"On This Day In Christian History" by Robert J. Morgan

I had very high hopes for this book.... I love inspiring stories of great Christians from all periods of history and find them to be fantastic encouragers in my own walk with God. Morgan's book didn't quite meet my expecations.
For the detailed information: this book contains 366 (thanks to leap year) one-page articles, each dated, that tells of a significant story that happened on that day. There is also a topical index at the back, which can be helpful. Many of the names and stories were brand new to me, so it was good to be exposed to them. Each day also had a Bible passage at the bottom. That's about all the positive things I can say about it; now for the negative....
This book seemed to focus mainly on Catholic monks and popes. Many of the stories feature martyrs, which is not a bad thing. However, most of the martyrs were killed by a different "brand" of Christianity (for example, Catholics persecute the Protestants, or vice-versa). I found it very disturbing how much violence was carried out under the encouragement of Catholic and Protestant churches and leaders. Not being Catholic or Protestant myself, I was disappointed that very few evangelical (and I'm very liberally including independent and Southern Baptists in the "evangelical" category) show up in the pages. I was also shocked that there were only a handful of references to sources of any kind.... If this is a book of historical information, you would think that there would be footnoted sources, or at LEAST a bibliography. Nope.
The biggest disappointment for me had to be the Bible passages. Morgan uses the Contemporary English Version of the Bible for his passages, and my personal opinion is that this is a horrible translation of Scripture. It has gone beyond interpretational translation (dynamic equivalence, where the MEANING of the phrase is given in a comparative way, as opposed to formal equivalence which strives to translate the WORDS literally as much as possible). In fact, it seems like some phrases are just too colloquial... But I could have lived with the abundance of Catholic stories, and I could have even lived with the CEV Bible passages.... however, some of the passages just seemed very randomly chosen.
All in all, I would still give this book 3 out of 5 stars. We can always learn so much from history, and the stories really can encourage us to be better Christians.
I received this book from the publisher as part of the Booksneeze Blogger Review program. I was not required to give a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

"Bill Wallace of China" by Jesse C. Fletcher

Who would God choose to send to the people of Wuchow in China during the Japanese/Chinese leading up to World War II? Would he choose a thundering preacher? Would he choose a mighty theologian who could dismantle the false teachings of communism prevailing in China in the early 1900's? No, none of these.
In wisdom that only belongs to God, Bill Wallace was chosen. He was a quiet, mild-mannered, but highly skilled medical doctor. Bill Wallace was sent to Stout Memorial Hospital, and quickly developed a rapport with the Chinese people that allowed him to minister as an instrument of grace in the hands of the Healer, Jesus Christ. He never married, and he died at the hands of the communists in 1951 - buried in an unmarked grave.
I do not feel it necessary to critique this book on its literary merits. It is not meant to win awards, or paint a glorious picture of a saint. The writing is simple and tells a simple story.
My heart was deeply stirred by reading the story of this selfless man of God from the Southeast United States. The bravery in the face of danger that Bro. Wallace exhibited is extraordinary - shouldn't we all be bold in our witness for Christ? Bold enough to stand up to the sword that threatens to take our life? Bold enough to put the well-being of others before ourselves? Bold enough to stay when others flee?
Taking the Gospel into China has been the desire and calling of many men and women through the centuries, and Bill Wallace - humble as he was - stands tall among them. He succeeded in the most important task in life: that of giving himself completely to the Lord. May we all do the same. "To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

