The Accidental Voyage
by Douglas Bond
P&R Publishing Company
PO Box 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
©2005 257pp Soft Cover
The fourth book in the adventures of Mr. Pipes, Annie and Drew finds them going through Europe and finding the sources of many hymns written long ago. They do this because adventures are awesome and modern hymns are stupid. Seriously, there is no need to use the word praise 57 times in one song.
Bond’s book is fiction for younger readers and that serves not only to give them something to read, but it gives them something to read that involves Christianity and a subject that they would almost never learn about on their own: The sources of old Christian hymns. How many children do you know who would gladly look up information about old hymns? That’s right none. This book fills a necessary gap in the knowledge of their own culture and provides a welcome lack of the counter culture that will bombard them from about age two until the day they die.
The only down side I can think of in this book is that being a modern children’s adventure tale it will lack the shotgun blasts, escapes up vent shafts, car chases, and hissably nifty villains that did tend to fill the pages of adolescent fiction of the past. However it does contain good Christian values and information that your children would not look up on their own. So get your son and/or daughter this book and subversively educate them today!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Informed Consent
Informed Consent
by Sandra Glahn
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
©2007 342pp Soft Cover
If you only read one book about medical research, mistakes, the AIDS virus, and ethical dilemmas this year it should be Informed Consent. Why the reader might ask? You should read it because I am reviewing it is my reply. But there is more to the novel than that. Based on an extensive look at the back cover I have determined that this is a book by a Christian author that may not have every other line be, “What would Jesus do?” Now there is nothing wrong with being deeply religious or taking the law of God into account in all of your major decisions but in novel form it does get repetitive.
With this in mind, Sandra Glahn’s Informed Consent was sent to a Christian magazine to review, and the author teaches at a theological seminary, yet the entire back cover is not one long sentence about faith and Jesus. Let us look at literature as a hamburger. Christianity is the bun. Without the bun the burger loses much of its appeal and becomes a mess. Yet attempting to shove a baguette down someone’s throat will choke the eater. Mrs. Glahn appears to have produced a burger for us to enjoy. Take a bite and see if you like it. For those of you out there wondering why I have not described the plot, it is a medical drama so you probably already know the plot. That does not mean the book will not be awesome. Have faith in Jesus and the great burger of literature.
by Sandra Glahn
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
©2007 342pp Soft Cover
If you only read one book about medical research, mistakes, the AIDS virus, and ethical dilemmas this year it should be Informed Consent. Why the reader might ask? You should read it because I am reviewing it is my reply. But there is more to the novel than that. Based on an extensive look at the back cover I have determined that this is a book by a Christian author that may not have every other line be, “What would Jesus do?” Now there is nothing wrong with being deeply religious or taking the law of God into account in all of your major decisions but in novel form it does get repetitive.
With this in mind, Sandra Glahn’s Informed Consent was sent to a Christian magazine to review, and the author teaches at a theological seminary, yet the entire back cover is not one long sentence about faith and Jesus. Let us look at literature as a hamburger. Christianity is the bun. Without the bun the burger loses much of its appeal and becomes a mess. Yet attempting to shove a baguette down someone’s throat will choke the eater. Mrs. Glahn appears to have produced a burger for us to enjoy. Take a bite and see if you like it. For those of you out there wondering why I have not described the plot, it is a medical drama so you probably already know the plot. That does not mean the book will not be awesome. Have faith in Jesus and the great burger of literature.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Exploring The Gospel Of John: An Expository Commentary
Exploring The Gospel Of John: An Expository Commentary
by John Phillips
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1989 401pp Hard Cover
Commentaries can be fun and enlightening! Really they can! That’s why people write so many of them. Those of you familiar with the Ironside Expository Commentaries should be in for a thrill with the Phillips Expository Commentaries. John Phillips wrote a series of commentaries on scripture back in the eighties. In the book Exploring the Gospel of John, Phillips tries to explain in depth the most confusing of the four gospels. It is not really confusing but it is a little different so certain “cough” scholars have dedicate their lives to arguing with each other over it. When was John written, who wrote it, what does it mean, and does it contradict the others are all pointless topics that get harped on in seminaries and religion classes the world over!
Dr. Phillips spent his career teaching seminary and writing. Phillips commentary series tries to navigate the sea of arguments over the Bible to come up with a scholarly and adult guide to the books in it. He tries to explain the Gospel of John from a modern perspective for modern readers. Whether this is the right or wrong way to interpret the book is irrelevant. What matters in any commentary is that it explains the topic without either talking down to or insulting the readers. That way the reader is encouraged to reread the original text. If the reader has never discovered the text than a commentary can serve as an introduction to the topic. In this area Phillips has succeeded.
by John Phillips
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1989 401pp Hard Cover
Commentaries can be fun and enlightening! Really they can! That’s why people write so many of them. Those of you familiar with the Ironside Expository Commentaries should be in for a thrill with the Phillips Expository Commentaries. John Phillips wrote a series of commentaries on scripture back in the eighties. In the book Exploring the Gospel of John, Phillips tries to explain in depth the most confusing of the four gospels. It is not really confusing but it is a little different so certain “cough” scholars have dedicate their lives to arguing with each other over it. When was John written, who wrote it, what does it mean, and does it contradict the others are all pointless topics that get harped on in seminaries and religion classes the world over!
Dr. Phillips spent his career teaching seminary and writing. Phillips commentary series tries to navigate the sea of arguments over the Bible to come up with a scholarly and adult guide to the books in it. He tries to explain the Gospel of John from a modern perspective for modern readers. Whether this is the right or wrong way to interpret the book is irrelevant. What matters in any commentary is that it explains the topic without either talking down to or insulting the readers. That way the reader is encouraged to reread the original text. If the reader has never discovered the text than a commentary can serve as an introduction to the topic. In this area Phillips has succeeded.
Building on the Rock
Building on the Rock
by Joel R. Beeke, and Diana Kleyn
Reformation Heritage Books
2919 Leonard St., NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
©2000 157pp Soft Cover
Children like stories. Trust me they do. For this reason many children’s books have been written. The Christians are supposed to come to Jesus as little children so it is no surprise that there are vast numbers of Christian children’s stories out there. One of these books is Building on the Rock. The book is a collection of 31 stories written by two authors; Joel R. Beeke, and Diana Kleyn.
The stories are all short, easy to read, and easy to understand. The first story is about a young man who has grown bored with Christianity and goes off on a ship to find his fortune. He finds God instead and is quite embarrassed. These stories fill this fourth book in the Collection of Christian Stories for Children series. Building on the Rock is a good book for helping youngsters to understand their God and how to read. Children have to learn how to read somewhere, and while the King James Bible is a good place to hone those skills it is a little advanced for beginners.
by Joel R. Beeke, and Diana Kleyn
Reformation Heritage Books
2919 Leonard St., NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
©2000 157pp Soft Cover
Children like stories. Trust me they do. For this reason many children’s books have been written. The Christians are supposed to come to Jesus as little children so it is no surprise that there are vast numbers of Christian children’s stories out there. One of these books is Building on the Rock. The book is a collection of 31 stories written by two authors; Joel R. Beeke, and Diana Kleyn.
The stories are all short, easy to read, and easy to understand. The first story is about a young man who has grown bored with Christianity and goes off on a ship to find his fortune. He finds God instead and is quite embarrassed. These stories fill this fourth book in the Collection of Christian Stories for Children series. Building on the Rock is a good book for helping youngsters to understand their God and how to read. Children have to learn how to read somewhere, and while the King James Bible is a good place to hone those skills it is a little advanced for beginners.
A Steadfast Heart
A Steadfast Heart
by Elyse Fitzpatrick
P&R Publishing
PO Box 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-0817
©2006 158pp Soft Cover
Not everything is going to go right in a person’s life. This does not mean that God does not love you. Those two sentences sum up the book A Steadfast Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick. In her book Mrs. Fitzpatrick describes some of the problems people have, how they can lead to spiritual doubt, and how God is there to help the people. Fitzpatrick continually references Psalm 57. That is because the Psalm is about a person who has problems but knows God will help with the problems so the Psalmist will remain true to God. A Steadfast Heart is an extension of that thought put into the perspective of the modern world. For example in the introduction Fitzpatrick briefly describes a battle with her insurance company and the confusion and frustration it brought on.
