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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender | comments | votes | read count | date started | date read |
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date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0849948517
| 9780849948510
| 4.36
| 14
| Apr 30, 2013
| Apr 30, 2013
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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0
| not set
| not set
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Apr 21, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 1601424752
| 9781601424754
| 4.29
| 48
| Apr 02, 2013
| Apr 02, 2013
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Humble Orthodoxy, by Joshua Harris, is a concise booklet. It has only four chapters, spanning just 60 pages*. However, with those 60 pages, Harris wri...more
Humble Orthodoxy, by Joshua Harris, is a concise booklet. It has only four chapters, spanning just 60 pages*. However, with those 60 pages, Harris writes about a message absolutely relevant to Christians today, and that’s one concerning love. Humble Orthodoxy is a follow-up book to Harris’ Dug Down Deep. It’s practical and to the point. In Chapter One, “Your Attitude Matters,” Harris lays the groundwork for why this book is important. Too often, Christians are either too humble or too orthodox, and each camp is plagued with problems. Harris writes, “Christians need to have a strong commitment to sound doctrine. We need to be courageous in our stand for biblical truth. But we also need to be gracious in our words and interaction with other people.” (p. 3,4)Harris takes no credit for the term humble orthodoxy, but his teaching on the topic is nevertheless powerful. It’s refreshing that’s he’s candid, for he, too, has much room for improvement. This book packs a punch. My copy is filled with underlines and stars. The message is humbling (intentional pun!) and challenging. Harris makes his point, and at least to me, it’s one that I am trying hard to infiltrate in my life. Pride is insidious. It’s toxic. It’s detrimental to the gospel and it’s keeping millions of people in sin. I don’t want my life ruled by pride or by my own personal truths/agendas, and Joshua Harris’ Humble Orthodoxy is an excellent resource to help combat that. I highly recommend Harris’ little book, Humble Orthodoxy. It offers a message that each and every Christian needs to hear. A message on humility is not a fun message, nor is one on orthodoxy, but they are messages that are still important. I pray that God works in my heart to make it more aligned with His truth. I want to have genuine love and compassion for each person I encounter in my life. I want to also hold fast to the Truth that God has revealed. * There’s an additional study guide section in the back. ----- FTC Thingy: This book was delivered on the wings of a three-winged Pegasus, festooned with spring rolls and lucky Vegas dice. It also was delivered free of charge in exchange for my honest (to goodness) review. I was not obligated to review this book positively, nor was I obligated to feed the Pegasus my last Oreo cookie, either, though I did manage to do both. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 19, 2013
| May 17, 2013
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Apr 19, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 0781408237
| 9780781408233
| 4.00
| 207
| May 01, 2012
| Nov 01, 2012
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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0
| Apr 14, 2013
| not set
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Apr 14, 2013
| Paperback
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| 0310331935
| 9780310331933
| 4.35
| 4,543
| May 06, 2011
| Jun 07, 2011
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Feb 04, 2013
| Apr 08, 2013
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Feb 04, 2013
| Paperback
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| 0684815001
| 9780684815008
| 4.33
| 10,769
| 1937
| Sep 01, 1995
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Nov 2012
| Jan 2013
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Nov 01, 2012
| Paperback
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| 0307730824
| 9780307730824
| 4.14
| 74
| Nov 16, 2004
| Jun 05, 2012
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From the Library of C.S. Lewis is a reference book filled with selections from C.S. Lewis’ personal library. This book, compiled by James Stuart Bell...more
From the Library of C.S. Lewis is a reference book filled with selections from C.S. Lewis’ personal library. This book, compiled by James Stuart Bell and Anthony Dawson, is broken into eighteen sections. The primary focus of the book is to highlight works (and writers) who influenced Lewis’ spiritual journey, as Lewis is regarded as one of the finest Christian thinkers of the 20th Century. There are a few other sections that are not dedicated to religion (such as a section on fantasy & imagination), but these are definitely the minority of page takers. I found the concept interesting and so I requested a review copy from the publisher. I like Lewis (especially Mere Christianity), but I’m not fanatic about him by no means. I’m also finding myself getting a bit more interested in biographical works as I’m getting older, and I’m a believer that you can tell a lot about a person by the types of things they read. Unfortunately, my initial excitement quickly faded. Page after page I read through archaic texts and dated sermon notes. The material was interesting, but my daily dose of deep theology and introspective meditation could not handle deluge. As such, I took to skimming things, and that’s not what I wanted to do. So then I decided to read devotionally, just picking a page a day or something and seeing what was said. I noticed a lot of repeated writers and works, and I suppose these were more influential on Lewis than others, but that’s pure speculation on my part. Each selection is presented with a title, its source, the text, and then a mini author biography (Twitter-esque). This format is perfect, and each selection spans at most three pages. Much of the text is heavy and deep, as I’ve said, and I recommend it in small chunks to avoid duress. This format inevitably leads to bias, as quoting out of context is wont, but I believe the intent of Bell & Dawson is to tease the Reader to dig deeper into the cited works. From the Library of C.S. Lewis is an interesting little reference book. It is dry and sometimes complicated, but that will fluctuate based on the Reader and the day. There are many pearls of wisdom in this book, and it was a pleasure to think about how they affected Lewis’ works (and life). I would have liked more descriptive correlations between works and Lewis’ life, but that was outside the scope of the book. To a casual Lewis fan this may not be the book for you, but if you would like to find out what kind of things C.S. Lewis liked to read, then by all means check out From the Library of C.S. Lewis. --- FTC Thingy: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Nothing more was required. I was not coerced or bribed to review positively or negatively, nor was I offered any extra incentives for a positive review (i.e., baked goods, especially cookies). As such, this review is reflective of my inner self's inner self.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jul 11, 2012
| Aug 17, 2012
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Jul 11, 2012
| Paperback
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| 0060628391
| 9780060628390
| 4.17
| 10,543
| Mar 01, 1984
| Oct 05, 1988
|
*To Be Reviewed
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jun 27, 2012
| Oct 03, 2012
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Jun 27, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1414361351
| 9781414361352
| 3.47
| 17
| Jan 01, 2012
| 2012
|
Go and Do, written by attorney and director of the Global Justice Program Jay Milbrandt, is an ambitious book with a simple goal in mind, to get the R...more
Go and Do, written by attorney and director of the Global Justice Program Jay Milbrandt, is an ambitious book with a simple goal in mind, to get the Reader to get up, go out, and actually do something to change the world. (Ambitious, see?) Through real life stories Milbrandt himself experienced, written with passion and potency, Go and Do is a challenging and thought-provoking book. Go and Do is part memoir and part rally call. Milbrandt's sincerity shines on every page, and it's easy to see that his heart lies in helping others. He's very candid about his life and his plans, opening the book with a story from his college years. He reveals how his goals were to basically graduate and get into a high-profile law firm and make the big bucks. Instead, after he found himself overseas and looking into the faces of children of the red light district in a Thai city, his plans took a sudden and unexpected shift. Jay Milbrandt, to use one of his terms, "came alive." He found that actively participating in helping out those in need was something that he enjoyed. Doing it actually made him feel alive, and he realized that this was what he wanted to be doing with his life. Yes he had a law degree, and that could be used for justice and aid, but what he found even more useful was simply being present. Time and time again he saw that his presence, just playing with kids or listening to their stories, made more of an impact than any gifts. Soon Jay founded the Global Justice Program at Pepperdine University and set out to get students into a "go and do" lifestyle. This book is largely a collection of how going and doing affect people, both the ones going and the ones being visited. The stories are fascinating and inspiring, but the depravity of the world is also terribly eye opening. It's wonderful to know that there are people--many, many people--that are willing to go and do and help out, whether it's traveling to a faraway land or going to a homeless shelter just down the street. Milbrandt has a true passion for helping others, and his book instills that mindset in the reader. His heart lies overseas, but he respects that other's may be in their own towns and communities. His main argument is to find whatever makes you come alive, whatever you're passionate about, and get involved. Does human trafficking stir something deep in your soul? Is water quality an issue you're interested in? Do the hungry of Uganda twist your gut a different kind of way? Whatever it is, just get involved in it and live life with a purpose of helping out people. No one is more special than anyone else and everyone is able to help. Go and Do is an interesting book that I very much enjoyed. It's further solidifying the feeling in my soul to get more active in helping out others. I'm not entirely sure yet where my heart lies, but I do know that I need to be doing so much more. I am incredibly fortunate and blessed beyond my wildest imaginings. I help where and when I can, but I squander a lot, too. Books like Milbrandt's Go and Do and Stearns' Hole in Our Gospel stir my heart and make me want to be a better person. More than that, they make me realize that it's really quite simple to do, to change the world. And what loftier goals can a person have? ""Go and do" is not a zero-sum game. We don't have to hang our lives on one anchor in order to go and do. We certainly need individuals who are willing to make huge sacrifices to serve. I, however, don't find it realistic for the majority of us. It's more realistic to envision a properly tensioned life system." - Pg. 111 FTC Thingy: I received this book free of cost from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest and open review. I was not required to write a positive review. Also, no cookies were exchanged, if you're wondering.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jun 04, 2012
| Jun 26, 2012
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Jun 04, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0310259665
| 9780310259664
| 4.03
| 209
| Aug 01, 2001
| Aug 02, 2005
|
