Book Reviews from an Avid Reader

Reasons for Hope by Carl Kerby

2012-02-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

Mosaics have been around for thousands of years. Artists arrange small pieces of cut or broken stone or tile to create a pattern. Close up, it is hard to grasp the design. Stepping back gives us a new perspective and we can see the intricate result.

Kerby has realized that God is the Artist in his life, taking the broken pieces and creating a vessel useful for His work. He was the son of a prominent professional wrestler, a rebellious young man, air traffic controller, follower of Christ, full time speaker, and believer in the Bible containing the answers needed for life.

Kerby reminds us that God asks each Christian to be able to give a reasonable explanation for the hope we have. Kelby shares his own story as an example of how this can be done. Dropping our of high school, he was homeless at one point. He went into the military and air traffic control. He was introduced to creationism as shown in the Bible. He began volunteering for ICR and then Answers in Genesis. A quirky situation caused him to begin actually speaking at events.

Kerby wants to help his readers be “all things to all men,” being able to speak the truth and show the need for Jesus, no matter who is encountered. The circumstances of his life is unique but, in a sense, not all that different from ours. He recognizes God's hand in his life and gives God the glory for it. He wants us to do the same.

Kerby ends his book with a section on apologetics, concentrating on creation and race issues.

Kerby's book is an encouragement. As we read of Kerby's life, we are inspired to see the hand of God in our own. “Just as the most incredible and detailed mosaics are made up of many broken pieces, we all have broken pieces in our lives that God will use to create a beautiful mosaic for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28; Hebrews 13:21).” (231-232)

See more at www.rforh.com.

Carl Kerby is the founder and president of Reasons for Hope (rforh.com). He was a founding board member at Answers in Genesis for ten years and served there for over fifteen years. Previously he worked as an air traffic controller at O'Hare International Airport. He is a sought-after speaker in the U. S. and abroad. He is the author of two books and presenter on several DVDs. He has been married to Masami for 29 years, they have two children and one grandchild. They live in Hebron, KY.

Genesis Publishing Group, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The B & B Media Group, Inc., for the purpose of this review.

Alienation by Jon Lewis

2012-01-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

Enter 1/19 - 2/7. RSVP for Party today! Details Below.

This is the second in the CHA.O.S. Series (Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural).

The situation is grave. CHAOS believes the Thule are nearing completion on a machine that will allow them to create traversable wormholes. Once that happens, the Thule will invade earth and kill all the humans. Time is running short.

Colt and Oz are supposed to transfer to the C.H.A.O.S. Military Academy in a few days. But a mysterious virus us loose in the world. No one knows the origin of the virus and there is no known antidote.

Then Colt finds out that when he was six, his DNA was successfully merged with Thule blood. Did he have alien DNA in his body? Is he going to be the one the Thule legend called the Betrayer? The one who would destroy the Thule civilization?

When Colt and Oz finally make their way to the Academy, they find that Danielle is going too. The three begin their training in the simulator but it turns deadly when the simulated opponent tries to kill Colt.

A shape shifter has invaded the Academy. The Thule want to stop Colt, no matter the cost.

Author Lewis was inspired by the biblical story of David in writing this novel. It is young Colt against the giant Thule. Like David, Colt overcame an unlikely beginning and betrayal to become a warrior and hero.

These novels are action packed. Lewis writes for the DC Comics family of publishers and he has brought that same kind of graphic action one sees in comics to this C.H.A.O.S. Series. I was happy to see that colt relies of God, finally, at the exciting end of this novel. I did feel that, even though his grandpa is a committed Christian, Colt lacked spirituality in the first novel of the series.

This is great sci-fi for teens. There are monsters, jet packs, futuristic weapons, and lots of action. It makes me remember all over again why I loved sci-fi as a teen.

See more at www.CHAOSnovels.com.

Jon S. Lewis is the author of Invasion (the first in the C.H.A.O.S. novels) as well as the coauthor of the bestselling Grey Griffins trilogy and Grey Griffins Clockwork Chronicles. He also writes for the DC COMICS family of publishers. He resides with his family in Arizona.

Thomas Nelson, 249 pages. Publish information.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Win an iPad2 in the Alienation Giveaway! Thomas Nelson is hosting a Facebook Party on 2/7 with Jon – RSVP today and save the date! The winner of the iPad2 will be revealed and Jon will be chatting with guests and giving a sneak peek at the next book in the series. Click for details and don’t miss the fun. http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13451655.

One thrill-seeker will receive:

iPad2 with Wi-Fi

Copies of the C.H.A.O.S. novels, Invasion and Alienation

Enter today by clicking the icon above. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 7th. Winner will be announced at the Alienation Facebook Party on 2/7. Jon will be hosting an Author Chat, giving away copies the books and gift certificates to iTunes and Amazon.com! Don't miss a second of the intrigue!

Grab your copy of Alienation and join Jon on the evening of February 7th for an author chat, spy training (How much do you know about alien invaders?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

River's Call by Melody Carlson

2012-01-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

River's Call is the second in The Inn at Shining Waters series. Clark and Anna are now married and running the inn on the Siuslaw River. Lauren is off at college.

Anna receives a desperate call from Lauren. She is very ill and Anna makes arrangements for her to come to the Inn to recuperate. It becomes apparent that Lauren has morning sickness. Lauren is pregnant.

Eunice, mother of Anna's deceased first husband is a manipulating woman. She insists Lauren marry the boy, Donald, and live with her. Eunice and Donald's mother make it happen. Eunice is wealthy and can provide for all the needs of Lauren and her family.

When Sarah is born, Lauren does not do well. Anna invites her and the baby to come to the river inn for a while. While there is some bonding, Anna is disgusted with Lauren's behavior and the two part with strong words.

Over the years, Anna tries to remake the connection with Lauren. But Lauren remains aloof. Sarah does come to the inn for summers and Anna forges a strong relationship with her granddaughter.

In the turmoil of her life, Lauren turns to alcohol and prescription drugs.

This novel is a good study on character and forgiveness. Anna, Eunice, Lauren and Sarah are all women with strong feelings and with lots of hurts. How they manage to work through the pains and the misunderstandings is a strong theme in this book.

There are other interesting aspects of the novel as well. The era is the 60s and the Inn has no TVs. Some guests are at a loss, not being able to see the cruelty of the Viet Nam war on a nightly basis.

But others find healing by the quiet river. When Lauren is at her lowest, she senses the river calling her. She responds to the river's call and finds her own healing.

Another major theme is the mother daughter relationship, first between Anna and Lauren and then between Lauren and Sarah. The 60s and 70s were turbulent times for families and Carlson does a great job recreating that in this novel.

We also learn more about Anna's native American heritage, an added plus.

My only criticism of this book is one I often have with sequels. While it is not absolutely necessary to read the first in the series, doing so would certainly help readers understand the complex relationships in the novel, especially between Eunice and Anna. A one page synopsis of book one, at the very beginning of the book, would be helpful. Unfortunately, I rarely see this in sequels and it is missing in this one.

And we know there will be another in the series. Sarah is missing, apparently run off at age sixteen. I trust we'll hear her story in the next book.

Melody Carlson is the author of more than 200 books, including the Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of the RITA Award and has been nominated for the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. She and her husband live in central Oregon. See more at http://www.melodycarlson.com/.

Abingdon Press, 305 pages.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

If I Knew Then What I Know Now by Ruby Hillsman

2012-01-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

Do you feel like you are making the same old mistakes, over and over again?

Over the years, Hillsman heard people talk about the mistakes they had made, wishing they could live their life over again. She writes to encourage them – there are others who feel the same way. She writes to encourage those who didn't listen to caring people – it's never too late to start. She encourages people to use what they know now to live their life. She also encourages people to learn from the experiences of the stories in this book.

She relates experiences from her own childhood and the lessons learned from them. She then moves on to her school years, and some work experiences. She gives the lessons she learned when the schools integrated in the mid 60s. She shares lesson from playing basketball, lessons from nursing school (on and off the campus), from working in the medical field, the psychiatric unit, the oncology floor, and from a variety of circumstances like sales.

Many of Hillsman's lesson are just good psychology. For example:

“1) Learn to be comfortable within your own skin. It is what you were born with, and unless there is trauma to it, it is not going anywhere. 2) A person does not have to buy into other people's opinion of him.” (88)

Hillsman concludes that it comes down to what we will do with what happens to us. Two people will have the same experience. One rises above while the other becomes bitter. We have to decide. We have to try. No one else will do it for us. “Positive changes requires letting go of faulty ideas, negativity, senseless behaviors, and/or toxic people while making essential sacrifices and taking consistent steps in the direction we are pursuing. Learning the right way to do things requires being steadfast.” (139)

The book lacks proper editing. For example, here is one lesson she learned: “You fight a fire according to the type of fire that you have; never fight fire with fire or more fire.” (39) Here is another: “If a person does not learn the right things to do, then she seems to do what she thinks is right.” (116) She writes, “...we are all born very unique and different...” (128)

Sometimes the language was a bit too “down home” for me, such as hearing “which women were knocked up when they got married...” (38)

Some of the lessons are easy to say but hard to do. For example, “”If and when someone does you wrong and you survive it, do not worry about it. Pick yourself up, and get on with things. It is just a temporary distraction that we allow to keep us from doing the things we need to do. ...” (41)

Sometimes she shares a lesson with no suggestion as to how to live it out. For example, regarding trauma and loss, “Learn healthy ways of handling or expressing any anger... Learn to absolve ourselves of self-blame. … Learn how to restore trust in others... Learn how not to be a victim again...” (43)

Sometimes the lessons are just a bit simplistic. For example, “The lesson I learned was that the right attitude is everything.” (119)

For me, the lessons she learned about premarital sex left much to be desired. Evangelical Christians will have trouble with her advice on it. “I saw that it was best not to have sex with someone if you are not willing to spend the rest of your life with her. That cannot be much fun.” … “When dating and in establishing relationships with others, it seems best to learn to become friends before becoming lovers.” … “It seems best to stay away from one-night stands.” (123)

Reading this book would be frustrating to many people. It would probably be best received by those from a similar cultural background as Mrs. Hillsman.

Ruby Hillsman has been a registered nurse for over thirty years. She was a retail business owner for more than twenty-two years, a minister's wife for twenty years and a part-time instructor. See more at www.rubyhillsman.com.

Westbow Press (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing), 141 pages.

Publisher product information.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

The Ultimate Prescription by Dr. James Marcum & Charles Mills

2012-01-27T19:57:00.000-08:00

What are you putting in your mouth? Is it healthy for you?

Dr. Marcum asserts, “We've got to conclude that much of what we as a society are dumping into our bodies is wrong. Our diet is not helping us live healthy lives. As a matter of fact, the foods we are eating are hurting us...” (13) Marcum says we are still believing the lie of Satan, “Go ahead and eat it, you won't die.”

To get to the “ultimate prescription” for healthy living, we need to go to the One who created it. Included is more than just the foods you eat and the inactivity you experience. It includes your thoughts, worship and your love.

“Disease is often just a symptom of a life being lived out of step with the reality of how we were designed to live.” (33) Marcum “came to realize that health is a by-product, an end result, of a love relationship with God.” (41) For optimal health and well-being, it is essential we know and worship God. Marcum says you don't begin your journey back to health at the doctor's office. You begin with the Bible. (53)

He says the laws God set down at creation are vital for health. He goes through the creation days to reveal the essential nature of light, breath, water, plants, sunlight, and sleep. He writes of the healing nature of love, receiving and giving it. He gives practical suggestions for improving your nutritional intake.

“...[T]he truth is, chronic illness is not caused by a lack of pharmaceuticals. Breaking the divine laws of health is the real culprit.” (65)

I was really surprised at a few of Marcum's revelations. For example, cow milk is not good for you. “Milk doesn't build our ones. Instead, it causes our bodies to neutralize the intruder, thus actually removing calcium from our bones.” (146)

And a 2003 landmark study revealed “that American medicine frequently causes more harm than good.” (38) “The total number of iatrogenic [inadvertent physician-induced] deaths is 783,936. It is evident that the American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the United States. The 2001 heart disease annual death rate is 699,697; the annual cancer death rate, 553,251.” (39) (See the abstract: http://www.healthe-livingnews.com/articles.)

Marcum is not anti-medicine. He is a board-certified behavioral cardiologist. He includes in his book several Appendices giving specific medical information regarding symptoms and treatment of heart conditions.

This is not your typical book on health. Marcum really believes God set health laws in motion at creation. His is good advice for gaining and maintaining health the way God intended.

Marcum has included a discussion guide which would make this book a great choice for small groups centered on health.

Dr. James L. Marcum is a board-certified behavioral cardiologist with a thriving practice at the prestigious Chattanooga Heart Institute. He and Charles Mills co-host Heartwise, a call in radio program. Dr. Marcum also hosts two television programs and is a popular speaker on health care topics. He lives with his wife and two children in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Tyndale House Publishers, 247 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of this review.

Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey

2012-01-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

Enter 1/16 - 1/31. RSVP for Party today!
(See additional information below.)

The setting for this novel is Paris, occupied by the Nazis. The Germans had been distressed to find that many of the priceless pieces of art kept in the Louvre had been moved before they arrived. When Hitler was rattling sabers in the summer of 1939, the arts community of Paris believed him. August vacations were canceled at the Louvre and packing and crating had begun in earnest. Many works of art, such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, and the Mona Lisa, had been evacuated the moment Hitler unleashed the Nazi blitzkrieg on Poland. They were safeguarded outside the city. This novel centers on the Mona Lisa and Goring's desire to have it as part of his extensive art collection.

Now, the occupation of Paris is nearly over. The resistance expects the Americans any minute. They are disappointed to find that the Allied troops will by pass Paris and head directly for Germany. Then Leclerc's tanks storm into Paris and liberate the city.

But the battle for Paris and its fine pieces of art is not over. Near Berlin, Reichsmashall Hermann Goring admires his art collection, but acknowledges he is missing something. He needs a “priceless” art object to ensure his safety after the defeat of German. He sets his sights on the Mona Lisa. A member of the resistance, an employee of the Louvre, and two OSS agents from Switzerland are assigned the task of retrieving the famous painting before the Nazis do.

This novel is actually a sequel to The Swiss Courier. It is too bad the book is not identified as such on the cover. While it was not necessary to read the first one to enjoy this novel, there are several allusions to events in the first novel.

I learned a great deal about occupied Paris and the resistance movement. I became aware of the factions within the resistance, especially the communist branch.

I also learned much about the history of the Mona Lisa, its theft in 1911, and its preservation during World War II.

I do wish, however, that the authors of this historical novel would have informed their readers as to which aspects of the novel are actually based on history and which parts are fiction. Did Goring really have nearly 2,000 pieces of art? Did OSS agents from Switzerland really help the resistance? Was the Mona Lisa really hidden in a chateau during the war?

Nonetheless, this is a pleasing novel to read of World War II Paris and the care of its art.

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-eight books. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband and four children. Visit her website at www.triciagoyer.com.

Mike Yorkey is the author or co-author of more than seventy-five books. He lives in Encinitas, CA, along with his wife. They have two adult children. They spend part of the year in her native Switzerland. Visit his website at www.mikeyorkey.com.

Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group), 325 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Chasing Mona Lisa is the
continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the due are on a relentless quest to save the most famous painting in the world - the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great
handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia's website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)

So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock? ) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

2012-01-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

Enter 1/9 - 1/28. See details below.

What if you woke up in a hospital room. The last you remember, you were leaving college for the day. But the grizzly man across the room claims to be your husband. He says you have two boys, the youngest getting ready to graduate high school. And then the nurse makes you look in the mirror.

Such was the world of Noelle Hueston, the result of a convenience store hold-up, where the robber had murdered the clerk. Noelle had managed to escape that deadly situation, but had slipped on ice, and hit her head. Now she had lost twenty-five years of her life.

Noelle ultimately decides to let her “husband”, Eli, take her home. She slowly begins to piece together the missing years of her life. She had been an art student in college. Did she still paint? Her two sons, strangers. Could she learn to love them? Why was there an empty bedroom in their house? What had she been doing, returning from a city hours away during a snow storm? And why had Eli known nothing about her trip that day?

