From:-
TORCH TRUST FOR THE BLIND, Torch House, Torch Way, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HL, U.K.
Telephone: (01858) 438260, Fax: (01858) 438275, email: info@torchtrust.org
Charity Number 1095904.
Welcome to the first edition of the Torch Library Magazine for 2008. Apart from the regular update on new books in the library, book reviews and readers' letters, we've got a suggested reading list for Lent and a staff profile of Lorimer Fink one of the Torch librarians who are selected, it seems to me, for being incredibly kind and helpful!
One of the things I love about books is learning new things. I have just finished reading a book about football, which I read because I won it in a competition in a Christian magazine rather than through any particular interest in the game. It is called "Transformed" and is the autobiography of Linvoy Primus, a defender for Portsmouth FC in the Premier League, who became a Christian in 2001. Well, Linvoy may have had his life "transformed" but that's nothing compared to the transformation my opinions have gone through in the course of reading the book! My perception of professional footballers, the transfer market and defensive football tactics has dramatically altered, for both positive and negative reasons. Here's an example of something positive: at Portsmouth home games, about a dozen of the Pompey players and staff huddle together in the laundry room to pray before kick-off - and, no, they don't pray for victory, just that they might use their skills effectively and be honouring to God!
This one little book will affect the way I watch football for the rest of my life, and I suppose the point I'm making is that books are powerful things. Of course they can be used for good and bad but our hope is that the books in the Torch library will only affect you for good.
The three books reviewed in this magazine are well worth considering. The first one, "Simply Christian" written by Tom Wright, is a bit less chatty than his excellent Bible commentary series ("Luke for Everyone" etc) but don't let that put you off. The second book, "God Found Me" by Irene Howat, is a collection of testimonies by both male and female authors; if you access it in its audio format you will get the bonus of listening to the only Torch book to be read by a professional actor (the transcriber of some of the male chapters, Tom Underwood, voluntarily gave us his time during a quiet spell in his career). And the final book, "The Spirit Who Heals" by Peter Lawrence, I haven't yet read, but will be doing so soon on the strength of the review!
God bless
James Brookman and the TLM Editors
Many people today do not believe in miracles. I think it all depends on how we define miracles, and whether we have eyes to see them. Also, I think it is a question of wanting to believe. As Jesus Himself pointed out in one of His parables, if people didn't believe Moses, they wouldn't believe even if somebody came back to life (Luke 16:31). People will always find ways to explain things away even if they happen in front of their eyes.
One of the most wonderful things in the world which I would certainly call a miracle is when people's lives change. When they allow God's Holy Spirit to change them. It's a mystery. A miracle. I firmly believe that we will never really understand how it happens. At least not in this life. But isn't it truly amazing. I always find it so uplifting and inspiring when I hear people's stories of how they came to know the Lord. I'm sure many of us know this excitement when we hear about how God worked in the life of another person. Because we are all unique, our circumstances are all very different, but God knows exactly how to reach us. And He does it always in a unique way. The way that fits us best.
Irene Howat in her book, "God Found Me", gives us an insight into 12 very different lives transformed by encounters with God's Holy Spirit. When I picked up this book, my first thought was, wow, this must be the story of how somebody came to know the Lord! I was right. In fact, it is not just one story, it is a collection of stories, so in one book you'll find different people telling their own unique stories. After my initial excitement came the next one. Just out of curiosity I went through quickly the list of names, just to see how many stories there are, and to my absolute amazement I found a name I was familiar with! In fact it was the name of a good friend of mine whom I haven't seen or heard of for a long time! It might not be that amazing for somebody who lives in the UK but I happen to come from Hungary, and you can be sure I know far fewer people in England than in my home country! My second thought was, can it really be the same person? Maybe it's just an identical name. So I quickly went to her story, started reading it, and I soon realised that yes, it was the same person! Her name is Marie-Christine Lux and I first met her in a summer camp in Hungary about four years ago. A group of people from Scotland came to help run the camp and she was one of them. Getting to know her was a real blessing among many others that we enjoyed when leading that camp.
It's wonderful how our hearts can be filled with so much joy, just by finding a person that we know in a book! But it's not just about finding a person we know. In my case the joy mainly came from realising that we are all children of the same God, who has a plan for the life of each one of us. And what a blessing it is when our lives cross each other and friendships are made and we realise we are truly one in Him. That's another miracle!