"The Unseen" by T. L. Hines

***WARNING! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
My first introduction to the writing of T. L. Hines is "The Unseen." After reading it, I must say that it was one of the most unique novels I have ever read. Partially, this can be attributed to the fact that the main character is an urban explorer. These people (and yes, there are people who really do this) pride themselves in "infiltrating" buildings and structures and areas that are usually off-limits. This could include condemned buildings, public utility structures, and many other places. This is a new subject for me, and I was quite fascinated by it.
The main character, Lucas, is an introverted man who has little or no recollections of his early childhood. He believes he grew up in an orphanage. The book basically details the adventures of Lucas and a lot of trouble he gets himself into. On top of that, people die - several of them - in the process.
I guess you could describe this book as a "page-turner," but it was more passive empathy for Lucas that kept me going. I really did find myself cheering him on and hoping he would become the hero. I would not personally label this one a "thriller," though. (Even though there were some very intense scenes...like when Lucas has a time-bomb strapped to his ankle!)
There was no Christian content to speak of... an abandoned church is the setting for a few scenes, and Lucas ALMOST prays one time.... but doesn't. But, the story is clean and the violence is not graphically described.
For the most part, though, the book was just kinda strange. No one was who you thought they were, but you never find out who they REALLY are... Which aggravates my need for closure. The book was also a little slow to start for my taste. Character development in the book isn't astounding. And I think I discovered a goof... In the early part of the book, Sarea tells Lucas that a man (later discovered to be Saul) asked her, "Is Lucas working today?" However, about 200 pages into the book, Saul dramatically reveals to Lucas that he knows his name is Lucas...and Lucas is surprised....even though he asked for him by name earlier....
Really, the story was pretty good, and the writing style held my interest. I'll probably read some more by this author to see if I have missed his greatest work. I'd give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
**On a side note, in the "Acknowledgements" page, the author tells the reader that he had been diagnosed with and treated for cancer while writing this story. So, this book represents a period of intense personal difficulty. T. L. Hines is to be admired for enduring his affliction, and authoring this story in the process.

"Darien's Rise" by Paul McCusker

***WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!
"Darien's Rise" is the first book in the Adventures in Odyssey "Passages" series. I am so glad to see that Adventures in Odyssey is still providing great entertainment for young people! I have listened to DOZENS of the radio episodes in my lifetime. They have a very good reputation for emphasizing Biblical life-lessons in ways that are easily understood by young people. So, knowing that Paul McCusker had written some great material for the radio shows, I had high hopes for this book (even though it is for ages 10 and up, and I'm 26 years old). He did not disappoint me!
I borrowed this book from a kid in our church. He recommended it to me, knowing that I like to read. So, I dove into it, in between "big books." I must say, it holds up very well, even among other Christian Fiction titles I've read that are geared to adults. Paul McCusker is a very creative and talented man.
The story is basically about a pair of siblings who are miraculously transported from an old abandoned house to a different time and place. As the story unfolds, the reader will recognize that it is a re-telling of the Biblical story of David and King Saul. The parallels are very clever; and even though I knew how the story should end, I was still riveted to the book all the way through. Sure, the story is told in a way that appeals to young readers - and it is told from a young person's perspective. But that doesn't mean adults can't enjoy it!
One word of caution for parents: there is a minor amount of violence, but you should be aware of it. Near the end of the book, the character who represents "King Saul" in the story shoots himself in the head. (Remember, in the Bible Saul fell on his own sword so that he would not fall into the hands of the enemy.)
I highly recommend this book, especially for 10-14 year-olds. (And I'll be reading book #2 shortly!)

"The Twelfth Imam" by Joel Rosenberg

How much do you really know about Shia Eschatology? If you are like me and know pretty much nothing, you will learn a little bit by reading this book. The main character is a CIA operative who has been given the task of gathering information concerning Iran's nuclear development operations. While all of this is going on, the Twelfth Imam (an Islamic Messiah-type figure, also known as the "Mahdi", or the "Promised One") seems to have appeared and is rallying the Muslim world together. There is much more to the story, of course, but this hefty book (480+ pages) will keep you interested until the very end.
This book is a fairly sharp departure (in my opinion) in style and substance from the "Last Jihad" series. In fact, it is very heavy on emotional drama and relationships and very low on action, at least until the last 100 pages of the book (which are the best, by the way). The story starts very slowly, weaving the lives of different characters (across different decades, in different countries) into one unified tale. If you have read "The Last Jihad," you will remember that a plane was blown up by an RPG in like the first five pages of that book. Not so in "The Twelfth Imam"; it's much more mellow.
Impressively, Rosenberg utilizes a lot of real information - including actual article snippets and transcribed conversations that really happened. I'm a big fan of "spy" stories, and this book delivers big on that front. Rosenberg also makes it a point to uplift the name of Jesus Christ, and there are several characters in the book that give their hearts to Christ. Very moving scenes, almost bringing me to tears a few times.
Great book, but "The Last Jihad" still sits at the top of my list for Joel Rosenberg.

