Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, New and Enhanced Edition

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary General Editor: Ronald F. Youngblood Contributors: F. F. Bruce and R. K. Harrison ISBN-13: 978-0529106223 Hardcover: 1280 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: June 5, 2012

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description from BookLook:
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is the most comprehensive and up-to-date Bible dictionary available. With a fresh new look and updated photographs, this new and enhanced edition is a wealth of basic study information with more than 7,000 entries plus more than 500 full-color photographs, maps, and pronunciation guides.

Features include:
*Cross-references to major translations
*More than 7,000 up-to-date entries
*More than 500 full-color photographs and maps
*Enlarged type size for easier reading
*Visual Survey of the Bible from The Open Bible


My Review:
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is a Bible reference book intended to help you study your Bible. They suggest that you read a passage in the Bible and then read the entries in the dictionary for the names, places, and things mentioned in the passage. The entry briefly explained that word and pointed out where it's mentioned in the Bible. While the entries did give enough information to help you better understand a passage, it usually just gave information that you could pick up from reading the whole Bible on a regular basis.

Some entries did have more detail, especially those that contained controversial topics. They'd give their take on the issue but didn't usually explain the other positions. For example, under "Chronology, New Testament," they gave a couple popular dates for Jesus birth and death but only give some brief supporting reasons for their own choices.

Under Genesis, they tried to side-step controversy by saying that Genesis 1 is mainly theological and is highly poetical rather than giving scientific details. Under the Flood entry, they acknowledge that the Flood was "not simply a downpour of ordinary rain," yet under "Chronology, Old Testament" they suggest the Flood happened at a time where it couldn't have been a world-wide flood. They suggest that Genesis was heavily influenced by Sumer rather than Sumer being influenced by the earlier, real history that is recorded in the Bible. They suggest that the years given in the genealogies in Genesis can't be taken at face value. Basically, they have their biases but it shows up more in implied assumptions than by taking a hardline stance on an issue.

There were full-color pictures on about every other page--a picture of some coins near the entry for money, for example, or someone playing a flute for "flute." There were charts and maps for certain events. If you don't have a study Bible and want help understanding who various people are and what is going on (what is a tent maker? a shekel?), then you will probably find this Bible dictionary fairly useful.


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.

Brilliant by Bruce Malone

Brilliant: Made in the Image of God by Bruce Malone ISBN-13: 9781939456151 Hardcover: 128 pages Publisher: Search for the Truth Ministries Released: November 1, 2014

Source: Review copy received through a publicist.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
This coffee-table-style hardcover gives a timeline of unusual scientific and archaeological finds. Cultures throughout the world are filled with mysteries which do not fit the pervasive evolutionary time-frame, but make perfect sense if the Biblical timeline of history is accepted. Brilliant takes the Bible seriously and every page contains an artifact from some ancient culture testifying to the reality of these true events of history.


My Review:
Brilliant is a coffee-table style book that looks at 51 evidences--from the huge, perfectly fitted stones used by many ancient cultures to brain surgery to earthquake detectors--which show that ancient man was more intelligent and technologically advanced than we may assume. He uses a Biblical timeline on the bottom of the page to show when in time the evidence was probably created and a map to show where it was found.

The book is full of colorful pictures of the evidence. The text gave a good description of the evidence and what it tells us about ancient humans. I think this would be a great book for all Christian tweens, teens, and adults, but especially those interested in history or ancient cultures.


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.

Censored Science by Bruce Malone

Censored Science: The Suppressed Evidence by Bruce Malone ISBN-13: 9780971591158 Hardcover: 110 pages Publisher: Search for the Truth Ministries Released: January 1, 2009

Source: Review copy received through a publicist.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Censored Science is a stunning designed, full-color book showcasing the fifty best evidences for a biblical creation worldview. Each two-page spread lays out the evidence for creation and then provides a rebuttal to the most common evolutionist objections to the evidence. The book is divided into three major sections - Censored Biological Evidence, Censored Geological Evidence, and Censored Cosmological Evidence.

Rather than a simple presentation of facts, Censored Science draws the reader into each subject using stories, analogies, and illustrations of the relevance for each of the evidences for creation. It has been technically reviewed and endorsed by some of the top scientists involved in creation research - including Dr. Steve Austin, Dr. John Baumgardner, and Dr. John Sanford.


My Review:
Censored Science is a coffee-table style book discussing 50 different problems with evolution and how the Biblical record (i.e. 6 days for creation and a world-wide flood) better explains the evidence. The book is full of colorful pictures. The text tends to summarize the information rather than give a fuller explanation, so this book is better for readers who prefer an overview. The author uses many analogies to explain complex concepts, so both teenagers and adults can follow the arguments.

This is probably best suited to those who have been taught about evolution but are open to hearing the young earth/world-wide Flood arguments. Anyone devoted to evolution will likely be turned off by some of the wording used to describe evolution and the lack of detailed, technical arguments. Overall, I'd recommend this book as a way to introduce interested "non-technical" teens and adults to these ideas.


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.

Praying Like the Jew, Jesus by Timothy P. Jones

Praying Like the Jew, Jesus by Timothy P. Jones ISBN-13: 9781880226285 Trade Paperback: 133 pages Publisher: Lederer Books Released: April 1, 2005

Source: Bought from an online bookstore.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
This eye-opening book reveals the Jewish background of many of Yeshua's prayers. Historical vignettes will "transport" you to the times of Yeshua so you can grasp the full meaning of Messiah's prayers. Unique devotional thoughts and meditations, presented in down-to-earth language, provide inspiration for a more meaningful prayer life and help you draw close to God.


My Review:
After reading Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Spangler & Tverberg, I was interested in learning more about Jewish prayers and praying in the first century. I expected "Praying Like the Jew, Jesus" to dig deeper into that information, but it only gave a little, easy-to-find information.

