“The Charmed Sphere”, ISBN 0-373-80203-X, was written by Catherine Asaro and published by Luna, an imprint of Harlequin Books in 2004. Asaro has published several other books with Luna, “The Misted Cliffs,” “The Fire Opal” and “The Dawn Star.”

         “The Charmed Sphere” is set in the fantasy kingdom of Aronsdale. In this kingdom mages rule alongside the monarch. In fact, it is traditional for the most powerful eligible mage to marry the king. That is the reason Della No-Cozen, Shape-Mage Mistress of Castle Suncroft is scouring the countryside. To find a budding mage to train who will also marry the heir of the throne. Chime appears to be that mage.

         Chime reluctantly accompanies Della back to Castle Suncroft and begins her training. Soon after, another mage is discovered and joins the lessons. The two girls struggle, each in different ways, to master the intricacies of using shapes and colors to produce spells. During that time, a long-lost heir is discovered, the kingdom is threatened by a growing evil in the north and Chime marries Muller, the disinherited heir.

         The rest of the story reveals the growing threat from an alliance with the bitter, grasping king to the north and a malignant and corrupted mage. This evil mage has apparently been brutally abused and tortured because of his powerful mage abilities. He lashes out at those he sees as responsible for his fate. The northern kingdom’s monarch uses this to set in motion a plan to conquer Aronsdale.

         Chime, Muller, Jarid, the returned heir and king, and Iris, the mage who found and later married him prepare to meet this growing menace. They attempt to uncover and defeat plots, both inside and outside the castle. This struggle is mirrored by their personal struggles to understand and control their individual powers. Each of them is powerful, but something about them is different and defies known and accepted information and practices. As they grapple with their inner battles, they secure a trust and alliance with each other that allows them to ultimately defeat the threat to themselves and Aronsdale.

         Because this fantasy world is radically different from our own reality, it may seem difficult to compare it to Christian norms. However, the emphasis on personal integrity and responsibility is compatible with Christian principles. There is little that is objectionable and much that is laudable in this story. The importance of compassion and forgiveness is emphasized, as is the need for seeking the motive underlying the action. The need for responsible development in the use of skills and talents is another important concept. The awareness and lessons learned about wielding magic are especially appropriate for a practicing Christian. One such lesson, that when a spell is used which causes pain or damage to another, the wielder is hurt in proportion to that damage, is a theme that runs throughout the entire book.

         The one possibly objectionable portion of the story is when Chime and Muller become physically intimate. While done tastefully, with nothing explicit written in any of the love scenes, this is a clear violation of the Christian command for purity in sexual matters. Within the context of the story, it must be admitted, this action is condemned as wrong by those in authority, if not by Chime and Muller.

         All in all, “The Charmed Sphere” is a fascinating, exhilarating adventure of love, intrigue and personal discovery. For the Christian who enjoys romance in fantasy lands, this book has much good to offer. Enjoy!

         If you visit this site long, you will eventually realize my opinions are often a lot different from many Christians. (Although in other ways totally conservative. No wonder I feel schizophrenic at times. LOL) Often I find that the current “Christian” opinion of a book or movie seems too radical or too cut and dried or too cemented in the “status quo” of organized religious thought. This is especially true (or I maybe I just notice it more) in the fantasy and science fiction genres.

         And this always surprises me. I accept the Bible as God’s Word. I do my best to live by its teachings. Every aspect of my life is focused on, formed and evaluated by what I know to be truth as taught by God. If that is so, then why do I find myself so often at odds with current Christian thought?

         My first clash in this area was many, many years age and centered around the very first Star Wars movie (A New Hope). Respected Christian leaders insisted no Christian should watch it, that “the Force” was Satanic and viewing it would make you a pantheist. I, in typical fashion, rebelled. I do that a lot. Maybe it is because I was raised in a non-Christian home and came to the Lord in my teens. Whatever the reason, my first response to all those negative opinions was, “Why?” When no one could give me an answer that satisfied, I ignored them. I do that still. As I’ve gotten older, I’m less rebellious and have settled into my own “status quo”, but I still question and prod and search for what is real and true and right.

         And maybe that is why, even now, at almost 50 years old and after 30+ years of following the Truth, the Life and the Way, I find myself at odds with much common Christian thought. Maybe it is BECAUSE I study the Word, memorize and hid its truths in my mind and compare all I read, all I see, and all I experience to the truth I find there. Maybe the fact that I came to Him as a teen and had to consciously root out wrong thinking and replace it with right thinking keeps me searching the Word, making sure my opinions are formed by His thinking, not just my own. Or maybe it is that, because of all that conscious effort to know and live His truth, I’ve learned to distinguish opinion from principle, fact from favorite teachings.