As I read through the book I found each story fascinating and even though I don't know these people personally, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet them in these pages. There's so much we can gain from others' testimonies. Hearing them we often realise we share the same experiences, make the same mistakes, go through similar difficulties. Now and then we might feel close to giving up. But we know the One who's worthy of our trust and who is able to keep us going no matter what comes our way. May we always give Him the glory and praise for everything He does in our lives.
[Available in braille (B2178), on tape (C2285) and in giant print (G2113)]
Those of us brought up to be loyal to a particular denomination, for very good reasons, can ponder over Tom Wright's emphasis on being "Simply Christian". Not long after I read this book I was asked by our social worker about our religion. I said "We're Christian's"; when the paperwork came I noted she'd put down "C of E". Perhaps in our denominational differences we have hindered people from discovering what is most important and what it is to be simply Christian. Although the title is "Simply Christian", it is not a simple book, but the Bishop's choice of words and phrases is often sublime.
We must learn to make sense of our longing for justice, spirituality, relationship and beauty and indeed truth and love. We must begin to talk about God. Which is like saying that we must learn to stare at the sun. How do heaven and earth, God's space and our space, relate to one another? There are three basic ways:
Option 1 is to slide the two spaces together. This is pantheism.
Option 2 is to hold the two spaces firmly apart. This is deism.
Option 3 is what we find in classical Judaism and Christianity: Heaven and earth overlap and interlock in a number of different ways.
It is when we understand Jesus that we begin to recognise the voice whose echoes we have heard in the longing for justice, the hunger for spirituality and relationship, and the delight in beauty.
What does it mean, theologically speaking, to learn to stare at the sun? God is the creator and lover of the world. Jesus spoke of God as "the Father who sent me". Look hard at Jesus, especially as he goes to his death, and you will discover more about God than you could ever have guessed from studying the infinite shining heavens or the moral law within your own conscience. The voices that echo in a million human hearts, crying for justice, longing for spirituality, eager for relationship, yearning for beauty, drew themselves together on the cross into a final scream of desolation. The death of Jesus of Nazareth as the King of the Jews, the bearer of Israel's destiny, the fulfilment of God's promises to his people of old, is either the most stupid, senseless waste and misunderstanding the world has ever seen, or it is the fulcrum around which world history turns. Christianity is based on the fact that it was and is the latter.
At the moment the world appears as a place of suffering and sorrow as well as of power and beauty. But God is reclaiming it. That is what Jesus' death and resurrection were all about. Bishop Wright goes on to explain about Worship, Prayer the book God breathed, the story and the task.
Christians are called to leave behind, in the tomb of Jesus Christ, all that belongs to the brokenness and incompletness of the present world. It is time, in the power of the Spirit, to take up our proper role, our fully human role, as agents, heralds and stewards of the new day that is dawning. That is what it means to be Christian, to follow Jesus Christ into the new world, God's new world, which he has thrown open before us.
[Available in braille (B2732) and on tape (C2503)]
How do you react when you come across a book whose title suggests it's about healing? Do you feel excited or do you tend to close up as disappointment grips you once again? Blindness is usually an obvious and visible disability. When we go to church, we are often led to a seat and the little hymnbook or service sheet is handed back - again! As we sit waiting for the service to begin, we're oblivious to any information about what's happening as it flashes by on the screen at the front. Our thoughts can easily turn to something that's really bothering us. As the service proceeds, there may be an invitation to come forward and receive healing prayer. The hymn sheets and the notices may not be a problem to us, but what about that awful unforgiveness we're harbouring or that "root of bitterness" we know is starting to spring up and cause trouble.
Have you ever sat there in a Christian gathering, wondering whether or not to go forward for healing? "If I do, they'll assume it's about my blindness and I won't be able to ask prayer for this thing that's really eating me up." I've often mused, "But if I don't, I might be missing out on God's blessing."
At Torch, we know that healing can be turned into an emotive issue. What should be a wonderful blessing from the heart of our loving God can, by insensitive or inexperienced Christians, feel more like a stab in the back. We hear heart-rending stories of people who feel rejected by the very body of Christ which should be supporting them as they are told that they are not healed because their faith is somehow deficient. So when we select a book on this subject, we choose with great care. We look for books which will encourage and bind up the broken-hearted, not contribute to tearing them apart. Our Lord Jesus did go about doing good and healing people, and told his disciples to follow his example, healing them by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Having read Does God Heal Today by Ronald Dunn (already in the library) I was interested to compare it with this new addition, The Spirit Who Heals. I feel that they complement each other. the former exploring the problems that can arise when God's word is carelessly and insensitively "used", whilst not denying God's grace to heal.