Grasping God's Word is a mammoth of a book. It's used as a textbook for seminarians and other students of the bible. Me, I'm just a Sunday School teac...more
Grasping God's Word is a mammoth of a book. It's used as a textbook for seminarians and other students of the bible. Me, I'm just a Sunday School teacher and a lover of the Word. So why did I read it? I was looking around on NetGalley and found an ARC for it. I thought it could be helpful for Sunday School, sent the request to Zondervan, and soon I had the ARC on my Kindle. On the down side, I've rarely had good luck with sending ARCs to my Kindle via NetGalley. Most of the time, the things are shoddy and formatted to a point where I either can't read at all or I would have to exude great effort to do so. This is to be expected some, as the books are ARCs, but they still need to be read-able. In this case, Grasping God's Word is read-able, but there are plenty of graphics that are impossible to decipher. Also, quotes and footnotes don't display correctly. Besides this, and this stuff really won't affect the final product, I rather enjoyed Duvall and Hays' textbook. Up front, I didn't read the entire thing, but I did read a large chunk of it. For Sunday School my class is doing a "how to read and study the bible" study. Through this we are going through the various types of books (poetry, prophecy, epistles, etc.) found in the bible, and this book is a perfect tool for what my class is doing. I read the first few introductory chapters, setting up the book and how to use it. I like the authors approach to interpreting scripture. Imagine a biblical city, all walled and dusty. There's a river flowing next to the city. On the other side is a modern city, skyscrapers and all. Connecting these two cities is a bridge. The method describes taking the message from the bible (a la the old city) and applying it to life (a la the new city). Doing this requires understanding the culture of the Old, crossing the bridge, and understanding the New. (There's more to it than that, but this is a simplified preview.) In particular I enjoyed the chapter on epistles. It was very informative of how letters worked back in biblical times, how Paul's letters are much, much longer than an average letter of the times, and how letters were written, going so far as to break down the mechanics and structure. I personally feign interest in most of history, but this stuff was kind of interesting. Overall, I felt that Duvall and Hays offer a great resource for reading and understanding the bible. They are passionate about correct interpretation, and they stress context very seriously. There are many different methods for reading and interpreting Scripture, and Grasping God's Word offers tools for applying the bible to our own lives. While the book goes through a somewhat repetitive approach, if you're in any way interested in getting a little deeper in the Word, then it is still a book I'd recommend checking out. FTC Thingy: Zondervan graciously supplied me with an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. I wasn't even obligated to right a review, but I enjoy this sort of thing, so I did. I also enjoy cookies and milk, or just cookies, too, though I did not receive any of these along with my book. Such is life.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Mar 20, 2012
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Mar 28, 2012
| Hardcover
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| 0785229183
| 9780785229186
| 4.28
| 3,584
| Jan 01, 2009
| Mar 01, 2009
|
Please read this review. Do not discard it simply because you are unfamiliar with the book or with the message it might have. If you're reading this s...more
Please read this review. Do not discard it simply because you are unfamiliar with the book or with the message it might have. If you're reading this sentence, then please read this review. A life literally depends on it. Thank you. ------- The words "life changing" are pretty much cliched now, their meaning no longer to be taken at face value. Perhaps that's endemic of our American tendencies to abuse hyperbole. But when I think back on Richard Stearns' oh-so-relevant book The Hole in Our Gospel , those two overused words immediately rise to the top. "If Jesus was willing to die for this troubled planet, maybe I need to care about it too." (Pg. 2)Richard Stearns is the president of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization with the goals of "working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God." I've had a relationship with World Vision for five years now through the child sponsorship program. (I liked how 86% of donations went directly to the mission.) Stearns has served at this post for fourteen years now. Prior to that he lived a life of luxury, working as the CEO for luxury kitchen company Lenox, making six-figures and achieving the "American Dream," overcoming his relatively poor childhood and finding success through hard work and perseverance. The Hole in Our Gospel is part autobiographical, part field guide to get involved and help change the world. Stearns writes candidly of his struggle to uproot and take on the new position at World Vision. He admitted several times that he had no interest in doing anything like that, that he was comfortable with his life and was satisfied. But what really shines is Stearns' passion to motivate others--people like you and me--to get involved in the world, to plug in and help those who are so desperately in need of help. His appeal is from a Christ-like attitude, but I suspect that even non-believers support Stearns opinions. "If we are to be part of this coming kingdom, God expects our lives--our churches and faith communities too--to be characterized by these authentic signs of our own transformations: compassion, mercy, justice, and love--demonstrated tangibly." (Pg. 57)There is so much that I could talk about from this book that I don't know where to begin. On one hand I fear that I would cheapen the experience of reading the book, as Stearns takes twenty-six chapters to expound the various issues raised. My single weblog post would be nothing. On the other hand I so want to share this book with you. I made so many highlights and underlines that my book looks rather abused, and picking out what to share was not the easiest task. Additionally, removing a quote from its context loses some meaning. The Hole in Our Gospel was published in 2009. As such, the statistics are slightly out of date, but still very close to true, I'd wager. I'm thankful Stearns includes a comprehensive index for footnotes, giving sources to the statistics he shares. Many times I would flip to the back to see where the data came from. Unfortunately, most of the statistics shared are punches to the gut. Just think, 3.6 billion people, 55% of the world's population, live on less than $2 per day. Americans, approximately 4.5% of the world's people, live on $105 per day. I'm blinded to how much I actually have, how much I actually waste. It's sickening. "More than 26,500 children died yesterday of preventable causes related to their poverty, and it will happen again today and tomorrow and the day after that." (Pg. 107) "It is estimated that a child dies every five seconds from hunger-related causes." (Pg. 135) "A child dies every fifteen seconds of a waterborne disease." (Pg. 138) "93% of the world's people don't own a car" (Pg. 216)I don't know about you, but reading stuff like that is truly devastating. Stearns presents a lot of this information in a chapter titled "One Hundred Crashing Jetliners." In short, if one hundred jetliners crashed today, killing 26,500 people, imagine the chaos that would ensue. People would be in pure pandemonium, afraid to fly and fervent in fixing the problem. Stearns then asks the question why 26,500 kids can (and do) die every day and receive little to no media coverage, no public outrage, no government interference. His conclusion, "If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that we simply have less empathy for people of other cultures living in faraway countries than we do for Americans." (Pg. 107)That hurts. Badly. A few pages later, at the end of the chapter, I wrote in my margin "is my sadness enough to drive me to do something about this?" I'm wrestling with that thought right now. How can I live with myself knowing how much I'm doing to combat this kind of thing? "Here is the bottom line: if we are aware of the suffering of our distant neighbors--and we are--if we have access to these neighbors, either personally or through aid organizations and charities--and we do--and if we have the ability to make a difference through programs and technologies that work--which is also the case--then we should no more turn our backs on these neighbors of ours than the priest and the Levite should have walked by the bleeding man." (Pg. 104)The beauty and uplifting news of The Hole in Our Gospel is that there is hope, that the problems of the world are not insurmountable. It's easy to see the massive problem that exists, and thinking of it as one large mountain makes the task impossible. Stearns argument, though, is that the world changes through each individual. We're not called to change the world, but to love our neighbors. Jesus invested in people to institute His church and the Kingdom; we, his followers, should do likewise. With this mindset, changing a person in order to change the world, things become more manageable. "Christ is an all-or-nothing proposition, and one way or another, every one of us has already made a choice about Him. We have either committed our lives to Him whole-heartedly, or we have not." (Pg. 83) "This has always been a problem with God's people; we tend to drift away from God's bold vision, replacing it with a safer, tamer version of our own." (Pg. 183)Richard Stearns book is powerful. The Hole in Our Gospel sheds light on global issues of suffering that I was not even aware existed. I lived obliviously, unenlightened, but no longer. Now there is something burning within me that's longing to do something, longing to take a stand against the status quo and the American Dream, to rise from my stupor and my good life and actually make a difference. I began mapping out my next step, thinking of ways to spread awareness and also do a little good. (You can see the current plan here if you're interested.) I won't change the world, no, but to the ones I do help, I will change their's. And you can too. "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito." -African proverb (Pg. 250)(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 07, 2012
| Jun 02, 2012
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Mar 07, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1433671220
| 9781433671227
| 4.40
| 262
| Jul 31, 2011
| Sep 01, 2011
|
The Resolution for Men is not the kind of book that I would normally read. In fact, I think I've only read one book like it before, John Eldredge's Wi...more
