The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great by Benjamin Merkle

Alfred the Great was one of the greatest monarchs in English history. This book goes into some detail about the rise of this remarkable king and how he changed England forever. Merkle cites a lot of material from other sources, it seems to give this book a feel of a compilation. However, it is a pleasant and riveting read.

Merkle delves into Alfred’s formative years and goes through the years as he becomes king. He explains how he merged the Anglo-Saxons against the Vikings who were very brutal. We could feel Alfred the Great's love for God and his struggle to help others feel the same love. He knew his faith would get him through any hurdle he would encounter. He succeeded in reforming the legal system, helped his fellow countrymen become more literate and restored Christianity during a war torn time in English history.

This was a fast paced book that read like a novel, but will want you leaving more. What a different world we might have if there were no Alfred the Great. I think anyone who enjoys biographies, ancient history and books about war will love this one.

The Liturgical Year - the spiraling adventure of the spiritual life by Joan Chittister

“The Liturgical Year: the spiraling adventure of the spiritual life” takes the reader on a journey through one year of the liturgical calendar. The book briefly talks about the basics of liturgical life. The adventure starts with Advent and takes the reader step by step through each pinnacle of the Christian year, including Christmas and Easter. It also speaks of ordinary time and Marian feasts. Nothing is left out and it gives a glorious full picture of the joys of the Christian year, and why each day is special in its own way.

I am a weekly church goer, and I have tried to understand the various parts of the year, but could never quite grasp the meaning of certain periods of the year. This book opened my eyes to the beauty behind the purpose and reason for each day. I also was pleased that this book was not overly technical with the theology. It was written for the layman. Joan Chittister wants us to understand and appreciate our faith and the gifts it offers. I think she was successful with this book.

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain - Book Review

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

Uncover the Hidden Potential in Life's Most Common Struggles
by Paul Meier M.D. and David Livingstone Henderson M.D.

The title of the introduction chapter is entitled: The Light Beyond Our Seven Universal Struggles. Each subsequent chapter deals with the struggles that all human beings experience such as loneliness, failure and loss. Each chapter shares biblical truths that are designed to help us see the light in the darkness of our despair.

Psychiatrists Paul Meier and David Henderson share stories of people who have experienced struggles that are relatable to anyone. They illustrate, with various biblical versus and truths how our suffering is not necessarily a bad thing or that it is meant to punish us for our sins.

The idea of this book is not a new one. I have read many books over the years that break down life and build it back up again using bible quotes and truths. What I liked about reading this book is that it was relevant to the time we are living in. References to recent tragedies allowed their message to be attainable by using our knowledge of these events. I did find this to be a pleasant read, it was not overly simplified but it wasn’t so biblically dense that the average person would not get the message.

Although I think anyone could take something away from this book, I would recommend this particular book to people who are experiencing struggles that they do not know how to handle. Sometimes we don’t know where to turn, especially when suffering is something we are not familiar with. People tell us to turn to the Bible, but they don’t tell us exactly where to look and why. This book helps lift that extra burden during a time when we can’t handle anymore pain.

What Difference Do it Make? Stories of Hope and Healing

by Ron Hall, Denver Moore and Lynn Vincent

This charming book consists of intertwining stories. Ron Hall and Denver Moore are an unlikely pair of friends. Denver, a former homeless man was befriended years ago by Ron Hall and his wife Deborah. They each tell the story of their lives through vignettes. Interspersed between Ron and Denver’s stories are other stories of people who have read their previous book “Same Kind of Different as Me”, and had their lives transformed. “What Difference Do it Make?” is an enchanting book of hope that can reach across all religions and backgrounds.

Upon reading the first few chapters of this book, I thought that it was going to be a depressing read. Ron and Denver started both of their stories in their childhood which was filled with anguish, but I suppose the best stories start in the darkest places. As their stories progressed the dark cloud lifted and I became inspired and excited to read more.

Not only did I enjoy Ron and Denver’s stories, but I also enjoyed the stories of the everyday people who sent their stories to the pair after reading their first book, “Same Kind of Different as Me”. Each of these stories gave me hope that this world isn’t such a bad place after all. Each one of these people made a difference in the lives of others, sometimes with a grand gesture and sometimes with just a little blessing.

As a unit, this book worked well. Even though the stories skipped back and forth, it was not hard to follow. The Biblical truth was not buried deep with in flowery prose, it was easy to see what this book was attempting and I felt it was successful.

I would recommend this book to anyone, even the most non-religious cynic I know. If this doesn’t put a crack in their exterior, nothing will.