Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Open Secrets : A Memoir of Faith and Discovery by RICHARD LISCHER ISBN: 0-7679-0744-2 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 11 June, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (3 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: No more secrets
Comment: Richard Lischer had a plan -- graduate from seminary, have a few significant pastorates, teach at a seminary, end up as president and 'big wheel' of the denomination. As the lyric says, life is what happens when you are making other plans. In the book 'Open Secrets', Lischer recounts many of the awakenings he experienced as pastor of a small-town, isolated community church, far from the seminary where he'd studied, and far from the city and 'powers' he'd dreamt of.
Lischer begins this autobiographical tale with a brief overview of his life prior to his arrival at New Cana -- only child, good but standard education, 'typical' rebellions in school and seminary -- a fairly conventional upbringing, with only a few points of deviation from the norm. He did have visions of something better, however, and was shocked at his appointment to the church in New Cana, a town so remote that it was difficult to find on a map, and even once he was there, it was still difficult to find.
There was a symbol of foreboding from the first day, in that the cross atop the church was broken. This was a broken community, and had been for generations, in many ways. It was stable, secure in its structure and in its dysfunction, and Lischer's arrival was greeted with what was probably the traditional lack of fanfare. There was one 'ruling family' of the congregation, and insiders were clearly differentiated from the outsiders. Lischer and family were definitely outsiders.
The conflicts in the town were fairly typical of the human condition -- there were family troubles ranging from abuse and neglect to simple emotional wear-and-tear. Overshadowing the town was the almost constant depression that accompanies an agricultural-based community; working the land is hard in the best of times, so people grew accustomed to a hard life.
Lischer ultimately finds value in the community, but one wonders upon reading this memoir if that value was realised largely (or only) in hindsight. The struggle through the conflicts, both internal and external, are very apparent at each turn. Nothing came easily in Lischer's ministry. Ultimately, however, the community was accepting, and Lischer was similarly accepting. One man, Leonard, who loudly proclaimed, 'I didn't vote for you' at the first meeting of congregation and pastor, was in fact the last one to give thanks and blessing as the Lischers departed for new ministries three years later.
The people recounted in Lischer's tale are genuine. We only get the interior reflections of Lischer, but one can sense, among this uncomplicated community, the motivations and simple ways of true living among the parishioners. When Lischer tried for an innovation in the liturgy by permitting guitar music, one member of congregation reacted badly. Worried, Lischer wondered how the trouble might be resolved, others in the congregation assured Lischer not to worry, saying that the trouble-maker had always been trouble anyway.
As a portrait of small-town life, this is a unique and interesting perspective. While the world of the 60s is no longer with us, in many ways the community of New Cana (as many small agricultural towns were) was largely passed over by many of the cultural developments of the 60s (and 70s, and 80s); thus there is a timeless character to this narrative.
Fascinating to read, practical and spiritual at the same time, the reader will be enriched by Lischer's experiences.
Rating: 5
Summary: Absolutely Delightful!
Comment: A Portrait of the Pastor as a Young Man. An intimate look at a pastor and his first church. This is a wonderful look back at Lischer's early years in ministry. It details some of his struggles as a well-educated city boy trying to relate to a rural congregation, and expertly captures the difficulties of the early years in ministry for anyone trying to reconcile many years of education with the reality of life as a pastor. Lischer's wonderfully understated sense of humor comes through in many places. Highly recommended.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Rare Gem
Comment: With engaging wit and warm insight Richard Lischer allows us to sneak a peak behind his first pastorate from Lutheran Seminary. Being unfamiliar with Lutheranism I was awed by the profundity of belief and the rich relationships into the community that he entered. He entered as a virgin and left as a lover of his people that God graciously allowed him to pastor. Take the time to read this book and enter heartache, grace, empathy, communion and fellowship of the deepest level. Experience the privilege of a new way of seeing people.
 |
Title: Destiny and Deliverance: Spiritual Insights from the Life of Moses (The Prince of Egypt) by Philip Yancey, John C. Maxwell, Max Lucado, Kenneth Boa, Max Lucado, Jack Hayford, Tommy Barrett, Thelma Wells, Tommy Barnett ISBN: 0785270183 Publisher: Thomas Nelson Pub. Date: 01 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
 |
Title: The Hospital Visit: A Pastor's Guide by Michael L. Kirkindoll ISBN: 0687085594 Publisher: Abingdon Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
 |
Title: Strategies for Brief Pastoral Counseling (Creative Pastoral Care and Counseling) by Howard W. Stone ISBN: 0800632990 Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers Pub. Date: 01 February, 2001 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
 |
Title: Mission-Driven Worship: Helping Your Changing Church Celebrate God by Handt Hanson ISBN: 0764423479 Publisher: Group Publishing Pub. Date: 01 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $55.01 |
 |
Title: Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry by William H. Willimon ISBN: 0687045320 Publisher: Abingdon Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
