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Review Date: 11/25/2011
Enjoyed this story about the challenges facing a governess in early 19th century England. I sympathized with Agnes's situation and frustrated for her, realizing that during that time, women were not as free to stand up for themselves or speak their mind as we are now. The ending was pretty predictable, but I wish it were drawn out a bit more; the story ended somewhat abruptly in my opinion. The author writes in the Bronte-esque language of her sisters, and lovers of Victorian literature will appreciate this work.
Review Date: 6/4/2023
Fast moving story of a post-nuclear disaster and how it affects the people in an isolated community. I really liked the main characters, how they pull together to survive and look out for one another, and stand up against the "bad element" that will always rise up in a crisis. Unlike more contemporary fiction, while there is violence, it's not disturbingly graphic, and there's very minimal profanity used, which I always find unnecessary and distracting. Also makes the reader think about what they would do if they found themselves in a similar situation, or how you might even be prepared beforehand in case something this widespread were to occur.
Review Date: 10/28/2013
I just finished this wonderful work of 125 short pages in which Charles Spurgeon presents the work of the Trinity in saving sinners. This book has a decidedly evangelistic tone, as the preacher addresses the reader in the imperative saying things like, "Come and see," "Now look at this," and "Listen to me." I believe this book would be profitable reading not only for unsaved individuals, but for someone who is a new believer, someone who's unsure if he's saved, someone who wants to understand how one is saved, or someone who's struggling with a sense of guilt or unworthiness before God. It's also a great little book to reaffirm and remind any believer of all that God has done for him to bring about his salvation and to keep him in the faith. Topics addressed in this brief work include: grace, regeneration, justification, faith, repentance, sanctification, Christ's intercession, and the preservation of the believer. Spurgeon's skillful use of illustrations helps the reader in his understanding of these truths.
Spurgeon begins by explaining the wonderful truth that "God justifies the ungodly" (Rom. 4:5), and that it is only the ungodly who needs God to justify him. Spurgeon comments,
"Nobody else but God would ever have thought of justifying those who are guilty...But, even if anybody had thought of justifying the ungodly, none but God could have done it...He is able to treat the ungodly as if they had been always godly...If God has justified a man it is well done, it is rightly done, it is justly done, it is everlastingly done."
But, Spurgeon goes on, God did not stop there. He doesn't just declare us to be godly, He is in the process of making us so. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus died to save us from our sins and to take away our sins. Yet every believer knows that it's impossible to stop sinning, even though we have the desire to:
"We can never be happy, restful, or spiritually healthy till we become holy. We must get rid of sin, but how can we?.... Salvation would be a sadly incomplete affair if it did not deal with this part of our ruined estate. We want to be purified as well as pardoned. Justification without sanctification would not be salvation at all. It would call the leper clean and leave him to die of his disease."
Spurgeon eloquently explains how grace and faith are related and how they bring about salvation. He describes grace as a fountain which gives life, and faith as the vehicle God uses to deliver the life-imparting grace to us. A person is foolish if he expects water to flow from an aqueduct which is not connected to the water supply. Likewise, if a person's faith is in anything but Christ, it cannot result in life-giving salvation. I thought this was a good illustration of why we must be careful that we're not trusting in our faith to save us. Rather, it is what our faith is connected to or founded on that is the source of our salvation.
Next Spurgeon looks at the stages of faith: knowledge, belief, and trust. Upon hearing the Gospel, the mind receives and processes the information, but this is not enough to produce faith. Next the mind, if opened and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, believes these things to be true, and so he is one step closer to true faith. But Spurgeon adds that "one more ingredient is needed to complete it,"
"Trust is the lifeblood of faith; there is no saving faith without it...Cast yourself upon Jesus. Rest in Him. Commit yourself to Him. Faith is not a blind thing, for faith begins with knowledge. It is not a speculative thing, for faith believes facts of which it is sure. It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing, for faith trusts and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation."
Again, it is the object of a person's faith that determines whether it will result in life, not the quality or strength of it. Everyone's faith is different in the way it develops and is exercised. A new believer's faith is usually different than a more mature believer's faith. Spurgeon describes different degrees of faith:
"Sometimes faith is little more than a simple clinging to Christ, a sense of dependence and a willingness to depend...Faith is seen when one man relies upon another because of a knowledge of the superiority of the other. This is a higher faith, the faith which knows the reason for its dependence and acts upon it...Another and higher form of faith is that faith which grows out of love. This is the kind of faith which the happiest of believers exercise toward Christ."
To this he adds a qualifier: "Faith is the root of obedience; faith which refuses to obey the commands of the Saviour is a mere pretence and will never save the soul."
Spurgeon continues to remind the reader that everything we have that plays a part in our salvation comes from God; we cannot do or contribute anything to it. Like faith, repentance is also a vehicle God uses in our conversion. And just like faith, it's not something we can generate in our own strength. Repenting is a change of heart, a turning away from sin toward God, but I am utterly unable to do this on my own. As with faith, we must be careful not to be trusting in our repentance to save us, but in Christ who grants repentance. And just as we are unable to begin the work of salvation by producing faith or repentance, neither are we able to sustain ourselves in our own strength. Once again, it is God's grace that will preserve us, for He is not only the author of our faith, but the finisher of it as well (Heb. 12:2).
Charles Spurgeon's desire is to help the reader to see that he or she can and must be saved only by God's grace, that by His grace we are made holy, and by His grace we will persevere until the end.
Spurgeon begins by explaining the wonderful truth that "God justifies the ungodly" (Rom. 4:5), and that it is only the ungodly who needs God to justify him. Spurgeon comments,
"Nobody else but God would ever have thought of justifying those who are guilty...But, even if anybody had thought of justifying the ungodly, none but God could have done it...He is able to treat the ungodly as if they had been always godly...If God has justified a man it is well done, it is rightly done, it is justly done, it is everlastingly done."
