"Here's Looking at Euclid" by Alex Bellos

It is coincidentally appropriate that my 100th blog post here is a review of a book about numbers. This book was one of the most interesting and enjoyable reading experiences of my life.

Let me start by explaining how this book caught my attention. I was introduced to a YouTube channel called "Numberphile" a while back. It is a very fun channel that has videos discussing all kinds of interesting "numbery" things: calculating pi, randomness and card shuffling, prime numbers, the invention of the first mechanical calculator (not electric), infinity, etc. I find these videos fascinating - which surprises even me, because I was always so bad at math in school. (I miserably failed the math portion of my college entrance exam... The registrar said, "Hm... Well, you're a theology major, so it doesn't matter.")

One of the videos that I saw was an interview with Alex Bellos, and the description of the video mentions that he had written a book called "Here's Looking at Euclid" (or, in the UK, "Alex's Adventures in Numberland"). I thought to myself that I would like to have the book one day. So when a Barnes and Noble gift card made its way into my hands this past Christmas (you know who you are - thanks!) I sought out the book and purchased it.

I didn't know what to expect, but the book is fantastic. This is out-of-the-box for me. I read a lot of fiction, and lots of Christian living/inspirational/ministry books; but I have never read a book on math and numbers!

The very first chapter astounded me, as the author discussed tribal people whose languages do not have words for numbers above 5, and the very idea of counting anything never enters their minds. They don't count hours, days, family members, fruit in a basket - practically nothing! We cannot even imagine such a thing, but cultures like these exist today.

From that point, I was hooked. Some chapters in the book cover the history of mathematical ideas, things like the invention of the number zero (again, I never considered what life was like before zero existed!), or the invention of the decimal point. There are chapters about things like probability and gambling, number games (like Sudoku), and the presence of the Fibonacci sequence in nature.

The author's style of writing is VERY comfortable to follow, even for a math-challenged mind like mine. He introduces historical characters (such as Euclid, or Blaise Pascal) in fresh new ways. Whether he is explaining the math behind a card trick, or describing how people memorize the digits of pi to thousands of places, the author keeps your attention firmly engaged.

I wish my high school  math classes were as fun as this book. Perhaps if they had been, I would not have failed the math portion of my college entrance exam!

101 out of 101 stars (given in binary).

"Open" by Craig Gross

Craig Gross is a bit of a controversial figure. He is the brain behind the creation of X3Watch accountability software (which I am a fan of, and have used it for years). His ministry has done a lot to help men overcome struggles with pornography and sex addiction. They also do outreaches to adult film stars, and other "professionals" of that industry.

I read this book hoping that he would have some great insights on accountability that I could use for myself and the young adults at my church. To be perfectly honest, I could not recommend this book at all.

This issue is so very important - and many churches are silent about it when they should face it aggressively. It is by far the #1 hidden struggle of Christian men. There is no stigma attached to alcohol, tobacco, or even gambling like there is to pornography. Because it is never addressed in a pro-active way in church, most men have felt as though they should deal with this issue privately without the aid of the church. This is a recipe for spiritual (and marital) disaster.... Brothers and sisters, let us minister love and grace to the men (AND women) who are trapped in the deadly and isolated world of sex addiction and pornography. I'm glad men like Craig Gross are addressing the problem in effective ways.

However, I believe this book missed the mark badly in a few points. To the best of my memory, there were NO Bible verses used in this book. And God MAY HAVE been mentioned maybe once? "Faith" was mentioned a few times, as was "spiritual growth." But there was no meat (nor milk) behind these words. This is unforgivable coming from the pen of a "pastor". He could argue that he was attempting to reach a wider audience - but there are secular avenues of help for the non-religious. The church, however, is STARVING for help in this area. Why not focus on the needs of your brethren in the church? Not to mention that the Bible has so much to say about it!

In the second place, apart from Gross' own story of one of his accountability groups, and some inspirational examples - as well as some tragic bad examples from our culture - there was not much practical use of it. The few principles that he gives for accountability are fairly obvious, and anyone who might be seeking such a relationship for accountability would probably find them intuitive (things like total honesty, confidentiality, consistent dialogue with the accountability partner, etc).

I breezed through the book quickly, but felt like there was not much substance here.

For a more "Christ-and-church-focused" approach to accountability, I can suggest "Iron Sharpens Iron" by Howard and Bill Hendricks. And, for pornography specifically, it is hard to improve upon "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (they also have books for women, married couples, young men, and young ladies).

