The Mineral Book by David McQueen

The Mineral Book by David McQueen ISBN-13: 9780890518021 Paperback: 96 pages Publisher: New Leaf Released: December 19th 2014

Source: Bought.

Book Description from back of book:
The Mineral Book is a part of the best-selling Wonders of Creation Series! It has been developed for multi-level teaching, with special color-coding on three skill levels. This educational resource is filled with full-color pictures and illustrations, and can be used in the classroom, for independent study, or homeschool settings.

Created to make mineralogy accessible to beginners, students, and hobbyists as well as learn about the order and beauty of minerals shaped by the Creator and find out the properties of minerals, where they can be found, and how they are used, along with fun facts. Includes a 24-inch, full-color pull-out poster!

Minerals are a gift of God’s grace. Every day we touch them, seeing the diamond in an engagement ring or a copper chain with a cross on it. Minerals are touched on in video games like Minecraft® and Mineral ValleyTM, making them more a part of our daily experience.

Salt, one vital mineral, helps maintain the fluid in our blood cells and is used to transmit information in our nerves and muscles. Also, Jesus told his followers that we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), something thus needed for health and flavor. Here is a God-honoring book that reveals the first mention of minerals in the Bible, symbolic usages, their current values in culture and society, and their mention in heaven.


My Review:
The Mineral Book is an educational book about minerals aimed at homeschoolers. The authors write from a biblical (young earth creationist) viewpoint. The book has three levels of information for each chapter: a brief, basic introduction for young readers, a more advanced level with extended vocabulary, and an even more detailed level. The book started by talking about where we find minerals, both in the Bible and on the earth, and how we get and use minerals. The author then talked about what a mineral is, how to identify a mineral (including how to begin your own collection), mentions of minerals in the Bible, valuable minerals, and how geological creation research uses minerals to accurately date the world. There's a mineral identification guide at the end which included information like luster, specific gravity, color, hardness, streak, and crystal symmetry. There's also a periodic table of the elements and a poster. In each chapter, there were several minerals that were featured and included information like where it is found, what it is used for, fun facts, and mentions in the Bible. Overall, this is a interesting book even for adults and I think tween's and teens would really enjoy 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.

The Lands of the Bible Today by Dave Branon

The Lands of the Bible Today by Dave Branon ISBN-13: 9781640700512 Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Our Daily Bread Publishing Released: August 4th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
This visual tour of the Holy Land brings 44 places in that region up close and personal with beautiful photographs and interesting information. You'll discover the significance of these locations in the Bible and see what travelers are likely to find there today. This handy 6"x 6" book fits in a backpack and makes a great travel guide.


My Review:
The Lands of the Bible Today is a booklet which briefly covers 44 sites that are mentioned in the Bible. For each site, the author included a list of references in the Bible to the site, quotes of key passages mentioning the site, a summary of things that happened there in the Bible, directions on how to find it, a few things to see when you're visiting, and some comments about the site by someone who's been there. Also included were several nice, full-color photos showing some of the archaeological remains at the site. Many of the sites were in Israel, but a few were locations that Paul traveled to. The sites were: Beersheba, Bethany, Bethlehem, Bethsaida, Caesarea by the Sea, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Dan, Dead Sea, En Gedi, Ephesus, Garden of Gethsemane, Gath, Golgotha, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Joppa, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jesus tomb, Jezreel Valley, Jordan River, Kidron Valley, King David's palace, Korazim, Laodicea, Magdala, Megiddo, Mount of Beatitudes, Mount Carmel, Mount Ebal, Mount Hermon, Mount of Olives, Mount Tabor, Nazareth, Philippi, Pool of Siloam, Sea of Galilee, Shechem, Shiloh, Solomon's palace, Temple Mount, Thessalonica, Tiberias, and wilderness of temptation. This booklet is a nice, brief overview of the sites, but it doesn't seem like enough information to actually navigate to and around the sites without also having a guide.


