How do miracles fit into Christianity? Despite abuses on the subject, the story of God’s work in this world cannot be told without admitting the reality of miracles. What we have in this fine book published by Thomas Nelson is a tracing of the miraculous by the hand of God throughout history. As the sub-title says, we have “a fascinating history of signs, wonders, and miracles.”

In a brief preface we are told what he means by the term “miraculous”. Before he launches into miracles in Bible history, he tells us: ” Miracles in Scripture are like the stars. They help us glimpse the eternal. And they, like the heavens, declare the glory of God.”

In 11 chapters, he traces miracles from creation on through to the Resurrection and then Paul’s conversion. If you are well versed in the Bible these chapters will be a review, though a well-worded review. For a newer Christian, these chapters would be a real boon to understanding.

In Part 2 (chapters 12-29) Mr. Belmonte traces miracles in the lives of Christians in the post-biblical era. These make great reading–think challenging biography–that prove his thesis. Miracles aren’t for show, they aren’t to be manipulated, but they are real, and they are of God.

The first one was new to me. I was not aware of Perpetua, but was so moved by her story. The miracles he writes of were profound and surrounding the events of her martyrdom. Don’t think her death nullified the miracles. They did not.

Many other’s stories are told. Even George Washington gets a chapter, a really good one. You will enjoy these stories.

Perhaps you will wonder why some favorite character of yours didn’t get a chapter, or you might disagree with one he chose. He never, though, promised us a comprehensive volume. Also, the fact that so many chapters could have been substituted only proves his premise–miracles are a big part of God’s dealings with us. He tells the story well and without wild excesses. I recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Men, are you discouraged or broken? Have you even made foolish decisions? Do you need the courage and hope to go on? Then this book by Vance Brown with John Blasé and published by Bethany House is the book you have been waiting on.

We have here the call for “imperfect, broken, foolish men” to step up in the battle and fight “no matter the cost.” Do not suppose, however, that this book is just a pep talk, or an inspirational challenge. This is a realistic view of us coupled with a realistic view of Christ.

Because of a mix up at my home, I didn’t realize I had this book to review till I just discovered it recently. By that twist of fate I had an entire night in a waiting room to devour this book carefully. It moved me.

He weaves the story of George Bailey from “It’s A Wonderful Life” and shows that is the story of far more of us than we’d care to admit. He says this defines many of us men: “all alone, exhausted, weary, bone-tired, questioning our worth, feeling much more dead than alive, courage struggling for oxygen.” We have our dreams, or at least we had them. Years and events mingled with some stupidity and we lose hope.

Amazingly, he also uses the Lord’s Prayer to teach us. While it might not be the most exegetically precise thing you have ever read, it really works. It takes you somewhere. Somewhere you need to go. You will notice that he focuses on our relationship with the Lord on the one hand and our Christian brothers on the other. It makes sense!

He writes well. The illustrations are exceptional. The transparency is amazing. He shares real failure and proves that the Lord was not done with him. What could encourage us more?

You may be aware that Mr. Brown heads Band of Brothers. Don’t be concerned that this book is just a selling job for that organization. While the principles of this book underlie that organization, that is rarely the focus of the book. No, he writes at your heart and life. At least he spoke to mine and I highly recommend this book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

“15 tectonic shifts that transform churches, communities, and the world” reads the subtitle of this book that gives insight into modern-day church planting and missions. The authors both serve at the Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana and write about what they are part of in this volume published by Zondervan.

Missional Moves are the changes people, churches, and community make to work together. Many of the things described in this book are how these three can work together with the church being the center of it all. The book gets really heavy in later chapters  on details of one church’s methods of carrying this out, but it is good to know. As a pastor of a more traditional church, I enjoyed getting insight into a large ministry. Not that I could feel comfortable with everything they did, I could weigh things item by item. Some ideas are worthwhile to any of us.

Part 1 (Paradigm Shift) is by far the best part of the book in that it gives us the big picture issues involved.  I felt I saw the best what they were saying in chapter one on “from saved souls to saved wholes.”  Their description of our taking a minimalist approach to the Gospel by often reducing our presentation to accepting Jesus so we can avoid Hell. We so little talk about all the Lord can do in lives. That was an eye-opening discussion.