Praying Like the Jew, Jesus is mainly a series of sermons (or "devotional thoughts") about God. Each chapter started with a page containing prayers from the Bible or from Jewish tradition, like prayers spoken at the passover or at a wedding. He then wrote a fictional account of a scene from Jesus' life where this prayer or blessing happened or might have happened. Sometimes he wrote a page or two about the cultural aspects of the prayer, but he generally just launched into his sermon. The devotionals/sermons were ok, but they weren't why I had wanted the book.

The fictional parts didn't focus on providing cultural background information that would help the reader better understand the scene, like I had expected. I noticed some misleading, speculative, and even incorrect information in his fictional accounts. For the Passover scene, he wrote on page 82, "[Jesus]...ripped the bread into two jagged chunks...Yochanan tore off a small piece...and passed the chunk to Ya`akov." This sounds like a loaf of leavened bread, but unleavened bread (which is like a cracker) would have been used. The Passover meal started at sunset, yet the author had the sun setting ("fading sunlight," page 89) after they finished the Passover meal.

For an earlier fictional scene, the author had Simon Peter thinking of how embarrassed he was to follow Jesus and maybe he'd made a mistake in following Jesus since a physical kingdom wasn't in sight. Um, Peter was the one who said, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29) and told Jesus (after a confusing sermon and Jesus asked if they would leave him): “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68) and on and on. He was arguing about who would be first in the Kingdom up until the Last Supper. If the author had used Judas Iscariot, at least his doubting would be consistent with the Biblical account.

If you're looking for a book focusing on the historical, Jewish background information regarding prayer, this isn't it. If you want a devotional book on how unpredictable God is (with repeated comments about how people who prayed in the Bible often ended up tortured and/or dead--yup, that sure encourages me to pray more!), then this book might interest you.


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.

10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis

As a member of Amazon Vine, I'm able to review books through them, but--as I understand the terms--I'm only allowed to post my review on Amazon. Because I liked this book, I'm posting a description of the book here with a direct link to my review on Amazon.

10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis ISBN-13: 9780529111036 Trade Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: November 4, 2014

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
When Kari Kampakis wrote a blog post in July 2013 titled "10 Truths Young Girls Should Know," the post went viral and was shared more than 65,000 times on Facebook. This nonfiction book for teen girls expands on these ten truths, including:

Kindness is more important than popularity. People peak at different times of life. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable-- otherwise you'll never stick to your guns. You weren't made to worship yourself. Today's choices set the stage for your reputation. Learn to listen to the whispers of God over the megaphone of public opinion.

Teen girls deal daily with cliques, bullying, rejection, and social media nightmares. Kari Kampakis wants girls to know that they don't have to compromise their integrity and future to find love, acceptance, and security. This book is filled with practical advice, loving support, and insightful discussion questions that will help young girls navigate a broken world and become the young women God made them to be.

My Review: Link to my review on Amazon.

James the Just Presents Applications of Torah

James the Just Presents Applications of Torah by Dr. David Friedman with B.D. Friedman ISBN-13: 978-1936716449 Trade Paperback: 152 pages Publisher: Messianic Jewish Publisher Released: July 12, 2012

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Back Cover:
When we view Ya'acov (James) for who he was: a chief rabbi, a Torah scholar, a Bible commentator, and akin to a high court judge, then we can better understand the purpose of his book. One of the main thrusts of Ya'acov's teaching is encouraging the practical application of the Torah's teachings.


My Review:
James the Just Presents Applications of Torah reads like 5 essays about James and the book of James that were complied together for this book. Some material was repeated in the different chapters, and the chapters had different focuses rather than building from one to the next. I could easily follow his overall points, but he jumped around some even within the chapters.

The author(s) set out to show that James was the chief rabbi of the messianic Jewish community in Jerusalem and what his position meant in terms of what we see recorded in Acts. He then showed how the book of James is likely a collection of James' teachings on certain portions of the Torah. He also explained the Hebrew background that helps clarify what James taught about faith and works.

I appreciate that the author admitted when he couldn't prove something rather than trying to pass it off as fact (as many authors do). I thought he did a good job of showing that these overall points about James and the origin of the book of James were reasonable and likely true. I was never able to fully understand some of his sub-points, though, like why he thought a vow automatically meant a Nazarite vow. His argument seemed to be "because some people where practicing this type of vow at that time." This seems rather random as other types of vows were also done at the time. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in the Jewish background to the New Testament.


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.

NIV First-Century Study Bible by Kent Dobson

NIV First-Century Study Bible by Kent Dobson ISBN-13: 9780310938903 Hardcover: 1888 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: September 9, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Booklook.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
The NIV First-Century Study Bible invites you into the questions, stories, and interpretations—both ancient and modern. Join Kent Dobson as he unpacks the culture of Bible times, and illuminates Scripture passages while asking thoughtful questions along the way.


My Review:
Compared to the overall excellent quality of the NIV Archaeological Study Bible, the quality of the NIV First-Century Study Bible did not impress me. The "about each book" sections, maps, pictures, timelines and such were pretty standard for a study Bible, so that just left the commentary study notes to make it stand out. Much of that commentary covered pretty standard things like pointing out when a prophecy had been fulfilled or references to the verse elsewhere in the Bible. Nothing unique there.

The "hook" was that the study note commentary would include quotes from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, Philo, rabbis (from the Mishnah), early church fathers, and modern scholars along with some cultural background. The Old Testament commentary was sparse and usually not enlightening. He even resorted to summarizing what was happening in the text--things obvious if you'd read the text. However, the author did a decent job in the New Testament.

I've read the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary for the New Testament, which was a major source for the author's comments. Very, very little of his commentary was new to me. And, frankly, I got more insights and answers out of reading the Bible Backgrounds books.