The book is divided into eight chapters. The first chapters deal with crying out to God. The next few chapters are about His answering prayers. The last few are praising God for helping. This is preferable to many modern books in that Fitzpatrick identifies the problem, discusses it, and provides a conclusion. Much of modern non-fiction looks like a disjointed mess and serves to embarrass the entire English speaking world. Mrs. Fitzpatrick should be congratulated for both providing an interesting book and not poisoning our culture with more useless words. A Steadfast Heart is marketed predominantly towards women. It comes with a CD in the back so that reader can listen to some scripture readings.
by Elyse Fitzpatrick
P&R Publishing
PO Box 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-0817
©2006 158pp Soft Cover
Not everything is going to go right in a person’s life. This does not mean that God does not love you. Those two sentences sum up the book A Steadfast Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick. In her book Mrs. Fitzpatrick describes some of the problems people have, how they can lead to spiritual doubt, and how God is there to help the people. Fitzpatrick continually references Psalm 57. That is because the Psalm is about a person who has problems but knows God will help with the problems so the Psalmist will remain true to God. A Steadfast Heart is an extension of that thought put into the perspective of the modern world. For example in the introduction Fitzpatrick briefly describes a battle with her insurance company and the confusion and frustration it brought on.
The book is divided into eight chapters. The first chapters deal with crying out to God. The next few chapters are about His answering prayers. The last few are praising God for helping. This is preferable to many modern books in that Fitzpatrick identifies the problem, discusses it, and provides a conclusion. Much of modern non-fiction looks like a disjointed mess and serves to embarrass the entire English speaking world. Mrs. Fitzpatrick should be congratulated for both providing an interesting book and not poisoning our culture with more useless words. A Steadfast Heart is marketed predominantly towards women. It comes with a CD in the back so that reader can listen to some scripture readings.
Hostage Lands
Hostage Lands
by Douglas Bond
P&R Publishing
PO Box 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-0817
©2006 234pp Soft Cover
There are times when an author can seem disconnected from a subject. When the book looks odd or contains information that directly contradicts things the reader knows to be true. It is highly unlikely the Douglas Bond is one of these authors. Bond begins his book Hostage Lands in a Latin class. The students are translating the Aeneid. The first few paragraphs of the book will give anyone who spent time in Latin class chills as they are catapulted back into their past. That alone was enough to make me trust this author. Nothing else that happened after that could really bother me. I guess I am trying to say that this book had a good opening.
Hostage Lands is about a bored young student in Latin class named Neil Perkins. Neil discovers an ancient manuscript and translates it. The story the manuscript tells is about the Romans in Britain during a chaotic period of history. This type of story telling has a name but I cannot remember what it is. All that matters is that this is a story within a story. The boy’s discovery of the tale of Rusticus, a Centurion who is attacked by his own people and finds hope in a Christian Celt is meant to reflect the feeling of discovery that many non-believers feel when they read and understand the Bible for the first time. That the story involves Celts fighting Romans is also good.
by Douglas Bond
P&R Publishing
PO Box 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-0817
©2006 234pp Soft Cover
There are times when an author can seem disconnected from a subject. When the book looks odd or contains information that directly contradicts things the reader knows to be true. It is highly unlikely the Douglas Bond is one of these authors. Bond begins his book Hostage Lands in a Latin class. The students are translating the Aeneid. The first few paragraphs of the book will give anyone who spent time in Latin class chills as they are catapulted back into their past. That alone was enough to make me trust this author. Nothing else that happened after that could really bother me. I guess I am trying to say that this book had a good opening.
Hostage Lands is about a bored young student in Latin class named Neil Perkins. Neil discovers an ancient manuscript and translates it. The story the manuscript tells is about the Romans in Britain during a chaotic period of history. This type of story telling has a name but I cannot remember what it is. All that matters is that this is a story within a story. The boy’s discovery of the tale of Rusticus, a Centurion who is attacked by his own people and finds hope in a Christian Celt is meant to reflect the feeling of discovery that many non-believers feel when they read and understand the Bible for the first time. That the story involves Celts fighting Romans is also good.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Anonymous God
The Anonymous God
Edited by David L. Adams, and Ken Schurb
Concordia Publishing House
3358 S. Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
©2004 287pp Soft Cover
God and County. What is it? Is God Country? Is Country God? Find out today! The Anonymous God is a collection of essays on the subject of civil religion and American society. In other words, is the religion people practice the religion of the Bible or are they worshiping the United States and pretending it is the Christian way. The articles contained in Anonymous God claim that a good citizen must both worship the God of the Bible and pay respect to the United States. The line can blur however and Anonymous God discusses and explains this process.
Anonymous God contains eight essays on the subject of civil religion and attempts to analyze it from a historical context. The contributors, two of whom were the editors, are all university and seminary professors. These essays explore the various pillars that the United States was built upon. These pillars include the scriptures, ancient civilizations, and the influence, or lack thereof, of Deists.
The Anonymous God was written for the modern American. In a time of internal and international strife, many Americans are flocking to their nation’s banner. However, this has lead to mistaking that banner for the banner of God. This has resulted in confusion and antagonism between Christians about what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God. The Anonymous God could help shed some light on the problem.
Edited by David L. Adams, and Ken Schurb
Concordia Publishing House
3358 S. Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
©2004 287pp Soft Cover
God and County. What is it? Is God Country? Is Country God? Find out today! The Anonymous God is a collection of essays on the subject of civil religion and American society. In other words, is the religion people practice the religion of the Bible or are they worshiping the United States and pretending it is the Christian way. The articles contained in Anonymous God claim that a good citizen must both worship the God of the Bible and pay respect to the United States. The line can blur however and Anonymous God discusses and explains this process.
Anonymous God contains eight essays on the subject of civil religion and attempts to analyze it from a historical context. The contributors, two of whom were the editors, are all university and seminary professors. These essays explore the various pillars that the United States was built upon. These pillars include the scriptures, ancient civilizations, and the influence, or lack thereof, of Deists.
The Anonymous God was written for the modern American. In a time of internal and international strife, many Americans are flocking to their nation’s banner. However, this has lead to mistaking that banner for the banner of God. This has resulted in confusion and antagonism between Christians about what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God. The Anonymous God could help shed some light on the problem.
Be Transformed
Be Transformed
by John Murray Robinson
Rock House Way Press
PO Box 187
Brentwood, TN 37024
©2007 181pp Soft Cover
Today, entire sections of libraries and bookstores are devoted to self-help books. Such books deal with a wide variety of personal problems and unhappy readers consume them like the chocolate, liquor, and brunettes they are currently trying to be free of. The net result is that now self-help books are almost as much of a problem as drugs and the authors are little more than dealers. Be Transformed is one self-help book that tries to be different.
The back cover states that the author was a fanatical atheist until age 26. At this point he found God and discovered that many of his personal problems were just symptoms of his lack of spiritual fulfillment. In short he learned that girls and candy are good but not the whole point of existence. God and His love are the point, no matter what your old philosophy professors taught you.
Over the course of 11 chapters Murphy explains his own journey into Christianity and even touches on the subject that dare not speak its name. That subject being new Christian syndrome. An almost euphoric state of joy that comes from a superficial conversion that does not actually help with the root problems and makes the sufferer hard to be around.
Be Transformed provides honest testimony from a man who went through the entire process of living as an atheist, realizing he had a problem, finding God, realizing the he had not found God yet, and finally growing into a true and happy believer and worshipper.
by John Murray Robinson
Rock House Way Press
PO Box 187
Brentwood, TN 37024
©2007 181pp Soft Cover
Today, entire sections of libraries and bookstores are devoted to self-help books. Such books deal with a wide variety of personal problems and unhappy readers consume them like the chocolate, liquor, and brunettes they are currently trying to be free of. The net result is that now self-help books are almost as much of a problem as drugs and the authors are little more than dealers. Be Transformed is one self-help book that tries to be different.
The back cover states that the author was a fanatical atheist until age 26. At this point he found God and discovered that many of his personal problems were just symptoms of his lack of spiritual fulfillment. In short he learned that girls and candy are good but not the whole point of existence. God and His love are the point, no matter what your old philosophy professors taught you.
