"Love Worth Finding: The Life of Adrian Rogers and His Philosophy of Preaching" by Joyce Rogers

As I said in my review of his book, Unveiling the End Times in Our Time, there is no preacher that I respect more than Adrian Rogers. If possible, that respect increased after reading this book.
This book was written mostly by Joyce Rogers (Adrian's wife), although there is an interview-style section at the end that is mostly Adrian's words. Keep in mind that this book was also written before he passed away. In fact, it was written as a sort of tribute to him towards the end of their time in the pastorate at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis.
So, with the aforementioned information in mind, there is only one minor criticism of the book. It is not terribly detailed as a biography. Most of the major events of Adrian Rogers' life and ministries are present, including the death of one of their children and the struggles of the Southern Baptist Convention. But, at times the book presents very generic information. Again, this is only a minor criticism. This book is far too thin to be a very detailed biography.
On the positive side, Joyce Rogers presents her words with the skill and perspective of a loving wife writing about her godly husband of many years. She shares the excitements, joys, triumphs, and also disappointments, failures, and tragedies that they experienced together.
The philosophy of his preaching (which is the interview section) was good, but not great. He didn't reveal any information that you could not have probably guessed just by hearing a few of his sermons. Keep the Gospel the focus of your message and life, bathe everything in prayer, don't preach it if you aren't living it, study the Bible constantly, etc. These are all good things - just don't read the book expecting to find an academic treatise on preaching. But if you enjoy hearing Adrian Rogers' unique way of presenting truth - even if it's truth you've heard before - then the philosophy of his preaching is sure to be enjoyable.

I regret that I never heard Adrian Rogers preach in person. In my opinion, he is truly one of the greatest preachers of all time. He was a man of great integrity, with a very winsome demeanor in the pulpit. If you don't know much about his life and ministry, this book is a great source of first-hand information for the casual reader.

"The Ambition" by Lee Strobel

If you've never read the "Case for..." series of books by Lee Strobel, you are missing out on pages upon pages of excellent and worth-while apologetics reading. The interview-style writing of those books really helps keep your attention - and makes you feel like you are part of a conversation instead of just listening to a bunch of facts.

That being said, this debut novel by Lee Strobel had me anticipating great things. It failed to deliver....  The story centers around a megachurch pastor, Eric Snow, who has political aspirations. He is being pushed along on his journey by a member of his church leadership staff who (apparently) sees a jump-start for her own career. His co-pastor, however, feels like Snow is betraying his God and his church. His main rival for the political position has a few skeletons in his closet...  Following all of this action is a reporter, who also happens to be an atheist.

There's more to the story than that - but that's the main idea. I feel like Strobel really missed out on some great opportunities for suspenseful action. The ending was also very abrupt - which is dissatisfying when you've put so much time into reading a book.

On top of that, the story-line just wasn't as engaging as I'd hoped. Some of the plot twists were predictable (as was the resolution to the story). But the final straw was the totally unnecessary swear word that Strobel threw in. It doesn't matter that a "bad guy" said it, and he was really, really angry when he said it. There is no purpose or need for cursing in a book written by a Christian author and marketed to Christian audiences.

So, for the aforementioned reasons, I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.

"Not a Fan" by Kyle Idleman

The message of "Not a Fan" is extremely important, and it is also terrifyingly relevant for today's church. The independent fundamental Baptists that I have listened to for the past couple of decades have been saying for years that there are "imposters" in the church - those who are not truly followers of Christ. This epidemic has been around since, well, Jesus' days. But the danger for the 21st-century church is that we are not only tolerating fans (or hypocrites, or false converts, or whatever you wish to call them), we are PRODUCING them at an alarming pace. Our discipleship success rate is almost nonexistent. We have dressed up Christianity as an attractive consumer package, and we are reaping the consequences of  an "easy-believe-ism" without the commitment of the heart that should accompany salvation. (For the record, I believe salvation is as simple as "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved..."  I'm not trying to add to the Gospel. Please understand the context of what I'm saying.)

That being said, this book is one of the must-reads I have reviewed so far on my blog. However, that does not mean there weren't a few minor pitfalls with the book. (I know, I know... I'm so picky)

The main thing is that I felt like the message could have been conveyed just as effectively in a 50-page booklet, whereas we are presented with a semi-redundant 200+ page book. There comes a time when I am reading books like these where the main point has been clearly made, but I feel obligated to finish the book - even though I doubt the author will present anything really fresh in the last 50-75 pages.  (This book could have been a lot shorter, BUT I will say that the last three chapters were the most powerful in my opinion)

By the way, the book is written on a very accessible level for readers. As one of our church men who read the book said to me recently, it is written on about a 7th grade level - all in all, not a bad thing. It just means that there are no deep Greek expositions, complex thought progressions, or logical syllogisms (which I actually happen to love).

The other thing that bothered me was the author's use of humor and jokes. He (graciously) relegated most of his cheesy-ness to footnotes at the bottom of the page; so for a better reading of the book, I recommend skipping the footnotes altogether.... Seriously... Don't even look down there at them.  Here the author has this incredible message that is as serious as Heaven and Hell (literally, if he's right about the fans being unsaved), and he sprinkles in some lame wisecracks every now and then. To me, that severely disrupted his momentum and decreased his effectiveness in communicating his message.

I hope this book (among others) will help foster a desire for true discipleship in our churches.

The message is a definite 5 star, but I can't rate the book itself any more than 4 out of 5.

Giveaway List - Updated 10/03/12

*** New update - instead of reposting the whole list, I will just update the title and strike through the books that have been taken. (like this)

I plan on leaving the list up for about another week, so request your book soon if you see one you like!


Please note that most of these books are older and have a little shelf wear. Some may have frayed edges or dog-eared pages. Many have writing and highlighting in them.  DISCLAIMER - I have not read some of these books, so I cannot say that by giving them away I am approving of all their content.

In the following list, the ones with an asterisk (*) are hardcover; all others are paperback/softcover. The last 5 books in the list are small booklets/gift books.

First come, first served!  They are in roughly alphabetical order by author's last name.