"Sunday School that Really Works" by Dr. Steve Parr

This is a fantastic book about the administration of a Sunday School strategy in the local church. It's probably the best I've read on the subject of Sunday School.

Some things I love about the book:
1) The emphasis on reaching the lost with the Gospel. The author states this emphatically all throughout the book. If we aren't reaching the lost with our Sunday School, then our Sunday School is not effective.
2) He addresses all different age groups, not just adults. He has information in here for every class from PRESCHOOL up to Senior Saints. You don't find this is most books on this subject.
3) He presents helpful organizational ideas to the teachers. Many teachers feel they don't have the time to be a great Sunday School teacher, but Dr. Parr offers them ideas to maximize their potential.
4) He addresses both administration and communication aspects of teaching. Both are important, and any teacher can do both well.

There is just so much great information in here, every pastor or Sunday School teacher ought to buy one and read it.
It is available in e-book form, as well.

"Storm - Hearing Jesus for the Times We Live In" by Jim Cymbala

There is no question: the best things about Jim Cymbala's books are always the testimonies he includes from his own church members. It is so encouraging and uplifting to hear how God saved these people, and how He is using them to reach others! It reminds me that God can save anyone that comes to Him. He can not only save them, He can use them powerfully.

The book addresses the current weak state of the American church, in particular. And it is a pretty bleak picture. Frankly, it may even be worse than what Jim Cymbala describes....

We have a church culture that relies heavily on man-centered programming, man-centered scheduling, man-centered music, man-centered teaching and preaching, man-centered application, man-centered prayers (or prayerlessness), and man-centered service. Is it any wonder there is a lack of the power of God?

I appreciate Pastor Cymbala's attempts at addressing this topic. He gives a fairly level-headed and balanced view. However, much of the book felt to me as though it were forced together, and did not flow easily. He seemed more intent on making the chapter titles fit the "storm" theme than making them work in cohesion. The subjects he covers are all important; but I feel as though they didn't work together to form a powerful statement on his main issue.

The book is not long, and is worth a read. It is, however, not the best book on the subject - and is DEFINITELY not Pastor Cymbala's best book. (That distinction would go to "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire," in my opinion.)

I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

"Prophecies of Pale Skin" by D.S. Phillips

A man that I highly respect named Ed Gibson recommended this book to me. Sometime today, Bro. Ed and his family will be at a funeral for their 7-year-old grandson, Stephen, who lost his battle with a cancerous brain tumor this week. Please pray for the Gibson family as their family still struggles with their loss.

Ed Gibson was a missionary in Japan for years, and now he is a promoter of all things "Missions" to churches in America. He always preaches with great passion and conviction - and he usually challenges your preconceived ideas of what God is doing in the work of Missions. With the way the world is rapidly changing, our churches cannot be content to "do missions" the way we've always done it. With voices like Bro. Ed's speaking to the next generation of missionaries and missions-minded churches, I believe we have a chance to turn things around and see a renewed focus in spreading the Gospel around the world. This book illustrates the possibilities of what can happen when we take up the cause of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

This book is incredible. The true story it tells is almost unbelievable. I can easily say - and I don't throw statements like this around lightly - that this is one of the best books you will ever read in your lifetime. Now, there were plenty of typos and grammatical problems. It wasn't the most skillfully written book. Some sentences were long and confusing, with dangling participles and such.
But the powerful story will easily make even the most OCD grammar-and-spelling advocates overlook those little issues.

The story centers around two young Christians who fall in love, get married, and then surrender their lives to take the Gospel to the most unreached people group that they can find. Their journey takes them to the most remote parts of Indonesia where they make contact with the Dao people. This tribe of people have a reputation for being fierce and murderous. What will it take for this young couple to learn the language and culture of the people so that they can preach the message of Christ to them? What will the people's response to the Gospel be?

I cannot even tell you much more, because I don't want to give away any of the miraculous things that God did to pave the way for them. Bro. Phillips and his family are missionaries in every sense of the word. I was greatly convicted by this story. If this young family could forsake all modern comforts and their own family to live in the jungle and preach the Gospel, how much more should I be willing to tell my neighbors?

I don't usually promote sales or direct my readers to other websites, but the Kindle edition of this book is only $10 on Amazon. Skip a fast-food meal and buy this book right now.

