Being an Evangelical who has become tired of the games that are played in today's modern church Peter Gillquist's book came at the right time. There still is a Church out there that follows the teaching of the Apostles. This book is only the beginning for me for the study of the Orthodox faith.

Even though I am not a mother, I found this book to be very insightful. Certain struggles transcend motherhood and Molly's candor was an encouragement to me. I recommend it to mothers and non-mothers alike!

Surprised by Christ is more than an autobiography. It is a great introduction into the Orthodox Church. In fact I would wager that more of the book is doctrinal than biographical. However the doctrine is described anecdotally which I found to be an excellent aid in understanding. What I mean by anecdotal is that Fr. Bernstein introduces concepts as they related to his journey from Judaism to Christianity. So the book does not suffer from the dryness that a proper Orthodox introduction might. Also, the book does a good job in comparing Salvation doctrines of different Christian churches. Also, the fullfilment Old Testament prophecy is described succintly.

Another plus, is that Fr. Bernstein is not overly critical and hostile of Protestants and Catholics. In fact he admits that some non-Orthodox friends of his are spiritually and morally ahead of him. He does however compare doctrines and makes a Biblical and historical case for the Orthodox viewpoint. In this sense, I think this is a good first book for non-Orthodox Christians to read.

Overall, a good read. Also, the writing style is very simple, clear, and succint. The reading is easy and therefore fast.

Plain English - written at a level for all of us to enjoy and learn from... Some Bible translations are majestic and should be for worship, some are unfortunately full of "agenda" and shouldn't be...Farley's work is for study in the language I learned in grade school.

Molly has a way of expressing what I have a billion times thought and struggled with. She is the mom of four compared to my one, but still she knows what challenges I face. Not only does she successfully make me feel understood and not alone, but she also provides the hope and reassurance that through Christ and His Church we can weather this storm called motherhood and rejoice in our experiences. It is one of those books that as I was reading I would mark pages that I would like to go back and revisit, reread, and internalize to help me in my daily struggle for, as the subtitle states, "patience, peace, and perseverance".

I recommend this book to any and all mothers! With Easter (Pascha) and Mother's Day approaching, I am glad to have ordered not just one, but three copies. My dilemma now becomes how to divide those three books into the 20 copies I need to hand out to all the women and mothers I think would enjoy it.

Close to Home is not just another mothering book proposing prescriptions on how to deal with and overcome the numerous challenges experienced by many modern day mothers. Rather, through a candid description of her life as a stay-at-home mother, who desires to raise four "spirited" and spiritual children, Molly Sabourin offers the reader an invitation to enter into her story primarily because she does not have the answers. Instead Sabourin's invitation seems to be born out of her desire to encourage, as well as nurture hope in the lives of women by sincerely asking questions and reflecting on issues with which many mothers likewise grapple. Blessed with a true gift for writing and an art for utilizing language which makes her prose read like poetry, Molly Sabourin's work is an engaging piece of literature pregnant with wisdom. While a book directed towards mothers, Close to Home transcends this sphere and will be enjoyed by anyone who is journeying to overcome self and find peace. And though you will not want to put Close to Home down once you launch into it, the book should be read with consideration.

This is a precious book - sincere, vulnerable and comforting. I wish I had read this in those difficult months following the birth of my oldest! Motherhood can be very lonely. It's wonderful to read these honest and supportive words.