The Resolution for Men is not the kind of book that I would normally read. In fact, I think I've only read one book like it before, John Eldredge's Wild at Heart, and that as a single lad in college. Now, with nearly five years of marriage under my belt, and almost a year of being a father, books like Resolution seem more appropriate. Resolution, written by brothers Stephen & Alex Kendrick, is an accompanying resource book for last year's Courageous, a quasi-companion to Fireproof. Point blank, I've seen neither of these movies, though from what I hear, they're "wonderful." Personally, I just don't see the appeal. I get that Christian movies are clean and wholesome and powerful and filled with a message, but generally the acting and budgets are not comparable to a Hollywood powerhouse. Now I'm not knocking these movies, and I'm glad that they exist. No, what I have problems with is the fact that the movie is labeled as a "Christian" movie, relegating it into a genre that's typically laughed at and ignored. Anyone who's read this blog very long knows that I dislike labels and genres, whether it's for film or books or music or whatever. If you want to reach a larger audience then remove the genre classification. Until then, we'll remain a splintered people, separated by race, religion, and many other things. With that said, Resolutionis a non-fictional book about what it means to be a Man. To be a good husband. To be a good dad. Or, from the Introduction, This book is an unapologetic call for men to live courageously for their faith and their families. It is designed to strategically challenge you to become the man God created you to be. (page1) Continuing my confession, I would very likely never have read Resolutionon my own. It's just not my norm. As it so happened, my Wednesday morning D-group (which we affectionately call "Coffee Talk") decided to read this book together. What's more, we decided that after we finished that we would pledge the "Resolution" the book provides, affirming our intentions publicly and in the presence of others. This "Resolution" is the focus of the book, as it precedes and concludes the text. Each of the fifteen chapters point to the twelve points made in the "Resolution", and all build upon one another as expected. To make things even more difficult, I literally started reading the book a day or two before my dad died. Because of the book's content, my mind had been thinking about him a lot at the time. Thinking about how he was never there for us and how little he was involved in my life. The book speaks of being a chain-breaker in your family, and I had a clear goal in mind for my life of how not to be. Reading the book was cementing the way to that goal. Then he died, and all the difficult parts about fatherhood were suddenly clearer and made more of an impact. I came into Resolutionwith no real expectations, what I found was a book containing a lot of great information about being a Man of God. I like to read with ink pens and highlighters at my disposal, and this book shows it. Many of the pages are scribbled with notes or underlines, things I found particularly insightful or applicable. Consider (and I apologize for the quote-dump here), *All sin in us reveals that God is not as holy to us as He should be. (p89) This is just a smattering of things I marked. For you see, Resolutionoffered much more than I was expecting. Not only did the authors give theory behind things they recommended, but they went beyond that by offering practical things to do. I appreciate reading a book with suggestions for how to apply to my life. Too often, it seems, that these books only offer us reasons why we need to do things a certain way but not how to go about it. I've already mentioned the "Resolution" at the front and back of the book, but it's worth mentioning again. I think the desire of the authors is to get men to recommit themselves to seeking a lifestyle that's reflective of biblical manhood. The Resolution is a solemn compact that should not be entered into half-hearted. I imagine that there are some who have qualms about making that type of commitment and instead just gloss over that part of the book, but as for me, it's something I'm going to do. The "Resolution" is composed of great points that not only will make us better men, but will draw us closer to God. Stephen & Alex Kendrick's Resolution for Men is not a perfect book. There are plenty of instances that I completely disagreed with, where I felt that they were being too legalistic or too dogmatic, but these were uncommon. At times I also felt like they were repetitive in their message, but this could be that they just wanted to make sure that their message was heard. Even so, these brothers are to be applauded for the book they've produced. It's poignant and much needed in modern day America. If you're wondering what it takes to be a better husband, a better father, and a better Man in general, then let me suggest checking out The Resolution for Men. [Note: Just in case you're curious, there's also a Resolution for Women out there. I can't attest to its content, but if it's like this one, then I do recommend it, too.](less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Nov 04, 2011
| Feb 13, 2012
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Nov 04, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| B0030P1W3Q
| unknown
| 4.15
| 796
| Jan 01, 2000
| unknown
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This isn't a book on systematic theology proper. It's more like a mixtape of biblical truth that I've found personally significant. Dug Down Deep is m...more This isn't a book on systematic theology proper. It's more like a mixtape of biblical truth that I've found personally significant. Dug Down Deep is my reveling in theology in my own simple way--not too polished, sometimes awkward, less than scholarly, hopefully gracious and faithful. Even thought these are deep truths, I don't pretend to be swimming in the deep end of the pool. I'm splashing in the shallow end. But if my splashing can inspire you to dive in, I will have succeeded.In 1997, Joshua Harris broke into the scene with his book on dating, appropriately titled I Kissed Dating Goodbye . I'd heard of it, but never had a desire to read it, nor anything else by this author. As I saw it, he was one of those Christian authors that wrote on one and only one subject matter, and it just happened to be one I was uninterested in. However, back in September I requested a copy of Harris' book on systematic theology called Dug Down Deep, primarily because of the book's style. Harris chose to tackle the subjects through transparent memoirs (as opposed to exhaustive biblical analysis), and I thought his journey sounded interesting. In some ways, this book could have been written by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What, and several other books), as the tone of the author was very reminiscent. Harris begins Dug Down Deep with a thought-provoking question: what are you building your life on? He then goes on to talk about Jesus' parable in Matthew 7, comparing the man who built his house on the sand with the man who built his house on the more solid foundation: rock. Harris argues that building on the rock takes work, it takes some digging, but in the end, after the wind and the rain and the storms, the house remains standing. He explains, In the past I thought the point was simply that being a Christian is better than not being a Christian. And I suppose on a very rudimentary level, that is what it means. But I never thought about the specifics of what digging down to the rock represents.This was the impetus for the book. He grew up in the church and found himself lacking any biblical depth. He was familiar with theology, doctrine, orthodoxy, and the like, but at the same time, they meant very little to him. They were just old sounding words that old people used. For the remainder of the Dug Down Deep, Harris opens up with humbling honesty, explaining how he came to understand certain elements of theology. Some of the essays included are about the Father, the Son, the Spirit, the Word, sanctification, justification, the church, orthodoxy, and a few others. And if you're anything like me, some of those words sound boring (i.e., orthodoxy), but Harris points out (reasonably) that they shouldn't, and he explains why. Knowledge doesn't have to be dry and lifeless. And when you think about it, exactly what is our alternative? Ignorance? Falsehood? We're either building our lives on the reality of what God is truly like and what he's about, or we're basing our lives on our own imagination and misconceptions. We're all theologians. The question is whether what we know about God is true.When I finished Dug Down Deep, I had several passages highlighted and underlined. The chapter on sanctification is definitely worth the read, as I found it thoroughly fascinating and incredibly awe-inspiring. Another recommended chapter is the last one, where Harris writes on humble orthodoxy, bringing home the point of how crucial it is to remain humble in our lives. This is something I think many of us should read and take to heart, as pride is ever so subtle and we must be on guard. These are just two of the eleven chapters presented in the book, and all are well thought out and stimulating. Dug Down Deep is a very accessible book. It offers deep thoughts and unfathomable truths about God and His character, but Harris attempts to explain them as clearly as he can. I think the book would be a great tool for new believers, but I think the impact would be even stronger with those who've walked with God for a while, especially the ones that have grown frustrated with their fellow believers or their own faith. Really, the book is relative even to those outside of the fold, those that have questions about life's journey and the roads we travel on. Overall, I really enjoyed Joshua Harris' Dug Down Deep. Maybe it's where I'm at in life, but Dug Down Deep resonated with me. I found it encouraging and refreshing, and I think it's a book that many people could read and get something out of it. --- FTC Thingy: This book was provided to me free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I received no goods other than the ebook, and had I been offered any other goods (like, say, chocolate chip cookies) I would have been tempted to take the bribe. Nevertheless, I wasn't offered, nor did I ask. As such, the opinion expressed in this review is entirely my own and has in no way been affected by my lack of receiving free, home-baked chocolate goodies.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Oct 25, 2011
| Dec 04, 2011
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Oct 25, 2011
| Kindle Edition
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| 1400317207
| 9781400317202
| 3.67
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| Jan 01, 1993
| Aug 02, 2011
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Josh McDowell, like C.S. Lewis and Lee Strobel, had a problem with Christianity. As an agnostic, he set out writing a paper to disprove the Christian...more
Josh McDowell, like C.S. Lewis and Lee Strobel, had a problem with Christianity. As an agnostic, he set out writing a paper to disprove the Christian faith, which ultimately led to his inability to do so and his surrender to Christ. A renown apologist, McDowell, along with Bob Hostetler, produced a simple book of common questions for young Christians, a book titled Don't Check Your Brains at the Door. Originally released in 1992, I recently received an updated edition for a more modernized society. Don't Check Your Brains is targeted for teens and young adults. The book is conversational and the tone is light and humorous, but it never loses its focus. Divided into six sections, the book covers myths about God, Jesus, the Bible, the Resurrection, Religion and Christianity, and Life & Happiness. There are forty-two 3-4 page chapters, and each chapter ends with a "Brain Food" application. The "Brain Food" stuff includes readings from the Bible and insights for practical living. As an older Christian, and having read some more theological denser material (like Strobel's A Case for Christ ), I wasn't blown away by anything I read. This, however, was not my intention in reading the book. I volunteer with the youth at church and I wanted to read it to see how I thought it would help high schoolers and middle schoolers. To this age group, as well as fledgling Christians, I think Don't Check Your Brains is a fantastic resource. It answers tough questions with Scripture, as well as establishes a seed to grow deeper in understanding God's Word. I think this book is a great starting point for those that are clueless about their faith and why we believe things we believe. Many great questions/myths are addressed, such as New Age Thoughts, Wimpy Jesus, and God Grades on a Curve. These are but a few examples, and I think many of these myths will be encountered by the upcoming generations. In the end, Don't Check Your Brains at the Door is a simple and engaging book that should hold the attention of a younger audience, but also impart truth and evidence for common questions they may face. The book would fit perfectly with young and curious minds, and may just spark some thought in older ones as well. *FTC Thingy: This book was provided for free as an ebook download from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. (less) | Notes are private!
