What I'll Be
Reading for Lent
What I'll Be Reading for Lent
by The Revd Chris Bedding | Rector, Parish of Darlington-Bellevue
 | A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel by Bradley Jersak ISBN: 978-1889973166 |
The opportunity to inspect a colleague’s bookshelf should never be overlooked. While the classic texts are picturesque, it is the recent purchases that are the most fun. A recent inspection yielded not only a new discovery, but a duplicate copy which could be pilfered without guilt. So it was that A More Christlike God came into my possession through a somewhat un-Christlike theft. I am reassured, however, that a truly Christlike God can forgive me, even if my colleague can’t.
It has become fashionable to be post-something or other. Books abound by post-theists and post-evangelicals. I used to be post-modern but now even that is off trend. Bradley Jersak, on the other hand, seems to be interested in the historic Christian faith and its joyful proclamation here, today. His book is not an invitation to move past the catholic faith into a more enlightened future. It is a deep-dive into the presence of God revealed in the scriptures, the creeds and, most importantly, the person of Jesus Christ.
A highlight is the chapter entitled God Is Good and Sh** Happens - a deliciously provocative title. Addressing the genuine problem of violence and suffering, Jersak declares that God is both ‘all powerful and all powerless’. This God who ‘co-suffers’ with humanity is not a new concept to those who study theology. But in this book it is presented in simple, profound terms for those who apply theology to their daily lives.
The application of theology to our daily lives is surely the purpose of Lent. Of course, theft is wrong and I’ll be sure to repent and make amends before this goes to print. But the more pressing temptation for most of us is to worship an idol of our own creation instead of the God revealed in Jesus. For this affliction, A More Christlike God offers a useful antidote.
Available from St Johns Books, Fremantle.
What I'll Be Reading for Lent
by Mrs Heather Stickland
I like to have several books on the go at any time, so I have gone through my bookcases to find a mixture that will help me think, pray and act.
 | HAMILTON, Lisa B Hamilton examines all the common afflictions and conditions of women of a certain age and relates them to the writings and lives of female mystics and saints of the medieval period. Relatable, fascinating and often comforting, you will learn a lot about both yourself and the mothers of the church. |
 | LAWRENCE, Brother
The Practice of the Presence of God / Spiritual Maxims Lawrence was a seventeenth century French monk whose particular gift was to see the divine in the daily grind. This is a great book to remind you that God is in the everyday as well as the spectacular. |
 | LEWIS, C S
The Great Divorce Lewis wrote so many books it’s a bit hard to choose just one, but this is one of my favourites. Like Lawrence, he could relate the divine to the ordinary and do it with a sense of humour. |
 | WESLEY, John
John Wesley’s Journal I confess that I may not read every word of this book, but the insights it gives into the birth of Methodism and the state of the world in the eighteenth century are remarkable. John Wesley’s work ethic is astonishing – but the importance of a heart on fire for God is never better illustrated than in this book. |
Available from St Johns Books, Fremantle.
What I'll Be Reading for Lent
by The Right Revd Kate Wilmot | Assistant Bishop of Perth
 | Lent with Evelyn Underhill |
This is useful book with excerpts from Underhill’s writings for every day of Lent and Holy Week. The readings are short and are drawn from published works and letters to directees and friends. Underhill’s typically bracing style is a corrective for 21st century sentimentality.
Available from St Johns Books, Fremantle.