Okay, Back on the BPA Train...

Here are some links I've found recently about BPA in plastics.

This link (below) goes through all the plastic available for baby products (I know...who really has the time for that!! I know...I, too, am grateful!). I was revlieved to find out that Quinn's Insulators are OKAY!!! WHOOOHOOO!!

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/11/z-report-bisphenol-in-baby
-bottles-and.html

The second link (below) is a website that has some awesome articles about being environmentally friendly. The edition linked below, specifically deals with BPA AND Phthalates (you can find out what those are by reading the article).

http://www.enviroblog.org/2007/09/bisphenol-a-in-
your-body.htm

I've found these articles to be very sensible and not fear provoking. I hate fear provoking. Everything now a days strikes the fear into you. We operate in a society motivated by fear. Sad. So, this blog doesn't strike fear into you but, rather, suggests ways to reduce exposure to the above mentioned chems. Practicle. Simple. Truthful. Loving. I like it.

For more on Green Cleaning, BPA, and/or Phthalates, check out my friend's blog (http://parkersanity.blogspot.com/2008/03/green-post-
2-household-cleaners.html and http://parkersanity.blogspot.com/2008/03/
green-post-3-breastfeeding-is-green.html). Amelia has done A LOT of research. I commend these articles to you and commend her for a job well done!!

Okay...well...I should nap while the little king sleeps!

Book Review: The Bright Side of Disaster

Katherine Center's fiction novel, The Bright Side of Disaster, is a truly fun, fun book to read. At first, I thought, "Huh, a novel...I don't have time for a novel!"; but it turned out to be enriching, entertaining, and hard to put down. Center's novel engages you, fully; so much so that you'll find yourself talking to the book, "Just put the baby down!!" You'll know what I mean when you read the story--I don't want to give away too much. Truly, this book surprised me with it's authentic, real-life situations and it's sort of expected, too-good-to-be-true ending.

Center's writing style is whimsical, funny, and light and is coupled with an ability to tell a story that is realistic ; you just know that the situations in this story could be or are happening in real life--somewhere to someone. The characters, both good and bad, are real. There are a few times when I couldn't relate to the main character, but there are times that I can't relate to real human beings, so there's no surprise there. This story helps one--especially stay-at-home moms, first time mothers, and preggos--learn to laugh at their own not-so-normal and crazy life.

This is, simply, a must read for women who share/have shared in the trials and tribulations of transitioning from "no baby" to "baby"! A feel good novel that breaths life back into those days when you really want to tear everything out: hair, sinks, rugs, doors, etc.! A feel good story that has a feel good, almost-realistic ending that reminds you that there are happy endings and that you might find yourself in one of them unexpectedly.

What a great break from my typical theological (or not so theological, see below!!) books that I tend to read on a regular basis. Truly, a great break!

Some Things I thought I'd Never Say or Do...

I know...not a very esoteric title, but this has been on my mind lately. I occurred to me that I do and say certain things that, most certainly, were not in my vocabulary 3-4 years ago.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. "I'm sorry but 7:00 is too late for us."

Yeah, so ever since this guy was old enough to get cranky after a certain hour of the night, we have had to decline late jaunts out, unless, of course, we get a babysitter--which, in our economic situation, isn't the ideal. Quinn's bedtime is 6:30/7 pm, so it's either early evening or not at all. For a woman who used to think that 10pm was ideal for getting together, this is certainly something I never thought would slip out of my mouth in sincerity.

2. "It's just a little poo."

No joke. I've said this and many other moms have too, I am sure. After the initial awe of the baby wears off and after it truly sinks in that you have to change them ALL THE TIME and it's not going to get any easier, sometimes the evaluation of how "pooey" a baby is is needed. After about an hour of changing Quinn, and we have to go somewhere or do something, I'll take a peek. If it's major, I'll change him; if it's a little bit and I think he can go an hour longer, "It's just a little poo." I never thought I'd measure poo or have a poo:time ratio in my head.

I was recently talking with my sister-in-law about things you just don't get worked about any more in regards to kids; for me it was spit-up, which Quinn did ALL THE TIME! After a while, I just said, "Kid, you are in that onsie and I'm not changing you any time soon!" She told me for her it was poo; she said, "She's fine, it's a just a little poo here and there..."

3. Talk about poo

Well, since we were just speaking of poo...I never ever thought that poo would become such an extensive part of my daily communication with other adults. At at least one point in every conversation I find myself on the topic of what comes out of my son's tookus...As if there isn't anything else important to talk about.

