A Place for Truth

I recently read A Place for Truth which is a compilation of lectures from the Veritas forum.  The subtitle is Leading thinkers explore life's hardest questions.

The subjects that are covered include truth, faith and science, atheism, meaning and humanity, Christian worldview, and social justice.  Each of these lectures offers thought provoking conversations centered on the above topics.

This is not a book that you breeze through from  cover to cover.  In fact, I was challenged to carefully consider and see the arguments being made.   I feel that my discernment skills and compassion for those who will not believe in truth growing.  

I highly recommend this compilation to anyone interested in reason, truth, and intellectual exercise.  

The End of Reason

My recent read was the end of reason by Ravi Zacharias.  In this short book, he exercises his gifting as he engages the work of an atheist who has recently gained media attention. 

In his usual style, Zacharias takes the arguments to their logical conclusion and provides well reasoned rebukes.  He also narrates the potential consequences of the reality of life without God. 

Ideas have consequences.  I feel like I did not critically evaluate ideas as I grew up.  This book is a stellar example of how to engage the marketplace of ideas and why to engage.  This no longer an arena for just career philosophers but touches every aspect of our culture which intersects with our daily lives.  

I recommend this book for those who want to develop an understanding of the issues at hand and the logical conclusons that the ideas of atheism would result in.

Special Purpose Driven Life

I had the privilege to review the 10th anniversary edition of the Purpose Driven Life for Booksneeze. This is basically the same inside as the original with a few exceptions. So what’s new? The cover for one. The old cover was elegant and had a vintage feel. The new look is much more bright, light, exciting, festive, and hip. Another feature aimed at a younger audience is the podcast studies and short video chapter introductions. The podcasts are daily lessons that vary in length (45-60 minutes). They do not replace the chapter readings but supplement them. There are also two additional chapters that address some key barriers to achieving the purpose driven life.
It has been said that here are three questions everyone faces at one time or another: where did I come, why am I here, and where am I going? This book will help you with the second question.
It is very easy to read and understand. It is accessible and valuable for novices and more advanced student of the Christian faith. Other study features that remain the same include the memory verses and spiritual journal prompts.  I have recommended this book to others in the past and will continue to do so. I think the author did a great job with the revisions and updates. The important sub message was that we must pass on these truths to the next generations.

Father Hunger

I was very excited to receive my Father Hunger book to review for Booksneeze. I had seen Douglas Wilson speak at a Desiring God conference on biblical manhood. I totally identify with the importance of fathers in the world. I had not however, reflected on how the role of the father reflects the glory of the LORD and how many tactics of the world seek to supplant that God given role. I dove into the book with anticipation and was not disappointed. Douglas Wilson caused me to reflect on the current events and the potential these socio-political issues have to mar the image of the Father. Furthermore, he reinforces the Biblical principles that illustrate the irreplaceable role of fathers. Many books have been written but few have dealt so deeply with the question of why fatherhood is so important. Mr. Wilson reflects on how fatherhood touches every aspect of society. There is strong encouragement for men to step up.

While I am grateful for this book and would highly recommend it, I feel that I should state that the author pulls no punches. At times, he is witty. At others, he uses very adult illustrations and while the language is not explicit, he is very direct. Also, the subtitle mentions updated data. This mostly appears as the appendix at the end of the book. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for any adult whether a parent or not, single or married. I also think women would benefit from this book as well as men.

The book begins by establishing the roles and relationships within the Holy Trinity. He then takes the reader from the significance of fathers through to your significance (if you are or will be a father). He highlights the forces that pull fathers away from their station such as shifting cultural norms that seek to redefine what God has already, clearly defined. Next, he confronts the false visions of masculinity that are commonly held. He then outlines the societal consequences of missing in action fathers - poor spiritual health/relationship with God, imitations of ungodly behaviors, opportunities for overbearing governments to supplants the role of father, lack of healthy respect for authority, crime, and confused gender roles. He then proceeds to equip and encourage the reader that there is hope because we have a Heavenly Father that not only shows us how, but empowers us to succeed! Each chapter also has questions to reflect on and reinforce the main points of each chapter.

Nearing Home

I had the privilege to review Nearing Home by Billy Graham for Booksneeze. As I have pondered the end and “retirement”, I look to my parents and grandparents. I look to others in the church. It certainly seems that illness and suffering are a part of aging. This does not bring any excitement to my soul. What can we look forward to? Perhaps, retirement is not looking forward enough.

Billy Graham shares his current life experience aging. He does so with simplicity and authenticity. I don’t doubt for a minute the pains that he has endured. Yet, one thing has compelled him to persevere in the race. The gospel message of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ permeates every chapter in Mr. Graham’s story. Mr. Graham has encouragement and practical advice for both young looking forward and the old who are in the midst of it all right now.

I highly recommend this for both young and old for practical encouragement on how to run the race of faith and cross the finish line well.

Here is are some inspirational quotes from the book.
- “The greatest legacy you can pass on to them is the legacy of your character and your faith.”
- “Our choices determine our destiny.”
- “Give your life to Christ: He can do more with it than you can.”
- “find a way to use your uncomfortable situation to point others to Him.”

Has God Spoken - Yes He Has

I had the opportunity to review Has God Spoken by Hank Hanegraaf for Booksneeze. I did not realize that this was the third in a series. However, this book can stand on its own and one does not need to read the other two to grasp this one.

I must say that I approached this book with much anticipation. I very much feel sharpened by the tools that were provided by Mr. Hanegraaf in the book. His acronyms make it extremely easy to grasp and remember. The first acronym is MAPS – Manuscript evidence, Archaeologist’s spade, Prophetic STARS, and Scriptural LIGHTS. Each letter of the acronym has subacronyms to elaborate the support that the Bible is indeed divinely inspired. In reading this book, you will discover the evidence that God has left us from the Bible and real things such as artifacts to know that He has spoken.

I was intrigued by some of the examples that he gave to illustrate the importance of reading the Bible correctly. Some of these examples challenged me spiritually. I have to go back and restudy them again to see for myself if these common verses have indeed been misused or misinterpreted. I am disappointed, however, in the tone that some of his arguments take with certain high profile individuals. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to others. It would serve as a great tool to supplement your Bible reading. I can see it being useful also for discipling, apologetics, developing discernment, and outreach.

God is speaking

I had the privilege to review this book for Booksneeze.   This book is a biography of George Washington Carver.  It is part of the Christian Encounter series.  This book was well written and easy to read.  This was a real tribute to a man who lived his life in the Name of the Lord.
Mr. Carver's story begins under harsh circumstances.  It shows that the hand of God and the godly influences in his life set him on a course to a life of inquiry into the many uses of the peanut and sweet potato.  All of this was to the purpose of equipping other African Americans for a self sustaining life.
Much of the book describes his years in university life.  Through it all, this remarkable man never seemed to lose sight of God's majesty, creativity, and Sovereignty.  Mr. Carver was described as giving God the glory for all of his work which primarily focused in agriculture.  He also stated that God was revealing something of Himself in His creation. He was effectively speaking.
The author's closing remark was quite poignant: Carver's story is a message of hope. "...God made us all and given us everything we need to find our sunlit place in the Creator's world."