Book excerpt: The staff of Balaam's Courier, the unofficial General Synod daily publication since 1975, provides a handbook of the basics of the UCC for new member and confirmation classes and anyone who has ever struggled to explain the UCC to others. Written with a light touch, but a passion for the life and work of the UCC-and sprinkled with black-and-white cartoon illustrations-it gives historical, biblical, and theological insights into issues that have challenged the church throughout the ages. Book jacket.