"Why Revival Tarries" by Leonard Ravenhill

The author of this book had the power of God behind his words. Not infrequently while reading its pages was I deeply convicted and ashamed. In fact, hardly a chapter could go by without my pondering how perfectly the words written apply to my life.
Do not make the mistake of assuming this is a work strictly about revival; it is a call to holy living and prayerfulness and preaching the truth of God's Word without fear. It is a mandate for all believers to embrace the Spirit of the Living God and to continue the mission that was started by those amazing Christians of the book of Acts.
While I must admit that a few statements and cultural references were dated, the bedrock truth remains as fresh and as needed today as it was when Christ walked the earth. Sprinkled throughout each page of the book are wonderful nuggets of inspired wisdom, worthy of remembering and telling others - and Ravenhill had a remarkable talent for phrasing things in such a way to be easily recalled later. ("Catchy phrases" we would call them; but that title does not diminish the power and truth of the statements he makes).
Leonard Ravenhill's preaching echoes the power of many of the ancient men of God whose voices are lost in time but whose words and lives still impact Christianity today. I have a feeling that this book will only GAIN influence and reach MORE people as the days go on, unlike many of the thousands of books churned out by Christian authors each year. READ THIS BOOK, and read it on your knees with the mirror of God's Word exposing your own heart; and be changed.

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

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

"Bill Wallace of China" by Jesse C. Fletcher

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

"The Unseen" by T. L. Hines

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

"Darien's Rise" by Paul McCusker

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