The Memory of Old Jack
by Wendell Berry
Reviewed by Jonathan Daugherty

I remember how I first heard of this book. A man I had never before met was telling me a story about the things he wanted to change for the sake of his family. He mentioned some of the books he had read recently. I nodded and agreed with his thoughts about the books. And I mentioned a few to which he nodded and agreed right back. Soon he was telling me how he had come to read one specific book. He told me how long it took him to read the book. He told me where he was when he read it. He described the whole setting of his reading this novel, but he didn't tell me anything about the story except the author and title. He finished his story by telling me that as he finished reading the book and closed the back cover, for a length of time he did not know, he sat and cried. "It was beautiful," he said, crying again. I read it the following evening.

I was somewhat familiar with Wendell Berry as essayist and speaker. I mean, I had read a handful of his essays on land and community and farming, and I won't say I had been completely unimpressed. I share many his convictions, but they were not new to me because of him. So I had never considered his fiction or poetry. I should have known. I did know better. And I know even better now. My friend was right. The Memory of Old Jack, is a beautiful story and beautifully told.

It's not long novel, but it is told with an appropriate patience. Set around the small town of Port William, Kentucky, as is most of Berry's fiction, this is the story of an old man remembering his long life. He recalls the good times and the hard times. He remembers his sins with regret. He remembers his friends and family. He remembers as some were born and others died. He remembers every work animal he ever owned. He remembers loving and abusing and working and resting and creating and destroying. He remembers many lives in the span of his own. But Old Jack is not really the hero in this story. And there is not really just one.

Why wouldn't I love this book? I too love freedom and family. I too enjoy working my land with wisdom and diligence. I want to be patient and love my neighbors. I live near my heroes and they are dear friends of mine. I do not want to fear growing old and I pray that I listen to my elders.

Please understand this when you read anything by Wendell Berry: Berry does not claim to be a Christian as far as I know. The characters of his stories do not necessarily either. Much of Berry's work longs for and illustrates many of the elements of a mature Christian culture. We do not get a culture like this without serving the living and reigning Jesus Christ. And Berry is wrong not to acknowledge this. But Berry unlike many of those of us who do serve King Jesus, knows that such a culture takes faithfulness and indeed patience.

If you go right now, and order this book at Amazon.com, you may be sorry after you read The Memory of Old Jack. You'll understand later. But if you can wait, the next time we meet, I may have my tattered paperback copy with me and be glad to lend it to you for the evening.

The Bride Wore Red: Studies In Hosea
by R.C. Sproul Jr.
Reviewed by Don Schanzenbach

When the announcement was made that R.C. was going to teach six sessions on Hosea one of my first thoughts was — "Hummm — Hosea, an obscure book." Of course there is nothing intrinsic about any book or passage that makes it obscure. Rather it is our failure to read that book or passage sufficiently often that makes it seem that way. The more completely we study the entire Book the fewer obscure passages there will be.

Having confessed my personal failing let me tell you what made this teaching useful to me. Throughout the series R.C. was able to lift out the broader meaning and application and show us how the book of Hosea applied to us here and now. This can be a challenge sometimes with those "obscure" books. Hosea was commanded to take a wife of harlotry — what is that to me? Israel was told to repent of its Baal worship — what is that to me? Israel is threatened with judgment if they do not repent — what is that to me?

In each case we learned that ‘they' are us. We may not replicate the sins in Israel exactly (though often we do) but our attitudes and underlying disobedience parallels theirs more carefully than we are comfortable to admit. R.C. reminded us that there are only two gods we can worship: the true God of Israel or ourselves (man). Baal was just the figure chosen by the unfaithful in their resistance to worshiping in Spirit and in truth. We do not carve idols we name Baal but we do trust in other things that we use as replacements for the true God. Consequently our sin is equally as wicked while often remaining hidden to our eyes. An accurate study of the prophets reminds us of this and sets us on a better highway.

R.C. made an excellent observation about the blessings and cursings of God falling on ‘the people', God's covenant people of whom we are a part. While we are ever ready to receive the blessings we are uncertain that we should also partake of the cursings when the people resist God. He discusses Achan who brought death to Israel's soldiers in battle and death to his family through his taking of the forbidden treasures. All Israel suffered though only one man sinned. This thought brings sobriety to the mind of any sincere Christian. We do not endanger only our own lives but bring possible harm to ‘the people' — our friends- when we embrace sin. The judgments of God may be against the whole land.

In his message on Hosea chapter five, RC discusses the fact that the prophets were usually sent to speak to the king. So there was a political aspect to their prophetic ministries. He said that, "the state is the plurality of man made manifest" and that we should "obey the state but speak against tyranny." Prophesying against the pretensions of the state has almost become a forgotten part of Christian ministry over the last few decades. RC bolsters our doctrine and hopefully our courage to return to that and other prophetic work. It is a most useful series.