Saturday, April 28, 2012

Jesus and His World by Craig Evans

I must be missing something in the debate on the historic accuracy of Jesus.

Evans lays out a few examples of how archaeology has proven the Jesus from Bible was a real person and not a legend created for the church. But what he selects to prove his point are areas that I didn't think are too significant.

This may be because I'm not an expert discussing these matters. The areas in this book are:

Growing up in Nazareth - this discusses the reality of what Jesus would have experienced in his youth and how that affected his life.
Synagogues - The Bible talks about Jesus spending time in these buildings but were they actually part of the life in his day? Evans shows that they were.
Could Jesus read? - This is obvious but I was wondering what the point was. Would it matter if he couldn't? How would that disprove his existence?
Jesus vs the Priests - this deals with the strong confrontations between the two.
Jewish burial traditions - again obvious.

These are not the areas I would tackle when exploring the existence of a person. The talking heads and researchers must be pointing out areas that aren't "juicy" to make headlines but to look at the surrounding areas. While it's good for evidence, I didn't get much to help me in my belief or debates.


This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Westminster John Knox Press

Courageous

At just over two hours, this movie feels a bit long.

Other than that, Courageous is the best yet from Alex Kendrick and Sherwood Pictures.

First we had a used car salesman, then a football coach. Next came Kirk Cameron and the firefighters and now we have police officers.

Like a television sitcom from the 90s, the main theme of this movie is handed to you in a very obvious way early on - this story is about being a good dad. The focus is on four officers who must deal with how to be good dads. Many of the plot lines are telegraphed early. There won't be the twists in many of today's films but this movie is actually quite solid.

The acting is great. (Coming from Sherwood Pictures this is amazing!) The humor had me laughing out loud multiple times. (I loved the Snake King in the back of the police car!) I really liked how they dealt with the father and his teenage daughter. It was your typical, "she likes a not-so-good boy" and with her dad not agreeing with the relationship until trust is earned, I was expecting a brooding, hostile teen. But the father/daughter scene in the restaurant was exactly how it should go.

Unlike Facing the Giants in which everyone got what they wanted in the end, this movie has some real-life consequences. Not everyone gets what they want.

I was impressed about everything in this film. It just proves that you can make a fantastic movie without having to resort to graphic nudity or language. While God, church, and Jesus are mentioned and they do come up in conversations, the religious aspect didn't feel shoved in my throat. It may have been that I knew what it was coming into the movie so it didn't catch me off guard.

This is a 4-star movie with great lessons for dads in our society. A guilt trip? No, it's a call to integrity.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Necessity of an Enemy by Ron Carpenter Jr.

I had some weird feelings about starting this book. It sounded like one of those books written by a wealth & health preachers. Then I looked at Carpenter's website and my hopes sank even further.

This book is basically Ron Carpenter's defense of a get-rich-quick scheme that had him and his church in hot political water.

A guy came up with one of those "can't lose" claims and took Carpenter, who goes by Apostle Carpenter, and his church's single mom's ministry hook, line and sinker.

There are eight parts to read through and each segment within these parts are only two to three pages long. It's a quick read of Carpenter's personal experiences with challenges and enemies.

He then pulls examples from Joseph and David to explain how God will use these super negative experiences for your good - that it will, in fact, be your best opportunity.

There is a study guide at the end of this book to help you think through some of the topics raised in this book - if anyone actually reads those anymore.

So he does use Scripture but I suppose my failing in reading this book was the stereotype bias I already had about this author before even reading one word. It was hard not to see this as religious-pop psychology hybrid lessons.

 
This book was provided for review, at no cost, by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.

Monday, April 23, 2012

The Coming Revolution by Dr. Richard Lee

Dr. Lee does not hesitate to declare his views of the Obama Administration and the current path of The United States. But he does it in a very civil way. You won't see the name-calling or character assassination that fill most books of this nature.
 
The Coming Revolution
is Dr. Lee's history lesson. I enjoyed reading the three chapters that cover the birth of The United States. (I must have been in a particular state of mind) But here's the thing, if you're into what Dr. Lee calls Revisionist history, you will not like the blatant absence of most of the negative aspects of the Puritans coming to America.

You'll read about the parallels between where we are currently with what the Founders were living through and why they decided to claim their independence from a government that was not listening to their views or giving them representation.

Dr. Lee aligns himself with Glenn Beck and the Tea Party by declaring the unity of God and country. This will not be a book embraced by Liberals or most Democrats.

The final three chapters outline what our society faces today and what we can do about it. We, being people who do not want to continue under President Obama's vision. Lee goes into what he sees as Obama's socialist agenda and compares that to Marx, Lenin and Soviet Russia. He also points out the weakness of Europe and why The United States will morph into that quagmire soon enough. At a few points in the book, it felt like he was sliding into "fear tactics" to push away from the opposing view. But this really isn't anything new. Both sides of the political aisle use these measures. Just take it as it is and don't get too carried away.