But, Spurgeon goes on, God did not stop there. He doesn't just declare us to be godly, He is in the process of making us so. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus died to save us from our sins and to take away our sins. Yet every believer knows that it's impossible to stop sinning, even though we have the desire to:
"We can never be happy, restful, or spiritually healthy till we become holy. We must get rid of sin, but how can we?.... Salvation would be a sadly incomplete affair if it did not deal with this part of our ruined estate. We want to be purified as well as pardoned. Justification without sanctification would not be salvation at all. It would call the leper clean and leave him to die of his disease."
Spurgeon eloquently explains how grace and faith are related and how they bring about salvation. He describes grace as a fountain which gives life, and faith as the vehicle God uses to deliver the life-imparting grace to us. A person is foolish if he expects water to flow from an aqueduct which is not connected to the water supply. Likewise, if a person's faith is in anything but Christ, it cannot result in life-giving salvation. I thought this was a good illustration of why we must be careful that we're not trusting in our faith to save us. Rather, it is what our faith is connected to or founded on that is the source of our salvation.
Next Spurgeon looks at the stages of faith: knowledge, belief, and trust. Upon hearing the Gospel, the mind receives and processes the information, but this is not enough to produce faith. Next the mind, if opened and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, believes these things to be true, and so he is one step closer to true faith. But Spurgeon adds that "one more ingredient is needed to complete it,"
"Trust is the lifeblood of faith; there is no saving faith without it...Cast yourself upon Jesus. Rest in Him. Commit yourself to Him. Faith is not a blind thing, for faith begins with knowledge. It is not a speculative thing, for faith believes facts of which it is sure. It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing, for faith trusts and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation."
Again, it is the object of a person's faith that determines whether it will result in life, not the quality or strength of it. Everyone's faith is different in the way it develops and is exercised. A new believer's faith is usually different than a more mature believer's faith. Spurgeon describes different degrees of faith:
"Sometimes faith is little more than a simple clinging to Christ, a sense of dependence and a willingness to depend...Faith is seen when one man relies upon another because of a knowledge of the superiority of the other. This is a higher faith, the faith which knows the reason for its dependence and acts upon it...Another and higher form of faith is that faith which grows out of love. This is the kind of faith which the happiest of believers exercise toward Christ."
To this he adds a qualifier: "Faith is the root of obedience; faith which refuses to obey the commands of the Saviour is a mere pretence and will never save the soul."
Spurgeon continues to remind the reader that everything we have that plays a part in our salvation comes from God; we cannot do or contribute anything to it. Like faith, repentance is also a vehicle God uses in our conversion. And just like faith, it's not something we can generate in our own strength. Repenting is a change of heart, a turning away from sin toward God, but I am utterly unable to do this on my own. As with faith, we must be careful not to be trusting in our repentance to save us, but in Christ who grants repentance. And just as we are unable to begin the work of salvation by producing faith or repentance, neither are we able to sustain ourselves in our own strength. Once again, it is God's grace that will preserve us, for He is not only the author of our faith, but the finisher of it as well (Heb. 12:2).
Charles Spurgeon's desire is to help the reader to see that he or she can and must be saved only by God's grace, that by His grace we are made holy, and by His grace we will persevere until the end.
Review Date: 7/4/2013
After reading my review of the Christian classic, Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, the author of Archibald Zwick asked me if I would read his book and write a review of it, so I agreed and he sent me a copy. Like the classic Pilgrims Progress, Palmers story is a Christian allegory that uses the characters and events to symbolically convey spiritual truths to the reader. As others have pointed out, the story is similar to the C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series and I think this book would appeal especially to teenagers (and adults) who enjoy that kind of fantasy.
The story follows sixteen-year-old Archie, who finds himself in a fantastical floating island kingdom reminiscent of medieval England, except the people are smaller than the average human and have green-tinted skin, and the knights ride dolphins instead of horses. Archie cannot figure out how he ended up in Ktruum-Shra, a city which apparently doesnt exist in our world, and he is determined to get back home. As it turns out, Archies adventure is a two-fold journey: a physical journey toward home as well as a spiritual journey of self-discovery.
Shortly after Archies arrival, the Elders of Ktruum-Shra tell Archie about the citys ways and people, and before he realizes it, Archie is commissioned to fulfill a vague quest, which he is told will eventually help him to find his way home. A situation arises which leads to Archie receiving the opportunity to train for knighthood, which involves developing physical skills, like using a sword and riding a dolphin, and learning about the citys history and teachings from the sacred scrolls. Then, while in the midst of his training, a civil war erupts, and Archie finds that his new skills and leadership qualities will be put to the test.
The most important things Archie learns during his time in Ktruum-Shra concern his own character, and the keys to this process are the citys eight towers and the inscriptions on them. When he discovers the inscription on the first tower, Humility is the path to freedom, Archie determines to discover all of these cryptic statements and to learn their meaning, with the hope that they will eventually show him how to return home.
Throughout the story, events occur which cause Archie to visit each of the towers, and at each one he learns something about himself and grows emotionally and spiritually as a result. Among the various characters Archie gets to know is one individual, an old bearded knight, who serves as his trainer, instructor, counselor, and guide. The old knight is the one who teaches Archie and helps him to understand what the inscriptions on the eight towers mean. While the story itself is engaging, for me it's the discussions between Archie and the knight that add the rich "meat" and valuable lessons that make the book a worthwhile read. Here are just a few examples of the wise advice the old knight imparts to Archie:
"When anger, like fire, is not controlled, it is very destructive and consumes everything in its path. Love and hate are not mere feelings, they are choicesFeelings follow actions. If you practice love, you will soon feel love, and if you practice hate, you will soon feel hate, with all its consequences."
"Love does not require us to surrender to evil, and even when we strike the enemy down, it should not be done in anger or with hatred in our hearts, but only to resist evil. And we should mourn not only our fallen but also the enemy fallen."
"Fearreduces our intellect, and it is the enemy of trust. And without trust, there is not peaceYou will always have conflict, but to have peace in spite of conflict, you must learn to trust. And to trust, you must become obedient. You must, therefore, surrender your will and accept your circumstances, whatever they may be. When you can do that, peace will reign in your heart."
Archie experiences much and learns lessons about humility, compassion, trust, submission, and sacrifice even to the point of death - before his adventure comes to an end.