"The Pawn" by Steven James

**WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
This book is the debut novel by Steven James, and the first work in the "Bowers' Files" series. We are introduced to the character of Patrick Bowers, a Special Agent with a knack for nabbing the bad guys. However, in this story, Bowers is pitted against a serial killer who seems to be able to stay one step ahead of the investigators.
Let me address some of the serious issues to begin with. If you were to read the reviews at http://www.christianbook.com/ for this book, you would notice that several people give it a one-star rating, saying that it is violent, graphic, and should not be read by Christians (or anyone, especially right before bedtime). Others said that there were no mentions of God or any redeeming aspect to the story at all. I disagree with that last observation. While the author did not attempt to give a clear presentation of the Gospel (like maybe Frank Peretti or Joel Rosenberg have done in their books), the protagonist does wrestle with his own faith. Well, he wrestles with his late wife's faith - and attempts to understand how she can be so devoted to a God who is seemingly destroying her body with disease. He also attempts to reconnect with his estranged step-daughter, which I find a very redeeming aspect of the story.
The other negative observations are mostly accurate. There is a good deal of violence, and graphic death scenes abound. (It is the story of a serial killer, after all). However, I do not think the author crossed the line of grotesque-ness. I, for one, was able to tolerate and even enjoy this book above some books by other authors (Ted Dekker and Robert Liparulo, for example, have disturbed me to the point of getting rid of some of their books***** SEE READER COMMENTS BELOW POST). On another note, reality is much harsher than fiction, and one only has to turn on the evening news to hear horrible stories just as graphic and see video footage just as disturbing. The Bible, also, gives some pretty gory details at times, but the Bible doesn't disturb me. It is only a matter of perspective and knowing your own tastes.
On the positive side, this book is a real nail-biter! The talent of the writer is obvious, and I am looking forward to reading more of his works and seeing his abilities develop. (To be perfectly honest...I read portions of this book at night while in bed, and...um...well........ let's just say that a few times I was tempted to leave the lamp on. "Thriller" is a very appropriate term to describe it). I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

"The God-Hater" by Bill Myers

There are very few novels that have, in my opinion, made such a strong point. Bill Myers paints a crystal-clear picture of the necessity of God's existence. How can you imagine life without a guide for morality? (The Universal Moral Law is one wall atheists cannot break down.... otherwise, society will crumble - which this book illustrates).

In this book, Nicholas, a fierce atheist philosopher, becomes involved in a software experiment that involves the creating of a society with real artificial intelligence. At first, the society always destroys itself (because the programmers only use models that do not include a universal moral law). When Nicholas is brought in (against his will) to solve the problem, he slowly discovers that the "Programmer" must intervene in order to free the digital world from the "curse." By the end of the book, Nicholas understands why Christ came to die - because God as the "Programmer" of reality has intervened to free us from sin. Wow!!!!
So, if you have even a weak interest in apologetics, READ THIS BOOK! If you have friends who are open-minded but agnostic, buy a copy and give it to them. It may be just the push in the right direction that they need.
This book has a fantastically original storyline and transparent characters. If I could, I'd give this book 10 out of 5 stars. You will probably never read a better fictional illustration of Biblical truth.

NOTE: The author also includes some questions for reflection, and he also offers to host a 20 minute question-and-answer session by speakerphone if you have a class or group of 10 or more that study the book!

"Scarlet" by Stephen Lawhead

This is the second book in Lawhead's "King Raven Trilogy." I must say, it is one of the most unique books I have ever read! The author jumps seamlessy between writing in first person (from the viewpoint of Will Scarlet, who is relating his tale in prison) and writing in third person (the events going on outside the prison). It was a most enjoyable way to read a story. It also helped to bear along the interest in the series - since the second book in a continuing trilogy is usually the least engaging.
The characters that Lawhead creates are so real and personable... He has the extraordinary gift of giving each character a complete and consistent personality. Tuck is always positive, Bran is hot-tempered - and the male and female genders are distinguished in quite realistic ways (as far as personalities go). This gives the reader the illusion that they really know the characters.
The fight scenes are masterfully composed and electrified with suspense. (The violence is described, but in very discreet ways). The villains are evil and ruthless - but no so much that they do not seem human. As with the other two books in the series, there are some archaic words used that some people would now consider to be swear words...
I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars! By the way, even though this is book 2 in the trilogy, there is enough background given that you can read this book by itself and follow the story easily. (But why would you skip "Hood", which was also excellent?)