"No Easy Day" by Matt Bissonnette ("Mark Owen") and Kevin Maurer

The American way of life changed on September 11, 2001. I am not a wordsmith, so I will not attempt to offer a memorial of the lives lost on that day. Our nation mourned greatly - and still mourns - over the loss of so many of our fellow Americans.
On the 13th anniversary of those terror attacks, I thought it appropriate to write this review of the book "No Easy Day," which is a first-hand account of Operation Neptune Spear (the mission that led to the death of Osama bin Laden). Obviously, the mission itself was carried out in May of 2011 - but this mission was a significant moment in the country's response to the attacks.

Let me say up front: as a Christian, I do not believe it is right, appropriate, or Christ-like to rejoice over someone's death. Osama bin Laden is burning in hell right now, and he will be for eternity. This sobering fact will never ease the pain for those who lost loved ones on 9/11. (The sad reality is, many of the victims of 9/11 are also probably in hell right now). So, I do not cheer the death of bin Laden. It may have been necessary - and beneficial - for our country. However, if God Himself does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, then I cannot either (Ezekiel 33:11). I mourn also that bin Laden never repented of his sins and trusted in Christ as His Savior. Had he done so decades ago, it is possible that 9/11 never would have happened (although that is not to say some other terrorist wouldn't have attempted something similar). Remember, Christ's command was to "love your enemies" - Matthew 5:44. And also remember that God is not willing that ANY should perish (even the "bin Ladens" of the world) - 2 Peter 3:9. Christ died for bin Laden, too.

I won't attempt to comment much on the ethics of the operation written about in the book - nor the "War on Terror" as a whole. This is a simple book review blog, so I will review the book on its own merits as a work of non-fiction.

The large heading above the title of the book on the front cover says, "The firsthand account of the mission that killed Osama bin Laden." But we don't get to that mission until near the end of the book. The small heading under the title says, "The autobiography of a Navy SEAL." Due to the author's attempts at hiding his identity, the autobiography was pretty weak. More than once, I got the feeling that this book wasn't sure what it wanted to be... Is it an autobiography/memoir? Is it a "set-the-record-straight" bombshell? Is it an intimate peek at the Navy's elite SEAL teams and what it takes to become a SEAL? Ultimately, the book was some of all of these - but not definitively ANY of them.

If you have heard about this book at all, it is probably because of the controversy surrounding it. "Mark Owen" is a pseudonym used by the author. In fact, almost all of the names in the book are fabrications, in order to protect the identities of the operators and personnel involved in the missions and training. But very soon after the book was written, it was leaked that former SEAL Matt Bissonnette was actually the author. The military community - and the US government - overwhelmingly condemned the author for writing this book. They claim it was not properly vetted to ensure that no information contained in it would put any personnel or operations at risk. Others have said that each operator involved in the mission signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement and that Bissonnette violated that agreement (and therefore betrayed his brothers-in-arms). I am not an expert in the legalities of it all, but if this is true one has to wonder what the author's real motives for writing this book were. He pretty much admits that writing this book was one of the first things that he started after the mission was over. I couldn't help but get the feeling that he knew all along that he was going to try to turn a profit on this story - which severely weakens his claim that he wrote the book to "set the record straight" (author's own words).

Don't get me wrong, the book was interesting enough. I finished it quickly. I enjoyed hearing an insider's perspective on the close-knit special forces community. It was thrilling to hear about the split-second decisions that had to be made in the heat of the mission. When I am presented with stories like these, a part of me is intensely thankful that our country has men brave enough and tough enough to carry out these missions. And let's face it - every man wonders at some point in his life if he would have had the "right stuff" to be one of those heroes.

On a more basic critical level, there was a pretty decent amount of vulgar language and talking about crude topics, which is not surprising. The book was never dull - no scene or chapter dragged on to the point of being boring. It was about what I expected it to be, but it did not really blow me away in any sense. In fact, it was rather anti-climactic!

Again, I will leave the finer arguments of the ethics/legality of the US military operations in the middle east for others to debate. I will also leave the theological/moral issues for Christians to be discussed by those more qualified. I am still proud and glad to be an American citizen - and I have much respect for our military.

On this anniversary of 9/11, please take a few moments to pray for those who lost loved ones that day. And pray for our men and women who are still overseas serving our country.

"The Spiritual Leader" by Paul Chappell



From Pastor Paul Chappell comes a very heart-felt book about some of the nuts-and-bolts of ministry. While he is writing as a pastor - and mainly TO pastors - he touches on very broad philosophies and management principles that would be applicable to a wide range of ministry leaders.

 

The chapters are very short and manageable. I read the entire book by reading one chapter each night before I went to sleep. Everything from the ministry team, to the minister's family, to the minister's time management is covered here. And I believe that these lessons come from a man who has tried to humbly and passionately serve the Lord.

