Category Archives: Books

The State of the Arts: Historian Paul Johnson Weighs In

The historian Paul Johnson has written on just about every subject, with wisdom, perspective, and passion. His latest book, Art.A New History is no exception. While his conclusion focuses on the fine/fashion arts, one may substitute any art – theater, film, music, dance – and find some truth concerning the current situation: The most worrying aspect …

March 23, 2013 – 7:53 am | By Paul | Posted in Art, Books, from Paul, History, Quotations, Theater | Comments (0)

John Steinbeck Goes to Church

 Penguin Classics commemorated the 50th anniversary of Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize (1962) with a new edition of his best-loved works, including Travels with Charley. In Search of America: “At age fifty-eight, John Steinbeck and his poodle, Charley, embarked on a journey across America. This chronicle of their trip meanders from small towns to growing cities to glorious …

March 10, 2013 – 3:27 pm | By Paul | Posted in Books, from Paul, Quotations, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology | Comments (0)

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL. A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

My review:   “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”  - Hamlet (1.5.166-7)

March 10, 2013 – 7:21 am | By Paul | Posted in Books, from Paul, Quotations, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theater, Theology | Comments (0)

Now on Kindle…

Three of my books are now available for Kindle:                                                                                             …

November 27, 2012 – 8:34 pm | By Paul | Posted in Books, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theater, Theology, Web Sites | Comments (0)

EAST OF EDEN (1955): Life without God

 ”I can’t believe your fickleness – how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message!  It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God.” St Paul, Letter to the Galatians[i] Even …

September 25, 2012 – 3:50 am | By Paul | Posted in Books, from Paul, Men and Women, Movies, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology | Comments (0)

HOSTAGE: STORYTELLER AND RESCUE

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, in instructing catechumens, wrote: “The dragon sits by the side of the road, watching those who pass. Beware lest he devour you. We go to the Father of Souls, but it is necessary to pass by the dragon.” No matter what form the dragon may take, it is of this mysterious …

September 7, 2012 – 5:32 am | By Paul | Posted in Books, from Paul, History, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology, World Affairs | Comments (0)

THE MOCKINGJAY AND THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

After setting the Christian images and tropes with the first two volumes of her trilogy – Hunger Games and Catching Fire, author Suzanne Collins places her characters where all Christian tales end, at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, in this case known as “The Hanging Tree”. Introduced in Deuteronomy as part of …

August 10, 2012 – 7:54 am | By Paul | Posted in Books, from Paul, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology | Comments (0)

A Warrior of God: Charles George Gordon

His memorial service was held in an overflowing St. Paul’s Cathedral. Queen Victoria displayed his well-worn Bible in a place of honor in her palace. Schools, gardens, parks, war craft, stained-glass windows were named after him. Statues were erected around the world. His bust stands in Westminster Abbey. Tennyson eulogized him in verse. If your …

July 27, 2012 – 7:18 am | By Paul | Posted in Books, from Paul, History, Quotations, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology, World Affairs | Comments (0)

Catching Fire: A Pentecost

After reading the The Hunger Games, with its use of Christian imagery and symbols, the title Catching Fire, the second book of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy should cause the reader to think of The Pentecost. The word “Pentecost” comes from the Greek name for the Old Testament festival that was called the Feast of Weeks. Chapter 2 …

July 20, 2012 – 4:48 am | By Paul | Posted in Books, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology | Comments (0)

Thomas Hart Benton: The Prodigal Son

When reading Peter Hitchens wonderful book The Rage Against God I was particularly struck by his personal reflection on Thomas Hart Benton’s The Prodigal Son. I wanted to post a blog about that but found that Dennis Skinner had done it for me. So why try to reinvent the wheel. Here it is: The Other …

July 5, 2012 – 7:20 am | By Paul | Posted in Art, Blog Groups, Books, Quotations, Talks, The Gospel of the Kingdom, Theology, Web Sites | Comments (2)