Mr. Palmer has written a compelling story that communicates Biblical truths in an interesting and creative way. Palmer uses the themes of pride, betrayal, rebellion, hatred, revenge and war to illustrate the Christian traits of humility, forgiveness, obedience, love, compassion, and sacrifice. With the exception of the unusual names of the characters, the reading level is fairly easy. The plot includes unexpected twists and thought-provoking dialogue, and the ending provides an opportunity for further discussion and study. Palmer has written a companion study guide, Truth in the Eight Towers, which is useful for explaining the Biblical truths behind the symbolism and names used in the story, including Scripture references, and is a good accompaniment for personal study or to facilitate group discussion with young people.
The story follows sixteen-year-old Archie, who finds himself in a fantastical floating island kingdom reminiscent of medieval England, except the people are smaller than the average human and have green-tinted skin, and the knights ride dolphins instead of horses. Archie cannot figure out how he ended up in Ktruum-Shra, a city which apparently doesnt exist in our world, and he is determined to get back home. As it turns out, Archies adventure is a two-fold journey: a physical journey toward home as well as a spiritual journey of self-discovery.
Shortly after Archies arrival, the Elders of Ktruum-Shra tell Archie about the citys ways and people, and before he realizes it, Archie is commissioned to fulfill a vague quest, which he is told will eventually help him to find his way home. A situation arises which leads to Archie receiving the opportunity to train for knighthood, which involves developing physical skills, like using a sword and riding a dolphin, and learning about the citys history and teachings from the sacred scrolls. Then, while in the midst of his training, a civil war erupts, and Archie finds that his new skills and leadership qualities will be put to the test.
The most important things Archie learns during his time in Ktruum-Shra concern his own character, and the keys to this process are the citys eight towers and the inscriptions on them. When he discovers the inscription on the first tower, Humility is the path to freedom, Archie determines to discover all of these cryptic statements and to learn their meaning, with the hope that they will eventually show him how to return home.
Throughout the story, events occur which cause Archie to visit each of the towers, and at each one he learns something about himself and grows emotionally and spiritually as a result. Among the various characters Archie gets to know is one individual, an old bearded knight, who serves as his trainer, instructor, counselor, and guide. The old knight is the one who teaches Archie and helps him to understand what the inscriptions on the eight towers mean. While the story itself is engaging, for me it's the discussions between Archie and the knight that add the rich "meat" and valuable lessons that make the book a worthwhile read. Here are just a few examples of the wise advice the old knight imparts to Archie:
"When anger, like fire, is not controlled, it is very destructive and consumes everything in its path. Love and hate are not mere feelings, they are choicesFeelings follow actions. If you practice love, you will soon feel love, and if you practice hate, you will soon feel hate, with all its consequences."
"Love does not require us to surrender to evil, and even when we strike the enemy down, it should not be done in anger or with hatred in our hearts, but only to resist evil. And we should mourn not only our fallen but also the enemy fallen."
"Fearreduces our intellect, and it is the enemy of trust. And without trust, there is not peaceYou will always have conflict, but to have peace in spite of conflict, you must learn to trust. And to trust, you must become obedient. You must, therefore, surrender your will and accept your circumstances, whatever they may be. When you can do that, peace will reign in your heart."
Archie experiences much and learns lessons about humility, compassion, trust, submission, and sacrifice even to the point of death - before his adventure comes to an end.
Mr. Palmer has written a compelling story that communicates Biblical truths in an interesting and creative way. Palmer uses the themes of pride, betrayal, rebellion, hatred, revenge and war to illustrate the Christian traits of humility, forgiveness, obedience, love, compassion, and sacrifice. With the exception of the unusual names of the characters, the reading level is fairly easy. The plot includes unexpected twists and thought-provoking dialogue, and the ending provides an opportunity for further discussion and study. Palmer has written a companion study guide, Truth in the Eight Towers, which is useful for explaining the Biblical truths behind the symbolism and names used in the story, including Scripture references, and is a good accompaniment for personal study or to facilitate group discussion with young people.
Review Date: 12/7/2012
This is a charming book about the real Quaker boy who became the royal painter to King George III. The story is set in mid-18th century in Pennsylvania. At this time, Quakers believed art to be worldly and vain. While Benjamin secretly practices his drawing skills, he is aided by local Indians who teach him how to make colors out of things found in nature. Benjamin also shows his resourcefulness and determination when he borrows fur from his cat's tail to make paintbrushes.
Benjamin respectfully works to persuade his parents and church to recognize his talent and to permit him to receive art training. Benjamin West became a famous and influential painter as a result. After reading this story, my kids were excited when we visited the Huntington Library in Pasadena and saw a couple of Wests paintings hanging in the art gallery. The story of Benjamin West encourages children to be persistent in developing their talents. The story also lends itself to supplemental lessons or research about the Quakers, William Penn, and Wests art. Kids of all ages will love this book!
Benjamin respectfully works to persuade his parents and church to recognize his talent and to permit him to receive art training. Benjamin West became a famous and influential painter as a result. After reading this story, my kids were excited when we visited the Huntington Library in Pasadena and saw a couple of Wests paintings hanging in the art gallery. The story of Benjamin West encourages children to be persistent in developing their talents. The story also lends itself to supplemental lessons or research about the Quakers, William Penn, and Wests art. Kids of all ages will love this book!
Review Date: 12/7/2012
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a hilarious but touching little story about a family of "hoodlums" that hijacks a Sunday School Christmas program. Now I don't mean just naughty, disobedient children who don't listen. I'm talking about six loud, dirty, cigar-smoking, foul-talking, fire-setting vandals - or to put it in the words of the young narrator - the "absolutely worst kids in the history of the world." All the other kids (and their parents) in the neighborhood do whatever they can to avoid the Herdmans, so when they show up one Sunday at church looking for free food, no one quite knows what to do. And when they start volunteering to take the major roles in the annual Christmas pageant, everyone is sure the result will be nothing less than a disaster.