"Lynette's Hope" is about just that. The hope we have in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In 1987, concluding a search which lasted more than a decade, some 2000 "evangelicals" joined Eastern Orthodoxy. Most of their leaders, ordained as deacons and priests, had earlier worked for Campus Crusade for Christ. Their journey forms the plot for Peter E. Gillquist's Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, 1989).
In part one, Gillquist tells of the journey "from Arrowhead Springs to Antioch." In the 1960's, zealous young evangelicals charged like assault troops, determined to win America's colleges cam'puses. They worked hard, relished the challenge, and elicited many "decisions for Christ." However, to their dismay, "Most of the decisions for Christ honestly did not stick." Admitting what they were doing was not work'ing, some of them began searching for something deeper, something more permanent. More than a para'church, they sensed the need for a church. So, in 1968, a number of them left Campus Crusade and began what they later would call "The Phantom Search for the Perfect Church" (21). Some of them established "house churches," and in time a loose coalition of "churches" were knit together on the basis of their leaders' personal ties.
Then the leaders began to meet and study and dis'cuss what they should do with their fled'gling move'ment. They seriously studied not only the Bible: they scoured Church history. And they found, to their surprise, that the Early Church was rigorously Christocentric in its doctrine and thor'oughly liturgical in its practice. Reading such sources as St Clement of Rome, St Ignatius of Antioch, St Justin Martyr and Hippolytus, they discovered how concerned ancient believers were with who Christ was rather than what He did for us. They also found a worship pattern and a sacramental emphasis quite foreign to most of them. In 1975, they formed the "New Covenant Apostolic Order," which in 1979 became the Evangelical Orthodox Church. They had concluded that for its first 1000 years the Church had maintained a doctrinal unity. "The whole Church confessed one creed, the same in every place, and had weathered many attacks. The government of the Church was recognizably one everywhere. And this one Church was Orthodox" (p.51). Amazingly, of those who through study reached this conclusion, "none of us had ever to our knowledge been inside an Orthodox Church. Most of us did not know it existed. For that reason, I am chagrined to report that we decided to start it over again!" (p.58). So for a decade they studied and discussed and slowly discovered the ancient/enduring world of Eastern Orthodoxy. What they discovered was a deeply traditional, liturgical Church, committed to the apostolic succession of (male) clergy, rightly revering Mary as Christ's mother (Theotokos), using the sign of the cross, etc.--they found a Church which satisfied the one-time Campus Crusaders as the true Church of Jesus Christ. Concluding that Orthodoxy is the way, they next sought to affiliate with one of the existing Orthodox communions. This proved somewhat difficult to do! But in time the Americans were received into the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Reading this book illustrates the limits of parachurch organizations like Campus Crusade. They have value--but they're limited and ultimately inadequate because they're not a church. Folks need Church! So this book reveals the hunger for Church! That Gillquist and his associates found Church in historic Orthodoxy shows, along with the other books reviewed in this issue, the need some thoughtful Americans have for ancient symbols, historic roots, efficacious sacraments, participatory liturgies. Parachurch efforts often dis'sipate within a few years--or a few decades at best. Enthusiastic sectarian movements, and the denominations they spawn, usually begin to wither within three or four generations, for enthusiasm wanes with inter-gener'ational transmission. So again and again we find, in Church history, people rediscovering the value of permanent things, common concrete things like rituals and liturgical years and prescribed celebrations

If you enjoyed the 1952 I Live Again by Princess Ileana of Romania and wondered what she did in the years until 1991, this book will take you through her life. Princess Ileana's deep Orthodox faith gave her strength to live through two world wars, suffering under both German and communist regimes, while raising six children. Her life of sacrifice led Princess Ileana to become a monastic in France and to later to build and open the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Pennsylvania. This inspiring book is highly recommended.

Becoming Othodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith - is like water for the thirsty - for those who are frustrated with the continuation of splintering in the present day protestant church; the lack of unity; the fighting; the lack of reverence in worship; and the lack of effectiveness of the present day protestant church. It is like water for the thirsty for those looking for true worship. This book gives direction on where to look to find a remedy.

Becoming Orthodox is easily understood by those who come from a back ground similar to that of the author. It is written in language they will understand. It begins to answer basic questions and gives a desire to look deeper into what Orthodoxy really is.

It also can be painful to read in that it makes it necessary for one to reconsider whether one has been taught the complete truth. But even in considering these issues, it is evident from reading this book that others have dealt with the same question.

This book is a must read. While beginning to satisfy the thirst of the reader, it will also make the reader thristy for more.

I had the great pleasure of hearing Patrick Henry Reardon give a presentation to lay-Christians on prayer, the Psalms, and the importance of a Christocentric devotional life. After listening to his presentation, the depth of his wisdom, and his strong devotion to a life of Scripture and prayer, I decided to purchase his reflections on the book of Genesis.

I am not disappointed. In this brief devotional book, Reardon goes through the book of Genesis, chapter-by-chapter, and provides the reader with deep devotional thoughts on each. At times, he provides thoughts on the chapter as a whole and its place within the Genesis narrative. At other times, Reardon limits himself to only a small section of the chapter. At other times still, Reardon's focus is on later persons' use of the material (e.g. the Israelites at the time of the Exodus or the Church).

Throughout, Reardon is highly engaging. He treats each Biblical individual as an old friend with whom he is intimately acquainted, and not as a cold, distant person with an unpronounceable name about whom we know nothing. The narrative of the text is artistic and contemplative as Reardon talks up to the reader, treating him as a beloved friend. Also (and most importantly), throughout this work, Reardon keeps Christ at the center of his thought; from reflections on the Fall to the Flood to the many genealogies to Melchizedek to Judah to Joseph, Christ is always at the first consideration.

It should be noted that the text of Genesis is not reprinted in this book. While there may be an annoyance for the reader in having to use two books at once, this slight inconvenience is well-worth the effort.

