Burden of Proof - A Review

 

Burden of Proof

by

Davis Bunn

[Ethan] was the prodigal son, the scourge of his family, the man who threw away his heritage and only took from life what he wanted. And only when he could do so in utter selfish abandon.

He had been granted the opportunity to come home. Not because he deserved it. Far from it. Even so, he had returned to the only family left to him. A brother who had abandoned Ethan to the fate he had demanded for himself. And then welcomed him back with open heart and arms. (p. 167)

I read two chapters and I was ready to walk away - it did not catch my attention. But I continued on - by the end of the book, I had unexpected tears in my eyes. The book was great.

Davis Bunn has combined science fiction, legal thriller, and medical drama, into a surprising story that works well. Ethan was dying from a cancer that would soon take his life. It was then that his sister-in-law contacted him and asked him to go back 30 years in time to save his brother’s life and marriage. Both Ethan and this reader were skeptical, but with a flash of light and a stopped heart, he made the trip. He immediately stumbled into legal and medical dramas that Ethan and his brother, Adrian, would need to work through.

This retelling of the “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11–32) allows Ethan and the reader time to reflect on the Grace of God in a modern setting - a lesson we all have to learn.

This book, this parable, belongs in the church library and the public library. It touched this reader’s life and reminded him of faith lessons without a heavy dose of religiosity. After finishing the book it easily receives a 5-star review.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Advent for Everyone - A Review

 

Advent for Everyone
Matthew

by

N. T. Wright

Most of what I see from N. T. Wright is more scholarly than devotional, but this book is definitely different. Designed around the four weeks of advent, this book presents four weeks of undated devotions centering on the advent season borrowing on the book of Matthew.

The 28 devotions are selected from passages scattered throughout Matthew. The first two weeks draw more from the later chapters of the book; as the dates draw closer to Christmas, they draw more heavily from the advent story found in Matthew. The individual devotions are lengthier (three pages) than most devotional writings - but they are good, deep, and practical, as would be expected from a writer such as N. T. Wright.

This is a reprint of a book originally published in 2016 and it is one of three advent devotionals prepared by the author - the others are based around the Gospel of Luke (2018) and the writings of the apostles (2019). The book would easily find a place in a small group or a family setting. It would also make a fine set of readings for individual devotions during the four weeks of advent.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Trinity: A Review

 

The Trinity

by

Scott R. Swain

I am not a theologian, but I sometimes play one on Sunday mornings. Nevertheless, it was a privilege to read and review this 160-page monograph. Dr. Swain (PhD., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) presents a classic reformed doctrine of the Trinity. With the exception of those who followed the Trinitarian Controversy of 2016, there will be little to argue within this small book.

The book reads as if it were taken from the chapters of a systematic theology text discussing the Trinity. As stated in the introduction, the author desired to address the issues raised by Wayne Grudem and Bruce Ware surrounding the relationship of the Father to Son, and the Father and the Son to Holy Spirit. Though these issues are addressed, they are done so in a manner that elevates three members of the Godhead, not diminishing the role or relationship between the three persons of the Trinity. He addresses the issues addressed in 2016 in the same way he addresses Arianism and Subordination addressed in the first millennium of the church’s history.

This reviewer was encouraged to reread Grudem’s Trinitarian theology as he read Swain’s work. Because the Trinity is wrapped in the mystery that is God, I am not as bothered by the teaching of Grudem as long as it is balanced against the classical teaching of the church. Standing alone, Grudem, et al., could raise red flags in our understanding of our Triune God. Note, Grudem is republishing his systematic theology even as I am writing this - I will be looking forward to his thoughts in 2020 following the discussions of 2016. With a fifty-year-old seminary education, the book was a great refresher on an important doctrine.

The book is well documented, both from the scriptures and from writers representing the church’s thought and teaching during its 2000-year history. Though the ARC which I was provided for the review, did not contain them, the completed volume will contain both a general index and a scripture index which will add value to the finished book. For the reader wishing to review their basic theology or as an ancillary text for a theology class in Bible College or seminary, this book will have a key place.
_____________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Stand Strong (Deluxe Edition) 365 Devotions for Men by Men - A Review

 

Stand Strong
(Deluxe Edition)
365 Devotions
for Men by Men


by

Our Daily Bread

Written by the same people who create the quarterly Our Daily Bread devotionals, the 365 devotions in this book follow the same format. Each dated devotional consists of a suggested scripture passage to be read followed by a key scripture.

Following this is a brief devotional along with the author’s name. Each page ends with some blank lines appropriate for the reader to make personal comments or prayer requests. The devotions are contributed by nineteen different authors - some are familiar to this reader, others were not.

I found the devotions to be practical - including clear to-do’s of one sort or another. Though the book is addressed to men and many of the stories used have a masculine perspective, the lessons are generic enough that couples could easily use the lessons for a year of devotions together. 

I do have two concerns. First, all the authors are male. My other concern was the lack of an index - there is no scripture index, topic index, or author index. The book does include a list of the 19 contributing authors, but the reader has no way of determining which entries were written by which author except by visually scanning all 365 entries. An electronic edition would allow the reader to search the book since each individual entry includes the author’s name. These two flaws warrant only 3-½ stars.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

When I’m Having A Bad Day - A Review

 

When I’m Having
A Bad Day

by

Christian Publishing Company

The author has selected 200 scriptures to provide support for the believer who faces the everyday problems of life. Each scripture is labeled with its source and is given a one-word tag identifying its role in supporting the Christian. Except for a short book introduction written by Minister Will Brown, no devotional material is included. No Biblical index is included; however, an index to the tags is included at the rear of the book.

The book would make a great gift for anyone going through a hard time - filling a real need for the believer, but even unbelievers will be encouraged to think about their faith as they deal with the scriptures presented here.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

On The Run - A Review

 

On The Run

by

Traci Hunter Abramson

On The Run is a romantic-thriller that runs non-stop from beginning to end.

Elle, a freelance investigative reporter, is having lunch with her sister when suddenly her sister chokes and dies - and thus begins her run for life. She finds unexpected help from Ghost, a member of a secret group designed to carry out missions too sensitive for the CIA or FBI. Their escape will take them from Germany to Switzerland, France, Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland. The reader will be exposed to public, artistic, and historic landmarks as they seek to run to

safety and discover the motive and the individuals seeking their death and attempting to bring corruption to the center of the US government. It would be a crazy two weeks.

I could not put the book down. I stayed awake longer hours than needed - but was not disappointed for doing so. Easily found to be a five-star read.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.