 

Pastor Chappell saturates his writing with Scripture, which is crucially important. I remember recently watching a webinar (or something like that) with two pastors of large Baptist churches in Florida. For about an hour I listened to each of them talking about "leadership" principles and church management. They never quoted a Scripture. They never talked about the power of the Word of God, or the necessity of being a Spirit-filled pastor. It was quite discouraging to see how the wisdom of men creeps into the church and drowns out the voice of the Word of God. Pastor Chappell makes no such omissions.

 

The Biblical advice in this book should encourage any pastor, and give them some solid ideas, principles, and guidelines for a healthy, God-centered, and Spirit-led ministry.

 

(This book is available from Striving Together Publications - www.strivingtogether.com)

"What Love is This?" by Dave Hunt

Dave Hunt was a tremendous Bible teacher. He passed away in April of this year (2013). As I read this book, it became clear to me that this man had a passion for the Word of God. The amount of research that went into this book is absolutely astounding. I have read more "technical" theological books that weren't as well-researched and had much shorter bibliographies - and far fewer footnotes. There were literally at least 50 or so footnotes per chapter!

Dave Hunt tackled the sticky problem of Calvinism not in order to start a fight, but to expose the true roots of Calvinism (the Roman Catholic church) and to present the Biblical evidence that shows so strongly against it. After seeing the history of the doctrines of Calvinism, as well as the shockingly evil behaviors and heretical beliefs of a few of it's earliest adherents (John Calvin, Martin Luther, and St. Augustine), one wonders how ANY Bible-believing Christian could call themselves after the name of such heretics.

The sheer volume of verses in the Bible that the Calvinist is forced to re-interpret to fit the points of TULIP should be the first warning. Why not let the Bible speak for itself? Why "wrest" it to say anything? The weakness of the Calvinism framework is clearly exposed. Their web of strange doctrines fails to hold up under scrutiny. Dave Hunt does a SUPERB job of reviewing all 5 points of traditional Calvinism, and demolishing their presuppositions with the plain teaching of Scripture.

He uses HUNDREDS of quotes of prominent Calvinists' own writings in order to accurately represent their beliefs. He also does not shy away from the very tough Scriptures that are favorites of Calvinists to support their views. But, as you can see in this book, even in these tough passages there is NO Biblical support for 5-point Calvinism. This was important to me - because some of these very verses have troubled me for years. Calvinism seemed to lack the ring of truth to me, but these verses were very thorny; and I had no explanation for some of them.

Dave Hunt also took the noble and honorable step of letting some of his Calvinist friends review the early manuscript so they could correct him if he caricatured Calvinism wrongly. He included many of their critiques, and answered them accordingly.

This book is not nearly as technical as "Whosoever Will", which I reviewed here. But the use of Scripture in "What Love is This" was, in my opinion, more compelling than the arguments in "Whosoever Will".

If you have wondered about some of those troubling Bible passages, or if you have not come to a decision about Calvinism, then read Dave Hunt's book. Calvinism will be seen as an atrocious - and blasphemous - heresy.

The only negative is that much of the book is repetitive - because the 5 points of Calvinism are all contingent on each other, so many of the Scriptures and arguments show up in several places. But as a resource, this book is priceless.

I thank God for courageous and godly men like Dave Hunt who teach the Bible with simplicity and power. I pray that God will raise up more men like him.

"Get Connected: Mobilizing Your Church for God's Mission", compiled by Johnny Hunt

I was introduced to this book through a recommendation from a dear friend of mine, Bro. Ed Gibson. He is a man who is challenging the status quo of independent Baptists when it comes to world evangelism. The "traditional" way churches look at Missions has some very distinct flaws, especially in the 21st century. Let's not keep doing what we've always done just because it's what we've always done - let's do what works best to reach people with the Gospel. Brother Ed is leading the charge, in my opinion, for the necessary changes to independent Baptist Missions.

If you are familiar with Johnny Hunt, you know that he is a Southern Baptist pastor. I probably lost a few readers right there - but don't let his affiliation rob you of the chance to learn from this book. Johnny Hunt partners with about 5 other pastors in this book, mostly to share how God has challenged and changed the way their churches looked at world evangelism (yes, beyond even the SBC's "Lottie Moon" offerings). And I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the philosophy of Missions presented in this book is spot on and totally Biblical.