And what about Eli? He is patient with her but she senses their lives had drifted apart.

Eli finally decides to tell her about their daughter, Kelsey, murdered by by a young man in a robbery. Noelle, of course, has no emotional tie to the daughter but Eli is wracked with guilt. Eli had been the sheriff at the time. The killer was a man he had stopped but had let go on because he knew the kid, and trusted him. If Eli had checked in with the department, he would have found out that the kid was wanted.

Noelle and Eli had dealt with their pain within themselves, in their own ways, and they had drifted apart. Noelle, unknown to Eli, had rented an artist studio. Eli had frequently secluded himself in his ice house, fishing.

Noelle is now determined to make a new commitment to this man, to make this marriage work. Then the revelation that Eli has been spending way too much time at a widow's house hits her like a brick and she flees. She can't make this marriage work! She'll make a new life of her own, as an artist.

Eli and deputy son Kyle realize that Noelle saw the murdering robber and he could be after her. They've got to find her before he does.

Warren says in an afterward note that she had had dreams … and then married, had four children, then began writing books. What if you could reset your life? What if you could keep parts of your life and cut out others? What would you do?

Having read an article about a man who had fallen and lost memory of twenty-five years of his life, she began to explore the idea of starting over. Can broken relationships be healed over? Could a painful past now be worked through? Can love win out? Read more of the story behind the story here: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/books/the-shadow-of-your-smile.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very thought provoking. The plot has a great combination of attempts at restoring romance and relationship, and a little suspense. The reader shares in the struggles of several people trying to deal with Kelsey's murder (including her friend who had actually been the one scheduled to work that day).

There is a discussion guide which would make this a great choice for reading groups.

Susan May Warren is the RITA Award-winning author of more than thirty novels. She served with her husband and four children as missionaries in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time while her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She is the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. Find out more about her at www.susanmaywarren.com.

Tyndale House, 384 pages. Publisher product information.

Buy this book from ChristianBook.com or Amazon.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

CONTEST INFORMATION:

Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)
The entire set of Deep Haven Books

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Unhallowed Ground by Mel Starr

2012-01-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

This is the fourth in the Hugh de Singleton chronicles. Master Hugh is bailiff to Lord Gilbert as well as a surgeon in 14^th century England.

Hugh is now married to Kate, the woman he courted in A Trail of Ink. A much disliked fellow of Bampton village, Thomas atte Bridge, is found hanged at Cow-Leys Corner. The Corner is where suicides were buried, being forbidden burial in consecrated church ground.

The coroner declares it a suicide but Hugh is not so sure. He spots evidence that seems to indicate Thomas was dragged to the spot. High also spies a reddened patch on one of Thomas' wrists.

No one is sorry that Thomas is dead as he was a mean and argumentative man. As Hugh goes about his daily tasks, he finds an increasing number of people with reason to see Thomas dead. It is with dread he realizes that the murderer may be one of his friends. One by one he eliminates the suspects.

Hugh is just about ready to give up on the case when there is an attack on his home. When there is a second attack, Hugh is himself stabbed in the arm. Kate plays the role of surgeon, sewing up the gash.

With renewed efforts, Hugh continues his pursuit until he can identify the murderer.

I like this style of historical mystery. I like Starr's writing. It is of the period as contractions are not used. Hugh is a methodical man, plodding along to the final revelation of the murderer. I like the addition of Kate. I hope I see more of her observations and insights in novels to come.

Reading the book is informative as well. You learn lots about the daily life in that era. I was astounded to read as Hugh performed cataract surgery on an elderly priest. While not like the surgery of today, moving the cataract away from the pupil was accomplished and better sight was restored. I had no idea something like that would have been done in that era.

And thank you for putting the Glossary right in the front, where it belongs. It made reading about a different place in a different time quite a joy.

Although this is the fourth in the series, the novel is contained enough that one could enjoy it without having read the earlier three.

Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with an MA in history from Western Michigan University, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years. He retired in 2003 as the chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Monarch Books, distributed by Kregel Publications, 224 pages.

Publisher product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel Publications for the purpose of this review.

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn

2012-01-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

Arterburn has spent years listening to people share their suffering. He began to discern patterns in why and how people tend to become, to some degree, dysfunctional. He found that the root of their issue was almost always that they were hanging on to something they needed to let go of.

He boiled it down to eight things that we must release to move to the good things. He writes a chapter on each one. Within the chapter, he makes sure we are clear on the nature of the negative quality. Then he looks at the negative impacts of the quality. He add practical, spiritual, Bible-based advice on how, once and for all, to give it up. He moves on to the God-given positivity we will gain. He ends each chapter with what this new-found godliness will do for us. He adds several questions to stimulate group discussion on the chapter's content.

The eight qualities:

Any person can give up guilt and shame, in order to get back hope.

Any person can give up resentment, in order to get back love

Any person can give up fear, in order to get back trust.

Any person can give up anger, in order to get back forgiveness.

Any person can give up instant gratification, in order to get back patience.

Any person can give up learned helplessness, in order to get back power.

Any person can give up isolation, in order to get back connection and community.

Any person can give up addiction, in order to get back freedom.

Arterburn gives examples from his own life and those he has counseled to show how these qualities function and the results they cause. He also gives illustrations of people who have overcome their issues. Some humor is added along the way to help make taking the medicine (so to speak) easier.

Here are some notes from the chapter on learned helplessness. It is terrible when you feel there is nothing you can do. You just feel, “I can't!” Granted, there are some things you can't do (like fly to the moon), but this is about what you could do, but think you can't. You feel like you're locked into your current state.

Arterburn gives an example of a woman who was poor, really poor, but is now a successful business owner.

He notes that leaned helpless ruins your chance of personal growth. It ruins your chances of professional advancement. There is a feeling of being overwhelmed, of being helpless. You always feel like someone else is driving your car.

Arterburn advises simple and clearheaded observation as a tool to understand what is going on inside yourself. Note the particular situations around the feelings. Later review. Where you really helpless? Be realistic. Who trained you to have this behavior? Know you don't have to behave that way.

To gain back your power, remember that God made you. God loves you. Remember that God empowers the powerless. Pray and watch as God empowers you. Remember, Jesus Christ died so you can live.

You will begin to see the potential in every situation. “With God on the inside, you'll be stunned at all you can do – how far you can go – in the world.” (157)

Arterburn hopes this book will inspire you “to give your life a long look and … discover things you know you need to change.” (209) That it does.

He wants you to live exceptionally. This book is a great to with which to begin that journey.

Arterburn lives to empower others. (85) He's done a good job doing exactly that in this book.

Stephen Arterburn is founder and chairman of new Life Ministries and host of the Christian counseling talk show, New Life Live! He has been featured on many national TV shows and other media outlets. Steve founded the Women of Faith conferences and is the author of more than eighty books. Steve and his family live in Fishers, Indiana.

Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group), 211 pages.

Publisher product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of this review.

Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry

2012-01-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

Truman is the kind of hero you love to hate. As the novel opens, he has abandoned his family. He had been a star reporter, traveling the world, but when the media company had to downsize, he was let go. Lost, he runs from his responsibilities. He buys a cottage on the Florida coast and lives there with his cat.

Addicted to gambling, Truman has amassed huge debts, some to a loan shark bent on getting his money back or make Truman pay with his life. When the typical car with darkened windows and thugs inside shows up,Truman abandons the small house and flees (he's behind on the mortgage anyway).

As he returns to his family, we find that their son needs a heart transplant and has been deathly ill for some time. Our “hero” has let his wife deal with their ailing son, for months. He can't even get up the nerve to go to the hospital room – it's just too much for him. His daughter has had to quit college as Truman has lost the potential finances – at a casino.

While Truman's wife is a Christian, Truman believes, “Religion has always seemed an opiate to me, something to numb a person to reality.”

The plot of the novel ramps up as we find out that there may be a heart for Truman's son. It is the heart of a convicted murderer. But there are some who think the convict may be innocent. The convict's wife hires Truman to write his story and Truman thinks he might be able to find the real murderer in the process.

I had difficulty reading this novel. If I hadn't agreed to blog a review, I would have probably quit around half way through. Truman is truly a “hero” I loved to hate. Fabry really played up his sorry personality, addicted to gambling, abandoning his family in the time of need, extremely critical of Christianity, weak, indecisive, on and on. I knew there had to be some redeeming factor and was glad to see it about ten pages from the end. By then, I felt like I had been in church, having heard one of those disturbing testimonies. You know, a testimony where someone talks for ten minutes about their sinful life and then, at the end, says he got saved.

For me, this was a depressing novel. So much of it was Truman's negative thoughts, his pitiful inadequacies. I just got tired of it.

And I got tired of Truman. For a man who had gotten many awards for his heroic investigative reporting, he is a pathetic man. He acts without thinking. He is weak and lacks self-control. He treats his family horribly. I would have preferred Truman to be a man of character, even if he was not a Christian. In the end, Truman does show some nerve but it was too little too late to make up for the 400 pages of depressing reading.

This is definitely a novel for men. Perhaps they can identify with Truman's sorry character. As a woman, I just found it too frustrating.

Fabry has dedicated this book, “For the addicted and those who love them.” For the addicted, Fabry's book portrays no hope. Truman is still a gambling addict at the end of the book. He has not managed to conquer it. There may be a little encouragement for for those who love addicts, but it is just a glimmer.

For me, there were also some problems with the book's plot. With Truman not working for months and using up nearly all their money, what are his wife and son living on? She hasn't been working as she is caring for the hospitalized son.

And Truman's family must be left with huge debts, including the hospital bills. While the Epilogue is upbeat, the family certainly cannot live “happily ever after.”

All in all, I was disappointed in this novel.

Chris Fabry is a 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University. He is heard on Moody Radio. He and his wife, Andrea, have nine children. Chris has published more than seventy books for adults and children. He won the Christy Award in 2009 and the Christy Award and the ECPA award for fiction in 2011. See more about him at www.chrisfabry.com.

Tyndale House Publishers, 432 pages. Publisher product information.

I received an egalley from Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of this review.

Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman

2012-01-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

Reitman had written an article on Scientology for Rolling Stone magazine and has expanded her work in this book. If you are like me, you have probably forgotten much of the news about Scientology over the years. I was amazed at the lawsuits, the scandals.

She recounts the history of the movement, its ups and downs, then the goal to get big name people involved – celebrities.

Reitman has interviewed many who have left Scientology to reveal much of the inner workings of the group. Hers is by no means the definitive book on the subject. She spends quite some time on a few very controversial events, such as the death of a young woman while under the care of Scientology.

Nonetheless, this is a great book about a very secretive “religion.” I highly recommend it.

TEN by Terry Smith

2012-01-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

Smith believes God wants to cheer you on to your future. “He wants your God-inspired dreams to come true.” (xxii) The dream He has for you is the “more and better life than you ever dreamed of.” (1) That life, on a scale of one to ten, is TEN (as in John 10:10).

You must want this future. It requires your will. Smith has written to encourage you to go after the more and better God wants for you. (5) “The future is in you now.” (11)

AWAKE You can become fully awake to this God-inspired future. You must really want to create that better future. Take others along with you. “God specifically wired us to transcend and affect present realities and to create realities that do not yet exist.” (27) “You have the potential to will and act to male something beautiful that reflects God's grandeur instead of humanity's mess.” (39)

DISCOVER “We partner with God in destiny fulfillment.” (45) Discover the destiny God has for you and choose to fulfill it. The Holy Spirit will reveal it to you. (1 Cor. 2:10) “In His sovereignty, God has decided, to a great extent, to limit His involvement in this world to the willingness of human beings.” (61) You must decide how much you will work to see God's mission in this world successfully achieved.

IMAGINE Have an audacious imagination. See the future before it can be seen. Smith suggests you intentionalize imaging - “deliberately and prayerfully imaging the specific things [you] believe God has said is possible for [you].” (73)

GROW God is a Theory Y God. (Theory Y being a management style that assumes people want to self-directed and achieving, given the motivation. Smith likes to talk about “becoming God-actualized, where who we are in every way is fully matured so we can actually live out our God-given potential.” (106) He reviews several aspects of personal growth.

With encouraging thoughts and inspiring stories, Smith covers the remaining aspects of TEN: ACT, LEAD, LET'S GO THERE (stuff happens on your way). I could have included ideas from these points, but then, I want you to read the book for yourself.

Smith wants you to live deep. He has provided encouraging stories and practical suggestions to inspire you on your way to a richer and fulfilling life – a TEN. But he doesn't stop at moving your own life to its God-given potential. A major theme in this book is you helping others see their potential as well.

He has provided reflection questions at the end of each of the major sections. These would be great for individual or group use. This book would be especially useful to a church council or similar group looking to determine God's plan for their future.

Terry Smith is the pastor of The Life Christian Church in West Orange, NJ. He arrived at the church in 1991 and the multi-cultural, non-denominational church has seen significant growth and impact in the community.

See more at www.livingten.com.

Higher Life Development Services, 238 pages. Publisher product information.

Buy this book from CBD or Amazon.

I received an egalley of this book from The B&B Media Group for the purpose of this review.

The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski, illustrated by A E. Macha

2012-01-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

How important is God and His story in the midst of your family's busy schedule? Marty Machowski wants you to take time out from the daily grind to spend it with your family delving into Bible stories.

Beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation, Marty uses 158 stories to present God's plan of salvation. The easy-to-read storybook was written for preschool children right through teen-aged youth. It is a storybook for the preschooler, a devotional for the grade school student, and a refresher for older readers.

Machowski has purposely connected each story with the larger gospel narrative of God redeeming His people by sending His Son Jesus. The intent is for parents and children to see the whole Bible as one story, with one hero, Jesus Christ.

Machowski admits that some of the “good” parts of a Bible had to be skipped over to get to the “best” parts. Reading the Bible with your children is still important. Perhaps reading the story from this book first will help your child understand the biblical story more easily. The Bible references for each story are included so you can later read the entire biblical account to your child. The text is based on the ESV so you may want to continue with that translation.

Included with each story are “Let's Talk About It!” questions. They are a great way to review the story with your child and begin a dialogue on its major points.

The illustrations by A. E. Macha are amazing. Each is a captivating combination of simplicity and detail. You would just have to see them to appreciate their attractiveness. The people are deliberately left without color so the child can imagine himself in the scene.

You can see some of the work at http://aemacha.com/portfolio/1/ . Specific illustrations you can see online include Grieving Eve and Samson &Delilah.

The Gospel Story Bible focuses on the same Scriptures used in the forthcoming Gospel Story children's ministry curriculum, also from New Growth Press.

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, PA. He has served on the pastoral staff there for twenty-three years. He, his wife, and their six children live in West Chester, PA.

A. E. Macha, BFA (Illustration, Arcadia University) is married with two children and lives in Philadelphia. Anne teaches art at a local Christian school and has developed her illustration style through exploring art and design in diverse cultures.

See the publisher's product information here.

New Growth Press,313 pages, hardcover, $29.99

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the B&B Media Group for the purpose of this review.

Frequency by Eric Parks and Casey Bankord

2012-01-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

Parks says God created you for a unique relationship with Him. No one else was designed to have the relationship with God you do. Yours is a unique part in a cosmic symphony.

He likens your unique self to your frequency. “Living on your frequency is God's idea for ongoing connection with you.” (8-9) He helps the reader identify that frequency. “When you hit your frequency, you feel an overwhelming sense of fulfillment that almost seems 'otherly.'” (12) Living in your frequency is God's design for you. It requires effort, but not the effort of trying to be someone you're not.

The method for spiritual growth is unique for your frequency. There is no generic method for spiritual growth. You'll need to develop your own routine of spiritual disciplines.

Parks suggests exploring “spiritual pathways.” the different environments of spiritual growth identified by various authors, including John Ortberg (who wrote the Forward to this book).

Parks suggests you find your frequency by taking the personal assessment at Monvee.com and there is to be a code included in the book to allow you to do that for free.

