Fight Like Jesus by Jason Porterfield

 This is the kind of book I loved to underline and sink my teeth into.

As a pastor, I have recently been inundated with requests that do not make sense to me: "Preach more on Trump", "Preach more on Biden", "Tell me who I should vote for", "Speak out against masks", "Speak out against anti-vaxers".

It gets to be too much. What happened to, "Preach about Jesus"?

So when this book came across my desk, I consumed it. Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace throughout Holy Week.

Porterfield takes us from Palm Sunday, through each day of the week up to and including Easter Sunday.

He uses historical context and biblical unpacking to help promote his theory on Jesus promoting peace in a city that was on the brink of violence.

This is what my heart and mind was looking for. The way he explains and expounds his points is such a comfort.

I appreciated how he used historical events to help explain why the crowd and individuals acted in the way they did. He shares why the palm branches were political symbolism and not just things people used in a parade. 

He shares why the priests and Pharisees were the way they were at that period of time.

But equally important, Porterfield takes those truths and insights and brings application for our circumstances in today's world.

The church should be about her Savior's business and His business was waging peace in a world at war.

This book was provided for review at no cost.

NIV Beautiful Word Bible

 I would imagine that this edition of the NIV Bible would be attractive to young ladies. The style and graphics of the cover along with the illustrations seem to fit.

The peel and stick Bible tabs are a nice addition and the added space for in-Bible journaling is a bonus. I'm not sure how anyone else feels about writing in the Bible but if you're comfortable doing that, you would enjoy using this for your study and jotting down thoughts.

The illustrations are vibrant and the text font is slightly bigger than expected but it isn't a large print Bible.

It's what you have come to expect from the NIV publication and would be a wonderful addition to your Scripture reading.

Posting Peace by Douglas Bursch

 Ladies and Gentlemen: this book is the kind of book my soul longs for!

Our society is consumed with Social Media and digital communication. How can a follower of Jesus pursue the Kingdom of God when we aren't communicating face-to-face?

Douglas Bursch provides an excellent overview of what is going on and why our social media feeds are filled with arguing and fighting and angry bursts of text. And then he outlines the path towards peace.

It's all about dehumanizing one another. The screen in front of us provides us an out in that we don't have to relate to one another the way we used to. There are so many feeds and statements being presented to us that the work it used to take to build and nurture relationships is gone.

Replaced in the notion that unless the person is feeding my own preference, I can end the relationship because it's only digital.

If you are a follower of Jesus and use Social Media or if you are just tired of reading all the negativity and arguing online, you need to read this book and put it into practice. 

We need to be peacemakers and, surprisingly, Bursch directs the reader to stop blocking/unfollowing/ghosting people we disagree with in the pursuit of peacemaking. 

It will be difficult but this is the journey Jesus has taken and calls us to take with Him.

Loving Your Community by Stephen Viars

 The subtitle, Proven practices for community-based outreach ministry is very apt. I found the practices inside this book to be practical. I enjoyed reading the ideas and how they recommend planning, starting up, and executing the many practices.

Get the book here

Some of the examples are creating Biblical Counseling, using your facility for something else during the week, creating classes adults can take. These were all ideas I thought any church could dream about and actually begin.

It's later in the book where Stephen tackles some very large-scale projects that felt more in line with mega-churches or churches that teamed up with other local churches. We're talking about going in and restoring entire neighborhoods, building Community Centers, and starting Treatment Programs.

Again, we're given very practical ideas and applications. I have underlined and dogeared many pages in this book.

I look forward to discussing and dreaming with the leadership team about how we might implement some of these ideas.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by BakerBooks publishing

Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard by Chip Carter

 This is a short book for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation; specifically the character of Captain Picard.

Inside you will find photos from the many episodes and films from The Next Generation as well as the new Picard show.

Along with the photos are numerous quotes from the character about a number of different issues that came out in those episodes and films.

That's really all this is, a quote book from the character of Captain Picard.

So really, it's a testament to the writers of the character and then you can add to it your remembrance of actor Patrick Stewart delivering the lines.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Adams Media

Through the Kaleidoscope by Elizabeth Jeffries PhD

 Dr. Jeffries grew up in a charismatic, fundamentalist, evangelical church. Hers was a childhood of memorized Bible verses, youth groups, Halloween dramas on Heaven and Hell, and prophetic ministry.