Over the course of 11 chapters Murphy explains his own journey into Christianity and even touches on the subject that dare not speak its name. That subject being new Christian syndrome. An almost euphoric state of joy that comes from a superficial conversion that does not actually help with the root problems and makes the sufferer hard to be around.
Be Transformed provides honest testimony from a man who went through the entire process of living as an atheist, realizing he had a problem, finding God, realizing the he had not found God yet, and finally growing into a true and happy believer and worshipper.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Flames of Rome
The Flames of Rome
by Paul L. Maier
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1981 445pp Soft Cover
Who likes historical novels? You know, novels that are like history books except they are novels and therefore do not involve homework. Well if you do not like these books go away. For the rest of the readers Paul Maier wrote a book, back in 81, about the Emperor Nero and his relationship with Christians and fire. The book is called The Flames of Rome.
The setting is Rome, naturally. We learn from the back cover, and the book if we read it, that the main character in the story is the mayor of Rome, a Christian convert named Flavius Sabinus. The name Sabinus reminds us of the Sabines, and the Roman conquest of them. Was this man descended from the Sabines, or their conquerors? Will he help the Christians conquer Rome, or will the Roman way conquer him? Is there any relevance to his name at all? Will Nero continue acting like a nutty brat who burns people to light parties? Did you retain anything from all of those Latin classes you took? Read The Flames of Rome and find out!
The book is divided in five smaller books and even has some historical notes at the end. Paul Maier has written several other books on the history of the early church. If you read this review than you should read them as well. After all, what is the point of reading book reviews if you never look into them?
by Paul L. Maier
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1981 445pp Soft Cover
Who likes historical novels? You know, novels that are like history books except they are novels and therefore do not involve homework. Well if you do not like these books go away. For the rest of the readers Paul Maier wrote a book, back in 81, about the Emperor Nero and his relationship with Christians and fire. The book is called The Flames of Rome.
The setting is Rome, naturally. We learn from the back cover, and the book if we read it, that the main character in the story is the mayor of Rome, a Christian convert named Flavius Sabinus. The name Sabinus reminds us of the Sabines, and the Roman conquest of them. Was this man descended from the Sabines, or their conquerors? Will he help the Christians conquer Rome, or will the Roman way conquer him? Is there any relevance to his name at all? Will Nero continue acting like a nutty brat who burns people to light parties? Did you retain anything from all of those Latin classes you took? Read The Flames of Rome and find out!
The book is divided in five smaller books and even has some historical notes at the end. Paul Maier has written several other books on the history of the early church. If you read this review than you should read them as well. After all, what is the point of reading book reviews if you never look into them?
A Charmed Life: The Spirituality of Potterworld
A Charmed Life: The Spirituality of Potterworld
by Francis Bridger
Doubleday
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
©2002 164pp Soft Cover
Doubtless anyone reading this review is aware of and currently using the Internet. If you are that hip than you must also be aware of HARRY POTTER! Yep the little wizard that made an English woman into a really rich English woman. The stories have gotten enough attention over the years that they were doubtless going to be attacked and worshipped. Many Christians have said that the books encourage witchcraft, while many of the fans, known as Potheads, have violently disagreed. As the debate became more heated and civil wars were threatened the world over, one man stepped into the fray. That man was Francis Bridger.
Bridger wrote the book A Charmed Life: the Spirituality of Potterworld from an unusual perspective. He believed that whether J.K. Rowling intended it or not the Potter books are filled with good Christian values, and that the magic is mostly there as a sales gimmick. Now many Christians like the Harry Potter books but not too many of them were going to bother writing a book about the subject. It is for this reason that A Charmed Life becomes interesting. In a world where the number of books is increasing and the quality decreasing a nice fluffy book about a harmless topic is a welcome change. A Charmed Life is divided into six chapters on the subject of Christian symbolism in Harry Potter.
by Francis Bridger
Doubleday
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
©2002 164pp Soft Cover
Doubtless anyone reading this review is aware of and currently using the Internet. If you are that hip than you must also be aware of HARRY POTTER! Yep the little wizard that made an English woman into a really rich English woman. The stories have gotten enough attention over the years that they were doubtless going to be attacked and worshipped. Many Christians have said that the books encourage witchcraft, while many of the fans, known as Potheads, have violently disagreed. As the debate became more heated and civil wars were threatened the world over, one man stepped into the fray. That man was Francis Bridger.
Bridger wrote the book A Charmed Life: the Spirituality of Potterworld from an unusual perspective. He believed that whether J.K. Rowling intended it or not the Potter books are filled with good Christian values, and that the magic is mostly there as a sales gimmick. Now many Christians like the Harry Potter books but not too many of them were going to bother writing a book about the subject. It is for this reason that A Charmed Life becomes interesting. In a world where the number of books is increasing and the quality decreasing a nice fluffy book about a harmless topic is a welcome change. A Charmed Life is divided into six chapters on the subject of Christian symbolism in Harry Potter.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Praying at Burger King
Praying at Burger King
by Richard J. Mouw
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
©2007 134pp Soft Cover
Does being a Christian upset you? Do you wish you were cool like all the other heathens? Well too bad. God has you and there’s nothing you can do about it. However, He can make your life miserable as He drags you into heaven. Yet our modern culture demands secularism at all times. Richard Mouw looks into this odd conundrum of giving God His due in public and trying to fit in with your fellow men in the book Praying at Burger King. The book is a series of vignettes about various situations in which Christians wonder if they are acting too Christian to be cool.
Praying at Burger King provides light reading and will probably be most appreciated by teenagers. This is because, ironically, Mouw chooses to wuss out very early on in the book on the same subject he claims to be trying to defend. Mouw writes that he does not complain too much about the secularization of the Christmas and Easter holidays because Christians “abused” other people with their loud celebrations of them. This guy wants God to drag him kicking and screaming into heaven. Mouw also writes that he will sometimes not pray over a meal if it makes the other people at the table nervous. I personally have never found anyone who got nervous when I prayed over a meal. It is for these two reasons that the book will appeal to teenagers. It involves cheating on the topic, light reading, and trying to look cool. This is not to say that Praying at Burger King is a bad book, far from it, but it is to say that Mouw does not stick to his guns as well as he should. Hence give it to the misunderstood 14 year old in your life.
by Richard J. Mouw
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
©2007 134pp Soft Cover
Does being a Christian upset you? Do you wish you were cool like all the other heathens? Well too bad. God has you and there’s nothing you can do about it. However, He can make your life miserable as He drags you into heaven. Yet our modern culture demands secularism at all times. Richard Mouw looks into this odd conundrum of giving God His due in public and trying to fit in with your fellow men in the book Praying at Burger King. The book is a series of vignettes about various situations in which Christians wonder if they are acting too Christian to be cool.
Praying at Burger King provides light reading and will probably be most appreciated by teenagers. This is because, ironically, Mouw chooses to wuss out very early on in the book on the same subject he claims to be trying to defend. Mouw writes that he does not complain too much about the secularization of the Christmas and Easter holidays because Christians “abused” other people with their loud celebrations of them. This guy wants God to drag him kicking and screaming into heaven. Mouw also writes that he will sometimes not pray over a meal if it makes the other people at the table nervous. I personally have never found anyone who got nervous when I prayed over a meal. It is for these two reasons that the book will appeal to teenagers. It involves cheating on the topic, light reading, and trying to look cool. This is not to say that Praying at Burger King is a bad book, far from it, but it is to say that Mouw does not stick to his guns as well as he should. Hence give it to the misunderstood 14 year old in your life.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Son Rises: Resurrecting the Resurrection
The Son Rises: Resurrecting the Resurrection
by Robert L. Wise
Regal Books
1957 Eastman Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
©2008 234pp Hard Cover
Robert L. Wise was having a thought one day. Wise thought that much of Christianity was being compromised to try and fit in with the modern world. Such things just are not kosher.
Therefore to help stem the tideway of heresy sweeping the land he wrote some books to help explain things to people. One of these books is The Son Rises: Resurrecting the Resurrection. In this book Wise talks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it is the central point of the Christian religion. After all without it no one has had sins atoned for. That would be bad. Hell burns.