1. Beebe, Wally “All About the Second Man” (1971)
   • A Sword of the Lord publication about the Assistant Pastor position.
2. Beebe, Wally and Winifred “All About the Church Music Director” (1996)
   • This Sword of the Lord publication was later combined with “All about the Second Man” by the same author, and it was republished as “The Second Man”.
3. *Briggs, S. R. (compiler) “500 Bible-Based Outlines” (1976)
   • A collection of sermon outlines, in bare form, to aid study of the Bible.
4. *Burkett, Larry “What Ever Happened to the American Dream” (1993)
   • Larry Burkett examines the “American Dream” of the Pilgrims through the Founding Fathers and examines just how far America and Americans have fallen since then.
5. *Bullock, C. Hassell “An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books” (1979)
6. Hagee, John “The Beginning of the End” (1996)
   • Subtitle is “The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the Coming Antichrist”
7. Ham, Ken “The Lie: Evolution” (first printing 1987, this printing 2003)  
8. *Handford, Elizabeth Rice “Me? Obey HIM?” (1972)
• A Sword of the Lord publication about the obedient wife.
9. London, H. B. with Neil Wiseman “They Call Me Pastor” (2000)
   • These two authors have over 50 years combined experience as pastors. They write this book to help pastors foster a Christ-like love for those in the congregation they lead.
10. McDowell, Josh “Evidence that Demands a Verdict – First Revision” (1979)
• In its fifteenth printing in 1979, Josh McDowell’s “Evidence…” has been a classic of Christian apologetics since it was written. It began as a series of lectures. McDowell has also recently written “The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict.”
11. *Robinson, Haddon “Biblical Preaching” (1980, this printing 2000)
    • Haddon Robinson popularized a technique of preaching called propositional exposition, also known as preaching the “Big Idea” of a text.
12. Sheldon, Charles “In His Steps” (this printing 1996)
    • This great novel, written in the late 1890’s by a creative pastor, is the origin of the famous line “What would Jesus do?” If you’ve never read this book, you owe it to yourself to get it. I’m only giving it away because I have three copies already!
13. *Slaughter, Frank “Upon This Rock” (1963)
    • A novel that I’ve never heard of by an author that I’ve never heard of. This author apparently wrote many other Biblical, historical, or medical novels as well as a few non-fiction works. The book seems to be well-researched, and some of the quotes I saw while glancing through appear to be verbatim from Scripture.
14. *Vos, Howard (editor) “Religions in a Changing World” (1959)
    • A survey of the world’s major religions, with each chapter written by a veteran missionary who has had a first-hand experience with the religion.
15. *All-American Church Hymnal
16. *Great Hymns of the Faith (hymnal)
17. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Faithful – a commentary on the Pastoral Epistles” (1982)
18. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Complete – a commentary on Colossians” (1981)
19. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Free – a commentary on Galatians” (1981)
20. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Rich – a commentary on Ephesians” (1983)
    • NOTE – Wiersbe’s “BE” series of commentaries has been repackaged for sale as a 6-volume commentary set called “The Bible Exposition Commentary.”
21. McGee, J. Vernon “Isaiah” (2 volumes) (this printing 1982)
22. McGee, J. Vernon “Jeremiah and Lamentations” (this printing 1982)
    • NOTE – McGee’s commentary booklets based on his radio program have been repackaged for sale as a 6 volume commentary called “Thru The Bible Commentary.”
23. Devotional: Chambers, Oswald “My Utmost for His Highest” – Classic paperback edition
24. Booklet: Murray, Andrew “199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking with God” (2007)
25. Booklet: Carroll, J. M. “The Trail of Blood” (2002)
    • History of the Baptist people from the time of Christ.
26. *Gift book: Murphy, Elspeth “Recess - Prayer meditations for teachers” (1988)
27. Booklet: Hawkins, O. S. “Antology: Lessons from the ant for our own financial future” (2007

"Dreams and Visions" by Tom Doyle

I had read a little bit about this subject before starting this book. The subtitle of this book is a question: "Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?" And I would have to say, after reading the stories in these pages, that God is surely doing something in the Middle East to bring revival.

Tom Doyle's book is, first of all, written from the heart of a missionary. He has been in these hard-to-reach places, he has talked with most of the people whose stories appear in his book, he has a burden for the Muslim world - in short, he writes this book with love, not just with the bland fact-giving tone of many books with biographical content. And there are many stories to be told, apparently.

Each of the people whose stories are told in the book have reported seeing Jesus in either a dream or vision. They all seem to know who He is immediately upon seeing Him. Sometimes two different people have the same dream, or a Muslim will have a dream where Jesus shows them a building they must find. When they wake up, they find the building and meet the people who live there (Christians, of course, who are able to lead the person to the Lord).

It is impossible to read stories of these Christians in the Middle East without being simultaneously repulsed by the persecution and torture they endure and encouraged by the strength of their faith. In the excellent Appendices in the back of the book, Doyle answers the question easily: "How do you know the dreams and visions are of God?"  He makes two strong statements: Point #1 - No one goes to sleep a Muslim and wakes up a believer in Christ. Without fail, the dreams only point the dreamer to a person who shares the Word of God with them. For some, it only takes a dream or two - others have had many dreams over the span of many months. Some of the dreamers written about in the book have not yet received Christ at the time of the book's printing (and Doyle asks us to pray that they do). It appears that Jesus is not violating the Scripture that says "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Big point #2 - Look at the fruit of the dreams and visions. These dreams produce seekers of Christ, who become disciples of Christ who are willing to die for their faith (a very likely reality for most of them). Not only that, but when they accept Christ they are so deeply changed by Jesus that they cannot help but share the Gospel with others.

The chapters of the book are divided into sections by country: Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and even Israel and America. I really appreciated how the author gave a brief historical background of the countries and the Muslim groups that have become dominant there. It helps create a clearer picture in my mind of the context of the stories.

Do I believe these dreams and visions are from God? I can honestly say that I hope so. And it certainly appears to be so. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

What is your opinion of this information? Do you believe God would use dreams and visions to reach a group of people that are nearly impossible to reach by conventional methods? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR DROP ME AN EMAIL AND GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS!

Also, don't forget the book giveaway list! I have given out 7 or so, but there are plenty more!

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK GIVEAWAY LIST!!!! - Updated

Okay, here is the list of books that I am giving away. Please note that most of these books are older and have a little shelf wear. Some may have frayed edges or dog-eared pages. Many have writing and highlighting in them.  DISCLAIMER - I have not read some of these books, so I cannot say that by giving them away I am approving of all their content.

In the following list, the ones with an asterisk (*) are hardcover; all others are paperback/softcover. The last 5 books in the list are small booklets/gift books.

First come, first served!  They are in roughly alphabetical order by author's last name.

