Blue Neon Cross: A Summary and First Reviews

Why a "Blue Neon Cross?"

A cross was the Roman means of execution, but neon screams commercialism and suggests Las Vegas. So a neon cross represents the church in the modern world. Blue reminded the Presbyterian Scots of sky and heaven. 

The author became a Christian in Iowa City, a Presbyterian minister in Chicago, a pastor in Minnesota and New Jersey, led Professional Development for the PCUSA in Louisville, and was a church executive in Chicago and Peoria. 

He left to be Assistant Director of the Jesus Seminar. 

Along the way he tackled theology and spirituality, peacemaking and community organizing, saxophone and clarinet. Through remembrances and reflections, he tells how he concluded that Jesus was a Wisdom Teacher, Spirit is what transpires between and among us, and Love and Justice are God.

Readers say good things about this book:

A Presbyterian Leader: "A close up view of the decline of mainline Protestantism. Dennis has a lot of great stories to tell us. He can teach us about a few of our denominations' victories and even more about our colossal failures. I can safely say that Denny is responsible for many of the former and none of the later. A tale well told, Maher's account is honest, gutsy and accurate. It explains why most of the people in your town aren't active in the churches that their parents and grandparents founded."

A Jewish Marriage and Family Therapist: "I’m into Dennis’ book, Blue Neon Cross, and it is REALLY excellent. Beautifully written, engaging, smart, with lovely textured memory snapshots from all of the scenes of his life. I’m incredibly impressed with the detail of his memory. He artfully explores the influences of his intellectual and emotional life and their synergies. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone discuss the cross influences of their intellectual and emotional lives so engagingly. He wisely explores the spiritual, sociological, historical, economic, and interpersonal, facets of his experience, and discusses many of the current events that also influenced my life. VERY impressed! Highly recommend!!"

Pastor Colleagues: "...polished, personal, insightful, complete."

                "Your writing style is very easy to read. I find it compelling."

Life-long Friends:       "I can't believe you did all those things! Well written!"

                "You are a good story-teller."

My First Editor: "What a personal, intellectual and theological journey! Your honesty, insight, perspective, erudition and recall are astounding, Denny. It's a whole new book (or I just have a bad memory)! I really enjoyed it and am glad you stuck with it, reformulating it and raising it above a travelogue into the realm of literature. What a summation, what an investigation, what a consummation! Yum!"

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