The second part of the book consists of nine chapters, each organized around the nine major personality categories that Monvee measures. Each is centered on a biblical character: Joseph, Abraham, Jacob, David, Luke, Timothy, Solomon, Samson, and Jonathan. Eric interviews a person for each personality. Most of the people are professional Christians (pastors, authors) and I found their life stories to not be very applicable to laypeople like me.

What I read was an uncorrected proof and chunks of the manuscript were missing, including one interview, and the section called “For Church Leaders.”

Eric Parks is the cofounder of Monvee. The Monvee program came out of Heartland Community Church, in Rockford, IL where Mark Bankord (I assume the father of co-author Casey Bankford) is directional leader.

The first third of this book I found very rewarding. That each of us is unique, that there is not one spiritual growth method that fits all...that is good news.

The rest of the book is pretty much just a suggestion to use Monvee. I was not surprised to find out that Parks was a cofounder of Monvee. I am glad the book will provide the code for a free assessment at that web site. Nonetheless, I have a feeling that this book is a not so subtle promotion of Parks' Monvee assessment ministry.

A minor point of criticism regarding the diagram on page 16. A better representation of the concept would have been two wave functions, interacting. Where they coincided (one is living his frequency) the wave is amplified. Where the two interfere (one is not living his frequency) the wave is dampened. After all, this is frequency and showing waves of two different frequencies would have been more appropriate.

Watch a video.

Worthy Publishing, 256 pages. This book releases February 7, 2012.

I received an uncorrected manuscript in egalley form from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

2012-01-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Shay Brandenberger has been disappointed in love, twice. Fourteen years ago she was left on the courthouse steps. The boy she had played with as a child, fallen in love with as a teen, and planned to marry right out of high school, Travis McCoy, had run out on her right before the wedding.

Years later she married someone else. They had a wonderful child, Olivia. But then he had left her and a few years later, had died.

Aged 32, Shay was a native of Moose Creek, Montana, and was trying to keep her family farm going. But she was behind on the mortgage payments and the power company had threatened to turn off her electricity.

Then Travis walks back into her life. He's back in Moose Creek after being on the rodeo circuit. He's made enough money to last him a lifetime. He's back to care for his parent's farm while they are on a mission trip. He has never lost his love for Shay. He knew it was wrong to leave her, even as he ran away from the wedding. But he was so young and the rodeo was calling.

Shay knows deep down she still loves Travis. He was her first love and she has never been able to let that go. But the hurt from his abandonment runs just as deep.

Then life for the both of them gets even more complicated as the Founder's Day celebration occurs. They separately agree to play the bride and groom at a reenactment. Then Travis gets the news that the “fake” wedding certificate he and Shay signed was, in fact, the real certificate from fourteen years ago.

The sparks fly as Travis wants to make the wedding work while Shay is just as determined to make him leave.

This is a unique plot. I've never seen anything like it. A bride left at the altar, so to speak. And then the marriage planned fourteen years ago happens, without the knowledge of those involved.

This was a pretty good read but I did have a few problems with the story line. Hunter does admit in the afterward that marriage licenses are not valid for fourteen years, as she has in her book. So she stretched the believability of the plot there.

Also, Shay's farm has a mortgage even though it has been in her family for three generations. The farm should have been paid off by now. But being behind on the mortgage is essential to the plot.

Also, Shay has the same problem over and over again. I got a bit bored with the repetition. There doesn't seem to be any growth in that area.

Also, Hunter writes of passion and some of the scene have a bit more passion than usual for a Christian romance. On occasion I felt a little uncomfortable with what I was reading.

The Christianity of the characters is well portrayed – a much appreciated aspect of the novel.

This is certainly not the best Christian romance I've read lately.

You can find out more about Hunter and her books at www.denisehunterbooks.com.

Denise Hunter is the award-winning author of eighteen romance novels. She began writing as a young stay-at-home mom, while her children napped. She has earned many awards and has been a RITA finalist. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three teenaged sons. Along with writing and spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, traveling and playing drums for her church's worship team.

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 304 pages. Publisher product information.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

No, We Can't by Robert Stearns

2012-01-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

Nobody wants to be negative but Stearns knew he had to be honest. Understanding the situation today requires taking the time to view the world and what is happening in it.

Stearns examines the three value systems prominent in the world today: radicalized Islam; an aggressive humanism; and the Judeo-Christian faith. He evaluates the three worldviews and how they deal with culture and the basic questions of mankind (existence, purpose, etc.).

Stearns' “hypothesis is that these three prevailing worldviews are all, in different yet equally serious ways, seeking the hearts, souls, minds and bodies of mankind. The end game is to emerge as the dominant player, allowing them to influence and even redefine the future of human existence.” (62) He argues that coexistence is a myth, giving several reasons why. “...[I]t becomes more obvious that multiculturalism is no longer an option for those who wish to continue to live in freedom.” (183)

He has written this book “...so that we can plainly see that the Judeo-Christian worldview is the best possible means of providing a platform of liberty for the human race,” (165) But the Judeo-Christian worldview is being attacked. Christians are in a battle, he writes. “It is a spiritual battle we are called to win.” (29) Stearns foresees the Islamization of the U. S. (as it is happening in Europe) unless Americans are willing to pay the price. “Stay awake and remain active to ensure that the torch of liberty is not extinguished...” (182)

Christians are faced with a decision, he writes. The choice the American church makes will determine whether America as we know it survives or not.

For someone isolated from current events, Stearns' book is a good look at the major belief systems of our day. For those thoughtfully paying attention to the world today, this book will be a fine review but does not really offer any new information.

Stearns definitely writes from a Christian viewpoint, seeing the Christian faith and culture as the only viable one for mankind. I wholeheartedly agree.

Unfortunately, in his enthusiasm for Christianity, I think Stearns makes some statements which can be criticized by those from other faiths. For example, “...God values men and women equally, people of all races equally and the young and old equally.” (137)

He opens himself to criticism when Old Testament laws are considered. Leviticus 12:1-5 says when a male is born, the mother is unclean a week, and when a daughter is born, the mother is unclean for two weeks. The purifying time is doubled too.

Another telling passage is Leviticus 27:1-8. The passage is about “a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons...: The valuation is as follows:

male, aged 20 to 60, 50 shekels of silver

female, 30 shekels

male, aged 5 to 20, 20 shekels

female, 10 shekels

male, aged 1 month to 5 years, 5 shekels

female, 3 shekels

male, over 60 years old, 15 shekels

female, 10 shekels

And then there is Numbers 27 where the daughters of Zelophehad had to plead their case to inherit some of their father's possessions as only sons inherited under the law and Zelophehad had no sons.

He also opens himself to criticism with this statement: “When the Law was given, it was only the lawbreakers who were appointed for destruction.” (137)

But we must remember Exodus 20:5 which says that God is a jealous God, “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me...”

When a Christian writes a book about other belief systems, it is crucial that the author be accurate regarding the facts of his own faith. While much of Stearns' book is worth reading, it is a shame he makes a couple of statements that might cause his work to be discredited.

Chosen (a division of Baker Publishing Group), 222 pages.

Publisher product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Sometimes He Whispers Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick

2012-01-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

Chadwick's response to 9/11 was to pray. More than that, she writes, “He was calling me to become an active prayer warrior for a hurting and broken world that He deeply loves.” (4) As her prayers expanded, she tried to be faithful and listen to God.

She saw a pattern develop and soon began teaching others the six steps to developing a deeper and more effective prayer life. The steps are interrelated – they depend on each other. The steps that she has laid out in this book have revolutionized her prayer life.

Be Alert to God and to the needs around you. You must be intentional at this, she says. She tells of the life changes she made to help her hear the quiet voice of God.

Be Specific, specific enough to recognize the answers as they come. She makes lists of her prayer requests and gives space in the book for readers to do likewise.

Pray With Authority, praying God's Word into situations. She provides a 21 day experiment to discover how God's Word can add power to your prayers. She shows how the prayer Jesus taught His disciples provides a well-balanced prayer diet.

Agree With Others in Prayer. Learn the power of agreement. It seems to ignite prayer with extra power.

Arm Yourself with Spiritual Strength for spiritual as well as earthly battles. Chadwick has learned that her prayer life works best when she is alert and self-controlled. She takes steps to connect with Jesus throughout the day.

Answer God's Call to go into the world with the good news of Jesus Christ and share His love. You will see the hurting people and the needs in the world. You will share in the sufferings of Christ.

Chadwick shares many stories of her own experiences and those of others. They are incredible and really encouraging. Chadwick shares what she has learned, the footprints she has left in her journey with God.

There are several added “bonuses” at the end of the book: personal reflection questions (useful for group study too), a leader's guide for discussion groups (great for novice leaders), a quick start guide to using her card system, and a list of additional resources chadwick has found beneficial.

This is a great book for any Christian who wants to see their prayer life rise to a more effective level.

Marilynn Chadwick is the cofounder and principal speaker of Women Under Construction, an outreach of Forest Hill Church, where her husband, David, is senior pastor. She has a BA in journalism and a master's degree in counseling. She also founded Seeds of Hope, a nonprofit providing education for kids with limited resources. Marilynn and her husband have three children and one grandchild.

Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster), 241 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

What is Time? by Gary W. Driver

2012-01-12T01:13:00.000-08:00

Driver started thinking about time and this self-published work is the result. It is a rambling, non-scientific work on a variety of topics, much of which I found nearly impossible to understand.

Driver distinguished universal time (movement of heavenly bodies) and relative time (human divisions of universal time for our own use). He notes that a definition of time must include universal and relative time. It is God's command that starts an era and God controls universal time. God controls the future. “Things that God command to absolutely occur will occur regardless of our free will decisions and changing environments.” (32% on the Kindle) “God's commands are the force behind time.” (44%)

Because it takes light some time to travel, what we see is always the past. It could be a nanosecond (if close) or light years (if far).

In his discussion about the curvature of the earth being flat, he uses Isaiah 40:21-22 to show that God said (through Isaiah) that the universe is flat. He points out that if you had a twenty square foot camping tent to lay out, and you had twenty square feet of terrain, you would choose flat terrain. Isaiah 40:22b says, “...that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” Note that in the Isaiah passage, the heavens are likened to the tent, not the land under the tent!

Driver uses Psalm 19:6 to “prove” that God revealed that the Sun and solar system orbits in the Milky Way Galaxy. It reads, “His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Psalm 19 is a very pictorial passage, likening the sun to a bridegroom, to a man running a race, as being set in a tabernacle. Sorry, this is just too much of a stretch for me!

Driver's use of the English language sometimes just astounded me. For example, about eternity and time: “The concept of eternity has no start or end; in essence, it is beyond time itself. Eternity and time are the same and different.” “Eternity and time are the same, in that time is contained in and a part of eternity.” (74%) I just have to shake my head at such a use of language.

Here's another: “The purpose of the micro scale is to fulfill the purpose of the macro scale.” (38%) Or, “Time is not a series of individual events, but the simultaneous and continual occurrence of all events.” (21%) OK, whatever that means.

I do not agree with his discussion, “In a general sense, the human perception of the present is without an intervening medium outside of our senses.” (27%) There is certainly air as a medium or we would not be able to hear sounds!

Reading Driver's work was an odd experience. Sometimes he tries to sound like a scientist. I can tell he's read a bit on the subject. But he gets his concepts and meanings mixed up and what he is trying to communicate gets slaughtered.

Here is an example of an entire paragraph of his writing. “The element aluminum cannot be permanently magnetized but a ferrous metal can. The electrometric [sic] force is within all atoms; however, it operates as dictated by the metal of which they are composed. How can quantum fluctuations reverse the higher order of the universe we know today to dictate to the atoms and elements to form a universe? This brings about the need to cancel the laws of physics under the uncertainty umbrella. Order is from the large scale down to the smaller scale. There is no higher order than the command from God the Creator to the natural universe and its smallest components.” (38%) (If you can understand that paragraph, you'll understand the book. I can't, and I have a degree in physics!)

I read this book all the way through but I would not wish that experience on anyone else.

Gary is a native Texan along with his five brothers and eight sisters. Their common father and mother are the founding Pastors of the C.C. Driver Revival Center in Cleveland, Texas. Of which Gary is Senior Pastor. Gary has 23 years of ministerial experience. He was employed for many years as a senior project manager of a building automation systems design and installation operation.

This book is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I received an egalley of this book from the author for the purpose of this review.

Invasion by Jon S. Lewis

2012-01-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

What if those comics from the 1940s were true? What if there really were aliens from other planets helping the Nazis? What if there really was a secret organization, C.H.A.O.S., aimed at protecting the world from alien invasion?

This is exactly the world into which teenager Colt McAlister is thrust. His parents had recently died in an automobile accident so he is sent to live with his grandfather.

Bit by bit Colt discovers the truth. His parents were killed because his mother was writing an expose on Trident Biotech. Trident had been implanting chips into human brains, chips supposedly to control epilepsy, Parkinson’s, etc. But these chips were really used by the alien owners of Trident to control the humans. And his grandfather. Colt finds out his grandfather was the real Phantom Flyer of comic book fame. In fact, the comic books were just a way to take away the attention from the real situation at the time.

Trident Biotech is getting ready to complete their plan to wipe out all the humans on earth. Will Colt and his teen friends be able to foil the aliens before it is too late?

This is science fiction the way I remember it as a teen! Reptilian aliens with six arms. Heroes with jet packs. Bad aliens wanting to take over earth. Good humans willing to sacrifice their lives to keep that from happening. Even though this book is for teens, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I look forward to reading the next in the series.

A discussion guide at the end makes this book a great choice for teen reading groups.

To find out more about this series, download free wallpaper and a sample chapter, go to www.chaosnovels.com.

Thomas Nelson, 321 pages. Product information.

Broken Words by Jonathan Dudley

2012-01-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

“I learned a few things growing up as an evangelical Christian: that abortion is murder; homosexuality, sin; evolution, nonsense; and environmentalism, a farce.” Dudley explores those four ideas in this book. He is emotionally attached to the evangelical culture yet is intellectually turned off by much of it. His experience is as a seminary graduate and aspiring medical scientist.

He notes that many see beliefs on these issues as a litmus test for Christian faith. Evangelicals tend to think “we have the Truth,” yet many authors (like Mark Noll) have noted a poverty of evangelical thinking.

There are serious challenges to the evangelical opinions on these four subjects. Dudley proposes to demonstrate in this book that the four issues are weak points, weakly supported and justified by a flawed understanding of biblical interpretation.

I was surprised to find that the first laws in America allowed abortion right up to around the fifth month after conception. (40)

Dudley suggests, “There is ample room within the diverse interpretive practices of orthodox Christianity to justify an alternative approach to the Bible on gay marriages.” (89)

Dudley has an excellent review of the concepts of environmental stewardship, property, and Genesis 1:28.

He has a fine critique of creationism as a paradigm-relative interpretation of the Bible. He also traces the rise of the anti-evolution movement. He says, “Indeed, the case of intelligent design provides an example of the gap between lay evangelical opinion and scholarly evangelical opinion.” (141)

Dudley intersperses thoughts on biblical interpretation throughout the text. He has a good section on our presuppositions and how they influence our interpretation of Scripture. He explores the historical context of whether biblical interpretation must take into account our experience of the world around us. He writes, “The fact that the Bible's meaning is not simply lying in its pages waiting to be discovered, but rather, occurs at the intersection of scripture, theology, and culture, necessitates a change in the way evangelicals use and think about scripture.” (108) Biases and prior beliefs “are necessary for interpretation to occur at all.” (109) “Evangelicals should acknowledge that contemporary experiences are a legitimate guide to interpreting scripture...” (109)

This book is a must reading for anyone wanting to understand the backgrounds of these four issues identified above. It is a must for any Christian desiring to think carefully and critically about their beliefs. Conservative Christians may not agree with Dudley at every point but reading his work will help them understand more clearly all aspects of the issues.

Jonathan Dudley is a graduate of Calvin College and Yale Divinity School and is currently an MD student at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Crown Publishers, 204 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for the purpose of this review.

Never The Same by B. C. Fleming

2012-01-07T18:24:00.000-08:00

Fleming, a recipient of the Purple Heart, does not consider himself a hero. “I was just an American soldier who got in the way of a suicide bomber.” (12)

He tells of his youth, salvation, and healings. He had planned a career in medicine, but watching the second terrorist plane crash into the tower on 9/11, he committed himself to service in the military. He joined the Army right out of high school.

