NKJV Foundation Study Bible

The New King James Version of the Bible has come out with The Foundation Study Bible.


This is a smaller hardback book with just a few bells and whistles.

Each book begins with explanations of the author, the date in history it covers, a key verse, and the major(s) themes.

On the bottom of each page are the notes for specific verses and the cross reference guide. This is different than most NIV study Bibles whose cross references are found in between the the passages.

I didn't find a problem with print size. Very clear, though small. The words of Jesus are in read (if you're wondering about that sort of thing)

The typically found maps, theological notes index, and concordance are found at the back of the book.

And that's about it. This is a bare-bones study guide. There is absolutely no filler content, no side bars, no cultural context insight. So if you're looking for a simple study guide Bible in the NKJ style, this is your next purchase.

I'm happy I have it as I enjoy using multiple versions while I study.

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

Armada by Ernest Cline

I must be one of the few people who read Armada without having read Ready Player One. And from reading other reviews it may be best to read Armada before RPO.


From an author hooked on retro games and pop culture comes a story pulling from so many previously told stories.

The main character, Zack Lightman, is into a video game called Armada. He and his friends play online all the time. Then one day Zack thinks he sees a spaceship similar to the kind in the game.

That's all I'm telling you about the plot.

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. About 90% of it was enjoyable. The pop culture references were fun and the idea of using videogames/movies in order to train...well can't get too far into that.

I thought Zack was a likable enough character except for a couple moments where his anger or frustration came across as a little weird for how he had been portrayed. I guess I could chalk it up to teenage hormones and being thrust into such a crazy scenario.

The story did feel like a retelling of Ender's Game but that was okay for me. I liked experiencing the ride with Zack and the other players. The family aspects and military inclusions were right on target.

It didn't need to be soul-searing as this book is a fun, popcorn read.

Very enjoyable.

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

Counter Culture by David Platt

Such a fantastic book.


This is not an evangelical book bemoaning the way society is turning it's back on God while spewing fury at its enemies.

This is a book drenched in truth and laced with love.

Platt takes the hot-button topics in The United States and responds to them with a biblical worldview. Everyone should read this book. Whether you come away from it profoundly impacted or rejecting his points, you will gain an understanding that we don't have to scream at one another to get our points across.

This was one of the huge selling points for me. I am so tired of the venom coming out of the mouths of people/groups on both sides of these topics. Platt doesn't waver in his understanding of biblical authority but he also doesn't add his logs of hate to the fire.

Inside he tackles: Poverty, Abortion, Orphans & Widows, Sex Slavery, Gay Marriage, Sexual Morality, Racism, Liberty and Evangelism.

Each chapter is well thought out and very well explained. It was so refreshing to read a book from an author who correctly uses Scripture instead of simply pulling verses out of context to make a point. You understand where he comes from in how he applies the words from the Bible into today's hot-topics.

I don't know if I would call it compassionate authority or what it was I felt when reading this, but it really was a breath of fresh air in the midst of verbal pollution infecting the airwaves.

A great coffee conversation/sermon series/Bible study starter.

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

Head Scratchers by Talbot Davis

Have you ever read passages of The Bible and been utterly confused? How about things that Jesus said?
 

This book provides some "clearing of the cultural clutter" in the way we understand a few sayings of Jesus.

Inside you'll find five passage that have commonly caused people to scratch their heads upon reading, even studying, the words of Jesus. They are:

"The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing" from Matthew 11:12,
"unless you hate your father or mother you cannot be a disciple" from Luke 14:26,
"the gates of Hades will not overcome it" from Matthew 16:18,
the unforgivable sin from Mark 3:29,
and "let the dead bury the dead" from Matthew 8:21-22.

These are some curious sayings from Jesus, to say the least. Davis navigates the cultural and contextual waters for us and reveals the truth behind our twenty-first century blinders.

After each chapter is a follow-up that could be useful as a primer for a Bible study or class.

The writing is very easy to understand, it would make a nice conversation starter as you could reference the book and not be afraid of losing listeners. Davis uses ideas and words from our setting to help form pictures from the ancient past.

I enjoyed this book very much.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Abingdon Press.