Timothy J. Stoner

Fascinating and well researched details in this intriguing book not only invite readers into Biblical time and place, but also verify the legitimacy of Luke as a great historian, and of the other gospel writers as honest recorders of what they knew. Why don’t we hear of Jesus childhood – surely important to the mythology of such a great figure, if he were myth? Why don’t we hear of him living in Bethlehem as prophesied – wouldn’t this have been hugely important to the writers? Why does he tell people to keep his miracles secret if he wants to be famous? Why does he teach in parables if he wants to be understood? And why did the crowd who followed him around suddenly turn and cry “Crucify”?

Biblical references, familiar and unfamiliar, abound in this book, together with background detail that deepens their meanings. By the end, it all ties together into a convincing image of a man who, contrary perhaps to revisionist modern expectations, knew exactly who he was and did nothing by accident.

The author answers the arguments of Zealot author, Reza Asla, with clear example and explanation. At the same time, he combines the gospel timelines convincingly into a whole that constantly surprises the reader, even with familiar events. The book is beautifully written, thoroughly enthralling and intriguing, and an enjoyably satisfying read, especially as Easter approaches.

Disclosure: It was free and I couldn’t resist. It’s just my sort of thing.… (lisätietoja)

http://elenburg.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-review-god-who-smokes.html

The God Who Smokes: Scandalous Meditations on Faith by Timothy J. Stoner was a gift from a friend I meet with on a regular basis. We usually meet at Cafe Brazil to discuss what we're reading and life in general. I liked this book much more than the last two books he loaned me, neither of which I could bring myself to finish reading. I bailed on both Empire of Illusion and The Cry of the Soul about half way through. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Stoner's book and read all of it, even the end notes.

Stoner's writes like a novelist, and mentions his poorly selling fictional work several times. Don Miller's Blue Like Jazz reinvigorated sales of his earlier overlooked work. Perhaps Stoner's multiple mentions of his novel will produce the same sort of sales boost if his non-fiction work begins selling well. I don't read much fiction, so I doubt I'll buy it.

Stoner creates a lot of word pictures and writes with emotion concluding many chapters with a Psalm-like blessing. But his book is neither a set of stand alone meditations or a coherent story with beginning, middle, and end. This didn't detract from the book in my mind because I was very interested in the consistent theme running through the chapters. It is a theme I've been struggling with myself for quite some time.

Stoner grew up a fundamentalist Baptist missionary kid in Spanish speaking countries living most of his early life outside the USA. He and his wife have raised three boys and a girl of their own here in the USA plus an adopted African child. He has both seminary and law school training, and is presently involved in orphan justice ministry. His eclectic background gives him an interesting perspective on Christian life in the USA.

The theme that binds the book is Stoner's struggle between the more traditional and fundamentalist practice of the Christian faith in which he grew up, and the modern "emergent" church which finds himself a part of today. He lives in Grand Rapids and his grown sons are involved in Rob Bell's church (Mars Hill). This doesn't keep Stoner from leveling several criticisms of Bell, all of which I agreed with. There are lots of references to Rob Bell and few to Brian McLauren while frequently quoting Peter Kreeft and C.S. Lewis. Stoner struggles with finding the balance between the modern and post-modern church. This is where I am in my own personal faith journey as well so if you're in the same boat you'll probably enjoy this book.… (lisätietoja)