Lending Library resource -- start from the back!

I have been able to obtain the loan of our book Stories of Healing: Jesus and his followers from our church’s Reading Room. What a fine resource it is! I started at the front and read many of Jesus’ healings. They are very familiar, though I am sure I can learn from them every time I meet them. However, I then turned to the back of the book and started to read the book from the back.

This reminds me of Irwin Canham, long-time Editor of The Christian Science Monitor. He had a wee column in the paper in which he answered questions and gave gentle advice (as I remember it from way back). One question was: Why is it easier to open a book from the back (or some-such)? Canham (as I recall) suggested it may have something to do with being right-handed. I note that the Words only version of the Christian Science Hymnal – Hymns 430-603 is very sympathetic to such handling. It is easy to riffle through the hymns. By the way, Canham connected people around the world as pen-pals.  I corresponded with a woman in America and one of my daughters chatted to a youth in Korea.

Anyway, there is much of interest at the back of the book. But first up, aren’t the maps brilliant on the inside covers?

At the very back we are introduced to the authors (p. 301). Prior to that is the invaluable alphabetical Index (pp. 297-300). I compiled one of those on a different project, so I know how much work goes into them. Then the Bibliography (pp. 294-296) which lists all the books referred to by the authors.

About this Book (pp. 292-293) includes information on the Book’s Organization and Approach and Ways to Read This Book. If you have read from the beginning you will be familiar with some of this.

On pages 283-291 is a section called The Life and Times of Jesus, with sub-headings:

·       The Jews Hope for a Messiah and Jesus’ Arrival

·       The Messiah and Jesus’ Healing Ministry

·       God’s Power to Heal—Available to Everyone

·       Resistance to Jesus and his teachings

·       The promise of the Holy Spirit and Healing

·       Jesus promise fulfilled on the day of Pentecost

·       Learn more about Jesus’ followers (Barnabas -- how good to have all about him in a nutshell, John, Peter, Philip, Saul/Paul, Stephen -- dear Stephen, saying, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” when dying from stoning from a mob

We then come to the coloured pages specially emphasised for reference, as outlined early in the book.

·       Purple: Concepts — Ascended/Ascension, Baptism, Christ, Demon(s), Faith, Healed of Sins, Holy Spirit, Kingdom of God, Light of the World, Messiah, Unclean Spirits, Word

·       Red: Jewish Customs — Mourning, Laws of Cleanness, Laws of Cleanness – Death, Laws of Cleanness – Sin, Pentecost, Purification Rituals, Sabbath Law(s), Spit

·       Orange: Glossary — Bed, Blasphemy, Church/es, Leprosy, Lord, Master, New Testament, Old Testament, Paralysed, Peace, Sabbath, Teacher

·       Green: People — Ananias, Apostle/s, Aristarchus, Barnabas, Centurion, Christian/s, Daughter/s of Abraham, Disciple/s, Follower/s, Gentiles, Jews, John, John Mark, Luke, Lydia, Paul/Saul, Peter, Pharisee/s, Philip, Priest/s, Prophet/s, Samaritan/s, Sanhedrin, Saul/Paul, Scribes, Silas, Son/s of Abraham, Son of David, Son of God, Stephen, Tabitha, Timothy. Woman/Women

·       Blue: Places — Jericho, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Mount of Olives, Palestine, Perea, Phoenicia, Pool of Siloam, Roman Empire, Synagogue/s, Temple

Well. I am so glad I have done that. I can really appreciate what a good reference book this will be, and not just for Sunday school teachers.

Joyce Voysey