Got questions? Well, so does this author. It seemed like this author was sometimes more interested in raising questions than giving answers--even when there were answers. For example, for Luke 1:5, the author made it sound like Luke must have made an error in saying "Herod king of Judea" because King Herod ruled more than Judea. I'm thinking, "Luke's focusing on Judea and that phrase doesn't exclude Herod from being king of more than Judea...what's your problem?" On the Luke 4:44 study note, the author even says, "Luke may have been using the term "Judea" generically to refer to Israel." Yes, so why not just say so in the Luke 1:5 note?

Another example: In Genesis 26, the verses indicate that Issac moved from a place of famine to a place without famine and then planted some grain. The author says in his Genesis 26:12 note that it's a puzzle how Issac got a good harvest during a famine. Gerar is located in a spot that gets more rain, which would have been useful information to include. But apparently it was easier for him to pose a question than find the answer. He said in his Genesis 19:25 note that "There is no archeological evidence for the existence of Sodom and Gomorrah." Plenty of people think they've found it, yet he makes it sound like no one even has a clue.

I could go on and on. There were plenty of study notes that left me wondering why he felt the need to include them, especially in the Old Testament. For example, his Genesis 43:18 note reads, "Was this a touch of humor by the narrator? Where Joseph and Pharaoh in such need of donkeys that they needed to steal them from poor shepherds?" It's those poor shepherds that were worried that powerful and potentially greedy people would take them as slaves and take their possessions, so why would this be a joke? For the Genesis 45:23, the author writes, "Why is the text focusing on donkeys again?" Um, is this really important enough to include, especially when you have no answer? Seems like useless filler to me.

(Though I took my examples from only a few books of the Bible, I read every study note before writing this review.)


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.

Songs of a Suffering King by J.V. Fesko

Songs of a Suffering King by J.V. Fesko ISBN-13: 9781601783103 Paperback: 124 pages Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books Released: April 21, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
A devotional exploration of Psalms 1-8 with the premise that David, as the suffering king, prefigures Jesus Christ and that the psalms are ultimately about Christ.


My Review:
Songs of a Suffering King is a devotional-style look at Psalms 1-8. In the actual devotions, he gives a mini-sermon about the psalm and then showed how Jesus ultimately fulfills--and helps us fulfill--the verses.

I'd agree that you can find parallels between Jesus' life and David's life and that some psalms do have messianic references. However, the author seemed to feel that "righteous" and "blameless" in the Old Testament refer to someone who is sinless. Since only Jesus was sinless and some psalms claim that the speaker is righteous or blameless, the author seems to conclude that only Jesus can ultimately be the one saying the words of all the Psalms. However, several people were called righteous and/or blameless in the Old Testament, including Noah (Genesis 6:9), Job (Job 1) and Abraham (Genesis 15:6). Those words seem to be more about acting out their faith in God and being in right standing with Him than about never sinning.

The author's approach changed reading the psalms into a deeply theological study. His conclusions sometimes required fancy footwork to make them sound okay. For example, since only Jesus was sinless, only he can pray that his enemies be destroyed--and he only meant the ones who won't repent, of course. In Christ, we are also sinless and so can also pray that our enemies (in general) be judged/destroyed. But I don't think that's what Jesus meant by "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44) even with the provisos the author threw in.

I was in a group that studied through the psalms, and we finally decided that those passages showed how our desire for justice creates a human reaction but we ultimately need to remember God's role and take comfort in His character. I felt like the author's premise almost put the psalms beyond the reach of the layman. While his devotions were decent overall, his underlying premise made the psalms feel less readable rather than more meaningful to me.


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.

Nothing But the Truth by Brian H. Edwards

Nothing But the Truth by Brian H. Edwards ISBN-13: 9780852346143 Trade Paperback: 512 pages Publisher: Evangelical Press Released: 1993; March 2006

Source: Bought from a store.

Book Description, Modified from Christianbook.com:
Edwards sets out to describe the history, authority, and accuracy of the Bible in plain, straightforward language designed for the non-expert. Fully revised and updated, Nothing But the Truth covers a wide range of vital issues including "Who are the critics of the Bible and what are they saying?", "What is meant by 'inspiration'?", "How can we properly understand the Bible?", "When was it written and how did our English Bible come to us?", "Where does archaeology reveal Bible accuracy?", and "What about those supposed errors and contradictions?"


My Review:
Nothing But the Truth examines how the Bible came to be and various ways we can know the Bible is accurate. This book was written in an easy-to-follow style and is well-researched. It provided in-depth answers on the various topics without getting exhaustive with the amount of information presented. If you're curious about these aspects of the Bible or want to learn how to respond to critics of the Bible, this would be a good book to read. I'd recommend it to every Christian. However, there are thinner books--like "More Than a Carpenter"--for those only wanting an introduction to the topic.


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.

Mad Mary by Liz Curtis Higgs

Mad Mary by Liz Curtis Higgs ISBN-13: 9781578565436 Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: WaterBrook Press Released: May 18, 2004

Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Discover the Gospel truth about the most myth-understood woman of the New Testament. Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? An adulteress? The wife of Jesus? An ancient goddess? Liz Curtis Higgs combines heartfelt contemporary fiction with extensive biblical research to bring to life the real Mary Magdalene of the Bible.


My Review:
Mad Mary started with a modernized Biblical fiction story and ended with a study on the historical Mary Magdalene. I believe the fictional part has now also been published separately as a novella, "Mercy Like Sunlight." The author took the biblical story of Mary Magdalene and set it in the modern world to help readers better understand what her life might have been like. I liked her modernized biblical stories in her "Bad Girls" books, and I liked this one, too.