4. "Honey, pick up some milk and bread."

I confess that I have called Daniel and requested the above items. These things are bad or weird in themselves, but it so 1950s! These two items are the essentials in a toddlers life; when you run out, you need to get more. Oddly, I find that these two can run out at the same time; some sort of milk/bread conspiracy. The first time I asked Daniel to pick up some "milk and bread" on the way home, I felt that I had truly become a stay-at-home mom.

5. Want to play on the floor

I am not joking when I say that as an adult before children I never imagined that I would voluntarily play on the floor with my child. I really don't have the personality nor the temperament to sit and play with toys that are, and I'm not bragging here, way too easy. But, the funny thing is that when it's your kid and not one that you are babysitting, the rules are different. That kid changes you, a little. When it's your kid, sitting on the floor and playing mindless games become entertaining, fun, and a love fest.

6. Skip pages in a Children's Book

Okay, this book is pretty good. My mother-in-law got it for Quinn on his first Christmas which was 2 1/2 weeks after he was born (2006). It's got some catchy rhymes that sometimes do or do not relate to the topic. It's got a good message: God loves me no matter what I do, good or bad, happy or sad, brave or scared. Though at times, my theological eyebrow raises and says, "Wha!? Was that just some gnosticism I just read" and then I just turn the page and remind myself that the author was just trying to create a rhyme and this is, after all, a Children's book and not the next new Systematic Theology text on the Character of God!

Anyway, this book is one of Quinn's favorites and it is one the longest books he owns--coming in at a whopping 25 pages! Anyway, I have found that at times when I'm not really in the mood to read to him (I know, so bad; but honest, right?), that I will actually turn multiple pages at a time. In short, I skip pages. Right now, Quinn doesn't know the difference; but, soon enough he will and I'll be trouble! But for now, I can get through this book pretty quick with skipping a couple of pages here and there.

7. "We've already read that one 3 times."

This one goes with the previous one. I never thought I could get sick of reading baby books; I mean they are pretty short (most of the time, see number 5) and can be cute. In fact, when I was pregnant with Quinn, I purposely picked out books that I liked and that I found amusing (anything by Sandra Boynton!). Anyway, as I wasn't fully warned by my friends with older kids, it turns out that little children like to read books, and for them the plot doesn't get old! UGH! I've actually has to say to Quinn, "Honey, can you please go back and get another book that we haven't read multiply times in the past 10 minutes? PLEASE!?!?" I love Hippos Go Berserk; but, that's all they do...all 44 hippos show up and party like hippos can and then they leave and the one hippo is all alone. I mean, that's it. It's not a choose your own adventure: "Should Hippo 1 let in Hippos 2 and 3? go to page 3; or Should Hippo 1 order a small pizza for one? go to page 5", at least I could read that one twice and fool myself into thinking that it's two different stories.

Oh well. Tis the life of a mom who stays-at-home! I really must find a way to get rid of the long books...!!

AND,

8. "Do you want boobs?"

I know, you are asking, is this blog page G or XXX? Well, it's definitely G as long as you are comfortable with breastfeeding! Anyway, I never thought that I would refer parts of my body in a way that was comparable to an offer of cookies. But this is how we spoke to Quinn--and, yes, he's become quite the talker and likes to point out my "boobs". Some people say, "Do you want a bottle?" or "Do you want to nurse?" But not me; I chose the subtle and not-so-in-your-face-about-my-breastfeeding terminology, "Do you want boobs?" I think if Quinn were lost in a store and they asked him for the name of his mommy he'd first say, "Mama" and then when prodded a bit more, he'd say, "Oh, Boobs."

Book Review: The Fruit of Her Hands

I am not joking when I say that I threw this book across the room by page 18. No lie. And, by the way, this book actually starts on page 13 and is a quick read, so it took no-time whatsoever for me to become, frankly, ticked-off (to put it politely) at Ms. Wilson, the author of this book.

The book is titled: The Fruit of Her Hands: Respect and the Christian Woman. Now, initially I thought, "OK, I'm probably not going to love this book, but it sounds like this book may actually be about the respect that a Christian wife deserves for her role as wife and mother." I could not have been further from the truth! This book is not about the fruit of a woman's hands at all and is certainly not about respect due a Christians Mom/Wife. This book is a diatribe on the part of Ms. Wilson about how women should act, about their roles, about how they are unintelligent, and about how one can meet up to biblical standards and honor God through appropriate actions. For all intents and purposes, Ms. Wilson stands on her soap-box and proclaims: "THE CURSE HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED IN JESUS CHRIST! WIVES ARE STILL TO BE SUBJECTED AND RULED BY THEIR HUSBANDS!"

