frameworks by Eric Larson

frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament by Eric Larson ISBN-13: 978-0615633121 Paperback: 372 pages Publisher: Frameworks Resources LLC Released: June 23, 2012

Source: Review copy through a publicist.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
frameworks is a Survey of the New Testament that combines entertaining stories, full-color pictures, and simple illustrations (maps, charts) to guide you through the New Testament. Using lots of white space, this book will help you become more familiar with the New Testament through an overview of its books.


My Review:
frameworks is a New Testament survey intended for use by new Christians who want an overview of what the New Testament contains. Overall, it achieves that goal, though it's a bit expensive ($27) for what you're likely to get out of it.

For example, you do get line-maps with arrows pointing where a person traveled, but those travels often backtracked and overlapped. All I could really make out from most of the maps was the general area the traveling occurred in unless it was described in detail in the nearby text. So you get maps, but you don't necessarily get much from the maps.

The tone of the book was casual and geared toward getting laughs. This included re-written or made up New Testament scenes where the people used modern slang and were described in ways that invited a laugh.

The book started with an overview of Jesus' life (a birth-to-death summary) and brief descriptions of who wrote the New Testament books, when they were written, why they were chosen, and why they're in the order they're currently in. The dates used for Jesus' life were those pretty typically given (3.5 years for his ministry, birth in 4 BC, and death in 30 AD). The dates for the writing of the various books of the New Testament were presented on two different, nice charts and ranged from 50 to 95 AD.

Next, each book of the New Testament was described with about 8 pages worth of text. The first page of text was the Intro which intended to give a memorable metaphor for what that New Testament book is like. We're given the history of things like the first magnetic compass, how the word "restaurant" first came about, and so on with a short explanation of how this is a good metaphor for that New Testament book. Unfortunately, I quickly lost track of which "intro metaphor" went with which book since the connections seemed slight at best. By starting with an unrelated history lesson, it was actually more difficult for me to remember the Bible-related information that followed.

The next page of text was for Theme. We're told who wrote the book, when, where, who it was intended for, and the one verse that best summarized the theme of the whole book in the author's opinion. The next page or so of text was about why the book or letter was written--more on who wrote the book, to whom, and why.

The next page was mostly two charts providing an "outline" for that book. One chart was of the main focus (as the author sees it) of each group of chapters. The second chart illustrated how many pages were spent on each main focus. The next page was a list of verses from that book, usually relating to its theme verse.

The next page gave some things to look for when reading that book. The next page had a picture and a list of some "did you know" things about that book. The next page gave a quick recap and how long it takes to read that book at a casual pace. He also suggested three study/discussion questions referring mainly to the information just learned. The last page contained a picture, a Bible verse, an a mini-sermon based on that verse.

Occasionally, there was some wording used that could easily be misunderstood by those not familiar with the New Testament, especially regarding the Jews and the Old Testament law. The author referred to the Old Testament Laws as now being valueless and to Jewish believers as having a "former religion" and needing to "abandon their old religious practices."

Yet the New Testament is all about the coming of the Jewish Messiah who fulfilled the Old Testament Laws and even raised the standard on them (not just don't murder but don't even get angry!). The New Testament speaks against man-made legalism and of the debate about did Gentile need to become Jews before they could claim the Jewish Messiah, but it never says that Jews had to stop being Jews.

The author also stated that the "Jewish religion was born" when the Law was given to Moses, which isn't true. That certainly added a lot of specifics to their existing religion, but their beliefs about God didn't start at that moment. So either I don't share the author's theology on a few points, or I could wish that he had been a little bit more careful in his wording in a few places.


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.

Deeper into the Word: Old Testament by Keri Wyatt Kent

Deeper into the Word: Old Testament by Keri Wyatt Kent ISBN-13: 9780764208430 Trade Paperback: 250 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: December 1, 2011

Source: Bought through Books-A-Million.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Translators have done their best to render the words of the Bible into English, but capturing the nuances of the ancient languages can be difficult. In this devotional, Keri gives readers an opportunity to investigate 100 English words used in the Old Testament to discover which Hebrew words can be translated that way and the full nuances behind their meaning.


