Reviews for Praying with Celtic Saints, Prophets, Martyrs and Poets

The average rating for Praying with Celtic Saints, Prophets, Martyrs and Poets based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-04-27 00:00:00 Doug Horner Margaret Feinberg visits a shepherdess, a beekeeper, a farmer and a vintner to understand the symbolism and references in the Bible. Feinberg really did her homework on this one; she is able to approach each of the "experts" with a list of good questions and emerge with productive, insightful conversations. It is surprising to realize how out of touch we are with the agrarian world in which the Bible was written; the depth and richness of its metaphors are mostly lost on us. It makes me wonder what the Bible would sound like if it were written today. Poetic metaphors about Facebook and Interstates, perhaps? Feinberg's prose style can be overexuberant at times; she likes to chronicle what everyone was wearing, how their houses are decorated, and what they order at fast food restaurants, as well as peppering the text with phrases like "I could resist," I found myself drawn to" and "I fell in love with," all of which invites the reader to skim. She moves sometimes with abrupt speed from unnecessary details to deep conversations about spiritual things, so don't skim too fast, however. Of the four interviews, my favorite was the shepherdess. It feels like Feinberg moves more easily into spiritual insight, and is able to stay in that realm longer in that chapter. The revelation about giving God our best, not our most or biggest, is what I will remember about this book for years to come.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-03-24 00:00:00 Christopher Smith How pleasant and peaceful it was to view Scripture through an agricultural lens! The part I loved most was when Margaret met a real shepherdess. Scripture on all things sheep came alive to me as I learned about the loving care and sacrifice a shepherd gives to his or her flock. Jesus' title, The Good Shepherd and his parable of the lost sheep now pack a stronger punch. As a daughter of a beekeeper, I also loved the section of the book dedicated to exploring the honey biblical references; bees always amaze me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will return to certain parts for a reminder of God's true nature. And now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to quit my job and go live on a farm.