My only criticism of the book is that at times it seemed to criticize traditional missions and missionaries. While our just sending money might not make us as personally attached to missions as we should be, we cannot discount the tremendous sacrifice and work many missionaries have done. I think it doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition. Still, their methods have potential worthy of consideration.

The authors have the task of balancing this new missional approach with the attractional method used for so long. As a traditional pastor, I don’t have that problem, but I am glad to better understand what is going on today and learn what I can from it. So, I recommend this book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 . 

Here’s a book to help us explore the famous “I AM” sayings in the Gospel of John. It’s “I AM…” by Iain Campbell and published by EP (Evangelical Press). He studies the seven key I AM statements. This is a worthwhile study as these statements hold at least part of the key to understanding John’s Gospel.

Mr. Campbell is sensitive to the uniqueness of John among the Gospels. Bible students are aware that John covers often such different events than the Synoptic Gospels. Part of that uniqueness are these “I AM” statements. They are rich and worthy of study.

Mr. Campbell shows us what applied preaching within the context should look like. He gives us many helpful pointers than suggest thought in our own study, teaching, or preaching. He makes much of Jesus on every page.

For example, when discussing Jesus as the Shepherd he says: “If we are in his flock we have every assurance that nothing will harm us, either in this world or in the world to come. Nothing out of hell will harm us–nothing at all, because his eye is on his flock.” That is good stuff!

Or how about on the “I am the resurrection” statement his confronting us with having a Bethany kind of home. That’s one good, legitimate application I had never thought of. There are many more of these kinds of pointers.

EP Books are known for these kinds of books and I recommend them. Whether for personal devotions, an example of good preaching, or help with your own study of the “I AM” statements, this book by Mr. Campbell offers real help!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 . 

The subtitle of this book by Carl Laferton and published by The Good Book Company nicely explains what we are getting: “What really happened and why it matters….” It’s a book for our families and might be used as well for those not familiar with Christianity.

The focusing on what really happened is helpful. He relates how our knowledge of the Christmas story comes more from Nativity Pageants than the Bible. I’ve always been amazed at the facts that are commonly wrong. Here the details are given, the misunderstandings addressed, and all given in a way anyone can comprehend.

He writes to hold attention with timely and helpful illustrations, again with younger folks in mind. For example, he brings the shepherds to life. He takes the highly romanticized view of them back to reality. He shows they are as looked down on as one of the lowest professions. You might think differently the next time you sing about shepherds watching their flocks by night!

The better part is why it is important. It’s more than a good story. It’s about a Savior. The manager is only important as it relates to a cross. The book ends answering questions younger folks, or even non-Christians, might ask. I pray this helps turn folks to Christ. It may because of the warm feelings Christmas stirs in many. This book is worth having and passing along.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 . 

I thought that would get your attention. But in truth, you might not be able to handle this volume called “Accidental Pharisees” by Larry Osborne and published by Zondervan. I say this not because it isn’t good, but because it is so good! It tackles many preconceived notions with, of all things, what the Bible actually said. Novel approach? Well, you might not like it when you realize you have believed something yourself that the Bible doesn’t say.

I’ve reviewed several books at this point, yet I barely know what to say. There is so much challenge here, so much to consider, so much to answer for. By the way, don’t assume that you know what he is going to say since he speaks of Pharisees. It’s not just an attack on legalism as you expect, but an expose of the Pharisee that lurks somewhere down inside us all.

I loved every chapter, except when I hated it because it seemed to me that he pegged me exactly. You may seem filleted, but then again, it will be refreshing as you can’t help but believe that it is exactly what Christ would want you to think. I can only hit a few highlights though deep insights fly off of every page.

He describes Pharisaism as an overzealous faith. It’s a faith with a good beginning, as were the Pharisee’s dedication, that somewhere goes awry. He shows the depths of our dark hearts in our desire to make Christianity more exclusive, or with the bar raised ever higher, to lift ourselves up. He calls it “thinning the herd”, and shows how that becomes bigger to us than the mission Christ actually gave us. Putting litmus tests to distinguish the inferior Christians from me is part of it too. This is all part and parcel of being a Pharisee and Jesus fought it at every turn. If He didn’t like it then, He doesn’t like it in me.