Wise’s book is written to remind us that while chocolate bunnies are awesome Jesus is better, and His death for our sins is the whole point of our faith, let alone Sunday morning as the Sabbath or Easter Sunday as a holiday.
The Son Rises Is divided into four parts and 17 chapters. Part I is The Situation. Part II is The Story. Part III is The Results. Part IV is The Discovery. Each section is designed to help guide the reader through the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
A word of warning though, different Christian denominations are different.
If you are unfamiliar with the stations of the cross, which Wise brings up at the end of the book, just remember it’s a Catholic thing. All is well.
by Robert L. Wise
Regal Books
1957 Eastman Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
©2008 234pp Hard Cover
Robert L. Wise was having a thought one day. Wise thought that much of Christianity was being compromised to try and fit in with the modern world. Such things just are not kosher.
Therefore to help stem the tideway of heresy sweeping the land he wrote some books to help explain things to people. One of these books is The Son Rises: Resurrecting the Resurrection. In this book Wise talks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it is the central point of the Christian religion. After all without it no one has had sins atoned for. That would be bad. Hell burns.
Wise’s book is written to remind us that while chocolate bunnies are awesome Jesus is better, and His death for our sins is the whole point of our faith, let alone Sunday morning as the Sabbath or Easter Sunday as a holiday.
The Son Rises Is divided into four parts and 17 chapters. Part I is The Situation. Part II is The Story. Part III is The Results. Part IV is The Discovery. Each section is designed to help guide the reader through the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
A word of warning though, different Christian denominations are different.
If you are unfamiliar with the stations of the cross, which Wise brings up at the end of the book, just remember it’s a Catholic thing. All is well.
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology
by John S. Hammett
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©2005 368pp Soft Cover
Is your Baptist church just not what it used to be? Have Mega-churches and heresy got you down? Well have no fear little brothers and sisters because John S. Hammet is here. In his book Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology he explains how to deal with ecclesiological problems in our modern seemingly ecclesiology free land. Yes that last sentence makes sense if you know what ecclesiology means.
Biblical Foundations is divided in five sections that explain what the church is, who the church is, how the church is governed, what the church does, and where it is going. These sections are composed of a total of 12 chapters. Proper use and understanding of these chapters may be of help to church leaders.
Biblical Foundations should be read by confused, new, Baptist preachers who are trying to figure out the framework for their jobs. After all, the religion is the key element but if you do not understand the structure of your organization then you have no way to efficiently impart that religion or deal with church problems now do you? So raise your hands to the sky! Shout Halleluiah! Run to your car! Go to the bookstore and save your congregation today! It is easier to be a Presbyterian though. With us there is no check-list so if you screw up it is fixable because God fixes stuff.
by John S. Hammett
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©2005 368pp Soft Cover
Is your Baptist church just not what it used to be? Have Mega-churches and heresy got you down? Well have no fear little brothers and sisters because John S. Hammet is here. In his book Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology he explains how to deal with ecclesiological problems in our modern seemingly ecclesiology free land. Yes that last sentence makes sense if you know what ecclesiology means.
Biblical Foundations is divided in five sections that explain what the church is, who the church is, how the church is governed, what the church does, and where it is going. These sections are composed of a total of 12 chapters. Proper use and understanding of these chapters may be of help to church leaders.
Biblical Foundations should be read by confused, new, Baptist preachers who are trying to figure out the framework for their jobs. After all, the religion is the key element but if you do not understand the structure of your organization then you have no way to efficiently impart that religion or deal with church problems now do you? So raise your hands to the sky! Shout Halleluiah! Run to your car! Go to the bookstore and save your congregation today! It is easier to be a Presbyterian though. With us there is no check-list so if you screw up it is fixable because God fixes stuff.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Black Rood
The Black Rood
by Stephen R. Lawhead
EOS Publishing
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
©2000 437pp Hard Cover
Who likes historical fiction that focuses on fiction more than history? You do not! Then stop reading. For the rest of you, book II of the Celtic Crusades should make you want to storm castles, reconquer the Holy Land, and demand an explanation from a terrified Israeli museum curator who insists that he is not hiding holy relics. Stephen Lawhead’s The Black Rood is about a knight who does just that. This Crusader discovers that part of the true cross is somewhere in the Holy Land and it is up to him to kill people to get it and get revenge on other people for various other reasons. Sword swinging awesomeness is about to commence.
Historical fiction usually involves taking real people and events and adding fictional characters to serve as the reader’s eyes and ears during the adventure. In this book it is Duncan, Son of Murdo who the reader will be questing with.
This is the middle book in a trilogy so it is probably a good idea to read book one before you get this one. Are you done reading book one yet? Good. Read The Black Rood and learn random facts about the Crusades today! But leave the poor curators alone. They probably have not read any historical fiction themselves and will no doubt be upset if you start to hurt them for information that they cannot possibly know.
by Stephen R. Lawhead
EOS Publishing
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
©2000 437pp Hard Cover
Who likes historical fiction that focuses on fiction more than history? You do not! Then stop reading. For the rest of you, book II of the Celtic Crusades should make you want to storm castles, reconquer the Holy Land, and demand an explanation from a terrified Israeli museum curator who insists that he is not hiding holy relics. Stephen Lawhead’s The Black Rood is about a knight who does just that. This Crusader discovers that part of the true cross is somewhere in the Holy Land and it is up to him to kill people to get it and get revenge on other people for various other reasons. Sword swinging awesomeness is about to commence.
Historical fiction usually involves taking real people and events and adding fictional characters to serve as the reader’s eyes and ears during the adventure. In this book it is Duncan, Son of Murdo who the reader will be questing with.
This is the middle book in a trilogy so it is probably a good idea to read book one before you get this one. Are you done reading book one yet? Good. Read The Black Rood and learn random facts about the Crusades today! But leave the poor curators alone. They probably have not read any historical fiction themselves and will no doubt be upset if you start to hurt them for information that they cannot possibly know.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A Surprise Finish
A Surprise Finish
Lynn Kirby
Tommy Nelson
PO Box 141000
Nashville, TN 37214
©1998 120pp Soft Cover
Book Four of the Winning Edge Series finds a young woman torn between her love of God and family, and her love of figure skating. The heroine Kristin is a 13 year-old girl who loves to skate but her father might become a missionary! That could be the end of that. This is the story of a teenage girl who is just getting used to the idea of responsibility and dealing with the consequences of her actions, and the actions of those around her.
A Surprise Finish is targeted toward teenage Christian girls who are trying to cope with adolescence. The back cover reveals that the author Lynn Kirby was herself a figure skater and has a daughter who skates competitively. This makes the book only partially fictional as Kirby doubtless had made some hard decisions about what she loved and helped find answers by taking them to God in prayer. As such these books would be good for the confused young adolescent in your home; it would be good for his sister as well.
Look for these books at any Christian bookstore and maybe even some of those heathen bookstores too. You might even try used bookstores. Amazing things can be found in those places and at reasonable prices. Thorough examination of the book contained therein is required though. Sometimes the employees get confused and put the Christian teenage figure skating books in with the science fiction novels.
Lynn Kirby
Tommy Nelson
PO Box 141000
Nashville, TN 37214
©1998 120pp Soft Cover
Book Four of the Winning Edge Series finds a young woman torn between her love of God and family, and her love of figure skating. The heroine Kristin is a 13 year-old girl who loves to skate but her father might become a missionary! That could be the end of that. This is the story of a teenage girl who is just getting used to the idea of responsibility and dealing with the consequences of her actions, and the actions of those around her.
A Surprise Finish is targeted toward teenage Christian girls who are trying to cope with adolescence. The back cover reveals that the author Lynn Kirby was herself a figure skater and has a daughter who skates competitively. This makes the book only partially fictional as Kirby doubtless had made some hard decisions about what she loved and helped find answers by taking them to God in prayer. As such these books would be good for the confused young adolescent in your home; it would be good for his sister as well.
Look for these books at any Christian bookstore and maybe even some of those heathen bookstores too. You might even try used bookstores. Amazing things can be found in those places and at reasonable prices. Thorough examination of the book contained therein is required though. Sometimes the employees get confused and put the Christian teenage figure skating books in with the science fiction novels.