As she went off to college, she discovered that the world was much bigger than the bubble she grew up in. She began to question some of the certainties she had heard as a kid. She discovered that some of the teachings she remembered just didn't make as much sense now that she was getting wider experiences.

Her penchant for discovery led her to a degree in cell biology and her world has bloomed outward since.

There were many aspects of Dr. Jeffries' life that I recognized. I too grew up in an evangelical church - however my experience was not as charismatic as hers. There were a number of examples that I couldn't not identify with nor agree with.

But that's not to say the evangelical church movement has caused great deal of pain to a number of people. In fact, there are too many aspects of the evangelical movement that I just don't recognize anymore.

With her exploration of cell biology, Dr. Jeffries discovers a new way to explain life and spirituality away from her fundamentalist upbringing.

I have to be honest; I found myself skipping large chunks of each chapter when she wrote about the details in her field of study. I understand that probably diminished my experience of the book, but each chapter followed the same formula: she would write about an experience with her church, then she would write about how amazingly complex our cells and its systems are, then she would tie in her new discoveries into her newfound spirituality and call it a kaleidoscope.

It seemed like, by the end of the book, Dr. Jeffries had embraced a kind of humanism mixed with reincarnation. But it wasn't quite clear to me.

It was encouraging to read of her reconciliation with her parents and that she was brave to sit down and discuss her evolution as she explores life.

Synapse by Steven James

I am a big fan of Steven James and his chess piece series. This book is similar to the structure of how James writes.

In Synapse, you will find a minister who has lost a child living in a world where artificial people are manufactured.

The book asks interesting questions about the future of artificial intelligence and gives readers a convincing "what if" kind of future.

Like his other books, James builds to a high-octane climax where you're racing to read the answers to the questions he's lay before you.

Unlike his other books, I didn't care about any of the characters. I didn't find myself invested in their journey.

But here's another observation about books by Steven James (at least recently): he tries to build instant emotional connection with his readers by involving some horrific or traumatic experience that involves children.

I'm not a fan of that type of overt manipulation (at least that's my interpretation).

Like I said, the book asks interesting questions that may very well be asked in our near future. But I don't think I'll be reading any more books from this series - if this is to be a series.

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

The Old Testament Case for Nonviolence by Matthew Fleischer

How can you look at the brutality found in the Old Testament and make a case for nonviolence? Author Matthew Fleischer does an admirable job.

His argument in a nutshell: God met people where they were and slowly pulled them closer to what He ultimately wanted and then unleashed the full reality to them in the person, Jesus.

It's that simple but also much more detailed in Fleischer's writing.

I think this book provides some excellent points to ponder if you wonder about the differences between the characteristics of God in the Old Testament and Jesus of the Gospels.

Fleischer quotes from many scholars who have debated and come up with memorable arguments for the position of progressive revelation. He writes of the Law of Moses actually being very progressive compared to the other ancient laws of the time.


He writes of a new perspective of the Conquest of Canaan under Joshua.


I found it very enjoyable to absorb the information in the chapters.


There was something that happened near the end of the book, though. I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but Fleischer seemed to switch from laying out information and arguments in a very civil/scholarly fashion to dropping snarky post-modern comments about American military might and America idol-worshipping.


I don't really know why the style changed there at the end. But it was abrupt for me. I was going along for the ride and enjoying his points and then all of sudden he became that person who makes a comment and all discussion ends.


It was weird.


The first two-thirds of this book are great. The snarky part at the end didn't help any.


This book was provided for review at no cost.

The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker

If this is the first book you've read that was written by Ted Dekker, or Rachelle for that matter, you may find it an incredible book that reveals a truth about many people.

If, like me, you've read everything Ted and Rachelle have written ... then this book is going to read almost verbatim of the last couple books by them.

As I write this it really seems harsh to write about such talented authors, but Ted seems to have become a one-trick pony. I even contemplate deleting that last sentence because of my delight in his previous books; but I can't. I was so disappointed in The Girl Behind the Red Rope.

The disappointment doesn't come from the story because, as I started this review, if this is your first Dekker experience then you will be thrilled. I can almost guarantee it. For me it happened around chapter two or three; when I realized I've read this story before. I read it in Forbidden, Mortal, and Sovereign. I caught glimpses of Outlaw and those chronicles. Absolutely I saw it all before in The 49th Mystic and Rise of the Mystic. It's the same story. You could even make the argument that A.D. 30 and A.D. 33 should be included.