He met his future wife on a pen pal web site. He was deployed three months after their wedding.

After completing a tour in South Korea, he was deployed to Kandahar as a reconnaissance team leader. His military vehicle ran across a double stack of mines. While the seven ton vehicle was tossed ten feet, Fleming escaped unhurt. He had to make the choice, however, to put himself in harms way to save a friend.

He later experienced another explosion, a suicide bomber alongside his vehicle. He received second and third degree burns on his hands, face, and neck. Regaining the use of his hands required fourteen months of rehabilitation.

He was discharged from the military and worked for Dave Roever.

B. C. ends his book with his thoughts on God. He chose not to hate God because of his injuries. He had faith in the future, despite his circumstances. His scars are now tools for ministry. “All that I now do as an author and speaker and writing books are my way of giving back to the American people.” (13)

Fleming's story is very inspirational. Reading about his experiences and the positive attitude he maintained is an encouragement to any suffering through adverse circumstances.

Flemming is a full-time public speaker. He encourages corporations, high schools, colleges and faith-based organizations to become inspirational leaders in their own spheres and to adopt an optimistic and courageous attitude toward obstacles they face. He has a soft spot for veterans and urges them to rise above the “victim” mentality and to be victorious. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, CSPAN, ESPN, The 700 Club, and many other venues. Fleming in the author of five motivational books. Young, still under the age of 30, he continues to serve his country through his story of hope. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife and two children.

You can find out more about B. C. Fleming at his website: www.BlownUpGuy.com and www.facebook.com/blownupguy.

You can buy the book at Fleming's website.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The B&B Media Group for the purpose of this review.

The Message by Eugene Peterson

2012-01-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

I had been given a copy of The Message. I had read bits and pieces of it over the years. I hadn't been impressed with what I'd read but before I made a final decision, I thought I should read it through. I did so last year.

I don't like it.

Sometimes it seems Peterson has taken freedom in assigning a trait to God that I do not think is valid. For example, in Psalm 78:21c, Peterson says, “...he lost his temper with Israel.” The ESV reads, “...his anger rose against Israel.” That God would lose his temper, to me, is near blasphemy. I don't think Peterson's paraphrase is warranted by the original Hebrew.

Peterson has used many phrases that are purely “American” or are so dated that I wonder if younger readers, or those from other countries, know what he is even trying to communicate.

For example:

“Getting on his high horse...” (Num. 16:1)

“Our brothers took all the wind out of our sails...” (Deut. 1:28)

“Why should we be toadies of Abimelech?” (Judges 9:28) Toadies?

“The Philistines had to eat crow.” (1 Chron. 20:4)

“...let them dissolve into snail slime...” (Psalm 58:7)

“All kinds of witches and warlocks came out of the woodwork...” (Acts 19:19)

“If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet.” (1 Tim. 5:20, also 1 Pet. 4:5)

I'm 64 years old. I know what it means to get on your high horse. I know what it means to eat crow. I live in Washington State so I know what snail slime is. I know what it means to be called on the carpet, from childhood, when we didn't even have any carpet!

Imagine you are a Christian from another culture. You've never seen snail slime. You've never even seen carpet. But you can actually visualize beings coming out of wood. You can imagine eating a crow. You can imagine climbing on to a tall horse.

Granted, Peterson's work is definitely a paraphrase. But I would think that one would want the reading of the Bible to be something that could be done in an understandable way by English speaking people across the world. The Message just does not cut it. (Phrase intended!)

Divine Revelation by John Meacham

2012-01-05T06:28:00.000-08:00

Meacham's life had been difficult. He had been jailed twice. Then the police came and accused him of a hit and run. Even though his vehicle was obviously not involved, he was jailed. Quickly bailed out by his father, nonetheless he subsequently suffered an anxiety attack that sent him to the hospital.

Then he got saved on Oct. 24, 1982. Counseling with his pastor, he began to concentrate on the things of heaven. God showed him that he needed to quit cursing, smoking, and drinking. He had started these habits as a teen. Smoking was the hardest to quit, taking him six years from his born again experience.

Meacham believes God speaks directly to us in many ways. He shares his own experiences of God speaking to him through visions, through the Word, etc. He tells of his experiences as an elder in his church, Amity Presbyterian in Charlotte. A change in employment led them to First Presbyterian Church in Garner. He stayed active in the church for the next ten years and became a Lay Preacher in 1995. He preached in rural churches, then was named interim pastor of an eight year old start up church that was expected to die. (It lived.)

God gave him the instructions to reflect the light on January 7, 1983. He had dreams identifying the place of Jesus' return. He went to Galilee and found the place at the northeastern corner of the Sea of Galilee. As he drove past the site, the Spirit of Jesus entered him. (131) He continued to drive, to find the place he saw in his third dream. Meacham writes, “At nine o'clock, I turned at the roadside marked Daliyyot and parked beside the stage to begin my wait for Jesus to return.” (132) He prayed and worshiped. Then he went to eat at a McDonalds, and got a parking fine. Jesus left him until he paid his parking ticket. At the end of his visit to Galilee, “At that time, the Spirit of Jesus left me and returned to heaven.” (147)

I have some serious issues with Meacham and his reported experiences. For example, he says, “In 1985, Jesus indwelled me for a weekend...” (23) “For the first and only time in my life, I felt that with Jesus indwelling me that I was without sin, and my spirit felt fully alive and in total harmony with God. I felt perfect.” (98) Then, as we saw above, “...the Spirit of Jesus left me and returned to heaven.” (147) He must not be talking about the Holy Spirit. So is he talking about Jesus, who sits at the right hand of God the Father? Who is this “Spirit of Jesus”?

To me, Meacham seems unsure as to what it means to be saved. He says he was “born again” on Oct. 24, 1982. (18) Then, on Dec. 10, 1982, “I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord...” (61) So is being born again something different than accepting Jesus as Savior? He has me confused!

“I have to admit that in my fourteen years of preaching, I never preached a sermon on repentance. … I realized … I had become a false teacher like Jezebel.” (74) This is very interesting because during that time, in October, 2004, he says he taught a series of sermons on the seven churches. (127) How can one even read the letters to the seven churches, let alone preach on them, and not preach on repentance?

Nonetheless, he says he shares his own experiences of 1982-3 “...to help draw you into a much deeper relationship with the Lord, one in which He can communicate with you on a similar level...” (78) Yet in his fourteen years of preaching (1995-2009), he says he had become a false teacher, by his own admission. (74) Is this the “deeper relationship” I want to have, one where I can become a false teacher like Jezebel?

After one vision, he writes, “After almost twenty-seven years of striving to live a life worthy of this vision...” (83) Again, is this the Christian life I want to have? Do I want to strive to live a life worthy, or do I want to trust in the saving grace of Jesus?

I certainly did not find Meacham's book to be one that I could recommend.

Tate Publishing. Publisher product information.

I received an egalley of this book from the author for the purpose of this review.

What Does the Lord Require? by James Howell

2012-01-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

Which of us hasn't asked at some time, “What does God want from me?” An obscure prophet wrote an answer to that question thousands of years ago, recorded in Micah 6:8.

in this brief book, Howell explores who Micah was, what was going on when he wrote, what his listeners received from him, what we are to receive, who this God is to require these actions, and what this behavior might look like.

Micah in Hebrew is an exclamation, “Who is like the Lord?” He was from a small village southwest of Jerusalem. He and his family had to flee to Jerusalem for safety when Sennacherib invaded Judah. He became a critic of the government, whose foolish ways had brought the invasion. He boldly denounced the leaders. But he was even more bold in hope.

Micah creates an imaginary trial. God presents His charges and mounds of evidence. The verdict is “guilty.” What is the sentence? What does God require? Howell notes that “require” or daras is Hebrew, includes a sense of seeking. It is personal.

The question is almost absurd. What could we possibly give God He does not already have?

Yet we find it is not what God requires, but who. He wants us, the way He created us to be.

God does not leave us guessing. He has shown us what is good. Three things, yet one as they all work together.

Howell explains what it means to live a life of justice. His description surprised me! (It involves advocacy, not punishment.) He next looks at ahavat hesed, loyal and tender love as a way of life. Last is being attentive to humility.

This slim volume is valuable. The text comprises 57 pages. The next 20 pages is a four session study guide with tips and very good instructions for leaders. This would be a perfect study for someone who has never led a group study before. The instructions are so good, this would be a pleasant experience for the novice leader.

Westminster John Knox Press, 88 pages.

Publisher information.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock

2012-01-04T05:58:00.000-08:00

Serenity, Texas is a town in decline. One of its citizens, is Carny Sullivan. She had grown up in the crazy world of the carnival and had survived a hurtful marriage. Now she and her son enjoy the quiet town, her flying service, and her relationship with the Lord.

Then a handsome fellow, Logan Brisco, comes into town. He has ideas of making the town alive again. Be plans to build an amusement park just outside of town. It would draw thousands and bring life back into the community. He says he has investors lined up. All he needs is the people of Serenity to buy into the project and invest some of their own money.

But Carny can spot a con artist when she sees one. She tries to warn the people of her beloved town, to no avail. And then she begins to fall for him.

Logan begins to have feelings for her. He knows he shouldn't let his emotions get in the way of his money making scheme.

Should Carny trust her head or her heart? Is she just one more conquest for this con artist?

This is certainly a character driven romance. The typical romance plot of boy and girl love each other but there is an “insurmountable” problem that needs to be conquered, is the major aspect of this novel. In fact, it repeats several times. For me, it was a bit too much. I thought the novel could have been shorter, say around the typical 300 pages. The plot did drag on. I would not rank this among one of Blackstock's best, and I have read most of her work. On a positive note, I did learn how carnival people make their money.

Zondervan, 352 pages.

One Perfect Word by Debbie Macomber

2012-01-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

Words are powerful. A word, the right word, can change a life.

Yet we are bombarded with thousands of words a day. Are words losing their impact? Do we need to go on a word diet?

What if you were to take one word, just one word, and meditate on it for the whole day, for the whole year?

“Wwhen we choose one single word from His Word and spend a year with it, I've found that the Lord takes us by the hand and walks us through the year, teaching us about that word, about ourselves, and even more, about God Himself.” (11)

Macomber has two goals in this book. First, she wants to encourage us to begin the practice of focusing on one perfect word each year. She helps us find the word, how to explore it, and how to recognize the lessons from it.

Second, she shares fourteen of her own words. She explains what she has learned through stories. For example, she writes of desire, her desire to be a writer. It was five years before she sold her first piece of writing, a magazine article. Another example is the word balance. Her concentrating on that word included determining her priorities, and setting smart goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding, Time-bound). Pray, organize, and de-clutter, she learned.

She encourages us to get a notebook and begin to gather the words that appear over and over again in our life.

She also points out that the word she picks for the year is in addition to her regular reading and study of God's Word.

Discussion questions at the back make this a good choice for reading groups.

This is an inspiring book. It is a joy to read. Not only was I inspired to choose my own word for the year, I also received a great deal of insight from her as she shared the lessons she learned from her own words.

Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster), 207 pages.

Publisher product information.

Find out more about Debbie and her books at www.debbiemacomber.com/ .

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Dangerous Mercy by Kathy Herman

2012-01-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

In this novel, the second in the Secrets of the Roux River Bayou series, eighty-five year old Adele Woodmore has moved to Les Barbes. She is a wealthy woman and has downsized to a much smaller home, having lost her husband some years before. She routinely hires men from Father Vince's half-way house nearby to do maintenance and repairs.

Then a series of murders rock the small community. Someone is murdering CEOs of companies who have had to lay off employees during the recent recession. Then the CEO of a bank noted for its foreclosures is murdered.

One of the men from the half-way house comes under suspicion. Adele is convinced he is innocent, continuing to believe even when her housekeeper and companion quits, believing Adele to be too naive in the midst of such evil.

But Adele has a heart of compassion. She knows she is exercising “dangerous mercy,” helping those who are down and out. “Mercy is risky,” Adele says. “I guess that's what makes it mercy. There's always a chance someone will abuse it.” (254)

And abuse it someone does. The murder kidnaps Adele when it becomes clear the authorities are on to him. Yet Adele continues to have compassion for the man, sharing the gospel with him in the midst of her own pain. Will she be rescued before he murders her?

I like the way Herman writes, and this one did not disappoint. We learn who the murderer is about three quarters of the way through the novel so the last part is the tension of kidnapped Adele and the now reluctant murderer. This is a great story of trust, trusting humans and trusting God. Sometimes humans betray our trust, but God never does. It was through pain and deep hurt that Adele learned to trust God. Now she wants to share that with others God has put in her path.

Herman has added a great Afterword, reminding us that Adele never forgot God's mercy to her. She didn't hesitate to extend that mercy to those who needed it most. It was a dangerous mercy. How often, Herman asks, do we fail to extend God's mercy because of our own fear?

There is a discussion guide at the end of the book so this would make a fine choice for book groups. There would be much to discuss about trust, mercy, discernment, etc.

Find out more about Kathy Herman at www.facebook.com/kathyherman or www.kathyherman.com.

David C Cook, 416 pages.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

To Be Perfectly Honest by Phil Gallaway

2011-12-31T21:40:00.000-08:00

Callaway is a standup comedian. Imagine his surprise when his publisher called him and made a proposal: tell only the truth for a year and write a book about it.

He took on the challenge. He emailed all his friends and announced his plans for the year. He was dismayed when many emailed back asking for the “truth” about pranks.

His adventure gets off to a bit of a slow start. Parts were a bit boring.

Day 43: “Call me cranky, but I decided not to join in on a few of the worship songs at church this morning. I feel too much like a liar when I do.” “You're all I want...” Callaway couldn't help but think of all the things he wanted. “Shout to the Lord...” He sat there, quietly.

Callaway debates confronting others … with the truth. “truth-tellers … rarely win popularity contests.” “Sometimes we need to tell ourselves the truth before we tell it to others.”

Day 83: “I'm learning that you should never tell a lie to your spouse, but you shouldn't always tell the truth either.” He found an acrostic that helps:

T – Is what I'm about to tell her the Truth?

H – Is it Helpful?

I – Will it Inspire?

N – Is it Necessary?

K – Am I Kind about it?

Day 235: “God is working on me, but he's slow. I squirm a lot.”

He writes about being convicted in church, about visiting his dementia plagued mother, a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, a failed investment. He carries on an email dialogue with people from the Post Rapture Pet Care business. His mother dies.

His conclusion: He is much more aware of his flaws and weaknesses. He's “learning the joy of scratching a little deeper beneath the surface of Gods grace.”

Maybe I expected too much but I did not think this book was all that funny. There were funny moments but the majority of the book was rather serious.

The strength of the book comes, I think, in the discussion questions at the end. They are divided into thirteen sessions. The questions are very good. They are penetrating, jumping off from Callaway's own experiences. They would best be used in a group discussion setting.

Phil Callaway is known for his humorous yet perceptive view on life. He is the author of twenty books and is the president of Laugh and Learn, Inc. He is a popular speaker at churches, conventions and corporate events. He also repeatedly appears on television and radio shows. He and his wife have three adult children.

Multnomah Books, 224 pages. Publisher product information.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Walking as Jesus Walked by Dann Spader

2011-12-31T15:37:00.000-08:00

1 John 2:6 says, “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” This book is for people who want to study the life of Christ and understand what it means to walk as Jesus walked. It is designed primarily as a small group interactive study but can be used by individuals as well.

The study is designed so that each week begins with an introductory overview. There follows five days of personal study in preparation for the group meeting. As the end of each lesson are questions for deeper reflection.

Here is a sample week from this study:

Getting Started: What would it be like if, just for one day, Jesus became you? What if He walks in your shoes, lives in your house, does your work? What would it be like if, for one day, Jesus lives your life with His heart?

After all, Philippians 2:5 does say we should have the same mind (heart) as Jesus. We are called to think and act like Jesus. Looking at Jesus' habits, commitments, and behaviors is at the heart of this study. It helps you discover not only what Jesus did, but also how He did it.