Pig in a Taxi & Other African Adventures
Pig in a Taxi & Other African Adventures
by Suzanne Crocker
Baker Books
PO Box 6287
Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
©2006 174pp Soft Cover
Everyone loves a good, cracked out, nonsensical African missionary story right? Well if you do not you should because they are awesome. However not everything involving missionaries is going to end with a revolution, a stolen roof, and fifteen random wild animals chasing the local tax collector. Most of the time missionaries live in a world of extreme culture shock and some Christian ministry work. Usually missionaries convert some of the people and confuse the rest.
These everyday tales of missionary life have oft been forgotten but have now been collected in Suzanne Crocker’s Pig in a Taxi & Other African Adventures. This book tells the tale of five missionary trips, the first began in 1989 and the last ended in 2005. Within Pig in a Taxi the author reveals her, and her husband’s, naivety about how missionary life would work. In the second story she mentions how even bathing, suddenly became a hardship that required careful thought. Each story is only a few pages long so this is not exactly hard reading. For those who have been missionaries this book may provide some flashbacks to those heady days. For those who are considering the call to witness to the people, Pig in a Taxi might reveal the dark secret of missionaries the world over. Teaching the gospel to people in another country is really hard. Do not let the cover fool you though. The Pig does not drive the taxi.
by Suzanne Crocker
Baker Books
PO Box 6287
Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
©2006 174pp Soft Cover
Everyone loves a good, cracked out, nonsensical African missionary story right? Well if you do not you should because they are awesome. However not everything involving missionaries is going to end with a revolution, a stolen roof, and fifteen random wild animals chasing the local tax collector. Most of the time missionaries live in a world of extreme culture shock and some Christian ministry work. Usually missionaries convert some of the people and confuse the rest.
These everyday tales of missionary life have oft been forgotten but have now been collected in Suzanne Crocker’s Pig in a Taxi & Other African Adventures. This book tells the tale of five missionary trips, the first began in 1989 and the last ended in 2005. Within Pig in a Taxi the author reveals her, and her husband’s, naivety about how missionary life would work. In the second story she mentions how even bathing, suddenly became a hardship that required careful thought. Each story is only a few pages long so this is not exactly hard reading. For those who have been missionaries this book may provide some flashbacks to those heady days. For those who are considering the call to witness to the people, Pig in a Taxi might reveal the dark secret of missionaries the world over. Teaching the gospel to people in another country is really hard. Do not let the cover fool you though. The Pig does not drive the taxi.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Acts: An Ironside Expository Commentary
Acts: An Ironside Expository Commentary
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1920, 2007 367pp Hard Cover
Who loves Bible commentaries? Everyone does! That’s why H.A. Ironside wrote so many. So here for the reading pleasure of boys and girls of all ages is Acts: An Ironside Expository Commentary. This time our rascally writer has his hands full trying to cover the entire book of Acts in one volume! The commentary is 45 lectures long each one filled with valuable information on different segments of the book of Acts. In that particular book, Jesus appears just long enough to say goodbye to his followers and start them on the road to converting the whole world. So to fulfill His orders the boys pick a new disciple, Mathias, and they’re off to change the hearts of and minds of Romans and other furry animals.
For those of you already familiar with the works of H.A. Ironside it is more of the same serious commentary that you have come to expect. For those readers not familiar with him it is a serious commentary. So for the Christian who wants to study the Bible, this book can be an invaluable tool. For the Christian who is sick of “Christian novels” that look suspiciously like romance novels, Acts: An Ironside Expository Commentary is a breath of fresh air. For the Atheist who is randomly looking things up, the writings of Ironside might present the Bible in a way you never wanted. So read it and let it corrupt the innermost thoughts of that skeptical mind.
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1920, 2007 367pp Hard Cover
Who loves Bible commentaries? Everyone does! That’s why H.A. Ironside wrote so many. So here for the reading pleasure of boys and girls of all ages is Acts: An Ironside Expository Commentary. This time our rascally writer has his hands full trying to cover the entire book of Acts in one volume! The commentary is 45 lectures long each one filled with valuable information on different segments of the book of Acts. In that particular book, Jesus appears just long enough to say goodbye to his followers and start them on the road to converting the whole world. So to fulfill His orders the boys pick a new disciple, Mathias, and they’re off to change the hearts of and minds of Romans and other furry animals.
For those of you already familiar with the works of H.A. Ironside it is more of the same serious commentary that you have come to expect. For those readers not familiar with him it is a serious commentary. So for the Christian who wants to study the Bible, this book can be an invaluable tool. For the Christian who is sick of “Christian novels” that look suspiciously like romance novels, Acts: An Ironside Expository Commentary is a breath of fresh air. For the Atheist who is randomly looking things up, the writings of Ironside might present the Bible in a way you never wanted. So read it and let it corrupt the innermost thoughts of that skeptical mind.
The Treasure Seekers
The Treasure Seekers
by Patricia Hickman
Bethany House Publishers
11300 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438
©1998 364pp Soft Cover
Ah, the romance novel. From what I was able to learn from English class, old girlfriends, buddy’s girlfriends/wives, and one episode of Remington Steele these books are filled with strange places, bawdy wenches, strong pretty boys, long pornographic sections, and evil creditors sometimes known as debt collectors. This formula has been used for generations to separate lonely girls from their money. Thus do the girls find a delightful escape and the publishing company gets money to squander on fully stocked liquor cabinets. The Treasure Seekers is not one of these books. Well it sort of is but it really is not. Figure on most of the description above but without the pornography, or the bawdiness. Sort of like a more readable version of Jane Austin’s books.
The Treasure Seekers is the fifth book in the Land of the Far Horizon series by Patricia Hickman. The novel concerns a young woman named Annie Carroway. As the book begins the heroine’s (naturally) poor widowed mother is (of course) in severe debt and so (as always) sells the family farm in England to her rich brother-in-law and moves to Australia. Upon arriving Annie finds a handsome young man in trouble with the law and they both must work together to get out of the mess they are in. The book is divided into parts. Part one is the set up. Part two people decide to get married. Part three they get married have a kid and hug; In that order. Patricia Hickman has been writing books for some time and is married to a minister.
by Patricia Hickman
Bethany House Publishers
11300 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438
©1998 364pp Soft Cover
Ah, the romance novel. From what I was able to learn from English class, old girlfriends, buddy’s girlfriends/wives, and one episode of Remington Steele these books are filled with strange places, bawdy wenches, strong pretty boys, long pornographic sections, and evil creditors sometimes known as debt collectors. This formula has been used for generations to separate lonely girls from their money. Thus do the girls find a delightful escape and the publishing company gets money to squander on fully stocked liquor cabinets. The Treasure Seekers is not one of these books. Well it sort of is but it really is not. Figure on most of the description above but without the pornography, or the bawdiness. Sort of like a more readable version of Jane Austin’s books.
The Treasure Seekers is the fifth book in the Land of the Far Horizon series by Patricia Hickman. The novel concerns a young woman named Annie Carroway. As the book begins the heroine’s (naturally) poor widowed mother is (of course) in severe debt and so (as always) sells the family farm in England to her rich brother-in-law and moves to Australia. Upon arriving Annie finds a handsome young man in trouble with the law and they both must work together to get out of the mess they are in. The book is divided into parts. Part one is the set up. Part two people decide to get married. Part three they get married have a kid and hug; In that order. Patricia Hickman has been writing books for some time and is married to a minister.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy
Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy
by Timothy Rogers
Soli Deo Gloria Ministries Inc
PO BOX 451
Morgan, PA 15064
©1658, 2002 396pp Hard Cover
The self-help book is an entity, which many would believe began in the late 20th Century. This is not the case. Timothy Rogers originally published Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy in the late17th Century. The back cover reveals that Rogers was a Puritan minister who suffered from clinical and spiritual depression. Rogers overcame these and wrote a book on the matter.
While many books focus on the author’s life, Rogers focused his book on the scriptures and used his own life as an example of how they could be applied to help someone with depression. While much of the writings of the past are ignored, or in the case of the Puritans mocked, this book has found a place in a modern world filled with people who worry too much about silly fears, such as Puritans coming to make life boring. Trouble of Mind could provide some comfort for those suffering from depression because the author had it and found relief in the word of God and taking charge of his own life without blaming his problems completely on sin or the interference of others.