It comes down to the reality that Ted has had an experience, an awakening to a spiritual outlook and wants to share that with his audience. I find no fault in that other than his stories have become repetitive. In all of the previously mentioned story you will read a character basically lecture on the thoughts that Ted has written in his devotional book.

Now here's the thing. The argument can be made that this has been the way Ted writes. And this is true, you could go back to Obsession maybe Black to where he writes about similar themes but from different sides of the story-prism. And I would concede that point.

The difference is that before, those stories were fresh, and each one was different in unique and clever ways. Here lately we're reading the Exact. Same. Story.

I'm afraid I may be done with the Dekkers. And I so wish I could delete that sentence and make it not true.

If you've made it this far, allow me to share about the actual story: this book is a thrill-ride-page-turner. Without a doubt, new readers will want to see who's who and what's what by the end of the story. Even I was pulled in to see if twists were going to pan out or things were exactly as they seem. Ted has such a talent to get readers to question what they're reading.

Near the climax one of main characters goes so nuts it almost pulled me out of the experience. In fact, it did. I remember stopping, sitting back and thinking. "Wow, this person has really gone off the bend. Would that really happen? Would someone like that really go that far?"

The Girl Behind the Red Rope is a Dekker tale through and through. You have thrills and reveals. And unfortunately, for me, you have the same basic story read before.

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

The Passage by Justin Cronin

I wanted to read this book because it had become a tv show (canceled after ten episodes) and was a thick-looking read.

Similarities are up there with The Walking Dead in that you're reading a sustained tale told in the midst of extinction-level catastrophe. It isn't a short read of how humanity overcame the villains and won the day. You are along for the ride as the characters continuously struggle.

There's one HUGE catch.

This first book of three, gives you the up close, and personal origin story. (I felt like playing Halo 3 - "This is how the world ends...") You learn about how everything started out promising but turned fatally wrong. And I was quite invested in the characters. The agent who is tasked with "collecting" the candidates for human trials, the girl who has to grow up much faster than she should.

I'm telling you, I was invested. Cronin writes with such skill that I was all-in. Then "it" happens and the story flips forward 90 some years into the future.


Yes, it is jarring. Yes, it feels like a whole new book.

And then you stick with the new(er) characters and their odyssey is just as engaging and you have to find out what happens next.

Apocalyptic, zombie/vampire, survival, almost video game quality to the entire first book. And I ate it all up. Cronin fleshes out his characters where each one is a unique individual, they are not the cliched cookie-cutter zombie-fodder. When bad things happen, I was upset. When there was victory (however small) I was excited.

I tell you what I felt after reading the final page: satisfied yet looking forward to opening book two.

NotMyJesus by Bob Fabey

Bob Fabey has discovered that often, how we perceive Jesus comes from our own image. This manifests itself in both positive and negative ways.

Almost everyone seems to appreciate the "kind and gentle Jesus"; the Jesus who "wouldn't talk like that" or "be so judgmental". Others see Jesus as the domineering taskmaster.

Fabey says we're all wrong.

In a clever way of writing, Fabey exposes some of the more hurtful things Jesus has said and done. He imagines if Jesus had a Twitter handle and what kind of hashtags that would look like.

The part that jumped out especially for me was Fabey concept of being, "under the weather" - this concept that we can complain about the weather but we really can't change it. His expression of the kind of love Jesus espoused and His followers are to exhibit were great reminders.

This was an enjoyable, short book. Perhaps you could read it and be confronted with the image of Jesus you have created.

The Soul of an American President by Alan Sears and Craig Osten

Was President Eisenhower a devout man of faith or did he simply use it for political points?

This is one of the reasons Sears and Osten set out to write this book. It is a terrific look back at this man, general, President.

You'll find fourteen chapters full of footnotes that provide an easy read through the history of President Dwight Eisenhower. You'll read of his parents and their connection to the early River Brethren and then, after suffering devastating loss, looked for answers elsewhere.

You'll read of a man desperate to lead men in battle during World War I, only to find himself assigned to be a trainer of soldiers instead.

One of the most inspiring aspects of this book is the way they connect almost everything President Eisenhower went through to what would be expected of him later in his career. How he spent time in France, learning the layout of former battles and how that knowledge came to greatly influence his decision-making for D-Day.

