced, diverse approach to their areas of weakness, he believes. Healthy churches, it seems, will inevitably share the following characteristics: love, acceptance and forgiveness, a commitment to relational ministry and personal growth, methods for networking, for accountability and for outreach, a servant leadership style and generosity based stewardship. When all of these are combined with a strong commitment to prayer and a deep allegiance to the presence of God in it all healthy churches result.

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No Guest Reviewers this time! We're still looking for reviews from our readers. Please try to suggest titles that are relatively new, and include all the publication information. For a list of the focus for each issue, as well as dates for submission, check out the 2000 Theme Guide.