"But why continue reading this book?", one might ask me. Well, it's quite similar to a really bad accident; I couldn't put it down. I kept thinking to myself, "NO WAY! She didn't! WHAT?! Uh-uh! O-M-G!" It was gripping, just in the sheer audacity on the part of the author!

By this point you may wonder what my problems are with this little book. I'll tell you. But, to be fair, I'll not only tell you my problems with the book, but where the Fundamentalist, Literalist Ms. Wilson actually hits on some valuable concepts for wives--these are things that I gleaned from the sections, the things that made me say, "Well, technically, I can see that..."

I will list the Chapter headings then some comments on each chapter --the pros and cons, one might say.

Chapter One: A Woman's Orientation to Marriage.

Beware, this chapter did a number on me and is the lengthiest discussion in this blog.

Okay. I don't have to go any further than the first page to point out something that gave me a bad taste in my mouth: "American women today are indeed gullible" (13). Yes, that is her first sentence. I mean, what a way to give those come hither eyes to your audience! Within the first six words, she comes across judgmental, extreme, and a know-it-all. If it hadn't been for my sheer determination and what my mother calls my obstinacy, I would've closed the book and tossed it on top of the recycle (I know, so green of me!).

A little further down on the same page, she writes, "The modern woman has been deceived, like Eve, and led away by her own lusts from her God-given domain and he God-ordained responsibilities" (13). No, the typo wasn't me, it's hers (or her editors). I tend to expect that at some point in a book I'll find some error (God knows, I'm never error free); but ON THE FIRST PAGE?! That turns a reader off! My librarian friend agrees with me (Thanks, Susanah!). Okay, n ow to look at his sentence: 1. All modern women are deceived--really, all modern women? I dislike generalizations. I can agree that some have been deceived, if we are in the judging mindset; but to say "all" is extreme; 2. All modern women have been deceived, like Eve, and lead away from their God-given domain and their God-ordained responsibilities--oh, so in the Garden there was a home with a kitchen and a dishwasher and a washer and dryer? And it was here that Eve was supposed to dwell? Oh, this must be in the Hebrew and I missed it! I completely forgot that what was really said that the creation of woman was in Gen 2:18 was "'Adam is leaving his clothing all over the place and can't find anything to eat and his home is just way too untidy, I must create for him a domestic slave.'" Where in Gen 2:18-24 does it say that a woman is to reside in a home and be subjected to her husband? It doesn't say this. There is something similar or close to this in Gen 3, but, again, it's a stretch. Plus, there was a guy in history we like to refer to as God incarnate who came and broke in to our world and reversed the curse stated in Gen 3...what was His name...Oh...that's right...JESUS CHRIST! Why does Ms. Wilson prefer living under the curse so much as to forget about the life-giving restoration found in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ? 3. Please, Ms. Wilson, when you are addressing a certain crowd , address them appropriately: it's not women but wives you mean. Please don't bring our whole gender down with you. Please stop breathing your condemnation upon my single sisters and direct it toward those of us who are married.

Ms. Wilson, on page 15, describes what it looks like to be a woman of the Word: strict adherence with no compromises what-so-ever. And she calls this basic Christianity. I wonder if she wears pearls?

Ms. Wilson describes headship as authority and not in regards to mutual submission, but just plain old, just-like-the-government AUTHORITY. There is no such thing as mutual submission in her book. A WIFE is to be submissive to her husband (her own) and in everything. She does get it right when she says that women are not to be submissive to men; but then negates this very truth by using the word "woman" in place of "wife". Ms. Wilson writes, "A head is given to a woman for protection, safety and shelter....What a great protection it is to have a head to submit to, rather than being swayed by our emotions, whims, and fears. A woman must cultivate a very high view of her head--both the position God has given him over her, as well as the authority God has given him" (17). Here are the phrases the irk me: "rather than being swayed by our emotions, whims and fears"--apparently, single women are floating about hopelessly bedraggled and whipped about by their inferior intellectual capabilities and weak control over their emotions, whims and fears; "the position...over her.." Okay, as I said earlier, this was true before Christ, but not in Him!

