The Names of God Bible

The Names of God Bible is the God's Word translation of the Bible with the Hebrew names of God and Jesus replaced by their transliterated equivalents. Thus, instead of Jesus, the name Jeshua is used; instead of Lord, Adonay; instead of LORD, etc. The Bible also provides break-out sections discussing the various names of God.

When I first heard about this Bible, I thought it would be a good way of getting to know God better. When I started reading through it, it seem more like a gimmick to me. But know I am finding I pay more attention to God in the passages, in part because they are no longer familiar to me. However, I find that it is not helpful to me to have some of the more uncommon names of God rendered in Hebrew transliteration, particularly those that may also apply to humans in other capacities. For example, in Isaiah 44:6, King is rendered as Melek, and Redeemer is rendered as Go'el. One disadvantage of showing the Hebrew for only the names of God is that you don't see parallels between the names used for God and the names used for humans. Thus, in Isaiah 45:1, God calls Cyrus his anointed one. However, when Anointed One refers to God, or more specifically, to Jesus, it is rendered Mashiach (cf. Psalms 2:2). I am surprised that not all the Hebrew names of God are transliterated; e.g., in Isaiah 9:6, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father are not transliterated, but Prince of Peace is (Sar Shalom). I also find it odd that Yeshua is used for Jesus in the New Testament, but that other names of God are not transliterated; e.g., Lord, Christ, Spirit, and God (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:11). It seems that Greek, although a language God used to write the Bible, is given second fiddle to Hebrew and Aramaic.

I think the Names of God Bible does have a place, but I think there are a number of things that could make it better. However, it does give a fresh way of seeing God, which I think is the reason for this Bible.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Love & Respect Experience

The Love and Respect Experience contains 52 chapters, each with a little discussion, prayer, action plan, and discussion questions to promote frequent meaningful discussions between husband and wife.

Even though there are appendices at the back to help those not conversant with the Love and Respect approach, I sometimes found it not easy to understand what was meant. My wife and I did work through a couple chapters together. I found the chapters and, in particular, the discussion questions did promote some good dialogue, but my wife was less enthusiastic. Considering I was hoping this book would promote some good discussions between us, and considering it is the stated purpose of the book, I am a little disappointed. But I am hoping that our situation is rare and that others do find this a helpful tool.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Jesus Calling

Sarah Young decided to listen to God and write down what she felt He was saying to her. The result is Jesus Calling, a charming little devotional book with a message for each day of the year, written fro the perspective of Jesus speaking to Sarah and hence to the reader, and complete with Scripture references which complement the readings.

I found the readings to be quite good and felt they applied to me and challenged me. This is pretty much what I want in a devotional: curl up with a hot beverage and let Jesus speak to me.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

The Realms Thereunder

Ross Lawhead, son of famed novelist Stephen R. Lawhead, has embarked on a literary career of his own, following in much the same footsteps as his father. In The Realms Thereunder, Daniel Tully and fellow classmate Freya Reynolds, on a tour of an old church, leave their classmates and find themselves underneath in catacombs where they happen upon a pair of sleeping knights. After arousingso them, they learn that the knights are meant to awaken when great evil stirs in the land. The story follows Daniel, Freya, and the two knights as they travel underground to confront this evil. At the same time, the story unfolds eight years later in present-day England where Daniel and Freya meet anew. Evil is once more upon the land and they again find themselves caught up in a story well beyond themselves.

As much as I like fantasy, I never really got into the book. It continually jumps back and forth between present and past which I found hard to follow. In addition, a few of the episodes I didn't find contributed to the overall story. It seems that Lawhead is already thinking ahead to the next books in the series but in the process seems not to have captured my interest. I did like the premise, though, with knights preserved to overcome a great evil.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Contest!

I have one copy of Rumors of God by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson to give away. If you would like to enter the contest, please comment on this post with a recent experience you have had with God and how it impacted you and include some way to contact you. I will select one person from all entries received by August 31, 2011. Of course, should I not be able to contact the winner, I will try someone else after 3 days. Anyway I look forward to reading how God has moved in your lives.

Heaven is for Real

After Pastor Todd Burpo shatters his leg, develops kidney stones, then is diagnosed with hyperplasia, he feels things are getting better. However, his youngest son, Colton, has an untreated ruptured appendix, leading so severe complications. After 17 days Colton suddenly returns to his normal self. In conversations in the months and years afterwards, his parents eventually come to the conclusion that Colton actually went to heaven and met Jesus and others in his extended family. This story introduces us to Colton's experiences which seem to correlate well with what the Bible says about heaven, so it becomes a remarkable story. The father often finds Colton's descriptions humble himself. Although Colton doesn't suddenly become an angel in the way he relates to people, Colton's experiences do change his perspective on life. That the characters in the book are not larger than life lends credence to the story. And I appreciated learning more about how God answers prayer.