1. Baucham, Voddie “The Ever-Loving Truth” (2004)
• An interesting book written by an African-American church leader. This book examines how Christians are to boldly but humbly proclaim God’s unchanging truth to a culture that does not believe in absolute truth.
2. Beebe, Wally “All About the Second Man” (1971)
• A Sword of the Lord publication about the Assistant Pastor position.
3. Beebe, Wally and Winifred “All About the Church Music Director” (1996)
• This Sword of the Lord publication was later combined with “All about the Second Man” by the same author, and it was republished as “The Second Man”.
4. *Briggs, S. R. (compiler) “500 Bible-Based Outlines” (1976)
• A collection of sermon outlines, in bare form, to aid study of the Bible.
5. *Burkett, Larry “What Ever Happened to the American Dream” (1993)
• Larry Burkett examines the “American Dream” of the Pilgrims through the Founding Fathers and examines just how far America and Americans have fallen since then.
6. *Bullock, C. Hassell “An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books” (1979)
7. Hagee, John “The Beginning of the End” (1996)
• Subtitle is “The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the Coming Antichrist”
8. Ham, Ken “The Lie: Evolution” (first printing 1987, this printing 2003)
• Ken Ham examines the pitfalls of modern society, and how they are rooted in rejection of God’s Word – particularly the book of Genesis.
9. *Handford, Elizabeth Rice “Me? Obey HIM?” (1972)
• A Sword of the Lord publication about the obedient wife.
10. Hunt, Mary “Debt-Proof Living” (1999)
11. London, H. B. with Neil Wiseman “They Call Me Pastor” (2000)
• These two authors have over 50 years combined experience as pastors. They write this book to help pastors foster a Christ-like love for those in the congregation they lead.
12. McDowell, Josh “Evidence that Demands a Verdict – First Revision” (1979)
• In its fifteenth printing in 1979, Josh McDowell’s “Evidence…” has been a classic of Christian apologetics since it was written. It began as a series of lectures. McDowell has also recently written “The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict.”
13. Naifeh, Steven (with Gregory White Smith) “The Mormon Murders” (1989)
• A true account of a series of murders and the forgery scheme they were meant to cover up.
14. *Robinson, Haddon “Biblical Preaching” (1980, this printing 2000)
• Haddon Robinson popularized a technique of preaching called propositional exposition, also known as preaching the “Big Idea” of a text.
15. Sheldon, Charles “In His Steps” (this printing 1996)
• This great novel, written in the late 1890’s by a creative pastor, is the origin of the famous line “What would Jesus do?” If you’ve never read this book, you owe it to yourself to get it. I’m only giving it away because I have three copies already!
16. *Slaughter, Frank “Upon This Rock” (1963)
• A novel that I’ve never heard of by an author that I’ve never heard of. This author apparently wrote many other Biblical, historical, or medical novels as well as a few non-fiction works. The book seems to be well-researched, and some of the quotes I saw while glancing through appear to be verbatim from Scripture.
17. *Vos, Howard (editor) “Religions in a Changing World” (1959)
• A survey of the world’s major religions, with each chapter written by a veteran missionary who has had a first-hand experience with the religion.
18. *All-American Church Hymnal
19. *Great Hymns of the Faith (hymnal)
20. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Faithful – a commentary on the Pastoral Epistles” (1982)
21. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Complete – a commentary on Colossians” (1981)
22. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Free – a commentary on Galatians” (1981)
23. Wiersbe, Warren “Be Rich – a commentary on Ephesians” (1983)
• NOTE – Wiersbe’s “BE” series of commentaries has been repackaged for sale as a 6-volume commentary set called “The Bible Exposition Commentary.”
24. McGee, J. Vernon “Isaiah” (2 volumes) (this printing 1982)
25. McGee, J. Vernon “Jeremiah and Lamentations” (this printing 1982)
• NOTE – McGee’s commentary booklets based on his radio program have been repackaged for sale as a 6 volume commentary called “Thru The Bible Commentary.”
26. Devotional: Chambers, Oswald “My Utmost for His Highest” – Classic paperback edition
27. Booklet: Murray, Andrew “199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking with God” (2007)
28. Booklet: Carroll, J. M. “The Trail of Blood” (2002)
• History of the Baptist people from the time of Christ.
29. *Gift book: Murphy, Elspeth “Recess - Prayer meditations for teachers” (1988)
30. Booklet: Hawkins, O. S. “Antology: Lessons from the ant for our own financial future” (2007

Book Giveaway List to be posted tomorrow!

So, it took me a little longer than I thought it would to pick through my books and make a giveaway pile. Anyway, I have the list ready, but I am going to wait until tomorrow to post the list.

Please respond as soon as possible if you want a book, because it is a first-come, first-served offering.

In Christ,
  John

"The Power of the Prophetic Blessing" by John Hagee

John Hagee presents a quite frustrating but fascinating read with his new book "The Power of the Prophetic Blessing." I have always admired John Hagee's preaching - he speaks with great conviction and power. I have also learned so much from his writings about the nation of Israel. (His book "Jerusalem Countdown" is a great example... read my review here).

Let me begin with the positive aspects of the book. I really enjoyed his discussion of the nature of the blessings of the Old Testament - particularly, of Jacob blessing the sons who would become the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel. There is also the great section talking about the power of affirmation through touch in a child's life and development. Those two sections alone are worth the price of the book, in my opinion. Then, Hagee forcefully reminds fathers (and mothers, but fathers especially) about their role as spiritual authority in the home - and of the overwhelming need to pray over our wives and children. This is a much needed message for the church today.

The negative aspect of the book is one that I had feared from the start. Hagee goes beyond the bounds of God's intention when he claims that we can speak our own prosperity into existence. With all the strong words Jesus had to say against materialism and with all the warnings God gives against money and the love of worldly things, I am quite sure that the blessings God has for his children are not primarily of a materialistic nature. It is not wrong to think that unexpected material blessing comes from God, but it is wrong to imagine that there is no way God can bless you other than to give you prosperity, promotion, wealth, riches, and even health and right relationships - all of which Hagee points out repeatedly in his book. I would imagine God's greatest blessing to man would be a more accurate understanding of God Himself - which he gave to Job, but only after Job had LOST all material blessings, wealth, health, and even relationships.

I would say that, to the wise reader who can avoid the pitfall of the prosperity teachings, this book can be an informative tool. My wife and I have already talked about some of the things I learned in it, and we are going to try to follow God's Word more accurately when it comes to praying for each other.

My fear is that weak or easily misled believers will get one thing only out of this book: if I believe hard enough, God will give me a new car and heal my cancer. There is nothing wrong with praying for either one of these things, but what will become of the man to whom God refuses to bless in this way? Will he become angry at God? Will he cease to pray, assuming that it is of no value because his prayers weren't answered?

I still give it a 3 out of 5 stars for all its positive points - but read with discernment.

I received this book free from Handlebar Marketing in exchange for my honest review.

UPCOMING BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!

I recently came into possession of a fairly sizable book collection. I have picked through the piles and kept a bunch, but there are also a few books that I thought would be fun to offer as giveaways. I will probably scan through my own personal book collection for books to add to the Giveaway pile.

So, here's how it will work. I will type up and post a list of books for the giveaway. If you see a book on the list that you want, just contact me and tell me which book(s) you are interested in. You can contact me through email, comments on the blog post containing the list, text messages (if you have my cell number), or in person (if you attend my church). NOTE: if you live out-of-town/state, we can work out book shipment (you pay shipping...I have a Paypal account).

They are used books, but most of them are in decent shape. If they are damaged, I will let you know on the list that will be posted. I'll also try to keep the list updated and remove books that are claimed.

Whatever books are left will be taken to the used book-swap store, so get them while they're here! The list should be posted sometime in the next 7 days.

"A Ship Possessed" by Alton Gansky

Alton Gansky gets some serious respect for his creativity: a demon-possessed nazi in a raft gets picked up by an American submarine in World War II, then the sub disappears... over half a century later, the sub shows up at a San Diego beach. It's (supposedly) empty, but how did it get there?

A retired Navy officer is called back to investigate this mystery. But his assistant, a young female officer, is trying her best (unsuccessfully) to hide her paralyzing fear of the sub. What is it about the sub that is causing her terror?