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| Aug 09, 2011
| Sep 28, 2011
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Aug 09, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1433528525
| 9781433528521
| 4.05
| 171
| Jan 01, 2011
| Sep 08, 2011
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Racism is not dead. Despite what you may think about the issue--from those that see our modern day America as a glorious fondue of ethnic delights to...more
Racism is not dead. Despite what you may think about the issue--from those that see our modern day America as a glorious fondue of ethnic delights to those that see through the smokescreen a bit too readily--racism is certainly not dead. For many of us, though, it is. We live in our content bubbles, satisfied with the status of ethnic diversity in America. Look at how far we've come, we say. Slavery abolished. Equal rights for all. Amen, and I'm thankful to God that we've come at least that far. But the question I raise, and one that John Piper points to in his latest book Bloodlines, is look how far we've still got to go. Bloodlines is an engaging and provocative book. Piper, respected globally as a passionate man of God, sets out to show how racial harmony and embracing ethnic diversity are Biblically sound doctrines and ultimately glorifying to God. He takes on several of the modern controversies surrounding race and addresses everything with the Bible. Indeed, he steps up and writes with blunt passion, even when it's difficult to do so. But as he says, This deeply felt sense of race as a continuing, painful, and pervasive issue in America means that talking about race continues to be difficult. The feelings run very deep and very high. If your skin is thin...hold your tongue. But holding our tongues does not usually advance understanding, deepen respect, warm the affections, or motivate action. Yes, if we want change, if we want a greater respect of our fellow man, then we cannot hold our tongues, and thankfully Piper doesn't. I think Bloodlines is an easy read, in that Piper is honest in his desire. He writes of growing up in South Carolina and of the racial sins he had to overcome, and only so by the blood of Jesus. And when he went into ministry he intentionally chose a region (Twin Cities area in Minnesota) that is one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation. He has lived there for over thirty years, passionate about diversity and harmony and exalting God. These things give credence to the points Piper raises, and hopefully many see his words as truth. The book begins with Piper telling why he's wrote Bloodlines, and then he follows with several statistics and the current shape of racism in America. One of the most staggering statistics: Homicide is the number one cause of death for black men between fifteen and twenty-nine years of age and has been for decades. After the statistical dump, Piper then dives into many of the current theories and resources surrounding racism. I was ignorant of many of these names and sources, but Piper definitely was not. I found this bit fascinating, reading what many leading minds think about the "Whys" and "Hows" of racism. The remainder of the book focuses on why a united people celebrating diversity and living peaceably is glorifying to God. Most of us are ignorant of our racism, and I suspect many of us would be appalled at ourselves if our secret thoughts were revealed. The blame is ours, but it's also the many generations before us. America has a dark history, one that misused Scripture to propel a false agenda that led to many sins, and we've still not recovered from this. It's important to note that throughout everything, Piper never strays from the gospel of Jesus Christ. With a multitude of verses to back up his thesis, it's eye opening to see how uninvolved so many of us are. Racial harmony is not the most important issue for a person, but it is an issue that should be pursued by some. Piper feels this way, as do many members and staff at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Just read this article (How and Why Bethlehem Pursues Ethnic Diversity) to understand that. Bloodlines is a thought-stirring book that brings up many strong arguments for why the fight against racism should be faced. While most of us don't feel like race is an issue to concern ourselves with, consider the following. Since majority people don't think of themselves in terms of race, none of our dysfunctions is viewed as a racial dysfunction. When you are the majority ethnicity, nothing you do is ethnic. It's just the way it's done. When you are a minority, everything you do has color. The words are true, and the implications staggering. We are all creatures of race. Whether majority or minority, we all share a common earthly bloodline, and that makes us all brothers and sisters. Praise God that we can all share a common heavenly bloodline, too, that of Jesus Christ, and it's only through His blood can we hope to have unity.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Aug 16, 2011
| Sep 06, 2011
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Aug 09, 2011
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| 1595551069
| 9781595551061
| 3.79
| 61
| Aug 02, 2011
| Aug 02, 2011
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The Christian Encounters series is a biographical series from Thomas Nelson Publishing House. The purpose of this series is to highlight the faith of...more
The Christian Encounters series is a biographical series from Thomas Nelson Publishing House. The purpose of this series is to highlight the faith of each person presented. I am not a fan of biographies, having only read one my entire life (Bob Dylan) and not planning to read another. But then came along the chance to review the Christian Encounters book on J.R.R. Tolkien. Since the book was small and about someone I had more than a passing interest in, I decided to give it a go. Mark Horne does an admiral job of highlighting Tolkien's life in just over 120 pages. The focus of the biography is to present readers with insight into Tolkien's life and the eventual development of his seminal works in the fantasy genre. Horne is quick to remind us that Tolkien was a believer in the Faith, but he never ventures more than that. Personally, I thought I would get to see more of Tolkien's faith in action, or at least some idea of how he believed. Instead, I'm reminded (more than once) that Tolkien was a "sincere" Roman Catholic, that he forced his wife to convert from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism, and that he raised his children in the Catholic church. One is left wondering what type of faith Tolkien really had. No doubt he believed, and Horne includes how Tolkien shared his faith with C.S. Lewis in hopes of convincing Lewis to abandon skepticism, but this about as much of the action as we get to see. Instead, this brief biography spends a handful of pages for each era of Tolkien's life and reads like a Wikipedia article. We learn of his upbringing and his orphaning at an early age. We then follow Tolkien's examination process to gain entrance to school, and then further studies to become a professor at Oxford. We read about the Great War and its affects on Tolkien, and then suddenly we're diving through publishing and finishing his works. All in all, if one is not looking for depth (and truly, I can't say that I was), then this little book is great for a casual Sunday afternoon read. Its brevity is testament to that. But if one is looking for a more thorough examination of Tolkien's life, there are definitely more available biographies of the man out there. (Horne cites these quite often, and lists the books in the back of his work for further reading.) All in all, it was an interesting experience to read about J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm still not much of a fan of biographies, but I didn't expect to be won over by this, either. If you're looking for some lite-Tolkien bio, Mark Horne's J.R.R. Tolkien in the Christian Encounters series is it. Otherwise, look for something deeper. *FTC Thingy: This book was provided free of charge. Yep, I didn't have to pay for it. All I had to do was read it and write an honest review. I'm required by law to post this FTC Review Thingy for tax purposes or something. So I like to change it up every time I tack it onto the books I receive. I also like requesting baked goods, but as of yet, no one's obliged. (less) | Notes are private!
