A Sherlock Holmes Devotional - A Review

A Sherlock Holmes Devotional

Uncovering the Mysteries of God

by

Trisha White Priebe

Sherlock Holmes - it is a name that should turn the most ungodly of criminals white with fear.  I do not know if the author saw this parallel as she wrote, but it explains why Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and the variety of crooks, thieves, and murderers, their paths crossed can serve up a month of spiritual lessons for us mere mortals.  

Most devotionals leave me wanting - they are so shallow that they do not touch my heart.  This book is not deep - but with the blend of insights into the world of Sherlock Holmes and into the spiritual world in which we find ourselves I found myself wanting to read more and more. I returned nightly to Ms. Priebe's thoughts, not because I had a review to write, but because I was learning increasingly more about one of my early heroes and about the God who loved me.

The Congregation - A Review

The Congregation

by

Desiree Bombenon

A Review

I almost did not read “The Congregation”; I found the first book in this series so disturbing that I felt that it might not be worth my time.  My concerns were only partially correct. I found this newest book starring Jake and Amanda Bannon to be less offensive and somewhat positive in its presentation.

The earlier book had so much graphic violence that I had to, at times, put it down and walk away before I could continue. The current book did have violence, but not to the extent that I had to walk away. The current book also avoided the use of unexpected explicit sex - the other fault I had with “The Offering”.

Two themes seemed to be driven home by Ms. Bombenon in “The Congregation”.  The first was the ultimate consequence of abuse - whether from parents to child, spouse to spouse, or church leaders toward congregants under their “care”.  Those who are abused are affected by that abuse - and it spreads until someone says, “Stop.” This does not mean people are not hurt, but the abuse does not need to continue being spread.

The other focus of the book is redemption - even the most abuse, the most damaged individuals may have something powerful and positive to offer to those around them. At the same time, abused and hurt individuals may not find redemption. They are so damaged, so wrapped in the life they have created, that they cannot see the good that could come from their lives.

Though wrapped in a package surrounded by religion and the church, the book is not a Christian book. Abuse occurs within the walls of the church; redemption comes not from the church, but in spite of it.  That faith is almost totally absent from the story does not mean there is no value within its pages.

The bottom line: read with care. Though the themes are ones with which my followers will be familiar, they are not presented in a typical fashion.  If this is done, you, like me, may find value in Desiree Bombenon’s latest work of fiction.

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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 opinions expressed are my own.

The Offering - A Review

The Offering

by

Desirée Bombenon

A Review

It is not often that I read a book that I cannot recommend, but this is one.  Its use of graphic violence and explicit sex, with no warning in the book description, put this book into a short list of books I wish I had not read.  Sadly, this is not the only book by this author I will be reading.  I had agreed to read the second book in this series before noting that this book, the first in the series, was also available for review.  There may be some who find this type of book satisfying, I and, I hope, my followers do not.

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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 opinions expressed are my own.

NIV Zondervan Study Bible - A Review

NIV Zondervan
Study Bible

Edited By

D. A. Carson

A Review

Some 40 years ago I sat under the teaching of D. A. Carson for Greek Exegesis.  It was my third or fourth semester of seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Worse than that, it was Dr. Carson’s first seminary class at Trinity.  Though I had done okay in my first two semesters of Greek, I felt over my head under his tutelage.  

So  now, 40 years later, I have the opportunity to get revenge. But having spent a couple of weeks with his newly released Study Bible - I have no intention of doing so. The word that came to mind as I opened the package containing my review copy was, “Massive.”  And I have not been able to shake that initial feeling.  At nearly 4000 pages, this book is more than a Study Bible.  It is truly a single volume Bible Commentary, a set of theological essays, and a rather well-done, though compressed, concordance.  

Articles are written by a variety of scholars from the Reformed or Baptist heritage - with an obvious lack of representation from Wesleyan/Holiness  schools or churches. Not surprising given that Zondervan is the publisher, but disappointing, none-the-less, for a work of this size.  

This reader enjoyed the formatting of the book. Notes are clearly set aside from the Biblical text by giving them a light green background, while the Biblical text has a more standard white background.  The use of full-color pictures  throughout adds value to the work.  A number of tables summarize important topics - the tables also make use of tables to help important columns or rows stand out.  As with most Study Bibles, the appendix includes a good supply of Bible maps; unlike some, the body of the book also includes a large number of colored maps which supplement the notes. The hard copy also includes access to an electronic copy of the book.  