The emphasis in Peter Lawrence's book is that Christian healing is not a covenant right guaranteed through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, but a gift of grace, given by the Holy Spirit. Theological study is interspersed with accounts of healings, most of which the author has personally witnessed and followed up over many years. Some healings are visible, whilst others are a quiet, life-changing work deep down in people's lives.
The writing style is easy, with the theological points explained in plain English. Access to a whole Bible would enhance the reader's appreciation, as many Bible references are given and are useful to look up. But if you don't have a whole Bible to hand, still ask to have this book.
Here's an example from it:
On the morning of the 10th April 2005, John and Jean were undecided about where to go to church. John, a psychotherapist and clergyman, wanted to come to Canford Magna, to our ancient royal chapel beside the Stour. Easter had come and gone, and a time of refreshing away from his own parish, on a Sunday when he had no parochial duties, seemed like a good idea at the time. Jean had planned to worship in one of the three churches that John helps look after, to see some friends, but at five minutes past ten, rather late in the day for the distance involved, they agreed to go together to Canford Magna.
At five past ten a few faithful souls were gathered in the side chapel to pray, and I was one of them. It was the weekend of the televised American Masters golf tournament, which had continued until almost one o'clock in the morning due to bad weather, and I was feeling very tired. I'd already done the 8 o'clock holy communion service, and my presence owed more to duty than inspiration. Tony, the parish treasurer from the Lantern, had come to preach about money from a biblical perspective, and healing was simply not on our agenda that morning.
Pauline, the treasurer's wife, joined us for prayer. At five past ten, she sensed the words "right ear" come into her mind, and shared them. Yes, I thought, somewhat cynically and wearily, I expect there will be someone in church with a right ear.
John and Jean arrived in mufti just in time for the start of the service, and slipped in amongst the rest of the congregation, unnoticed. Tony spoke well about money and giving, and John puzzled in his mind over what God might be saying to him. "How may I bless you, Lord?" he prayed inwardly when the sermon came to an end.
"It is the other way round," God seemed to say. "This morning I want to bless you."
At the end of the service, the leader reminded everyone there was an opportunity for prayer in the side chapel; he gave out the word concerning someone with a problem in the right ear, whereupon John recognised it as a word for himself and decided he would go forward for prayer after the final blessing.
At the age of eight, John lost most of the hearing in his right ear. The medical profession felt the loss was due to mumps, which had affected the nerve, and said there was nothing they could do. John remembers from his schooldays having to ask for a special seat in the front on the right for his aural examinations in French and German, so that he could hear it all with his left ear. Three or four times, John had received prayer for his right ear without noticing any marked improvement, and for several years he'd not been able to hear anything on his right-hand side.
Cecilie (a member of our ministry team) prayed, asking God the Father through Jesus to send his Holy Spirit on John, and then waited quietly. In the stillness, with his eyes closed, our visiting clergyman began to hear a man's voice. He assumed the person was on his left-hand side but when he opened his eyes he was amazed to see that it was Geoff, on his right, who was speaking.
Very graciously, John went to the microphone in church and shared with those of us who were drinking coffee that he could now hear in his right ear for the first time since he was eight years old.
I rang John the next day to see how he was. "It's marvellous!" he said. "To God be all the glory. I can now hear in stereo." I'm pleased to record that a couple of months later, John's hearing continues to improve. He also reports a more immediate awareness of God's presence with him and an encouragement to step out in faith in whatever God has next in store for him and Jean.
As you can see, there's plenty of food for thought in this book. It left me feeling a lot more positive about healing; I hope it has the same effect on you!
[Available in braille (B2725) and on DAISY (D2500)]
Once again we would like to thank all our readers who have written, phoned or emailed their thanks and appreciation. A selection of letters is always read out in chapel on a Thursday and always gives invaluable encouragement to all who work for Torch. So here's a big thank-you to all you thank-you writers!
Remember by Karen Kingsbury: "This has been a wonderful read. (The author) really describes emotions so truthfully ... It is an exciting book ... I (also) learned a lot about ... Alzheimer (disease)." From Miss A M of Motherwell. Remember by Karen Kingsbury is the second book in a series of five books called The Redemption Series. The first in the series is called Redemption and is available on cassette C2488. The book mentioned here, Remember, is also available on cassette C2492.
