The Middlefield Federated Church Book Group

• Started September 2007

• Meets every 4-6 weeks

• Informal and friendly

• Need not be a church member to participate

• Great discussions

• Come and enjoy the good company

• Tell us what you would like to read

Don Piper, declared dead following a horrendous auto accident, spent 90 minutes in heaven. This is the story of his time spent in heaven and his recovery from the severe and painful injuries that occurred from this tragedy.  The group had mixed reviews about the book.  Some found it compelling, others felt that something was lacking as the author leaves us with his many unanswered questions about why these things happened to him.

This New York Times bestseller is a memoir. The author, a regular contributor to MSNBC, gives a revealing look into a dysfunctional family that she kept hidden for twenty years. A self-centered mother and an alcoholic father who wasted his genius caused what could have been irreparable harm to Jeanette and her siblings. The consensus of the group was that this was a compelling story and a good read. 

Using a question and answer format, Eckhart Tolle tries to guide the reader to live in the “Now” (the present) and connect to the God that is in us.  Described as a difficult read by some in the group, the book produced strong reactions both pro and con.   Although everyone did not share the same enthusiasm for the book, everyone agreed that the discussion was enlightening and meaningful.

3/12/2009
The Shack
by William P. Young

The Shack is a story about a man named Mack whose youngest daughter was kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer. In the book, Mack gets the opportunity to speak directly to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit at the shack in which his daughter was probably murdered. He confronts God about the loss of his daughter and other spiritual/religious issues on his mind. Although the book is fiction, it raises some very important real issues in our Faith journeys.

In this book, Yancey discusses why people pray, when and how to pray, the many ways prayer makes a difference in our lives, what scripture says about prayer, why we do not always get what we pray for, prayer and physical healing, praying for others and many other important questions and topics on prayer. You will find Yancey’s book nourishing and enlightening. It will serve you well as a reference whenever you have concerns or questions about prayer.

12/02/2008
Mother Teresa : A Simple Path
compiled by Lucinda Vardey

In this book, Mother Teresa describes her life’s work as doing God’s work, caring for the poorest of the poor. Through her unwavering faith, she was able to expand her work that began in Calcutta to a worldwide organization that aids the poor, the hungry, the sick and the dying. Everyone in the group came away with a new admiration for this incredible woman.

This book is the true story of how Mortenson, against considerable odds, built schools for boys and girls in the remote and dangerous regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This inspiring book provides much information on how the poor in Pakistan and Afghanistan live and argues that the most effective weapon against terrorism is humanitarian missions to help those in need in the region.

Using a compilation of essays, personal stories and short fiction, the authors discuss the mental and emotional hurt and the loss of self-esteem people can suffer when others commit acts of bigotry against them. The authors explain how people can protect themselves from the mental and emotional hurt and the loss of self-esteem suffered from victims of bigotry.

Anne Lamott's book at times takes an irreverent view of some of the basic tenets of Christianity. An editorial review described the book as tough, personal, affectionate, wise, and very funny. The review goes on to say that "Traveling Mercies tells in exuberant detail how the author learned to shine the light of faith on the darkest part of ordinary life, exposing surprising pockets of meaning and hope."

05/06/2008
The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
by Deepak Chopra

In this book the author interprets the various teachings of Jesus in a way that some may find contradictory to certain traditional Christian beliefs. The author argues that “the early Church was rife with disputes and conflicts and therefore was forced to compromise Jesus’ vision."

In this book the author tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. The author sets out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures. Full of humor and wisdom, the book describes the author’s faith journey as she travels through Italy, India and Indonesia.

This book is about the role that women have played historically in the church and how the church has denied women the privileges, opportunities, and dignity granted men. In addition, the book provides great information and insight into the growth of the church, the beginning of the bible, and the differences between the various translations of the bible.

This book argues that it is difficult to figure out what Jesus would say about complicated contemporary ethical issues. It examines what Jesus says (and does not say) about abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, war and peace, homosexuality, and the family.

Everyone enjoyed this book and it prompted a very frank and lively discussion. All who read the book learned something new about two of the largest non-Christian religions in today's world. We also learned how much these religions have in common with Christianity. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for new perspectives on other religions