         That sounds harsh, though. Am I really that different? Surely most Christians read, study and memorize the Word, live their lives by what they learn, form opinions using the Lord’s teachings. Or do they? Is it possible many accept whatever they were taught (or chose in their early years to believe) and don’t expend time and effort evaluating things that don’t interest them? Because of that, they hand out blanket statements, like “any magic in a story makes that story Satanic” or “if Jesus isn’t mentioned at least three times, the story is not Christian”? It IS easier to do that than examine and adjust old opinions, especially if it is an area where you have little or no interest. (Such as, for me, science and politics. LOL)

         Because I enjoy fantasy and science fiction and all things ‘magical”, I have expended a lot of time searching out the Scriptures and discerning what is clearly taught and what is open to opinion and personal preference. Maybe some of my thoughts and observations will help you in the same quest. Hey, who knows? Maybe I’ll even change your opinion on something. Or you will change mine. It’s been know to happen.

         “Carpe Demon”, subtitled “Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom”, ISBN 0-515-14221-2, was written by Julie Kenner and published by Jove, a division of The Berkeley Publishing Group in 2006. This is the first of what looks to be an ongoing series in the newly popular urban fantasy genre. She has also published “California Demon,” and “Demons are Forever” and “Deja Demon.”

         This is an hilariously written account of Kate Conner, a retired Demon Hunter, living in a suburban California town with her husband and two children. No one in the family knows of her former profession and, even in the midst of the demon scare of the story, she struggles to keep it that way. Her teenage daughter was young when her father, also a Demon Hunter, was killed and she knows nothing of demons or La Forza, the secret Roman Catholic society dedicated to protecting the world from demons. When Kate remarried, she did not reveal her past, considering it a totally abandoned part of her life.

         Having retired to a place known for repelling demons, she never expected a demon, inhabiting a recently deceased man, would accost her in her own home. The ensuing battle, the demon’s last threats and a plea from La Forza result in Kate taking up her previous role of Demon Hunter. The next almost 300 pages recount Kate’s sometimes reluctant, sometimes panicky attempts to find and destroy the threatening demon lord, all the while keeping her family in the dark about her fight. The hilarious (trying to keep a dead demon hidden in the pantry during breakfast) and dramatic (Kate suspects her husband has been taken over by a demon) moments of the book intertwine to create a fast-paced, compelling story that is highly entertaining and emotionally satisfying.

         As Christians, we know demons exist and are at war with, if not all humans, definitely with those who profess to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Kenner creates a world where that battle is seen and is plausible. She uses many forms and traditions from Roman Catholic lore. For example, anything holy, such as water blessed by a priest or anything related to a beautified saint, repels and acts as a weapon against demons. The altar at the church is particularly harmful to demons because it is made with the ground up bones of several saints.

         Jenner uses other interesting facets of our culture in setting up her world. One such technique is that demons can only inhabit a body at the point of death. Or more precisely, at the point of a miraculous recovery. The bodies of true believers can’t be taken over this way, they fight too hard and successfully, but most others can. These things make the story plausible, even if some Christian theology might dispute them (saints, for instance, are anyone trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for salvation, not necessarily only those canonized by the Roman Catholic church or salvation comes from believing and obeying the Lord, not from attending Mass or confession).

         Carpe Demon is an hilarious frolic through the life of a woman totally in love with and involved in her family. As she struggles to hide her demon-hunting activities, even lying and misleading her family on several issues, it is obvious everything she does is inspired by the love she has for her husband, teenaged daughter and toddler son.

         As far as this author can tell, there is nothing offensive to a believing, practicing Christian. The few possible theological objections are an expected and established part of a story like this and seem relatively harmless. One would caution, though, that a heart fully devoted to the Lord is a far better defense than carrying a vial of holy water in your pocket the next time you meet a demon.

         As explained in the About page, the main reason I am creating this blog (and eventually, an entire website) is to create a place where books and movies can be reviewed from a Christian viewpoint. I really have no idea what else will grow from this, which is why it has taken me so long to put up this site. I kept trying to create a vision/plan that would give me a blueprint for growing and expanding. I finally came to realize I need to just act on the idea I already have and let it grow however it will.

         That is how the Lord works so often in my life. When I just do what I know He is leading me to do, it is amazing how I “find the path” and go way beyond the original idea. I’m excited to see that happen here.

