Toledo minister's novel tells a story with a message

The Rev. Dave Claassen, pastor of Mayfair-Plymouth Congregational Church in Toledo, woke up one morning with a novel idea.

"I just couldn't get it out of my thought processes," he said, "so I put my current writing project on hold and decided to work full-time in my early

morning writing time on this book."

From 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. Mr. Claassen worked at putting his idea into words, and last week, his novel Kathryn's Fountain was published by Cladach

Publishing of Greely, Colo.

It's an uplifting and enjoyable story of an elderly woman living in a senior citizen's facility who is feeling "marginalized by life, that she's of little use

to anyone," as Mr. Claassen explained by phone this week.

One sweltering summer day, as Kathryn is sitting in her wheelchair in the senior center's courtyard, she dips her handkerchief into a fountain and

dabs her forehead to cool off.

She feels a tingle go through her body and undergoes a transformation that allows her to become involved in helping a neglected neighborhood

girl. It's a miracle, she says. As the novel unfolds, Kathryn also finds ways to have an impact on the lives of a police detective and a social

worker.

The breezy book is fun to read and also shines a light on the spiritual side of life - without getting preachy or heavy-handed.

"I think a novel first of all should be good entertainment," Mr. Claassen said. "But as a Christian and as a pastor, I just feel that leaving it at that is

not adequate. There's no reason why you can't have good entertainment but also have people take away something that is life-changing or

transformational."

This is Mr. Claassen's first mainstream novel, but not his first book. His Object Lessons for a Year was published in 1986 by Baker and has sold

50,000 copies and remains in print. He also has written Silent Words Loudly Spoken, a book on writing effective church signs, published in 2004

by CSS Publishing; and he has photographs published by iStock photo.

Mr. Claassen has scheduled several media appearances and book signings to promote Kathryn's Fountain. Call Mayfair-Plymouth at 419... or

check out daveclaassen.com for more information.

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TOLEDOANS HONORED: The Rance Allen Group of Toledo will be honored at the Stellar Awards in Nashville in January, earning the Walgreen's

Ambassador Bobby Jones Legend Award.

Featuring the Rev. Rance Allen and his brothers, Thomas and Steve, the gospel group has been singing since 1969 and was inducted into the

Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

The Stellar Awards will be broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel on March 1.

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CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE: Abbey Press, located at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, is world renowned for its Christian books and collectibles.

One of its most famous publications is CareNotes, a series of small booklets offering pastoral care and spiritual encouragement.

Brother Francis Wagner, a former Toledoan who professed his vows to become a Benedictine monk last year, joined Abbey Press as an editor,

among his many roles. One of his first goals was to help create a line of CareNotes that reflected Abbey Press' Catholic tradition and teachings.

That goal became reality last month when efforts have come to borne fruit with the new series, first five titles published last month in a new

series, Catholic Perspectives CareNotes. become Abbey Press published the first five titles in a new series, of CareNotes that reflect the

monastery's Catholicism.

The project is now a reality as the first five titles in the new Catholic Perspectives CareNotes series were published last month. Two of the

eight-page pamphlets were penned by Brother Francis, "The Healing Cross: Reflections for the Sick and Suffering," and "Finding Comfort and

Healing in the Rosary."

The other titles are "How the Eucharist Makes Whole the Broken," "Joy in the Midst of Grief: The Catholic Funeral," and "How the Saints Help Us

Through Hardship."

CareNotes live up to the name, offering words of caring and pastoral concern as if the reader were conversing with a priest or a monk.

Information is available online at carenotes.com or by calling Abbey Press' toll free line, 1-8....

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'MONITOR' UPGRADE: Dr. Mahjabeen Islam, a medical doctor and writer, has led the way for an extreme makeover of the Islamic Center of Greater

Toledo's magazine, The Monitor.

The bimonthly magazine is now printed in a glossy 32-page format with articles that cover a wide range of Islamic topics. Recent issues included

an editorial by Dr. Islam on Muslims and adoption; an article by Imam Farooq Abo-Elzahab about building strong communities, and an essay by

Mansoor Alam about examining one's beliefs, titled "I Am Not a Puppet."

Some issues are available online at icgt.org.

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GOD'S VIEW: Brandon Heath was named New Artist of the Year by the Gospel Music Association earlier this year based on his debut disc, "Don't

Get Comfortable."

He also was nominated for songwriter of the year and song of the year. Heath's second disc for Reunion Records, "What If We," released in

August, features more solid and inspiring songwriting, especially the hit single "Give Me Your Eyes."

In the lyrics, set to a steady-flowing pop melody, Heath prays to see people the way the Lord sees them.

"Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see; everything that I keep missing, give me your love for humanity."

The stirring song came to him while people-watching at an airport, he said. Sometimes the most profound ideas come in the most mundane

settings.

You can find out more about this fast-rising Christian music star at brandonheath.net.

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SWITCHFOOT'S BEST: Like most "overnight successes," Christian rock band Switchfoot paid its dues before achieving nationwide fame with its

Columbia Records breakthrough CD, "The Beautiful Letdown," in 2003.

The San Diego-based group has sold more than 5 million albums and 10 million singles worldwide since signing with Columbia, including

guitar-powered gems as the debut disc's title track, "Dare You To Move," "This Is Your Life," and "On Fire."

Switchfoot, named for a surfing term, followed its double-platinum debut with two more hit albums, "Nothing Is Sound" in 2005 and "Oh! Gravity" in

2006.

But the band - Jon Foreman on vocals; his brother Tim Foreman on bass; Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley on guitars, and Chad Butler on

drums - had already been recording long before it hit the charts, having been signed by Charlie Peacock to his independent label, re:Think

Records, in 1997.

Although Switchfoot's pre-"Letdown" releases were largely overlooked, the music from this period adds to the fan appeal and artistic depth of the

group's new Columbia release, "The Best Yet."

The greatest hits disc includes 18 songs from 1997 to a previously unreleased single, "This Is Home," from the soundtrack to the 2008 Disney

movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

For fans who can't get enough Switchfoot, The Best Yet is also available in a deluxe version that includes 14 videos.

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A SAINT'S PRAYERS: Just as Mother Teresa was small in physical stature but mighty in spirit, so is a new book of selected prayers, Jesus Is My

All in All: Praying with the 'Saint of Calcutta,' Mother Teresa (Doubleday, $9.95).

The 52-page hardcover book measures just 4 1/4 inches in width and 6 1/4 inches in height, but contains a powerful nine-day prayer novena

based on the writings of Mother Teresa as compiled by Brian Kolodiejchuk.

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GRACEFUL THINKING: I've been enjoying Cathleen Falsani's new book, Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace (Zondervan, $19.99).

Religion columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ms. Falsani ponders the elusive meaning of grace in travels that take her to a variety of locales

including St. Peter's Square, the windswept coast of Ireland, a shantytown in Kenya, post-Katrina churches, and Elvis' Graceland.

Tapping into a wealth of religious references and colorful characters ranging from U2 to Screaming Frenchman Jean Larroux to her chauvinistic

Tanzanian tour guide Phil, Ms. Falsani says it's nearly impossible to define God's grace - but it definitely is "audacious, unwarranted, and

unlimited."

The title is taken from Martin Luther's quote urging people not to be so fearful of sinning that they don't live their lives.

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