This was my first book I've read by Dr. Chuck Missler and I learned quite a bit. Dr. Missler, a Biblical scholar and penetrating analyst, analyzes BibThis was my first book I've read by Dr. Chuck Missler and I learned quite a bit. Dr. Missler, a Biblical scholar and penetrating analyst, analyzes Biblical passages in the context of the entire Bible. You quickly begin to see parallels between Genesis and Jesus ministry.
Going further, Dr. Missler shows parallels with the cities of refuge, the book of Ruth, and the campaigns of Joshua and Jesus's life and death. His point is none of this could have been planned in advance by human intelligence--only a God outside of time and space can see the future.
This short book is packed with many more treasures. Happy treasure hunting....more
Dr. Joseph Miller does a good job analyzing the convergent interpretation of Genesis versus other creation accounts prevalent in history. The convergeDr. Joseph Miller does a good job analyzing the convergent interpretation of Genesis versus other creation accounts prevalent in history. The convergent interpretation says that Genesis borrows the creation accounts of other civilizations around the ancient Hebrews.
Dr. Miller shows Genesis contrasts sharply with these other accounts by being strictly monotheistic, with no other gods involved. Genesis is also distinct in that God creates the universe ex nilio, that is, by pure will, not out of pre-existing material. This shows the natural world is contingent on God and God is outside the creation.
This short, scholarly book clarifies what Genesis is and what it is not....more
Addison Bevere does a good job of creating a fresh approach to prayer. He focuses his approach around the Lord's prayer, but he redefines each elementAddison Bevere does a good job of creating a fresh approach to prayer. He focuses his approach around the Lord's prayer, but he redefines each element in new ways.
His perspective is integrating all the elements of prayer into every part of life. This is a difficult goal, but an achievable one.
Bevere gives a unique view of common Christian themes of brotherhood, forgiveness, love of God and forces you to think about them in new ways.
One critique I have, and it may be only my perspective: he has a very non-linear way of writing. He doesn't tell you where he's going until you get there. That's fine in fiction, but for non-fiction I prefer logical transitions from one subject to the next. I want to know the topic and the point of the story or discussion in each sentence or paragraph. If I get a long, complicated metaphor, I want to kow the point before I start....more
What a wonderful explanation of basic Christian principles! Author Miles Stanford explains both the theory and practice of Christian living and growthWhat a wonderful explanation of basic Christian principles! Author Miles Stanford explains both the theory and practice of Christian living and growth.
He begins with the cross and explains that trying hard to overcome sin is not enough. We must totally die to sin and realize our death daily. But our death leads to our resurrection in Christ. Having Christ live in us is how we triumph.
How can this miracle be achieved? Not by us. But Christ has already done it. It is up to us to believe and to claim His life and to live it through faith and perseverance.
Mr. Stanford draws from a wide range of respected Christian authors and teachers as well as many quotes from the Bible to prove his points.
I recommend this book most highly to anyone who wishes to learn about Christianity.
Author and scientist Hugh Ross does a great job of examining the subject of Biblical inerrancy. First, he traces its history from the Hebrews to the CAuthor and scientist Hugh Ross does a great job of examining the subject of Biblical inerrancy. First, he traces its history from the Hebrews to the Christians until today. He shows how it was a fundamental and indisputable doctrine until the last century or two. He shows how it came into disrepute, first among atheists and agnostics, then liberal Christians. Recently many evangelic and conservative Christians have begun questioning inerrancy.
Dr. Ross reviews the arguments against inerrancy and then he refutes them from a scientific point of view. Dr. Ross came to faith as an atheist and agnostic, who became convinced of the Bible's inerrancy by its scientific accuracy, especially with regard to to Genesis 1. He reviews the six days of creation and shows how they correspond to known epochs of the earth's history. He also shows how the Hebrew word for day can refer to an indeterminate period of time.
The scientific aspects of this book are clear enough for a layperson to understand. Dr. Ross's arguments will make believers and non-believers reconsider their previous views of the Bible.
Overall, this is a readable and stimulating discussion of the Bible and science....more
You'll never read the New Testament the same way again. Your whole Christian viewpoint may change as you learn the full Informative and Inspirational!
You'll never read the New Testament the same way again. Your whole Christian viewpoint may change as you learn the full meanings of common Greek words used in many well-known verses of the New Testament. Words like 'authority' and 'rebuke' will completely change before your eyes as you delve into what they mean in Greek.
I highly recommend this book for any Christian or student of the New Testament....more
I'm continuing to read books by Amy-Jill Levine just because her writing delights me. She's logical, factual, opinionated, truthful, honest, and at tiI'm continuing to read books by Amy-Jill Levine just because her writing delights me. She's logical, factual, opinionated, truthful, honest, and at times, very funny.
In this case, Ms. Levine tackles the extremely contentious relationship Jews and Christians have had for 2,000 years. All she does is review how Jews read the Bible and compare it with how Christians read the Bible.
