Growing Through the Moods of Life

Brian Burch is a teacher, writer and poet and author of Still Under the
Thumb.

Because sermons are an oral art form, they often suffer in the transition to publication. Ideas that make sense when one hears them often seem trivial when one has them readily available for personal, private contemplation. Allon Hornby’s Growing Through the Moods of Life contains both sermons that follow this trend and some that stand as well-written reflective essays.

Consisting of sermons prepared on set biblical passages, Hornby’s book provides glimpses into the faith and concerns of Hornby as he attempts to explain Christian scriptures to his pastoral charge. He deals very effectively with such common religious concerns as the efficacy of prayer, in his “Peace in any Circumstances” chapter, and why people suffer, in his chapter entitled “Pain.” He does not, unfortunately, apply his personal theology to wider social issues such as hunger, political oppression, and the increasing militarization of society, and we are left wondering how he views the wider world. His book deals remarkably well with the individual but not with the world for which the individual must share responsibility.

My favourite section in this book is his chapter “The Holy Spirit, Tongues and You.” Normally I find material on charismatic aspects of the Christian faith off-putting, written as if the author expects the fact of some “mystical” experience to overcome poor writing ability. Hornby deals with the subject in a straight-forward manner and provides the reader with historical details on early Christian experiences with speaking in tongues and “Baptism by the Holy Spirit.”

While slanted towards a conservative readership, Hornby can be read with interest by people anywhere along the theological spectrum. While some of his work may lack substance, for the most part Hornby does try to challenge, intellectually and spiritually, his readers.