Completely approachable, and very beautiful

books:

	• The Story of God: Wesleyan Theology & Biblical Narrative Michael Lodahl Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1994 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Completely approachable, and very beautiful

I have the pleasure of knowing the author personally, so you may feel that this distorts my objectivity -- it probably does. All I know is that this book was like a breath of fresh air at a time when I needed it most.

The book reclaims what I believe should be at the heart of any Christian message (or any religious message for that matter). It is a book which gives an overview of Wesleyan theology through the use of narrative stories in scripture. But the point is not to force scripture down anyone's throat, or to force someone to think in a particular fashion. No, even a few pages into the book, that becomes clear. The author is greatly indebted to not only Weslyan emphasis, but also Process thought and the wealth of insight and beauty to be found in world religions.

This book is about joy, beauty, mystery and the enounter of the "divine" reality in individual existence and in community. Each word bespeaks the authors deep love affair with life, and with the earth and with creaturely realtionships and joys. To finish reading this book is to be guarunteed a light heart and a deep smile. The message repeatedly conveyed in this book is that love is what matters most, and making the most of this life, loving this earth, and being aware of the wonders constantly around us. And through all that to hear the voice of a God reminding us that he loves us, and loves life as much as we do, and wants to be a part of it.

A great read for anyone.

for more information click here

Great Book!

Yes, I too know the author and thus my review may be biased, however Lodahl's work is key to seeing how God acts within creation throughout the entirety of the Christian Scriptures. This book makes it clear as to how, as humans, we are to return back to faithfulness and find ourselves again in God's original intent of creation. I found the book entirely helpful.

for more information click here

Story of God

An outstanding starting point for those interested in narrative theology in a Wesleyan context. While maintaining a strong biblical foundation, Lodahl has brought narrative theology into a vital relationship with the Wesleyan tradition.

for more information click here

Nazarene, born and raised

Nazarenes need to read this book. Too often eavangelical preachers will preach on a topic without tying it into the great meta-narrative that the Bible presents. I haven't heard any other Nazarenes preseneting the need for this, but I'm sure glad that Lodahl is raising his voice.
Inspite of that, I only gave him 3 stars. That's for 2 reasons:
1. He didn't do an excellent job in helping preachers to know how to tie in their sermons to the redemptive narrative of the Bible. Much of the scripture is not written in narrative form and Lodahl does not give clear instruction tot he would be preacher on how to preach through, lets say, the epistles. Though he is a reformed writter, I feel that Graeme Goldsworthy in his book "Preaching the whol Bible as christian scripture" did a better job. I recommend it to Arminians and Reformed alike.
2. Secondly, there are some places where Lodahl entertains Open Theism. Open Theism is a thrological movement, that in my opinion, is heresy. One of its basic ideas is that God does not know the future. Lodahl seems to entertain this idea under the presumption that this would destroy true relationship.
The fact that God is mysteriously complex in his unity, being able to act in time while maintaining his eternal atributes, should not be changed in for the simple thrology of open theism and its little God.
I am Arminian, but it seems that some of the most solid works on Biblical and Narrative theology that remain conservative in nature are coming from the Reformed camp.

for more information click here

The author weaves together the issues of theology, the Bible, and everyday experience, to present a fresh telling of the grand story of God. Kivar.