“Walk” is peripateo in the Greek. It means, “following, making progress, regulating one's life, or conducting oneself” after the pattern of another person.

Readers are asked to record their initial impressions of what it means to walk as Jesus walked.

Day 1: One way to study the life of Christ is to study His message. Readers are asked to look up several verses and write what they convey about Jesus' message. There are also questions aimed at revealing how people responded to Jesus' message. Reflection questions ask about identifying themes in Jesus' message, contemplating what might be missing from His message, and then summarizing His message.

Day 2: Another way to study the life of Christ is to look at His methods. Readers look up various passages to identify some of the methods Jesus used. Reflection questions ask readers to identify methods thought to be radical, methods missing in contemporary ministries, and methods that need to be developed personally.

Day 3: Dann wants to make sure his readers will not just concentrate on saying the right things (message) or acting the right way (methods). He wants Jesus' life to be a model, requiring a look at the complete pattern of His life. This requires looking at Jesus' humanity, His behavior as a man in real time and place. We look at our humanity in relation to His. Various verses are given, challenging readers to look beyond Jesus' message and method, identifying the example of His life.

Reflection questions ask about what is most challenging, if it is hard to believe one could think and act like Jesus, and if it is possible to miss the true meaning of Jesus' life.

Day 4: The reader is asked to look at two statements that summarize Christ's life and mission: the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Deeper reflection includes determining the context of the verses, how a lifestyle of “love” silences critiques, and what it means to make disciples who can make disciples.

Day 5: Jesus says, “Follow me.” (John 1:43; 21:22) The Greek is akoloutheow, “to walk in the steps of, to conform to, or to follow behind closely.” Jesus has blazed a trail and we are to follow. Readers look up verses describing Jesus' preincarnate existence. Next are verses describing Jesus' resurrected existence. Readers are reminded that we are not called to follow Christ in His preincarnate existence nor His resurrected existence, but his incarnate existence. Deeper reflection questions ask about how Jesus' existence as preincarnate and post-resurrection differ, are similar, what has been found most challenging this first week, and something realized.

And that is just one of the ten weeks of study! Other weeks concentrate on Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Jesus and prayer, Jesus and obedience, Jesus and the Word of God, Jesus exalting the Father, Jesus loving others, and Jesus discipling others.

This is an excellent study. It covers every aspect of life and how Jesus is our model. I highly recommend it.

The author's prayer is that this book would help people gain a fresh look at Christ and see His humanity as a model of how God intended us to live. Dann has been studying the life of Christ for over thirty-five years. He is continually finding new insights about living for Him.

Dann is the founder and director of Sonlife ministries and serves as a consultant to more than eighteen denominations developing youth and church leadership. He has written several leadership training manuals. He lives in Illinois with his wife and family.

There is more information online as Dann introduces each week at WalkingAsJesus.com. A leader's guide is also available at that site.

Moody Publishers, 181 pages of study. Publisher product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this study from Moody Publishers for the purpose of this review.

Seeing Through Heaven's Eyes by Leif Hetland

2011-12-30T19:04:00.000-08:00

“Seeing Through Heaven's Eyes entails seeing all the things that others see but determines that they are seen through eyes of absolutely unconditional love.” (24)

Leif describes his book as a guide on how to see into unloved realms, those places of darkness and shame. “How you see yourself – and your secrets – is directly related to how you see God.” (31) Do you see God as judgmental or loving? When we see God correctly we will see ourselves correctly.

Leif went through an experience where he was baptized in love. He now see through different eyes. He no longer sees God as austere. He now sees God as kind and tenderhearted.

Jesus announced that God longs for sons and daughters. God is entering into a new relationship with us and we can call Him Father. Jesus holding children in his lap is a picture of the Father's affection. The parable of the prodigal son shows the compassion of the Father.

Leif did not experience the love of God when he got saved. He was humiliated when he joined a youth group. He turned to drugs and crime. When he hit bottom he returned home and was welcomed by his father. He went to Bible college and seminary, got his first church and turned into a Pharisee. He burned out after sixteen years of ministry.

Leif helps us see paradise lost and our homesickness for Eden. He shares his travels, his 12 safaris, looking for remnants of Eden. The closest to paradise, he found, was El Nido.

Leif realized he was doing, not being. He shares his painful experiences: a compression fracture of the neck in 1995, broken back and leg in a sports car accident in 1998. In 200 he had an experience of the Father's love, a baptism. In 2005 he was in a treatment facility for a month, having abused pain medications. At the end of 2008 he lost lots of weight, had double pneumonia, a benign tumor removed.

The Christian life is about living out of love, Leif writes. “The Holy Spirit immerses us in the Father's love.” (135) “Once we have experienced that, he writes, “we begin to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength.” (136) Then, coming to see through heaven's eyes is a process, like a butterfly emerging from the dissolved cocoon. He emerged from the darkness a lover. Leif wants us to understand that this transformation is painful. It dissolves the old you.

But your eyes are open to see Jesus through heaven's eyes, your enemies, the Kingdom of God, the mystery of the Church, and the return of the King.

Leif has a great deal of Bible teaching, interspersed with his own story. He is widely read, as he quotes from a number of books. (He also shares six pages of dialogue from the movie, Mr. Holland's Opus.)

Leif has a message for Christians today. We are to be showing the love of God to others through the power of the Holy Spirit. Leif tells us how the transformation happened for him. His story is a great encouragement.

Leif Hetland is the president and founder of Global Mission Awareness and Leif Hetland Ministries. He has traveled worldwide motivating people to see the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Destiny Image, 226 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for the purpose of this review.

Naked Spirituality by Brian McLaren

2011-12-29T06:27:00.000-08:00

McLaren begins with the example of St. Francis, who was naked before God. “ Frances joined a long tradition of nakedness in the service of spirituality ... Samuel ... Saul ... Isaiah ... Jesus ...” (vi) Naked we came in, Job said, naked we go out. In between we clothe ourselves in thousands of ways.

This book is about getting naked spiritually. “It's about stripping away the symbols and status of public religion... ...[T]his book invites you to experiment with the naked experience of God... And it's about attending to the well-being of the soul clothed only in naked human skin.” (vii)

McLaren shares his own conversion experience so his readers know he is not a dispassionate observer. What he writes about spirituality has been tested in the crucible of his own experience.

How do we become truly spiritual people? How do we learn to strip away the superficial? How do we nurture daily spiritual experience?

McLaren writes about what it mans to be spiritual. He explored twelve essential spiritual practices. These practices, he writes, are simple, doable, and durable. Founded in ancient traditions, they are basic to twenty-first-century spirituality.

He separates the practices into four stages of spirituality.

Simplicity: Here (invocation), Thanks (gratitude), O (worship)

Complexity: Sorry (confession), Help (petition), Please (compassion)

Perplexity: When (exasperation), No (rage), Why (lament)

Harmony: Behold (meditation), yes (surrender), […], (contemplation)

As with all of the other books I have read by McLaren, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that I like the way he has arranged the disciplines to reflect the growth in one's spiritual life. It seemed to describe my spiritual development as well. I can see some who have gotten stuck in certain places, say, simplicity, and have not moved on. Reading the way McLaren describes spirituality helped me to understand where people are in their spiritual experience.

The bad news is, just when I think McLaren is evangelical, he writes something like this: “... Protestant, Evangelical … Sunni or Shiite … the possibility of naked spirituality remains a live option.” (11) Or, “A spiritual life is a Spirit life...” (18) Or, “Jesus was right. Paul was right. John was right. The Buddha was right.” (239)

Although McLaren says he is a Christian, he includes the spirituality of other faiths as if they know God to the same extent as Christians. He does not seem to acknowledge Jesus' claim that no one can really know God unless they know Jesus (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).

There is much to learn from McLaren but he must be read with discretion.

There is a group discussion guide way in the back, after the footnotes. I missed seeing it at first.

HarperOne, 280 pages.

I Am a Follower by Leonard Sweet

2011-12-28T05:42:00.001-08:00

“Jesus invites us all to dance...” (26) All it takes is one to start, to lead, and others will follow. “Jesus leads us in a new dance of human connection under divine direction.” (27) Too often our churches just want us to concentrate on dancing lessons. Sometimes we would just rather be dancing judges.

“This book is about those who would dance the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus. About those brave and courageous first followers who first step forth to join the dance. They are the way pavers, those willing to play the first fool.” (27)

Sweet doesn't want us to be better leaders. He wants us to be better followers. “Jesus is the leader.” “We are his followers.” (41)

We've developed a celebrity cult culture. But Jesus said we are to be different. “And even when we must lead, he calls us to lead in a different way – from behind.” (48)

“A follower is one who has said yes to being chosen and announces that human chosenness to the world.” (60) “The key issue for Jesus followers ir our ability to spot where 'he is in the world today' and our agility in conjoining ourselves to the living Christ. Aligning one's life with the attributes and activities of God is the highest form of holiness.” (61)

The rest of the book is organized into three parts to reflect Jesus' three-part story: the way, the truth, and the life. Sweet identifies the natural progression Jesus proposed: first belonging (way), then believing (truth), then behaving (life). “When Jesus summoned people into the way, he was inviting them to share a purpose or path (way), a new set of relationships (truth), and the beauty of community (life).” (64)

Sweet is quick to point out, “But we don't first get it right and then follow Jesus.” (79) We follow and then it makes sense. Following Jesus is just that. It is not worrying about the future or even survival.

“For the most part, the Father's business has been replaced by the corporate business of the church, patterned after the business world itself.” (95) Sweet would rather see “pedestrian churches, consisting of people who walk with Jesus, “...because much of the so-called wisdom of corporate culture directly contradicts the ways and means of Jesus and his kingdom.” (101) We are supposed to be in the disciple-making business, not the church-making business.

Sweet notes that Christians should be casters of the fruit of the Spirit. For example, “Followers of Jesus should be the most at-peace people on the face of the earth. Sadly, quite often, we seem to be the most nervous and agitated bunch around.” (133)

In part two, Sweet reminds us Jesus is the Truth. We follow the path Jesus has made for us, even though we may not know where we are going. It takes daily work and practice. “Confession of sin and recognition of weakness lie at the heart of a followership culture.” (183) We don't need to hide our weaknesses, our imperfection. “Whatever God calls you to do, it's going to be bigger than you are.” (188)

Sweet emphasizes the priesthood of all believers. We don't need more larger-than-life leaders. We need more down-to-earth followers.

In part three, Sweet writes, “To be a follower of Jesus is to share his life and his cross, to live not only as a disciple of his teaching but as a continuing incarnation of his life, death, and resurrection.” (211) “To be an incarnational disciple of Christ is to make Christ's way your way, Christ's truth your truth, Christ's life your life.” (212)

Following Jesus doesn't just happen. “You have to be schooled in following Jesus.” (214) It takes disciples to make disciples.

We are fully human. “To walk with Jesus is to embrace both the pain and the joy of life in all its fullness...” (243)

Included at the end of each division of the book is an extensive study section. These questions make this book a good selection for small group study.

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 240 pages. Publisher product information.

I received an egalley of this book from Thomas Nelson for the purpose of this review.

Live Abundantly by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose

2011-12-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Heitzig & Rose help us study the book of Ephesians in Live Abundantly. Ephesians, though written to believers in Ephesus, it is written to us too, if we are “faithful in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 1:1) “Did you know that Ephesians contains a spiritual blank check from God written directly to you?” (9) Many of us are ignorant of our inheritance and do not know the true riches we possess. “It is our desire,” they write, “that as you complete this study, you, too, will know how to Live Abundantly. We pray that God will open your eyes to His wealth, your heart to worship, and your life to be worthy of His calling.” (11)

Each week of the study is divided into five days for our personal time with God. Each day's lesson has five elements.

First is “lift up.” We are encouraged to lift up prayers to God, asking for spiritual insight for the day. (These prayers are written out.)

Second is “look at.” We are asked to look at a portion of Scripture. Inductive questions are provided to help us understand the facts and other basic aspects of the passage.

Third is “learn about.” Sidebars are correlated to particular questions to help us understand what the text means. These sidebars might be a cultural insight, a definition, or a commentary.

Fourth is “live out.” Questions and exercises help us investigate how this passage is to change our life. We are challenged to live out the principles in the Word.

Fifth is “listen to.” The day's section finishes with inspiring quotes, sharing the wisdom gleaned from the lives of others.

This book would work well for personal or small group study. Heitzig & Rose have provided suggestions for both. The oversize book has plenty of room for writing.

The “look at” questions (to help us understand the facts of the passage), are very simple. Here are the questions for Ephesians 1:7-12:

“In Him” refers to Jesus – the Beloved Son – from verse 6. What do we as believers have in Him?
By What means did Christ purchase our redemption?
Redemption and forgiveness are possible “according to the riches of His grace.” (v. 7) How would you restate this phrase in your own words?
Why has God made known the mystery of His will to us (v.9)?
What was the purpose of God's plan (v.10)?
What more have we obtained in Christ (v11)?
What phrase confirms the idea that there are no accidents in a Christian's life?
What is the end result of a life that trusts in Christ (v.12)?

The strength in this lesson (and the others) comes in the “live out” section. The questions for this section deal with forgiveness of sins and the inheritance we have. We are encouraged to write down some things we understand about God and some things we still don't understand. The “live out” questions would be great for discussion.

This is not a “deep” study. Each day's study can easily be done within the twenty minute suggestion. The most important part of each day is the “live out” section. Since we can easily fool ourselves, I think this study should be done in a group setting. The daily work could be done at home but the “live out” section should be discussed with others. I think the accountability found in a study group would bring greater value to this book.

Lenya Heitzig is an author and Bible teacher. She and her husband founded Calvary Church of Albuquerque. She oversees weekly bible studies and yearly retreats. She and her husband live in Albuquerque.

Penny Rose is the author of numerous books. She teaches at conferences and retreats nationwide. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband, Kerry, a pastor at Calvary Church.

David C Cook, 291 pages. Publisher product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament ed. by Daniel B. Wallace

2011-12-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

This is the inaugural volume of the Text and Canon of the New Testament series. All of the essays by the six authors focus in issues of textual criticism.

The first chapter frames the discussion the rest of the book addresses. The text of the New Testament we have is a result of copies of copies. Can we tell, through rigorous analysis of surviving manuscripts and scribal methods, what the original text essentially looked like? Did the early church get it right in evaluating and designating just the twenty-seven books of our NT as Scripture?

“One the one side,” writes Wallace, “are the King James Only advocates; they are absolutely certain that the KJV, in every place, exactly represents the original text.” (22)

On the other hand are those who say there is no hope of knowing the original texts since we no longer have the originals and there could have been tremendous tampering with the texts. The argument may be carried on to the theology derived from these texts. “According to this line of thinking, the message of whole books has been corrupted in the hands of the scribes; and the church, in later centuries, adopted the doctrine of the winner – those who corrupted the text and conformed it to their own notion of orthodoxy.” (25)

There are lots of manuscripts (more than 5,600), some 2.6 million pages of texts. There are more than a million quotes of the NT by the early church fathers. At least twelve of the manuscripts date from the second century. “Of the hundreds of thousands of textual variants in NT MSS, the great majority are spelling differences that have no bearing on the meaning of the text.” (40) Less than one percent of the textual variants are meaningful.

Wallace takes Bert Ehrman to task. A high proportion of Ehrman's examples could easily be classified as accidental, with no theological motives. Wallace critiques Ehrman's text-critical method, noting that Ehrman prefers the least orthodox reading.

Philip Miller investigates Ehrman's conclusion that the NT text was corrupted at the hands of orthodox scribes, to make the texts say what the scribes already believed them to mean. (58)

Matthew Morgan investigates the legacy and heritage of two eighteenth-century manuscripts and the text of John 1:1.

Adam Messer highlights one example of the attention Ehrman gives to historical evidence and the implications drawn concerning theologically motivated changes.

Tim Ricchuiti concentrates on the Gospel of Thomas, first considered primarily a Gnostic and apocryphal text, but now esteemed by some to be on the same level as the New Testament Gospels.

