As we are finished with  Ender’s Game for the reading group, I am planning the next book we will choose to discuss. I have two recommendations and I would like to hear which you would like to read next.

The first is a book called The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. It is a book that seeks to answer real questions and doubts about God (the first part of the book) and then turns to a positive presentation of how to think about God. Check it out. While there are aspects that we will probably disagree with in his presentation, the author is a strong Christian that will give us much to chew on as we read it.

The second book suggestion is called The Film Club by David Gilmour. This book is not from a Christian perspective from what I can tell. The main idea here is that the author’s son was flunking out of school and the author decided a new approach was necessary. He decided that the best way to instruct his son was to have the two of them watch films together and discuss them. The author let his son drop out of school as long as he obeyed a couple simple rules. The biggest of which was that he would watch three movies each week that his father would choose and they would discuss those films.

I think both of these books could be great to discuss for radically different reasons. Which would you prefer and why? Obviously which ever we choose, we must order the books before we start the discussion. This means we need to make a decision quickly. What do you think?

Michael

So, were you satisfied? Did the ending work for you? What did you like or dislike?
While I would say that the book as a whole was immensely satisfying for me and brings up many great things to think through, I was not as pleased with the ending. I’m not sure why, it just didn’t ring true for me like the rest of the book. There was something lacking, but I am not sure what or how to make it better. That is the benefit of critiquing books rather than writing them. ☺ Honestly though, it just didn’t complete the story for me, but that is just an opinion.

Here is something for discussion from the last couple of chapters that might help. What did you think about the compassion Ender feels for the buggers? He seems to have remorse that he killed all of them. Do you agree with that and how does it make you feel? Do you think that is right according to Scripture? What about the object Enders finds in the room the buggers had made for him?

I would really love to hear your thoughts about this whole thing. Mentally I am still working through it personally, so hearing your thoughts might help me.
Anyone who loved the ending: write a little bit to let me know why you found it so satisfying. I am open to learn things that I have missed.
Thanks for reading this book with me. Let me ask you a question for the next book pick. Would you recommend a pace like this book (3 or 4 chapters at a time) or something slower or faster and why? I am trying to work through some thoughts related to this and would appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Have a great day. Michael

Hello again everyone out there who typically reads this blog. There have been several things that have prevented me from updating this blog lately. The most recent issue has been resolved and I hope to get going again. We just changed where the site was located, so while it was being moved I could not change the content. Thanks for your patience.

I have also been overwhelmed lately with needs at Crossroads Bible Fellowship, the church where I  serve as a pastor. There are good things happening there, but even good things can take us away from other things we would also like to do. Please pray for us as we work through many things, including writing a mission statement  and seek to reach our local community with the tremendous gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I would appreciate your prayers.

In the next couple of days I hope to have posts on the end of Ender’s Game and plans for the next book we will discuss.  I also hope in the very near future to be writing on some passages I am wrestling with. It is a great time in my pursuit of God. I am learning so much and am being shown consistently that I do not have all the answers. What a great lesson to learn. Anyway, I believe the things that have taken me away from this blog recently are going to make my contributions here even better, and for that I am thankful.

Talk to you soon. Michael