Sunday, August 21, 2016

Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace

book cover
Cold-Case Christianity
by J. Warner Wallace


ISBN-13: 9781434704696
Trade Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook
Released: Jan. 1, 2013

Source: Bought from Christianbook.com.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator.

Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity. A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.


My Review:
Cold-Case Christianity looks at the claims of the gospels from the point of view of a cold case detective. The author looked at many "lines of evidence" as he examined the gospels, and I felt he did an excellent job of explaining how he came to his conclusions. He even covered some angles that I haven't read before and which I found very interesting.

He began by using examples of various cases he's worked on to show how a detective examines evidence. He then applied these methods to the evidence surrounding the claims of the gospels. Then he looked at some of the evidence in greater detail. He looked at when the gospels were written, if they are eyewitness accounts, if they are accurate, how well these accounts have been preserved over time, what the motive was behind writing the gospels, and how much evidence is "enough."

I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to anyone who is uncertain about the gospels or who likes to debate these issues. This book will especially appeal to those who are interested in detective work.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Dwelling Places by Lucinda Secrest McDowell

book cover
Dwelling Places
by Lucinda Secrest McDowell


ISBN-13: 978-1501815324
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Released: June 7, 2016

Source: Advanced Reader review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Award-winning author Lucinda Secrest McDowell knows that if you spend a few minutes every day turning to God's Word for wisdom and guidance, your faith can flourish and grow. Through short and inspiring readings, McDowell unpacks a single word--like mercy, beauty, gratitude, or grace--to uncover a biblical blessing or lesson you can act on that very day. Each devotion includes stories and illustrations to foster understanding and ends with a benediction, written as if God were speaking directly to you.

Organized into four seasons--fall, Advent, Lent, and summer--these devotions invite you to discover those "dwelling places" that offer the joy of God's promises and presence.


My Review:
Dwelling Places is a devotional book with 130 days worth of devotions. These are divided into 4 seasons: Dwell (30 devotionals, fall theme), Shine (30 devotionals, winter/Christmas theme, suggested read during Advent), Renew (40 devotionals, for Lent), Grow (30 devotionals, summer theme). Each day's devotion is based on a word, and the author quotes a verse containing that word. She then related a story and talked about the verse. Each devotion ended with a paragraph written as if God is speaking to the reader about what was covered in the devotion. Overall, I'd recommend this devotional book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.