"Tuck" by Stephen Lawhead

"Tuck" is the third book of Stephen Lawhead's "King Raven Trilogy." In this book, Bran and his "Grellon" (the forest-dwelling people) make their final efforts to restore the kingdom to its rightful ruler - Bran himself. The fighting becomes more desperate, the Grellon suffer a division, and Friar Tuck has the heavy burden of responsibility placed on his shoulders. Of course, all turns out well in the end - but in a very unexpected and climactic way.
In my opinion, this was the best book in this excellent trilogy. In fact, I believe the books got increasingly better. Parents should be warned that there is a good deal of violence and descriptions of gruesome deaths in this book, as well as some "crude" words that are not quite considered curses (but most Christian parents would not let their kids say them)! In addition, some Christians may find it difficult to reconcile the "righteousness" of Bran with the lying, drinking, stealing, and killing... However, if you do not let the moral and theological questions distract you, then you will find an engaging story in a wonderfully historical context. (We should not get our morals and theology from novels anyway...)
There are some lovable new characters introduced, and some old characters do not survive to the end of the book (but you'll have to read it to find out who it is). I give it a whole-hearted 5 out of 5 stars!

"Seeds of Turmoil" by Bryant Wright

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. There are just a few minor reasons I did not give it a 5-star rating. First of all, the first several chapters were fairly redundant. There were good-sized passages of Scripture that were repeated. The author was showing the roots of the Isaac/Ishmael conflict from the eyes of each person involved (Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, etc.); but it was too drawn out. Don't get me wrong - the Biblical information was great. It could have been a little more concise, because I almost lost interest in the first few chapters.

The only other reason for the 4-star rating would be the last two chapters. I never understood where the author was going with the chapter on the "Christian Perspective". He seemed to building up to something, but I couldn't figure out what it was. In the last chapter, the author answers three questions that people frequently ask him. I didn't see why this was necessary - other than the extremely brief invitation to salvation in the last two paragraphs.

The positive elements were many. Wright gave me a much better understanding of the mind-set of the Arabs (and the Iranians, for that matter). He also explained the history of the return of the Jews to Israel and how they got their land back. The prophetic information was good, and the historical information was excellent (not too in-depth or dry; just enough detail to give you a desire to research more). The author used a very casual style of writing and never delivered his thoughts in a way that would seem "academic". In fact, it was more in the style that a pastor would use (no surprise there, since he is a pastor).

There is a helpful glossary in the back of the book, as well as a nifty Study Guide that can be used individually or with groups. All in all, it is a great book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through http://www.booksneeze.com/. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

"Hood" by Stephen Lawhead

"Hood" is the first book in a trilogy by Stephen Lawhead. This book was so much fun to read! I've always enjoyed the story of Robin Hood (not just the cartoon, although I liked that as well). This is the first Stephen Lawhead book I ever read - and I immediately finished purchasing this trilogy as well as the Song of Albion trilogy. The author does a masterful job of providing us details of the life and culture (as well as the political machinations) of the time period. However, even though he provides a helpful pronunciation guide in the front, I still had to make up my own way of pronouncing the names of places and people! I guess I should work on my linguistic skills... How would YOU pronounce Coed Cadw?
This book tells the story of Bran, who (predictably) becomes the persona we know as Robin Hood. The way that Bran becomes Robin Hood is a fantastically weaved tale. This is one book that is sure to set your imagination on fire!
There is plenty of romance, action, humor, and drama in this story - and the book has an easy flowing pace. The author does use some outdated vocabulary that a few readers may find offensive, but all of the words can be found in the KJV Bible.
I loved reading this book! Highly recommended!

