Excellent Meditations on the Life of Christ

Twenty Steps on the Way to Glory by Rev. Emile R. Guilmette, S.M. is an excellent resource and thoughtful study on using the rosary.

Guilmette writes in a clear style that helps the reader to understand the Mysteries of the Rosary. Each of the four Mysteries, The Joyful Mysteries, The Luminous Mysteries, The Sorrowful Mysteries, The Glorious Mysteries are written about as mediations on Jesus' life and minstry. The author uses many Biblical quotations in his examinations.

Rev. Guilmette wrote that he had been inspired by the late Pope John Paul the Second to write this book when he dedicated the year of 2002 as the Year of the Rosary. Anyone interested in understanding the rosary and especially Catholics who pray the rosary or want to pray the rosary, will find this an excellent resource and a great study of this ancient practice. I recommend this book over say The Rosary written by the near heretic Garry Wills.

I received a complimentary copy of Twenty Steps on the Way to Glory as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Tim Conway Harvey Korman Together Again - What a Treat!

At the beginning of the DVD, Tim Conway Harvey Korman Together Again, Harvey Korman introduced Tim Conway as, "the funniest man alive!" and I think that just might be the case! I just finished watching this gem of a video.

Although Louise DuArt is good, the best thing about this video is Conway and Korman. They still had comedic chemistry on stage and both appeared to be trying to out ad-lib the other!

I am terribly sad that I missed seeing these two live, but seeing them preserved on this film is the next best thing. As I am a filmmaker, of a sort, myself, I would give anything to have the likes of Tim Conway in a film of mine. He still has it!

The video ends with "The Dentist Sketch" which has been updated a little since the television version, but it is still a real laugh getter! To my surprise, the Special Feature section contained a commentary track! Not only that, but, we can see the two of them in the corner commenting on the show. But get this, this is the great part, the commentary is just as funny as the show! So it's like getting three hours of great comedy for the price of a 90 minute video! I know I'm gushing a little here, but I'm just very happy with the product. Tim Conway even mentioned that, like me, Laurel and Hardy were two of his influences!

One last thing - I think that this is a pretty clean video and would be appropriate for a younger audience as well. Harvey Korman is missed.

Why Do Catholics Worship Mary? is a Very Informative Book

Although rather short I found Why Do Catholics Worship Mary? very good for what it is meant to be an examination on the claim that Catholics when they ask Mary for her intercession are actually worshipping her and partaking in idolatry. This is a claim that many Protestants make, to this day. Some also claim that intercessionary prayer is unbiblical and unreasonable too. Well guess what? Gerard-Marie Anthony explodes those beliefs and proves just the opposite.

In a very clear writing style Anthony lays out the usual Protestant arguments in the first few chapters, then using the Old and New Testaments, shows how these arguments are just totally wrong.

I found this book just at a time when I had been noticing an increase in anti-Catholic sentiment on the Internet of late. While reading the comments below an article about the Shroud of Turin I found that many Protestants were writing the most diabolical offensive trash about the Catholic faith. It was really quite eye opening, at how little some so-called Christians actually know about the original Christian Church started by Jesus Christ.

As a Catholic I found this book insightful as to how some Protestants frame their beliefs in opposition to what the Bible says and the Catholic Church believes. I learned some interesting facts and some counter arguments by reading this book. The author also points out the many Biblical quotes that support the Catholic position and explain why the Protestant view is misguided. If members of other Christian faiths actually took the time to read this book they might learn something. I hope some do.

Anthony was the child of a mixed marriage, just like me, his father was Protestant and his mother Catholic. My father never made any of the wholly offensive claims that some members of various Christian sects do such as the pope is the anti-Christ, that the Catholic Church is a cult or that Catholics are sun worshippers, etc. These types of statements and claims are quite bizarre and they can get even more blasphemous and sac religious. My father after years of contemplation and of his own volition converted to Catholicism and by his example led me back to church.