This book is a polite, civil way of saying, "Religion, with a Democratic Republic government & Capitalism as the economy is good while Humanism, Communism and Socialism are bad."

The bottom line: if you are a supporter of President Obama and his agenda, you will read this book as if it came straight from FoxNews. If you are a supporter of the Tea Party, you will hail this as the greatest book of our time.

If nothing else, read this book for the history lesson that you are sure to have missed during your education. Or probably have forgotten by now if you're not a history teacher.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

I review for BookSneeze®

Monday, April 16, 2012

Coming Apart by Charles Murray

Based on five decades of research, Murray explores the the characteristics of America's upper and lower classes.

Murray attempts to show that these classes are not based on income inequality. He states this gap has grown during bad economies as well as good economies.

The main thrust isn't so much worried about the "whys" as to just describe and define the classes.

This is a very thick book full of stats and facts that might cause many of us to doze. However, this is a very interesting read. With the political climate the way it is and with the talking heads blaming each other for pushing class warfare, Coming Apart helps us step back and take a breath before we utter another pointless debate.

Murray uses the first part of this book to describe how the Upper Class of America was formed and what they contribute to the country. Part two is all about the formation of the Lower Class of America and what they provide.

He goes into some detail of the differences of the classes. He uses the example of going to Parents Open Night at an elementary school. It's quite the eye opener as to what each class will do and what to expect.

Part three of this book unveils a "what next" step. Murray sends us on an imagination trip as to what we can do with these classes.

This is not a book for everyone.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Crown Forum Publishing.

Busy Mom's Guide to Parenting Young Children by Paul Reisser

So I'm not a mom but I wanted to get this book for my wife and I think I could learn something even if I'm not a busy mom.

Turns out I win! Dr. Reisser has written an excellent book in question-and-answer form. Taking parents from birth to four-year-olds, this book covers quite a lot of topics for the small size. (184 pages)

You can find solutions to such questions like:

What can I do to help my child sleep?
What if my child is a picky eater?
What do I need to know about potty training?
Is my baby developing normally for her age?
How early should I begin disciplining my child?

And many others.

Dr. Reisser writes as if you are in the office with him. He uses easy to understand terms and down-to-earth explanations. You will be energized and equally equipped for many scenarios. Because this is considered a quick-reference book, you won't find everything you would say in the What to Expect books.

This is for those quick peeks on the go.

An excellent resource.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale Publishing.

I Review For The Tyndale Blog Network

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Most Misused Verses in the Bible by Eric Bargerhuff

Who would have imagined that Christians would read some of their favorite verses of the Bible and misunderstand them?
"God won't give us more than we can handle." Is that what the verse says? What about praying, "in Jesus' name"? Do we have to end all prayers in those three words in order for the prayer to work? Does God only meet with us if there are two or three gathered?

Eric Bargerhuff provides a short summary of eighteen verses that have been misused and helps us accurately apply them for today.

A few verses that can be found in this book are:
"Judging others" - Matthew 7:1
"Plans to prosper you, not to harm you" - Jeremiah 29:11-13
"Where two or more are gathered" - Matthew 18:20
"Ask for anything in my name" - John 14:13-14
"No more than you can handle" - 1 Corinthians 10:13
"Train up a child" - Proverbs 22:6
"I can do all things" - Philippians 4:13
"Prayer offered in faith" - James 5:15

Eric will explain the context of the verses, how they are typically taken out of context, and how we can accurately apply them in our situations today.

You will be surprised at how often we view Scripture through the lens of "American Christian" instead of why it was written in the first place. It's the basic principle of who, what, when, where, and why.

This would make an excellent discussion book. It's only missing the study guide questions at the end that every other Biblical studies genre now carries.


This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Bethany House Publishing.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fell into the craze a little late in the game. The Hunger Games tells of a North America transformed into twelve districts surrounding The Capitol. This Capitol unleashes its control of the districts by having an annual, televised battle-to-the-death between a boy and a girl from each district.

Katniss is our heroine. She's a very capable hunter who must take care of her younger sister, Prim, and battered mother.

When Prim is selected as the girl contender from their district, Katniss volunteers instead. The rest of the story is how this Hunger Game unfolds.

First and foremost I did not like how this book ended. It's probably because Collins planned for the trilogy but the end of the book is just the end of a chapter. I wanted some kind of resolution.

To be sure, The Hunger Games ends but before the book is over, Collins has us continuing the story.

That's my only beef with this story and it is a very small beef (ala McDonalds). The rest of the plot is engaging.

As told in first person from Katniss's point of view, you go along with her thoughts and are never privy to outside information. This keeps the tension high as you will never know what's going to happen next. You don't even know if Katniss will survive. It's all up in the air.

The characters are not fully fleshed out with this first book. There are a few moments when Katniss and her counterpart, Peeta, do some reminiscing. This helps add some meat to their character bones. I'm assuming we'll delve deeper as the books go along. 