How loss and perseverance gave him the set up for the patience he would need as Allied Command, NATO Leader, and President of the United States.

This is a fairly quick read. It certainly isn't encyclopedic in its information but it is very well written, full of solid information and keeps you going to find out what happened next.

They do cover their quest on the faith question throughout the saga and ultimately come to a conclusion, but you'll have to read the book to learn that.

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

Sacred Questions by Kellye Fabian

When is a daily devotional not a daily devotional? When it's written by Kellye Fabian.

While you can certainly read this as you would a devotional, there is so much depth to it. Typically when you think of a devotional, you think of a quick two or three paragraphs, Scripture reference, maybe a follow up question or two.

Not so with this read. Kellye takes you for a gentle ride. Literally, a relaxing exercise of the eyes and your mind as you read, contemplate, and then explore Scripture with your questions.

The 12 topics covered gives you plenty of subjects to get you through the process.

The writing was very contemplative and gentle in its guidance; never heavy-handed.

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

Grateful American by Gary Sinise

This is a terrific book about a very good actor whose role-of-a-lifetime led to tremendous opportunity.

Many people remember Gary Sinise from his role as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. He has been in other hits likes Apollo 13 and the television mini-series The Stand.

This book tracks along his life as a kid who got roped into a school performance and fell in love with acting.

I enjoy reading about what it was like for the celebrities you see on the big screen and Sinise isn't writing to blow his own horn. In fact, he's writing to point to something greater than his awards and glamour.

Following his role in Forrest Gump, Sinise found himself being invited to veterans events left and right. He came to the realization what his role came to mean to the men and women of the Armed Forces. He decided to use his new platform for action.

There is so much more than stories about acting and military shows. Sinise brings you into some pretty dark moments with his family as well.

This book will give you very good feelings. You'll want to share it so others can learn what has gone on since Lt. Dan got new legs.

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

Cory and the Seventh Story by Brian McLaren and Gareth Higgins

This is a children's book with a heavy-handed dose of morality. I suppose all children's books are like that.

Cory is a racoon who lives near a forest with other forest animals. Everything is going well until a couple animals begin fighting. Then it turns into who's the boss which leads to wanting revenge followed by the cowards running away.

Pretty soon a new form of identity prejudice takes place giving in to hopelessness until finally we have the "super evil" form of capitalism: creating demand for some idiotic shiny thing and then taking pride in how many idiotic shiny things one has.

When those six stories are told. There is a group that wants to get away from it all and they are greeted by a horse that tells a seventh story.

A better story than what has taken place.

I found it to be an okay reading experience. The illustrations by Heather Lynn Harris were terrific. The narrative is certainly agenda-driven. The agenda of Brian McLaren who advoates for a "new Christianity" that promotes working with people of all faiths for the common good.

On the other hand I would compare this book to the kind of religious movies that feel more preachy than creative in how they tell the story and make their point.

This book was provided for review, at no cost.

The Wiersbe Study Bible

This is a Bible meant to be read at a table.

Warren Wiersbe served as the General Editor for this edition. He might be best known for his "Be Series"of Bible commentaries. He has taken some of his ideas and incorporated them into this study Bible using The New King James Version.

This is a desktop-sized Bible. It is designed to lay flat as you open it.
The print is larger than normal so it is very easy on the eyes. Words of Jesus are in red.

Inside you will find Wiersbe's introduction to each book. He provides a basic outline with key themes and verses for you to focus in on. He offers practical lessons in his book overviews.

As a study Bible, this version is full of notes: Catalysts are longer than your typical study notes and they are meant to motivate you to be transformed by what you're reading. The study notes run in at about 10,000 from Dr. Wiersbe explaining meaning and application.

You'll also find your cross referencing and concordance, which is nice.

Finally, in addition to the common maps section at the end, you'll find an index of preaching outlines.
This was interesting and confusing for me. I read outlines and thought I would be reading Wiersbe's point-by-point sermon outlines. But it looks like it's simply the sermon title with the section of Scripture to be used. It is still interesting to see how he organized a preaching schedule.

This is a terrific Bible to read in study. I have a number of different versions so this is going on the shelf along with the others and will be used as one more point of view.

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

The Line Between by Tosca Lee

It's the end of the world as we know it and the cult leaders were right!

Tosca Lee sets off on an accelerated ride through the breakdown of American society but she does it through the eyes of a former cultist.

