Indescibable : A Review

Indescribable:

Encountering the Glory of God in the Beauty of the Universe
(Illustrated Edition)

by

Louie Giglio and Matt Redman

A Review

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

(Psalm 19:1)

Science has made the truth of this scripture increasingly more obvious. Louie Giglio and Matt Redman have taken the time to compile images along with their commentary to illustrate this truth as well.

The book belongs in every church library and it belongs on the coffee table of every believer. Though that was where I read it, it does not belong on an e-reader. The images are gorgeous, the text is thoughtful. As Francis Collins once wrote, as quoted by the authors, “BY INVESTIGATING GOD’S MAJESTIC AND AWESOME CREATION, SCIENCE CAN ACTUALLY BE A MEANS OF WORSHIP.” (Capitalization in the original).

The next time I am out camping and look up into the night sky, I will remember that I do serve an awesome God.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

The Search Committee : A Review

The Search Committee

by

Tim Owens

A Review

People are broken - whether they are member of a church or not, whether they are members of a search committee or not, or whether they are pastors looking for a place to serve. Tim Owens understood this as he wrote The Search Committee.

The book draws the reader in - I became attached in small ways to each member of the search committee and to others. I found tears as Pastor John found his voice anew and as Matt realized the grace he was allowed to show to Julie. I cried for Dot and Bill as they each experienced loss in their unique ways. As Pastor John says in one sermon, these events are all evidence of the brokeness that is part of the human race. And it is for this brokeness that Christ gave his life.

God is not about meeting perfect people - God reaches out to imperfect, broken people, and uses them where they are. And when he does, amazing things can happen. This is the story of The Search Committee.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Star Trek Volume 1 : A Review

Star Trek Volume 1

by

Mike Johnson

A Review

In 2009 Star Trek took a trip into the past on the movie screen with a prequel to the original TV show. Star Trek Volume 1 begins where the movie ends - preparation for the sequel to the earlier movie coming later this year.

The art work is good - particularly Spock. The characters are interesting - even as their character changes, the reader hurts and wonders what will become of the Enterprise and its crew.

Finally, the story is as good as Star Trek gets - except, unlike a 60 minute TV episode, this story is “To Be Continued” - and one will need to purchase Volume 2 to see the rest of the story. But if it is a well written as Volume 1, it will be worth purchasing.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

The Encounter : A Review

The Encounter:
Sometimes God Has To Intervene

by
Steve Arterburn

A Review

As a mathematician, I learned about intersecting lines.  As a counselor, I understand that the same is true of lives.  Steve Arterburn’s newest book illustrates this truth.

Jonathan “Gold” Rush and Ada Rose Guthrie had separated some 30 years before - but the effect on both of them was greater than either could imagine.   Jonathan’s return to Fairbanks Alaska only seemed to extend the discomfort both would feel in the few days he would spend in 17 below (and worse) weather.  Perhaps it is understandable - stepping over and reliving 30 years of time is not easy.  But, as the subtitle says, sometimes God has to intervene.

Steve Arterburn’s story is fictional, but it has its roots in the stories of two men - one whom he knew, one whom he had observed.  The two stories are woven together to reveal how two (or is it three) lonely people learn to care for each other.   The love they find is best described in Ada’s favorite hymn:

There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior;
There is healing in His blood.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
 
We may not need to travel 5000 miles to find the grace we are looking for, but we do need to allow God to teach us to forgive - lessons both Jonathan and Ada had to learn.

This review is based on a free electronic copy
of the book received from the publisher
for the purpose of creating this review.
 

Spontaneous : A Review

Spontaneous

Written by Joe Harris

Drawn by Bret Weldele

A Review

Spontaneous is a well done story told as a graphics novel. Melvin Reyes’ father was the first, but not the last person to burn from SHC - Spontaneous Human Combustion. The novel focuses on Melvin’s attempt to discover the “why” beyond these events. The story has the qualities one would expect of a good mystery or thriller - it draws the reader in and then resolves itself without the use of magic or other worldly science fiction.

The artwork is not typical “comic art”, but make use of water color and pencil drawings - done effectively with this book.

As well as being a well -written story, it also addresses issues that face all of us in the 21st century. Particularly, it addresses the ethics of big business as it goes about developing new products - one can almost hear echos of the UK publisher, speaking to their recent cell-phone hacking scandal, “Ethics … I don’t even know what that is.”

This review is based on a free

electronic copy provided by the publisher

in order to create this review.

Letters From A Skeptic : A Review

Letters From A Skeptic

by

Dr. Greg Boyd

A Review

Letters have long been a means for those who are a part of the Christian Church to communicate truth. Over half the New Testament are letters, the letters of Augustine, Luther, and Wesley are all studied by scholars to help better understand these leaders of the church. Many have been introduced to the formal study of theology and apologetics by reading C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. In 1994, Greg Boyd contributed a set of letters between his father and himself.

Boyd’s father had given up on the church and faith years ago - perhaps it was a position that was cemented when his wife died, leaving him to raise his children as a single parent. Over the years, the resentment, the anger, and the confusion had grown - to the point, that as the book begins, he is not certain about what he does believe; though he feel fairly certain about what he does not believe.

It is at that point that Dr. Boyd and his father begin a two years correspondence concerning the major issues the unbeliever has when he or she considers Christ as Lord and Savior. The compiles this correspondence topically and somewhat chronologically. Issues are address one by one - using history, philosophy, and scripture. The answers are accurate and well thought out, though rarely getting heady or unintelligible.

I have two concerns about a book of this caliber that is now entering its 4th edition. The first is the lack of documentation. With very few exceptions, the author does not provide references for scripture (whether quoted directly from an English translation or merely a paraphrase written on the fly by the author). The same is true for statements made from third party sources. I can understand why these were not part of the original correspondence; but as the book enters its 4th edition, it would make sense to add the references - even while clearly noting that they were added to the original letters years after they were written.

The second concern is that a book that is entering it 4th edition provides no path for further study. Again, though not part of the original written correspondence, it would seem important to guide the reader in discovering additional resources that explain the ideas discussed in the book. The addition of a set of discussion question covering each topic does help the reader in processing the ideas - but provides not guidance in better understanding the history, philosophy, or scriptures that support those ideas.

The book would make a great textbook on apologetics with the addition of references and suggestions for further study. In a classroom, these missing elements can be provided by the instructor; but the reader is at a loss if the book is being read without the direction of an experienced teacher.

But even with those flaws, the book still serves as an excellent tool for evangelism. As the author makes clear, by the end of the correspondence, Ed Boyd (Dr. Boyd’s father) did come to faith. It has served the same purpose in the lives of others. It will continue to be so in the lives who read it in the future.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher.

Free Books for Your Kindle

Read Your Kindle For FREE

Having spent a chunk of change on a Kindle,
I was excited to find that there are lots of FREE books available. Over the last year or two I have found a number of sources for FREE book - most of which are relatively new books, not reproduced public domain works.

Here is that list:

Amazon.com

http://amzn.to/A0Y1S7 Top 100 free books

http://amzn.to/srjsrx None public domain books

Books on the Knob

http://blog.booksontheknob.org/ First blog that I discovered with free books

Ereader News Today

http://ereadernewstoday.com/ Post lots of books throughout the day

Pixel of Ink

http://www.pixelofink.com Post a number of books throughout the day

eReader IQ

http://www.ereaderiq.com/free/ A web site with links to 2-3000 free Kindle books

These links are listed in the order in which I discovered them; and, except for the last, I have used them regularly to add to my own library.