Admittedly it was written over 300 years ago but the King James Bible was also translated then. If you can understand it you can definitely understand Trouble of Mind. This book is also conveniently divided into three parts and 31 chapters.
by Timothy Rogers
Soli Deo Gloria Ministries Inc
PO BOX 451
Morgan, PA 15064
©1658, 2002 396pp Hard Cover
The self-help book is an entity, which many would believe began in the late 20th Century. This is not the case. Timothy Rogers originally published Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy in the late17th Century. The back cover reveals that Rogers was a Puritan minister who suffered from clinical and spiritual depression. Rogers overcame these and wrote a book on the matter.
While many books focus on the author’s life, Rogers focused his book on the scriptures and used his own life as an example of how they could be applied to help someone with depression. While much of the writings of the past are ignored, or in the case of the Puritans mocked, this book has found a place in a modern world filled with people who worry too much about silly fears, such as Puritans coming to make life boring. Trouble of Mind could provide some comfort for those suffering from depression because the author had it and found relief in the word of God and taking charge of his own life without blaming his problems completely on sin or the interference of others.
Admittedly it was written over 300 years ago but the King James Bible was also translated then. If you can understand it you can definitely understand Trouble of Mind. This book is also conveniently divided into three parts and 31 chapters.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Damsels in Distress
Damsels in Distress: Biblical Solutions for Problems Women Face
by Martha Peace
P&R Publishing Company
PO BOX 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
©2006 187pp Soft Cover
A Damsel in Distress makes for a weak but popular form of alliteration. Typically used in conjunction with film and literary sources, Martha Peace instead uses it to reference real world problems that modern Christian women face. Peace’s book looks at how gals interact with each other, their families, and their internal struggles.
The book is divided into four sections and these sections subdivided into chapters. These chapters have interesting titles such as, Well isn’t it Ok if my mother told me?: Gossip and Slander. This writing style avoids dancing around the problems it seeks to address. It is as though Mrs. Peace is declaring war on politeness to get to the point.
Unlike many modern books on women, Peace’s seeks to use Biblical references and examples to help the modern Christian woman find her place in society. That place being obeying God the same way men are supposed to. In other words, to any male readers out there who are hoping for a synopsis on Buster Keaton movies and their effects on modern film you will be disappointed. This book was written by a woman for other women to read so it will probably bore men to tears. On the other hand if you have a woman in your life who is a little odd, this might be the book for her, next to the Bible of course. She will need that one as well to get the biblical references.
by Martha Peace
P&R Publishing Company
PO BOX 817
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
©2006 187pp Soft Cover
A Damsel in Distress makes for a weak but popular form of alliteration. Typically used in conjunction with film and literary sources, Martha Peace instead uses it to reference real world problems that modern Christian women face. Peace’s book looks at how gals interact with each other, their families, and their internal struggles.
The book is divided into four sections and these sections subdivided into chapters. These chapters have interesting titles such as, Well isn’t it Ok if my mother told me?: Gossip and Slander. This writing style avoids dancing around the problems it seeks to address. It is as though Mrs. Peace is declaring war on politeness to get to the point.
Unlike many modern books on women, Peace’s seeks to use Biblical references and examples to help the modern Christian woman find her place in society. That place being obeying God the same way men are supposed to. In other words, to any male readers out there who are hoping for a synopsis on Buster Keaton movies and their effects on modern film you will be disappointed. This book was written by a woman for other women to read so it will probably bore men to tears. On the other hand if you have a woman in your life who is a little odd, this might be the book for her, next to the Bible of course. She will need that one as well to get the biblical references.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Jesus Our Lord
Jesus Our Lord
by John Phillips
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©2007 299pp Soft Cover
Understanding our relationship with the Trinity in general and Jesus Christ in particular is surprisingly hard for many Christians, especially Americans. God is frequently relegated to an otherworldly grandfather, Jesus as our hippy buddy, and the Holy Ghost as the part of the Trinity who is just too hard to figure out.
People like to feel in charge of their lives and none more so than Americans. As the country that first really gave controlled anarchy a try, the United States is a nation of men and women who like to have a say in any given decision in the government. Noble classes are illegal and as such many people just do not understand that God is King no matter who you voted for. John Phillips’ book Jesus Our Lord tries to explain to modern readers that Jesus is our lord and must be obeyed. Not only that, but Phillips quite nicely tries to explain what a lord is to a society that has forcibly forgotten the concept. Not that Republican Democracy is wrong, but it serves as good temporal system of government, not a spiritual one.
Jesus Our Lord tries in 24 chapters to explain how Jesus is in charge and what that means our obligations to Him are. Examples of His office are given throughout the Bible beginning with the Old Testament prophecies of His coming. Over the course of the book Phillips gives his readers something to think about when they question biblical teachings that do not suite their own opinions.
by John Phillips
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©2007 299pp Soft Cover
Understanding our relationship with the Trinity in general and Jesus Christ in particular is surprisingly hard for many Christians, especially Americans. God is frequently relegated to an otherworldly grandfather, Jesus as our hippy buddy, and the Holy Ghost as the part of the Trinity who is just too hard to figure out.
People like to feel in charge of their lives and none more so than Americans. As the country that first really gave controlled anarchy a try, the United States is a nation of men and women who like to have a say in any given decision in the government. Noble classes are illegal and as such many people just do not understand that God is King no matter who you voted for. John Phillips’ book Jesus Our Lord tries to explain to modern readers that Jesus is our lord and must be obeyed. Not only that, but Phillips quite nicely tries to explain what a lord is to a society that has forcibly forgotten the concept. Not that Republican Democracy is wrong, but it serves as good temporal system of government, not a spiritual one.
Jesus Our Lord tries in 24 chapters to explain how Jesus is in charge and what that means our obligations to Him are. Examples of His office are given throughout the Bible beginning with the Old Testament prophecies of His coming. Over the course of the book Phillips gives his readers something to think about when they question biblical teachings that do not suite their own opinions.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Guide Me Savior
Guide Me, Savior
edited by Erik Rottmann
Concordia Publishing House
3358 S. Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
©2006 365pp Soft Cover
Guide Me, Savior is a compilation of 365 testimonies intended for the believer, prospective believer, or backsliding Christian who claims they have no time in their lives for spiritual devotion or even light reading. Each testimony is less than a page in length and offers hope to those who either do not want, or do not think they need hope in this fast paced modern world that all but compels us to ignore our devotions to God, family, friends and even our own spirituality as we desperately struggle to make work deadlines. Every page starts with a day and month listing at the top. This means that someone can start this book on January 1st follow the days on the pages and not get confused until a leap year comes.
The rear cover states the editor’s intention that the book is, “Appropriate for a few minutes at the beginning of the day or a short time at the close of the evening.” This format allows the book to be used and appreciated by those who do not read very often.
While the old saying goes that one should not judge a book by its cover, in this case it is irrelevant. The book is about spiritual guidance. The cover has a picture of a lighthouse on it. The symbolism should be obvious to both those who are familiar with the tale of the apostle Paul’s shipwreck adventures and those who are not.
edited by Erik Rottmann
Concordia Publishing House
3358 S. Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
©2006 365pp Soft Cover
Guide Me, Savior is a compilation of 365 testimonies intended for the believer, prospective believer, or backsliding Christian who claims they have no time in their lives for spiritual devotion or even light reading. Each testimony is less than a page in length and offers hope to those who either do not want, or do not think they need hope in this fast paced modern world that all but compels us to ignore our devotions to God, family, friends and even our own spirituality as we desperately struggle to make work deadlines. Every page starts with a day and month listing at the top. This means that someone can start this book on January 1st follow the days on the pages and not get confused until a leap year comes.
The rear cover states the editor’s intention that the book is, “Appropriate for a few minutes at the beginning of the day or a short time at the close of the evening.” This format allows the book to be used and appreciated by those who do not read very often.
While the old saying goes that one should not judge a book by its cover, in this case it is irrelevant. The book is about spiritual guidance. The cover has a picture of a lighthouse on it. The symbolism should be obvious to both those who are familiar with the tale of the apostle Paul’s shipwreck adventures and those who are not.
Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On
Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On
by Stormie Omartian
Harvest House Publishers
PO Box 1266
Weaton, IL 60189
©2002 125pp Soft Cover
Somewhere in the United States of America there lives a blonde woman. This woman is Mrs. Omartian; she wants you to pray to God. God likes His prayers you know. So to help you with this, Mrs. Omartian has written a prayer book called Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On. This is a small, easy to carry book to be used for daily devotional prayer.
In the introduction Mrs. Omartian says she has added 21 new prayers for this book. Well, that is 21 more things to say to God, and that is good. A neat feature in this book is that it actually leaves room for the readers to write what they are thinking about. This means that you can make up your own prayers! Will the subversiveness of the Protestant movement never stop?!
This book is probably best suited for women. Omartian tends to write with women in mind. Heck, if it gets millions of copies of her books sold why not? After all your prayers are targeted at God so why should not Omartian’s pray books be targeted at that redhead you have been dating? I should mention that this book is also good for blondes, brunettes, and black-haired girls who most definitely do not count as brunettes. So if there’s a girl in your life who needs help remembering to pray, get her this book. If not get the girls first then buy them this book.
by Stormie Omartian
Harvest House Publishers
PO Box 1266
Weaton, IL 60189
©2002 125pp Soft Cover
Somewhere in the United States of America there lives a blonde woman. This woman is Mrs. Omartian; she wants you to pray to God. God likes His prayers you know. So to help you with this, Mrs. Omartian has written a prayer book called Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On. This is a small, easy to carry book to be used for daily devotional prayer.
In the introduction Mrs. Omartian says she has added 21 new prayers for this book. Well, that is 21 more things to say to God, and that is good. A neat feature in this book is that it actually leaves room for the readers to write what they are thinking about. This means that you can make up your own prayers! Will the subversiveness of the Protestant movement never stop?!
This book is probably best suited for women. Omartian tends to write with women in mind. Heck, if it gets millions of copies of her books sold why not? After all your prayers are targeted at God so why should not Omartian’s pray books be targeted at that redhead you have been dating? I should mention that this book is also good for blondes, brunettes, and black-haired girls who most definitely do not count as brunettes. So if there’s a girl in your life who needs help remembering to pray, get her this book. If not get the girls first then buy them this book.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
101 Most Puzzling Bible Verses
101 Most Puzzling Bible Verses: Insight into Frequently Misunderstood Scriptures
by Tim Demy & Gary Stewart
Harvest House Publishing
PO Box 1266
Weaton, IL 60189
©2006 217pp Soft Cover
The Bible is confusing. Really it is. I am not kidding, you can spend your whole life trying to figure it out and still be confused. Some verses are weirder than others. For this reason many atheists, scalawags, nerdowells, politicians, friends at school, teachers, pimps, district managers, and all manner of problem people have been allowed for years to misquote and abuse believers by “using scripture” against them. For this reason Demy and Stewart have come together to unleash a holy crusade against these il-informed villains, vagrants, yuppies, and puppets of Satan. Demy & Stewart have written a book called 101 Most Puzzling Bible Verses. In this marvelous tome they proceed to take mistranslated and misunderstood Bible verses and mistranslate, and misunderstand them in new and exciting ways!
Buy this book and get a fresh look at some of scripture’s most confounding moments. In Matthew it is stated to not judge lest ye be judged. Many twerps will use this as an excuse to key your car, shoot your sister, and then claim they cannot be touched. Read this book and find out what that phrase actually means! Or read the Bible and break the nose of the guy who just keyed you car. Either way you will go forward into the future a better person filled with the true light of God in your heart and the scriptures as your companion.
by Tim Demy & Gary Stewart
Harvest House Publishing
PO Box 1266
Weaton, IL 60189
©2006 217pp Soft Cover
The Bible is confusing. Really it is. I am not kidding, you can spend your whole life trying to figure it out and still be confused. Some verses are weirder than others. For this reason many atheists, scalawags, nerdowells, politicians, friends at school, teachers, pimps, district managers, and all manner of problem people have been allowed for years to misquote and abuse believers by “using scripture” against them. For this reason Demy and Stewart have come together to unleash a holy crusade against these il-informed villains, vagrants, yuppies, and puppets of Satan. Demy & Stewart have written a book called 101 Most Puzzling Bible Verses. In this marvelous tome they proceed to take mistranslated and misunderstood Bible verses and mistranslate, and misunderstand them in new and exciting ways!
Buy this book and get a fresh look at some of scripture’s most confounding moments. In Matthew it is stated to not judge lest ye be judged. Many twerps will use this as an excuse to key your car, shoot your sister, and then claim they cannot be touched. Read this book and find out what that phrase actually means! Or read the Bible and break the nose of the guy who just keyed you car. Either way you will go forward into the future a better person filled with the true light of God in your heart and the scriptures as your companion.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
77 Talks For Bored-Again Teenagers
77 Talks for Bored-Again Teenagers
by Steve Maltz
Kregel Publishing
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©2003 349pp Soft Cover
Have you tried talking to teenagers recently? It did not make much sense now did it, especially if you are a teenager. Well trying to talk to them about Christianity is even more difficult. For that reason Steve Maltz wrote a book all about getting the little punks to begin to understand Christianity. He called it 77 Talks for Bored-Again Christians.
77 Talks is divided into 7 sections. Each section has ideas in it for what to talk to a teenager about and how. It begins with the red section, for talking with non-believing teenagers, and goes until the violet section, for talking with teenagers who believe but are sick to death of the same endless Sunday school lessons. In all of these sections you are given a topic, typical responses and ways to make those responses look really phony. I assure you nothing makes teenagers madder than honestly telling them that they are phonies.
The problem is that teenagers are unlikely to listen to reason because they tend to be overconfident and bored, hence the title. In truth the only time that teenagers were ever smart or open-minded was when you were one. So get this book and do what you can for the confused adolescents in your life. After all, you probably would not be talking with teenagers if you were not responsible for their being here.
by Steve Maltz
Kregel Publishing
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©2003 349pp Soft Cover
Have you tried talking to teenagers recently? It did not make much sense now did it, especially if you are a teenager. Well trying to talk to them about Christianity is even more difficult. For that reason Steve Maltz wrote a book all about getting the little punks to begin to understand Christianity. He called it 77 Talks for Bored-Again Christians.
77 Talks is divided into 7 sections. Each section has ideas in it for what to talk to a teenager about and how. It begins with the red section, for talking with non-believing teenagers, and goes until the violet section, for talking with teenagers who believe but are sick to death of the same endless Sunday school lessons. In all of these sections you are given a topic, typical responses and ways to make those responses look really phony. I assure you nothing makes teenagers madder than honestly telling them that they are phonies.
The problem is that teenagers are unlikely to listen to reason because they tend to be overconfident and bored, hence the title. In truth the only time that teenagers were ever smart or open-minded was when you were one. So get this book and do what you can for the confused adolescents in your life. After all, you probably would not be talking with teenagers if you were not responsible for their being here.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Romans and Galatians: An Ironside Expository Commentary
Romans and Galatians: An Ironside Expository Commentary
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1920, 2006 239pp Hard Cover
For the more serious student of Christianity modern writings can be boring. They serve a useful purpose as far as religious study is concerned but are predominantly designed to introduce outsiders to the religion. To those who are already children of God this can get tedious. However, many of the older works on Christian subjects were written before the television could distract people with nonsensical, postmodern, randomness. As such, they tend to be a bit deeper and more what the solid Christian is looking for.
Ironside wrote a series of commentaries on books of the Bible. Romans and Galatians, for some obscure reason, actually deals with Paul’s Epistles to the people of Rome, and Galatia. The first half of the book concerns the much overanalyzed book of Romans. It is divided into three parts each part containing a series of lectures on the subjects presented in the book of Romans. The three parts contain guidance on how to use the information in Romans for Doctrinal, Dispensational, and Practical purposes. The Second half of the book is about Galatians and is formatted in almost exactly the same way. The biggest difference is that the three sections are about Personal, Doctrinal, and Practical ways to use the information.
Romans and Galatians is exactly what it looks like; a text book. It should be read not for the joy of reading, but by men and women who want a greater understanding of the biblical letters it covers and the Dispensational theology of Ironside’s day.