Brian Wright investigates the relationship of Jesus and Theos (God).

This book will best serve those who have read Bert Ehrman and his views on the transmission of the New Testament texts. That being said, anyone interested in the issues of scribal changes in NT MSS will benefit from this book.

The book is written on the academic level. The average layman will have difficulty following the precise work.

Kregel, 266 pages. Product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel Publications for the purpose of this review.

Live Reflectively by Lenya Heitzig

2011-12-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

Heitzig helps us dive into the life of Moses in Live Reflectively. She writes, “It is my prayer that as you gaze into the watershed moments of Moses you will experience life-changing encounters with God.” (11)

Heitzig divides Moses' life into three segments: forty years being somebody, forty years becoming nobody, and forty years leading everybody. She notes how the life of Moses mirrors that of the Messiah.

Each week of the study is divided into five days for your personal time with God. Each day's lesson has five elements.

First is “lift up.” You are encouraged to lift up prayers to God, asking for spiritual insight for the day. (These prayers are written out.)

Second is “look at.” You are asked to look at a portion of Scripture. Inductive questions are provided to help you understand the facts and other basic aspects of the passage.

Third is “learn about.” Sidebars are correlated to particular questions to help you understand what the text means. These sidebars might be a cultural insight, a definition, or a commentary.

Fourth is “live out.” Questions and exercises help you investigate how this passage is to change your life. You are challenged to live out the principles in the Word.

Fifth is “listen to.” The day's section finishes with inspiring quotes, sharing the wisdom gleaned from the lives of others.

Heitzig encourages you to journal. “By writing your insights from God day to day, you'll have a record of your relationship with Him that you can look back on when you need a faith boost.” (15)

This book would work well for personal or small group study. Heitzig has provided suggestions for both. The oversize book has plenty of room for writing.

The “look at” questions (to help understand the facts of the passage), are very simple. Here are the questions for Exodus 17:11-13:

What action did Moses perform that caused Israel to prevail?
What caused Amalek to prevail?
What happened to Moses' hands? What was the first thing others did to assist him?
How did Aaron and Hur help Moses?
How long did the battle last?
How did the battle end?

Someone who was in Sunday School as a child would already know all the answers to these questions on this well-known story. So there is nothing new there.

The strength in this lesson (and the others) comes in the “live out” section. The questions for this section deal with writing down a way you can come alongside your own leader.

David C Cook, 276 pages. Product information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Discovering Your Spiritual Center by David Teems

2011-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Life asks impossibly difficult things of us at times, and too often we can lose our way. We can misplace our maps that led us to the Father in the first place. We have drifted off center.

When Teems experienced this drift, he devoted himself to reading Psalm 119. He read the twenty-two sections in twenty-two days.

Strategy 119 is the application of Psalm 119. It is a progression, reading a section each day over twenty-two days. “With every movement toward the interior, the hope is that you will, with each successive day, surrender another part of yourself, that you will allow God permission to meddle deeply and effectively in your lean inner man to the finest possible detail.” (53)

Psalm 119 is Scripture about Scripture. It serve as a passage into all of Scripture. Before beginning, Teems asks just how willing we are, how badly we want to be caught up in the current of God.

The rules to his Strategy 119:

Read only eight verses a day (perhaps more than once). Do not skip a day.

Read them out loud. Listen to the creative Word.

If possible, isolate yourself. Try to keep a routine of time and place.

He includes a few “lesser” rules, such as including prayer and writing in a journal.

For each day, Teems has listed a quote from various authors, the portion of the Psalm, a short meditation, comments about the section's Hebrew letter, and a short prayer.

Teems adds many of his own insights. For example, for Day 11, on the letter kaph: “It resembles the palm of the hand. It is a symbol of nurture and protection, of paternity and comfort. Often the kaph includes a dot in the center that intensifies the image of one cradled in the palm of God.” (143)

Teems is a wordsmith. Here is his prayer from Day 20:

“I am an excess of wind and whine. I have been self-serving my entire life. I am the head and I am the tail. The greater part tail. Even some of my better intentions were fueled by my selfishness. Let the complaint in me die – the whine, the howl, the whimpering and needy little man. Breathe life into the neglected parts, the unfed and unredeemed parts. Save me according to your great love. You are Holy. Holy. Holy.” (189)

Teems predicts at the end of twenty-two days we will feel a “quickening of the interior.” (199) That fire will need maintenance. He suggests we read a portion of Scripture every day, and read it as a form of prayer. If we begin to drift out of center, return to the Strategy 119.

This book is a great tool to use when we get off track. Pick up this book and savor the work of Scripture in your life.

David Teems is the author of several books, a recording artist, songwriter, worship leader, and speaker. David and his family life in Franklin, Tennessee.

Leafwood Publishers, 202 pages.

http://www.leafwoodpublishers.com

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Jesus, the Exact Image of God - CEB

2011-12-23T06:13:00.000-08:00

This is John 1:18 in the Common English Bible:

No one has ever seen God.

God the only Son,

who is as the Father's side,

has made God known.

We find out more about how Jesus has made our invisible God known in Colossians 1:15. The CEB reads:

The Son is the image

of the invisible God,

the one who is first over all creation...

“Image” is eikon, in the Greek. It indicates a precise reproduction, not just a likeness. “Jesus is the very stamp of God the Father...” (p. 477, vol. 4, Word Pictures in the New Testament).

We find more in Hebrews 1:3. The CEB reads:

The Son is the light of God's glory and the imprint of God's being...

The word for “imprint” is charakter. It is used only here in the New Testament and comes from charagma, a stamp, impress. Robertson translates charakter es hupostaseos as “The very image of his substance.” (p. 336, vol. 5, Word Pictures in the New Testament) Robertson notes that hupostaseos indicates the being or essence of God.

Vincent says, “Here...the Son bears the exact impress of the divine nature and character.” (p. 383, vol. 4, Word Studies in the New Testament.)

Jesus is the exact representation of God's being, the exact representation of God's essence, His nature, His character. Perhaps that is why Jesus said no one could know God except by knowing him (John 14:6).

What is amazing to me is that we Christians are to become that image!

Rom. 8:28-29a says, in the CEB:

We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image is his Son.

And, if that was not enough, here is 2 Cor. 3:18b in the CEB:

We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory.

And yet again, Col. 3:9b-10 in the CEB:

Take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Mark 1:17 - CEB

2011-12-22T08:50:00.001-08:00

Church going people are familiar with the traditional “I will make you fishers of men” translation of Mark 1:17b. Many translations read this way, including the KJV, RSV, NASB, and NIV.

Here is the verse in the Common English Bible:

“Come, follow me,” he said, “and I'll show you how to fish for people.”

When the translators of the CEB came to this verse, they had the choice of following other modern translations (in the tradition of Tyndale) or producing a fresh reading. In contemporary English, it is important to communicate that Jesus was not speaking of evangelizing just males. How to render the Greek anthropon, a form of anthropoß, “a man,” is one issue. Also, “fishers” is a bit of an archaic term. And, “make” sounds like Jesus will force his disciples to fish.

The NLT translators tried to make this verse more understandable: “Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

The CEB takes one more step toward readability when it does not follow the original word order. (“and said to them Jesus come after me and I will make you to become fishers of men,” p. 138, The NASB Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, Alfred Marshall.) One additional step in translation is the use of the contraction, “I'll,” to make the passage readable to contemporary English readers.

One aspect of this rendering that bothers me is the translation of poihsw umaß genesqai. Marshall (see above) renders this, “I will make you to become.” The word poiew is a primary word, “to make, do.” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible) For me, saying Jesus will “show” them, just doesn't seem to convey the sense of the original. Perhaps something like “cause,” at least for me, seems to be closer to the original meaning. “I will cause you to become...”

What do you think? How would you translate Mark 1:17?

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Wayward Son by Tom Pollack with Jim Alves & John Loftus

2011-12-22T06:33:00.000-08:00

Amanda James works at the Getty Museum in California. An old flame asks her to come to Italy, to an archaeological site near Mt. Vesuvius. He needs Amanda's help. The team has investigated a narrow passageway that recently opened up. Their photography robot came upon huge doors with multiple symbols. Only Amanda has the knowledge to figure out the code to open the doors.

She does manage to open the doors and sees wonders. Contained in this room are artifacts from the centuries before Christ. She inadvertently steps on a device that closes the doors. She is trapped inside.

As she wanders the domed room, she sees a statue. When she grasps an odd pendant around a man's neck, her world changes.

She experiences a vision of Cain and his life after killing his brother Abel. Part of Cain's curse is that he does not die, but lives for centuries. He meets Pharaohs, Chinese emperors, Greek philosophers and Roman rulers. He marries and has children but continues to outlive them all. He is dogged by an evil spirit – Satan.

He eventually meets Jesus Christ in Judea and his life is forever changed.

Meanwhile, the book cuts back from time to time and the efforts to rescue Amanda from the underground room.

Cain's death is never recorded in the Bible. The idea of Cain being immortal is a unique idea. He cannot die and his wounds heal quickly. He participates in and at times causes historical events.

The historical aspects of this book are good. We see how Cain sneaked onto the ark and managed to live through the flood. We meet Homer and experience how he was encouraged to write down his stories. We meet Nero and are confronted with his hatred of Christians.

A very clever aspect of the book is the portrayal of Satan. That part of the plot I thought was very well done.

There were two aspects of the book I did not like. One was the abrupt change in storyline from Amanda to Cain. I had become quite interested in Amanda. We learn quite a bit about her, to the extent that I thought the novel was going to be about her.

Then, suddenly, and very abruptly, she is no longer the focus of the plot, Cain is. The periodic jumps during Cain's story to find out what is happening back at the archaeological dig in the current day, also seemed abrupt to me. That whole aspect of the novel distracted from the true storyline, I thought.

Also, the book is long. There were times when I got a bit bored – yet another major historical event to go through.

Nonetheless, the book is a great read from a unique perspective. One has to read through to the end to get the real impact of the story.

Go to www.waywardsonnovel.com to read the first hundred pages of the novel, find out more information, and how to buy the book.

Tom Pollack (center) has spent most of his professional life in the investment business. His passion for sailing gave him the inspiration for this book. His friendship with Roy Disney produced the release of a motion picture on the exploits of college-ages sailors. He lives in Dana Point with his wife and two children.

Jim Alves (left) recently completed a 25 year career in bond sales and trading. He is currently the CEO of a consulting firm. He lives in San Clemente with his wife and the two of their four sons still at home.

John Loftus (right) spent 23 years at an investment management company. He is active in philanthropy and non-profit organizations. He lives with his wife in Newport Beach.

Cascada, 512 pages.

I received an egalley of this book from the publicist for the purpose of this review.

Chapters and Verses in the Bible - CEB

2011-12-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

Should the Bible have verse breaks or not?

The Bible in the original languages had no chapter and verse divisions. Chapter divisions came in the 13^th century, created by a professor at the University of Paris, Stephen Cardinal Langton (d. 1228). The Bible had been without chapter divisions for over a thousand years!

Verses were introduced into part of the Old Testament by Santes Pagnino in 1528. Robert Stephens published a Greek edition with verses in 1551 and a Latin edition in 1555. The Geneva Bible, which came out in 1560, was the first English Bible divided into verses.

Some theologians have wished that verses would never have been added to the Bible. They seem to have been inserted rather haphazardly. Legend has it that Stephens made the verse breaks while on a horse. Some conjecture that it was a bumpy ride, making verse divisions where they were not needed, or in just the wrong place, such as in the middle of a sentence.

Some argue that the Bible should never be printed in separate verses. The text should be continuous, with verse numbers printed in the margin.

This was the style in which Eugene Peterson first wrote his translation, The Message. The chapter and verse range of the page was printed at the top of the page. It was only later, from popular demand, that verse numbers were inserted into the text of The Message.

Most translations are now printed in paragraph form with verse breaks indicated by superscripts. This is how the Common English Bible is printed.

Here is an example from the CEB to show how odd the verse divisions can be.

Ephesians 1:22-23 “²²God put everything under Christ's feet and made him head of everything in the church, ²³which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way.”

It would seem in one place the CEB translators didn't want to break up the thought by identifying separate verses.

Ephesians 2:4-5 “^4-5However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God's grace!”

It is important to remember that the chapter and verse divisions in the Bible were not done by people inspired by the Holy Spirit. Do you find that chapter and verse divisions are helpful or are they distracting?

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

The Legacy of the English Bible - CEB

2011-12-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

The Bible has not always been in English.

Parts of the Bible were translated into English as long ago as the end of the seventh century (Old English or Anglo-Saxon).

John Wycliffe, a 14^th century theologian, translated (or oversaw the translation of) what is known as Wycliffe's Bible. It appeared around 1382 to 1395. The translators used the Latin Vulgate Bible as their source. It retained much of the Latin style. While Wycliffe died of a stroke at the end of 1384, he was declared a heretic in 1415. His books were burned and his body was exhumed and burned.

William Tyndale (1494-1536) introduced an English Bible that had been translated using the Greek and Hebrew texts, in addition to the Latin text. Tyndale was arrested in 1535, tried for heresy and burned at the stake in 1536.

Tyndale created new English words when he could not find ones that appropriately reflected the original language. Perhaps the best known term he created it atonement (at-one-ment). He also introduced “Jehovah.”

When Tyndale translated Exodus 3:14, where God introduces himself to Moses, he did it as, “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.” This gives the correct sense of the Hebrew (ehyeh asher ehyeh), implying both being and becoming.

The KJV reads, “I AM THAT I AM.”

Several translations translate the phrase similarly but then add a footnote. For example, the ESV says, “I AM WHO I AM” then in a footnote says, “Or I AM WHAT I AM, or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.”

This is what the Common English Bible does. The phrase is translated, “I Am Who I Am” and a footnote adds, “Or I Will Be Who I Will Be.”

(Thanks goes to David Teems for the information on Exodus 3:14, in his latest book, Discovering Your Spiritual Center, p. 54.)

The Common English Bible is the most recent English translation, just having been released in the complete Bible this fall. It is only possible because of the great legacy of men who have, at times, given their life to produce a Bible in the language of the common people.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Ephesians 1:4-5 - CEB

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ephesians 1:4-5 reads in the Common English Bible: “⁴God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God's presence before the creation of the world. ⁵God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan...”

In the ESV, the sentence begins in 1:4: “In love ⁵he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will...”

The NASB is similar, as is the NIV.

The NET Bible reads: “⁴For he lovingly chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight. ⁵He did this by predestining us to the adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will - ...”

The KJV reads: “⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestined us...”

How does “love” get placed in the center of verse 5 in the CEB, the end of verse 4 in the ESV, NASB and NIV and at the beginning of verse 4 in the NET Bible?

In the Greek, the prepositional phrase, “in love,” actually appears at the end of verse 4. In Greek, the ending of “love” would indicate which word it modifies as it would have to have the same ending. The problem is, there are three words (or phrases) it could modify. There are no periods in this Greek text so “in love” could modify words that came before it (in verse 4) or words that come after it (in verse 5).

It could modify “chose.” It would seem the NET Bible has picked this possibility: “For he lovingly chose us...” In this case, love is the motivation for our election (being chosen).

It could modify the phrase “holy and unblemished.” This is the KJV reading. The NIV includes a footnote, “Or sight in love. He” so it does allow for “...holy and blameless in his sight in love.” In this case, it would seem that our holiness is closely connected to love.

It could also modify the predestining in verse 5. The ESV, NASB and NIV have taken this possibility. This reading is similar in meaning to that of love modifying “chose” as it gives the motivation for God's act of predestination.

I hope you see the difficulty of determining a precise translation of Ephesians 1:4-5. This, again, is why it is a good idea to consult several translations when studying the Bible.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Real - Stories by Shelley Malcolm, Photographs by Terilee Dawn Ouimette

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

What do your hands reveal? The rough skin. The weathered cracks.

Shelley had a dream and realized all people had something in common ... what their hands tell about them. Hands tell honest stories.

Photographer Terilee knew when Shelley contacted her that this was a project that would use the gift God had given her in photography. Photographing hands has changed her forever. She has learned to have the courage to understand the deeper side of people.