This is my favorite part of this book...Ms. Wilson writes about the concept of obeying your husband in everything (Eph 5:22-24): "The second word is everything. Hmmmmm. What does everything mean exactly? Maybe we can get out of this by examining the word in Greek...." (17). Ms. Wilson, your own husband should be ashamed about this statement since he is a pastor and should be in the Greek every time he prepares to preach! If you can't take the heat of the Original language and a correct interpretation that isn't coherent with your English Bible, then stop writing theology. A good scholar or theologian goes to the Greek to understand what is being said; a bad one doesn't.

Chapter 2: Walking with God

Here Ms. Wilson talks about what it means to be a woman of the Word, or, more appropriately, a wife of the Word. I have no problem with the concept that being in the word is good for a wife; it's just that when presented as LAW, it fails to produce fruit. Being in the Word and wanting to be in the Word is awesome, but having someone or anyone lay it over your head as a way to be a good wife/mom is condemnation. Ms. Wilson writes, "[Being in the Word] will enable [Wives] to discharge their duties before God joyfully" (23). That's a bold statement. Just because I read the Bible dutifully, doesn't guarantee that I'll be in a better mood for it or happier about my "roles" or "duties". I don't disagree that it should, I'm just saying that there is no guarantee that I'll become magically in love with ironing.

She also "suggests" (and that word is in quotes because she really doesn't suggest anything but demands) that women read 5-10 chapters of the New Testament. Again this is a noble thing and one worthy of doing if you are so moved by the Spirit to do this; but I wouldn't make this a Law! In my mind, if a mom/wife can fit in 5 verses, she's doing pretty darn good! Ms. Wilson has fairly lofty goals for wives/moms.

I do agree with her that women tend to leave the "'fat books'" (25) and theology to their husbands (if those husbands are so inclined to read those things). My prayer is that women would read more about Calvin, Luther, Barth, and Doctrine rather than stuff that is simply about motherhood/wifery; however, because I am oriented this way doesn't give me any right to make it a law for anyone else. Rather, what I should do, is to take my passion and read this stuff and teach it rather than pushing it in others' faces.

Ms. Wilson hit my pet peeve: WOMEN ARE EASILY DECEIVED (26-30). Gosh, this just irks me to no end.

Chapter 3: Respect

This chapter is about respecting your husband. I really don't have much to say here because I've covered most of it above under chapter 1. However, these are some of the things that she says:

1. Obedience to God's commands--as in complete submission/subjection to your husband in everything, which is respecting him--will result in blessings.

2. She offers a list of do-s and don't-s for wives in regards to respect for their husbands. I believe, with Ms. Wilson, that our husbands need our respect and we should offer it to them at all times. Some of these do-s and don't-s are valuable, when taken with a grain of salt and discernment.

3. Ms. Wilson suggests that a woman not go any where else for help with a problem but only to her husband. If he can't help her, then she needs to ask him if she can search else where. She then has to obey whatever response he gives her. I asked Daniel about this and asked him what he would think if I did this, "I'd go crazy" he said. My husband was attracted to me because I can think on my own, solve problems, and am not dependent upon anyone for anything (this last one can actually work to a disadvantage). I have a PMS problem, I call a friend. I have a lactation problem, I call a Lactation Consultant. I have a problem with Quinn, I talk to my mom, my friends with boys, or my mother-in-law. He's busy and doesn't need me calling him every time I have a problem. Now, on the flip side, because I love (agape) my husband, he is also my best friend; therefore, I naturally talk to him and tell him about all of my problems or questions. He advises me where he sees fit and says, "Good Job" when I solve it on my own. Ms. Wilson is really under an archaic understanding of submission--near slavery, in my opinion; and, she has a warped concept of what it means to be a wife and a mother!

4. This one is awesome. Because of her backwards understanding of the marriage relationship, Ms. Wilson suggests that when it comes to finances you not lift one finger to help your husband. It's his role to provide, and you, being the good wife, will force him to provide appropriately. "You must allow the consequences to fall on his shoulders, no matter how hard it may be for you to watch" (Wilson 51); wow, isn't that Grace for ya?

That's about all I can stomach to say about chapter 3.

