Rob
A bit muddy, but what older Masonic texts aren't? It's a decent reference for the new initiate, covering basic do's and don'ts of the lodge.
Read it for a class I took. While it certainly makes well-needed points, the author's flashbacks on her life come off as “the story of the wonderful me” written by someone desperate to cast themself as a future leader.
Like “Born in Blood,” the author seems to float around a bit. His writing is good and he makes excellent points. I particularly liked his take on Pat Robertson.
An interesting look at the esoteric side of Freemasonry. Leadbetter explores the Egyptian and Kabbalistic origins of Masonic ritual.
Disclaimer: I've “known” Nate for the better part of 13 years. Back when he was just dreaming of writing and obsessed with a puppet show. I picked up Washington County Paranormal because it's cool when someone you know does something big like writing a book. The book could have sucked and I'd still buy a copy.
Thing is, this book doesn't suck. Nate's laid-back, dry humor keep this book from going down the road of unbelievable pretentiousness so many other paranormal books travel.
In a way somewhat reminiscent of Arthur Goldwag's “Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies,” Nate explains the legends and discusses them as an open-minded adult. He doesn't load down the reader with unbelievable, fairy-tale bull-pocky.
He says, look, here's the story. I went there and did whatever stuff it is that makes Bloody So-and-So appear from whatever holds her spirit. She didn't show up for me. Maybe you'll have better luck, here's how to get there.
The legends in the book are well-researched, and Nate presents them in a thoroughly readable fashion. I highly recommend this book for history buffs, paranormal enthusiasts, and people looking for a good, entertaining read.
An excellent book which provides Godly insight on how to be not just a good leader in one's Church, but in other areas as well.
“Leaders can see the power of God overshadowing the problems of the future. This is a rare gift – to see the sovereign power of God in the midst of seemingly overwhelming opposition. Most people are experts at seeing all the problems and reasons not to move forward in a venture. (Kindle location 251)
“A leader cannot be paralyzed by indecisiveness. He will take risks rather than do nothing. He will soak himself in prayer and the gospel and then rest himself in God's sovereignty as he makes decisions, knowing that he will very likely make some mistakes.” (Kindle location 277)
A good read, even if you disagree with Ed's theology
I'm what some would classify as an ex-evangelical. I left my Baptist church in 2012 and now classify myself as a Lutheran. While I don't agree with Ed's views on certain theological issues, I still find him an insightful voice to follow. This book illustrates why.
Ed reminds us of some basic manners we all seem to have forgotten. Listen to others politely. When disagreeing, do so respectfully. Not everyone will share your worldview, and those who don't aren't your enemy. Not behaving in this way damages our testimony and closes people's minds to our words.
In her book, A Gracious Heresy, The Queer Calling of an Unlikely Prophet, Connie Tuttle tells her life story from childhood through confused teenager and young adult to ordained minister. It begins with an admission: I am not perfect. In today's world of “best life now” and “blab and grab” theology, this is a refreshing change of pace. Conceived in an outhouse and raised as a wandering army brat, Connie illustrates how her encounters with other children around the globe taught that, at heart, there's really not much differentiating us from one another. Color, status, orientation, identity, all are irrelevant when it comes to God's love and grace.
Connie tells how in her spiritual journey she was misled, misused, and taken advantage of. But through it all she held God close and kept seeking him. Despite being told time and time again that she was unqualified, unworthy, and unrepentant, Connie followed her calling and persisted.
For the quality of the writing itself, I would strongly recommend this book. While it's an autobiography, it certainly doesn't read like one. The narration is not dry, the dialog doesn't feel forced. It was deeply engaging and hard to put down.
I would encourage anyone who has at some point struggled with the idea of homosexual clergy (or even the relationship between Christianity and homosexuality in general) to read this book. Will it change your mind if you disagree? Probably not. But it will, however, give you a view through the eyes of someone who feels called by God, but is told by religious leaders that she's not worthy, not clean, not able.
I have personally walked away from evangelicalism. I picked this book up curious to see if it addressed the issues which caused me to do so. It didn't.
Rather than investigate why so many gen-x and millenials are leaving the Church, the book assumes those who abandon their faith or emigrate to others simply don't understand Jesus. I have to admit, I was slightly rebuffed and moderately insulted by the notion that my status as a former Baptist is due to not having a proper understanding of the faith.