This book is recommended most highly; please journey through Genesis with this wise and faithful guide.

I had the great pleasure of hearing Patrick Henry Reardon give a presentation to lay-Christians on prayer, the Psalms, and the importance of a Christocentric devotional life. After listening to his presentation, the depth of his wisdom, and his strong devotion to a life of Scripture and prayer, I decided to purchase his reflections on the book of Genesis.

I am not disappointed. In this brief devotional book, Reardon goes through the book of Genesis, chapter-by-chapter, and provides the reader with deep devotional thoughts on each. At times, he provides thoughts on the chapter as a whole and its place within the Genesis narrative. At other times, Reardon limits himself to only a small section of the chapter. At other times still, Reardon's focus is on later persons' use of the material (e.g. the Israelites at the time of the Exodus or the Church).

Throughout, Reardon is highly engaging. He treats each Biblical individual as an old friend with whom he is intimately acquainted, and not as a cold, distant person with an unpronounceable name about whom we know nothing. The narrative of the text is artistic and contemplative as Reardon talks up to the reader, treating him as a beloved friend. Also (and most importantly), throughout this work, Reardon keeps Christ at the center of his thought; from reflections on the Fall to the Flood to the many genealogies to Melchizedek to Judah to Joseph, Christ is always at the first consideration.

It should be noted that the text of Genesis is not reprinted in this book. While there may be an annoyance for the reader in having to use two books at once, this slight inconvenience is well-worth the effort.

This book is recommended most highly; please journey through Genesis with this wise and faithful guide.

Matthew Gallatin offers an amazing insight into the Holy Orthodox Faith which is invaluable not only for the Protestants but also for the Orthodox believers who aim (and should be doing so) to learn our Faith in depth and follow it properly!

The Psalms have long been the Church's "prayer-book," but many Christians today find it difficult to truly pray these ancient Jewish prayers - which often contain unknown or even troubling imagery - with a Christian spirit. Fr. Reardon does a great service to the Church with "Christ in the Psalms", which allows us to read each of the Psalms in a truly Christological fashion.

Drawing from the traditions of both the East and the West, Fr. Reardon, an Orthodox priest and editor of Touchstone magazine, takes each Psalm and paints a prayerful, Christian portrait. I especially appreciate that he incorporates how a particular Psalm has been used by both Eastern and Western monks in their liturgy of the hours. As the Psalms make up the core of monastic prayer, and the monastic life is the heart of the Church's corporate prayer life, this gives one insight into how the church has interpreted and prayed these Psalms through the centuries.

Each meditation is a perfect length for personal meditation: about 800 words each. This allows one to read the Psalm, read the reflection, then personally meditate on what he has read. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to encounter Christ more deeply in the Psalms.

The life of a European princess. Abundance, compassion, adventure... Risk, mystery, danger, tragedy, want?!? Contrary to expectations, these are all facets of the life of Princess Ileana of Romania. Cooke has presented all of these in a gem of a book that is part diary, part history lesson, part novel, part scrapbook... Readers come away from this book grateful for the comparative ease of their own life experiences, enriched by learning from the life of a Godly woman, and challenged to care for others more than for themselves. Readers of all ages learn with Princess Ileana/Mother Alexandra that it is possible to live happily ever after, despite all circumstances... If your heart is in the right place.

Bread & Water, Wine & Oil provides sustenance for the soul. I found the book to be wise, profound and eminently practical. Webber has a fine-tuned mind and a fluid way with words. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Al Rossi

Bread & Water, Wine & Oil provides sustenance for the soul. I found the book to be wise, profound and eminently practical. Webber has a fine-tuned mind and a fluid way with words. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Al Rossi

What a tremendous and prayer provoking contribution Lynette's writings are to faith in Christ. This is a necessary read for strength in trying times.

This was written by a priest for many years for his congregation to learn about the psalms. He looks at each psalm and uses historical references to help interpret the psalms. This helps those of us who don't know much about the Jews or the outlaying area and cities of that time. This is not something to read straight through, but to pick up every now and then. There is a chapter for every psalm.
Here is a quote from page 55, speaking of psalm 28:

"The setting of this tempest is a giant cedar forest, whose overarching branches assume the contours of a vaulted temple, and through this lofty sylvan shrine the booming voice of God comes pounding and roaring with a terrifying majesty, accompanied by the swishing of the wind and rain, while flashing bolts of lightning split the very trunks of the towering trees: 'In His temple everything speaks glory.'
This is a psalm about God's 'glory' (kavod) and 'holiness. In any language, this is certainly a psalm to be prayed out loud, allowing the words to come rumbling through the soul..."