I look forward to other books by Gerard-Marie Anthony.

I received a complimentary copy of Why Do Catholics Worship Mary? as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

The Life of Mary Mother of God and Praying the Rosary

The Life of Mary Mother of God and Praying the Rosary written by Catholic Robert Williams is a very good book that concisely details the life of the Virgin Mary and also instructs one on how to pray the Rosary.

This book is a "must have" for any faithful Catholic who wants to take his or her prayer life to the next level. It is a shame that so many Chritians of other denominations misunderstand Catholic understanding and theology. There are some who actually believe that Mary is worshipped as a goddess by Catholics! Perhaps Williams' book may shed some light on the truth of the matter.

Although all the information in the book appears to correctly follow the Churches understanding on Mary the mother of Christ, I wish that the author would have included notes or a more detailed listing of sources for the information included.

It is a good book none the less and I would suggest better than the book The Rosary written by the near Catholic heretic Garry Wills. I think this would be a good selection for study groups, CCD and RCIA programs.

I received a complimentary copy of The Life of Mary Mother of God and Praying the Rosary as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

The Adjustment Bureau - Imbecilic, Propagandistic Trash

This movie stars Matt Damon. Basically if you strip all the dressing of this film away, you get a very anti-religious film. And more specifically an anti-Christian film. I have no idea how well the story followed Philip K. Dick's work, but from what I know of Dick, he doesn't strike me as following any mainline Christian belief.

This movie has things that have "been called" angels acting more like demons interfering in human affairs. The doctrine of free will is thrown out and God, who is called a lot of "different names" acts more like a mafia thug dictating His or "her" plans. Even the supposed angels are mafia like with fedoras and dark suits.

This is what happens when people of no faith or people who are enmeshed with the tripe and filth of the New Age make movies about God or religion. They attack and try to impart their ignorant wisdom that all religions are the same. God is Jesus, Vishnu, and Buddha alike. Poppycock!

The end of the movie moves towards the core of satanism in fact. We are told that one day humans can be like gods. That's the same way lucifer thought, that he was a god and look what happened to him. Scientology makes similar claims.

Apart from being outrageously stupid and philosophically dangerous, the film is totally worthless. There is nothing of merit to recommend it. "It is nicely shot," is about the only good thing I can say, but trash nicely filmed isn't much of a recommendation.

The Apostle Paul: His Gospel Before the Gospels - A Review

The Apostle Paul: His Gospel Before the Gospels is a serious study of the writings of St. Paul by Daniel J. Theron. It is a well written and well thought out book although it is somewhat difficult to get through at times for it is written in an erudite fashion which can take some getting used to.

Dr. Theron's views and opinions on St. Paul and his writings are mostly of the Protestant vein, however, other ideas seem to be mostly his own and I'm not sure how other Christians would interpret these. For instance his belief that Paul was largely influence by Gnosticism.

The book itself is well made and fits a lot of print per page. A serious student of Christianity or St. Paul may be interested in reading Dr. Theron's interesting book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Apostle Paul: His Gospel Before the Gospels as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

My Travels and What I Have Seen: The Logbook of Arthur K. Long, 1875-1893

Although rather a short book at only 74 pages, it seems to be packed with interesting stories of Arthur K. Long's time at sea. In fact, the page formatting seems to allow for more words to a page then some books.

I am interested in history anyway and have enjoyed other autobiographical works and journals so this book caught my fancy. One sad story is how crew members caught a couple of birds which wouldn't eat what they were fed. Then one day the bigger bird devoured the smaller one. The tale ended sadly.

Anybody interested in tales of the sea should be interested in this little book which gives interesting first hand descriptions of life aboard a cargo ship and the ports of call.

I thank Long's grandson for publishing this book. Four out of five STARS.

I received a complimentary copy of My Travels and What I Have Seen: The Logbook of Arthur K. Long, 1875-1893 as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.