My Review:
Deeper into the Word: Old Testament digs deeper into the meaning of some Hebrew words used in the Old Testament. I've done a lot of word studies on Hebrew words, and it's possible that's why I wasn't as impressed with this book as I was with Deeper into the Word: New Testament. However, my impression was that this book contained less information that gave insight to the text--insight that would make me think, "oh, now I understand that teaching so much better!"

The book listed 100 common English words found in the Old Testament and listed them alphabetically. Under each English word, the author explained which Hebrews words could be translated as that English word. She explained the nuances of each word and then gave examples of where it's used in Scripture.

Usually the word in question was indicated by putting the Hebrew word beside it: for example, "...fertile field (karmel)..." But other times it wasn't indicated, and it wasn't always obvious which word was being pointed out. And some of the information was in error. For example, on page 147, we're given "God (Shaddai) Almighty (el)" in a quote, but it ought to read "...God (el) Almighty (Shaddai)..."

I was surprised by the amount of modern commentary and human speculation that was included. The entry on Sheol, for example, seemed heavily influenced by sources outside the Bible. The author didn't mention that Sheol is clearly described in the Bible as a place where people can't hope or praise (Isa 38:17, 18) and have no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom (Ecc. 9:10). She did point out that Sheol usually refers to "death" or "the grave," yet she suggested that Sheol was a limbo-like place where people can go even while alive and where people are physically weak. Looking at the verses she referred to in full context, in several different translations, and with a few key Hebrew words studied further, the main verses she used appear to simply point out that God killed some disobedient people by burying them alive (Numbers 16) and that every person, no matter how mighty in life, is equally powerless in death (Isaiah 14). Since I ended up double-checking several entries, I decided the book wasn't much use to me as a reference tool.


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 Power of Knowing God by Kay Arthur

The Power of Knowing God by Kay Arthur ISBN-13: 978-0307729835 Trade Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Waterbrook Press Released: July 10, 2012

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Back Cover:
You may know about God, but do you truly know what He says about Himself--and what He wants from you?

This eye-opening study will help you gain a true understanding of God's character and His ways. As you discover for yourself who He is, you'll be drawn into a deeper, more personal relationship with the God of the universe--a relationship that will enable you to confidently display His strength in life's most challenging circumstances.


"It makes such a difference when you allow God to speak for Himself, when you listen to His Word directly rather than to the opinions of others. It helps to know what God says so you can measure what man says against the plumbline of His Word."


My Review:
The Power of Knowing God is a no homework, 6-week-long Bible study. It's designed for small groups to do together once a week in a 40 minute period. The Bible study let Scripture speak for itself and was careful to keep the studied verses in context. It examined what God said about Himself in the Bible in both the Old and New Testament.

The study had people read several verses (which were included in the book along with information about the context of the verses), mark/highlight certain words, then answer several questions about what was just read. Insight boxes were included with word study information that helped make a verse or point more understandable.

The questions were helpful in focusing attention on all the points that needed to be looked at. In case you missed a point, the "wrap up" section at the end of each week's lesson summarized what was learned that week.

I enjoyed this study and thought it was well-written and made good points. I'd recommend this Bible study to all Christians. It's a good reminder if you already know it, but it'll really strengthen your walk with God if you didn't know 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.

Dreams and Visions by Tom Doyle

Dreams and Visions by Tom Doyle with Greg Webster ISBN-13: 9780849947209 Trade Paperback: 286 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: September 4, 2012

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Booksneeze.

Book Description from Booksneeze:
Jesus appears to be revealing Himself to Muslims through powerful dreams and visions throughout the Islamic world today, and the results are dramatic.