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.

Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, James Adams (Narrator) Audiobook Publisher: christianaudio Released: August 2007 (first published 1866)

Source: Free audiobook.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For over one hundred years, Christians have gotten up and gone to bed with Charles Spurgeon's devotional Morning and Evening as a companion. With a reading to begin and end each day throughout the year, you will come to appreciate Spurgeon's emphasis on the importance of abiding in Christ and meditating on God's Word. His wisdom and counsel provide a timeless guide through the trials and triumphs of the year. The richness of his biblical understanding offers readers a look into the heart of one of England's foremost pastors and enduring Christian authors.

His lasting message is even more accessible with Alistair Begg's careful modernizing of Spurgeon's English. Begg, who has a deep love for Spurgeon's preaching and especially for this work, has maintained Spurgeon's clear passion and commitment to Christ. Using the English Standard Version as the scriptural text provides an accurate, understandable accompaniment to Spurgeon's lessons.


My Review:
Morning and Evening is a year-long devotional with a devotion provided for both the morning and the evening of each day. The wording has been updated so that the English is easy to understand. Each devotion started with a verse from the Bible and then had Spurgeon's comments on it or on a related topic. I found a few of the devotions to be insightful, some were interesting, and some seemed to be more of historical interest (as none of the churches I've attended have quite so literally interpreted the Song of Solomon as between the church and God). The devotions were short, so it didn't take long to read (or listen to, in this case, as it was an audiobook) each devotion.


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.

A Week In the Life of Ephesus by David A. deSilva

A Week In the Life of Ephesus by David A. deSilva ISBN-13: 9780830824854 Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: IVP Academic Released: June 9th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the city of Ephesus prepares for a religious festival in honor of the emperor Domitian, a Christian landowner feels increasing pressure from the city's leaders to participate. Can he perform his civic duties and remain faithful to his Lord? Or has the time come for a costly choice? In this historical novel, biblical scholar David deSilva brings to life such compelling struggles faced by the early Christians. Their insistence on the absolute lordship of their own singular deity brought them into conflict not only with the myriad religious cults of the day, but with all the crushing power of the empire itself.


My Review:
A Week In the Life of Ephesus is partly fiction and partly nonfiction. It read like a documentary show that's primarily made up of fictional reenactments to illustrate the points. The purpose was to educate readers (in an entertaining way) about the social and cultural background of the Christians that received Revelation so that we can better understand how it would have impacted them. A lot of educational material was worked into the story, but additional information was provided in "sidebars" (which could take up whole pages) that were placed within the story. The book included some pictures of archaeological ruins or artifacts that illustrated information in the non-fiction sidebars or events in the story.

The story followed several viewpoint characters but had two main storylines: an upper-class Christian in Ephesus was being pressured to worship the emperor and other gods in addition to the Christian God and a Christian merchant was offered an opportunity to sell goods to Rome at a large profit but at the cost of others lacking those goods. The author was trying to show the different ways various Christians in Ephesus were dealing with pressures to conform and look out for self interest over following Christ wholeheartedly. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people interested in the insights gained from cultural background information.


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.

7 Feasts by Erin Davis

7 Feasts by Erin Davis ISBN-13: 9780802419552 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Moody Publishers Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s hard to know when you read about the Feast of Booths why exactly it matters for your life. What in the world is the Feast of Trumpets supposed to be teaching you? This guide can help you understand the cultural significance and how these feasts relate to the rest of the Bible. You will discover that passages you once skimmed over are now rich and meaningful in your life today. Erin Davis will teach you: The significance of these feasts and why God wanted His people to celebrate. How each of them point to Jesus and His work in redemption. Why all of this matters for our lives today.