I found this story quite easy to read with a simple style and yet fairly engaging. In some ways, the story carries itself because of its extraordinary events. Colton Burpo wants people "to know that heaven is for real", and this book succeeds in demonstrating that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, quick, and entertaining read, or who wants to be encouraged about the reality of God, Jesus, and heaven.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Unsinkable

The story of a sixteen year old girl aiming to sail unassisted and nonstop around the world. If successful, she would be the youngest person to do so. Abby grew up in a sailing family, having been on boats since she was less than a year old. Her older brother had sailed solo around the world the year before, so she, and her family, had a good idea what they were getting into. The story centers around the preparations for and events of her trip, showing the balance between Abby's sailing experience, the technology on her boat, the know-how of her support team back home (she was in near-constant communication with them via computer and satellite phone), and the dependence of Abby and her parents on God.

Unsinkable is a quick and interesting read. I appreciated the fact that while the evangelical bent of the main characters was clear, it did not overshadow the sailing-oriented plot of the book. One theme is that given the opportunity, young people can learn and accomplish much greater things than what is encouraged by mainstream US and Canada culture. Sometimes Abby appeared very dependent on her support team to troubleshoot her technology on her boat, but she was obviously an accomplished sailor to be able to make it halfway around the world before calling it quits when her mast broke off. I admired her ability to stay positive despite all the trouble she had with her electronic equipment, which she sometimes had to fix in dark, cramped, and wet conditions with her boat rocking wildly.

The book is easy to read, which is not surprising considering the age of the author. The nautical terms do not make the story difficult to follow, and in any case the book includes a labelled drawing of Abby's boat, a map of her route, and a good glossary. Abby narrates her own experiences in the first person, but other sections follow her father's role (and occasionally that of other characters) in the third person, so it is easy to understand.

This book would be suitable for both boys and girls from preteen through adults, especially those interested in sailing or other outdoor or physically challenging activities. I liked the fact that I could read through it quickly and it held my interest, but it wasn't impossible to put down. I probably would not read it again, but I am glad I read it once.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

When Life's Not Working

"Life is difficult for everybody. There are hard jobs, hard marriages, and hard family dynamics. But some people compound their problems by ignoring basic principles that can help them get where they want to go in life." Against this backdrop Pastor Bob Merritt discusses seven essential strategies for intentional living for to prevent life from becoming harder, amply illustrated by stories from his own life.

Although I tend to not enjoy books that promise a formula to solve life, I felt this book provided a little more realism that many such books. Life doesn't have well-defined edges. People aren't all cut from the same cookie cutter. I appreciated the candour by which Pastor Bob Merritt wrote. I can't say I was captivated by the book, but it does give pause for thought and gives guidance on a path to face life's hard knocks.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Watcher

Twenty years ago Kathryn Ellison was raped. This traumatic event has defined her life and those close to her as she works out what it means to forgive. One of her attackers responds to the grace of God and forgiveness extended by Kathryn. Unbeknownst to Kathryn, the other seeks to complete the work he set out to do.

I found the constant flash backs made the story a little disjointed, and a little hard to follow. Other than that, I quite enjoyed the book. The subject matter was dealt with in a very sensitive manner, not sensationalizing nor trivializing, but overshadowed by the themes of forgiveness and grace. And I must say this is one of the more refreshingly unique works of Christian fiction I have read, sort of The Shack meets Frank E. Perreti. This book is definitely meant for a mature audience, but well worth the read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Word Alive Press and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now from your favourite bookseller.

Angel Sister

Angel Sister tells the story of a family in small town Kentucky in 1936. Dysfunctions of a previous generation weigh heavily on this family, as the father drowns his sorrows in alcohol, the mother trying to make ends meet, while the children grow up in their own unique ways. Into this mix, a young girl, cast away by a family passing through town searching for employment in the midst of the Depression, is adopted, making her mark on the family and the larger community.

This wasn't a book that I riveted me, but neither did I felt I was slogging though the story. The frequent flashbacks seemed sometimes lengthy and out of place. However, what I really liked about this book was how it seemed to strike the right balance between how the characters applied Scripture to their situations: not being too preachy as the characters struggled with their own faith, yet not presenting Christianity as something that doesn't impact your life. By the end of the story in some way I felt as if I had been a part of the family for the summer, sharing in their trials and joys.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Heart Revolution

Sergio de la Mora provides a 40-day journey of the heart to bring healing from pain, forgiveness, and restoration to an individual. He illustrations his points from his own storied past, as well as others he has encountered in his journey. He paints a compelling picture of why we need a change in heart and gives hope for a new start to life. He touches on practical aspect of everyday life, including money, sex, anger, and leadership, as he shows the effect of a change of heart on oneself, friends, and family.

