Book Review - The Founders' Key

The Founders' Key by Larry P. Arnn

The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What we Risk by Losing It.

I liked alot of his points. He speaks to the growth of government and how much of our government is outside the control of congress and therefore outside the ability for it to be reigned in easily. Many of the agencies get their funding from other ways beyond congressional budgeting - again that makes them difficult to control and reign in. He defines the 'Progressive Movement' that is the direct cause of the growth of government and the disregard of the constitution. He compares and contrasts the differences between a progressive / socialistic government and a constitutional government. He states that "although it will take time to recover constitutional government, a start can be made now, and significant results can be achieved soon." I have to say I am not as optimistic that this is even possible. We have had years of progressive teaching in schools to the point where the younger generations have been so ingrained to believe that the constitution is bad that I do not have has much optimism that we can have any sort of results. He states that "we have to recover the meaning of certain principles and we have to recover the methods of constitutional rule as they are exemplified by the best practices from our past." So with the current culture, with progressivism being taught in the schools - how can we recover the meaning of certain principles? They are no longer being taught. And while it is wonderful to say we need to start with educating the public - I am not sure that isn't pie in the sky type of talk. Is it even possible anymore after the years of indoctrination. 

I very much enjoyed the book but I am not sure he really gets to a good, concrete plan as to how to turn it around. I think his book does a great job of identifying the problems though. Maybe that is half the battle - just getting people to see the problem.

A complementary copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young

I very much enjoyed this book but one needs to remember this is a 'fictional' book. This book would be a great book for our book club as there is just a lot to talk about. As with the Shack, there are parts where Christians will differ on whether or not it is acceptable to portray God in that light. For example, in Cross Roads, the Holy Spirit appears in the form of a Native American woman. God appears in the form of a little girl. Jesus appears as an adult male. They do appear together and separately in these forms. (Lots to discuss with that - isn't there?!) Part of what Young mentions in Cross Roads is that God can appear in any form and it is only our human minds that limit Him to what we think He should be. And I do 'get' that but I have to say that it does push the boundaries for me. Again, remembering it is fictional, it doesn't get my shackles up as a book that is declaring itself to be an authority on God's word and using these types of interpretations. 

The book was very good and I enjoyed it. (spoiler alert) I have to say that while I think the ending is entirely appropriate I was hoping / wishing for God to intervene and save both of them. God could do that - God is a God of miracles. Still, He did grant one miracle. And the ending isn't really sad as you know that the other one ends up with Jesus. Still, part of me wanted the double miracle. 

The story itself is about a self made millionaire named Tony. He is very eccentric and also has pushed everyone including God out of his life. He ends up in a coma essentially dying of a brain tumor. He is in the state of in between - not dead but not really alive. He meets up with Jesus and he is given the chance to change his beliefs on the existence of God and Jesus. Ultimately he is given the chance to through prayer save just one person from dying. He asks several times if he can save himself, of course. The book centers on his change of heart that brings him closer to Jesus and farther away from being that ego-centric person he had been most of his life.