Touched by a Vampire

 Any language arts teacher is eager to find a book that motivates kids to read something .. anything! .. more in depth than the text messages they secretly send in between classes. Last year I noticed my middle school girls going giggly over the Twilight saga. Some of these kids were reluctant readers, yet they lugged around vampire books which were twice the length of the novels I assigned. Hungrily, they sped through the first novel, then the second, and chatted eagerly about how they were dying (no pun intended) for the next to be released. So, I borrowed a copy Twilight to check it out for myself.

I discovered an artfully written book sure to intrigue any romantic teen into the mysterious world of love and forbidden dreams. Stephenie Meyer is a powerful storyteller and has done her job well. But even as I found myself caught up into the plot, something disturbed me. Many of Ella's responses to Edward mirrored real life women I have counseled -- or wished I could counsel -- in my role as a pastor's wife. These women in abusive relationships gave themselves completely over to their men in a kind of distorted self abandon. Edward, by choosing not to remove Ella from the danger he posed to her, mirrored many abusers I have known.

On the other hand, I found qualities in the book I could admire. Meyers created a character with an inner conflict between good and evil. He committed himself to the good in spite of tremendous cravings for evil. I relate to that struggle and find it refreshing to discover a hero in the pop culture that is willing to endure the challenges of delayed gratification.

So, I am happy to recommend Beth Felker Jones's book Touched by a Vampire: Discovering Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga. Jones, a professor of theology at Wheaton College, has done a wonderful job of exploring the themes found in the Twilight series such as dangerous romance, abstinence and sex, gender roles, marriage, parenting, and the universal search for purpose in life.

Jones does not attack Meyers or her books. Instead, she carefully challenges Twilight fans to filter the books through a Christian worldview. She speaks of the characters as though they are real and asks us to evaluate their perspectives and decisions through the lens of Scripture. Sometimes, we'll discover that Ella, Edward, or the other characters, have acted in ways that well illustrate Biblical principles. Other times, they represent ideals that subtly run counter to Christian thought. Jones also points out that Meyer's own Mormon beliefs are woven into the plot.

Touched by a Vampire is a short, thought provoking book. Any parent, teacher, or Twilight fan will find this a helpful aid to creating meaningful, non-threatening conversation about the Twilight saga.

Gettin' Real!
Melodie

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Vampires for Christians?

When I received an invitation to review a Christian book about vampires, I had my doubts. Personally, I'm not into blood and fangs. I did read the first Twilight novel, but only to check out the hype. So, when I received a copy of Tracey Bateman's new novel Thirsty, I wasn't expecting to particularly like the book.

Sometimes it's nice to be wrong.

Bateman kept me turning the pages. The plot hints of romance without the sap, flirts with vampire without the gore, and explores God without the sermon. In other words, it's good drama.

Get Real! readers will be glad to note that Bateman has a knack for weaving a connection to God into her characters' everyday lives. Marital struggles, family tensions, parenting issues, and battles with alcoholism all plague the life of main character Nina Parker. Bateman doesn't rescue her with a few cute Christian platitudes so that everything turns out wonderful. She lets Nina battle her Creator for his place in her life. Important corners are turned, but no one rides off into the sunset to the tune of "Happy Trails to You."

If you are looking for a good story that illustrates how real people struggle to make God relevant in the gut-hard issues of life, this book is for you...vampires and all.

For you Twilight fans, check back soon for my review of Touched by a Vampire: Discovering Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga.

Gettin' Real!
Melodie

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Prayer Power: Diving Deep with God

Pray continually. That's what the Bible tells us to do. But how?

My friend Mike talks to God all day long. In fact, he doesn't even say Amen after his first daily prayer. "It's my way of reminding myself to keep on praying," he said. "I start praying when I wake up. Then, after I finish my morning prayer time, I just get up and go about my business and keep talking to God about whatever is happening." Just before falling asleep Mike finally says Amen, with an awareness that God has been with him the whole day.

Pat, a busy preschool director, connects with God while she drives. "My friends think I'm crazy, but I never listen to to the radio when I drive," she told me. "I'm so busy all day long. My time in the car may be the only time I'm alone all day. That's my time with God."

God is with us all day, and he us to be aware of him. Talking to him as we go is an integral part of being in relationship with him, but there are some habits that can help deepen this process.

Peter Lundell offers one simple tip to help develop all day communication with God. He calls them breath prayers: "Short prayers that can be said with one breath. They are often repeated in order to keep attention on God." (p76)

One of my breath prayers is "God is near." When I feel anxious or frustrated, I use these negative feelings to remind myself that I'm not alone. God's spirit lives within me and will provide the resources I need to face the situation with grace. Sometimes, I alter this to "God you are near. You will give me what I need. I can do this with patience." (A two-breath prayer!)

Other Christian practices can deepen our daily communication with God. They are spiritual disciplines and take more time than conversational praying. Lundell explains these concepts, such as Biblical meditation, fasting, and praying God's word, in his section titled "Internal Helps." These habits are doorways to adventurous living.

Lundell often quotes another helpful tool for learning about the spiritual disciplines is Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster. I've read this work and go back to it from time to time to grow in my own practice of the disciplines. I love this thought from Foster:

Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.

I want to be one of those deep people.

Don't forget to comment on the blog, my Facebook, or my Twitter about these posts. If you do, I'll enter you in a drawing to win a free copy of Prayer Power.

Gettin' Real!
Melodie
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