The second half of the book looked at what we really do know about Mary Magdalene based on the Bible's account rather than myths. I already realized that people tended to lump a bunch of Marys into one when they were actually different people, but it was interesting to learn how that happened. I was a bit disappointed that the quotes were mainly from other books about Mary and commentaries; I would have liked to know where some of the cultural information originally came from, but that information wasn't given. The study on what we can learn from her life made some good points.

I liked this book and appreciate what it was trying to do, but I think I was more emotionally touched by her two "Bad Girls" books.


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.

Ex-Muslim by Naeem Fazal

Ex-Muslim by Naeem Fazal ISBN-13: 9781400206070 Trade Paperback: 237 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers Released: June 10, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Moving from Kuwait to Charleston, South Carolina, had been an adventure. Surrendering his life to Jesus Christ was actual treason. In this riveting memoir, Fazal describes how God used extraordinary means to bring a young, underachieving, Muslim immigrant through Desert Storm, across the oceans, into college, and ultimately to pastor a Christian church in North Carolina.

No character flaw, no distance, no cultural chasm is too great for Jesus to reach across. Fazal is candid about his shortcomings, practical about the challenges of cross-cultural engagement, and ultimately inspiring that God is capable of far more than we have grown to expect.


My Review:
Ex-Muslim is a memoir of a Muslim who moved from Kuwait to America, became a Christian, and later became a pastor of a Christian church. His actual conversion story is only a very brief part of the story. Most of the story was about what God has been doing in his life and family's life before and after that event.

This book is not an attempt to argue theology--his conversion was based on a supernatural experience, and the other conversions in the book were also clearly God's doing. It's about how God can bring the most unexpected people to follow him and use anybody who is willing to be used for his purposes. If you're looking for affirmation that God can use you, too, or if you like books about God at work in people's lives, then you'll probably enjoy this 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.

Rescue the Captors 2 by Russell Stendal

Rescue the Captors 2 by Russell Stendal ISBN-13: 9780931221613 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Ransom Press International Released: January 2008

Source: Gift from a friend.

Book Description, Modified from Amazon:
Rescue the Captors 2 follows on the heels of Russell’s first book, Rescue the Captors, which was written to his captors while they held him hostage for five months in the jungle of Columbia. How could one show love to angry guerrillas holding him hostage, threatening his life, and demanding ridiculous sums of money? Russell did just that as God showed him that he was actually no better than those thugs. He needed to offer them the same hope that Christ gave him.

Showing love during a hostile hostage situation threw open doors of ministry to rebel Colombian guerrillas and paramilitary. Russell’s missionary work persuaded some of these opposing forces to reconcile their differences, forgive one another, and resolve to let past differences go - resulting in one group even providing material relief to their long-time enemies!


My Review:
Rescue the Captors 2 is about Stendal's missionary work in Colombia from 1986 to 2006. This is the second book in a series. It probably would have been even more meaningful if I'd been able to read the first "Rescue the Captors," but I could understand what was going on even without reading that book first.

It's written in an event-based journal style--this happened and then this happened, etc. We don't get a "you were there" view of the events with emotions (fear, delight, etc.) described. This style did help keep the focus on what God was doing rather than making it about the author.

This book described the conditions for Christians (and others) in Colombia during this time period and how God was working through his people to reach out to those involved in the violence, including some of Russell Stendal former kidnappers. The final chapters were a short sermon. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in what God's doing in Colombia.


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.

NIV Integrated Study Bible by John R. Kohlenberger

NIV Integrated Study Bible by John R. Kohlenberger ISBN-13: 9780310411031 Hardcover: 1408 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: August 22, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers.

Book Description, Modified from BookLook:
The NIV Integrated Study Bible shows the Bible unfolding in a new way as the landmark events are set in parallel. It’s more than just a chronological Bible—not only are passages of Scripture arranged in their sequential order, but so also are individual events. And multiple interpretations allow for deeper revelations. For instance, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John’s telling of Jesus feeding the 5,000—presented in four columns right next to each other—take on a new life. David’s story about hiding from Saul in the wilderness is paired with the relevant psalms.

Features include:
*The entire text of the NIV translation with the order of events arranged chronologically
*General and sectional (e.g., Pentateuch, History, Prophets, Gospels) introductions on chronology and dating, including comparative charts of major systems and schemes
*Brief commentary in the form of transitions to help navigate the chronology


My Review:
NIV Integrated Study Bible is a NIV Bible (newest translation) presented chronologically with some timelines and section introductions. Different records of the same event or genealogy are shown side-by-side so that you can easily compare the accounts to get a fuller understanding. Similar events are also often put in with the same-event accounts, which can be confusing. Similar events are indicated with a gray rather than black column heading, but the difference in headings is not noticeable unless you are paying close attention.

This Bible presents some events as the same event which are, in my opinion, different events, but they did a much better job with this than I expected. (People have a tendency to assume similar sermons must actually be the same sermon, but traveling speakers frequently use similar stories and sermons since they have a "fresh" audience who hasn't heard them before. And it's not surprising that some similar events happened.)

Since it is a chronological Bible, this Bible isn't useful for "everyone turn to Luke chapter..." circumstances, but it is great for straight-through daily reading. If you need to look up the location of a specific verse, you can use an index in the back.

For those who care: In the New Testament, John is used as the "backbone" that events in the other gospels are aligned with. As in, it's the gospel that has the most verses in the order we're used to. Mark is the second "most in order" book. No dates were given for events before Abraham. I appreciated that the author acknowledged that there is debate about various dates as most Bibles (and ancient history textbooks) will give you a date like it's undisputed fact. (Ancients didn't date things the same way we do, which opens things up to debate.) This Bible used more conservative dates and mainly compared its dates with liberal ones.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who want a daily reading Bible that makes it easy to compare similar passages and align events chronologically.


