Ethel BarrettRezensionen

Basic psychology and logic wrapped in hilarious anecdotes!

One of the most prolific American song writers in the 19th and 20th century. The author was also a great hymnist and the book includes music and words to some of Crosby's all-American hymns. You Will know some of these Crosby favorites: "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour", "Blessed Assurance", "Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home", "Praise Him, Praise Him", "Rescue the Perishing", and "To God Be the Glory".

The apostle Peter was a great, uproarious man, with a very tender streak in him. He was a long time in the making, but it was worth it, every whit. And just so, God is making you. The going might be rough, downright uncomfortable at times. First Peter is to encourage you to "hang on" and keep going. Peter wrote this book to comfort, to extol, to wipe away tears, and to tell a great secret. Ethel Barrett lets you in on the secrets in her warm, personal , straightforward way.

Here's a book of great adventure- a book about crashing walls, flooding rivers, raging battles, brave spies, and a talking donkey. But mostly it's a story of people you'd never expect to do anything great,. But they did! Don't be surprised if you find yourself in this story. For it's a story about people who were scared and people who made mistakes. Although the people in this book did marvelous things, they were just people- like you. Yet they became real heroes because they let God help them do wonderful things. Take a good look at these Bible-time people and learn from them, because God is still looking for people he can make into real heroes.

In the middle of reading a rather large theological tome, I was looking take a bread with something "lighter". I selected from my "unread books" pile Ethel Barrett's Holy War (with apologies to John Bunyan). I remembered my Dad reading this to me as a child, and remembered more recently listening to Barrett's own audio rendition of it.

Barrett's treatment of the John Bunyan classic is hip and modern. She tells the story in a delightfully conversational tone, and the personalities and conversations she imagines give the tale a spice that keeps the reader riveted. The humorous dialogue between the evil Diabolous and his dastardly cohorts made me laugh out loud. (Favorite line: "Oh, you clever, clever--Here. Have a cigar. Imported brimstone. Take the whole box!")

None of this distracts from the message of the book, however. The tale of the fall and redemption of man, retold as the tale of a city that rebels against her King, and it's subsequent restoration, was never clearer. It is impossible for the believer (and must indeed be difficult for the unbeliever) not to see himself at some point or other in the history of "Mansoul".

Ethel Barrett has a reputation as a storyteller for children. While this story is definitely suited for children (I plan to read it to my son at the first possible opportunity) it is very much a "grown-up" tale.

If you have never read Bunyan's "Holy War", or have read it and are interested in a fresh take, this book is definitely worth your time.

This is so good! My father read it to my brothers and I when we were young. I enjoyed reading it again as an adult.

A conversational commentary on the book of James

Case 13 shelf 1

Paperback

Case 1 shelf 3