Book: Joshua and the Children

OK - so I'm hooked on these "Joshua" books. They're not really a series. It's as though Joshua/Jesus drops in for a few months and touches lives in a specific place in today's society.

Joshua and the Children, by Joseph F. Girzone, is another fascinating story, albeit a little harder to comprehend. It depicts a society where there is terrorism and bloodshed between Christian denominations - perhaps similar to what life was like in northern Ireland. In this story, Joshua cleverly undermines the hatred by reaching out to the children. As in his other books, there are many profound insights. For example, in one conversation Joshua makes the following statement: "To be perfectly human, as God made us, should be our goal. If we appear to be religious or pious, we've missed the point and our piety becomes a caricature and unauthentic. Real holiness is the natural growth of the human personality to its full maturity as an individual, and in the process, becoming a beautiful person. That is all God wants of us."

Here's another interesting thought: "The overriding interest of God is not perfect happiness or perfectly just societies in this world. It was not a just or perfect society in Jesus' day, and yet he was interested not in revolutions to resolve that problem, but in people focusing their vision on God and finding peace within themselves."

A great story, and many very interesting and challenging insights - too numerous to expound on here. However, here's one last one. Joshua was talking to an old priest who was frightened to die and meet God. In part, here's what Joshua had to say: "Jesus tried so hard to help people understand that God loves them as they are. He knows they are human. He made them that way and it is human to be weak and imperfect. God did not intend to make humans little gods. He created each individual to do a little job, to make their little contribution to help others and perfect his creation, and gave to each just what he or she needs to do that job. The rest of the personality is imperfect, but that's all right. The person will grow to become, in God's good tim,e what He wants that person to become. As long as people love God and care for others, they need never be afraid of meeting God."

Book: Joshua: A Parable for Today

Joshua: A Parable for Today I first "heard" this book on audio driving to and from Weslaco TX a few years ago. Decided to read it. A powerful story.

This is a story about Joshua, a quiet and simple man who supports himself as a carpenter. His insights, however, are profound. For example, "It is difficult ... for people to think in spiritual terms. The world of the senses is so vivid and so real. The world of the spirit is real to God, perhaps, but to human beings it is hard to believe it even exists. For someone to talk about it makes people uncomfortable, yet it is important that they be reminded of the spiritual world."

As anticipated, the topic of "religion" comes up: "God never intended that religion become what it is today. Jesus came to earth to try to free people from that kind of regimented religion where people are threatened if they don't obey rules and rituals invented by the clergy. Jesus came to teach people that they are God's children and, as God's children, they are free, free to grow as hum beings, to become beautiful people as God intended. That can't be legislated."

Joshua's interaction with people, both friendly and adversarial, is very inspiring. He deals with conflict head-on, but without judgment. He provides a magnificent model for us.