If part of the reason for half-empty pews in our churches is the white-knuckle grip we have on overused terminology, Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer almost always finds a fresh vocabulary for such terms. But that is only one element in its success. These poems also communicate with a healthy dash of images, usually the lifeblood of poetry that pleases. It is not an easy thing to accomplish, but the author has done it. This book also offers a majority of poems that both scan and rhyme, an added handicap for a poet, but one that he seems to delight in. Besides, as Robert Frost once said, writing...

In addition to being entertaining, these poems pose questions for Christians, whether new converts or seasoned believers. In many cases they can function as a checklist for the depth of ones faith.

""From the excellent opening piece, The Blind Ones, through the small poem Elephant at Our Elbow, John Brugalettas collection, introspective but far from self-centered, offers ways of reflecting on God and the Christian experience. The framework is modern, but the perspective is historical--including the ancient world, its famous deities and birthplaces of immortality, the figure who broke into...