In either case, she's highly qualified to comment. She's a teacher of New Testament studies at a Christian college while also being a rabbi. She must have a voracious appetite for reading because she covers both Christian commentaries of the past 2,000 years and Jewish Rabbis, found in the Mishnah and elsewhere.
Any student of the Bible who wishes to understand both Christian viewpoints and Jewish ones should read this book....more
In the tradition of John Bunyan and CS Lewis, Calvin Miller has written a poetic allegory. What is it about? Nothing less than the whole Bible, from GIn the tradition of John Bunyan and CS Lewis, Calvin Miller has written a poetic allegory. What is it about? Nothing less than the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are called the World-maker, the Singer, and the Invader respectively. Satan is called the World-hater. Through poetic imagery Mr. Miller depicts the creation, the fall of mankind, and redemption through Christ. He continues the story through the church age and the spread of the gospel, right up to the new heavens and the new Earth and the end of Satan.
Those who know and love the Bible will love this book. So will those who delight in imaginative descriptions and detailed metaphors. The book has my highest recommendation....more
What a great read and commentary on Jesus's parables! Dr. Amy-Jill Levin peals away mistaken interpretations, humorously showing how incongruous they What a great read and commentary on Jesus's parables! Dr. Amy-Jill Levin peals away mistaken interpretations, humorously showing how incongruous they would be to 1st-century Jews. She taps her knowledge of Judaism as a rabbi, the Mishnah, and the history of the Jews to unravel the context of Jesus's parables.
Although she is not a Christian, she has expert knowledge of the New Testament and treats it and Jesus with the respect due to a great rabbi.
As a final dollop of sweetness on a great dish, her books contains many humorous observations and puns which will delight the reader....more
Pastor Jim Cymbala writes another great book, straight from his experiences as a pastor in Brooklyn New York. He records seven amazing stories of peopPastor Jim Cymbala writes another great book, straight from his experiences as a pastor in Brooklyn New York. He records seven amazing stories of people near death in desperation and depression who are miraculously rescued from their addictions and problems by Jesus Christ.
Many times the situation seems hopeless as you read these first-person accounts. But always, as some point in their lives, Jesus Christ enters in and saves the day.
Usually, the rescue, the transformation from utter depression to joy, takes years. Sometimes it's less. But each unique story shows God's intervention in our lives today....more
Archeologist Joel Kramer does fine work in examining ten digs in the Holy Land where God has appeared. His method is to document each layer of the excArcheologist Joel Kramer does fine work in examining ten digs in the Holy Land where God has appeared. His method is to document each layer of the excavation, from the present-day building to each structure that preceded it.
One site was Abraham's grave at Machpelah. Another was the church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. Most digs had at least six layers going back to the time of Jesus or before, to the time of Abraham. Dr. Kramer tied each to the Bible verses describing them, showing how the archeological evidence lined up with what the Bible says.
I recommend this for any student of the Bible, archeology, or history....more
N.T. Wright gives a vivid and personal account of the book of psalms and why it is essential for any Christian liturgy and all Christian worship. It'sN.T. Wright gives a vivid and personal account of the book of psalms and why it is essential for any Christian liturgy and all Christian worship. It's vivid for he uses the dimensions of time, space, and location to describe both the Psalms and how man and God have interacted for thousands of years.
Man's experience with God begins in the garden of Eden, which is then replicated first in the tabernacle and then in the Temple. Through the Temple man and God can interact and fellowship together. With the destruction of the Temple, Jews needed the Psalms to remind them of the Temple, the tabernacle, and the Garden.
Psalms holds in tension the problem of evil and the promise of good from God. Both are shown throughout history, in the past, present, and future. Yet from beginning to the end, the Psalms hold out hope in God solving all the evil with His judgment and setting right the evils of the world. This will be accomplished through God's king, the Messiah, and His kingdom, which will cover the earth.
The personal aspect of this book is how Psalms has been a part of Mr. Wright's life since boyhood when he began to read the book every day, 5 psalms a day, so he could read the whole book every month. They became like breathing for him.
Altogether, the book is a fresh and inspiring view of the book of Psalms, one which will encourage you to read them for your own daily liturgy....more
Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer church in Manhattan has written a wonderful book about the prodigal son.
He reviews the parable about the dissoluteTimothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer church in Manhattan has written a wonderful book about the prodigal son.
He reviews the parable about the dissolute younger son who claims his inheritance and then squanders it all. Broke, feeding pigs, and starving, he realizes his error and returns to his father begging to be hired help, not worthy to be his son.
His father behaves opposite of what the son and society expects. He welcomes him with open arms, puts him in his own robe, with his own ring, and holds a feast in his honor.
But all is not well. The elder son, who never went astray, resents having to divide what he has again with his irresponsible brother. He even complains to his father, 'This son of yours..." He doesn't acknowledge him as his brother.
The parable closes with the father begging him to come into the feast and rejoice that his brother who was thought dead is alive again.