If you're at all like me and you grew up going to church every Sunday, by the time you were ten years old you knew the story of the birth of Jesus without even thinking about it. Maybe you learned to recite the Luke 2 passage that starts out with, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed..." You knew that Mary was "great with child," that when she and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there was "no room in the inn," and that the angels told the shepherds they would find the baby "wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." We read the story with our own children regularly at Christmas time and, yes, we had them learn that same passage of scripture.
What I liked about this book is that it makes someone like me realize how much I fail to consider the wonder of the story of Christ's birth and the amazing events surrounding it. I also take it for granted that it is familiar to just about everybody - surely they know who Jesus is and why His birth was so important. Of course, this children's book doesn't discuss the significance of Christ's incarnation at a theological level. But sometimes we can get so caught up in theology and doctrine that we forget to give attention to the simple truths that are so basic and just as meaningful to our faith.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever allows us to take a look at the Christmas story with new, fresh eyes. To stop and consider some questions that we may never have asked before. The Herdmans don't hesitate for one second to ask questions that the other, churched kids, never thought to ask. Who were the Wise Men exactly? What is myrrh, and why in the world was it given to a baby? How could they make Mary sleep in a barn when she was about to have a baby? And whatever happened to that evil King Herod?
At first you may think, these Herdman kids are really disrespectful and irreverent to ask and say some of the things they do. But think about it - they've never been to church or read the Bible ("They don't even know what a Bible is...they never read anything except "Amazing Comics.") But as the program director tells them the story, the narrator notices something amazing:
"I couldn't believe it. Among other things, the Herdmans were famous for never sitting still and never paying attention to anyone -- teachers, parents, the truant officer, the police -- yet here they were, eyes glued on my mother and taking in every word."
Needless to say, the Herdmans definitely bring something unique to the pageant, and somehow it doesn't turn out as awful as everyone feared.
Here's my recommendation: Read this book together as a family. But before reading it, read the second chapter of Luke with your kids, and probably the second chapter of Matthew as well. Even if you think they are pretty familiar with the Christmas story, ask them if they have any questions they would like answered about it. Then read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and talk about the things that the Herdmans bring up.
If you're at all like me and you grew up going to church every Sunday, by the time you were ten years old you knew the story of the birth of Jesus without even thinking about it. Maybe you learned to recite the Luke 2 passage that starts out with, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed..." You knew that Mary was "great with child," that when she and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there was "no room in the inn," and that the angels told the shepherds they would find the baby "wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." We read the story with our own children regularly at Christmas time and, yes, we had them learn that same passage of scripture.
What I liked about this book is that it makes someone like me realize how much I fail to consider the wonder of the story of Christ's birth and the amazing events surrounding it. I also take it for granted that it is familiar to just about everybody - surely they know who Jesus is and why His birth was so important. Of course, this children's book doesn't discuss the significance of Christ's incarnation at a theological level. But sometimes we can get so caught up in theology and doctrine that we forget to give attention to the simple truths that are so basic and just as meaningful to our faith.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever allows us to take a look at the Christmas story with new, fresh eyes. To stop and consider some questions that we may never have asked before. The Herdmans don't hesitate for one second to ask questions that the other, churched kids, never thought to ask. Who were the Wise Men exactly? What is myrrh, and why in the world was it given to a baby? How could they make Mary sleep in a barn when she was about to have a baby? And whatever happened to that evil King Herod?
At first you may think, these Herdman kids are really disrespectful and irreverent to ask and say some of the things they do. But think about it - they've never been to church or read the Bible ("They don't even know what a Bible is...they never read anything except "Amazing Comics.") But as the program director tells them the story, the narrator notices something amazing:
"I couldn't believe it. Among other things, the Herdmans were famous for never sitting still and never paying attention to anyone -- teachers, parents, the truant officer, the police -- yet here they were, eyes glued on my mother and taking in every word."
Needless to say, the Herdmans definitely bring something unique to the pageant, and somehow it doesn't turn out as awful as everyone feared.
Here's my recommendation: Read this book together as a family. But before reading it, read the second chapter of Luke with your kids, and probably the second chapter of Matthew as well. Even if you think they are pretty familiar with the Christmas story, ask them if they have any questions they would like answered about it. Then read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and talk about the things that the Herdmans bring up.
Review Date: 9/10/2012
Helpful Score: 1
This story was a little tricky to follow in the beginning, as the author presents two parallel story lines and the reader is not sure at first which is real and which is (perhaps) a dream. But before long, the reader finds himself caught up in this world of double-realities and the situations the main character finds himself in. Not surprisingly, then end of the book leaves you hanging and clamouring for the sequel, Red.
Review Date: 4/17/2021
It's not very often that I give a book 5 stars, but this fact-based fiction book is fantastic, I haven't read one that I've enjoyed this much in quite a while. I loved all the characters, the story was intriguing and fast-paced, there's danger and escapes, betrayal and romance and Nazis, I mean, what's not to love ? I was afraid of how it would end, but even the ending was great. I can't wait to get hold of more books by this author.
Review Date: 4/3/2021
This book is fantastic, one of the best I've read in a while. I loved all the characters, the storyline was intriguing and fast-paced, and even the ending was great. Danger and rescues, betrayal, romance, Nazis - what's not to love?
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Bk 1)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
141
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
141
Review Date: 7/10/2025
Enjoyed learning about both the blue people of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library Project. Lots of likeable, sympathetic characters, with several touching and sad moments.
Review Date: 11/1/2013
Great fun - looking forward to reading other stories about Jeeves and Wooster.
Review Date: 7/14/2015
Helpful Score: 1
As a skeptic and self-professed atheist, Lee Strobel had believed that the idea of God was a result of myth and superstitious wishful thinking. On the surface, too many questions in his mind didnt add up to the fact of an all-knowing, loving, sovereign God. And to Strobel, Jesus was nothing more than a colorful, if not self-deceived, historical figure, if he actually existed at all.
"I had read just enough philosophy and history to find support for my skepticismThere was enough proof for me to rest easy with the conclusion that the divinity of Jesus was nothing more than the fanciful invention of superstitious people."
Besides being a skeptic, Strobel was a criminal investigative journalist and legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. When his wife became a Christian in 1979, he decided to set aside his preconceived ideas and do some honest investigative research to see what kind of hard evidence he could dig up on Jesus and the Bible.