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| Jul 21, 2011
| Jul 31, 2011
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Jul 19, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0802458386
| 9780802458384
| 4.21
| 2,022
| 2009
| Apr 01, 2009
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Every once in a while we have an epiphany. It may come while we're brushing our teeth and staring at ourselves in the mirror. It may come when we're p...more
Every once in a while we have an epiphany. It may come while we're brushing our teeth and staring at ourselves in the mirror. It may come when we're pouring soy into the wok, whiffing the wonderful scents of the steam. Or, as often is the case, it may come from a book. The Bible is great at this. It's amazing how we can read the same passages through the years, but still find so much truth with its words. This post isn't about the Bible, though. It's about Kevin DeYoung's book (which is based on the Bible) Just Do Something. Just Do Something has literally changed the way I think about a lot of stuff. Many Christians tend to "overspiritualize" things, some going so far as to avoid doing anything for fear of making a wrong choice. (Note: this problem isn't just related to Christians, but to anyone suffering from indecision, at least I suspect so.) We're inclined to believe that every choice we make in life ultimately affects some outcome at the end, and this simply is not true. In Just Do Something, DeYoung presents a case for simply doing, not worrying about the results. He argues that as long as a decision isn't sinful (what he calls "unethical" choices), then the choice is solely up to us and God doesn't care. Does it really matter what job we take and what school we attend? What car we buy? Who we marry, even? To God, these decisions are simply less important than "ethical" ones (i.e., God is supremely concerned with our choice on how we view His Son, Jesus). While this may seem infuriating or insensitive, DeYoung uses plenty of scripture to back up his beliefs, and I'm inclined to agree (with most)*. Early in the book DeYoung presents the problem many of us face. We want to be in the will of God and make Him happy with every thing we do. Agreed. And how often do we pray or hear others pray "if it's according to Your will...?" DeYoung states that there are three distinct categories for the will of God, and understanding these three is the first step to a new way of thinking. 1. The decreed will of God. God has already decreed everything from before time began, down to the hairs on our heads falling out and the sparrow's food for today. This is all sovereign and unchangeable. So, without getting too deep, everything we ever do is already in God's will. Everything that ever happens is already in God's will. He's already taken into consideration everything and allowed it all to happen "for the good" (Romans 8:28). This is God's decreed will, and we can never be out of it. What we should pray for is to be in God's desired will. I suspect (as does DeYoung) that as long as we make decisions based on biblical wisdom, then we'll always be in God's desired will, as it is the Spirit that speaks to us through God's Word. One chapter even presents practical things to pray for, and I found this quite helpful. How often we tend to overlook the obvious. What many of us actually pray for is for God's will of direction to be obvious, like Gideon's fleeces or the clouds above spelling out a phrase. This is just setting ourselves up for disappointment time and time again. Can God show us direction? Absolutely, but it's a rarity, both in scripture and now. "Apart from the Spirit working through Scripture, God does not promise to use any other means to guide us, nor should we expect him to." (p. 68) It seems to (once again) boil down to semantics. The English language lacks the proper capabilities to articulate clearly***. For example, our word hot may mean many different things, from spicy to scalding to sexy to trendy and on and on. One word for multiple meanings. That's why I try to use picante if I mean spicy; caliente for high temperatures; etc. Likewise, we shouldn't group God's Will into one phrase. This is key to understanding the book. DeYoung also posits that cultural differences between our time and a century ago is responsible for a lot of our indecision, especially with the privileged, instantaneous society we now find ourselves in. Most of us are spoiled and rich (in 1999, 3 billion people lived on less than $2 per day [source]) and impatient and the list goes on. These factors (especially growing up in America) certainly affect our outlook on life, as well as our parents and their parents, too. As such, we've been raised to think a certain way--that our each and every choice and action is extremely important. Look at "Choose Your Own Adventure" books or karma based video games like Fallout. They pander to the fact that every choice matters. No wonder we're so indecisive. The answer to the dilemma, as DeYoung would have us think, is to basically love God with our whole hearts, bodies, minds, and souls, and everything else will be in God's will. With everything we do, we should to it to glorify God. As I post this review, it should be for God's glory. As I chew on the black liquorice jelly bean I just ate, I should glorify God. For without Him, there would be nothing, and He alone is worthy to be praised. "Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you'll be walking in the will of God." (p.122) It should also be noted that Just Do Something is a funny book. DeYoung writes with communicable language, which is perfect for this type of book. It's not too deep and eloquently written (a la CS Lewis), but it's friendly and conversational. There were stories that literally had me laughing aloud. In the end, Just Do Something was a powerful book. It has literally changed my views on how I see God's will working in my life, and how I work into God's will. My copy is heavily noted and written in (don't you just love books like that?), and I'm currently reading it aloud to Keisha. If you suffer from anxiety, indecision, and general fear from being out of God's will, then I highly recommend Just Do Something. Heck, even if you don't (which, coincidentally, I didn't/don't), the book is still worth the read. Whatever the case, I would love for everyone to read this book (and take to heart its message) so they can live life liberated. Jesus didn't die for us to tie ourselves up in bondage and serve tradition and fear; He died for our freedom and so that we can have life in Him.^ "...,the will of God for your life is pretty straightforward: Be holy like Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of God." (p. 62) ------- *My wife didn't particularly care for the non-romantic view on marriage. DeYoung doesn't believe in "soul mates" and that stuff. I don't know whether I do or not, but I do believe that Keisha is my soul mate, if that makes sense. She is who I am supposed to be with and I love her more than she knows. **DeYoung doesn't get into this issue very much, and neither will I. In short, God didn't create robots, but independent creatures gifted with free will. He holds us responsible for our "ethical" choices. Everything else we do, we do for the glory of God. ***I started an outline and an essay a few months back on my problem(s) with language, in particular English language. Perhaps I'll have to revisit this again... ^This was a difficult review to write, and I feel like I either a) rambled, b) left out a lot, or c) both a & b. I easily could have kept going, but in an effort to not reveal too much, I chose to only approach certain topics of DeYoung's book. There are only 10 chapters across 128 pages or so, so there's not that much quantity-wise in it, but enough quality that there's plenty more to think about. (less) | Notes are private!
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| May 09, 2011
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May 09, 2011
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| 0615402321
| 9780615402321
| 3.00
| 2
| Sep 20, 2010
| Sep 22, 2010
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Fearful to Fearless is a book with a simple premise: stop being afraid in life, stop being anxious or nervous, and instead be bold and fearless. The b...more Fearful to Fearless is a book with a simple premise: stop being afraid in life, stop being anxious or nervous, and instead be bold and fearless. The book is divided into three sections: "Fear Not", "Don't Worry", and "Fear God". Each one begins with a brief introduction and then proceeds into the familiar devotional format. The book at first seems unusual, as it essentially is an exhaustive collection of bible verses that relate to fear, worry, doubts, and the like. Yet, its simplicity is great, for whatever page you open to you are guaranteed to read a verse that directly relates to fear. Also, after each verse, Kusner gives a brief sentence or two to think and meditate on. This book basically is like running a query on the word "fear" and the bible and then putting the results into book format. While the idea is not original, it definitely shows the author's concern for his subject. However, be advised that any extra stuff is relegated primarily to the introductions, and this book lacks bells & whistles. (Yet, who needs bells & whistles when you've got God's Word?) Fearful to Fearless is a standard Christian book that offers encouragement to those with problems, this one chiefly being fear and apprehension. Some extra verses or commentary would've been nice, but then again, if one was looking only for a collection of verses on fear, this book would fit perfectly. For anyone that struggles with fear and worries and would like a devotion-type book, I can easily recommend Jeff Kusner's Fearful to Fearless. If you're wanting a more in-depth look and commentary on fear, this may not be the book for you. (less) | Notes are private!
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| Dec 29, 2010
| Jan 18, 2011
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Dec 29, 2010
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| 0307459179
| 9780307459176
| 4.06
| 146
| 2010
| Jun 15, 2010
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I had never heard of the Internet Monk prior to receiving this book, nor had I heard of Michael Spencer, the name he went by outside the blogosphere....more
