Fully Human

Thanks to you all for coming last night and lending your ear and voice to the discussion of Bonhoeffer.  Apparently we were all impressed enough to decide to read 2 of Bonhoeffer's books over the next two sessions.  Life Together we will read and write about on the blog, right here and Cost of Discipleship we will save until July and discuss it at the club meeting.  At our next meeting we will discuss The Princess Bride.

So if you're keeping score that means for May the books are:
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer  (discussion on the Blog)
Princess Bride by William Goldman (discussion that night)

For July:
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (discussion at meeting)

I will be posting a primer on comments to the blog later on today- at least I hope.

God Bless you all.

Ready for Tonight

I don't know where we might start tonight, but it should be interesting.  I look forward to seeing many of you there tonight.

God Bless.

Bonhoeffer

Finished the book just a little while ago.  What a great book.  Great history surrounding Bonhoeffer with a great deal of research done through interviews and letters from friends.  What an interesting man.  Strong conservative theologian that admired, studied under and eulogized the leading liberal theologian in Germany.  Strong opinions and yet very accepting of those with opinions that differed from his.  Very reasoned and yet the "most lovable man" that most had met.  You don't seem to find people like him now.  What a lot of thought provoking parts within the book.  Much to challenge your theology, religiosity, outlook, and philosophy.  How do you make it all one so that to serve one Master is to live fully in the world and serve fully the LORD?

I hope to see you all tomorrow night at the club.  This should be a great discussion.

Bonhoeffer

I must admit I am not far along in the book.  According to Kindle 10%.  What a great historical reference.  Makes many things about WWII much clearer and that is only in the first 10%.  This should be a great one to discuss just from the things that we will learn.   The study of Bonhoeffer's character and characteristics will be compelling as well.  I wonder what I will learn about the plot to assassinate Hitler as well.  Has anyone else gotten further in the book?  What do you think?

Population 485

I just finished reading this book.  I would highly recommend reading if for no other reason than to read some honest discussion of life topics.  Purpose, family, life, heros, outcasts, and even death.  It is at times funny and at times sad, and even throw in silly and deep.  I need to tell you that the calls he goes on are actual retellings and the people are real. For this reason there are times when the language may get less than wholesome.  It is in character and adds to the understanding of the people involved without being overbearing.  There are several places where I highlighted phrases or sentences that he uses as they were very wise or poignant.  One example is this: "... any behavior that excuses us from acknowledging the complexity of human experience resides one slim remove from smug disdain"  Another is this: "Memory is a means of possession, but eventually, the greatest grace is found in letting go."  Some were funny as well "I was chugging along here last fall when I was forced to the shoulder by a pack of Amish youths cruising down the hill on RollerBlades.  There is really no way to prepare for that sort of thing"  The book really brought home that life is "not easily counted off  and neatly arranged".  It also shows that some of our most humiliating and stressful times may turn out to be our most heroic moments and counter to that some events allow "pigpen boy" (you'll need to read it to understand that) to come out.  I found myself using the dictionary on amazon a great deal while reading.  For a simple country boy, he sure uses some esoteric (I love the word esoteric, it seems to define itself)  words.This is a great book to hear honest opinions and deal with the fragility, the beauty and the ugliness of life as a human.  It puts emphasis on meaning and purpose stresses respect for and patience with others.  I hope you all get a chance to read it.  I hope you can overlook the language as character setting and really think about what everyone goes through as they live life.

New Books- First of 2012

We had a great meeting to discuss Pride and Prejudice.  That certainly opened a new venue for my reading.  I am actually considering reading more Austen books and might even watch a movie or two.

For next month we picked two more books.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

http://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy/dp/1595552464/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327367759&sr=1-1

A new biography about one of the first to speak out against Hitler.

This will be the book we discuss at the next meeting.

Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry

http://www.amazon.com/Population-485--Meeting-Neighbors-Siren/dp/0061363502/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327368498&sr=1-1

Biography of a Volunteer Fireman in snippets surrounding fire calls.

This will be the book we discuss on the website.

We also agreed to read the Princess Bride for the meeting after next but we haven't decided what the second book would be just yet.

Book Club Tomorrow Night

Are you ready to discuss Pride and Prejudice?  We start up at 7PM tomorrow.  Check out some of the links Ihave on the right had side  as well.

See you there.