Walking From East To West by Ravi Zacharias: "(This is a) thrilling story of his life." From Rev'd S D of Berkshire. Walking From East To West by Ravi Zacharias is available on cassette C2515 and on DAISY D2515.
Faith Like Potatoes by Angus Buchan: "Thank you for sending this to me. It was a lovely book." From Miss S K of Derbyshire. Faith Like Potatoes by Angus Buchan is available on cassette C2551.
God is Closer than You Think by John Ortberg: "I would like to say how much I enjoyed listening to (this book). In fact I listened to it twice." From Miss J D of London. God is Closer than You Think by John Ortberg is available in braille B2701, on cassette C2484 and on DAISY D2484
Living By The Book by Margaret Cundiff: "How I enjoy ... Margaret Cundiff's (books). I feel I know her (through) her thoughts and readings ... She makes me laugh, cry and believe..." From Mrs J S of Chalfont St Peter. Living By The Book by Margaret Cundiff is available in braille B355, on cassette C2561, on DAISY D2561 and in giant print G598.
TNIV (Today's New International Version) New Testament: "... how encouraged I am to have joined the Library again and begun reading more Christian books. I was so keen on the TNIV (New Testament) that I purchased a copy from Torch, because I knew I wouldn't want to send it back (if I borrowed it)." From Mrs C P of Reading. The TNIV New Testament is available to borrow on DAISY D2435 and also to purchase from Torch on DAISY disc for £3.99.
A Voice in the Night by Brenda Sloggett: "Very much enjoyed. Thanks." From Mrs I H of Suffolk. A Voice in the Night by Brenda Slogett is available in braille B2616, on cassette C2302 and on DAISY D2302.
The Torch Compilation by Stella G Heath. "Thank you for sending me this (DAISY disc) of books telling the story of Torch's foundation and its development. The accounts are given in a very interesting way and I found the record of the Trust's work very impressive." From Mr P M of Surrey. The Torch Compilation is available to borrow on DAISY D2435 and also to purchase from Torch on DAISY disc for £6.
Hello everyone, my name is Lorimer Fink and I'm a Librarian in the Torch Trust Library.
When I became a Christian, at the age of 26, it was the most wonderful thing to find the love God has for each one of us, and which we have for each other too. This expressed so much that I already felt in my heart.
I became a Christian through a Gospel concert. I just knew that what I heard was true. Jesus absolutely changed my life. Even now (after nearly 28 years) I am still growing, and still learning more about God every day. It's a wonderful life to have the Lord walking with you.
My husband, Mike, is a teacher and he became a Christian just after me. So, together, we love the Lord and are involved in our local Evangelical church. With three daughters (two married) and a baby grand daughter, that rounds off our family picture.
Anyone speaking to me on the telephone will know that I have a northern accent as I grew up in Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland. We have lived in Market Harborough now for 24 years and we really do love it here.
Quite a few years ago I managed a small Christian bookshop and coffee shop and it was there, for the first time, that I came across Torch Trust for the Blind. These very nice people from Hallaton (where Torch was at that time) would come in for their Refreshments and Bible notes! Mike and I and our girls (who were young then) also started to attend the Torch carol services.
About that time we began to have two or three Torch people come to the housegroup we held in our home. Seeing the person as a whole person came well before the thought that here were people visually impaired and blind. They were a great introduction to Torch as well.
Life moved on, and jobs changed, but I had a real desire to do Christian work. So here I was, with a real interest in people, being used to telephone work from a previous job, a love of Christian books and some experience of those with a visual impairment ... well, guess which position seemed just made for me? Yes, Torch Librarian!
Having been in Torch now for seven years I can honestly say it gets better and better. Not only do I, myself, find spiritual growth and personal happiness through working here, but I can see Torch itself developing all the time to benefit those who make up the Torch family. So, together, we can see God working His purposes out! Praise His name!
Finally, I look to the years ahead knowing that God has brought me here for such a time as this. So, from now on if you ring or write, then you can look on me as someone you know, someone who is part of Torch's ministry for you.
With Christmas barely over, it's time to think of Lent and Easter! This is a time of reflection, traditionally a time to seek a closer walk with God. So we've combed our database for some titles, which we hope, will help you in this season.
Beyond Easter by Martyn Day: Follows the journey of the first disciples, from the dawn of the first Easter morning to the day when they witness the Ascension. Available in braille B929, in giant print G2054.