Caesar. "Tall and slender with his head held high, he walks with an air of gratitude in each step." His life is simple and his possessions few. He is from Sudan, orphaned at a young age during the Sudanese Civil War. He traveled the world and began to express his own voice in writing, exposing some of the terrors of the Al-Bashir regime. A target of the Sudanese rebels, Caesar remains in the U. S. under protection.

Franco. He is proud of his reputation as an automobile detailer. He was born and raised in Guatemala. He wanted to pursue higher education, then law school. But there were too many obstacles. He came to the U. S. Auto detailing may not have been his dream, but he is a role model of gratefulness and courtesy. He has a high standard of service. He is a hard-working father, knowing his dedication will allow his daughter to go to college.

Danny. After a long day of heavy moving and hauling, his joy is to come home and set his inner artist free. He presses his paint sprayer, finishing another large vehicle custom paint design. The sky is the limit. The universe with all its glory is his signature design. He loves to create. The freedom of his artwork has helped him survive the most difficult trials in life. Discarded items become a work of art in his hands. His swollen fingers reveal that he goes the extra mile when he works.

Gladys. "Her fingers are taking a shape of their own these days." To move them is painful. She can still write a letter, she enjoys reading her Bible. In her younger days she found her calling in her local Lutheran church. She help many positions before the ultimately became the designated writer of notes, acknowledgments, birthday greetings, and thank you cards. Her skill exemplifies "the art of letter writing." Now homebound, she is far from bored. Life is simple and visitors are treasured.

Woody and Kay. It was a surprise romance. He had just lost his beloved wife of sixty years. The hardest thing for him to do was continue on without her. Then along came Kay. They had known each other 80 earlier in elementary school. Now they were both widowed. Only weeks after the reunion they decided to get marries. In a few months they were married. The world again had a joyous light.

There are hands of builders and bakers, of students and seniors. There are young hands, old hands, and scarred hands.

The people in this book are not famous. They are inspirational, however. They are people who have overcome difficulties, and weathered adversities. They are people who play together, and work together.

They are people just like you and me who have made a difference with their hands.

You've just got to go to these websites to see more sample pages : http://marthamartha.net/ and

http://marthamartha.net/realexerpts/index_nobg.html

Greeting cards for sale: http://marthamartha.net/shop/shopnotecards.html.

Real - The Book from David Malcolm on Vimeo.

Buy the book: http://marthamartha.net/shop/shopbook.html.

Proceeds from Real go to various charities. Go to http://realthebook.blogspot.com/ for more information.

While this is her first book, Shelley Malcolm is no stranger to creative projects. She is co-owner and restorer on an historic chapel, La Perla del Mar in Shell beach, CA, and a set designer for theater and film. She was named Pismo Beach's Citizen on the Year in 2011 for her extensive contributions and involvements in the community. Shelley graduated from the university of Southern California with a degree in dental hygiene. Shelley and her husband live in Shell Beach, California. They have four adult children.

Terilee Ouimette loves art, people and traveling. Photography has been a great medium to combine her passions. She runs Terilee Dawn Photography. She has been married for five years and can't wait to see where life takes her next. You can see her work at http://terileedawn.com/ and follow her blog at http://www.terileedawn.com/blog/.

I received a complimentary copy of this beautiful book from the author for the purpose of this review.

Raised Right by Alisa Harris

2011-12-18T13:36:00.000-08:00

“For nearly all my childhood and adolescence, on into early adulthood, politics gave my faith meaning,” Alisa writes, “Politics was...my way of proving I believed what Jesus said: 'Take heart! I have overcome the world.'” (5) A vision of a godly America was Alisa Promised Land. In her worldview, faith and politics were inseparable.

Then she ventured out into the world and found that her confidence in “culture-war politics” was shaken – so was her faith. “This book,” Alisa writes, “was born out of my search for a faith that's more than the sun of my political convictions and for a meaningful way of living it out.” (6)

“Less than half of young evangelicals identify as conservative, compared to nearly two-thirds of their parents.” (8-9) Fewer and fewer are identifying with the Republican party.

Alisa writes for young Christians navigating “the difficult waters where the currents of faith and culture collide.” (9) She writes for parents, to help them understand, “Our actions and beliefs are an expansion of the principles of justice and love that they imparted, not a rejection of those principles.” (10)

She writes of her early political training: “By electing the right people and defeating Satan's human emissaries, we could usher in heaven on earth.” (39) “I spent a year at community college believing that standing up for Jesus meant making myself the most obnoxious student in class.” (57)

Alisa eventually came to realize, “America is not a 'uniquely Christian' nation, and it never was.” (88)

She shares her growing discomfort with combination of Christianity and politics, her feeling of sickness at the revelation of her own nation's brutality. She was struck again with Jesus' words about meekness and peacemaking.

When the time got closer to the 2008 election, she realized, “I refused to make abortion my single-issue voting creed.” (151) She voted for Obama.

“I used to think that anyone who was poor had only himself to blame, that America is a magical and glorious place so overflowing with opportunity that anyone who's struggling is simply not working hard enough or looking hard enough or finds it more convenient to live off the hard work of others...” (184) “But something changed when I encountered the recession and unemployment first hand. Now when I look at the unemployed and destitute, I see what I might become if my life moves just a few steps in the wrong direction.” (186-7) “I've begun to understand the soul-numbing reality that outside forces … shape my fate.” (192)

She participates in demonstrations, “Because God made everyone and we can't treat human beings that way.” (211)

Alisa has gone from carrying a George W. Bush tote back to protesting corporate greed, from weeping for joy at the national anthem to singing it with the pang of loss. Nonetheless, she will pass on to her children: to care, to love, to take heart.

I recommend this book to young evangelicals and parents alike. It will help both of them understand the frustrations and changes occurring in the realm of faith and politics in the U. S.

Read Alisa's blog.

WaterBrook Press, 222 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Press for the purpose of this review.

Advent - CEB

2011-12-18T07:02:00.000-08:00

You probably use a calendar to keep track of passing days. The church has been using a calendar for centuries, called the Liturgical Year. Since it focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus, it begins with Advent. This Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Advent.

While some denominations do not recognize the Liturgical Year, many do. As Joan Chittister writes in her book, The Liturgical Year, the annual emphasis on the life of Christ is like a spiral. Each Advent we experience the deeper meaning of Christ's birth. During the Advent time, we long for his coming and prepare for it.

There are particular Bible readings assigned to the Liturgical Year. It seems that some denominations and individual churches assign their own Scripture for the various days of the seasons. This Advent moves to Year 2 in the readings from The Book of Common Prayer. The Scripture portions for this Fourth Sunday in Advent (taken from the Revised Common Lectionary at the online resource http://www.crivoice.org) include:

Psalms 24 and 29 in the morning and Psalms 8 and 84 in the evening. The Old Testament reading is from Genesis 3:8-15. The Epistle reading is Revelation 12:1-10 and the Gospel reading is John 3:16-21.

Here is the Gospel reading in the Common English Bible:

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won't perish but will have eternal life. God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn't judged; whoever doesn't believe in him is already judged, because they don't believe in the name of God's only Son.

“This is the basis for judgment: the light came into the world, and the people loved darkness more than the light, for their actions are evil. All who do wicked things hate the light and don't come to the light for fear that their actions will be exposed to the light. Whoever does the truth comes to the light so that it can be seen that their actions were done in God.”

If you would like to participate in a planned reading of the Scriptures that follows the Liturgical Year, I would suggest visiting The Voice, the web presence of the Christian Research Institute. The readings are an adaptation of the liturgical schedule and do not use the Apocrypha.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

http://CommonEnglishBible.com

Brothers and Sisters - CEB

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Galatians 5:13 reads in the Common English Bible: “You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only don't let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love.”

The English Standard Version reads: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only ...”

The New American Standard Bible: “For you were called to freedom, brethren ...”

The New International Version: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called ...”

The New Living Translation: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But...”

The key word in the Greek is adelphos. It means “brother.” (Philadelphia, city of “brotherly” love.) Some recent translations have taken the liberty of frequently including women when translating this term. So adelphos becomes “brothers and sisters.”

In general, translators are very careful to include women only when mankind in general is indicated by the context. When the context indicates reference only to males, the translators will keep that indication in the translation.

In Galatians 5:13, I would hope no one would think that Paul was speaking only to men, that only men have been called to freedom. As a woman, I am happy to see sisters included along with the brothers in the call to freedom.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Changes in Word Meanings - CEB

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is 1 Thess. 4:15 in the King James Version of the Bible: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”

Here is how the verse reads in the New American Standard Bible: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”

The Common English Bible says: “What we are saying is a message from the Lord: we who are alive and still around at the Lord's coming definitely won't go ahead of those who have died.”

What's going on? The Greek word translated “prevent” in the KJV is phthano, a verb, “to come beforehand.” So why does it say “prevent” in the KJV? In the 1600s the word “prevent” did not mean “to stop,” as it does now, but actually “to come before.”

Language is always changing. Words change their meaning, especially over hundreds of years. In order to have a translation accurately represent the original Hebrew and Greek, it must be updated from time to time, reflecting the change in language.

The Common English Bible is a new translation written to make it accessible to a broad range of people. It was designed to be at a comfortable reading level for over half of all English readers.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Isaiah 7:14 - CEB

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel.” (Common English Bible)

The Revised Standard Version (full Bible released in 1952) was the first translation to challenge the KJV reading of Isaiah 7:14. The Hebrew word ha'almah was translated “young woman” rather than the traditional “virgin.”

The word ha'almah appears in the Old Testament seven times. Of those appearances, the Septuagint had translated it as “virgin” (parthenos) two times, one of which was Isaiah 7:14. Another Hebrew word, batulah, appears some fifty times in the Old Testament. The Septuagint and English translations agree that batulah means “virgin” in almost every case. (One can argue if Isaiah meant to definitively indicate a virgin, he should have used batulah.)

Part of the issue is philosophy of translation. Does one interpret ha'almah purely on the word's meaning, or does one keep in mind Matthew 1:23?

Dennis Bratcher, in an online article, notes that “research reveals” that it is likely ha'almah means “a young woman of marriageable age” (old enough to bear a child). He also notes that in Isaiah 7:14, harah ( masculine verb in the perfect tense, “he conceived”) must modify the feminine noun ha'almah. It is an adjective that should be translated, “pregnant [young woman].”

He gives suggested translations based on the Hebrew text, including “the pregnant woman is about to give birth to a son...” He also notes that the linking verb (“is”) can be understood. This would yield “the young woman [is] pregnant” and says this is how Luther understood the phrase.

Here are how other translations have interpreted this passage:

The Message: “A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant.”

The Holman Christian Standard: “The virgin will conceive.”

Amplified: “Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive...”

Contemporary English Version: “A virgin is pregnant...”

English Standard Version: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive...”

King James Version: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive.”

New American Standard Bible: “Behold, a virgin will be with child...” (Footnote “or maiden”)

New King James Version: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive...”

Young's Literal Translation: “...Lo, the Virgin is conceiving...”

New Century Version: “The virgin will be pregnant...” (Footnote: “The Hebrew word means “a young woman.” Often this meant a girl who was not married and had not yet had sexual relations with anyone.)

The Good News Translation: “...a young woman who is pregnant...” (Footnote: The Hebrew word here translated “young woman” is not the specific term for “virgin”, but refers to any young woman of marriageable age. The use of “virgin” in Mt. 1.23 reflects a Greek translation of the Old Testament, made some 500 years after Isaiah.)

New Revised Standard Version: “Look, the young woman is with child...” (A footnote does acknowledge that the Septuagint reads “virgin.”)

A quick Google search revealed many articles about this issue.

How would you have translated this phrase?

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

God is Red by Liao Yiwu

2011-12-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

Liao Yiwu is not a Christian. Having grown up in the 60s, he writes, “My generation was told that religion was the tool employed by the imperialists to enslave people...” (14) Yet, he was interested in Christianity and interviewed many Christians to understand its place in China.

He interviewed Sister Zhang Yinzian, over a hundred years old. Her account of surviving the Communist takeover is heartbraking.

Liao went to Dali and spoke with Wu, an elder in the church there. Born in 1924, Wu told of his conversion, how open religious activities were banned during the Cultural Revolution, and church assets seized. Wu and his wife were accused of being spies for the “imperialists” who had left. They were tortured. In 1980 they were notified they could again hold the Sunday services that had been banned for over two decades.

Liao attended a church service in Dali, the only unbeliever there. He writes, “People took turns urging me to remove my worries and submit myself to God.” (78)

He visited Yunnan province and interviewed Dr. Sun. He had been a Communist official when he became a Christian. He resigned his position at the hospital and traveled around treating the poor for free. In 2009 his work was banned, the government accusing him of “ulterior motives.” He received an invitation from a Chinese church in the U.S. He came to the U.S. in 2009 and has not been allowed to return to China.

Liao tells the story of Wang Zhiming (through an interview with his son), who ministered in China's Yunnan province, was arrested and executed in 1973. Wang's son was himself arrested in 1976 but then released in 1980 and cleared of all charges.

Liao spoke with the most venerated Christian elder in Zehei County, Zhang Yingrong. Zhang was taken from seminary imprisoned during the Land Reform Movement. Zhang said, “Before 1982 nobody dared worship publicly. If we were caught, we would have to go through the same public denunciation meetings. Gradually, Christianity spread secretly among villages. In the past couple of years, the policy loosened up and there has been a revival. People flocked to God in droves, village after village. In the old days, people were fervent supporters of Communism. Nobody believes in that now. Even some Communist Party members have come to worship God and confess their sins. Some even donated money to help repair our church.” (125)

Liao interviewed Yuan Fusheng. His father had been imprisoned in 1958. He was granted parole in 1979. For the following ten years he was not to leave his residence in Beijing and had to regularly report his activities and thinking to the local public security bureau. His father soon resumed his religious activities. When asked about the government reaction today, Yuan said they get harassed regularly. It usually coincides with the political situation in Beijing. “They make it hard for fellow Christians to gather and hear my father's sermons.” (178) When the police come, Yuan said, his father stands up to them. “We are all Christians and, despite the challenges,” Yuan said, “I think the future looks bright here in China.” (179) (Note: Yuan's father passed away in 2005 but Yuan carries on his work.)

Liao interviewed Liu Shengshi who, though indoctrinated in Communism, became a Catholic in 1989. “By 1980, as China opened to the West, the government had somewhat relaxed its control over religion...” (192) Yet Liu has been imprisoned several times. She stays home and locks her door and prays. (196)

This is by no means a definitive record of Christianity in China. Liao has provided vignettes of individual Christians and their experiences. These stories are encouraging, even if Liao himself has never come to believe in Jesus. Liao's book shows once again that light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it! (John 1:5)

HarperOne, 231 pages.

Red Letter Bible...or not - CEB

2011-12-14T06:11:00.000-08:00

When I received my Common English Bible last week I was excited to see that it was black letter. That is, the words of Jesus in the New Testament were not in red.
I prefer "black letter" Bibles. I never did understand the motivation behind marking the words Jesus spoke while on earth in a style different from the rest of the Bible. To me, it was all God's word.
Another reason I prefer black letter is because (and I am going to "stick my neck out" here, so to speak) nearly everything Jesus said while on earth was in the Old Testament era. Even though the gospels are placed in the "New Testament" section of Bibles, the "new testament" era did not actually start until Jesus' death and resurrection.

Unlike me, you may want a red letter Bible. The CEB is available in both the black letter and red letter editions. You can browse the various editions of the CEB here.

Whether you have a red letter Bible or a black letter Bible, the important thing is that...you read it!