The violence is interesting. Having twelve through eighteen year olds tossed into an arena and hunt/murder one another is slightly disturbing and the fact that it has caught fire may say something about our society. But I don't remember graphic descriptions. In fact, I think it was a matter of Collins writing toward our imagination and letting us fill in the detail.

I was also impressed with the lack of swearing. This is a fad that seems to infect ninety-five percent of Young Adult novels. I don't remember any use of profanity. You'd think the kids would be spouting them left and right considering their situation.

In the end (outside of the ending) Collins has started a very rich world. I look forward to what happens next.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Behemoth by Jonathan Leicht

Do you remember the dinosaur movie from long ago called Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend? This book reminded me of that film.

Africa Game Warden, Jim Thompson, is on a quest to learn what horned creature is killing his elephants. Professor Stephen Gregory is on a quest in search of a creature many African tribes claim exist and resembles a dinosaur.

Two different stories. Two different dinosaurs. One message against evolution.

While many reviewers are put off by Leicht's obvious Creative Design leanings, I think it's important to remember that these characters aren't sure these animals are actually dinosaurs. They aren't pushing their agenda as reviewers claim. They are simply out for discovery.

Leicht does place mainstream scientists in a negative light as not one of them even entertains the possibility of a living dinosaur. Those who believe in Creative Design are the victims of scientific peer pressure throughout this book.

The two adventures are entertaining. I enjoyed how each camp resolved their separate quests. By this point in my reading I'm expecting twists in every story. While Behemoth has some twists I didn't find them too obvious. It was a bit of a surprise when it occurred.

Don't want to spoil it for you if these guys actually find dinosaurs or if it is still just legend, but if you enjoy stories about tromping through the forest and attempting to sneak up and trap mysterious creatures, this book might be a nice, quick read for your weekend.


This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Friday, April 6, 2012

I Didn't Ask to be Born (But I'm Glad I Was) by Bill Cosby

You can never go wrong with Bill Cosby.

With his latest book, it reads as if someone pulled out a tape recorder, sat down with Mr Cosby and simply recorded him for the entire day. Then the recording was simply transcribed into this book.

While some people might find it frustrating that he seems to fly all over the place with ideas, I enjoyed the feeling like I was listening to an extremely funny grandparent sharing his thoughts and recollections.

As is often the case with Cosby, you'll read many stories from his childhood with his friends who have silly names (Peanut who didn't listen to his mother), biblical thoughts on why God didn't have a wife and the first word a new mother shouts out.

George Booth adds some interesting pencil illustrations throughout the book which doesn't really add much of anything to the storytelling.

Once you've finished this book, you will feel as if you've just sat through one of Cosby's one-man-shows.

This is an enjoyable, easy read.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Gospel of Yes by Mike Glenn

When I saw the title of this book my mind instantly thought of the "Wealth & Health" pastors. I don't like those kind of books or those kind of messages.

Luckily this book is not like that at all.

Pastor Mike attempts to adjust our attitudes about God and how it affects the way we live. He believes many Christians (or just people for that matter) believe God is all about limiting our life. Mike wants us to know that God liberates life.

The most powerful word that comes from God is "yes". This word was used in creating the world we live in and to invite us into a relationship with him.

When someone understands that God says yes to people all the time, we find our identity in him, our value and our purpose through Christ.

Everyone is hung up on this purpose thing ever since Rick Warren's book.

You'll dive through fifteen chapters of how/when God says yes:
In creation, at the cross, at the resurrection, when we forgive others, when we engage in authentic relationships, when we simplify our clutter, and many more.

The reading is very easy. You won't get bogged down with high eyebrow theology. This is a Baptist minister writing pastorally to a large audience.

As is most often the case recently, there is an added section at the back of the book for study group questions.

The chapter on forgiving others is particularly enjoyable. It's helps bring a difficult concept to pull off into everyday mumbo jumbo.

This book was provided for, at no cost, by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.

Monday, April 2, 2012

The Ides of March

You just can't stop a juggernaut movie starring George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marissa Tomei, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. This movie is a character-driven dream.

While they call it a thriller, I wouldn't say it delivers the thrills. It does offer an fictional inside glimpse of how twisted politics can be.

I think this movie ends all speculation as to whether Clooney would ever become a politician. Much to his follower's dismay, there is just too much poison in that sphere for him.

What if there was a perfect candidate? Someone you felt had it all: vision, purpose, charisma, intellect and principles that stood firm against all else? Would anything be able to pull you away from that person/presidential candidate? What if you discovered a secret that could unravel everything?

Political intrigue. Backstabbing. Twists and turns.

Clooney does a fine job as an Obama-like candidate. Gosling is the brains of his campaign who has complete loyalty only to have it tested by the rival's campaign manager, Giamatti.

There is foul language throughout the film but I think that's expected nowadays. Especially when dealing with American politics.  

The Ides of March is a very strong commentary on the state of our political system and how crooked it truly is. Will you be able to trust anyone after watching this movie?