LITERARY SPIRIT \ Religion in the media

"The Reluctant Parting" by Julie Galambush (Harper San Francisco, 352 pages, $24.95)
What book about Jesus could offer more promise than one written by a Jew who used to be an ordained Baptist minister? Julie Galambush does not disappoint, except perhaps to scholars looking for footnotes or publishers longing for a blockbuster. Ordinary Bible readers, both the curious and the serious, will find this volume an articulate, accessible, interesting, sometimes innovative, often inspiring description of the 27 books of the New Testament. If there had been more scholarship like this through the centuries, there may have been less anti-Semitic rhetoric emanating from baptized people. It is not too late, and this book is a good place to start.
"God Is Closer Than You Think" by John Ortberg (Zondervan, 198 pages, $18.99)
If God is always with us, why is he so hard to find? You want to believe that having a "personal relationship with God" is more than just words, but it's hard to have a relationship with someone who's not there. Megachurch pastor John Ortberg argues that God is never far from us -- even if, in the maddening pace of life, God's voice can get drowned out. With his knack for storytelling, Ortberg uses two unlikely companions to illustrate his points: the "Where's Waldo" children's books, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painting, "The Creation of Adam." The Michelangelo masterpiece, he writes, portrays the Heavenly Father stretching across time and space to be as near as possible to man. Ortberg also acknowledges that God sometimes seems more like Waldo -- nearly impossible to find. The pastor encourages his readers that they must do their part to move toward God -- just as Michelangelo's Adam could choose to close the gap between himself and the divine.
"Incarnation" by Alister McGrath (Fortress Press, 83 pages, $15)
This little book is packed with rich theology presented in a readable, engaging format that combines fine art, literature and prayer. "Incarnation" is meant to be experienced -- reading one chapter at a time while lingering over full-color accompanying artwork and poetic references. Oxford theologian Alister McGrath seeks to broaden the reader's appreciation of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ by narrowing the focus of his existence on the incarnation -- a doctrine that "invites us to think of God as opening a window into his being, and a door into his presence ... through that remarkable person called 'Jesus of Nazareth."' McGrath explores themes central to the revelation of God through Jesus Christ, underscored by Byzantine, Renaissance, Victorian and contemporary paintings, including Christ's humble birth; his choosing fishermen as his first disciples; his compassionate, inclusive teaching; his friendship with sinners; and his provision for human need.
"Opus Dei" by John L. Allen Jr. (Doubleday, 416 pages, $24.95)
Just in time for this spring's movie version of "The DaVinci Code," John Allen's history of Opus Dei casts a sober eye on the Catholic organization that figures as the bad guy in the Dan Brown thriller. Allen, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, is best known to many as CNN's seemingly ubiquitous Catholic expert in the wake of the death of Pope John Paul II. The Reporter is left-leaning, but Allen deserves praise for his evenhanded approach toward Opus Dei -- described in the subtitle of his book as "the most controversial force in the Catholic Church." Opus Dei was founded by St. Josemaria Escriva in 1928 as a vehicle for lay men and women to fully dedicate themselves to God, even as they remained in the world. Profiles of the organization have long drawn a fault line between liberals and conservatives.
"How to Meditate With Your Dog" by James Jacobson (Maui Media, 200 pages, $16.95)
As any pet lover knows, nothing calms the soul like a few moments of quiet communion with a devoted dog or a contented cat. The author suggests an approach for developing an intentional and regular habit of quiet time spent with a canine friend. Meditation's healing effect, he asserts, can help both human and dog -- in fact, he believes meditation helped heal his dog's sudden blindness. Humans can turn daily walks into spaces of time for clearing the mind and opening the heart. Veterans of meditation won't find a lot of new material here -- the information and technique are basic. Dog lovers will enjoy the comic strips in the book, and meditation newbies will profit from the author's breezy instructions, promising an "un-dogmatic" approach to give people and their dogs "a whole new leash on life."
Knight Ridder Newspapers