Brilliantly weaving the two stories (the WWII story, and the investigation by the retired officer), Gansky did a great job of creating a "spooky" feeling that adds the thrills to the books that are supposed to be "thrillers." Some authors are not able to achieve this. Not only that, but Gansky also includes very vivid descriptions of the spiritual realm that help to visualize what the demon-possessed people are experiencing during a possession.

I'm personally not an expert on demons or demon possession. And I have no idea what the spiritual realm would look or feel like to a demon-possessed person. But, taking it from a purely literary standpoint, Gansky's version is quite terrifying. (Although I'm sure real demon possession is much worse)

I enjoyed the book (not as much as "Certain Jeopardy", co-written with Jeff Struecker). I especially liked the parts describing Navy and Coast Guard procedures, terminology, etc. Submarines have always fascinated me. How do those guys not go crazy in there for so long? Anyway, there are two other books in this series, so I hope to get to those soon.

"Worship Matters" by Bob Kauflin

When my friend Joe K. loaned me this book last year, I have to admit that the biggest draw for me was the fact that Bob Kauflin has some connection to the Christian vocal group GLAD. I love GLAD's a cappella music. So, I was really interested to hear what this man would say in his book written (mainly) to worship leaders.

There were a few apprehensions and assumptions that I had going into the book. First, I assumed that it would be light on Biblical doctrine and theology. And Second, I assumed it would be heavy on music. Both of these assumptions were wrong. I've read many "Christian living"-type books that had far fewer Bible references or doctrines than this book. Early on in the book, Kauflin sets a very solid foundation for Biblical worship. It is surprising how much the Bible says about worship - much of which we never hear or read.

The theology in the book was a welcome surprise. After all (and I hate to say this), the big churches always seem to have a worship leader who appears to excel in two areas: big stage productions, and fashion. They can put on a great show on stage, and they can create their own "look" - but we don't automatically think: worship leader = theologian. Even sadder than this trend in the big churches is the number of smaller churches that feel like they have to emulate this formula. From the selection of songs right down to the "look" of the worship leader, small churches have bought into the worship leader movement.

I disagreed with the author doctrinally on only one point that I can remember. He believes the "sign gifts" of the Book of Acts (tongues, healing, etc) are still available to believers, while I believe they passed away with the completion of the canon of Scripture. However, he deals with this subject very tactfully, and admits that many readers of this book will not feel the same way. Also, he does not say "If someone starts speaking in tongues, you know the worship service is going great!" In fact, he seems to avoid the subject altogether, other than to acknowledge that a controversy exists.

The second good surprise is that the book was not really about music. It was about worship. Music came up quite a bit, of course - but the author (rightfully) separated the two. He deals quite a bit with the heart and motives of the worshipper and the worship leader. The last portion of the book examines how a church can stay "up-to-date" with technology and music styles, while not forsaking the traditions of the church and the great hymns of the faith. He encourages the worship leader to be very deliberate and picky about the music and songs used. He also encourages the worship leader to follow the vision of the pastor - not his own idea of what the music department should be.

In all, this book is a great reference for both pastors and worship leaders. I know I have greatly benefited from it - and I am planning on buying a copy for my worship leader (if he doesn't already have it). Excellent book.

UPDATE: By the way, I didn't keep Joe's book for a whole year... I gave it back to him and bought my own copy so I could finish reading it!

"Has Christianity Failed You?" by Ravi Zacharias

I have the utmost respect for Ravi Zacharias, as an author, as a speaker, as an apologist, and as a Christian. He quickly cuts to the heart of the matter at hand - right down to where feelings and emotion interact with knowledge and doctrine. He is not afraid of tough topics. So, it is no surprise that he wrote a book such as this one.
Let me say up front: this book is NOT about the times you don't feel like a Christian, or about the times when you wonder why you should care so much or try so hard to be like Christ. For those types of issues, I would more recommend the writings of Philip Yancey - such as "Disappointment with God". No, this book is about the genuine questions about the toughest issues concerning Christianity. What is Christianity? What is a Christian? How can I reconcile the existence of God with the evil and suffering I experience? Why doesn't God answer my prayers?
With his characteristic eloquence, Zacharias presents a solid case for Christianity - it contains paradoxes, yes. There are things that we don't fully understand - of course! That's to be expected really. But Christianity stands up to even the toughest questions, because it is founded upon truth. Paradoxes are not the same as contradictions. Unanswered questions do not mean there is no God to converse with. And prayer DOES have meaning and purpose.
One of the more intriguing sections of the book deals with the issue of sexual purity. Ravi Zacharias tackles the issue of single-ness and the allure of sex outside of marriage. I thought the author did an absolutely masterful job of explaining the purpose of sex in marriage, and how God gives both the gift of sex and the grace for purity. Any single Christians would do well to read and ponder these words.
The chapter on prayer was another excellent section. Really, there were no "bad" sections at all. Some of the points made can be found in other books by Ravi Zacharias, but this book is constructed to flow in a certain manner and to address certain points that are not addressed in his other books. For that reason (among many others), this book deserves to be in the library of every Christian and honest thinker.

"Book of Days" by James L. Rubart

This is the second novel from author James Rubart. In my opinion, it is not quite as good as "Rooms", which is one of my all-time favorite novels. However, "Book of Days" has several great things going for it.
First, it is a very unique story. The book centers around Cameron Vaux, who seems to be losing his mind - literally. Memories come and go as they please. Two years after his wife dies, Cameron begins to remember conversations he had with both his father (who died with the same mind-loss sickness that Cameron has contracted) and his wife regarding a Book written by God that contains the past, present, and future of every person who ever lived. According to the novel, the idea is also found in Scripture: Psalm 139:16 (although in the King James Version, the verse is translated with the word "members" instead of "days"). So, Cameron sets out to find this Book, hoping to cure his mind and preserve the memories of his dad and wife that he cherishes.
Second, Rubart has a talent for conveying strong emotion - I empathized with both Cameron and the character Taylor Stone, even though I've never suffered a loss as great as theirs. This empathy is what made "Rooms" so powerful, and "Book of Days" makes great use of it as well. To create characters so real that we feel their pain - that is GREAT writing.
Third, there were just enough twists to keep things interesting. It is not so much a mystery book, although Cameron is trying to unravel the "mystery" of the Book. So instead of being filled with nail-biting suspense and thrills (although there are a few thrilling scenes) it is a very easy and well-paced read. It never got boring, even though it might have been a little slow in some places.
Fourth, I LOVE it when a character in a Christian novel gets saved! I know they aren't real people - that's not the point. Talented writers like Rubart have a way of expressing and describing the intangible and invisible in some incredible ways. At the very least, these scenes in Christian books remind me of how wonderful it is that I have a Savior and God named Jesus Who loved me enough to die for me and pursue me with His great love and mercy.
There weren't any negative issues worth mentioning, so I will give this book 5 out of 5 stars. But, if you only read one James Rubart book, I'd still pick "Rooms" over this one.

"God is More than Enough" by Tony Evans

 I love to hear Tony Evans preach. I had the opportunity to hear him in person at the Pastor's Conference at First Baptist in Jacksonville, Florida a couple of years ago. And, of course, I've heard him many times on the radio. But this is the first Tony Evans book that I've read. His greatest strength in preaching is also his greatest strength in writing: the ability to illustrate great truths in a simple and understandable way. No doubt about it, the illustrations and stories are the best part of this book.