I had never heard of the Internet Monk prior to receiving this book, nor had I heard of Michael Spencer, the name he went by outside the blogosphere. No, I chose this book for two reasons: One, the title, Mere Churchianity, was clever and Two, I was interested in this so-called "Jesus-Shaped Spirituality." So the book arrived, I discovered it was published posthumously, and I dove in to see what this was all about. To say I was immediately hooked would be misleading, though I was. For one, the author told a story at a Dairy Queen on Hartford Road, which, coincidentally, there was a DQ on a Hartford Rd just a few miles from my house. The story was a sad, indicative reflection of many modern youth groups and how they react outside of the church. But the sincerity of Michael Spencer's voice was heard: there was a problem with our churches. A few pages later I discovered that Spencer grew up in the town I now call home, a small(ish) city in Western Kentucky. To make things even more interesting, his family still abides in these parts. So learning that Spencer was a local might have buried the hooks even deeper into me, assuring that I continue reading. Yet, even without these coincidences, I would have had no problem finishing Mere Churchianity. The subject is something I believe is vitally important in our current, fast-paced, instantaneous society, and Spencer highlights many of the same problems I see all around me. Churchianity is the art of shaping one's life after the church, as opposed to Jesus. Some may find this discrepancy negligible or a matter of semantics, but it's not. Look around. How many churches are truly following Jesus? How many pastors are standing in their multi-million dollar buildings wearing their fancy clothes and proclaiming that Jesus wants us to "have our best life now"? How many church goers are bigots? Racists? Homophobes? It doesn't take a genius to know that the word "Christianity" carries negative connotations, that all Christians are judgmental and close-minded. While this is untrue of all Christians, largely, to the rest of the world we're a religion that is intolerant of anything that doesn't fall under the OK of our set traditions and customs, most of which originated from the church, not Christ Himself. Jesus was the ultimate example of love and humility. Who did He spend most of His time with while He was in His ministry? It wasn't the religious folks, that's for sure. No, He hung out with prostitutes, liars, thieves, tax collectors, Samaritans, and all the other lowlifes of the times. Jesus said in Matthew 9, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." How does this compare with our churches of today? Largely, this disconnect is the focus of Spencer's Mere Churchianity. The book was written for people that had left the church or were thinking about it, people that were dissatisfied with how things were going, people that wanted a REAL church, not a group of hypocrites. I found myself shaking my head at many of the things Spencer was saying, agreeing that we need to be REAL and dependent on each other, as the early church. There were some things that I disagreed with, of course, and I recommend reading these types of books with a critical & careful eye. Still, for the most part, Michael Spencer was absolutely right. Our churches are screwed up and are too busy focusing on things that don't matter and ignoring the One who does. I very much enjoyed this book. My copy has notes and underlinings all over the place. Spencer wrote conversationally, but with conviction and honesty. This is the kind of book I wish more people read so as to see that we're not all judgmental and uncaring. I can recommend this book for the target audience (those leaving or thinking about it), but also for the lay church attender as well. The argument is urgent, and if churches don't start fixing things, I fear for the future of the bride of Christ.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Dec 02, 2010
| Jan 05, 2011
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Dec 01, 2010
| Paperback
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| 0849948169
| 9780849948169
| 3.47
| 34
| Sep 28, 2010
| Sep 28, 2010
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The Gospel According to Jesus, by Chris Seay, is a very thought-provoking book. It's a slim read, barely 200 pages, but it packs a lot in its easy-to-...more
The Gospel According to Jesus, by Chris Seay, is a very thought-provoking book. It's a slim read, barely 200 pages, but it packs a lot in its easy-to-read prose. The premise of the book is that Seay is concerned with how American Christians fail to understand key terms to the faith, like "righteousness" or "justice." A survey was commissioned that gave dismal results that Seay's concerns are justified. The rest of the book deals with this issue. On the surface, this idea does not intrigue me in the least bit. Definitions are relatively fickle things, and one may have a different idea of what "righteousness" means than Seay or the study. Still, as I progressed through the book, I found myself captivated by what I was reading. Seay has a heart that longs for Christ. He wants this feeling to shine through all who claim to follow Jesus, and the book largely deals with this. How would Jesus treat the poor? The sick? The environment? The greedy? Jesus would show them all a loving, compassionate side that we are unfamiliar with, and Seay makes his points well. I read this book with a pencil in hand, underlining sentences that struck a chord. Looking back, there were plenty. Seay has a way with allegories or metaphors that really make sense of what he's trying to say, as well as what Scripture is saying. There were a few things in the book that I was a bit wishy-washy on, but on the whole, The Gospel According to Jesus is an excellent read for the critically-thinking Christian. Its ideas are things that should be taken to heart and pondered on.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Sep 23, 2010
| Nov 04, 2010
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Sep 21, 2010
| Hardcover
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| 0316156116
| 9780316156110
| 4.21
| 13,810
| Apr 01, 2008
| Dec 13, 2005
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"But if I decide to decide there’s a different, less selfish, less lonely point to my life, won’t the reason for this decision be my desire to be less...more
"But if I decide to decide there’s a different, less selfish, less lonely point to my life, won’t the reason for this decision be my desire to be less lonely, meaning to suffer less overall pain? Can the decision to be less selfish ever be anything other than a selfish decision?" Consider the Lobster, and Other Essays is a non-fiction book by the late, acclaimed journalist and novelist David Foster Wallace. I first heard of DFW on a recent NPR interview, and, like many NPR stories, I found his life fascinating. Then a good friend of mine was talking about him and it reminded me of the interview, and soon after he loaned me a few DFW books. Wallace was a highly intelligent man with an enormous vocabulary and an unusual-but-enthralling writing style. He is widely renown for his command of language and syntax, and it's nearly impossible to read his writing without a dictionary. Wallace is arguably one of the strongest writers of the 20th century. This is the first book of his I've read. The essays are reviewed in the order in which I read them. "Consider the Lobster" was written for Gourmet magazine in 2004. Wallace took a trip up to the Maine Lobster Festival and was hired to write about his experiences there. He goes in to great detail about lobster cooking, how there's a huge boiler that can cook a hundred lobsters at a time. He talks about how smelly the MLF is, how hot the weather was, and how long the lines were. Then he discusses lobster biology in great detail and eventually delves into the heart of the article: do lobsters feel pain when they're being boiled alive? The piece was quite interesting, both objectively and subjectively. Wallace articulates the arguments for and against in his normal style, but he throws in his genuine confusion about the subject as well. He explains that he has certain animals he likes to eat and that he just prefers not to think about what they have to go through in order for us to eat them, to which he then muses on our minds ignoring these ugly truths. By the end of the article, Wallace has made no clear choice about lobsters and whether or not they feel, and neither had I. I just wonder how Gourmet felt about this piece? In "Up, Simba," Wallace was hired as a pencil for the famously liberal Rolling Stone to write about one of the 2000 Presidential candidates. Wallace was put with Sen. John McCain. The piece is long (nearly 80 pages) and sometimes trying, but the overall quality of the essay was excellent. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be on the campaign trail, not the Hollywood-style glitzy trail, but the Real-World-lots-of-downtime-bored-out-of-your-mind-extremely-hectic trail, then you'll love "Up, Simba." The piece doesn't really get deep into politics, but instead muses on the authenticity of McCain and various other politicians. Wallace is constantly torn between whether or not McCain is genuine in his concern, or, letting his inner cynic take over, the man is just putting out an image. The article was revealing and interesting and slightly boring all at the same time, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. By the end, as with "Consider the Lobster," Wallace has made no choice on McCain's genuineness. For me, the cynic was silent and I dared to believe. "How Tracy Austin Broke My Heart" is a short review of tennis star Tracy Austin's autobiography. It was written for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Wallace played competitive juniors tennis when he was younger and he decided to read and review the famous starlet's book. He basically said it was rubbish, horribly written, badly edited, and offered little-to-no real insight on Austin. He then goes on to muse on our [American people's, not mine] fascination with celebrities and why we want to read about their lives, especially athletes. This piece was quite thought-provoking, and its brevity makes it much easier to read in one sitting. "Big Red Son," written for Premiere magazine, is Wallace's account of the AVN Awards, which is basically like the Academy Awards for adult videos. Reading this piece was kind of like staring at a train wreck. I was repulsed a few times, but equally intrigued. Largely, while Wallace does cover the adult video industry, he goes into inane details about certain performers or directors/producers lives outside the screen, and this is possibly even more terrifying than the sex. The lack of humanity in many of the people is frightening. The vain "look at me and laud me" attitudes was loathsome. And the apathetic views of some directors (e.g. Max Hardcore), not caring how humiliating a situation will be for a "starlet," was downright sickening. Wallace talks about the awkwardness of the situation, standing in the bathroom between two male performers, silently obeying male-urinal etiquette. He muses how odd it is to be behind a woman in the buffet line that he's seen up close and personal. He talks about how cheap and foreign everything is, from the awards show itself to the people there. By the end of "Big Red Son," it's easy to see Wallace's disgust with the business and I shared his sentiments. It's just mind blowing how crude some people can be. Still, this essay is worth the read, if only to somewhat try and understand a group of people you'll never be able to really understand. "Authority and American Usage" is a massive, exhausting book review of Garner's A Dictionary of Modern American Usage. I read about a third of this piece before I abandoned it. I just really didn't care much about the finer points of American usage, and there were way too many words I didn't understand. Hardcore English fans may enjoy this, but I couldn't do it. "The View from Mrs. Thompson's" recounts Wallace's experience with 9/11 and the following days. I really liked this piece a lot, the way he mused and questioned the Horror. Possibly my favorite short essay in the collection. "Joseph Frank's Dostoevsky" was particularly interesting because I like Dostoevsky (though as of writing this I've not read any of his books) and I wanted to read Wallace's thoughts of the man. This piece is actually a review of Joseph Frank's books on Dostoevsky, arguing that Frank's works are unique and great. Throughout this piece Wallace inserts random philosophical musings (see intro. quote), asking deep questions that at times make you stop and think seriously about things. I enjoyed this essay quite a bit, and recommend it if only for the philosophy. The three remaining essays I did not read. I had no interest in the odd way "Host" was arranged on the page, nor did I care about the subject. Similarly, I never liked Kafka and had no desire to read Wallace's views on him, and the same goes for the review of John Updike work. All in all, Consider the Lobster was a great read. It falls into a genre I never read, essays, and the break from the norm was fun. I felt like I was slowly learning a bit about Wallace's life with each piece I read. Wallace's cynicism gets heavy throughout some works, and it's really no surprise to learn that the man eventually killed himself. Still, his writing is top-notch, his essays are enjoyable, and his musings mix humor with serious questions. (I mean, go back and re-read the introduction quote at the top of this post. How profound is that? After I read that line I literally said, "Huh." The guy knows how to make you think.) Everyone should read a few DFW essays in their life, and Consider the Lobster is a great place to start. (less) | Notes are private!
