I’m not quite sure how to say this, because I don’t want to seem particularly critical, but after reading this review Praying at Burger King I can’t say I actually have any idea what this book (I at least glean that this is a book) is about.

I get the impression it’s good, but not what the thing actually is or how it is that whatever-the-thing-happens-to-be happens to be good in the way it happens to be good.

Or did I miss something?  (I have a track record of doing this.)

LOL. I felt the same Derek.

Is it a novel? Biography? Commentary? I couldn’t tell.

Well I was excited to read that this book exists :

This book is something that can be read by anyone. It’s not an overly Christian Book, but each chapter has an issue that is discussed with a Christian focus.  It has small quick chapters that focus on a single point.

He uses small inserts of scripture to back up a few points and so it is not overpowered by huge slabs of biblical text.

This would be a good resource in bible study groups to use as a starter for conversations and discussions on certain topics.

The fact that Moore Books are selling it - plus the fact that the author is President of Fuller Theological Seminary, certainly convince me that it’s worth looking at as another resource to help converse with the non-churched and others.

And it also brought back fond memories of times when we ate at “Burger King” stores in Australia. Dropping into “Hungry Jack’s” for lunch doesn’t have the same ring about it.

Cheers, Kevin

ps Can I have fries with that ?

Kevin Goddard - 15 August 2007 04:12 PM

This book is something that can be read by anyone. It’s not an overly Christian Book, but each chapter has an issue that is discussed with a Christian focus.  It has small quick chapters that focus on a single point.

He uses small inserts of scripture to back up a few points and so it is not overpowered by huge slabs of biblical text.

This would be a good resource in bible study groups to use as a starter for conversations and discussions on certain topics.

So from this, we know the book is not overly Christian, and is a good resource in bible studies as a starter for conversations?

I’m sure the book is great, I just want to know what it is about.

Cheers

Geoff

I’m sure the book is great, I just want to know what it is about

Hi Geoff,

As you asked so nicely, I’ll tell you that it’s about 134 pages long.

I googled the title and found these bits :

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/5/story_580_1.html

Praying in Public

“I pray in restaurants. It is a practice I learned in childhood, and I have consciously embraced it as an adult.........

There is no place in all of creation that is outside the scope of God’s mercies--not even Burger King. Cheeseburgers and french fries are, properly understood, gifts from the Lord. The children running past my booth are fashioned in the image of their Creator. Fast food restaurants are a part of a larger world in which many people are starving. I find it good for my soul to acknowledge these facts.

And in making my quiet gesture, I might even be able offer a reminder to the people around me that there is more going on in restaurants than meets the secularist eye. ”

and :

http://www.westminsterbookstore.com/?p=80

Richard Mouw (author of Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport) thinks a lot about the public face of Christians. His latest book, Praying at Burger King, is a collection of short essays centered on the theme of how we live our lives before an unbelieving world.

That “Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport” title sounds intriguing too.

Cheers, Kevin

Thank you for your efforts big Kev, but I think the point was that the review did not inform the reader of what the book was actually about.

Cheers

Geoff

Geoff Chambers - 16 August 2007 07:11 AM

Thank you for your efforts big Kev, but I think the point was that the review did not inform the reader of what the book was actually about.

Cheers

Geoff

Hi Geoff,

Where do I start ? First some ‘house tidying’ young man. The title ‘Big Kev” was trademarked by that other ‘cleaning products salesman” guy - who has now left the building - sorry, I mean ‘left the planet’. ( BTW it’s hard to believe that it’s 30 years ago today that Elvis ‘left the building’ - huh huh. )

Any references to myself as ‘big Kev” ( I’ve heard it all before - huh huh ) I hope will soon be fading away. I’ve joined up with my son at Fitness First - so you’ll be seeing less of me from now on - huh huh.

I myself thought the review okay - so much that I am keen to grab a copy. The opening two brief paragraphs of the review really do give the clues. Perhaps you haven’t yet learned to also read between the lines - just joking - huh huh.

Here’s a challenge - why don’t we grab ( or borrow ) a copy and do our own reviews. Reminiscent of that classic western “High Noon’, we’ll face each other off - typewriter keyboards at 20 paces. Firing off a volley of nouns, verbs, adjectives and conjunctions at each other - with the proverbial pronoun, adverb and even the occasional definite article thrown in for good measure. As we draw nearer, pencils at the ready, we’ll even have our clause out, as we parse each other in the street.

You stated poignantly that “the point was that the review did not inform the reader of what the book was actually about”. I think otherwise - besides, as I subtly and directly replied earlier, “what’s the book about ? “ - for you, it’s about 134 pages long.

After a heavy dose of Bible Study, don’t you ever get the ‘spiritual munchies’ and you just have to go out and get yourself another book fix. Doesn’t that make you want to go out and buy one right now - “with the lot” .  I wonder if Moore Books or Koorong have ‘drive thru’ yet . Think of the clerk’s response : “Thank you for your book order sir. Do you want fries with that ? Jesus loves you… and have a nice day.”

Cheers pardner, Kevin

ps Still awaiting a response to my PM questions