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.

Know the Heretics by Justin Holcomb

Know the Heretics by Justin Holcomb ISBN-13: 9780310515074 Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: April 29, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Many believers have little to no familiarity with orthodox doctrine or the historic distortions of it. Know the Heretics provides an accessible “travel guide” to the most significant heresies throughout Christian history and the orthodox arguments against them.

As a part of the KNOW series, this book is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to more deeply understand the foundations of the faith.


My Review:
Know the Heretics is a summary of the historical discussions about what Christians believe. This short book effectively communicates the information. A layman--even a teenager--can understand the issues being discussed and why they were and are important. The author did an excellent job at defining theological words and explaining complex theological issues in an understandable way. I think this would be a great study for high school- or college-age church groups.

The author didn't cover every heresy, but he picked important ones--some of which are still around in slightly different forms. He explained the historical and personal background of the founder of the heresy, what was being taught, the orthodox arguments against those teachings, and why this is relevant to us today. He also included discussion questions.

The heresies where mainly chosen from early church history. This book covered some of the same ground as Know the Creeds and Councils, but this book focused on the theological arguments while that book focused on the creeds developed in response to these heresies.

I'd recommend this book to those interested in knowing more about why Christians have historically believed certain core doctrines, especially those people intimidated by "theology" or "doctrine" books.


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.

Women at the Cross by Linda Lesniewski

Women at the Cross by Linda Lesniewski ISBN-13: 9781441235770 ebook: 160 pages Publisher: Revell Released: February 1, 2008

Source: A free ebook promotional offer.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Who were the women present at Christ's crucifixion? Why did they come, and why did they stay? What did they see? What did they hear? How do their actions speak to people today? In searching for answers to these and other questions, author Linda Lesniewski discovered that she shared a spiritual kinship with the women who stood there as well as those who have been changed by the cross throughout the years.

Women who read this book will realize a greater appreciation for his sacrifice. Perfect for small groups or personal study, Women at the Cross brings alive the devotion, loyalty, and servanthood of the women who came, who stayed, and who continue to come even today.


My Review:
Women at the Cross is a devotional or Bible study type book for women. It started with the women who are named as those with Jesus at the cross and resurrection. The author explained what we know about them and gave some cultural and daily life information about women at that time. She then used Scripture and cultural background information to write a "filled out" description of Jesus' death and resurrection.

The second part of the book gave brief biographies of some notable Christian women through the ages who have lived and died to spread the Good News. These biographies were so brief that I'm not sure how much impact they have. I've read more detailed biographies on many of these women, and maybe the intent was to interest the readers in learning more. The last part was about how modern women have and can respond to Christ's death and resurrection.

I've read a lot of Bible culture and reference books, so I didn't learn anything new from this short ebook. However, if you're not familiar with this type of information and would like a brief "Christian women's history," this is a good presentation of it.


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.

Know the Creeds and Councils by Justin Holcomb

Know the Creeds and Councils by Justin Holcomb ISBN-13: 9780310515098 Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: April 29, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.com.

Book Description from Back Cover:
In every generation, the Christian church must interpret and restate its bedrock beliefs, answering the challenges and concerns of the day. This accessible overview walks readers through centuries of creeds, councils, catechisms, and confessions - not with a dry focus on dates and places, but with an emphasis on the living tradition of Christian belief and why it matters for our lives today.

Know the Creeds and Councils is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to more deeply understand the foundations of the faith. Each chapter covers a key statement of faith and includes a discussion of its historical context, a simple explanation of the statement’s content and key points, reflections on contemporary and ongoing relevance, and discussion questions.


My Review:
Know the Creeds and Councils is a summary of the historical discussions around what Christians believe. This wonderful, short book very effectively communicates the information. A layman--even a teenager--can understand the issues being discussed and why they were and are important. The author did an excellent job at defining (and continuing to define) theological words and explaining complex theological issues in an understandable way. I think this would be a great study for high school- or college-age church groups.

The book description very accurately describes the book. The author moved through history, from the first known creed ("I believe...") to recent meetings that issued statements of belief. He doesn't cover every council, but he picked important ones that give an idea of the discussions going on at the time and how they were resolved. He explained the main issues being discussed, why it was an issue, what statements of belief came from the meeting, and why it's relevant to us today. He also included some discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

I'd recommend this resource to those interested in knowing more about the history behind certain doctrinal statements, especially those people intimidated by "theology" or "doctrine" books. (Note: This book doesn't cover the Scriptural basis for the various beliefs, which probably should be studied first so you know why you believe what you believe.)


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.

The Spirit of Hinduism by David Burnett

The Spirit of Hinduism by David Burnett ISBN-13: 978-0825461101 Trade Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Monarch Books Released: August 15, 2007

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description from Goodreads.com:
Hinduism is a complex faith, rooted in the Indian subcontinent and finding many forms of expression. David Burnett brings together a vast array of information concerning the history of Hinduism, the role of various deities, the nature of Hindu worship, the role of ghosts and spirits, and more. This new edition includes updated text and added Web-based resources for every chapter, along with learning objectives and topics for discussion.


My Review:
The Spirit of Hinduism is a book describing the development of different religious ideas found in Hinduism throughout its history. The author started back before recorded history and discussed the writings and developments made at different times. Since Hinduism seems to borrow religious ideas from any religion it comes into contact with, it almost seemed like it'd be easier to describe what it isn't than what it is.

I wanted to know how a Hindu lives out his faith--as in, how it effects or influences his everyday life--and how a Christian could effectively communicate what we believe to a Hindu. I don't feel like this book really helped with that. It did have some interfaith discussion questions and occasionally compared Hindu beliefs to Christian or Muslim beliefs. But generally the author tried to approach Hinduism from a non-critical viewpoint (as in, not questioning the beliefs). It was also focused more on what was taught than on how it's actually lived out.