I found the book a little too polished for me. I'm sure his experience is valid, but I found I just didn't relate all that well with his examples.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

If God, Why Evil?

Norman Giesler discusses the question of how can there be a God if evil exists. How can an infinitely good and infinitely powerful God allow evil to exist? He looks at this from many facets, ranging from the nature of evil, to its purpose and why it persists, and to whether evil is eternal.

Although I think Christians need to understand their faith more, including the nature of evil, this book is probably too inaccessible for the ordinary person. It reads more like a textbook than a story book. It is very logical and structured, sometimes too much so. And I found some of the arguments were too terse: I found them hard to follow. Some of the appendices seemed to be tangentially related to the subject and I wondered how they helped illuminate the main theme of the book. So, although I think the subject matter is important and the content presented was good, how this book presents its material will limit its audience.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Tomorrow We Die

Jonathan is a paramedic whose life has been quite hectic. His last patient gives him a crumpled piece of paper with instructions to give it to Martin. Jonathan decides to honour this request, but soon finds himself embedded into a seemingly boundless web of intrigue. When his personal ambitions and very life are threatened, Jonathan has to make a choice to pursue truth or to save himself.

The story was reasonably fast-paced, from an author who has worked as a paramedic, so knows what he is talking about. It was enjoyable and I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter, even into the late hours of the night. I also haven't read too much about paramedics, so it was good to get a glimpse into their lives. The author could have developed the characters more and there were some allusions to Jonathan's past that weren't all explained. I found the story line a little far fetched and probably took things a little too far, so was a little disappointed by the end. But if you're looking for fast-paced action and some sudden plot twists, this is a pretty good book.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Dark in the City of Light

The year is 1870. Prussia, after a recent defeat of Austria-Hungary, is eager for expansion and control of the German states. France remained confident in its past successes and its new secret weapon, the mitrailleuse, a precursor to the machine gun. Prussia is banking on its efficient railway system and recent successes. Set within this background, the story revolves around the Austro-Hungarian attaché to France, who, through his wife's estate, controls mercury mines which are used to make gunpowder. Courted by both sides, he finds life is a balancing act. His son and daughter are also being pursued in hopes they can also provide access to the mercury. After his wife dies, a few suspects begin to be implicated, including the attaché himself. Can he rise above the tumult of the last days of the Second French Empire and the proclamation of the new German Empire to save his family and his honour?

In general, I enjoyed the book. I found it interesting to see history through the eyes of an interested observer, one not a part of the action on any side, but intensely interested in the events. It did bring that part of history alive to me. As far as being a Christian book, I thought the references were forced. The little Christian belief that was expressed did not make a difference to the characters in the book. But other than that, the story was good and interesting, with a number of plot twist and a reasonable amount of intrigue. It was also interesting to see the events from different points of view, which I thought the author did well.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Flabbergasted

Jay, young, successful, and single, just got moved to a small town in South Carolina. Although a non-Christian, he's not afraid to go to church to scope out the girls. This lighthearted, fast-moving book explores the singles scene where Jay finds out he might just have got himself into more than he bargained for. Relationships, commitment, and life's big questions are topics touched upon in this entertaining book.

I wasn't sure what to expect from a book I might label as male romance novel, but I enjoyed it right from the beginning. It was light, fast-moving, hard to put down, and yet did touch on some important themes. This is a fun book to befriend in the dog days of summer on a lazy afternoon, or in the dead of winter curled up in front of a fireplace with hot chocolate in hand, dreaming of water lapping warm beaches. It explores relationships from a guy's perspective, something rather rare in the book world. I'd recommend it for guys who enjoy life and want some escapist entertainment.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Deeper Into the Word

The author of Deeper Into the Word choose 101 subjects from the New Testament to discuss, generally in a few pages each. There is generally a discussion of what each word means and a little word study with many of the ways this word has been translated from the Greek, identifying a number of ways this subject has been used in the Bible. It may also include some background context. This little volume does fill a niche for those wanting to find out a little about a subject but don't have access to multi-volume works, or who haven't taken Greek.

I was initially intrigued by this book, but found it a little preachy at times, not that I disagreed with what the author wrote. Albeit for a book of this size, the discussions of each word are necessarily rather small, I would have liked a little more meat, delving into more of the nuances of the words. I found that sometimes the author throws in a random idea tangentially related to the subject. And at times a little explanation of the Greek source text would significantly help the discussion, for instance in the discussion of plurals under the topic one another, instead of suggesting the reader needs to resort to context to discover meaning. I guess for me, the Bible, concordances, Bible dictionaries, Bible commentaries, and the Internet are all resources I would turn to to investigate the meaning of a text hence this book is of limited value to me.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.