In a similar way in which a reporter researches and analyzes evidence to solve a criminal case, Strobel explored every angle and source in order to determine the truth about the person of Jesus. His findings are presented in this book. Strobels investigative process is broken into three phases:
- Examining the record Analyzing the authenticity and reliability of the written accounts
- Analyzing Jesus Learning who He was, based on his character, his words, his actions, and his identity
- Researching the Resurrection Uncovering evidence that supports the fact that Christ rose from the dead
Strobel looks into the authenticity and trustworthiness of eyewitness reports and of Jesus biographers, the Gospel writers, as well as what other historians have written. He asks questions such as:
- Are their stories consistent? Is there a possibility of bias, cover-up, or personal gain on the part of the writers?
- Is it possible the original facts and the intent of the writers could be preserved for all this time?
- Are there other writings from the period that support or discredit the claims of the first century Christians?
- Is the Jesus of history the same as the Jesus of faith?
- Did Jesus really make claims to deity? And if he did, was there any support for those claims, or was he simply a madman?
- Is it possible that the resurrection was merely a hoax or a conspiracy?
In order to answer these questions and more, Strobel sought out thirteen top scholars and authorities on the Bible and other historical documents, archaeology, medicine, the teachings, culture, and traditions of first century Judaism, the life and claims of Christ, and the resurrection itself. The content and information was thorough, well-documented, and useful.
What I didnt care for in this book was Strobels writing style. Each chapter begins with a contemporary criminal case that illustrates the type of evidence that will be examined in that chapter, which was fine. But then Strobel describes his cross-country trips to meet and interview various experts, each of which he introduces by giving their credentials (educational background, position, and books written) and describing irrelevant details such as how they are dressed and how their office is furnished. At first it was alright, but it got tiresome by the third chapter and was information I could do without. Then, in the last chapter, where Strobel comes to the point of drawing his conclusions, we read:
"The date was November 8, 1981. Ispent the afternoon replaying the spiritual journey I had been traveling for twenty-one months. My investigation into Jesus was similar to what youve just read, except that I primarily studied books and other historical research instead of personally interacting with scholars."
So come to find out, these in-person interviews were apparently contrived to fit the format Strobel chose to use. I have a degree in Literature, so I can appreciate the use of literary devices and poetic license, but I personally felt this to be a bit disingenuous.
After two years of (we assume, some) interviews and heavy research, Strobel was forced to re-evaluate his position on Christ:
"I was ambushed by the amount and quality of the evidence that Jesus is the unique Son of GodI had seen defendants carted off to the death chamber on much less convincing proof! The cumulative facts and data pointed unmistakably toward a conclusion that I wasnt entirely comfortable in reachingIn light of the convincing facts I had learned during my investigation, in the face of this overwhelming avalanche of evidence in the case for Christ, the great irony was this: it would require much more faith for me to maintain my atheism than to trust in Jesus of Nazareth!It was finally time to deal with the most pressing question of all: Now what?"
For the person who is already a believer in Jesus Christ, this book is profitable, as it will certainly strengthen your faith and convictions. Additionally, it will familiarize you with topics that often come up in discussions about the historical Jesus, the resurrection, and the authenticity of the Scriptures, such as: the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gospel of Thomas, the Jesus Seminar, the writings of Josephus, the physical effects of death by crucifixion, and theories on the resurrection. This may also be a useful book to give someone you know who has questions regarding these issues.
To one who has been skeptical of the claims of Jesus or the Bible, I would challenge them to read The Case for Christ and do some of your own honest research. But more importantly, along with Strobels book, read the Bible for yourself. If youre sincere in your desire to know the truth, seek God out in prayer, asking Him to reveal Himself to you.
However, something must be kept in mind. We must remember that no amount of physical evidence, historical proofs, or scholarly research will ultimately be what convinces a skeptic of the truths of God, for as the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians, But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (I Cor. 2:14). There is nothing wrong with building your knowledge base so that you are prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (I Peter 3:15), but we are to do that with meekness and fear, having a good conscience. The way we live our lives before men is what will cause them to inquire about our faith more than just what we tell them. But ultimately what will really make the difference as we share the truth with others, is not how much we know or how persuasive our speech is, but the power of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:4) who softens hearts of stone and opens darkened minds to accept Christ.
"I had read just enough philosophy and history to find support for my skepticismThere was enough proof for me to rest easy with the conclusion that the divinity of Jesus was nothing more than the fanciful invention of superstitious people."
Besides being a skeptic, Strobel was a criminal investigative journalist and legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. When his wife became a Christian in 1979, he decided to set aside his preconceived ideas and do some honest investigative research to see what kind of hard evidence he could dig up on Jesus and the Bible.
In a similar way in which a reporter researches and analyzes evidence to solve a criminal case, Strobel explored every angle and source in order to determine the truth about the person of Jesus. His findings are presented in this book. Strobels investigative process is broken into three phases:
- Examining the record Analyzing the authenticity and reliability of the written accounts
- Analyzing Jesus Learning who He was, based on his character, his words, his actions, and his identity
- Researching the Resurrection Uncovering evidence that supports the fact that Christ rose from the dead
Strobel looks into the authenticity and trustworthiness of eyewitness reports and of Jesus biographers, the Gospel writers, as well as what other historians have written. He asks questions such as:
- Are their stories consistent? Is there a possibility of bias, cover-up, or personal gain on the part of the writers?
- Is it possible the original facts and the intent of the writers could be preserved for all this time?
- Are there other writings from the period that support or discredit the claims of the first century Christians?
- Is the Jesus of history the same as the Jesus of faith?
- Did Jesus really make claims to deity? And if he did, was there any support for those claims, or was he simply a madman?
- Is it possible that the resurrection was merely a hoax or a conspiracy?
In order to answer these questions and more, Strobel sought out thirteen top scholars and authorities on the Bible and other historical documents, archaeology, medicine, the teachings, culture, and traditions of first century Judaism, the life and claims of Christ, and the resurrection itself. The content and information was thorough, well-documented, and useful.