While I probably understand Hinduism better now, I'm not sure I'm any better prepared to talk religion with a modern Hindu. This probably wasn't the ideal book for my intent as it's more about Hindu thought throughout history than modern Hindu ideas which I might actually encounter.

Update: I've read a few "what various religions believe" books now that tried to explain Hinduism. I realized that they were so simplifying the religion that they weren't much help. This book gave me a foundational understanding, and I probably just need to talk with any Hindu I come across about what variation they believe and go from there. So, in the end, I think this was a more useful book than I'd originally thought.


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.

Candle Bible Handbook by Terry Jean Day, Carol Smith

Candle Bible Handbook by Terry Jean Day, Carol Smith ISBN-13: 9781859855867 Paperback: 239 pages Publisher: Candle Books Released: March 14, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Travel through Bible history with this comprehensible exploration of the Bible, following the key narratives from Genesis to Revelation. Perfect as a child's first Bible reference, he will travel through Bible lands and times and discover how the people lived: the foods they ate, the homes they occupied, the clothes they wore, and the work they performed. There are sections of study questions throughout to further learning, as well as glossaries and FAQs to help understanding.


My Review:
Candle Bible Handbook is a Bible handbook that is suitable for children and adults. Certain events were summarized in a vague way to make it suitable for children (as in, Esther is 'entered in a contest'). The handbook did a good job of summarizing events, including how God interacted with His people.

There were many full-color photographs, maps, and drawings to illustrate important things or what an event might have looked like. There were colorful 3D "overview" illustrations of various cities, like Jerusalem at various times, Ephesus, Rome, and Athens, and of places like the Tabernacle Tent, Solomon's Temple, Herod's Temple, synagogues, and villages. I thought that the pictures were well-chosen and well-done.

For each book of the Bible, we're given an outline of what happened in which chapters, a summary of the main events in the book, information on some unusual things mention in that book, frequently asked questions about certain events (with brief answers), repeated themes in the book to look for when reading it, and several Study Questions to help bring out important points in that book. There's also a Who's Who and a glossary in the back.

The handbook focused on what is actually in the Bible rather than on speculation or controversy about that book of the Bible. I think most Christians would find this a useful, engaging handbook. I'd recommend this handbook to anyone wanting a basic Bible handbook, especially for tween- or teenagers.


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.

Arms Open Wide by Sherri Gragg

Arms Open Wide by Sherri Gragg ISBN-13: 9781400323463 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: May 6, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher though BookLook.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Sherri writes in fictional narrative form while mixing biblical history with scripture, creating a setting that transforms readers back in time and places them right in Jesus’ presence. For thirty-five days readers walk with the Savior to witness miraculous healings and events, and give fresh insight into His power by thinking and feeling with people whose lives became instantly transformed by His love and grace.

Readers journey with Jesus and His disciples in the most important time in history. Hearts will be stirred and lives will be changed as readers draw near and walk with the Savior as never before.


My Review:
Arms Open Wide is a 35-day devotional that truly has you spending time with Jesus. Each devotional started with a quote from the Old Testament related to or which is fulfilled in the gossip passage. The author then took an event from the gospels and filled in cultural background and fictional elements to create a narrative. You're directed to read the Bible account and then a fictional recounting of the event as seen through the eyes of a person whose life was transformed by an encounter with Jesus. The author invites you to be transformed along with them, offering a heart-felt prayer that relates to how the "viewpoint character" was changed.

I liked that the author focused on Jesus and that she stayed true to the Biblical accounts. And it's a unique and enjoyable way to learn Bible background information that provides further insights into a passage. I'd recommend this excellent devotional.


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.

Healing the Wounds of Trauma by Margaret Hill

Healing the Wounds of Trauma by Margaret Hill, Harriet Hill, Richard Bagge, Pat Miersma ISBN-13: 9781937628147 Trade Paperback: 116 pages Publisher: American Bible Society Released: 2013

Source: Bought through Amazon.

Book Description, Modified from Amazon:
This book offers a practical approach to engaging the Bible and mental health principles to find Gods healing for wounds of the heart. This provides a strong foundation for restored lives and relationships. It is a resource for leaders in churches and NGOs who care for people who have suffered horrific events like war, civil unrest, ethnic conflict, rape, and natural disasters. It will also help individuals struggling with suffering.

It provides core mental health principles within a biblical framework, an approach that has been field tested since 2001 with leaders from Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and independent churches. It has been adapted into more than 150 languages and cultures around the world. It is designed for use in groups and written in simple and non-technical language. Each lesson begins with a story depicting its topic, followed by discussion questions and participatory exercises. The book includes 270 Bible references from 217 passages. This is the core book of the Trauma Healing Institute at American Bible Society.


My Review:
Healing the Wounds of Trauma is about healing from trauma using Scripture. It's designed to be used in a group setting, either in a large group that periodically breaks into smaller groups or in a small group. It can also be read by pastors to prepare them for what to do or say when confronted with someone dealing with trauma.

Each lesson started with a story about someone in Bingola who experienced trauma. The book then guided discussion about similar situations and used the Bible to find answers. This resource is designed to be used all over the world, so they encourage people to read the verses in the native language either from Bibles or booklets with the verses in the native language. The lessons included skits, group discussions, and symbolic activities.

The book had several lessons, but some lessons may not be relevant to the trauma experienced by that community and so won't be used. The topics covered were: why is there suffering, how can our wounded hearts heal, the stages of grief, helping traumatized children, helping victims of rape, dealing with people who have HIV/AIDS, helping caregivers, take your pain to the cross, how can we forgive others, and living as Christians in the midst of conflict.