| Adam
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| Aug 23, 2010
| Sep 07, 2010
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Aug 23, 2010
| Hardcover
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| 0679745580
| 9780679745587
| 3.98
| 232,182
| 1965
| Feb 01, 1994
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Holcomb, Kan., Nov. 15 [1959] (UPI) -- A wealthy wheat farmer, his wife and their two young children were found shot to death today in their home. The...more Holcomb, Kan., Nov. 15 [1959] (UPI) -- A wealthy wheat farmer, his wife and their two young children were found shot to death today in their home. They had been killed by shotgun blasts at close range after being bound and gagged ... There were no signs of a struggle, and nothing had been stolen. The telephone lines had been cut.—The New York Times I'm hesitant to review Truman Capote's seminal true-crime novel In Cold Blood. How does one begin to review non-fiction, let alone true stories? I see the vanity of my opinion on the situation and want to run screaming the other way. But that curious part of me, that part buried in a metal box in the middle of my heart, twitches and pines for things it ought not. As I've mused time and again, I am inexplicably drawn to these things. In Cold Blood is the account of the Clutter murders. The book is broken up into four sections and told through numerous Points-of-View. We watch Herb Clutter, kindly and genteel, make his way around Holcomb, conducting business for his family farm. We see sixteen-year-old Nancy Clutter's budding relationship with her high school boyfriend. We struggle with Mrs. Clutter and her bouts of depression, and son Kenyon (15) and his aspirations. We're told about the small town of Holcomb and its caring citizens, where Church is society, the diner is always busy, and idle talk spreads fast. Beyond this, and the more intriguing parts of the book, we travel with Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, two parolees who ultimately murder four innocent people for the hope of a chance that Mr. Clutter kept a safe in his house, filled with at least ten thousand dollars. We learn of each man's upbringing, of their choices that landed them in jail, of their plans and goals, of their bitterness, and of their deaths. It's easy to pity them, to wish things better for them, but from the onset we're aware of their deed and their execution. Capote is brilliant in building dread and suspense. Scenes change quickly, and since this is a journalistic approach, we see various sides of people/events. There is much to be said about the crime, the victims, the criminals, and the aftermath, and Capote adroitly handles it all. Strikingly, the brutality of the crime (as well as the executions of Hickock, Smith, and some other men on Death Row) is done in a matter-of-fact way. Capote presents the scene with little fanfare, and this minimalism is chilling. The Reader is left as dazed and confused as the townsfolk of Holcomb were, and one can't help but press on to discover the true motive. Why? continually comes to mind. Emotion is poured into the book, though often it is reserved and professional, and this dichotomy makes for an oddly disturbing read. In Cold Blood has been on my TBR shelf for a very long time, and I'm glad it's finally gone. I wanted to read it for RIP this year because this stuff is what truly defines horror to me. It's real and 100% possible, not like some phantom killer or haunted house. I tend to think that we've created ghost stories as an escape, preferring the supernatural to the perfectly natural. Because there are killers out there. People that torture, kidnap, rape, murder, assault, harass, antagonize. And who knows when someone could simply snap and massacre a shopping center or bookstore? It's scary enough to make me want to take my family and live in a bomb shelter, buried and out of sight, safe and secure. And when my mind starts roaming these uncomfortable corridors, I have to ask myself one question: what if you're the one to snap? And it stops me. Cold. Because I'm human, just like Dick Hickock, Perry Smith, Herb Clutter, and everybody else. I'm no killer, but I could be. We all could be. We all have the potential. What keeps us held back is our self-control, or maybe our fear of prison and death. What keeps me back is my love for people, my love of life, made possible by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without Him, I think I'd be some kind of messed up person, but I trust Him and His word that He'll never leave me or forsake me. But really, when you think about it, if you stand two people side-by-side, one a killer, the other not, and put them in identical clothes and ask someone to pick out the killer, there's no difference. Both are just simply people, and that's the most terrifying thing out there. We don't really know anyone... ----- [Note: After re-reading this, I realize how disturbing this post is, and I've considered simply deleting and starting over. But, as a purist, I find that path treacherous. Instead, I'll echo my previous line. I am enslaved to God and committed until I die, therefore I do not keep myself restrained from going out and murdering somebody. Instead, I deal with the more insidious sins, things like when Jesus said that being angry with your brother was basically wanting to kill him, and inward lust was the same thing as adultery, and pride--oh how I loathe thee!--that snakes its way into every aspect of my life. Yes, friends, I am perfectly sane (to my knowledge). Just trying to make my way in the world the same as the rest of ya.](less) | Notes are private!
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| Sep 26, 2011
| Oct 05, 2011
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Jun 24, 2010
| Trade Paperback
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| 0743244583
| 9780743244589
| 3.99
| 15,907
| 2004
| Sep 13, 2005
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Bob Dylan has had a special place in my heart for nigh over a decade now. My first experience with the man himself was in high school, where I bought...more
Bob Dylan has had a special place in my heart for nigh over a decade now. My first experience with the man himself was in high school, where I bought a double-live album on a whim. I’d recognized the name and had a vague idea of who he was, but that was it. This album stirred something inside my high school soul, and anon I was captivated by folk music. Through college my love for the genre grew fonder, as did my appreciation for the legendary Dylan. I up and listened to his entire catalog. The guy could write. Sometime ago I bought a trade paperback of the first volume of Dylan’s memoirs titled Chronicles Volume One. The book was an immediate bestseller and had a lot of fanfare about it. But I’m not much on biographies* so the book rested on the TBR. Until now. I described Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Vol. One to Keisha like the ramblings of an old man just sharing some memories. In essence that’s exactly what it is. But to the fan, this is a book straight from the man himself**. Music is in my blood and marrow, and the idea of getting some insight into Dylan’s psyche sounded fascinating. Reading prose by Bob Dylan is as evocative as his lyrics. His use of metaphor is unique, painting pictures with perfect comparisons. The way he describes people is sometimes funny but always revelatory. These passages are like little trips into Dylan’s mind. I loved his reactions to Woodie Guthrie’s music and Robert Johnson’s records. One odd thing about Chronicles Vol. One is that its focus is on odd points in Dylan’s life. The book spends a bit of its time detailing two of Dylan’s lesser celebrated albums (Oh Mercy and New Morning) and how Dylan came to creating them while practically omitting any other albums. There’s also a generous section on Dylan’s rambling about New York and New Orleans but very little on his formative years. I did enjoy Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Volume One, but there seemed to be things missing. I would have preferred more time devoted to his first few albums as opposed to ones so late into his career. I would have preferred more anecdotes and reactions to his rise of popularity. I would have preferred many other things, but that’s not what Dylan wanted to share. This Reader infers that these shared memories in Chronicles Volume One are very special to the man, perhaps more so than others. There are supposedly three volumes to this memoir set, but this is the only one out right now. All in all, if you’re a Bob Dylan fan and are curious to learn some more off-the-familiar path information about him, Chronicles Volume One is definitely for you. Just be aware that the scope is very limited with this book and you may wish to get a more thorough biography if you’re after anything else. --- *Unless they’re fictitious in nature, or about a larger-than-life subject (of which Dylan possibly could be). ** Apparently there is a bit of controversy over how much of this book stems from Dylan’s own vocabulary. There’s folks aplenty crying that Dylan plagiarized, or at least didn’t give proper credit. From what I can tell, this has some truth to it, but I didn’t really care one way or the other. (less) | Notes are private!
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| Aug 25, 2012
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Jun 24, 2010
| Paperback
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| 0785263713
| 9780785263715
| 3.93
| 10,891
| Feb 29, 2000
| Oct 13, 2004
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Searching For God Knows What, by Donald Miller, is a powerful, thought-provoking book. Miller writes as he did in the wonderful Blue Like Jazz, conver...more
Searching For God Knows What, by Donald Miller, is a powerful, thought-provoking book. Miller writes as he did in the wonderful Blue Like Jazz, conversational and easy to understand. His theology is strong and his convictions are sincere and honest. Searching For God Knows What is a smooth blend of memoir and theology, and the result is excellent. The book reads as if Miller is telling you a bunch of stories. He talks about his friends, sometimes even naming them, and some of the things they've done. He tells about how the circus terrified him as a kid and only found solace in the elephants. He tells about some of his struggles and some of his worries, all the while sucking you into his life. Truly, the book feels almost as if you're sitting down and talking over a cup of coffee, not reading. After I finished I felt as if I knew Miller, like he was one of my friends and that I could just call him up and talk on the phone, and that easy-to-read style is part of what makes Searching For God Knows What a good read. But the book is more than just well written. Miller is looking for something, as the title suggests. He's actively searching, but what for is anybody's guess. Not only is Donald Miller looking, but you and I are too. Miller tells of how we're all just fallen people and that our lives are a result of the events that happened back in the Garden of Eden. I won't expound on his theology and on his theory of life, but for the most part, I agreed with everything he said. Overall I really enjoyed Searching For God Knows What. At times I was laughing because of how funny and witty some of the stories are. Other times are almost enough to break your heart, realizing how messed up the church (and the rest of the world) is. And still yet I was learning, or thinking, perhaps, that maybe Miller is onto something here. If you've never read anything by Donald Miller, and you'd like to read something fresh and eye-opening, I can easily recommend Searching For God Knows What, or his ubiquitous Blue Like Jazz. The book spoke to me, and I think it would do the same to anyone that were to sit down with it with an open-mind and a hungry-heart. (This version of Searching For God Knows What is a revised and updated version from his previous release in 2004. The updated version includes and in-book game, where clues are hidden throughout the text. I started out following the game, but after a few chapters I got tired of this. Still, some may find this type of thing fun, it just wasn’t for me.)(less) | Notes are private!
