Download PDF Walking with Bilbo A Devotional Adventure through the Hobbit Sarah Arthur Books

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Product details Paperback 224 pages Publisher Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; 53273rd edition (February 1, 2005) Language English ISBN-10 1414301316

Walking with Bilbo A Devotional Adventure through the Hobbit Sarah Arthur Books Reviews

• With the release of Lord of the Rings years ago and the long-awaited, recent release of first in The Hobbit trilogy, author Sarah Arthur (of Walking With Frodo and Walking Through the Wardrobe) has once again taken pop cultural movies (based on classic fiction) and related it to the Christian faith.
  
  I was skeptical at first but intrigued. I've read other devotionals and studies that twist movies themes and occurrences to vaguely connect with the Christian faith but from the start Walking with Bilbo was different. By the third chapter (I read one a day), I was in love with this devotional. The chapters easily tie the books to Christianity but the author went well beyond the obvious and deep into The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings with vignettes about both classics and Tolkien's life and writing career.
  
  While Arthur suggest strongly that her readers should make their way through The Hobbit (at least) but even without re-reading it, a basic familiarity of the story's plot (or watching the movie) will give the reader the gist. I was incredibly intrigued by the insight the author had and the points she chose to make in comparing The Hobbit and Bilbo's story with Christianity. More than anything else, the thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter led to further introspection rather than just pat questions often found for group discussion.
  
  It is my opinion that Sarah Arthur did her readers an amazing service in this book. She has taken us on a trip through Middle Earth and deepened our Christian faith at the same time. She has helped Tolkien fans find a common ground between fantasy and faith and helps them find Christ in the process. This is a devotional/study guide that everyone, from women's groups to pre-teens can understand and enjoy.
• In Walking with Bilbo, Sara Arthur explores the parallels between our daily Christian lives and the adventure that Gandalf invited Bilbo to take. Each chapter begins with a quote from The Hobbit, a relate-able story that is relevant to today and the parallel between that and Bilbo's journey, a Bible verse that relates, questions to help the reader in "going further" and a list of Scriptures that correlate to the topic of the chapter (i.e. "The Word on Accepting the Job, The Word on Being Chosen, The Word on Being Wise in God's Eyes).
  
  I read through the first two or three chapters, just to see how they were and I really enjoyed the ability to correlate The Hobbit and Bilbo's Journey to The Bible and our Christian journey. The chapters are laid out well and I love that there are questions at the end and Scriptures to dig deeper. I think this is an excellent addition to the library of anyone (especially YOUTH) who enjoy Tolkien and The Hobbit.
• If you are looking to walk the path of spirituality derived from the Lord of the Ring or the Hobbit then for this book you better be a Christian. This book is written from a Christian perspective for Christians. THe only thing is that most Christians or die hard ones will get their spirituality from the Bible not a fantasy novel. Those who do derive lessons will have a diffrent spiritual orientation altogether. JRR Tolkien himself was a Christian and it no doubt bled into his works.
  
  THe author goes chapter by chapter delivering forth a spiritual lesson to be derived from the chapter. Whethyer Tolkien meant for it to be that way is to dificult to tell. The author looks at the Hobit as a parable for Jesus and spiritual worker. THe Hobbit teaches via selection of Bilbo that Christ is looking for a few food people, people with hidden qualities, people who are humble and people who are willing to do what it takes. Often times like Bilbo we do not get a job description or at best it is very scarce and never really prepares us for what to expect. Are we indeed qualified. God only know as does Gandalf in the Hobbit. It is sheer madness to break away from the norm like Bilbo did in the Hobbioty. No Hobbit ever went on adenventures, Bilbo did and was judged for it. We too are judged when we quest for the spiritual. Often tiomes the Bible will ask us to be fools for Christ or God. When we have to travel on a spiritual journey or do God's work we oftn times have to travel light and leave behind many things we find comfortable. THe keyu to trabvelling success is traveling light. Gandalf comes and goes much like God does. Often on very difernt errands yet we are never totally alone we must fight the battle and yet when things get too tough Gandalf or God reappears for us. Things do not always go as planned at times it will go awry but there is a reason for that. It is part of God's plan not ours. In the face of disaster whenwe canot fix things we have but one choice and that is to move on and move forward. Things can seem difficult but help comesw when we least exct like eagles swoopiong form the sky to rescue us from orc and wargs this what Tolkien called a eucatastrophe. We can walk God';s path or our path. On Gods path we experience adventure that will build us up and on our opwn path we expereince misadventure which means bad problems.
  
  THe lesson in this book are many. THe reader is taught about decency, honesty and the dangers of greed. More over we usually learn about how even the smallest person can be the biggest hero.
• You don't need to be a teen to appreciate this book. It is directed to both teens and adults. I was very blessed by each devotional which are very deep and practical. The verse selection at the end of each entry fit perfectly. It is worth the time to read these verses and go over the questions she poses to truly round out and expand on your faith adventure.
  
  It's been years seen I saw the movies for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (in fact The Hobbit was a cartoon movie I watched with my son years ago) So if your not up to date on the plots, etc. she takes the time to unfold the events, but not to the point of over kill.
  
  I look forward to reading more of her books!
• I read a free copy of this book through a library loan and loved it so much I bought a copy of not only this one but also the companion book Walking With Frodo! I loved how the author used quotes from the life of Bilbo and his friends to then make applications that we can use in our own lives today. She then takes the reader to the inspired Scriptures to show how, with God's help, we can make the right choices.