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1920, 2006 239pp Hard Cover
For the more serious student of Christianity modern writings can be boring. They serve a useful purpose as far as religious study is concerned but are predominantly designed to introduce outsiders to the religion. To those who are already children of God this can get tedious. However, many of the older works on Christian subjects were written before the television could distract people with nonsensical, postmodern, randomness. As such, they tend to be a bit deeper and more what the solid Christian is looking for.
Ironside wrote a series of commentaries on books of the Bible. Romans and Galatians, for some obscure reason, actually deals with Paul’s Epistles to the people of Rome, and Galatia. The first half of the book concerns the much overanalyzed book of Romans. It is divided into three parts each part containing a series of lectures on the subjects presented in the book of Romans. The three parts contain guidance on how to use the information in Romans for Doctrinal, Dispensational, and Practical purposes. The Second half of the book is about Galatians and is formatted in almost exactly the same way. The biggest difference is that the three sections are about Personal, Doctrinal, and Practical ways to use the information.
Romans and Galatians is exactly what it looks like; a text book. It should be read not for the joy of reading, but by men and women who want a greater understanding of the biblical letters it covers and the Dispensational theology of Ironside’s day.
Proverbs and Song of Solomon: An Ironside Expository Commentary
Proverbs and Song of Solomon: An Ironside Expository Commentary
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO BOX 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1920, 2006 358pp Hard Cover
For those who thought that Ironside only wrote about the New Testament, you were wrong. For those of you who thought it was an old T.V. show, you are confused. H.A. Ironsides commentary series continues with a collection of lectures on Proverbs and the Song of Solomon. That’s right, Ironside covered two of the books of the Bible you never read, or at least never understood. Proverbs was too nonstandard, and Song of Solomon was too poetic and you got frightened when you analyzed the poetry.
Well worry no more, because Ironside’s commentary is here to help explain these two puzzling writings so that you can learn from it. Ironside divides the book into two parts, one for each Bible book. Each part is then subdivided into a series of lectures on the subject. There are 31 lectures for Proverbs. There are 8 for Song of Solomon.
Ironside’s ministry began when he was very young and spanned more than 50 years. Ironside was also a professor, which is where his lectures came from. These lectures have been compiled into books for easy understanding. After all if a lecturer cannot be understood he could not have done the job for so long now could he?
For readers already familiar with Ironside’s commentaries this will be more of the same. For readers who are not familiar with them it will be a new voyage of discovery that will probably leave you feeling enlightened and embarrassed. Then again it might not.
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO BOX 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1920, 2006 358pp Hard Cover
For those who thought that Ironside only wrote about the New Testament, you were wrong. For those of you who thought it was an old T.V. show, you are confused. H.A. Ironsides commentary series continues with a collection of lectures on Proverbs and the Song of Solomon. That’s right, Ironside covered two of the books of the Bible you never read, or at least never understood. Proverbs was too nonstandard, and Song of Solomon was too poetic and you got frightened when you analyzed the poetry.
Well worry no more, because Ironside’s commentary is here to help explain these two puzzling writings so that you can learn from it. Ironside divides the book into two parts, one for each Bible book. Each part is then subdivided into a series of lectures on the subject. There are 31 lectures for Proverbs. There are 8 for Song of Solomon.
Ironside’s ministry began when he was very young and spanned more than 50 years. Ironside was also a professor, which is where his lectures came from. These lectures have been compiled into books for easy understanding. After all if a lecturer cannot be understood he could not have done the job for so long now could he?
For readers already familiar with Ironside’s commentaries this will be more of the same. For readers who are not familiar with them it will be a new voyage of discovery that will probably leave you feeling enlightened and embarrassed. Then again it might not.
Ephesians: An Ironside Expository Commentary
Ephesians: An Ironside Expository Commentary
H. A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO BOX 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
© 1920, 2007 191pp Hard Cover
Another in Ironside’s series of commentaries on books of the Bible, Ephesians serves to enlighten serious Christian readers on some of the aspects of that particular letter which they might have missed.
Like his book Romans and Galatians Ironside publishes his lectures on the subjects so that even those who did not attend his classes, or were not even born yet, could understand and appreciate his analysis of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.
Unlike his book Romans and Galatians Ironside does not subdivide Ephesians. This time there are 26 lectures laid out in order to help the reader understand Ephesians, or at least to understand what Ironside thought of Ephesians. It must always be remembered that commentaries are not the word of God but they do discuss it and help readers to attain a greater understanding of it. Without being able to understand the Bible the full use of its teachings would be unattainable. In other words without commentaries such as Ironside’s the Bible would be relegated to the world of academic nonsense even more than it already is. Remember your college courses and shudder at the implications.
The back cover of the book reveals some information about the author. Ironside began teaching Sunday school at age 11 and quickly realized that being a believer would help his teaching. Ironside actually converted to Christianity at age 13 and spent over 50 years as a minister, professor, and author.
H. A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO BOX 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
© 1920, 2007 191pp Hard Cover
Another in Ironside’s series of commentaries on books of the Bible, Ephesians serves to enlighten serious Christian readers on some of the aspects of that particular letter which they might have missed.
Like his book Romans and Galatians Ironside publishes his lectures on the subjects so that even those who did not attend his classes, or were not even born yet, could understand and appreciate his analysis of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.
Unlike his book Romans and Galatians Ironside does not subdivide Ephesians. This time there are 26 lectures laid out in order to help the reader understand Ephesians, or at least to understand what Ironside thought of Ephesians. It must always be remembered that commentaries are not the word of God but they do discuss it and help readers to attain a greater understanding of it. Without being able to understand the Bible the full use of its teachings would be unattainable. In other words without commentaries such as Ironside’s the Bible would be relegated to the world of academic nonsense even more than it already is. Remember your college courses and shudder at the implications.
The back cover of the book reveals some information about the author. Ironside began teaching Sunday school at age 11 and quickly realized that being a believer would help his teaching. Ironside actually converted to Christianity at age 13 and spent over 50 years as a minister, professor, and author.
1 and 2 Corintians: An Ironside Expository Commentary
1 and 2 Corinthians: An Ironside Expository Commentary
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1938, 2006 470pp Hard Cover
Mr. Ironside has done it again. Or at least he did 70 years ago. The book 1 and 2 Corinthians is a commentary on… 1 and 2 Corinthians. Unlike the other commentaries that Ironside wrote, this one does not hold anything back. How could Ironside, when he wrote 39 lectures on 1 Corinthians, and another 22 on 2 Corinthians? That means 61 chapters of commentary on two Bible books that you never even new existed. Do not lie to yourself. You know all the MVPs in professional hockey and their stats, but opening the Bible is to hard. It is ok. You are not alone. If you were not then why would Ironside have written, let alone published, lectures on the subject?
The letters to the Corinthians were written by Paul two millennia ago. This does not mean that the books are outdated. It means that for two thousand years people have thought they were awesome. People have only grudgingly accepted that hockey is a sport for a few decades, and not everyone at that. So put down your nerd stick from the Canadian flash in the pan and read a few books. Or at the very least play the game and stop memorizing stuff about it so that you can pretend that you have played hockey. I mean that is just silly.
by H.A. Ironside
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
©1938, 2006 470pp Hard Cover
Mr. Ironside has done it again. Or at least he did 70 years ago. The book 1 and 2 Corinthians is a commentary on… 1 and 2 Corinthians. Unlike the other commentaries that Ironside wrote, this one does not hold anything back. How could Ironside, when he wrote 39 lectures on 1 Corinthians, and another 22 on 2 Corinthians? That means 61 chapters of commentary on two Bible books that you never even new existed. Do not lie to yourself. You know all the MVPs in professional hockey and their stats, but opening the Bible is to hard. It is ok. You are not alone. If you were not then why would Ironside have written, let alone published, lectures on the subject?
The letters to the Corinthians were written by Paul two millennia ago. This does not mean that the books are outdated. It means that for two thousand years people have thought they were awesome. People have only grudgingly accepted that hockey is a sport for a few decades, and not everyone at that. So put down your nerd stick from the Canadian flash in the pan and read a few books. Or at the very least play the game and stop memorizing stuff about it so that you can pretend that you have played hockey. I mean that is just silly.
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