It is not a very long book - a little over 100 pages, I believe. Any church leader or church member who has a passion for world evangelism should read this book. Some of the common themes in the 6 or so stories presented in this book include church members getting PERSONALLY involved in the work of missions, as opposed to merely throwing some money in plate to go to a faceless missionary reaching a forgotten people group. This is how a church will catch fire for Missions - when the PEOPLE begin to fulfill the Great Commission themselves, instead of literally paying other people to do it for them.

Those words sound harsh, but that is about the extent of any sort of strategy in the average independent Baptist church: The pastor has a few college buddies that are missionaries - so he invites them to come present their ministry, the church takes them on for support, and the missionary sends a letter every few months talking about their broken down car and MAYBE a few conversions here and there. I'm being very harsh, but also realistic.

WHERE IS THE STRATEGY???? The Great Commission is the most serious task that Christ left to the church! How can we be satisfied with ourselves? What happened to CHURCHES having the burden for world evangelism, instead of a few (and getting fewer) full-time missionaries having the burden and having to BEG churches to support them? Meanwhile, this family will spend probably 5 years and close to $250,000 on deputation (rough estimate of average) BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN GET TO THEIR FIELD!

We can do better than this! We MUST do better than this! This book does not have all the answers, but it definitely will help you start thinking in the right direction.

I read this book, then my pastor read it, then we gave it to all our Missions Committee members and deacons. Our church is seeing the change of mindset already. We have a long way to go, but we are making real progress.

Please, read this book. It may help you see your part in the Great Commission a little more clearly.

If you would like to have a thought-provoking speaker at your church's next Missions Conference, I would highly recommend Bro. Ed Gibson. Email me, or contact me through Google+, and I'll get you his contact info.

"Earth's Catastrophic Past: Volume 1" by Andrew Snelling

Special thanks to Bro. Paul Lowe for loaning me this book!

I have long had a keen interest in the realm of the Creation/evolution controversy. As far back as I can remember, my parents were watching videos and reading books with me about the dinosaurs, the flood, Creation, and evolution. We attended several presentations and debates on the subject in my younger years.
I'm not sure why this fascination is in me.... I have a whole shelf full of books on the subject, and dozens of videos.

Anyway, so I wasn't dreading the task of reading this book - even though I knew it would be highly technical in some parts. This first of two volumes written by Andrew Snelling is a very thorough introduction to the scientific feasibility studies of Noah's Flood (more appropriately, the Genesis Flood). The first 200 pages are not terribly technical, and I believe most Christians would be greatly blessed and have their faith strengthened by reading this book (and other good books on the subject - send me a message if you would like some recommendations).

While the book is too lengthy to provide a point-by-point review, I will say that the author answered some questions about the Flood that I had never even thought about. Numerous possible critiques that could be used by skeptics are thoroughly covered here.

Let's be honest... many times as Christians we are guilty of merely blindly accepting what the Bible says... While we SHOULD believe the Bible as legitimate, accurate, and trustworthy history (even if we don't completely understand it), nowhere does God ever tell us not to try to figure out how things possibly took place. This book makes a very bold attempt in that regard.

One of the best parts of the book was the walk-through of the first few chapters of Genesis. It was like a bit of a scientific Biblical commentary - very interesting. The last 150 pages or so, however, were so technical in the geologist's language that I had no choice but to "skim" those pages for nuggets of truth. There was just no way I could comprehend all of the terminology and calculations that are peculiar to the field of geology.

I've been told that volume 2 is even better... We shall see. But don't expect that review any time soon... It took me several months to finish THIS volume!

Please visit these excellent websites for more info on this subject:
http://www.icr.org/
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
http://www.equip.org/

"Firsthand" by Ryan and Josh Shook

Well, it has been quite a while since I reviewed any books! Since I've had such a long break, I'm not sure whether to write a whole bunch, or to cut to the chase....

This book is targeted to a very specific audience: the young people that evacuate the church sometime after their magic 18th birthday. (We've all heard the statistics...) The theory postulated by the authors (themselves young adults) is that the reason these young people are leaving the church is that they have only managed to procure an "inherited faith" from their parents, Sunday School teachers, etc. Therefore, they are starting on a shaky foundation. Christianity isn't real to them because it is just spoon-fed information that they assume to be true. The authors sort of diagnose this problem (using real life examples from a study survey they did... I was one of the people surveyed! Cool, huh?); then they set about to show young "disillusioned" Christians how to rectify it.

I applaud the authors for attempting to tackle an apparently large problem in the church. Their passion for seeing young people become dedicated Christ-followers is truly commendable. But to be honest, I struggled to read this book. It was downright boring and cliche. The writing style was pretty weak, but the content itself left a lot to be desired.