The book is not long - 90 pages. And Tony Evans does a great job of breaking down Psalm 23 into bite-sized morsels that even the most Bible-illiterate Christians could easily comprehend. That being said, there is really not too much in the book that will knock your socks off. Like I said, the illustrations of truth are excellent, but the average church-going Christian will not be surprised by any of the content. I hate to phrase it this way! It sounds like I'm saying, "Oh, it's the same ol' boring Psalm 23 interpretation."  Trust me, the principles found in Psalm 23 are deep and wondrous, and I really enjoyed the way Tony Evans used the phrase "God is more than enough..." to introduce each new chapter in his book. All I'm saying is, if you are looking for a mind-bending, never-heard-before exposition of Psalm 23, you won't find it here. But then again, it is always good to be reminded of the great truths that we take for granted so easily.

In all, I would give the book 3.5 stars out of 5.

I received this book free from Waterbrook-Multnomah publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Mondays with my Old Pastor" by José Luis Navajo

This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Even though the original was written in Spanish (so I cannot speak to the quality of its writing), the English translation contains such rich language and vivid descriptions.

The story centers around a pastor who is on a "mandatory rest" because of feelings of depression and burnout. At his wife's insistence, this pastor goes to visit his former pastor (who is now advanced in age). What follows is a series of meetings on Mondays in which the old wise pastor pours into the younger man all the things that God had taught him through the years of ministry.

It's not just the fifteen principles that make this book so memorable - you could find these same fifteen principles in any "Christian Living" book in the local Christian bookstore. It's the weaving of the stories and experiences into this marvelous tale. It's the power of the grace of God in the life of this pastor - someone we would have never heard of, had the book not been written. It's the almost poetical words that grace every page of the book. These factors combine to make this the most stirring and thought-provoking book I've read in a long time. If nothing else, there are TONS of "sentence sermons" in this book - single sentences that are packed with profound truth. If I made a habit of highlighting in the books I read, then this book would be dripping yellow.

I'm not sure if the book is meant to be a factual relating of events - it reads almost like a novel in some places. And some of the things that happen in the book are fantastic and almost unbelievable. But regardless of whether or not all of the scenarios in the book actually took place, the truth that is boldly proclaimed will keep my heart burning for years and years - I plan on reading it again, as well as giving away a few copies to people that I love. Excellent, EXCELLENT book. I believe every person in ministry should read it.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie

I've been a big fan of Agatha Christie since I was a teenager. Her style of writing fascinates me quite easily. I don't quite know how to explain it, but she creates the perfect "mood" of murder mysteries for her readers.

Even though this is arguably her best story - and by far her best-known - I had read at least a half-dozen of her other books before I ever got to this one. Why did I wait so long? The book was fantastic!

The plot is simple: ten people are lured to an island to be guests of a mysterious host for seven days. The host is nowhere to be found. The first evening, a voice comes out of nowhere and accuses them each in turn and by name of committing murder. The guests then begin to die one by one. They are now trapped on the island with no way off, and they each begin to suspect one another as the murderer. Will any survive the week? And what is the identity of the murderer?

My only complaint with the book was the multiple swear words. There were far more than I remembered from any other of Agatha Christie's books that I have read. But the plot and timing of the book were superb. And the mystery really kept me guessing until (and even AFTER) the murderer was revealed. Even though Christie introduced 10 characters in a short book, she developed their personalities very well. I worried at first about keeping the characters separate in my mind, but it was never a problem.

If you are an Agatha Christie fan, you have probably already read this book. If you are not a fan, I heartily recommend both the author and this book. She is the standard by which all other murder mystery authors are measured.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

I have a confession to make: I’m a very stubborn person. One of my pet peeves is when family or friends say something to me like, “You just HAVE to see this movie!” When this statement is paired with the cultural pressure of a viral hit, sometimes I vow to never give in to such pressure. A perfect example is Napoleon Dynamite. I had so many college buddies tell me that I HAD to see that movie, and it was such a pop-culture hit, that I rebelled against their expectations and made myself a promise to never ever see Napoleon Dynamite. To this day, I’ve kept my vow. (A similar thing happened with Nacho Libre)

So, I was close to shutting out “The Hunger Games” completely, but in the end it was the appeal the book and movie had to young people that caused me to read the book. Disclaimer: this is different than “Twilight”. I will never, ever, EVER see or read “Twilight” or any of its sequels. Period.  End of story. I mean, come on. Vampires? Really? Anyway….

Quick plot summary: North America no longer exists. In its place is Panem, a nation divided into 12 districts. Each district is controlled by the Capitol, and each district is responsible for a portion of the economic foundation of Panem (for example, one district does coal mining, one district does agriculture, etc). Of course, the Capitol is a brutal master, and the people are pretty much slaves to the powers that be. Every year, names of a boy and a girl from each district are selected to participate in a fight to the death – the Hunger Games. In an Ancient-Roman-like way, the Capitol glamorizes this expression of their control over the people. Our main character, Katniss Everdeen, is the female participant for District 12.

I will give Suzanne Collins a lot of credit for writing an incredibly captivating story. There are so many good things I can say about it. She covers the full range of human emotions, and she covers them extremely well. She takes a difficult subject (death) and lets us peer inside the mind of a young girl who is facing it honestly. Young people today already think of death – we know this by the suicide rates of teens. But books like these could cause young people to think more deeply about death – and its consequences – which could potentially lead to opportunities for sharing the Gospel.

After all, Katniss, the main character, is stuck in a cruel man-made world where kids fight to the death. In reality, we are all facing imminent death – and none of us knows when it might come. Katniss sees her opponents in the Hunger Games as human – even if they are slightly more savage than she is. In fact, she finds terrible similarities between herself and the negative qualities of those opponents. This is a true-to-life view of human nature. We are all fallen – we are all capable of dreadful evil.

Let me speak for a moment about the death in the book. The author always speaks of death with a sort of sacredness that’s difficult to explain. Katniss avoids killing if at all possible, and only does so when it is necessary for survival. So, the idea I’d had in my mind from highly critical reviews of the book about kids gleefully hacking each other to pieces was not accurate. Yes, kids kill kids in the book. No, the author does not glorify it or make it appealing. She does not present murder as a possible solution to a conflict between young people, or any other such nonsense. There are several scenes that are quite gruesome, but again, the author intended for such scenes to be gruesome.

There is also a bit of romance in the book between young people. I’m of the opinion that young people who think they are in love are highly mistaken. Love is a difficult and life-long decision. It is an emotion tied to the will. It is sacrificial and selfless. Young people tend to see love in a more shallow way. But, in the book, the romance between the young people is not overly sexualized, which I greatly appreciated (true, there is some kissing in the book, but the author does not dwell on sensuality). In a day when kids are made to think that sex, sexiness, romance, physical interaction, and love are worth having RIGHT NOW instead of being worth waiting for, I appreciated that the main character’s parents had a happy and fulfilling marriage, and Katniss also looked ahead several times to thoughts of her own marriage (even though toward the end of the book, she is thinking she will never marry).