Chapter 4: Principles and Methods

Oddly, in this chapter she condemns younger moms/wives for being too exuberant about their wifery/mothering methods because it can make the even younger moms/wives feel that they have to adopt their way of doing things and feel condemnation if they don't. Ms. Wilson boldly says that it's not about the Method but about the principle; it's not how you feed the baby but that you feed the baby. Okay, I agree; but, I find this odd coming from the very woman who is spouting off METHOD after METHOD after METHOD in this short book. And, frankly, if it wasn't for some friends of mine who were ecstatic about nursing, I'd probably had given up. If I didn't know people who loved cloth diapering, I wouldn't have been tuned into it. If it weren't for some of my friends who love being a mom, I may have dumped my son in child care and went on my merry way. But because of the zealousness of my young friends, I too have become zealous. May we keep the energy going!!

And, again oddly, she condemns being zealous--younger moms/wives are more prone to this rather than older women who are more sensible--yet, she is a zealot for the proper biblical obedience in marriage between wives and husbands. Ms. Wilson, I'm feeling a bit condemned; what ever happened to "just feed the baby?"

Chapter 5: Contentment

Short and sweet this chapter talks about being content. The gist: JUST BE CONTENT. Oh, yeah, that's right, I forgot Jesus' second return has happened and this just comes naturally! Ms. Wilson is either way beyond me in Sanctification or she's completely not working in reality. Discontentment is real and we all (mostly, except for Ms. Wilson) suffer from it. I agree that we shouldn't let it discolor our lives or our outlook on our lives, but I don't agree that it's just something I can get over without serious intervention by the Holy Spirit. Some days I love everything about the path God has me on; and, others...well, I'm sure you know.

Chapter 6: Duties of Homemaking

Oh brother. Don't get me starts. But, I can't help myself. The gist of this chapter: If your house is messy or disorderly or, God forbid (this must have been on the third tablet of commandments, 11-15, that Moses FORTUNATELY dropped and broke), not decorated properly (with just enough masculine mixed with feminine) you are dishonoring God. In short, you sin if you are messy and lacking that interior design touch. I know, it makes you wish you could allow your head to spin like the poor girl in the "Exorcist".

Oh, she also "suggests" that wives/mothers be in the home most of the time and not out being with their friends. And that we should pursue friendships that are good for us with women who are older so they can be mentors in wifery/mothering. We need to have all our chores done before we can go out and play; if there is anything lacking, why are we conversing with friends? Well, Ms. Wilson, that's one of the perks to being a stay-at-home mom, now isn't it. I can nap and I can socialize anytime.

Ms. Wilson also has a real problem with pride and how hard she works at keeping her house so darn perfect. The last time I read the bible, I thought it clearly said that pride was bad and the root of many if not all of humanity's problems. To be honest, I am actually embarrassed by my orderly house; it shows that my neurosis is full blown and in control of my life. I am compelled to have order and no clutter; I envy my friends that have houses that looked lived in and look like they have children they aren't ashamed about.

Chapter 7: Lovemaking

Okay, I know there is a lot of debate here. I know that Scripture is pretty clear about either the husband or the wife refusing the other sexual intimacy except for reasons of prayer, etc. The disturbing aspect to me is that she doesn't take seriously that a woman who suffered some form of sexual abuse in her history may have "issues" later in her marriage, and she believes that that woman should just be well over it because she's Christian; it is with this that I have major problems! Intimacy is not easy for me and is very scary, yes even with the man I love; please, I beg, be patient with me I'm not over anything yet. Ms. Wilson's message in this chapter is not of love but of, once again, condemnation. We are wounded creatures, and we need to be patient with each other, especially wives with husbands and husbands with wives. If you can't depend upon your husband to be patient with you here and be the safe place with you here, then with whom can you ever feel safe and feel that there is patience for the wounded?

Ms. Wilson suggests that sex shouldn't be mediocre. Okay, so I agree; but, then I return to my real-life situation and realize, well, it's going to be, most of the time, mediocre. She encourages women to be rejoicing (imagery is awesome, isn't it) during sex. She says that media has skewed our understanding of what sex is, as well as Good Housekeeping (really? Good Housekeeping? Is this woman even aware of Vogue, Elle, or Cosmo?? I think on the grand scheme of things, Good Housekeeping is probably pretty prude). Yet, I'm puzzled by her insistence that husbands and wives should have rapturous sex every night. I think Lauren Winner hits the nail on the head when she pretty much says in her book, Real Sex, that it's okay to have mediocre sex because it is one of those things like all the other things that you do with your husband (this is my summary, she says a lot more with a lot more style). Media has in fact, Ms. Wilson, warped our understanding, but you are promoting the exact same thing under the guise of the Bible/Christianity. I'm not saying we shouldn't enjoy the body of our husbands, but, the fact is, when you have chocolate cake every night after dinner, it's not longer rapturous...it is in fact just chocolate cake...again.

