In Memory of Breann Currie

When their only daughter, Breann, passed away in July, 2003, Pam and Mike wanted to honor her memory by helping young people in some way. As memorial gifts came into the church, they decided that one way to do this was to create a library of video and book resources that address some of the challenges facing teens in this day and age. In consultation with Rev. Fred Clark, a pastoral psychotherapist, Amy Frederick, a school Social Worker, and the high school class at CUMC, they purchased a video series and workbooks that can be used not only with our own CUMC youth, but also by other churches in our District.

We want to inform the congregation about the selection of educational materials purchased and placed in the church library by funds given to the Memorial Fund in memory of Breann. One part is a series of videos called "Power of Choice", for teenagers and parents, featuring Michael Pritchard. Mr. Pritchard is well-known in educational circles and provides us with topics such as self-esteem, suicide and drug and alcohol use, to name a few. The second selection is called "Tough Decisions". It offers activities in values and character education. The last 3 are books with matching videos for kids with Attention Deficit Disorder. They are the "Joey Pigza" books by Jack Gantos, for ages 10 and up. These have won Newberry Book Awards. Copies of the videos tapes will be made available for loan to church members and other local churches for use with their youth groups.

309 pages.

Reviewed by Fred Clark.

This is a book about the Bible. I wish I had read it before I went to Yale Divinity School and studied Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology and courses of similar ilk. Even though this book is written in a style that may seem simplistic, it is NOT a simple book about a simple topic!!

This book would have given me a framework for understanding the Bible (and the Christian faith) in a wider context that would have helped me understand the specifics of my studies much better. And, although much of this book could be elementary to Disciple Bible Studies graduates, it can still fill in many aspects of the Bible that may not have been covered.

There are 5 major sections in the book. Section 1 asks the questions, "What is the Bible and where did it come from?" Just this section alone is worth reading.

Section 2, the lengthiest, concerns itself with the many subjects of the Bible. For example, (to quote a few of the chapter headings), "How does God make Himself known?" Brown gives a tally as follows: "God reveals Himself. God reveals Himself in historical events. God reveals Himself through persons. God reveals Himself supremely through Jesus Christ. God reveals Himself through the live of a community. God reveals Himself through a book." I like a list like that. Other topics are, "What about predestination and miracles? How does Jesus ‘change’ people? What does God do about evil?"

Section 3 talks about those to whom the Bible is addressed. That’s right. You, me and the church!

Section 4 talks about the "last judgment," the Second Coming of Christ and, "what happens when I die?"

And finally, in section 5, Brown invites us to think Biblically about problems of today with intriguing chapters on "the corporate dimension of Biblical ethics" and "what does the Christian do about war?" Some Biblical topics seem to be ever current!

Excellent book for those interested in the Bible at any level.