Other than two or three minor swear words, I did not take issue with much of the content of the book. The story was fascinating and compelling. The setting and plot was surreal, yet very real. The post-apocalyptic backdrop seemed to be a frightening glimpse into the potential future of the country. We like to think of our nation as too civilized to ever do anything like the Hunger Games for real, but remember that each of us is capable of great evil. And people in power tend to be corrupted more quickly than the powerless.

Since it is part of a trilogy, the book ends in great suspense. But, being a Christian fiction fan, it is difficult to read a book with such sorrow and pain and never see the Healer and Savior make an appearance. Jesus Christ – what a Savior He is! And I only wish that I could introduce every young person who faces the fear of death to the One Who has already conquered death itself.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention, special thanks to JT for letting me borrow his copy of "The Hunger Games"!

"To Be Perfectly Honest" by Phil Callaway

This may possibly be the funniest book I've ever read. But, it was also one of the most convicting. Christian funny-man Phil Callaway takes a one-year vow to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Sound easy?

The book is set up almost like a diary or journal. Paragraphs are group under headings numbering off how far into the truth-vow the writing took place. So, he starts with Day 1 and goes from there. It was a brutally, BRUTALLY honest book - especially the way Phil Callaway wrote about himself. We see him losing money on an internet investment, fighting bitterness against a former friend who is out to slander his reputation, confronting bad habits (both his own and those of others), and many other scenarios that are all-too realistic.

I found it startling and sad that my first reaction to learning of Phil's truth vow was: "I would never do that...."  I want to smile and cry at the same time. "Boy, you couldn't get me to tell the whole truth for a year. What would people think?" But, through reading about this hilarious journey, I found that the truth is a precious gift that is often ignored and under-appreciated. It is also a very powerful thing. After all, God is a God of truth - He is not capable of telling a lie. So when we tell the truth (in love) we have the power of God Himself in our speech.

I loved this book - and I plan on reading it again. It was a great encouragement to me. I also appreciated that Phil Callaway shared the pain of his mother's death (which happened during the truth vow). His mother had dementia, and his writing about his visits with her brought tears to my eyes more than once.

Phil says in the epilogue that he prays more honestly now. He claims it has changed his life. I might just take the vow after all...

If you would like to read a chapter or order the book, or if you would like to learn more about Phil Callaway, please visit his website here. I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my "honest" review.

"The Queen" by Steven James

Over 500 pages...but it flies by so quickly. VERY, very few authors write so addictively. My respect for Steven James continues to climb.

Agent Bowers is sent to Wisconsin to help investigate an apparent double murder: a man supposedly shoots his wife and daughter. But not everything is as it seems. The Navy is pressuring the FBI director to put their best people on this case. Why would the Navy be interested in the disappearance of a Wisconsin sawmill worker? Before the book is over, the facts of this case will reach all the way to the Middle East - to a top secret CIA detainment facility.

A couple of negative things about the book. Yet again, one of the villains turns out to be a friend of Bowers.... This has happened in two other books in this series, if my memory is right. Now, it makes for really good page-turning suspense, especially when you can't guess who it is - but at the same time, it is almost getting old. (I mean, does this happen in real life? Can every FBI agent name at least three former colleagues who wound up being serial killers? Maybe so... the nature of the field, I suppose.) I can easily forgive this small issue, however, since the quality of the book is beyond superb.

There were a couple of typos. Sometimes the technical explanations ran a little long. These are all VERY minor things. And, in the grand scheme of things, I'm embarrassed that I even bring them up.

On the positive side, there was less violence in this book. In fact, family and relational issues took up a greater portion of the story than in any of the previous books. That doesn't mean that the book isn't filled with great action and suspense - because it is. We learn a great deal about the backstory of Patrick and his brother Sean (and his brother's wife.....). Patrick is planning on asking a certain someone a certain important question.
Tessa struggles with some of her guilt, as well as the topic of forgiveness. In fact, the best scene of the book (to me) is when Tessa has a deep heart-to-heart with God. It's not a tremendously dramatic conversion, with a sinner's prayer - but Tessa tells Patrick that "something happened" to her in a hospital chapel. It was the closest thing to a salvation experience in the Bowers Files so far! Of all the characters that are in the series, I fully expected Tessa to be the first to take the small steps of faith. And I was right! She's a great character in these books.

According to the Wikipedia page, Steven James is writing a prequel to the series right now; then he will finish the series with "The King" and finally "Checkmate". Let's just say, I'm (not so) patiently waiting!

"The Voice" New Testament

Let me say up front: I am an open-minded KJV reader. I was raised with the King James, and in my research I have not discovered any reason that I should replace my KJV with another version. That being said, I am also aware of the fact that many Godly people use other versions of the Bible - and God is obviously using other translations to reach many people with the Gospel of Christ. I do not collect and burn other Bible versions, nor do I demonize those versions or the people who read them, either from the pulpit or my blog. Those who do so are not dealing realistically with the issue of Bible translation.
The publishers provided me a free copy of "The Voice" to review. Let me begin with my criticisms, and end with the positive elements. My main criticism is the translation process. The translating group decided to go with a "contextual equivalence" instead of formal equivalence or even dynamic equivalence. In an attempt to make their translation accessible to the modern culture, they seem to resort mostly to paraphrase instead of actual translation (from my limited knowledge of Greek). The problem is this: God gave us ideas and concepts, but He had to use words in order to do it - and it seems obvious that He chose His Words with great care. So, formal equivalence seems to be superior to either dynamic or contextual equivalence.
My second criticism.... To be blunt, I fail to see the need for another Bible translation or version. Statistics tell us that Christians aren't reading the ones we already have, and I doubt that it is because they don't have access to a good version. My third criticism is minor. "Story" seems to be a bit of a buzzword these days among Christian authors, and "The Voice" buys into it totally. Even the cover says, "Step into the Story of Scripture" (italics in original, not added by me). I'm not a big fan of fads and buzzwords.
So, now to the positive things. First, I actually liked the quality of the copy I received. It seemed durable, with thick paper and sturdy binding. It would probably last a long time. Second, I thought the dialogue between the characters was presented in a unique way. It was done much like a screenplay or script, with the name of the person talking written in bold, followed by his dialogue.

For those of you who like to read the thoughts and events in Scripture written in unique ways to give your mind a better picture to grasp, you will probably find "The Voice" an interesting addition to your Bible collection. For those of you who are waiting for a good reason to read something besides your KJV, you will need to wait a little longer.
Special thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for the free review copy of "The Voice" New Testament.