Timothy Keller shows how culturally shocking this parable was and what it means for Christians today. We tend to fall in rule keepers or independent thinkers as humans. Both lifestyles are in rebellion against God. The younger brother didn't want to be subject to his father's rule. The elder brother tried to control his father through his obedience. Neither showed love to him, but only to his possessions.
And that is just scratching the surface of this little book of 130 pages.
Highly recommended for both Christians and non-Christians to understand what Christianity is really like....more
One of Paul's earliest letters to the church he founded at Galatia. Like many of his letters it has both encouragement and correction.
The correction One of Paul's earliest letters to the church he founded at Galatia. Like many of his letters it has both encouragement and correction.
The correction is that the Galatians are being deceived into a false gospel. Paul re-establishes his credentials to them and shows how wrong-headed they are. If they are saved by the gospel he preached, why go after another one?
The falsehood was that they needed to be circumcised and observe all the Old Covenant to be saved. But they'd already received the Holy Spirit. Let Him guide them and bear the fruit of Galatians 5:22 "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. "
In many ways, Galatians is like a miniature version of Romans. Read it and learn how you can bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit....more
This is the first book I've read by Tony Evans, although I've heard him preach on the radio. He's a very direct, in-your-face type of preacher.
His wrThis is the first book I've read by Tony Evans, although I've heard him preach on the radio. He's a very direct, in-your-face type of preacher.
His writing style is also direct, but entertaining, full of anecdotes and stories from his life illustrating his points. In this book pastor Evans reviews 14 of the hundreds of names of God from the Bible. He shows where the name comes from and what it tells us about God and how we should relate to Him.
This is a very practical book for Christians, giving us very specific ways to approach God with confidence, knowing His Name tells us what He will do in various circumstances.
I'd give this 5 stars, but I reserve that for books that are still popular after fifty years. This may be one of them....more
The apostle Paul, apostle to the Gentiles wrote this letter to one of his churches he founded years before on an earlier mission. Corinth was a city oThe apostle Paul, apostle to the Gentiles wrote this letter to one of his churches he founded years before on an earlier mission. Corinth was a city of depravity and sexual perversion, yet the Corinthians had followed Christ eagerly when Paul was there for 18 months.
Now he had reports from their pastor Apollos that they were dividing into factions. He lambastes them for preferring one minister over another, pointing out that each minister performs a different function.
He also corrects them for tolerating sexual sin, where a man was living with his mother-in-law. He tells them to put the man out of their church.
They also are eager to possess supernatural gifts such as tongues and yet they cause confusion in the churches with multiple people speaking at once. He insists tongues be paired with the gift of interpretation or the speaker should be quiet.
This all leads to Paul's discourse on 'the most excellent way', the best gift of all, the gift of love. This chapter alone makes the book worth reading, as it has been for 2000 years.
3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love....more
Pastor and writer Dallas Willard has mentored pastor and writer John Ortberg. John has taken Dallas' words of understanding from studying scripture thPastor and writer Dallas Willard has mentored pastor and writer John Ortberg. John has taken Dallas' words of understanding from studying scripture through his lifetime and written it into a book.
What does it mean to live in Christ's Presence? Recognizing we are in the Kingdom when He is with us we can live now in His Kingdom. We can realize He can lead us through all our life and all our problems. We can be a blessing to every person we meet. We can lead them to discipleship in Jesus Christ.
There's nothing more to be said. May this book be a blessing to you as it was to me....more
Here's an excellent readable book on prayer that motivates you to pray! Craig Groeschel is candid and open about his prayer failings and his attitude Here's an excellent readable book on prayer that motivates you to pray! Craig Groeschel is candid and open about his prayer failings and his attitude shortcomings--which are remarkably similar to mine.
Basically, we get into a rut and don't pray the kind of prayers we read in the Bible, like Psalm 139. The dangerous part?
"23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts![c] 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting![d]"
That's just the first dangerous prayer. Do you dare to ask God to search you for evil? If you want God to speak to you directly, give it a try.
Craig Groeschel has two more dangerous prayers for you too. They're even riskier than this one!...more
1 Samuel deals with Samuel and the rise and fall of King Saul. Saul was the first king of Israel and he was chosen by the consensus of the people beca1 Samuel deals with Samuel and the rise and fall of King Saul. Saul was the first king of Israel and he was chosen by the consensus of the people because he was tall and good-looking.
Saul started well, well victories over the Philistines, but he soon went off the rails. He had trouble following directions. He was to wait until Samuel came before any offerings were to be done--but he didn't. He was to completely defeat Agag and exterminate his forces--but he saved the best of the spoil at the people's behest and King Agag. After that, God rejected him.
Next king up, David. The complete opposite of Saul, who was 30 when he became king, David was anointed at 17, before his 7 older brothers. He was full of faith and zeal, beginning his public career with a bang--slaying Goliath, who had been calling for one-on-one combat for 40 days.
There's a lot more, death, destruction, battles, intrigue. But this should give you a feeling for the book.
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