Faith On First: Thoughts on God, Nature and Sacrifice Bunts

This collection of short essays by award-winning newspaper columnist Charles Honey offers gentle reflections on the spirituality of everyday life, devout people of faith and the great game of baseball.

Now in his 20th year of writing religion columns for The Grand Rapids Press, Honey has collected four score of them in his first book. The compilation features short essays on personal spirituality, transcendent music, the mysteries of faith and the beauty of creation, along with vignettes on inspiring people from Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama to Paul McCartney and Al Green. These contemplative pieces are tied together with the colorful thread of baseball, a game in whose abiding pleasures the author finds evergreen renewal and joy.

Charles Honey writes a religion column for The Grand Rapids Press. He also has written for Christianity Today and Religion News Service.



“Honey is able to find the spiritual dimension of seemingly ordinary events and normal people in daily life through a variety of lenses. Rather than gushing with sentimentality or proselytizing with righteous fervor, Honey gently probes these people and situations to uncover their goodness. The result is easy reading, one column giving way to another, with a gradual reassurance that the Spirit moves freely through it all.” – John Rosengren, author of “Hank The Hero of Heroes”

“No other religion reporter’s columns span two decades or include such a perfect mix of warmth and insight. People are the soul of every column Honey writes – his timeless and poignant words remind us of all we share as part of the human condition in a broken but grace-filled world.” – Dr. Debra L. Mason, executive director, Religion Newswriters Association

"Charley is a treasure.” – James Bratt, Calvin College professor of religious history