He shows how extra rules are used to distinguish Christians even farther. Not clear Bible commands, but extra rules to make us even better is what he speaks of. Something could make us better than what God said? It all really is absurd. The worst of it is that it throws mercy along the wayside–you know, that mercy that so defines our God!

I love how He discusses what Jesus actually said. He attacks head on our stated interpretations that can actually run contrary to what was actually said. This is, to my mind, the most challenging part of the book. Do we derive our beliefs from  Scriptures themselves, or spotty interpretation from the past? If our goal is to follow God’s Word, this should in no way make us afraid. Watch him look freshly at the Early Church in Acts.

Then he explains how we’ve high jacked the Biblical admonition of unity and replaced with the much inferior uniformity. Uniformity kills unity. It’s this idea that unity must be based on thinking exactly like me. That doesn’t exactly sound like unity, does it? Then he shames us for taking this uniformity to the extreme of picking our own favorite teacher or demonination as the standard. That leaves no place for the Lord and His Word, does it? Ouch.

Finally he talks about gift projection. That’s where I make my gift the essential one and judge every Christian on that one criteria. He’s right–that’s wrong and it makes no sense to do it.

The book isn’t perfect. You will not agree with every detail. You likely will be mad here and there. At times when he tells us to be easier on struggling Christians, he could almost sound like great dedication isn’t important. I’m sure that is not what he meant, but he waxes eloquent at times. Still, he provokes thought, real thought down avenues you might never have thought of before. What more could a book give us?

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 . 

Admit it. All those chapters in Exodus and Leviticus on the Tabernacle really confuse you. I imagine you read them rather quickly when you are in that part of the Bible. What does this mean? Not that there is something wrong with you, but that we just need help. Enter this volume by J. V. Fesko and published by EP Books.

In 12 chapters he covers the building materials, the furniture (often a chapter for each piece), and ends with 2 chapters on Oholiab/Bezalel and the Sabbath respectively. In every chapter he tries to draw out the New Testament truth being taught in the Tabernacle.

Hardly any place in the Bible is so rife with typology. That’s what makes it difficult. Sometimes the New Testament, particularly in Hebrews, will spell it all out for us. At other times, we are on our own. The value in this book is that he makes appropriate suggestions for us. Whether we agree with his conclusion or not, he at least shows us not to be overly fanciful. We should tie the typology into the larger truths, not minute things. No suggestion he made seemed outrageous to me.

I appreciate his reminding us several times that this wasn’t just typological teaching, but a representation of a Tabernacle in Heaven. I fully agree with Mr. Fesko on that count.

This book will not be the definitive volume on the Tabernacle as long as we can still get to Soltau, Slemming, Haldeman, and Brown among others, but it is helpful. It might be all most families would need on the subject. I, for one, am glad to have it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 . 

Here’s real help! You are surely aware of the theological illiteracy of our day. Christians are often easy prey for cults because they so little know what they believe. Hand them the usual systematic theology book and they panic, or at least lay it aside quickly. Would you agree that we need more easily-digestible materials  to rescue confused Christians? This book written by Daryl Aaron and published by Bethany House meets a real need.

I’ll just admit it–I’m totally impressed with how well Mr. Aaron brought theology so clearly to us in this volume. I went in thinking that superficiality would drown this volume because of its daunting task to make us understand theology in a little over 200 pages, but that is not the case. This book is good, really good.

The strengths  of this book include understandable definitions, information on important divisions in Christian thought, and a clear love of Christ, His Word, and the theology that springs from it. It also succeeds in communication as many things are well put. I found myself underlining something in every chapter.

The book was at it weakest when in controversy. Particularly anything that touched  the Calvinism-Arminianism debate took a much more cautious approach. I suspect that was more the publishers guideline than the authors choice. Still, there is value in presenting both sides as objectively as possible and letting we readers decide for ourselves. The only big criticism I could make of this book is the lack of an index.

This book will be a real boon to younger Christians. For those of us who have most of the many works on systematic theology, this book is still a real asset. In my own studies I enjoy reading the larger works for understanding, but reading volumes like this to suggest how to teach it is helpful. I’d love for Christians everywhere to read this book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 . 

Last month I reviewed another fine book in this series called Understanding World Religions In 15 Minutes A Day.