Consider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible

Blue, founding minister of the emergent congregation House of Mercy in St. Paul, enjoys a reputation for interpreting the Bible in new ways (From Stone to Living Word: Letting the Bible Live Again). Just as the subtitle promises, she takes a provocative look at ten birds mentioned in Scripture. She combines meticulous research, personal experiences, biblical passages, and humor to challenge and broaden our understanding of our relationships with God and the life lessons to be learned from paying attention to our feathered friends. Realizing the negative connotation associated when we think of vultures, for example, might just get us thinking about how we apply labels to fellow human beings. Considering the cock leads to a discussion of competition and politics; the pelican's symbolism segues into concern for the environment. In fact, birds can be found anywhere, much like God's grace, Blue says. This in-depth exploration of the creatures that figure so predominantly in the Bible and in various cultures throughout the world is sure to delight bird watchers. It might ruffle the feathers of those who don't care about the sexual habits of the ostrich or pigeon, however. Agent: Greg Daniel, Daniel Literary Group. (Aug.)