Chapter 8: Leftovers

She really didn't have to add more insult to injury, but she did write and 8th chapter that covers a bunch of miscellanea.


To explain this chapter, I'll quote her directly,

"If our marriages are not in order, if our children are disobedient, or our homes a wreck, then we give the gospel of Jesus Christ a black eye. Criticism form the outside should be the result of our godly behavior, not our sinfulness....What a disgrace to read of Christians divorcing, children rejecting the faith of their parents, pastors forsaking their calling. Christian wives and mothers need to awaken to the need for personal holiness and obedience. Let us receive criticism for our faithfulness and fruitfulness and count it all joy; but if we receive it for our unfaithfulness and fruitlessness, then we deserve everything we get and probably more" (100).

In the margin, I wrote, "HOLY CRAP!" And, I am praying that you are thinking the same thing. It's atrocious.

My other favorite part of this book is when she referred to the story about some older woman who had insulted/criticized her to her friends. This woman said, among other things, that she thought our very own, perfect and lovely Ms. Wilson looked like she "had been drug through a knothole" (100). Ah, the sheer joy of that imagery!

Now, the remaining question everyone is waiting for: Would I recommend this book? I bet you know the answer to that! I highly recommend that you buy every copy you run across and then throw it in the recycle (remember, be green when you are disagreeing with someone theologically). I've read it in your stead and wish no one to have to undergo such torture. These books are the fodder for my passion and the fuel in my tank to get my doctorate. Thank you, Ms. Wilson, for more fuel!

Book Review: A More Radical Gospel

Another amazing book. I truly enjoy reading Forde's writing and participating in his incredible thoughts. What a wonderful blessing it is to read his work!

This book is different than the other two I have read recently. In this book Forde lays out his thoughts--which are thoroughly grounded in Scripture, the Reformers (Luther, primarily), and a wealth of knowledge about Systematic Theology/Christian Doctrine--about the following topics:

1. Eschatology: The Last Word First
2. Legal and Evangelical Authority
3. Atonement and Justification: Christ Unbound
4. Unecclesiaological Ecumenism

For the conclusion, Forde and his editors leave us with a handful of his sermons; if you read only these out of this book, I would consider it a great, great thing! The other two books I've read by Forde were (blessedly) short and concise and about one primary topic; while this one covers a breadth of material and that material being non-to-easy to understand in its own right.

But, and here is where I have learned to really appreciate Forde and his thoughts (and writing style, for that matter): he makes it sound easy! These books are written for those of us who don't float on Forde's level intellectually! With every key-stroke, I can sense the pastoral side of Forde coming through; he truly wants you, the reader, to understand these complicated doctrines. And, as if making it seem easy to understand were not enough, Forde always throws in spice to make the material not only swallowable but also enjoyable. You will laugh while reading this, you will gasp in shock, and you will have to sit down to take one of his thoughts in. Forde is not only a gifted thinker, but is a gifted communicator; which, in all general practicality, is essential--what a loss to be a good thinker yet poor at communication! I certainly could stand to take some serious lessons from this man!

Another reason why this book struck me as different from the other books is that I liked (or to be honest here...I understood...) certain sections over others. By far, the third section on Atonement and Justification was breathtaking. There was barely one page that did not draw me to turn it in order to get to the next one. In comparison, the first and fourth sections (Eschatology: The Last Word First and Unecclesiological Ecumenism, respectively) were more difficult for me to "get into". The Second section was really good but paled in comparison to the next section. However, with this said, I don't think one section should be removed from the book; but all of them work well together and meet different levels of interest.

In the outset of this book, Forde--in the first chapter of the first section--challenges Lutherans (and all of us for that matter) to proclaim the radical Gospel. He writes,

"A radical Lutheranism would be one that regains the courage and the nerve to preach the gospel unconditionally; simply let the bird of the spirit fly! There is too much timidity, too much worry that the gospel is going to harm someone, to much of a tendency to buffer the message to bring it under control....Faith comes by hearing....Will we understand ourselves to be continuously existing subjects called upon to exercise our evanescent modicum of free choice to carve out some sort of eternal destiny for ourselves? That depends. It depends on whether someone has the courage to announce to us, 'You have died and your life is hid with Christ in God!' 'Awake you who sleep, and arise from the dead!'....Is the law eternal? It could be and will be if Christ is not preached so as to end it for us. We tremble on the brink of freedom" (15).

