Bound Together by Chris Brauns

Have you ever been confused about Sin and sin? Maybe your pastor has spoken about the sins that you commit and the Sin that has been part of humanity since Adam and Eve and you thought they were the same thing?

Chris Brauns offers up a very readable explanation about how we are tied together in every choice we make.

In part one of this book Brauns explains the Doctrine of Original Sin and how Adam's sin was passed on to us. Then he jumps into Romans 5 before providing some images of how we are tied together with Christ.

In part two, Brauns unveils the applications. He explores how joy comes into the mix, then discusses how we can strengthen our marriages, our families and how we can be bound closer when dealing with death.

With the subject matter, this is a very easy read. You won't feel like you've just sat through a professor's lecture but you will have so much understanding that actually helps your worldview.

This book will absolutely help you.

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

Gods at War by Kyle Idleman

A book on idols and how we allow them to be #1 instead of God. Haven't we read this book before?

The problem I have with this book is not that it is written poorly. In fact, Idleman is a great author. My problem was I wasn't engaged with the material. I've heard it all before, many times.

Idleman divides this book into four parts:
gods at war sets the stage for the rest of the book
the temple of pleasure dissects our bent toward food, sex, and entertainment.
the temple of power highlights our drive toward money, success, and achievement.
the temple of love focuses on romance, family, and me (or you as the case may be)

Idleman repeatedly states that these things are not bad in and of themselves. They become gods when we elevate them to top priorities.

You've heard this before, yes?

Idleman adds a couple blips at the end of each chapter to add a little flair but this really isn't a groundbreaking book for Christians (or nonChristians).

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

Iscariot by Tosca Lee

This version of Judas Iscariot has upset bowels.

I was surprised with how many times Judas was described as almost emptying his bowels or other acts based on his bathroom antics. However, Tosca Lee is a wordsmith and every reviewer knows it. She has taken on the mindset of Eve, a demon and now "The Betrayer". When you open a Tosca Lee novel, you know you will never be the same.

Lee takes us back to the early years of Judas, when his father and brother join forces with rebellions against the Roman occupation. This is the heart of the man and why he behaves the way he does.

With the title reflecting Judas, it's even more a story about Jesus. While we see his behavior through the eyes of Judas, this adds such a fresh flavor that I want to see the movie. Lee creates such vivid imagery in this story that you are transported into the Ancient East in the span of mere sentences.

With the fictitious details to Judas's life, Lee tells the story about the most notorious turn-coats, while simultaneously giving the reader moments of pause to reflect how we could be just like him.

You are forced to wonder, "With that sort of life, would I have made a similar choice?"

The book is a very quick read. You will not want to put it down. ("Just one more chapter!") And you will feel so satisfied when it is over. You may even turn to the first page and read it again!

  A fantastic what-if story.

What We Talk About When We Talk About God by Rob Bell

The first 2/3 of this book are Rob Bell-excellence. The last 3rd is a big pile of "meh".

After tackling concepts of hell, Bell decides to ask questions about the Creator: have we been asking the wrong questions? Have we been doing God a disservice by using antiquated words and descriptions for Him?

This book, while it may unnerve some evangelicals, is not as controversial as the previous Love Wins. He spends the first third of the book explaining quantum physics and the kind of science that makes most people's eyes spin in their sockets. Bell has the perfect ability to explain science in an engaging, down-to-earth way. This is not the boring part of the book.

The second third of the book tackles the God we read about in the Old Testament. Bell reveals himself to be a believer of progressive revelation: God enters into humanity's time and pulls them forward (to evolve as it were). He reveals more as humans progress. This part was not as played out as the first, but it is always enjoyable to read Bell explore scripture and unpack it. He uses the example of God's instructions to the people after they conquer their enemies. While it may sound brutal and extremely inhumane, Bell explains that - for that time period - God is actually pulling His people forward to treat the "spoils of war" better than before. This is the rallying cry of Progressive Revelationism. 

The last third of the book is where Bell attempts to answer the "so what now" question. This is typically the part of his sermons when he would wrap everything up in a fantastic verbal bow with the audience sighing the proverbial "Ah!!!" as their lightbulbs click on. However, it doesn't quite happen this time in this book.

This is when the book grows dull. 

There was only one major point where I found myself scratching my head. During his science part, Bell explains that the atoms in our cells could once have been stars or other matter from the universe. And he makes it sound like the atoms are simply floating around being a chair at one point and then split-seconds later becoming part of my body. I'll need to explore that thought a while longer...

If you've seen Bell's first couple DVD lectures: Everything is Spiritual and The Gods Aren't Angry, you will find the first two parts of this book very familiar.

I enjoy reading Bell's work as they stretch me and get me to think in fresh ways. The last part didn't come across as fresh.