I moved up to mainline Christianity from low-church evangelicalism for a number of reasons. As a former Southern Baptist lay minister, I can assure you it wasn't because I didn't have Jesus properly explained to me. Rather, it was due to the inconsistencies between faith and action. Inconsistencies like criticizing behaviors as sinful then electing politicians who embody (and brag about) engaging in the same.
If your twenty- or thirty-something child has strayed from the faith you raised them in, it's very unlikely to have been caused by poor explanation. In fact, you probably explained and lived your faith perfectly and that's exactly why they rejected it.
A great collection of short stories that drew me in and I thoroughly enjoyed. The author has a new fan.
Interesting read
Interesting read if you're into cults and true crime. Nothing too in-depth, just an overview of a few cults from the past few decades.
I read this in one sitting. Those last few chapters had me doing a few “are you serious” eye-rolls. A good and engrossing read for sure, but the final “no wait THIS guy/girl was really the killer after all” was a bit much for me. Like. Come on. You're telling me THAT many people could keep THAT big a secret for all those years without a whisp of gossip getting out? Ffft.
Like many classic works of Masonic literature, this book can take a while to wade through. Lack of paragraphs, arcane language, and run-on sentences pose quite the challenge to the reader.
If you stick with it and plow through, this is a very interesting explanation of the whys and hows of Masonry.
Most believe the Templar origins of Freemasonry to be a myth. In Born in Blood the author sets out to prove those myths to be true. While I still have my doubts, I found the book to be quite interesting and worth reading.
Started off interesting. Then it turned into a collection of YouTube video transcripts.
While not as important to most Masons as society would believe, Morals and Dogma is still an interesting look at one man's view of Freemasonry.
How
Certainly engrossing hard to follow at times but not as hard as one would think a book with no punctuation would be.
I'll keep it brief - I like a book that draws me in and reads quick, which this one did. It would be 3 stars otherwise.
Much of it frustrated me at first. (The grocery list...) The last 40-50 pages... just... eh. It didn't grip me as I read, but reflecting back on it later I found it interesting. A slow wrapping-up of what you knew was coming while hoping it isn't as bad as you anticipate.
I did enjoy how the reader slowly understands what is happening outside the house based on the clues in the story and what the author discloses. As if you're figuring it out along with the characters.
One big thing I disagreed with - this was supposed to have humor mixed in with it. I've got a fairly dark sense of humor and didn't find a bit of laughter from the whole thing.
If your knowledge of Freemasonry stems from pop-culture mysteries, you will be well familiar with the theme of this book. Author Christopher Hodapp does an excellent job explaining the Masonic origins of the United States.
I did not miss the point of this book, that we should be free to express ourselves as we see fit. I do disagree with much of it, however. Throughout all ages and societies, there have been norms of behavior and action. Are all of these right? No. Not all of them are wrong, however.
I do not disagree that there are individuals in our society who feel oppressed. I agree that we should be able to express ourselves. We should feel free to embrace what we enjoy.
However, to what extent should this expression extend? Should anyone be allowed to wear anything anywhere they want? Should an individual be able to act however they want in any circumstance?
Conforming to societal norms, as frustrating as that may be to some, is a fundamental aspect of living in a society. Indeed, one could make a sound argument that without norms one doesn't even have a society. Have these norms at times been obsessive and suffocating, such as in the Victorian era? Yes. But the answer to these problems isn't a free-for-all of public behaviors and actions.
To have a functioning, healthy society, there are norms which must be adhered to. As society evolves, so do these norms. However, there are still norms, and as such there will be individuals which must cover the fact they do not adhere to those norms. No matter what the societal rule set, individuals will always have to hide some aspect of their personality.
Suppose we had the fully-open society proposed in this book, where no covering took place. What of the private individual who likes to keep to themselves, who doesn't wish to live a life on display? Would they not be forced to cover that aspect of their personality in order to live in a society based upon complete and total openness?
I found many aspects of this book quite interesting and useful. As a child who was gifted and enjoyed poetry, I was forced to “cover” those aspects of my personality to fit in. In that regard, I get it.
Where I don't “get it” is in believing that a workplace which asks employees to leave their personal lives at home is somehow discriminatory. I have a work life and a home life. Why must the two meet somehow?