What I didnt care for in this book was Strobels writing style. Each chapter begins with a contemporary criminal case that illustrates the type of evidence that will be examined in that chapter, which was fine. But then Strobel describes his cross-country trips to meet and interview various experts, each of which he introduces by giving their credentials (educational background, position, and books written) and describing irrelevant details such as how they are dressed and how their office is furnished. At first it was alright, but it got tiresome by the third chapter and was information I could do without. Then, in the last chapter, where Strobel comes to the point of drawing his conclusions, we read:
"The date was November 8, 1981. Ispent the afternoon replaying the spiritual journey I had been traveling for twenty-one months. My investigation into Jesus was similar to what youve just read, except that I primarily studied books and other historical research instead of personally interacting with scholars."
So come to find out, these in-person interviews were apparently contrived to fit the format Strobel chose to use. I have a degree in Literature, so I can appreciate the use of literary devices and poetic license, but I personally felt this to be a bit disingenuous.
After two years of (we assume, some) interviews and heavy research, Strobel was forced to re-evaluate his position on Christ:
"I was ambushed by the amount and quality of the evidence that Jesus is the unique Son of GodI had seen defendants carted off to the death chamber on much less convincing proof! The cumulative facts and data pointed unmistakably toward a conclusion that I wasnt entirely comfortable in reachingIn light of the convincing facts I had learned during my investigation, in the face of this overwhelming avalanche of evidence in the case for Christ, the great irony was this: it would require much more faith for me to maintain my atheism than to trust in Jesus of Nazareth!It was finally time to deal with the most pressing question of all: Now what?"
For the person who is already a believer in Jesus Christ, this book is profitable, as it will certainly strengthen your faith and convictions. Additionally, it will familiarize you with topics that often come up in discussions about the historical Jesus, the resurrection, and the authenticity of the Scriptures, such as: the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gospel of Thomas, the Jesus Seminar, the writings of Josephus, the physical effects of death by crucifixion, and theories on the resurrection. This may also be a useful book to give someone you know who has questions regarding these issues.
To one who has been skeptical of the claims of Jesus or the Bible, I would challenge them to read The Case for Christ and do some of your own honest research. But more importantly, along with Strobels book, read the Bible for yourself. If youre sincere in your desire to know the truth, seek God out in prayer, asking Him to reveal Himself to you.
However, something must be kept in mind. We must remember that no amount of physical evidence, historical proofs, or scholarly research will ultimately be what convinces a skeptic of the truths of God, for as the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians, But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (I Cor. 2:14). There is nothing wrong with building your knowledge base so that you are prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (I Peter 3:15), but we are to do that with meekness and fear, having a good conscience. The way we live our lives before men is what will cause them to inquire about our faith more than just what we tell them. But ultimately what will really make the difference as we share the truth with others, is not how much we know or how persuasive our speech is, but the power of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:4) who softens hearts of stone and opens darkened minds to accept Christ.
Review Date: 12/29/2016
Maralys Wills is the mother of 5 boys and a girl, not to mention the wife of a fun-loving, adventurous, unpredictable husband. In Circus Without Elephants she shares her stories about meeting her husband at college and then raising their growing family together from the early 1950's through the 70's. Early on she found herself with her hands full, as her kids became involved not only in various team sports, but in other individual pursuits and activities that kept her on her toes all the time. In the intro the author admits that in their home, "There was never any peace. But neither was there boredom...Our six kids played so many sports that one weekend they competed in five different counties. Two of our sons became pioneers in the fledgling sport of hang gliding - so exotic back in the seventies that the two were featured in Sports Illustrated." The oldest son, Bobby, at the age of 19 told his parents, "I don't want to do what everyone else does. I want to be different!" And when a nurse commented to another Wills boy that he must've had a wild time growing up with so many brothers, he replied with, "We did. Our friends didn't come over to play. They came over to watch."
(I guess I could relate just a little to Mrs. Wills. I only have 3 kids (2 boys & a girl), whom I homeschooled for 17 years, but they did lots of crazy stuff, like making a zipline in the front yard, building a potato gun out of pvc pipe, using our waterbed mattress as a trampoline in the backyard, and building a Tesla coil in the garage.)
Yet being a member of the Wills family was not always fun and games. Inevitably the crazy, energetic boys sometimes ran into difficulties at school or with neighbors. On more than one occasion the Wills found themselves in awkward situations, which Maralys tells with hilarity. And unfortunately they suffer heartache and tragedy, which made for sad reading. But the strong bonds of love in the Wills family help them to recover from the worst of circumstances, and they always managed to bounce back and continue on.
The author goes into more detail about their family tragedies in her other book,Higher Than Eagles: The Tragedy and Triumph of an American Family, but focuses more on the positive aspects of their life in this book. She apologizes if A Circus without Elephants makes it sound like their lives "have been mostly amusing. Well, mostly that's true. Because, along with sadness, happiness is surely our other reality."
(I guess I could relate just a little to Mrs. Wills. I only have 3 kids (2 boys & a girl), whom I homeschooled for 17 years, but they did lots of crazy stuff, like making a zipline in the front yard, building a potato gun out of pvc pipe, using our waterbed mattress as a trampoline in the backyard, and building a Tesla coil in the garage.)
Yet being a member of the Wills family was not always fun and games. Inevitably the crazy, energetic boys sometimes ran into difficulties at school or with neighbors. On more than one occasion the Wills found themselves in awkward situations, which Maralys tells with hilarity. And unfortunately they suffer heartache and tragedy, which made for sad reading. But the strong bonds of love in the Wills family help them to recover from the worst of circumstances, and they always managed to bounce back and continue on.
The author goes into more detail about their family tragedies in her other book,Higher Than Eagles: The Tragedy and Triumph of an American Family, but focuses more on the positive aspects of their life in this book. She apologizes if A Circus without Elephants makes it sound like their lives "have been mostly amusing. Well, mostly that's true. Because, along with sadness, happiness is surely our other reality."