"Hunter's Moon" by Don Hoesel

A historically wealthy and influential family is dealing with a lot of drama from within. CJ Baxter - a prodigal son of sorts - heads back to the town of his youth to attend his grandfather's funeral. As he begins to re-involve himself in the affairs of the Baxter clan, it is clear that he is bitter towards his family. And they pretty much all hate him. I mean HATE him.
When I first began reading "Hunter's Moon", I was expecting a thrilling story, a mystery, a conspiracy - something along those lines. For this reason, the book falls below my expectations. It is a decent book, and I half-heartedly recommend it - just don't expect a nail-biter story.
My next issue was the pacing and plot development. Have you ever been with a friend at their family reunion, where everyone is telling stories and inside jokes or reminiscing about memories? You know that uncomfortable feeling you get, because you realize you are an outsider? That's the feeling I had for about HALF of this book, literally. There is so much space dedicated to CJ's past and memories...
You know, I'm not really sure what was the MAIN plot....more specifically, what was the big SECRET that the back cover talks about. We never find out in the book. There were also many details and side issues left unresolved at the end of the book - which I find unforgivable. If you are going to lead people along for close to 400 pages - and several hours of their life - you had better clean up your mess at the end. This author failed to clear the mud at the end of this one.
And about the little matter of it being a "Christian Fiction" book.... well, the main character refers to God in between his beers, poker playing, and trying to seduce a married woman. CJ Baxter talks like he became a Christian, but we never hear a salvation theme, or a redemption theme, or a repentance theme.
Good things to say about it: Um... I laughed out loud a lot; there was some good humor. That's pretty much one of the only good things I can say about it. The story was decent, that's all.
In short, it's not a bad book...just not a great one.

"23 Minutes in Hell" by Bill Wiese

"23 Minutes in Hell" is a combination of non-fiction narrative and Biblical reference. The author, Bill Wiese, relates in the first part of the book his own personal experience of what he believes is his journey to Hell. He states emphatically that it was not a mere "vision" in the sense that it may be considered a psychological experience only. He maintains that God took his physical body to hell (although he does admit that God must have diminished the full force and effect of Hell for him to experience).
In the story, Wiese gives very specific details concerning the look, smell, and atmosphere of Hell. He makes note of particular feelings and thoughts he had. While relating the story, Wiese also scatters numerous Bible references throughout the first few chapters. He claims these passages were only known to him AFTER his journey - when he made an intense study of the information God's Word gives to us about Hell.
The latter part of the book is a survey of some Biblical information regarding Hell. There are some excellent appendices that are useful for quickly finding a Scripture reference.
First, I will offer my literary criticism. The book, which may be considered an "easy read" despite the tough subject matter, was written in a straight-forward and simple manner. Sentence structure was not complex, and the information was not given in a sensational way. This is perfectly understandable when you consider that the author never claims to be a "writer", and that he is supposedly telling this story as it happened. So, from the literary standpoint, it is an unimpressive book.
Second, I give you my personal opinion of the matter. There are two strong pieces of evidence in the book that tend to persuade me that it is truthful as written. 1. The weak literary contribution. As I mentioned, Wiese does not pour on the intense hair-raising, edge-of-your-seat suspense that you might expect. Now, if I were going to invent a story about a trip to Hell, I would probably go over the top - knowing that people would EXPECT Hell to be quite sensational. The fact that Wiese fails to do this suggests to me that he is presenting the facts as a witness to actual events, and anyone who has ever read historical narrative knows that eye-witness reports tend to be fairly bland. 2. The appeal to Scripture. Bill Wiese repeatedly states throughout the book that preference is given to God's Word on the matter. He compels the reader to study the Bible for themselves and reach their own conclusion. In fact, he even goes so far as to say that if the ONLY result of the book was to make people read their Bibles to attempt to invalidate his story, then the book has accomplished its objective. He points people to God's Word. Furthermore, I could find no portion of his story that violated any doctrine of Hell given in Scripture.
While it may seem unbelievable, I do believe God can and will do extraordinary things to reach people with the Gospel and to glorify His own Name. He may even send someone (a Christian, no less) to Hell for 23 minutes. I recommend this book.

Let's get started!

For a long time now, I've been wanting to create my own site to post reviews for books, articles, and other things. It's finally going to be a reality!
One reason for the existence of this page is that I frequently have people recommend things like books, movies, and music to me. Often, they wish to hear my opinion about it. So, now, instead of merely relaying this information by word-of-mouth, I will be able to catalogue the books and things that I have looked over. Maybe I can help someone find new resources on subjects that are interesting to them.
So, please bear with me as I try to get started. I hope to have my first few posts on here soon.

- Bro. John