First and foremost, I felt that the authors failed to make the case that their theory was valid.  Sure, they had lots of testimonies from people about how they never had "their own" faith... But that doesn't prove anything. There was only a small amount of outside research referenced in the beginning of the book. This gave me the feeling that they were fabricating a PROBLEM to fit the SOLUTION they had already decided upon. (I'm not accusing them of dishonesty - I'm just saying that's the feeling I got from reading the book).

Secondly, their remedy for the problem is overly simplistic. Again, not a lot of outside sources referenced... Just a kind of made-up list of stuff from Ryan and Josh Shook that will supposedly help the disillusioned young adults.... I'm seriously not trying to mock them, but why should we take their word for it? They failed to give us any reason to trust them (other than their own experiences). Not only that, but they didn't use very many Scripture references (in my opinion). A book like this should be chock-full of Bible verses.

In spite of the fact that !!!!I myself am quoted in this book!!!! (seriously... at the end of the chapter called "Question Everything."  It says, "John from Spring Lake, North Carolina" - they used one of my survey answers!); the book didn't really speak to me at all.

I'm not trying to be a killjoy - I hope some young people read this book and it makes the difference in their lives between being a "former believer" and a committed Christian. That would be amazing. I'm just saying, the book was disappointing to me. So, I'd have to give it half a star (because they quoted me). :o)

"The God Diagnosis" by Dr. Greg E. Viehman, M.D.

 Recently, my pastor placed this book into my hands, and simply said: "That's a great book."  Now that I've read it, I believe that statement is equivalent to looking at the Grand Canyon and saying, "That's a big hole."

This book is the story of Dr. Greg Viehman's journey to faith in Christ. I really didn't know what to expect when I started. This doctor was a stranger to me - I'd never heard of him. So, I figured it would be a typical testimony.(Doesn't that sound terrible?  How is it "typical" for ANYONE to be miraculously saved by the grace of God?)

The story starts with the description of Dr. Viehman and his restlessness in life. He had everything that life could offer - except peace. The questions in his heart about the purpose of life, and whether or not some things last forever, went unanswered for so long. He was lost, hopeless, unhappy, and frustrated. A few encounters with Christians left a fairly bad taste in his mouth - and he figured they didn't have any answers either.

Through a series of events, Dr. Viehman sets out to prove that Christians are hypocrites - to prove that the Bible is baloney.  Through careful, methodical study, he realizes instead that the Bible is incredibly true (this part of his story, which he calls The Investigation, is excellent! most Christians probably never realized how entirely reasonable it is to believe that Jesus is God, and that the Bible is God's absolutely true Word. It's not just a blind leap of faith!).

After coming to the conclusion that the Bible is true, God exists, and Jesus came to earth to die for his sins, Dr. Viehman is born again..... but there are a few surprises both before and after the fact! I can't say too much more, because I want you to read the book!

This book is perfect to give to anyone. If they are seeking answers, they might follow Dr. Viehman's journey and find them. If they are NOT seeking answers and peace and salvation, they might realize that they NEED to. And if they are already believers in Christ, they might be convicted that salvation is a miraculous work of God. - and that God is much nearer than we maybe ever thought.

Deep enough to intrigue the most skeptical mind, yet simple and understandable enough to reach anyone, this book is a powerful story. I just can't help but praise the Lord for his grace after reading such a fantastic true story of a journey to faith!  It makes me appreciate my own salvation testimony even more.

You can find more information on the book's website:  www.goddiagnosis.com

"The Road to Unafraid" by Capt. Jeff Struecker

 Captain Jeff Struecker is well-known for two reasons: #1 - Winning the Best Ranger competition in 1996, and #2 - leading part of the rescue effort in Somalia during the Black Hawk Down incident (yes, the same incident featured in the book and movie of the same name).

I believe he should be well-known for two other reasons. #1 - His outstanding Christian testimony, and #2 - his skill at writing. I previously reviewed the first novel that he co-authored with Alton Gansky (see here); and I was overwhelmingly impressed at the action, the story-line, the depth of the characters, and the Christian emphasis in that book... I'm planning on reading the next several books that this duo has written - they are on my list, but so are a couple hundred others, so it may take a while to get to them!

In this book, Capt. Struecker chronicles his early life and what led him to join the Army in the first place. He also details the personal love of pushing himself to the limits, which is the reason he became a Ranger. He pushed himself always to do his very best and to BE the very best - an ethic that stuck with him after he became a dedicated Christian. Struecker saw action in Panama, Kuwait, and of course Somalia; and he details some of the challenges and horrors of war that he faced in those situations. He writes with gut-wrenching emotion, holding nothing back. He probes the deepest parts of his own mind and spirit to give his readers the clearest picture. The result is truly captivating.

