If the number of articles copied from a book indicates its value, then "Two Men," first published in 1998, must have been widely considered useful. This little book has proved to be one of the most popular sources of church bulletin articles in recent years. Perhaps it is their brevity that makes them fit nicely in a bulletin. More likely it is the practical treatment of needed topics in such a way that what is right appears reasonable and preferable to any alternative. The brief articles contrasting different characters fill about one-fourth of the book, thus the title, "Two Men." The men described remind us of people we know, and sometime of ourselves, as we see qualities both good and bad so graphically described. Such portraits should encourage self-improvement. The remaining articles are equally practical, dealing with such subjects as family, church, doctrinal questions and Christian living, providing godly wisdom for dealing with real life situations.

Bill Hall, friend and butler to cats, admits to mixed feelings about such strange little creatures. He compares serving a cat to having a human 2-year-old in your life-something lovable that commands your affection but trashes your house. A cat, like a child, will mangle your begonias and then crawl into your lap to share the warmth of its feelings - but only if it really wants to. Hall, a syndicated humor columnist, admits his popular cat stories are really about humans and the rational reasons we bring cats into our lives - for entertainment and for fuzzy filler in empty nests. Hanging out with cats also gives hope for humankind. After all, if we can bond so tightly with creatures from another species, then we could easily learn to harmonize with fellow human beings.