I have a few favorite Study Bibles - the NIV Zondervan Study Bible will/has become another of those favorites.  I will be consulting it often - I suspect others will as well.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

War Room - A Review

War Room:

Prayer Is A Powerful Weapon

by

Chris Fabry

A Review

See the movie; read the book.

Read the book; see the movie.

I was privileged to see the movie upon which this book was based about four or five months before the movie will released to the general public. I was impressed. A layman, who accompanied me to the theater, said it was the best Christian movie he had seen. He might be right.

This past month, I was privileged to have the chance to read the book which was based on that movie – at about the same time as the movie was being released. I was not disappointed.

The movie presents a MACRO view of the power of prayer – we see the big picture of prayer in the 120 minute film. Details are there, the focus for many will be the impact that prayer has on the people and families presented in the film. On the other hand, the book presents a MICRO view of the power of prayer – the reader is able to see details, hear lessons, and feel the power of prayer. The book presents, not just a story, but over 400 pages, a set of insights that any believer will want to discover about his or her own prayer life.

Clara Williams would impact many people – families would be changed, people would renew their faith, and a community would be improved. In the movie we see it happen – and stand back, awestruck, as God accomplishes his work. But we also see it happen in the book; but there we see it happen step by step by step – and we have the opportunity to grow as the books characters grow. We learn, see, and understand the lessons that are taught by Clara to the people in her life.

As I said earlier:

See the movie; read the book.

Read the book; see the movie.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Candy Corn Murder - A Review

Candy Corn Murder

by

Leslie Meier

A Review

A number of years ago, I had read almost all of Leslie Meier's holiday murders. Those books got pushed aside as I began reading an increasing number of books for review. But some things cannot remain buried forever, and they will come back again. And so it has.

Candy Corn Murder is not Ms. Meier's best cozy mystery, but it did hold my attention. The story develops along two paths – the one following the murder as it occurred in 1979, the other in the present as the Lucy Stone and her friends stumble through the clues to discover the true circumstances of the missing wife. The present setting is Tinker's Cove, Maine, where the first annual Giant Pumpkin Fest is about to begin. The biggest problem proves to be that if held as scheduled, secrets that some thought were long buried were going to be exposed.

The plot moves along at a nice pace – but reaches its end too abruptly. From major plot events, to conclusion, to wrap-up, the book seems to miss a potential climatic end. For a book that has a major, underlying theme, it is lost as the books wanders through its last few paragraphs. As the author wrote her final paragraphs, they should have been woven into a two or three separate chapters:

1. Drawing the mystery to a close
2. Wrapping up a number of secondary stories involving miscellaneous characters
3. Tying a pink ribbon around the important thesis which the final event of the book addresses

In not doing so, the reader is forced to blink as the book moves between each of these pieces of the story.

The book, none-the-less, is worth reading. In spite of its flaws, it comes with a high (five-star) recommendation. Leslie Meier has again presented an excellent tale in the midst of another holiday season.

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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 opinions expressed are my own.

NKJV Foundation Study Bible - A Review

NKJV Foundation

Study Bible

A Review

This new study Bible does have a number of features which allow it to stand out:

1. I have always enjoyed the NKJV – the use of this translation adds value to this new book.
2. The notes are extensive – opening to random pages revealed six to twelve notes on facing pages – nine being average for the pages I checked.
3. The presence of both study notes and theological notes were of interest – though the distinction between the two is not always clear in content or format (see below).
4. The more distinctive feature for the theological notes are the included indexes – both in Biblical or and in topical order.
5. The typical Bible Concordance and colored Maps were also present. Though common to study Bibles, their absence would have been clearly seen.

But what should have been a well-done study Bible seems less than useful to this reader. A number of factors contribute to this conclusion:

1. The study notes are “based on the notes originally prepared for The NKJV Study Bible”, but include no indication of how they may or may not differ from that original book.
2. Theological notes, which I assumed to be new, are supposedly written in a different font from other notes. This difference is not significant enough to enable this reader to distinguish “Theological” notes from “Study” notes. It may have been more useful to use a serif font for the theological notes.
3. The hard cover book which I was provided uses a very small print for a study bible. Though readable in bright light, trying to read by anything but a bright light is difficult at best. I was tempted to grab a magnifying glass as I prepared this review.

I am pleased to have this study Bible in my possession – but it will probably not be the first such Bible I consult. Does it have value? Yes. Does it have great value? I do not think so. Having said that, I am reminded that, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” [Is. 55:11 NKJV] I am convinced that God will use it in His way and in His time.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.