Eleven years ago, Pastor Tom Doyle felt God calling him to leave the pastorate and become a full-time missionary in the Middle East and Central Asia. Through his extensive work in the region, which includes over 80 trips to places like Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey, Tom has met and recorded the stories of former Muslims who were first introduced to Jesus through either a dream or a vision that powerfully opened their hearts to become followers of Christ. Though they live in the most dangerous places in the world for people who leave Islam and embrace Christ, their passion for the Savior is contagious and inspirational.

These are never-before-told stories from the front lines of the world of Islam. Through these unexplained supernatural occurrences, more Muslims have become believers in the last ten years than in the last 15 centuries of Islam.

• Why would God use dreams to reach the Muslim world?
• Can dreams and visions be trusted?
• What happens after these people experience a dream or vision?

In Dreams and Visions, Tom Doyle takes the reader deep into the heart of the Middle East to meet believers who have been directly touched by the very hand of God.


My Review:
Dreams and Visions contains confirmed, first-hand accounts of Muslims who have dreamed about or had visions of Jesus. These dreams motivated them to seek out Christians and ask questions about Jesus and for a Bible to read. Christians have been able to use these visions as a way to lead Muslims to Christ. It was exciting to read about how God is powerfully working in the Middle East!

Do I believe God can send dreams and visions? Of course. There are examples of this in the Old and New Testaments, so I see no reason why God would stop doing so. I've read countless first-hand accounts from missionaries from all over the world throughout history where a vision of Christ prepared the people to accept the missionary's message.

For those who might find this a new idea, though, rest assured: No one in the book claimed that the dreams themselves caused a conversion, only that it opened the way for Muslims to start asking questions that they otherwise wouldn't have. The Christians were also careful to tell the dreamers to test what the Jesus in the dreams said against the Bible to make sure the dreams were truly from God.

The book also contained a lot of information about what it's like to be a Christian or to convert to Christianity in the various countries mentioned. The last section was about what Americans can do to reach out to their Muslim neighbors.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how God is at work and how to reach out to Muslims.


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.

Big Book of History

Big Book of History by Laura Welch ISBN-13: 9780890516232 Hardcover containing fold-out chart Publisher: Master Books Released: October 2011

Source: Borrowed from my father.

Book Description from Publisher's Website:
Families, schools, and churches can unfold 15 feet of the most interesting history of the world. This easy to follow, color-coded, multi-stream timeline teaches six thousand years of world history to children ages seven through thirteen. These exciting facts and so much more wait inside:

• who were the first emperors of China and Rome 
• what discovery unlocked the secrets of a forgotten language 
• how modern robotics had its roots in the tea dolls of Japan 
• where Christians faced death for the entertainment of thousands 
• why the languages of Greek and Hebrew were used to write the Bible and 
• how the Age of Discovery meant wealth some, and the destruction of civilization for others.

Understanding how the past has shaped our future will inspire young learners to make history for themselves!


My Review:
Big Book of History is a timeline of earth's history that measures 14 inches tall and 15 feet long. It's folded up inside a hard cover book to protect the chart, but it can also be looked at inside the cover a "page" at a time. It covers history from 4004 B.C. for Creation to 2010 A.D.

The timeline covered significant Biblical events, world events, inventions, and beginnings of civilizations and empires. The date for each event is easy to spot, and the timeline is easy to follow. The events selected are important and interesting ones. The pictures and sidebox comments about timeline events were colorful and engaging.

The timeline seemed to use 3 or 4 different sources for the dates, though, including secular dates. This led to a few odd and incorrect entries. For example, we're told that the Great Pyramid was finished around 2500 B.C., and the Great Flood is listed after that at 2347 B.C. and the founding of Egypt is given after that in 2188 B.C. So we have the Great Pyramid built before Egypt. We have Solomon made king in 1015 B.C., the Divided Kingdom (which happened after Solomon died) as 975 B.C., and Solomon building the temple after that, in 957 B.C. The temple was actually started in the 4th year of Solomon's reign, not after he died and the kingdom divided. We have Jesus born in 4 or 5 B.C., his baptism in 26 A.D., the temptation that happened immediately afterward as happening in 27 A.D., and both John the Baptist and Jesus dying in 33 A.D. This is much longer than the usually quoted 3.5 years from baptism to crucifixion.