The lessons stay very focused by using a few, well-chosen verses to make their point rather than doing an extensive Bible study. All of the lessons are intended to be covered in one or two days. Most of that time will probably be spent in discussion, applying the lesson to their specific circumstances. I can see that this would be a good resource to help people in areas of conflict or who suffered from natural disasters. It can also apply to individual-level (rather than community-wide) trauma. I'd recommend this resource to those who minister in these situations.


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.

Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus by Charles H. Dyer

Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus by Charles H. Dyer ISBN-13: 9780802402844 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Moody Publishers Released: March 21, 2012

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Take a spiritual journey through the Holy Word and the Holy Land guided by renowned expert and author Dr. Charles Dyer. Complemented by vivid, full-color photography, each day draws new insight and inspiration from the ancient sites that framed the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Your understanding of the person, work, and words of Jesus Christ takes on an added dimension with this day by day exploration of the world in which He walked.


My Review:
Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus is a 30-day devotional on the life of Christ that explores the land and the culture. The author often described each day's "stop" on our "tour of the Holy Land" in such vivid detail so that I felt like I could see the setting of each event. He followed the events in the life of Christ from birth to after the resurrection. He gave insights into how the geography surrounding the event can deepen our understanding of that event. Though he sometimes mentioned the different ideas people have about an event, he kept his focus on what we do know rather than getting sidetracked in speculation or debate.

There were nice, full-color pictures of the different places and of things like a manger when discussing Jesus' birth. I've been to the Holy Land and read many Bible background books, but I still enjoyed this devotional and learned some new things. Overall, I'd highly recommend this devotional.


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.

When Helping Hurts by Corbett & Fikkert

When Helping Hurts, Expanded Edition by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert ISBN-13: 9780802457066 Trade Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Moody Publishers Released: 2009; April 20, 2012

Source: Borrowed a friend's copy.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Churches and individual Christians typically have faulty assumptions about the causes of poverty, resulting in the use of strategies that do considerable harm to poor people and themselves. This book is a must read to help create an effective and holistic ministry to the poor.

The book covers essential steps like assessing a situation to see if relief, rehabilitation, or development is the best response to a situation. The authors explain the advantages of an "asset based" approach rather than a "needs based" approach. Short term mission efforts are addressed and economic development strategies appropriate for North American and international contexts are presented, including microenterprise development.

Questions at the beginning and end of each chapter assist in applying the material. This expanded version includes a new chapter to further explain how to apply the book's principles to your situation.


My Review:
When Helping Hurts explores how current methods of helping the poor might do more harm than good to everyone involved. They also explore methods that can be more helpful long-term.

The authors believe the Bible's explanation of what's wrong with this world. They recognize and explain how a person's worldview can be a part of what is keeping them in poverty, so it's essential to teach a correct worldview based on the Bible for lasting change. (For example, if you worship rats and therefore won't stop them from eating your stored grain, then teaching you ways to grow more grain won't really help.)

I came to some of their same conclusions long ago. They explain how poverty is not solely a lack of possessions or money, though that is a result of the problem. You need to take the time to understand the culture and the situation rather than assuming you know what they need. It's about listening--about relationships and mindsets. It's not something you can fix with a handful of money and a few hours of your time.

They talk about the problems with current methods of poverty alleviation and how other approaches work better. They explain how to apply these principles in various situations, though they give the most detail in their American poor outreach examples. They talk about what we've done wrong--the authors, too--but how not getting things perfect shouldn't stop us from trying. They do talk about the problems with short-term mission trips and similar methods, but they also explain how these methods might be modified to create more positive, long-term impact for everyone involved.

Overall, I'd recommend that everyone read this book just so that they can get be exposed to other ways of thinking. I'd especially recommend it to those involved with missions and outreaches who are open to trying new approaches or to considering that there might be better ways to help the poor.


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.

Veil of Tears movie (+free simulcast dates)

Veil of Tears Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Director/Producer: Kenny & Kyle Saylors Release Date: March 28, 2014

Source: Free Viewing for promotion purposes from Gospel for Asia.

Movie Description:
This gripping new documentary film tells the untold story of millions of women in India who are culturally persecuted for no other reason than the fact that they are women. From birth until death, their life is a vicious cycle of poverty and oppression, from the mass epidemic of female suicides, dowry deaths, forced abortion to the high rate of illiteracy among the women and even how more than 46 MILLION widows are being cast aside and ostracized by society simply because their husband died.

But there is hope. Christian women are sharing the Gospel across the entire nation of India, and it's bringing cultural change where government laws could not. Hear the stories of these oppressed women and get a glimpse of how the love of Jesus is restoring hope and dignity to a generation of broken women and rebuilding shattered lives.

Narrated by Natalie Grant, Directed & Produced by Kenny & Kyle Saylors (Kimjongilia, The Gamebreaker, My Finish Line), this film was shot on-location across the stunning nation of India, in some of the most remote tribal villages in the world today. This is more than just a film, it is a journey into a world where few outsiders have gone before.


My Review:
Veil of Tears is a documentary on the conditions that women in India still face, especially in more remote areas. But it's also about how the gospel message is transforming lives and communities to give hope, healing, and worth to these women.

The first half of the movie went all over India, from cities to remote villages, to expose how women in India still face persecution even though laws have been enacted to protect them. Women tell their story or the story of friends who have faced this cultural oppression.

The second half of the movie covers the hope that these women have found as Christian missionaries and pastors have impacted the culture through the teachings of the Bible and through showing Christ's love. It's encouraging to see how God is at work in India and that lives are being transformed. This isn't just a movie about social injustice. It's about how the message of Christ can transform a culture.