"Jerusalem Countdown" by John Hagee (Kindle Edition)

Even though this book was written in 2006, the information included is excellent. John Hagee is a very intelligent man, and he writes with great skill as well. (In fact, if you ever come across either of his two Apocalypse Diaries novels - "Devil's Island" or "Avenger of Blood" - make sure you buy them! They are rare to find, and excellent to read!)
The book was not exactly what I thought it would be. I was thinking of Daniel's 70 weeks, where is America in prophecy, etc. Instead, Hagee explains his theological understanding of God's relationship to the Jewish people, from Abraham until Christ returns. I have not read any other book that so clearly tackles this subject. There were just a couple of points that I disagreed with or was unsure of, but the majority of the book was eye-opening to me.
I'll admit it: Jewish people have always been a bit of a mystery in my mind.... I knew that they were chosen by God, I knew that Jesus was a Jew, I knew that God will place the focus back on the Jews in the last days - what I didn't know was how this all fit together in the big picture of God's Word, nor did I understand what my relationship (as a Gentile Christian) to the Jews was. John Hagee explains all this and more in great detail.
One of the most helpful ideas in the book is that divine election applies only to the Jews. The concept of election (the Calvinist doctrine) has been the thorn in the side for many theologians. But, the explanation given by Hagee makes more sense in light of all that the Bible teaches than any other theory I've heard.
Hagee also goes paragraph-by-paragraph through Romans 9-11, which was excellent. These chapters are often ignored, so it was great to hear them explained clearly. (In fact, I had a whole class on the book of Romans in Bible college, but I'm pretty sure that we skimmed over chapters 9-11).
My special thanks goes to my dad for letting me borrow this e-book. I am probably going to buy a print copy of this book to read again, as well as to lend out to others.
If you only read one book of theology/prophecy this year, I recommend this one!

"Pershing: Commander of the Great War" by John Perry (Kindle Edition)

I believe I may have heard of General Pershing a few times in grade school... but I had no idea what an impressive man he was. John "Black Jack" Pershing had a mediocre start to his extraordinary life. Born in 1860, Pershing had one ambition in his early life: to be a lawyer. He never wished to enter military service, but he saw West Point as a means to achieving his own goal of completing law school. Once he began his military career, however, he fully immersed himself in the performance of his duty.

Pershing was the consummate military man. He was a stickler for details, and expected nothing less than perfection from the men he led. When necessary, though, he could be extremely patient - he demonstrated this several times throughout his life, striving for peace and understanding where others saw only conflict. Leading by example, Pershing was always found at or very near the front line of battles - even later in his career as a general. His demands on his men were so great, he once advised his officers in WWI that if any of their men were caught retreating, the officers should make every effort to stop them - shooting them if necessary. While this may seem harsh, the result of his leadership was nothing less than the salvation of Europe and the conquering of the seemingly unstoppable German war machine. He mentored a group of generals - Marshall, Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton - who led the US Army to victory in World War II just twenty years later.

There are many things that could be said about his military career and victories, but you may as well read the book. This biography is the perfect introduction to Pershing. There is just enough information to give a good grasp of the man and his character, but not so much detail as to alienate the casual reader. This is the second biography I've read that was authored by John Perry (the other was of George Washington Carver), and I've been impressed both times. Perry has several other biographies written, including Winston Churchill and Robert E. Lee. I may just have to buy them...

Pershing claimed to be a Christian and a God-fearing man, but he was not without vices. He had a mistress for many years (AFTER his wife and three daughters died in a tragic fire...while he was married, he was apparently faithful and totally love-struck with his wife). And the book has several profanity-laced quotes in it. But, I am glad that I read this volume on the life of General Pershing.

I received this e-book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"December 1941" by Craig Shirley (Kindle Edition)

I began reading this e-book in March. Little did I know I would be finishing it the night before V-E day (May 8th). How appropriate! The author's research and attention to detail are very admirable. The book was quite long and packed with more information than the brain can actually comprehend in a quick-read, but it held my interest steadily. Let me get the minutia out of the way: there were a smattering of curse words throughout the book (most of them were NOT in the context of a quote, so they were totally unnecessary). The author constructed some very awkward sentences - mainly in the way they were phrased... Dangling modifiers and such. The placement (or omission) of commas in odd places also caused some mild irritation. There were a few formatting errors, like missing spaces between words, quotation marks out of place, etc. But for the vast scope of the book, I can overlook all these things as trivial.

I've never read anything of substance concerning World War II before this book. The truth behind the tragedy of Pearl Harbor and the effect it had on our nation was much more astonishing than I'd ever known. Instead of giving positive/negative critiques, let me point out a few of the thoughts that impacted me the most in this book.

1. The Allies may have eventually won the war, but in December of 1941 the Axis powers were doing all the damage. It really surprised me how badly the war was going the first few weeks after America joined the fray. (The war had technically been going on for two years, but our American frame of mind usually forgets about the fact that much happened around the world before the attack on Pearl Harbor.) Japan was relentless in its desire to dominate the Asia-Pacific arena. Also, German troops had pushed their weight all over Europe, North Africa, and almost all the way to Moscow! Things could have turned out very differently for the Allies...

2. The U.S. experienced a tremendous unity after Pearl Harbor. The shared national tragedy created a solemn resolve in every American heart. The government asked so much of the people, but the people gladly met the need of the hour. Rationing, blackouts, "war bonds" - all of it was not merely tolerated, but embraced by the people with an amazing "Can-do" attitude. It made me sad to realize that our nation today is morally incapable of such unity. If we could not experience the same steely resolve and unity after the attacks of 9/11, when will we ever see it? Why is there no die-hard loyalty to the flag, to our military, to each other? Instead of the "Greatest Generation", we have people who call 911 because McDonalds is out of french fries..... It is unthinkable that the America of today would be willing to give up the rubber for their car tires, or donate a seventh work-day to the war effort without pay, or agree not to make long-distance calls in case of a defense emergency - all of which the Americans of the 1940's did without flinching. Again, the nation lacks the moral and spiritual fortitude to survive another such hour of dire need. May God have mercy on us.

3. Winston Churchill was an amazing individual. There were other men (and women) of the time period who were great in character and influence, but Churchill is just a radiant figure. I didn't (and still don't) know much about him; but I am determined to read a biography on him soon, as well as all of his speeches I can find. His skills of speech were only rivaled by his charisma as a leader.

The book was tremendously eye-opening. The picture it paints of the nation of that day, and how the men and women rose to meet a remarkable challenge against an unspeakable evil - well, in short, they make me proud to be an American. What a heritage of heroes we have! I give the book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I received this e-book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Living by the Book" by Howard and William Hendricks

Without exaggeration, this is the most helpful book on Bible study/reading that I've ever read. It contains very, VERY practical advice on Bible study and reading. Now, I'm not talking about doing a "Bible study" book. I'm talking about just you and the Word of God. Let's be honest: most of us don't do very well when it comes to studying the Bible. The vast majority of Christians today ADMIT that they don't even read the Bible (see article about a major study done by Barna here). If you didn't follow the link to the story, I'll give you the bottom line - nearly HALF of Americans who CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN say that they only read the Bible once or twice A YEAR. That' beyond pitiful.
What are the other half of America Christians doing? Probably struggling to read and study their Bibles - but at least (hopefully) attempting. Bible study can be a frustrating task. There are certain passages that are easy and obvious, then others that are extremely difficult and even obscure. To complicate the matter, we are talking about studying a book that was written a LONG time ago, in another continent. Our cultural frame of reference blinds us to much of the significance of the historical aspects of the Bible pages. How can we overcome these disadvantages?
This book will make you feel like the Bible is your best friend. Why are we so scared and unsuccessful when it comes to Bible study, when God WANTS us to learn from it?
The book is in three major parts: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. In my own life, Observation is the biggest challenge to Bible study. Part of my problem is over-familiarity... "Oh, I know what this passage says. Skim, skim, skim." I have to learn to look at each passage like I've never seen it before. Dig deep, and look at each word, phrase, sentence, verse, and paragraph.
The other two sections were great, as well. The chapters are not too long, and most of them end with a "You Try It" section, to put into practice the lessons taught. These are very helpful.
I can't say enough how much this book has changed the way I read and study the Bible. It is a book that I hope to re-read - maybe several times.
My wife and I started this book together, and she finished it before I did. We learned some interesting things, like the fact that she can learn better from some methods of study than I can (and vice versa). But I believe both of us have benefited greatly from this terrific book. You should go out and get this book TODAY! You need all the help you can get to maximize your study of the Bible.