Review Date: 7/14/2015
Pastor Mahaney wrote this little book to remind Christians that the Gospel isnt just a one-time message to bring us to faith in Christ and salvation. Its a message to live by daily, to take us joyfully and steadily through this life and into the next. After reading many of the New Testament letters of Paul, you should notice that the cross is a central theme. He wasnt content to preach about the death of Christ for sinners just to unbelievers to get them saved; he continually preached it to the believers to whom his letters were written.
Unfortunately, many Christians after hearing and believing the Gospel seem to put it on a shelf and move on to what they may think are more relevant and practical matters as they walk the Christian path. But the Gospel is always relevant; it helps us to keep our focus on the reason and object of our faith. Mahaney comments,
"In our never-ending desire to move forward and make sure that everything we do, say, and think is relevant to modern living, too many of us have stopped concentrating on the wonders of Jesus crucified. Too many of us have fumbled the most important truth of the Bible, and therefore weve suffered the consequences."
Mahaney believes that if we lose sight of the Gospel, there is a likelihood of falling into one of three mindsets which he identifies: legalism, condemnation, and subjectivism. He takes a chapter to discuss each of these tendencies, sprinkling in some examples from his own personal experience. Let me share a little bit on each of them here.
Legalism can sneak in as a Christian begins to think that his obedience and service to God somehow earn him more love, approval, or acceptance by God. Do you see how this attitude undermines the importance of Christs death? If I believe that my performance in any way earns merit from God, then what Im really saying is that Christs death was insufficient. Attending and being actively involved at church, reading the Bible, giving sacrificially to various ministries, witnessing to the lost all of these are wonderful and even necessary activities to be engaged in. But as Mahaney puts it, we can so easily turn what God intended to be a means of experiencing graceinto a means of earning grace. Here Mahaney takes some time to briefly explain the important difference between justification and sanctification terms that every Christian needs to understand. Justification occurs at the time we are converted; its the one-time pronouncement by God of our being not guilty because of the work of Christ on our behalf. On the other hand, sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more holy, and its a process that continues throughout our life on earth.
Condemnation can affect any Christian, not just the really sinful ones. Its basically the weight that plagues a person who harbors a sense of guilt, shame, regret or failure for something in the past or present. While claiming to believe in Christs death for his sin, this person cannot seem to accept the free forgiveness of God that Christ earned for him. If your sin overshadows the work Christ accomplished on your behalf, this is not honoring to God. Were not saying to deny the fact that youre a sinner; the truth is, you must come to grips with the reality of your sinful condition if you are ever to be saved. However, Romans 8:1 says, There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, and Mahaney states, God is glorified when we believe with all our hearts that those who trust in Christ can never be condemned. If Gods Word promises that you have been forgiven if you believe in Christ, why wont you forgive yourself?
Subjectivism is basically when we base our decisions and behavior on how we feel rather than what we know to be true. Humans are emotional beings, but unfortunately like every other aspect of the natural man, our emotions have been affected by sin. On top of that, our feelings are always changing. Much of the time, we have to fight the tendency to react to situations based on our feelings at the time. We let our circumstances dictate how we behave and what we say. As Mahaney puts it, we let our view of God and life be shaped by our constantly shifting feelings about our ever-changing circumstances. On the other hand, God and His truth never changes. When situations arise that tempt us to look around and within us for an answer, we must keep the Gospel foremost in our thinking and let it govern our decisions and attitudes, looking outward and upward to Christ.
Mahaney next offers several practical suggestions to help us keep the Gospel central in our everyday lives:
1. Memorize the Gospel - Some key passages that speak of Christs accomplishment for His people are suggested.
2. Pray the Gospel - The gospel should be woven in throughout our praise, our petition, and our intercession.
3. Sing the Gospel Find times in your day to listen to hymns and worship music.
4. Review how the Gospel has changed you Write out your personal testimony! Share it with others!
5. Study the Gospel 2 Peter 3:18 encourages believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along with of course making the commitment to read through the entire Bible, Mahaney offers a short list of recommended books.
Every Christian should be a student of theology, which is simply the study of God. Of course, the topics related to God and the Bible are many and wide which we may be interested in delving into, but none are as important as the gospel itself. Mahaney explains that The gospel isnt one class among many that youll attend during your life as a Christian the gospel is the whole building that all the classes take place in!
Unfortunately, many Christians after hearing and believing the Gospel seem to put it on a shelf and move on to what they may think are more relevant and practical matters as they walk the Christian path. But the Gospel is always relevant; it helps us to keep our focus on the reason and object of our faith. Mahaney comments,
"In our never-ending desire to move forward and make sure that everything we do, say, and think is relevant to modern living, too many of us have stopped concentrating on the wonders of Jesus crucified. Too many of us have fumbled the most important truth of the Bible, and therefore weve suffered the consequences."
Mahaney believes that if we lose sight of the Gospel, there is a likelihood of falling into one of three mindsets which he identifies: legalism, condemnation, and subjectivism. He takes a chapter to discuss each of these tendencies, sprinkling in some examples from his own personal experience. Let me share a little bit on each of them here.
Legalism can sneak in as a Christian begins to think that his obedience and service to God somehow earn him more love, approval, or acceptance by God. Do you see how this attitude undermines the importance of Christs death? If I believe that my performance in any way earns merit from God, then what Im really saying is that Christs death was insufficient. Attending and being actively involved at church, reading the Bible, giving sacrificially to various ministries, witnessing to the lost all of these are wonderful and even necessary activities to be engaged in. But as Mahaney puts it, we can so easily turn what God intended to be a means of experiencing graceinto a means of earning grace. Here Mahaney takes some time to briefly explain the important difference between justification and sanctification terms that every Christian needs to understand. Justification occurs at the time we are converted; its the one-time pronouncement by God of our being not guilty because of the work of Christ on our behalf. On the other hand, sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more holy, and its a process that continues throughout our life on earth.
Condemnation can affect any Christian, not just the really sinful ones. Its basically the weight that plagues a person who harbors a sense of guilt, shame, regret or failure for something in the past or present. While claiming to believe in Christs death for his sin, this person cannot seem to accept the free forgiveness of God that Christ earned for him. If your sin overshadows the work Christ accomplished on your behalf, this is not honoring to God. Were not saying to deny the fact that youre a sinner; the truth is, you must come to grips with the reality of your sinful condition if you are ever to be saved. However, Romans 8:1 says, There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, and Mahaney states, God is glorified when we believe with all our hearts that those who trust in Christ can never be condemned. If Gods Word promises that you have been forgiven if you believe in Christ, why wont you forgive yourself?