It's too bad that the obvious errors weren't caught and corrected as otherwise this would be an excellent timeline.


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.

No Longer a Slumdog by K.P. Yohannan

No Longer a Slumdog by K.P. Yohannan Trade Paperback: 174 pages Publisher: Gospel for Asia Books Released: 2011 Order Free Copy

Source: Ad offering free copy.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Those with no voice—the suffering children of Asia—tell their stories. And as you listen to them, you share their anguish and rejoice in their triumphs. The whole world seems to stop as you look on.

"You girls stay here. I'm going to get something to drink." But after a few minutes, the train started moving again, and Mom still wasn't back! Our hearts were racing. The train kept going faster and faster. Where was Mom?

Hope is growing in the hearts of those who never knew such a thing existed. In this truly gripping narrative, K.P. Yohannan shares their stories—stories of lives transformed, of families learning to love, of entire communities flourishing with new life. Witness as this next great wave of transformation sweeps the nations.

A new day is dawning in some of the darkest corners of the world.


My Review:
No Longer a Slumdog is a book about how God touched the author's heart for the Untouchables of India which lead to opening Bridge of Hope schools for these forgotten and often abused children. He tells their stories and gave surprising facts and statistics about the Indian culture. I had no idea that there were so many Untouchables.

I've read some autobiographies about Untouchables and about human trafficking in India, so I was familiar with much of the information, but it's clear that this author has a passion for helping them. His writing was very clear and touching. Best of all, he gave ways that people can get involved to help these children--though it's mainly through prayer and by supporting Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope centers. It sounds like God is really working through these people to really make a difference. Also, all the money sent to sponsor a child actually goes directly to support that child, which is nice.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, and I've started sponsoring three precious girls so they can attend the Bridge of Hope centers. You can learn more at the Gospel for Asia website or by watching the videos below. Also, you can see what Francis Chan (author and pastor) had to say about this organization after having people check them out.


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.


Related Videos:

As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur

As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur ISBN: 1-57856-004-7 Hardcover: 276 pages Publisher: Waterbrook Released: 1997

Source: Borrowed from my church library.

Book Description from Back Cover:
How do you respond when your husband or wife tramples your emotions? When your boss fires you unexpectedly? When you lose your life’s savings? When the child you’ve loved and prayed for turns his back on you and your values?

When disappointments like these smash their way into your life, you may want to scream, “How could God let this happen?”

But what if God didn’t just “let it happen”? What if the things you call disappointments are really His appointments—events He is using to make you more like Christ? What if your circumstances are actually the flames of His grace, intended to melt and burn away the undesirable elements in your life, leaving you pure and radiant—like refined silver?

Life’s disappointments can send you on a dangerous downward spiral into discouragement, depression, or even despair. But in this eye-opening book, Kay Arthur guides you to biblical truths that will help you break that cycle and instead embrace disappointment as the cleansing fire God uses to make you—as silver refined—a reflection of His goodness.


My Review:
As Silver Refined is a Christian Living book about how God uses even the bad things in your life to further His purpose of making you more like Christ (if you'll let Him). I've read several books on this subject, like Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie, which I felt explained many of the same truths in fewer, more powerful words. However, different writing styles can sometimes speak to different people, so I'm always happy to see a book that points people to the Scriptures for truth and healing.

She made some good points and told some touching stories to underline her points. Overall, I'd recommend this book, though maybe not as much as some of the other books on this same topic that I've reviewed.


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 Refiner and His Fire" chapter, available in this excerpt, is worth reading if you have time.