"Dreamhouse Kings Book 6: Frenzy" by Robert Liparulo

The last book in the series always brings a little bit of apprehension... Will things work out like I am hoping they will? Will I get to the final book only to think the ending is disappointing? How can the author possibly resolve all of the questions?
Let me get right to the meat of this review: this was not the dramatic conclusion I was hoping for. It ended a little anticlimactically, in my opinion. The author admits that he hopes to use the King family in future books, so I can't blame him for not acting like we'll never hear from them again. But still! The ending was just kind of...abrupt.
The good news is (as you can tell by the front cover image) they find Mom! (Which has been the mission of the King family since book 1). There is a really awesome scene where the King family is at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. But even then, it's sad that they don't realize at first Who it is carrying the cross (until Jesus calls David by name)... If I were traveling through time and came across a man carrying a cross, Jesus would be my first thought! Again, no overtly Christian themes in the book. But I appreciate that Mr. Liparulo included the scene of the Via Dolorosa.
I would gladly read more books about the King family and their travels through time, but I'm glad to reach the end of Book 6!

"Dreamhouse Kings Book 5: Whirlwind" by Robert Liparulo

Well... This book presented two interesting developments in my reading of the series. It was the first book in which I really started getting tired of the two boys disobeying their father, going through a portal, and almost dying but finally escaping. This is also the first book since about book 2 that I felt like we learned some helpful information about the house, the portals, and how the time traveling works. Don't get me wrong - I still really enjoyed the book. I finished this one and "Frenzy" both within about 4 days. But at the end of this one, I was beginning to feel like the series really could have been a trilogy... The redeeming quality was the fact that the trips through time are just so interesting! You can tell that the author did good research into the time periods and cultures the King family visits.

And the time travel is really what keeps me glued to this series. The boys' characters are decent. The dad is not developed as a character as much as the boys are. Mom hasn't hardly been in the series to develop her character, and Toria doesn't really do much either. So I don't feel guilty at all in stating that I read this series to see how and where Robert Liparulo sends the family through time!

Don't forget, you can read excerpts from each book at www.dreamhousekings.com.

Book Trailer: "Fearless" by Eric Blehm (story of Navy Seal Team SIX member Adam Brown)

This book is the story of Adam Brown, of Navy Seal Team SIX. It was brought to my attention by one of the publishers that I review books for. Adam Brown's story is remarkable, and I am including this on my blog because I feel that this story should be told. This man was a true hero, and a follower of Christ by his own testimony and the testimonies of others.
There is a chance I may receive some copies of this book to give to military personnel. If you are a follower of my blog and active duty military, you will get first priority for these free copies.

More info to come. You can also check out these websites about Adam Brown:
1. Read the first chapter here.
2. The book's official website is http://fearlessnavyseal.com/
3. Watch this two-part feature about Adam Brown produced by the National Rifle Association here. (***WARNING: Videos contain at least one swear word and a few images of injuries that may not be suitable for all ages. Parents, please preview these videos before you allow your children to watch them.)

Also, I cannot guarantee that the content of these websites that I have linked to are not offensive to some readers. I have done my best to screen these links, but they may change over time.

"Dreamhouse Kings Book 4: Timescape" by Robert Liparulo

Robert Liparulo is very good at building tension in his books. And all of these books are filled with lots of suspense, action, narrow escapes, and brushes with death. While these books are aimed at younger readers (not TOO young), I don't mind telling you how much I enjoy them! (If you haven't already read my reviews of the first three books in the series, please click on the "Robert Liparulo" label at the bottom of this post).
This book, strangely enough, had more talk about God and more violence and gore than the first three. The King boys have a conversation where David gives God the credit for the new friend that they've made who seems to be exactly the kind of person they need to help them. (Xander is not so sure that God did it, however).
The boys also offer up a few vague prayers... Not directly spoken to God, but assumed to be prayers.
There is a little more blood in this book, as a character is injured fairly badly. (Can't tell you who). There is also a fascinating scene - and extremely coincidental - where David, Xander, and their father wind up on the deck of the Titanic as it is about to sink. Oddly enough, yesterday - April 15th - marked the 100th year of the Titanic disaster where over 1,500 people lost their lives. This scene and the scene of the Viking attack were particularly spectacular and brilliantly written.
Books this intense are not for all readers, but in my opinion these stories are just too good to pass up. It would not be a stretch for me to say that I enjoy this series better than I did any of Mr. Liparulo's stand-alone novels. (By the way, Robert Liparulo just released a new novel, "The 13th Tribe" - check it out and read a sample chapter at his website here. You can also read samples of all the Dreamhouse Kings books at http://www.dreamhousekings.com/)

"Culture Shift" by Albert Mohler

This is the first book I've ever read by Al Mohler, and I immediately liked his style of writing. I'm sure Dr. Mohler is a very intelligent and educated man (no one gets to be the president of a large seminary like the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary by being dull), but his tone is very conversational and down-to-earth.
This book addresses several urgent contemporary issues - ranging from homosexual marriage, to reproductive technology, to natural disasters, to terrorist attacks, and many others. Each chapter is short and to the point. The book is intended to give thoughtful Christians some information to help frame their Christian worldview around some of the more difficult challenges of the world we live in.

Believers today are not short on convictions - but they ARE short on Biblical foundations for them. Mohler encourages us to understand that the Bible DOES speak to the issues of the day, and the Christian is not left defenseless against the increasingly hostile secular society.

There were several chapters that were simply outstanding, but all of them were good. My only criticism is a minor one: The book started and ended fairly abruptly, and there was very little cohesion between the chapters. Basically, it felt as though Dr. Mohler hand-picked a few dozen topics he wished to write about and typed out a few pages on each. Then, he put them together and made a book. Don't get me wrong - this doesn't diminish the power of his writing. Each statement in the book was thoughtfully and carefully articulated. (To read the first chapter, please click here.)

I'm glad that Dr. Mohler tackled these issues. Christians, let's not be afraid to speak our convictions - the world desperately needs to hear the unchanging truth of God's Word.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest review.