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| May 24, 2010
| Jul 24, 2010
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May 21, 2010
| Paperback
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| 0982532121
| 9780982532126
| 3.50
| 4
| Jan 01, 2010
| 2010
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Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in Missions, by Ryan Murphy, is non-fiction book that tells what life is like as a young missionary in K...more
Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in Missions, by Ryan Murphy, is non-fiction book that tells what life is like as a young missionary in Kenya. I received the book courtesy of the author himself, after I expressed interest in reviewing it. I really enjoyed reading WSSF. When I started, I expected a bland account of what life was like, and indeed, the first few pages did not exactly pique my interests. However, as I pressed on, I quickly realized my initial reactions were wrong. Because right after the Introduction, once the first stories from the field were played out, I was hooked. Murphy’s stories were fascinating and real. It was almost like a friend returning from vacation and telling you all the things he’d seen while he was away. Murphy writes conversationally, and I thought the book read almost like a series of blog posts. The book chronicles his thoughts about different seasons of life, spanning opinions on things like racism, financial support, stress, etc. It’s easy to see that Murphy has a heart for Kenya and its people. He cares about the students at Rift Valley Academy. He cares about his family back in the States. And all of it is revealed to the reader, honestly and without any sugar-coating. I suppose one reason I liked this book was that it was an account of something actually happening here on Earth, as opposed to other worlds or magic kingdoms. The Murphy family, along with other missionaries and nationals, are making a difference in Kenya. It’s inspiring to see people sacrificing much for the good of the world and the propagation of God’s Plan. The book was filled with many striking moments. It had me laughing (especially the story about Ryan’s son being born in Kenya); it had me disturbed; it had me concerned; it had me joyous and thankful. I’m thankful that there are people out there like Ryan who are willing to travel and give of themselves so freely, letting the Lord use them as He will. I am thankful that there are people willing to pay and pray for missions. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Winter Spring Summer Fall. The slim book (~170 pages) is a very quick read. If you are in any way interested in what life is like as a missionary, check out Ryan Murphy’s newest book, Winter Spring Summer Fall. The book is not solely for missionaries, but for those left behind as well. Murphy writes of how many churches support missionaries and how the conventional support is flawed, and I heartily agree. I recommend it to anyone that is curious about anything related to missions, from the supporters and the friends left behind to missionaries traveling abroad. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 29, 2010
| May 07, 2010
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Apr 29, 2010
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| 1434767957
| 9781434767950
| 4.19
| 9,997
| Aug 20, 2009
| Sep 01, 2009
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My Sunday School class went through The Forgotten God, a chapter a week, and this book was great. This is the only Francis Chan book I've read, but it...more
My Sunday School class went through The Forgotten God, a chapter a week, and this book was great. This is the only Francis Chan book I've read, but it packs a powerful punch. Chan challenges the reader instantly, calling our attention to the painful absence of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives and actions. His simple and straightforward way of writing is not "in your face," but written with conviction and personal struggle. With life stories and Biblical backing, Chan makes it clear what the Bible is telling us about the Spirit: we have neglected Him and we need Him in our lives. This book is not classically charismatic or extreme, but it is challenging of your typical comfort levels, declaring that if you're not uncomfortable and feeling awkward from time to time, then you likely are away from the Spirit. Overall, I found this book amazing. It's enlightening and full of hope, and I feel like I've grown in my Walk some by applying the message. If you're looking for a book to challenge your Christian faith, Francis Chan's The Forgotten God definitely is it.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 12, 2010
| May 2010
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Mar 12, 2010
| Paperback
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| 1558531289
| 9781558531284
| 3.42
| 52
| Nov 30, 1954
| Nov 01, 1992
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Why You Say It looked interesting to me because of my passing interest in etymology. The book, written by Webb Garrison, examines the history behind c...more
Why You Say It looked interesting to me because of my passing interest in etymology. The book, written by Webb Garrison, examines the history behind common words and phrases that the average English speaking person encounters nearly every day. I'm not sure really how to rate this book. At times it was interesting; however, more often than not, I was eager to skip ahead. Each word or phrase reads like a Wikipedia article: brief, hitting the important things, and slightly wordy. Some words and phrases were very interesting, having truly fascinating history. Others were logical. Many were surprising. Garrison aims well, but never really hits the mark. Some words I wanted to know more about, and others seemed to be too full of boring history. I realize that Garrison has no impact on the etymology of words, but I feel like this book could have easily been shorter. Overall, Why You Say It was an interesting enough read, but it leaves no lasting impression on me. I could spout out a few new nuggets of wisdom, but nothing lasting. But, if you have more than a passing interest in word origins, I recommend the book for you. This book was provided to me for for free by BookSneeze.com and Thomas Nelson Books, in exchange for an honest review. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 11, 2010
| Apr 11, 2010
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Mar 11, 2010
| Paperback
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| 0307588270
| 9780307588272
| 3.87
| 521
| 2010
| Jan 26, 2010
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I don’t read a lot of non-fiction. So when I do read a non-fiction work, it must have something special about it to make me finish. Tea With Hezbollah...more
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction. So when I do read a non-fiction work, it must have something special about it to make me finish. Tea With Hezbollah, by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis, had that special something in it. I’m a Ted Dekker fan. He writes great, action-packed thrillers time after time, and when I got an email from a publisher with this book for review, I immediately responded that I’d be interested. From the onset the authors state that this book is not about religion and it’s not about politics, it’s about humanity. They ponder if Jesus’ greatest teachings—to love God and to love your neighbor—are still applicable today. Their plan was simple and built on a whim. They would travel into the Middle East and meet with prominent leaders of Islam thought: muftis, sheikhs, ayatollahs, and others. From leaders of non-violent protests to US deemed terrorists, from Arabic taxi drivers to Osama bin Laden’s brothers, Dekker and Medearis were granted intimate access to some of Islam’s most valuable minds. They traveled across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Israel to make these meetings. Their interviews were simple. They brought out the humanity of the people, showing that they are real people not so unlike you and I. Muslims believe Christ was a great prophet and that his words are important. What, then, do they think of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan? This was the driving question behind everything. I found the book fascinating. The author’s fear was palpable on each page, questioning whether or not he would survive the trip. The questions were intriguing and insightful. “What makes you laugh?” “What kind of car do you drive?” “When was the last time you cried?” The answers could just as easily have came from a neighbor or a friend. “What’s the biggest misconception American’s have about Muslims?” Vice versa. These answers were always similar, that we American’s tend to distrust all Muslims, that we think they all are terrorists. I felt challenged and sad after reading this book. The label of Christian is a dirty and bloody one. So is Jew. So is Muslim. All three of the Big Religions have a dark history filled with violence. There has been just as much bloodshed by Christian hands in the Middle East as by any other group. All in the name of God. All in the name of Jesus, who told us to turn the other cheek and to love our neighbors, our enemies, as ourselves. Tea With Hezbollah is an amazing, short read, topping out at just over 230 pages. Along with an interesting and complex history lesson, you also get insight into another world of thought. This is the kind of book I hope others read and take to heart. ---- This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, a division of Random House.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Jan 18, 2010
| Jan 24, 2010
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Jan 18, 2010
| Hardcover
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| 0310254752
| 9780310254751
| 3.92
| 443
| Jan 27, 2004
| Feb 01, 2004
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Nov 24, 2009
| Mass Market Paperback
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| 1400074819
| 9781400074815
| 4.12
| 24
| 2009
| Sep 15, 2009
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Treasured, by Leigh McLeroy, is a book about finding God in everyday things. From the simple, routine checkout lines of grocery stores to the harrowin...more
Treasured, by Leigh McLeroy, is a book about finding God in everyday things. From the simple, routine checkout lines of grocery stores to the harrowing apartment fire, God is there in everything. Leigh offers personal stories and anecdotes from her own life to the reader, inviting them to learn with her. She shares her pains and her joys and how she sees God in them all. This book serves as a reminder that in everything we do with our lives, God is there, watching and weaving His will. Leigh has no answers for the tough times of life (why do good people suffer?), but only reliance on God. I found her stories interesting and poignant and easy to relate to. The only real problem I had with the book was that I felt that it was more targeted towards women, which isn't really a problem, but that I was in the wrong audience. Overall, this small book helps the reader realize God's presence in the everyday life, and that is a good thing.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Nov 25, 2009
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Nov 18, 2009
| Hardcover
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| 1418519588
| 9781418519582
| 3.83
| 18
| Feb 29, 2000
| Jun 09, 2009
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Called to Worship, by Vernon Whaley, is a book that offers a biblical basis for worship. The book is formatted into three parts: Old Testament Worship...more
Called to Worship, by Vernon Whaley, is a book that offers a biblical basis for worship. The book is formatted into three parts: Old Testament Worship, New Testament, and Worship in Heaven. From these, Whaley dives into giving thoughtful examples of worship, frequently siting Scripture and other published works. (The cited works are enough to warrant an Appendix of sorts, including a bibliography and a section of Notes.) I found this book easy to read, but challenging to apply. To me, the book felt like I was reading a summary of the Bible with worship-tinted glasses on, which is definitely not a bad thing. Whaley starts off the book with a picture of what Eden was like, when life was perfect and worship of God was complete. Sadly, this did not last, and soon the "Worship Wars" began. The rest of the book deals with the aftermath of the Fall and how Man must fight to worship Yahweh. From Genesis to Revelation, familiar Scripture is analyzed and worship is encouraged. I can easily recommend this book if you are looking to set your heart on worshiping God. Finishing the book left me desiring to serve Christ better, to live a life full of worship and glory to God. Whaley encourages us to read, pray, sing, and give glory to God in all that we do. While Called to Worship is not a substitute for the Bible, it is a great companion to read to get a feel of what worship could be like. You can find this book on Amazon. I'll end with two of my favorite quotes from the book. "The worship battles we face today are often driven by self-interest. Unwilling to accept new, exciting venues for the expression of worship, many folks just stir up conflict....Such personal preferences result in disagreement between brothers and sisters, pastor and parishioners, and their differences of opinion prohibit their worship of God." "Authentic worship requires a regular worship routine. Abraham was a builder of altars...You need to meet with God at a special time in a previously appointed place that is free of distractions from the world around you,...giving him your undivided attention. He deserves no less." (less) | Notes are private!
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| Sep 27, 2009
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Sep 27, 2009
| Hardcover
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