Wynter Roth, along with her mother, joined The New Earth community. Through flash-back chapters you'll learn more of that backstory and why she's out in the real world - which happens to be coming loose at the seems.

This is an interesting approach to the apocalyptic genre - driving stolen, abandoned vehicles, avoiding shady-looking garage clerks, finding hideouts; all while delivering a possible cure?

Is this going to be like The Walking Dead with big surprises? Will there be an easy cop-out ending?
This book delivers!

I thought Lee did a good job keeping the characters interesting and growing on us while they journey through the not-so-quite wasteland. Wynter's experiences after being in an exclusive and her reactions to life outside, even when they are going nuts, was a nice twist to read.

I wasn't thrilled with the constant use of bad language. I treat stuff like that as I do sex in entertainment: do we really need to see/read it? Does it truly add anything to the story/experience by including it?

Perhaps for some it makes it more realistic? But I guess I'm not one of those people.

I thought the book had a great pace. I didn't get bored reading about Wynter and, when she meets him, Chase as they drove west together. It could have gotten really slow at those points but Lee kept the tension and pace flowing.

This book was provided, at no cost, by Howard Books.

Decoding Your Dreams by Jennifer LeClaire

Almost everyone has them and they are typically entertaining.

What are we to do with our dreams? Jennifer LeClaire writes that we should pay attention to our dreams because God uses dreams to speak to us.

This book is an interesting introduction to dream interpretation. LeClaire divides the chapters walking us through how God used dreams in the Bible and then some of the more common elements found in dreams today.

I will admit that I have had some doozie dreams in my life but I wouldn't say I'd attribute the message to God.

The human brain is such a grand and mysterious thing. How it operates while we sleep is the topic of multiple books and papers.

I'd say you could read this book if you are even remotely interested in trying to understand your dreams but don't hold this has the concrete absolute answer to your dream questions.

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

God in My Head by Joshua Steven Grisetti

Joshua had had enough of the many book about meeting God in near death experiences. He decided to share his own experience with meeting God. The catch is, he's agnostic.

If nothing else, I feel really about for Joshua in that he is not affected by Novocaine or or those other numbing agents used by dentists. That experience had to have just been beyond excruciating.

It is while he is heavily medicated and preparing for a cavity filling that Joshua meets with God and they have a long conversation.

This book is part of his sharing what they talked about.

He repeatedly reminds the reader that this experience occurred while his brain is totally baked. So did this really happen or is it merely his subconscious unpacking a belief system he grew up with? Maybe it's God using the current condition of his mind to speak to him.

In any case, Mr. Grisetti has a very strong talent is telling a story. His ability draws you in with his wit and it seems like he could be sitting in the same room with you as he repeats the story.

Sadly, I was strongly put off by the amount of language used. That may make me a prude - and I'm okay with that.

Then there's the whole "this is what God said" portion. It is really quite something.

I understand that there are elements of Joshua's past that can play a role - including having a Southern Baptist preacher for a father. And then, upon completion of reading this book, I had the feeling that Grisetti and Eckhart Tolle would get along splendidly. They seemed to believe along the same lines on spiritual/God/humanity.

Fundamentalist Christians will not enjoy this book at all. They will cry heresy and "of the devil" all while reading it.

I found some of his experience to be unique but all in all, I don't agree with 99% of what the god in his head shared. I don't think Jesus' mother was raped, I don't believe God and Satan are the same thing, I don't believe Jesus was merely a host for God, nor do I believe that there are multiple paths to reach God.

This book was provided for review at no cost.

Dawn Through The Shadows by Linda Anne Smith

When is a sequel more like a prequel but a stand-alone novel nonetheless? When it's Linda Smith's Dawn Through the Shadows.

There's a cult behind these stories and in this novel, you'll dive into the back story of a certain Andrew Covick and his first exposure with the Proclaimers of Christ.

Everything seems on the up and up at first glance. The people involved with this church are the standard-bearers of model citizens. Who wouldn't want to be part of this kind of peer community?

Does it become mentally fuzzy for him when aspects begin to appear dictator-ish? Will a daring rescue/intervention need to take place?

This book was entertaining. I had not ready the earlier novel, Terrifying Freedom so this was read with brand new eyes.

The writing was engaging. Smith does a good job with the character interactions and growth. Andrew's arc was keeping me locked in page after page.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Linda Anne Smith.