A certainly radical exhortation to those of us bogged down by sluggishness and sleepiness.The "ho-hum, why bother" in me is jabbed in the gut by Forde's powerful words. Will I sit here at my key-board, protected from the the rest of the world, hemming and hawing over how to say the littlest things as not to offend anyone; or, will I become a radical? Will I proclaim the Gospel as the Gospel is? Forde isn't exhorting a New Gospel, but one that is old, that is tried, that is true. This is the Gospel Luther fought for, as well as the other reformers. This is the Gospel that God incarnate wrote with His life. How dare I keep it or water it down or spray a new scent on it to make it smell more modern and less offensive. "All we have to do is just say it; just let the bird fly!" (Forde 16).

"Just let the bird fly!" is exactly what Forde does in, on, and through every single page of this book (whether I enjoyed reading them or not). He's relentless in his pursuit and tireless in his energy for proclaiming this More Radical Gospel. His energy and passion boil over and infect the reader. I find it hard to believe that anyone could be the same nominalist after having read this book. Forde doesn't attempt to extinguish the smolder ash under your seat, but pours gasoline over it! YOUCH!

In another chapter of a different section (Atonement and Justification: Christ Unbound), Forde exams "Forensic Justification and the Christian Life". In regards to progress in Sanctification and Luther, Forde looks at the "movement" and the way of the sinner. He writes,

"...the way of the sinner in sanctificaion, if it is a 'movemnt' at all, a transitus, is a transitus from nothing to all, from that which one has and is in oneself to that which one has and is in Christ. Such transitus can never be completed fact this side of the grave. Nor is it a continuous line that admits of degrees of approximation toward a goal. Rather, each moment can only be at once beginning and end, start and finish. In this regard, the Christian can never presume to have reached a certain' stage' in sanctification, supposedly surpassed or left behind for good, which then forms the basis for the next 'stage.' The Christian who believe the divine imputatio is always at a new beginning" (122).

He continues,

"...this means that the Christian never has an endless process of 'sanctification' ahead that must be traversed to arrive. Whoever has the imputed righteousness may know that he or she has arrived. But such a one would know also, of course, that this is not a goal he or she has attained,but ever one that is granted anew for the sake of Christ. In such a view, the life of the Christian in transitus is not...a continuous or steady progress, but rather an 'oscillation' in which beginning and end are always equally near" (122).

This is good news. Later in the chapter, Forde writes,

"So, for Luther, the idea of progress must be stood on its head. The movement Luther speaks of is always a reversal of this-worldly conceptions. Sanctification comes form the whole ans is always grasped as such. It comes from the imputatio which is the breaking in of the eschaton in our time....The way does not lead from below, the totus peccator...upwards. Rather...the totality of righteousness imputed to faith descends toward the lower reality. The difference and opposition between the totus peccator and the totus iustus is not increasingly overcome from below, but rather from above, from the totality of grace. But the 'movement' does lead and strive towards fulfillment when by the power of the coming reality the totus peccator shall finally die and by the grace alone be turned complete to love the God who gave it" (128-9).

Yes, it is the right time to take that deep sigh of relief! We aren't to strive to heaven, trying to grasp heaven, to grasp those things above us, to try to cling to perfect righteousness by our own doing; we are to be aware of the in-breaking of the Kingdom. As Christ broke into this world, our world (Barth), so will His righteousness, sanctification break into our lives. It won't only break in, it will crush and eliminate the totus peccator. We will be increasingly overcome "from above, from the totality of Grace" (emphasis, mine).

With that said, I highly recommend this book to anyone thirsty for some invigorating and challenging reading. Also, I recommend this book to those of us (women, staying home with the piddos) who are curious about what to believe about the Gospel, who want to share the old Gospel with other people we know, and who have lost a chunk of zeal for sharing because of the basic tediousness of daily life or because we think in terms of Children's books and Children's language and think we have lost the adult part of our brain.

Whoever you are who will read this book, I warn you: this book won't leave you the same. You'll either hate it fiercely or love it with all that is you, but you will not be left in the same emotion with which you started reading it.