Once Upon a Tree: Answering the Ten Crucial Questions of Life

by Calvin Miller

Once upon a tree...there was a Savior. Have you seen the Cross?...Have you felt its splintered beams? Have you heard its call? Have you grasped its peculiar teachings of death and life and love and hope? Have you heard the man nailed against its rough grain call your name? Once in a great while, a writer paints a picture with words that leave you breathless. On rare occasions, an author captures the sights, the sounds, the scandal of a premier historical event and impresses them upon your heart. Master teacher Calvin Miller has done all this and more in this signature book on the mysteries and meanings of the Crossof Christ. If you think you have already seen the cross, heard its story, and know its meaning, this book will change your mind. It will do more than that; it will transform your life.

Genres: Lifestyle, Christian Living

214 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1991

About the author

Calvin Miller has written over 40 books of popular theology and inspiration. A former pastor, he is professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Joyce, have two grown children.

Reviews

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

There are ten short essays in this book. They felt dated, not fresh. I suspect it was the presentation more than the actual content but, having enjoyed an engaging breeze in Miller's other books, I expected more of the insights here. So perhaps it was my too-high expectations at fault.

Nevertheless, there were some quotable quotes and some great points:
History is nailed together. (p11)
The Eighteenth Year of the Emperor Tiberius was history's most important year because it was the Year of the Cross. (p18)
The new covenant is God saying, "I want your life for the life of My Son." It is a "life-for-life" agreement: you are to give all you have because God gave all He had. (p26)
Gethsemane was the testing place for God's "Son-love" and God's "world-love"... the Father and the Son agreed on the final issues for the deliverance of this planet earth ... both sought to avoid the extremities of the test. (p38) God could save you or His Son. (p38)
A popular alternative to the way of the Cross is the sincerity cult. Doctrine is unimportant and salvation and sincerity are synonymous. This self-styled religion sincerely says, "I may, in truth, be wrong but Infinite Love will consider my devotion." (p40)
After 33 recorded miracles, Jesus refused to perform even one in His own interests in front of Herod. (p51)
Hemingway's short story Today is Friday in Men Without Women relates the reactions of soldiers after the crucifixion in a tavern in Jerusalem. (p99)

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal read! The author has an incredible way with words; his sentences are crafted in such a way to highlight the gruesome yet beautiful reality of the cross. If you are looking for a refreshingly new look at the cross and what it means for you, take up and read Miller's book. He doesn't say anything new, but he says old things in a new way.

[Carrie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated this book for its heart, and how it really did draw me into deeper contemplation of the cross of Christ. I did not appreciate the writing style. It seemed to be trying too hard to make every sentence a "quotable quote;" as if every sentence had an exclamation point on it. It wearied me. The reviews on the back cover boasted of how Miller brings old stories to new life, which I could see that he was trying to do, so I appreciated his heart -- it's very obvious how much he respects and loves his savior and this was one of the most important things I took away from the book...but I think it fell short of the claims regarding his writing. I am hoping that the other books he has written will be better.
There was one idea he had, however, that stuck out to me -- he asked the question, "why did the earth shake and the heavens thunder, and dead men rise out of their graves, and the curtain tear when Jesus gave his last breath on the cross? Why was this necessary?" And he answers it by giving the speculation that maybe it was the visible signs of God mourning over his son; so heartbroken was the Father over his beloved son that the earth rocked and reeled. I liked that idea. It was new and powerful for me.

[Randy Alcorn]

Calvin Miller baptized my imagination when, as a young Christian, I read his Singer trilogy. Once Upon a Tree is poetic craftsmanship infused with grace. Miller opens the window. Breathe deeply. He shines the light on Jesus. Open wide your eyes.