I'd encourage you to see for yourself how God is moving to transform a culture. Sign up for your free simulcast at Lifeway for anytime on March 26-30, 2014. You can show it to your women's group, missions group, church, or even just your family or yourself. This film will also be shown in some movie theaters and will later be available on DVD.


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


Trailer: Watch the Movie Trailer.
Behind the Scenes: Watch a behind-the-scene video.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi ISBN-13: 9780310515029 Trade Paperback: 296 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: February 11, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher received through BookLook.com.

Book Description, Modified from Booklook Resources:
Many Westerners are confused about Islam, somewhat fearful of Muslims, or simply uninformed about the relationship between the Islamic and Christian faiths. In turn, many Muslims are hindered by cultural, intellectual, and theological barriers from understanding, or even rightly hearing, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, former devout Muslim Nabeel Qureshi describes his dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity, complete with the friendships, investigations, and dreams and visions he encountered along the way.

Due to his desire to convert others to Islam and a deep friendship with a knowledgeable Christian, Qureshi examined the claims of Christianity and then of Islam. This engaging book portrays Qureshi's boyhood in a loving, devout family, his investigations as an adult, his doubts, and a heart-breaking choice that ultimately has led to joy and peace.


My Review:
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is an autobiography about a Muslim who converted to Christianity. While telling his story, he explains his culture/mindset, what events led to his investigations of Christianity and Islam, and what he discovered about Christianity and Islam.

Muslims and Christians can learn from this book about what the other actually believes and why. I liked how we get to see these beliefs in context--being lived out by a person and his community--rather than as disconnected facts. It made his beliefs and reactions much more understandable. His story also helped me to understand how an honor-shame culture works, which has previously been difficult for this guilt-innocence culture gal to grasp.

The author did an excellent job with engaging me with his story and drawing me into his struggle and journey. I also found this book very informative. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the claims of Islam and Christianity.


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.

The Road to Reality by K.P. Yohannan

The Road to Reality, Revised Edition by K.P. Yohannan ISBN-13: 9781595891136 Trade Paperback: 213 pages Publisher: GFA Books Released: 1988; January 1, 2012

Source: Free copy that I picked up at an event. This title is also a free download on the Gospel for Asia website.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Escape from the Santa-Claus-mentality of American Christianity and find true freedom as devoted servants of the Lord Jesus. This book will point you to back to authentic New Testament Christianity and help you take your first steps toward living with simplicity and purpose.


My Review:
The Road to Reality is a Christian Living book. The book was targeted at American Christians, especially those who believe that God's main goal is to provide us with wealth to spend primarily on our own pleasures. In general, he had good points about what Jesus actually called His followers to live out in terms of sacrificing to reach the lost. Since the author's life is devoted to evangelism, his main focus was on sacrifice to further evangelism.

I've been "living with simplicity and purpose" for years. Obviously, I agree with his call to spend more of the wealth that God has blessed Americans with to help spread the life-giving gospel to those who have never heard of Jesus. But perhaps because I already agree with the message, I noticed some other things about the book.

Having read several of K.P. Yohannan's books, I've noticed that he can come across as judgmental (which pushes a guilt-based motivation) rather than inspirational (in the sense of "wow, that is a better way to live!"). I'm left wondering if anyone not already inclined to agree with him would be convinced and permanently change their way of life.

Also, the author grew up in India and that influences his point of view. Sometimes he comes across as saying "Indian Christians do things this way, I can find support for this in the Bible, American Christians don't do this, so you Americans need to surrender to God and meet my expectations." Since Americans also tend to do this to other cultures, I'm not bothered by that, but the author apparently didn't examine the differences in the cultures to see the causes behind the differences. He simply calls on people to change their ways. I think the problem isn't solely that we've been told to desire and depend wealth, as he assumes, but that our deep-down trust that God exists and will take care of us has been undermined. Unless we have confidence in God's care for us (and everyone in this world), we'll place our sense of security in money and prioritize our current comfort over reaching the world with the good news.

All that said, the book was good overall, and you can read it for free as a ebook downloaded from the GFA website.


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.

One Year Bible for Children by V. Gilbert Beers

One Year Bible for Children by V. Gilbert Beers ISBN-13: 9780842373555 Hardcover: 420 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Released: 2001

Source: Bought from Christianbook.com.

Book Description from Goodreads:
This new devotional in The One Year line for families with children ages 5-8 combines beautiful four-color illustrations with skilled writing from best-selling author Gil Beers. Every day's reading features a three-part discussion section: "Remember" (to recall factual information); "Discover" (to learn a lesson that relates to today); and "Apply" (to apply to the child's own situation).


My Review:
One Year Bible for Children is an illustrated Bible for young children (ages 5-8). It's designed to be read to the child and perhaps later read by the child.

The daily readings are about 1 page long and each has a date (January 1, etc.) for when it's to be read. I'd suggest starting at "January 1st" even if that's not when you start reading the book. The selections follow the narrative portions of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation with excerpts from the Psalms and some of the New Testament letters. Not all of the narrative in the Bible is covered, but it does cover more than I've generally seen in children's Bibles and it comes across as an ongoing story rather than stories taken out of context.

The text is a simplified vocabulary version of the actual Bible. You couldn't use this to look up specific verses, but I'd feel comfortable using this as a "real Bible reading" for young children. The commentary is kept out of the main text except when used to explain an event that might confuse children.

At the bottom of each reading, there are questions to see if the child has been paying attention and comments about what we learn from the passage. I like that these comments usually pointed out what we learned about God rather than using the story solely as a moral lesson. Also included is a prompt to think of ways to apply what we learned from the reading.

The full-color illustrations look like the cover and accurately portray the time period (except for the scarcity of brown- or black-skinned people). There is an illustration every two or three pages. Not every daily reading has a picture, but there are plenty of pictures.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this Bible as a read-to-them children's Bible.


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.