         For now the focus of this site is a discussion (I want to hear from you, too!) about finding truth (and Truth) in the books and movies we enjoy. I love reading. I love watching movies (although I don’t love the high price of going to the theater!). And I love the entire experience of immersing myself in someone else’s story for a short time. But when I do, I want those stories to enrich my life, maybe even draw me closer to my Lord. I don’t want to be hit with stuff that will draw me away from Him or lead me toward deceptive philosophies. I want what I read to adhere to Philippians 4:8, to be good, true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.

         That is what we’ll be doing here. Evaluating books (and sometimes movies) based on Philippians 4:8. Every Friday I will post a review or a link to someone else’s review. I’ll share my thoughts on how a book exhibits (or not) those qualities and what, if any, value it has to a Christian.

         For now I am only choosing books I’ve read or want to read. That means we’ll mostly be discussing fantasy, usually with romantic elements, some science fiction, maybe even light horror if it has an uplifting theme. (Yes. That can be done. LOL) In the future I might be open to guest reviewers for books and genres I’m not reading. (If you are interested, send me a note.)

         On Tuesdays I will blog about some aspect of Christian thought or practice and how it relates making choices, particularly entertainment choices. In essence, my musings on life, the Bible and merging the two.

         I hope, in the process, to generate a lively discussion that benefits all who participate. Let me hear from you!

The Shack by William P. Young is at the heart of some major controversy in Christian circles. By choosing The Shack as my first review, I might be opening myself up to a huge controversy (then again, since I’ll most likely have few readers in the beginning, it could get buried in future posts and not read by more than a few. Either way, here are my observations of this book.

         For my part, I enjoyed “The Shack.” It is not a riveting adventure or cozy armchair read, but it is interesting. Using Philippians 4:8 as a guide, I find much of the story is good and excellent and worthy of praise. There are some areas of concern, though, and I will address those in this review.

         Be warned: Me being me, this review will not be a step by step detailed account of all the plot and theology and possible errors or misconceptions. I am just not that detailed or analytical. My strength is in summary and in bringing some harmony and reconciliation between the disparate views. The Web has many sites devoted to detailed analysis of “The Shack.” One such review is at Challies.com. There are many others and a quick Google search will find several varying opinions for your research.

         “The Shack” tells the story of Mack, a grieving husband and father. The story begins four years after the tragic kidnapping and murder of his youngest daughter, Missy. He finds a note, supposedly from God, inviting him to “the shack.” The same shack where the trail of the kidnapper ended and evidence was found that Missy was dead. Mack goes to this shack, where he supposedly meets God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They spend the next couple of days teaching Mack about God and about life and about living in relationship with Him. In the process, Mack experiences comfort, learns to give and receive forgiveness and has his perception of God challenged and re-adjusted.

         And that is the heart of the controversy. Is the picture of God presented in “The Shack” truly God? Or is it a caricature, not worthy of notice? Or a dangerous deception to be shunned and exposed?

         In “The Shack” God is portrayed, at least at the beginning, as a large Jamaican woman. Jesus is a middle-aged man of Middle Eastern descent and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. This could be a big mental and philosophical hurdle for many to overcome. While the author probably had valid reasons for each choice, which had nothing to do with irreverence or a feminist agenda, for some this literary choice may be make the story too jarring to enjoy.

         Other objections center around the theology of the book. My first reaction to all the theology objections is, “It’s fiction!” Just as I ignored all the theological hoopla over “The Da Vinci Code” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” and so many others, so I’m inclined to ignore that argument for this book. It is fiction. “The Shack” is not a treatise on theology.

         Or is it?

         It certainly has pages and pages of theological discussion, thinly veiled as character dialogue. It certainly presents itself as a vision from God, a vision admittedly aimed at one person, Mack, but still a vision of God . . . about God. It certainly seems to be striving to make a point about God, even if it is loosely portrayed as fiction. And one of the characters in this so-called fiction story IS God. So even if I choose to enjoy “The Shack” as a purely fictional story, I still need to keep my mind on full-alert. I need to keep the truths found in God’s Word in focus as I watch for theological error, deceptions and untruths or even just sloppy, incomplete explanations of important truths.

         On the other hand, I also must guard against over-analyzing what is essentially, a fictional story of fictional characters. Yes, there are things in this book that could be of concern, but should we pick it apart and scrutinize and parse every phrase? We certainly do that with the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word. He has supernaturally protected it, inspired it and makes it live and breathe in our hearts and minds. It is His message to us. We should study it and analyze it and scrutinize it to find the treasures of wisdom in it. We needn’t and shouldn’t do the same with fiction.