My Review:
7 Feasts is an eight-week Bible study. Each week had an introduction, then five days of study on one of the feasts, and a final section that asked three questions about what we learned. After a week introducing the study and how we're going to use Scripture to interpret Scripture, each week focused on one of the feasts: The Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of Firstfruits, The Feast of Weeks, The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, The Feast of Booths. The author had you read the regulations for each feast as recorded in Leviticus and then brought out related verses (mostly from the New Testament) that help the reader better understand the feast and how Jesus fulfilled the intent of feast. Since I've studied the feasts before, this information was not new for me. However, I would recommend this study for personal or group study if you've never studied this information before.


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.

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs by Bodie Hodge, Laura Welch Illustrator: Bill Looney ISBN-13: 9780890515587 Hardcover: 22 pages Publisher: Master Books Released: March 2nd 2011

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Amazon:
A fascinating presentation on dragons and their biblical connection will shed light on the truth of their existence and connection to the last living dinosaurs. Powerful, fire-breathing, fantastic beings that have left their legacy on this world and can now only be found in the pages of ancient texts.

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs is a juvenile nonfiction title enjoyable for all ages! It takes you back to the days of these amazing creatures and their presence in various cultures including Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Read of thrilling historical battles between dragons, and saints, and their ability to terrorize medieval castles. This title is case bound and beautifully presented using original illustrations, envelopes, fold-outs, gatefolds, and more! 24 pages and 11 spreads of substantial quality, unique content, and all at a great


My Review:
Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs is a collection of accounts about dragons found throughout human history and about how the descriptions of dragons often match those of dinosaurs. The target audience is ages 8 through 12 (and older, including adults). The book has pages that flip out for larger illustration, doors that can be opened to see what is behind them, envelopes that contain folded accounts of dragons, and other interactive features. The authors included recorded legends about dragons found around the world, from ancient times to more recent ones. They even quoted where dragons are mentioned in the Bible. They also explained how an evolutionary viewpoint that dinosaurs died out millions of years ago prevented some people from making the obvious connection between dinosaur bones and dragon legends. Overall, I'd recommend this book to kids interested in dragons and dinosaurs.


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.

Uncovering the Mysterious Woolly Mammoth by Michael & Beverly Oard

Uncovering the Mysterious Woolly Mammoth: Life at the End of the Great Ice Age by Michael Oard, Beverly Oard ISBN-13: 9780890515082 Hardcover: 72 pages Publisher: Master Books Released: June 1st 2007

Source: Bought it.

Book Description, Modified from Amazon:
How did the Ice Age end? How did men survive during the end of the Ice Age? Where have mammoths been found? Discover the science behind the Ice Age World. The questions of what happened at the end of the Ice Age and why the woolly mammoth disappeared have been asked by many. Unfortunately, the answers given are usually in line with an evolutionary world view. Author Michael Oard gives biblically and scientifically sound answers to these relevant questions for young readers in an exciting story of one boy and his family. Follow Tungus and his tribe as they travel to a better climate away from the dust storms at the end of the great Ice Age. Learn how people lived, the challenges they faced in daily life, and why the woolly mammoths disappeared while the Ice Age was ending.


My Review:
Uncovering the Mysterious Woolly Mammoth is a look from the biblical perspective at the causes of the Ice Age and what we know about how people lived during that time and what happened to the woolly mammoths. Much of this is written in a fictional account from the viewpoint of a 12-year-old boy living in what is now Germany and a 12-year-old boy who migrated with his family from Siberia. We see how they live now and the two tribes talked about how things changed in Siberia. Both the story and the nonfiction scientific explanation after it seemed aimed at 10- to 12-year-olds (and older).

The nonfiction section explained how the worldwide flood described in the Bible would create the correct conditions to cause an ice age and dust storms, the evidence of which we see still today on the landscape. The authors also talked about the mass extinctions of large animals around this time with a focus on the extinction of the woolly mammoth. The illustrations showed scenes from the story and had a realistic (though somewhat blurred) look. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who want an overview of the science and archaeology of the Ice Age from a biblical perspective.


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.