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Being Content at Christmas - CEB

2011-12-13T05:51:00.000-08:00

I was reading a devotional the other day that drew attention to Philippians 4:11b. The Common English Bible reads, "...I have learned how to be content in any circumstance."
"Content" in the Greek is autarkes, "self-sufficient" (autos, "self," and arkeo, "to assist, suffice").
Warren Wiersbe writes, "The word content actually means 'contained.' It is a description of those whose resources are within them so that they do not have to depend on substitutes without." (Day 337, Pause for Power) Wiersbe is quick to add that we Christians are not sufficient in ourselves but only because Christ is in us.
It is tempting at Christmas to not be content, to think that just one more thing will be sufficient for happiness. With Christ living within (Col. 1:27), we have all we need to be content.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Take a Test Drive of the CEB

2011-12-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

If you were going to buy a new car, you'd want to take a test drive, wouldn't you?
How about taking a "test drive" of a new translation before you buy?
The people who published the Common English Bible have provided a web site where you can do just that!
You can look up any verse you'd like and see how it reads in the CEB. Just go here.
They've also provided a site where you can download some PDFs and listen to MP3s of the CEB. You'll find that here.
And the CEB has some cool maps by the National Geographic. You'll be able to see them here.
Check it out! Look up your favorite verse and see how it reads in the CEB!

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Triple Dog Dare by Jeremy V. Jones

2011-12-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

It must be a guy thing. Before you know it, they are daring each other and then...the Triple Dog Dare! The king of dares. You just have to man up and do it!

Jeremy has a Triple Dog Dare that is greater than all others.

Guys like challenges. They want action. They like to be doing something.

This book is about doing faith. It is about putting faith in God into action.

Jeremy has arranged this devotional so that on every weekday there is one Bible verse or passage. Then there are some short thoughts about a real-life situation. Following are three Triple Dog Dares – ideas to put the theme of the day into action. At the end are a couple of questions, called Mission Accomplished, where results from yesterday's dares are written down.

On the weekend there is a section called Make Triple Dog Tracks where guys are encouraged to create something cool, like a movie or Noah's ark out of Legos. There is a section of stories about guys in the Bible who accomplished God's Triple Dog Dares.

Jeremy has provided plenty of journaling space so guys can record their thoughts. Guys are challenged to deal with some serious issues, like, “My biggest mistake I'd like to erase is...” The Triple Dog Dares are a variety of actions, anywhere from talking to parents about an issue, to writing a letter, to complimenting ten people, making snack packs for the homeless, donating your old clothes to charity, eating lunch at school with a kid who always eats alone, etc.

The graphics are great, just what guys aged 9-12 would like. The book is oversized and that might be a little intimidating to some boys.

The devotions are aimed at turning guys hearts toward God, inspiring them toward godly characteristics. It is a manual to help boys deepen their relationship with Jesus.

Product information and video trailer.

Jeremy Jones is an award winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor for Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He, with his wife and two children, lives in Colorado.

David C Cook, 384 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from David C Cook for the purpose of this review

Why another translation? CEB

2011-12-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

Why do we need another translation?

This year celebrated the 400^th anniversary of the King James Bible. Have you read it lately? The language has really changed since 1611, hasn't it?

And language keeps changing. I have been reading The Message this year. Even though it is less than two decades old, I though that some of the idioms were already out of date. (Do young people really know what it means to be “called on the carpet” or that a fellow got on “his high horse”?)

In a recent blog by Paul Franklyn, associate publisher of the CEB, he notes some changes that have been made in the language of the CEB. A few are:

“Officials” is generally used instead of “nobles.”

“Chest of the covenant” instead of “ark of the covenant.”

“Change your heart and life” is preferred over “repent.”

The CEB uses contractions because that's how we talk today.

The CEB has a form of “reconcile” or “reconciliation” instead of “atonement.” Franklyn points out that “atonement” was a word made up by William Tyndale in the 1500s.

Do you find the change of words used in recent translations useful or confusing? Do you still like the archaic language of the King James Bible? (I know some still pray in the language of the King James Bible.)

I try to do my daily devotional Bible reading in a different translation each year. Often a change in the way a verse is worded will make it new to me. I'll gain some insight I hadn't seen before. I'll be reading in the Common English Bible in 2012.

To see Paul Franklyn's blog, go to their blog archives and scroll down to the blog titled “From the King's English to Common English.”

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Die Young by Hayley & Michael DiMarco

2011-12-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

“God wants you to die young today.” (15) Michael says, “to die young for me was to remove me as the center of my world and to put God and others in my place – loving and serving them as much, if not more, than I do myself.” (14) Hayley's death was slow and painful, the dying to self. But, she says, “I was finally at peace, finally dead to this world and living for Christ.” (13)

“Those who die young are emotionally bulletproof or close to it, because they have already died to everything in them that another person could damage or break.” (17) “When you die young you bury yourself fully in Christ.” (18)

There will be suffering. It is important to let that suffering destroy in you that which separates you from God otherwise you waste your suffering. “In matters of the spirit suffering teaches us more than happiness ever could.” (26)

Dying young leads to contentment. When you die young stuff matters less. Your “sanctification means the death of the part of you that clings to things that God rejects.” (31)

Dying young means you give up trying to engineer your own life. Dying young is dying to your own need to be loved so you can love others more. “To die young is to become invincible to the attacks of man, because the one who has died young can no longer be separated from the love of God.” (39) Dying young means you'll be humbled. You'll die to complaining, to needing to win, to being “perfect,” to pride, to your desire for stuff.

Dying young means you'll turn over your weakness to God's strength. You'll find true freedom in being a slave of Christ. You'll find peace in confessing your sins. You will find out that Christ's blood is enough. The victory is already done.

Hayley and Michael leave you with this advice: “You are never too old to die young. It is never too late.” (172)

In addition to Scripture, Michael and Hayley have included sidebars giving their own experiences. They know what they are writing about. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what it really means to die...and gain life.

Hayley DiMarco is the founder of Hungry Planet, where she writes and creates cutting edge books. She has written numerous best-selling books for both teens and adults. She blogs regularly at www.hayleydimarco.com and disciples girls at www.godgirl.com.

Michael DiMarco is the publisher at Hungry Planet as well as creative director. He has written numerous best-selling books for both teens and adults. He blogs regularly at www.michaeldimarco.com and ministers to young men at www.godguy.com.

Michael and Hayley live with their daughter just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

See videos at www.crossway.org/dieyoung

Crossway, 175 pages.

I received an egalley from Crossway for the purpose of this review.

Translating the Bible - CEB

2011-12-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

I am of Dutch descent. A favorite word of my mother's was “gezellig.” When referring to a gathering of people, it could mean warm, cozy, or friendly. After a meal, it could mean very satisfying food. When she would say, “Oh, that was so gezellig,” we would know exactly what she meant. But how could we translate that into English? Was it warm? No, she wasn't talking about the temperature of the room. Was it cozy? Well, no. We weren't even sitting close to each other. What is great food? Maybe not. Maybe it was the conversation over the meal. But then again, maybe it was the food, the conversation, the closeness...all of that.

Trying to capture the true meaning of words is what Bible translators do all the time. It is a hard task, as I hope you recognize with my example from my mom. That is another reason why a “word-for-word” translation of the Bible is not practical.

So how do Bible translators do it? Frequently they work in teams, reviewing each one's work, talking over the possibilities, them coming to a conclusion.

Because it is so difficult to have one English word represent one Hebrew or Greek word, it is a good idea to consult a variety of translations and compare them. The Common English Bible invites you do to that at their website.

Because we live in a world tainted by sin, I don't think we'll ever have the “perfect” translation. Be a diligent Bible reader and compare translations. You might want to add the CEB to your library as another translation to consider.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge

2011-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

“A true knowledge of Jesus is our greatest need and our greatest happiness,” Eldredge writes. (140) We were meant to experience Jesus intimately. He is convinced that it takes a bit of uncovering to know Jesus as he is. Hence this book.

Eldredge begins with the account of the resurrected Jesus and hid disciples who have recently returned from fishing (John 21:1-12). “Playful, funny, so human, so hopeful, so unreligious.” (6) The story helps us see Jesus as he really is. “The man is not religious.” (6)

Eldredge writes that for us to know Jesus intimately, it must be as he wants to be known – his personality: playful, cunning, fierce, impatient with all that is religious, kind, creative, irreverent, funny. (12)

With biblical stories and personal experiences, Eldredge illustrates these characteristics of Jesus. He emphasizes how human Jesus was. He got dirty. He was sweaty. He was astonished.

Jesus was a man of disruptive honesty. “One of the things I most respect about Jesus, “Eldredge writes, “is his inability to speak nonsense.” (74) He valued honesty above his own reputation.

Examples of Jesus' humility include his learning to walk as a toddler, learning to tie his sandals (none of us are worthy to untie), the exhaustion, the need to eat. Jesus was truly himself (not who others wanted him to be). Jesus was free from the fear of man.

We were meant to know this Jesus, to share life with him, to live his life. (140) We were meant to love him.

Eldredge encourages us to let Jesus be himself. “Our experience of Jesus is limited most often by the limits we put on him!” (154) “You will find Jesus pretty much as you expect to.” (155)

Eldredge wants us to pay particular attention to Jesus' warning against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matt. 16:6,11) “If you would know Jesus, love him, experience him, you must pay very careful attention to this warning.” (168) Today, the yeast is “religious fog.” The fog might be words and activities that look good but “distort our perceptions of God and our experience of him.” (168) “Lots of really goofy stuff [is] going on out there in the name of Jesus.” (169) It's hard to recognize because the people are so sincere.

More fog is the culture of the church and Eldredge admonishes us to separate it from true love of Jesus. “A wing nut talking about Jesus does far more damage that fifty atheists.” (171) We are to watch out for false reverence, concentration on knowing about God (rather than knowing him), confusing power displays or religious activity, false humility, etc.

“The bottom-line test of anything claiming to be of Jesus: Does it bring life?” (209)

Eldredge has given as a good challenge to know Jesus as he is meant to be known, putting aside our contemporary culture and interpretations.

John Eldredge is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart^TM in Colorado Springs. John is the author of many bestselling books, some coauthored with his wife of twenty-eight years, Stasi.

FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group, 225 pages.

Translations - CEB

2011-12-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

In the 33 years that I owned a Christian bookstore, I sold hundreds of Bibles. I saw the introduction of many translations. I remember when the Living Bible was released (that padded green cover). I remember the criticism Ken Taylor received and the controversy surrounding the paraphrase. I remember when the NIV was released. There was controversy then too, as it was a “dynamic equivalent” translation.

What makes a “good” Bible translation? That's a tough question. Do you want readability? Then you may have to sacrifice literalness. Do you want to be as close as possible to the original languages? Then you may have to sacrifice readability.

Paul Franklyn, associate publisher of the Common English Bible, notes in a recent blog that if translators followed the syntax of the original languages in Bible translation (a true “word-for-word” translation), the resulting text would unreadable in English.

The CEB is a new translation with the goal of making God's Word accessible to a broad range of people. It is written so that over half of all English readers will find it readable. A hundred and twenty scholars from twenty-two Christian faith traditions from around the world participated. The translation was reviewed by 500 international readers.

It is called “common” because it was built on common ground, a collaboration of liberals and conservatives, scholars and average readers, teens and retirees, men and women.

The translation was funded by the Church Resources Development Corp., which allowed for cooperation among a number of denominational publishers.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon

2011-12-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

Alison Taylor is a social worker whose passion is protecting children from harm. Now it seems someone is out to harm her. She is receiving phone calls that only reveal heavy breathing. She evades telling her overly protective brothers about them, even though both of them work in law enforcement.

Brother Cole sets Alison up on a date with the new detective in the department. Mitch is a former Navy SEAL and recent NYPD SWAT member. Alison reluctantly agrees to this one date.

Alison had no desire to activate her love life. She'd recently been hurt terribly when her fiance had rejected her after it became clear she could not bear children – the result of an auto accident.

But when Alison and Mitch meet, there is instant attraction between them. Alison insists they take it slow.

The blossoming romance is interrupted when her pursuer leaves a bouquet on her doorstep. Black roses with a deadly card. Mitch and her brothers work out a protection plan but it fails when Mitch's father might be experiencing a heart attack. Alison is kidnapped. Will her brothers and Mitch find her in time before her attacker has his revenge?

The first part of this novel I found a bit slow. But the second half is a page turner. All of the parts come together to an exciting attempt at rescue. The main characters are Christians and their faith is well done. The romance is presented well too. I have read several of Hannon's novels and this is a good one.

This is the second in the Guardians of Justice series. You may want to read the first one, Fatal Judgment. This novel reads very well on its own, however.

Irene Hannon has written more than 35 novels. She has won two RITA awards from the Romance Writers of America, The HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. See more at www.IreneHannon.com.

Revell Books, 337 pages.

NLT Giveaway

2011-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

There is a giveaway happening at the New Living Translation Facebook Page.

Giveaways include Apple iPads, Hardcover Life Application Study Bibles, and the Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (including five Bibles)!

Enter today as the contest ends December 24th!

Common English Bible

2011-12-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

I received my new Common English Bible* yesterday. I right away turned to John 1:5 as a friend and I had just been discussing the various translations of that verse.

This is the CEB:

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness doesn't extinguish the light.

The reason for the discussion was that one Bible (NRSV) read:

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.

But another Bible (ESV) read:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Our discussion was about the “overcoming.” Was the reference to something in the past (“did not” in the NRSV) or to something still happening (“has not” in the ESV)?

I had looked up the verb tenses in Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament. In the Greek, it is the second aorist active indicative of katalambano. Robertson gives this idea, “The light keeps on shining in spite of the darkness that was worse than a London fog...” (page 8, volume v).

In my mind, the idea seemed to be that the light keeps on shining despite the darkness still all around. John was not only writing about Herod or others trying to snuff out the light of Jesus while He was on earth. John was writing prophetically, perhaps, that even now the light of Christ cannot be extinguished by the darkness.

So it was with great interest I turned to John 1:5 in my new CEB. I was very pleased with the translation. That's it exactly! The light is shining! The darkness doesn't extinguish it!

I hope you'll be a part of that shining light dispelling the darkness.

I am taking part in a blog tour of the Common English Bible. I'll be blogging more about this Bible as the days go by.

You can see the blogs of others taking part of this tour here: http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour

*I received a complimentary copy of the CEB from its publisher for the purpose of this blog tour.

Firethorn by Ronnie Kendig

2011-12-08T05:40:00.000-08:00

The novel begins with Nightshade being attacked, at their own “secret” warehouse. Most of the members of the elite team are taken into captivity and are ultimately placed in dangerous situations – situations where torture is sure and death is probable.

The the wives and children of the Nightshade men come under attack as well. Then the General and his wife disappear.

The General had hired a “wonder woman” to spring Griffin from prison and then rescue the rest of the team. But she has a history and it catches up to her, almost ruining the rescue efforts.

The big question is who had the inside information to bring down the Nightshade team? What was the motive? Lambert and the others struggle to figure out what could be happening in the world that is so important or so valuable that the Nightshade men had to be kept out of action.

Many ghosts from the past are resurrected as the team members struggle to understand what is happening. The characters struggle with their Christianity, trusting God for forgiveness and restoration.

I like Kazi, the new character (although she worked with Aladdin once before). She's a spunky woman. As a spark ignites between her and Griffin, both must work through their pain. The trust between the two is hard in coming.

At times Kendig's writing style irritates me. For example:

“Pop! Pop!

Thwat

Tat-a-tat-tat!

The sounds of a gunfight in the distance blazed through him.”

Do we really have to have “BooOOOoom!”? Or “Thwump.”? Personally, I'd prefer not to have the sound effects written out as it makes me think I'm reading a Batman comic!

Sometimes her staccato writing leaves me in the dark. I'm not sure who is speaking nor what was actually said.

So why have I read them all? The plots are great! The action is fast. I just breeze through the parts that puzzle me and concentrate on the parts I “get.”

There are discussion questions at the end of the book. The questions are good. There are some really great issues as part of the plot and the questions make you think about them. This would be a good choice for reading groups.

Ronie Kendig has partnered with Soldier's Angels, a volunteer nonprofit organization that provides comfort and aid to our troops and their families. Find out more at http://www.soldiersangels.org.

Ronie Kendig is an Army brat and married an Army veteran. She has a B.S. In psychology and is active with the American Christian Fiction Writers and mentors new writers. Find out more about her and the book series: www.roniekendig.com or www.discardedheroes.com.

Publisher information and video. This book releases January of 2012.

I received an egalley of this book from Barbour Books for the purpose of this review.