Subjectivism is basically when we base our decisions and behavior on how we feel rather than what we know to be true. Humans are emotional beings, but unfortunately like every other aspect of the natural man, our emotions have been affected by sin. On top of that, our feelings are always changing. Much of the time, we have to fight the tendency to react to situations based on our feelings at the time. We let our circumstances dictate how we behave and what we say. As Mahaney puts it, we let our view of God and life be shaped by our constantly shifting feelings about our ever-changing circumstances. On the other hand, God and His truth never changes. When situations arise that tempt us to look around and within us for an answer, we must keep the Gospel foremost in our thinking and let it govern our decisions and attitudes, looking outward and upward to Christ.
Mahaney next offers several practical suggestions to help us keep the Gospel central in our everyday lives:
1. Memorize the Gospel - Some key passages that speak of Christs accomplishment for His people are suggested.
2. Pray the Gospel - The gospel should be woven in throughout our praise, our petition, and our intercession.
3. Sing the Gospel Find times in your day to listen to hymns and worship music.
4. Review how the Gospel has changed you Write out your personal testimony! Share it with others!
5. Study the Gospel 2 Peter 3:18 encourages believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along with of course making the commitment to read through the entire Bible, Mahaney offers a short list of recommended books.
Every Christian should be a student of theology, which is simply the study of God. Of course, the topics related to God and the Bible are many and wide which we may be interested in delving into, but none are as important as the gospel itself. Mahaney explains that The gospel isnt one class among many that youll attend during your life as a Christian the gospel is the whole building that all the classes take place in!
Review Date: 7/10/2025
Fantastic story-telling on both sides. Larsen goes back and forth between the activities and people traveling on the Lusitania, the German submarine and its captain who would take her down, as well as the government leaders and entities on all sides who had the information and were making the decisions that would to some extent affect the outcomes. Larsen introduces the reader to quite a few of the passengers and some of the crew who were on the Lusitania, so you have an interest in what happens to them. I didn't know much at all about this incident and found this book to be both informative and at the same time entertaining and intriguing.
Review Date: 7/10/2025
Fascinating, moving story about an incident I knew very little about. The story of what happened at Masada is told from the perspective of four different women. I found it somewhat challenging to keep all the characters straight once the first woman arrives at Masada and the second narrator picks up the story. A little too much magic elements for my taste, but I very much enjoyed it nonetheless. Sad ending, of course, but expected.
Review Date: 7/10/2025
Eleanor is a pathetic creature, a bit OCD and judgmental, a loner and socially awkward, but she's quirky, intelligent, and funny. I can see how some people might just be annoyed with her, but I felt so bad for her and so much wanted to see her find happiness in a world that has not been kind to her thus far. It's been quite a while since I LOL'ed while reading a book, and was touched at the same time. And when it came to the end, I don't know how I missed that, but wow, so heart-breaking and yet satisfying. Good for you, Eleanor! You will stay with me for a while, I think.
Review Date: 9/10/2012
I found this book to be a life-changer, keeping in mind that the principles and applications are drawn directly from God's Word. I only wish I had read this book early in my marriage and before I had kids, rather than now when my children are all adults. So humbling to realize that, while we believe we are loving those closest to us, we are often selfishly trying to manipulate and control them in order to get what we want - happiness, acceptance, comfort, etc. The author points out that even behavior that appears good on the outside, like complimenting, doing nice things, or giving gifts, can be done out of selfish motives. The central principle in the book is that, if we are looking to anyone or anything besides God for something we need or want, we have made them an idol and have set ourselves up for disappointment, anger, and grief. So much insight and practical help in this little book. Note: There is a free downloadable study guide for group discussion available on the Elijah Ministries website.
Review Date: 12/7/2012
As I started reading Gilead, I really had no idea what to expect, but right away I was struck with the unique perspective from which it is narrated. This book doesnt follow an obvious plot-line and there are no chapter divisions. It is written in a rambling, stream-of-consciousness style as the writer records his memories and thoughts as they come to mind. Its not one story, but a collection of them.
Old Reverend John Ames had his son late in life in fact, hes in his mid-70s, and his boy is only 6 years old. Ames lived alone as a widower for many years before his second wife, more than 30 years his junior, walked into his church and into his life. The Iowan minister is keenly aware that he wont be around to provide his son the love, encouragement and counsel that a dad usually has the opportunity to contribute to his childrens lives, so he is keeping a journal -- writing down the stories, observations, reflections, and advice that he wants to leave his son after he is gone. Although Gilead is a work of fiction, I felt as if I had discovered an old diary and was reading the private thoughts of a man sharing his heart with his loved ones.
To read the rest of my review on this book, visit my blog: www.ImAllBooked.com.
Old Reverend John Ames had his son late in life in fact, hes in his mid-70s, and his boy is only 6 years old. Ames lived alone as a widower for many years before his second wife, more than 30 years his junior, walked into his church and into his life. The Iowan minister is keenly aware that he wont be around to provide his son the love, encouragement and counsel that a dad usually has the opportunity to contribute to his childrens lives, so he is keeping a journal -- writing down the stories, observations, reflections, and advice that he wants to leave his son after he is gone. Although Gilead is a work of fiction, I felt as if I had discovered an old diary and was reading the private thoughts of a man sharing his heart with his loved ones.
To read the rest of my review on this book, visit my blog: www.ImAllBooked.com.
Review Date: 12/26/2017
Exciting story of how a Dutch man's passion for getting God's Word into the hands of people everywhere was directed by his faith in God to provide and protect him as he traveled into Communist countries. Beginning with the Iron Curtain, his trips then took Him to Communist Cuba and China, and his ministry eventually grew to include Islamic countries. Stories like this should really cause us to appreciate the religious freedoms we enjoy and how readily available Bibles are to us here in the US.
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