         The Shack is not the Bible. The Shack is a fiction account of one man’s journey toward God. It is one author’s rendering of what might happen if God appeared to a man. If God does appear to men, as he did to Peter, Stephan and others, He does it any way He wants! There is absolutely no way we can “put God into a box”. So, realistically speaking, William P. Young’s supposition that God might appear as a motherly Jamaican woman is possible.
The validity (or lack) of that Jamaican woman’s dialogue and teaching must be confirmed or challenged by Scripture. The truth must be searched out and determined. If anything in “The Shack” contradicts God’s Word, it is suspect. More than that, it is not from Him. It is heresy.

         Some object to New Age or Hindu elements in the discussion or to universalist teachings presented as truth by “God.” Many say those errors and fallacies are obvious. I don’t see it. That is not to say it isn’t there. I have not studied New Age philosophy or Hinduism or the Universal Church teachings. For some who have spent years immersed in those teachings or lifestyles, the subtle turns of phrases or ways of explaining concepts may in fact be heretical. And Mr. Young may believe and be promoting those errors.

         Then again, his words could be revealing the struggle, common to believers and theologians throughout the ages, to make deep theological truths clear and understandable. How can we expect our imperfect, imprecise language to perfectly reveal complete truth about forgiveness, salvation, Christ’s redemptive work, the Trinity, and so much more? The goal of any believer’s discussion of God, whether spoken or printed, is to make Him more accessible, more lovely and desirable, to reveal Him as the magnificent being He is. The response to “The Shack” demonstrates success on many levels.

         The common response from many is “My perception of God is so much clearer, my relationship with Him more intimate and fulfilling.” Yes, it is possible, even probable, that their understanding of God is imperfect, even erroneous. But they have been ignited with a desire to know God! And this in a time and culture oftentimes radically opposed to the God of the Bible. God is more than capable of showing Himself to them if they are really seeking Him. No matter how imperfect or flawed it might be. I applaud anything that causes people to take a closer look at my Lord. I will let the Lord lead them into greater understanding and truth. After all, I also am still learning to know and practice truth.

         It may be that Mr. Young is a universalist or worse. It may be that his entire perception of God is skewed and in error. Or it may be that, because of his unique history, he has a perception of our Lord we should not ignore. It seems to me that many have heard, many have been touched by that perception and believe they are now closer to God. Whether they have heard Truth or a version of deception posing as truth has more to do with them and their actual relationship with God, I think, than with the presence of theological purity, or its lack, in “The Shack.”

         I find nothing that directly opposes Scripture in The Shack. I do find some simplistic and incomplete explanations of deep theological truths. I do see some jarring personifications or illustrations used to make a point. But I also see explanations and illustrations that clarify truth, crystallize understanding and make God more real in my own life.

         And that is something that is good and noble and worthy of praise. In light of Philippians 4:8, I believe I can recommend this book, albeit with some reservations. If you cannot suspend your belief and judgment to allow God to be portrayed as a woman, you won’t enjoy this book. If you have the tendency to accept all you read without question and are easily led away from the truth, you should probably refrain from reading it. And if you find yourself picking apart the theology presented and getting little of benefit from the story, you should probably set it aside.

         If, however, you are open to finding truth in unlikely places and you compare all you read to Scripture, you might just see God in this story. And, like Mack, be drawn into an even deeper relationship with Him. There is truth to be found here. Just make sure what you take from the book never contradicts The Book.

Schedule of posts

• Reviews are posted every Friday.
• If the review contains a spoiler, it is password protected.

• The password is the title of the post.
• Stephanie’s musings on various subjects are posted every Tuesday.

The new year is about to begin.

Yes, yes, I know the calendar says it is January 13, almost 2 weeks since the beginning of the new year. I’m referring to this blog’s new year . . . it’s birth year.

My Army son is headed back to post (we had a great visit!) and  life has settled down to what passes as normal here. I am back to preparing this site. I am reading books, writing down my thoughts and finalizing the blog schedule.

As mentioned elsewhere, I will post a review of a book or movie on Fridays. Some reviews will be all my own thoughts on the story; others will reference reviews I find on the web and my thoughts about them.  On Tuesdays, I will blog on various aspects of the Christian life and how that impacts our choices of entertainment.

So get ready! This site will host its first review on January 16, 2008!

See you then!