The On The Bookshelf Podcast

interview--Cally Logan wrote to ”Dear Future Husband”starting in 2011

Cally has spent the last 12 years writing to a man she has not yet met. It is to her future husband and  she prays humbly to God for that future husband, and for herself to prepare her for marriage, if God so chooses to bring her a husband. It is a most unique and spiritually powerful book. At one point she decides to pray every morning at 3 AM for 30 days very specifically.

Here’s what she prayed, starting with Day 1: for her future husband’s safety, for his confidence, for his joy, for his work, for his health, for his spiritual health, for discernment, a new heart, that his life would be greatly valuable to the Lord, to know his strengths and what to hold and what to let go, to build up in him curiosity to dive deeper into the good work, for spiritual gifts, for God to him and her a desire for Him above all else, that they may be equally yoked and suitable counterparts to each other, to create in him a pure heart, that his body is kept pure, that his home is protected from the Enemy, and to bless his family. Cally prayed that God would bless her future father-in-law, the friendships of her future husband, to grant him a circle of people who will enrich his life, to give him wisdom about his friends, to teach him how to be the husband she needs, to teach her how to love him, to help them both to become the people they need to be for each other, to give them both wisdom about financial things, to cultivate in him a childlike spirit, to stir in him a thoughtfulness toward the future, to surround him with the truth that he is fearfully and wonderfully made, and finally for God to abide in him. 

interview-Norman Solomon asks tough questions in ”War Made Invisible”

How does the USA enter a war without a specific goal and not expect it to last indefinitely?

How can compassionate Americans ignore the suffering of innocent civilians in enemy territory (casually termed as "collateral damage")?

What about the casualties of contract players (many of whom are ex-military), which ar not reported on US media?

Is anyone else concerned about the toll taken on women in the military and on women whose husbands are in the military service?

Where is the US media when such questions should be asked?

interview--David Heeren does a new take on a Christian classic

In 1896, Charles Sheldon wrote a book which had an enormous influence in its day, and for generations of Christians, In His Steps. It led to the phrase, “What would Jesus do?”, which a generation ago was turned into a bracelet worn by young Christians bearing the initials WWJD. The social issues Sheldon addressed included concern for the poor and corruption in railroads and boxing.

The social issues of this day are abortion, adultery, government involvement in child-care in natural families and foster homes, corruption in government and media bias. (Some of these things were issues in 1896 as well.) Author David Heeren decided to address these serious issues two decades ago (indeed, his first edition was endorsed by the late Dr. James Kennedy, prolific author and pastor.) Now the book is being released again, because the issues have not been resolved.

In “Year of Our Lord”, Rev. Charles Morgen is a middle-aged pastor (whose wife Beth has gotten very jaded about church and faith). He challenges the membership of his twelve-hundred-member church in central Florida: what if followers of Christ really took the obligation seriously to follow Jesus with determination for one year? How would the church be affected, how would the community be affected, and how would their individual lives be affected? A handful volunteer.

Ellen Backster is an angry middle-aged woman with a husband and two young daughters (who constantly fight with each other). Another is Percy Johnson, an older African-American who lives alone, yet he can’t ignore the power of the challenge. He will become a critical part of the story of Buck Markbreit, a wealthy but corrupt middle-aged man who passed out in a swampy area only to be awakened by an alligator who bit off his right arm Rev. Charles Morgen is shocked when he discovers that the head of his Deacons is openly committing adultery and asks the Board of Deacons to remove him. Instead, he lies and claims the preacher is just out to get him, and almost succeeds in removing Morgen from the pastorate! Even more terrible, Charles’ jaded wife Beth leaves him for the head deacon! Now he’s divorced, which turns some of the church against him, despite his innocence in the whole matter.

Ellen is accused of bombing an abortion clinic where she had been leading a peaceful protest against the business and the abortionist Dr. Desmond Durgeon. He manages to twist it against her, and makes a secret call to the Dept. of Family Services. They promptly arrest her and force the children to testify that she is a cruel and unfit mother! This results in her being sent to prison to await trial, but the inmates almost beat her to death. Her daughters are sent to foster care, where they are terrified. They are learning that standing up for Jesus makes them targets of Satan. However, God has not abandoned them, and He’s got many surprises awaiting the faithful believers.

 

interview-Terry Heflin tells her dad Bert Heflin and Orson Welles-The War of the Worlds broadcast

It's not often I get a chance to interview someone with a very close connection to radio history that occurred 17 years before either of us was born. My longtime friend Dr. Terry Heflin tells me the true story of how her father Bert Heflin, working for COllier's magazine in New York City in the 1930s, had a hand in the iconic Mercury Theatre Players of the Air broadcast, "The War of the Worlds".

Jonathan Scott brings the fascinating story of recorded sound with ”Into the Groove”

Cylinder recorders, 78s, 45s, and 33mph records all had a wild beginning. Inventors of all kinds and nations, all sorts of materials, and all kinds of speakers, musicians and engineers: their stories are here and lots of fun. I've been in radio since 1972 but I never knew most of this history, so I loved this book!   (As of Nov.2024 it's now available in paperback!)