Author Way has assembled from the Holy Bible twelve powerful episodes, mining new meaning from them, a process he calls "stirring." He opens with the story of the burning bush that the shepherd Moses encountered and through which he gained new direction. Perhaps, Way posits, the bush was one with fiery bright orange and red blossoms that Moses accepted as God's special message-bringer. In a later episode, when Moses leads the Israelites through the parted Red Sea, Way suggests that the sea's parting could have been an observable, natural phenomenon.

The competitiveness between the "Bothersome Brothers," Jacob and Esau, forms another biblical puzzle. Could it be that they represent deep-seated cultural differences, different nations? Their family dysfunction is also set forth by Way in "Jitters at Jabbock" when Jacob wrestles a stranger who becomes, for him, God Himself, revealing power, forgiveness, and grace. By seeing the logic and human side of these biblical passages as Way offers and thoroughly explores them, one can gain insights into one's own Christian role and responsibility.

Way served as a military chaplain, During this tenure, he developed fresh ways to regard and treat addiction issues. Later, as a pastor in Mississippi, he was threatened and harassed for his strong stance in favor of Black civil rights. These are examples of "stirring" in his personal and professional life that have doubtless contributed to the thought-provoking essays he contributes here. Each chapter delves deeply into the biblical tale presented, allowing the reader to see it through a myriad of viewpoints and, in doing so, apply the lessons learned to his/her own life situations. The author's unique and intriguing interpretations could be utilized for group and individual study and contemplation.

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