Ice Cream as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe: A Journey Toward Eternal Delight

Billy Sprague, a Dove Award-winning Christian songwriter and musician who has written for major Christian artists such as Susan Ashton and Gary Chapman, waxes philosophical about heavy theological topics--the meaning of life, the problem of evil, the possibility of life after death. Although Sprague occasionally refers to deep philosophers like Pascal, Nietzsche and Jung, their sporadic presence merely adds dimension to his own creatively colored musings, which by themselves are interesting. Interspersed with his reflections are accounts of very intimate moments from his life, both tragic and joyful, adding a personal dimension for the reader. The book may have difficulty finding an audience that enjoys both Sprague's Christian faith and his somewhat open exploration of other viewpoints. He speaks at length about a group of deceased relatives in one chapter, ending it with, ""She and Will and Violet are together. And Alfred, too. And I bet they all understand.... If there's a heaven. If not, if this life `under the sun' is all there is, then a kindness of the grave will be forgetting.... But for now, I remember."" While many will be refreshed by a faith that remains open to doubt, it may not be palatable for more conservative Christian readers. (July)