Characters Around The Cross by Tom Houston: The author brings us face to face with those who played key roles during the crucifixion, examining Peter, Herod, Caiaphas, Judas and others. What were their motives? How had their characters been formed? Available in braille B180, on cassette C1327, in giant print G256.
The Cross of Christ by John Stott: Many people are unclear about the meaning of the Cross and cannot understand why Christ had to die. The author explains its significance and answers the objections commonly brought against biblical teaching on the Atonement. Available in braille B592, on cassette C981.
The Day Death Died by Michael Green: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone on which the whole of Christianity is built. If it is false, the entire edifice collapses. If it is true, the consequences for our world and for our individual lives are immense. Available on cassette C594, in giant print G487.
The Empty Cross by Gavin Reid: Ten leading Christians of the 1970s and '80s walk with us through the first Easter, leading us to a fresh encounter with the risen Christ. Available in braille B596, on cassette C1314.
The Empty Cross of Jesus by Michael Green: This book concentrates on the resurrection and the immense implications of Easter Day. Available on cassette C1081.
Who Moved the Stone? By Frank Morison: The inner story of a man who set out to write one kind of book about the Resurrection of Christ and found himself compelled to write quite differently. Available on cassette C767.
Your Verdict by Val Grieve: Examine the evidence for Christ's resurrection from a lawyer's point of view and reach your own verdict. Available on cassette C1211, in giant print G100.
Jesus Crucified for Me by Paul Tucker: This book contains a series of messages concerned with the meaning and importance of the last words of Jesus from the cross. Available in braille B793, on cassette C1664, in giant print G477.
Windows on The Passion by Donald English: Studies on the Passion narratives in the Four Gospels. Available in braille B787, on cassette C101, in giant print G330.
The Apple of His Eye by Bridget Plass: Bible passages, comments and prayers for every day in Lent. Bridget Plass points us to the Bible passages which tell us of God's loving purpose for each one of us, and for the society that we live in. Available on cassette C2135.
Meekness and Majesty by RT Kendall: Highlighting Christ's humiliation, His acceptance of God's will for His life and the magnificent reward prepared for Him by the Father. Available on cassette C1725.
For the last two years the Torch Library has hosted a spring and an autumn Book Retreat Week at our Holiday and Retreat Centre in Hurstpierpoint. Here's an insight into what we get up to!
Books may be the vehicle for the Week, and Retreat in terms of time out and spiritual refreshment, but it's the people that make the holiday.
We meet as strangers and acquaintances, and leave as friends. Whatever life has thrown at anyone prior to this special week is gently eased away with good food, fun, discussions and chat, outings and a spiritual theme running throughout the time.
Whether it's discussing a favourite book, verse or a life experience to share; whether watching a good audio-described film, joining together in our amateur attempt at short drama, games and quizzes; whether hearing ourselves recorded or meeting with an author or transcriber, we feel the pleasure in sharing thoughts and joining in experiences.
Outings find us in parks, theatres, garden centre or historical building! Last time it was Brighton Pavilion - a place of splendour and jolly nice tea and cakes!
The Importance of Being Ernest was our play last November and, after an excellent packed lunch thanks to our hosts, we made it to our seats and heard a great performance of this classic, humorous play.
Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre, itself, is a warm, homely, welcoming house, set in the beautiful South Downs countryside. Everyone feels looked after and ably fed. With pleasant and accessible rooms and a small number of guests, everyone can feel at home, secure and comfortable.
What is memorable? For one it may be the opportunity to share insights of life or to discuss a book; for another the chapel times where, through books, songs and prayer, we learn something about ourselves and God. It could be the fun times, the shared meal times, the laughter and chat giving a real holiday atmosphere and companionship.
One thing that is important to all, is the time to be valued.
We hope this encourages all our Borrowers to consider joining the Library Team again on our future holidays in 2008, where books, fun and fellowship come together in one happy week. We certainly would like to meet you, and for you to help us in sharing together the meaning of being part of the family, which is Torch.
Now is the time to start thinking about holidays for 2008!
We have already started to take bookings for the Book Retreat Week, May 19-23.
Looking further ahead our 2nd Book Retreat Week is November 10-14.
The Book Retreat Weeks each cost £170.00 per person per week.
To book please contact Torch HRC, 4 Hassocks Road, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex BN6 9QN. Tel: 01273 832282. Email torchhrc@torchtrust.org