But the most captivating part of the book, at least to me, was how he faced the challenge of deciding to follow Christ. And I'm not just talking about getting saved - I'm talking about his change of lifestyle to stop smoking, drinking, swearing, and listening to rock music (while already a Ranger - imagine the pressure!). I'm also talking about his decision to go to seminary and enter the ministry (he became a chaplain). These stories are highly inspirational. I wish every man could read this book to see that being a Christ-follower is not a sign of weakness.

The book ends with a lengthy pep-talk for the reader - and a clear sign pointing to Christ as the only hope for mankind for eternity. If you want to read a book that will challenge you to push yourself to the limits for Christ, then read this one. If you have a loved one who is in the military, and is facing the questions of life and eternity, give them a copy of this book. Struecker handles these issues in a way that no one else but a combat veteran and committed Christian could present them. And most importantly, Jesus Christ shines through this story as the true Hero and Savior.

"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.

"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.

"Reasons We Believe: 50 Lines of Evidence that Confirm the Christian Faith" by Nathan Busenitz - Kindle Edition

This short book is a perfect starting point for those who have an interest in Christian apologetics, but do not know where to begin. The author has done some thorough research, and the footnotes will provide the reader with many other fine resources for further study and reading.
I applaud Nathan Busenitz for producing a book that has all of the scholarly work presented in an easily-comprehended manner. Even Christians who do not consider themselves "readers" will find this book to be helpful.
The author states that the book can be read straight through (which I did) or used as a topical reference. There are disadvantages and advantages to both approaches. First, the disadvantage to reading it straight through is that many of the items are repetitive. Some of the same verses and facts are used to back different arguments, so you will read them many times.
In my opinion, the disadvantage to reading it topically is that some of the evidences do not hold so powerfully when they are taken by themselves. For instance, one evidence for Christianity is the lives of the many people who have been changed by the Gospel. While this is true, it is not necessarily important evidence in the search for truth - because an atheist could claim that his or her life was changed when he or she denied the existence of God; or a buddhist could claim the same thing, etc. Therefore, a budding apologist may think this a powerful argument if he just read this chapter individually. However, if one were to debate this line of evidence with an intellectual atheist, one would quickly be silenced and confounded.
The greatest advantage to reading the book straight through is to see the CUMULATIVE evidence for Christianity. When approached this way, all of the evidence mounts up to form an impenetrable wall of facts that the atheist, agnostic, or antagonist may beat their head against but never beat down.
It is always encouraging to see that the Christian faith is built upon fact. That is one good reason for all Christians to study apologetics.
5 out of 5 stars!
Many thanks to Bro. Paul Lowe for loaning me this Kindle edition!

"Unveiling the End Times in Our Time" by Adrian Rogers (Kindle Edition)

Adrian Rogers is a man I deeply respect. His Bible teaching was always incredibly clear, and his writing was just as good as his preaching. He had a marvelous preaching voice. He had such a winsome demeanor and a contagious glow about him.
This book is really a commentary on the book of Revelation, but not so much a verse-by-verse as it is a paragraph-by-paragraph. Throughout the entire work, the glory and superiority of Jesus is proclaimed. Due to the nature of the structure of Revelation, Bro. Rogers' book was necessarily repetitive concerning certain ideas - but he always managed to approach similar thoughts in unique and thought-provoking ways. He also alliterated everything, which usually bothers me because of the great lengths preachers will go to find the right matches for the alliterations. Adrian Rogers' alliterations, however, seemed to flow naturally from the text of Scripture, and they were not tiring or distracting at all. He also managed to fill the book with interesting or inspiring stories (some personal, some not) to help illustrate the truth he was expounding.
The greatest characteristic of this book is that it is highly evangelistic. Rarely would a chapter end without an invitation to receive Christ as your Savior if you have not done so. This tells me much about the man behind the book - that he had a heart for soulwinning. And anyone who is a dedicated soul-winner has a great love for the Lord (and for people).
Minor criticisms would concern my disagreement with some of the symbolism that the author interprets from the passages; but since it is possible that he is right and I am wrong, I can't hold it against him! Even though it seemed to be a fairly introductory look at prophecy in Revelation, I did learn some things from the book.
This was a great book from a great man of God who was also a great preacher. Highly recommended!
P.S.  Many thanks to Bro. Paul Lowe for loaning me this Kindle Edition!

"Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo (with Lynn Vincent)

My approach to books of this type is ALWAYS: "I'm-skeptical-so-convince-me." It is much easier to hide behind our own assumptions that way. Sometimes, my assumptions are questioned by such a story. (See my review of "23 Minutes in Hell" by Bill Wiese)
This book was very intriguing... But I'm still not sure I'm convinced. In no way am I passing judgment on the family, or calling Todd Burpo a liar. I assure you, that is not my intention.
The basic facts are these: The Burpo's four year old son Colton is taken to the hospital for emergency surgery due to a severe case of appendicitis. The boy comes very close to dying (in fact, the medical staff seemed sure that he would). Colton makes a dramatic and miraculous recovery. As time goes on, Colton begins to make statements to the effect that he had been in Heaven with Jesus for a short time during the surgery. Amazingly, he has knowledge of some facts that should not have been known to him - including the fact that his parents had lost a baby before Colton was born (he meets her in Heaven).
The story is very uplifting in many ways. There is the honest confession by the father that he had been angry at God. There is the healing that takes place concerning the miscarriage. There is the miracle story of Colton's recovery. It is all very encouraging.
But the real issue is whether or not Colton really took a temporary trip to Heaven. My own observations are an attempt at a balance. Again, I do not mean to imply that anyone is lying. The father repeatedly states that "Colton couldn't have known" some of the things the Bible says about Heaven, such as where Jesus was in relation to God's throne, and what the colors were like. Or the fact that there were animals in heaven. But, being the son of a pastor, even a four year old could learn much about Heaven. I wasn't a pastor's son, but I'm sure I could have told you there were horses in heaven, and that the colors were beautiful. It is just a little difficult for me to believe that a boy could go to Sunday School for any length of time, and no teacher ever said, "Heaven is a wonderful place! There will be animals there! And the colors will be much prettier than they are here!" After all, when evangelizing young children, there are two common tactics: 1) scare them with Hell, and 2) make them think Heaven is so wonderful they want to go there. (I'm not mocking anyone - I was the product of tactic #1!!!! I got saved at 4 years old because of a scary video about Hell)
Now the other information, like seeing his great-grandfather and recognizing his picture, and meeting his sister.... I have no skeptical explanation for. So, I have to assume that it is at least true that the boy said these things (whether or not he was actually there and saw them). That is the real kink in my skepticism. The other kink involves the boy's attempt at identifying a close description of Jesus based on contemporary illustrations of Him. I have no reason to think that God would PREVENT us from knowing what Jesus looked like, but then again there are PAINFULLY few descriptions about Jesus from while He was on earth. The only two I can think of are His beard, and the scars from His crucifixion. (And no, I don't believe Jesus had long hair!)
All I can say is, I'm not sure.... For some reason, my gut instinct is that all is not as it appears. But I would never call the character of this man or his family into question without reasonable proof, which I do not have.
Either way, it is a fascinating book. My only lament is that people seem more excited about the issue of Heaven through this book than they do about all the many wonderful descriptions of Heaven given in the Holy Bible.....

"Curiosities of the Civil War" by Webb Garrison

This is the first book on the Civil War that I have ever read, and I must say that I was quite astounded by its scope. There are facts and topics covered that I would never have even begun to think about concerning this war - things like hostages and pirates, improvements in weaponry with inventions such as land mines and grenades, how (and if) soldiers got paid, spies and deserters, US Supreme Court cases involving the conflict, and the list goes on and on.
This is not a read-through volume. It is more of a topical reference or casual trivia book (like a bathroom reader). Each factoid is explained in a few sentences or a few short paragraphs; very few nuggets of information took up even one printed page. This is a positive aspect, in my opinion, because I was not forced to read an entire chapter about a certain time period or battle or person - just snippets grouped loosely under broad categories.
There were a few negatives to me. For one, towards the end of the book there were a few typographical errors. In the most extreme case, "n" was all that survived of the intended preposition "in." Considering this is a reprint, a new edition, typos like these are inexcusable. Did no one proofread the reprint?
Other than that, the biggest negative was repetition. Due to the size and scope of the work, it unfortunately delivers many re-tellings of the same battles and situations, although from different perspectives concerning different subjects. So, reading the book straight through (as I did in a few days) is not recommended. Read it in spurts, a chapter or so at a time over a long period. You will appreciate it more that way.
In all, it is an excellent book that was very insightful for me!
I received this book from the publisher as part of the BookSneeze bloggers' review program. I was not required to give a positive review, and the opinions stated are my own.