Book Launch

I've been meaning to start blogging for ages, and the publication of a new book seems like as good a reason as any to do it.

The book is called, 'Walking the Walk: the Rise of King David for Today'. It's published by Paternoster at £8.99. It's available now from Lichfield Cathedral Bookshop (01543 306150) and will be available more widely from 3rd July. We're celebrating the publication tonight with a party in the Cathedral.

The book is an interpretation of the Bible story recorded in the chunk of the Old Testament that runs from 1 Samuel 16 (when the boy David is first anointed by the prophet Samuel), through to 2 Samuel 5 (when David the man is anointed king over all Israel). It includes the Goliath story among others.

In my reading of the narrative, its all about the value of restraint: unlike Saul (David's predecessor), who is completely unable to restrain himself, David shows a patience and self-control which derives from his faith and trust in God.

That's how I see it, anyway. The meaning of the Bible for today is one of the great passions of my life. I love to work closely with the text of Scripture, following its contours and letting it ask its own questions of me and my generation.

This is my second book. The first was published about 18 months ago: 'Living the Dream: Joseph for Today'. It was a similar book to the new one: an attempt to work out what the story of Joseph, recorded in Genesis 37 to 50, might have to say to the church and to wider society today.

I'm working currently on a sequel to 'Walking the Walk'. Inevitably, it'll be called 'Talking the Talk: the fall of king David for today' and it'll tell the rest of the David story, from the moment he becomes king (2 Samuel 5) to the day of his death (2 Kings 2), including of course the Bathsheba story among others. It's due out about a year from now.