Too Many to Jail by Mark Bradley

Too Many to Jail by Mark Bradley ISBN-13: 9780857215963 Trade Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Monarch Books Released: December 1, 2014

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
In 1979, there were fewer than 500 known Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today there are at least 100,000 new believers. Church leaders believe that millions can be added to the church in the next few years--such is the spiritual hunger that exists. The religious violence that accompanied the reign of President Ahmadinejad drained its perpetrators of political and religious legitimacy, and has opened the door to other faiths.

This book sets the rapid church growth in Iran in the context of the deteriorating relationship between Iranians and their national religion. There is a major focus on the Ahmadinejad years, but the author also covers the history of the church before 1979, developing the central idea that the spark may have become buried in the ashes but has never been extinguished.

Careful, proportionate, well-informed, and accurate, Too Many to Jail is a powerful reminder of the Christian revival that the headlines ignore. The stories of faith, persecution, and encouragement will inspire every reader to see anew God's work in the world.


My Review:
Too Many to Jail describes the recent growth of house-churches in Iran, including the factors behind why Muslims in Iran are now choosing to follow Jesus and why house-churches work better in Iran than building-churches. The book described the politics in 1979 up to now and explained political and cultural reasons why Muslims in Iran are interested in Jesus. He also described several types of house-churches, why they work better than building-churches in Iran, and the persecution that converts and Christian preachers are facing. He also provided the history of the church in Iran up to 1979 and details of known cases of persecution against Christians in Iran.

I appreciate that the author tried to give an accurate idea of what's going on rather than going with whatever numbers sound impressive. I could easily follow and understand the author's reasoning and found the information very interesting. It was both sad (due to the suffering) and exciting (due to the growth) to read. I feel like I understand the situation in Iran much better now. I'd recommend this book to those interested in the Christians in Iran.


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.

Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus by Charles R. Swindoll

Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus by Charles R. Swindoll ISBN-13: 9780310284338 Hardcover: 319 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: December 7,2010

Source: Bought from Christianbook.com.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Swindoll takes us inside 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus to discover its narrative drive, overarching message, and joyous implications for our lives.


My Review:
Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus is a Bible commentary on 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. The author explained the meaning of various key Greek words to help the reader understand confusing passages and to bring out the full meaning of the text. He also provided information on the cultural and historical background and quoted similar statements made elsewhere in the Bible to help the reader fully understand the verses.

The author gave a paragraph or two of Scripture and then studied through that verse-by-verse. At the end of each section, he discussed how we can apply the writer's message to our own lives. He also included occasional "journal" pages were he talked about how those verses had been applied or worked out in his life.

Though you can look up information on just a single verse, this is more a Bible study book where it's assumed you'll read the whole book. Some sections focused on clarifying what the verses mean so the reader can better understand them. Others were more of a sermon where he tells the reader what to understand from it. Overall, he came to conclusions that I think most Christians can agree with. His main focus was on the qualifications and troubles faced by ministers since that was a major topic in the verses being studied.

Overall, this book was easy to follow and understand. I'd recommend it to Christians who want to dig deeper into understanding 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.


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.

Insights on John by Charles R. Swindoll

Insights on John by Charles R. Swindoll ISBN-13: 9780310284352 Hardcover: 363 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: 2010

Source: bought from Christianbook.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Insights on John provides a wealth of colorful, detailed, and easy-to-understand insights into the gospel of John.


My Review:
Insights on John is a Bible commentary on the gospel of John. The author explained the meaning of various key Greek words to help the reader understand confusing passages and to bring out the full meaning of the text. He also provided information on the cultural and historical background and quoted similar statements made elsewhere in the Bible to help the reader fully understand the verses.

The book begins with an introduction explaining why John wrote the book. There was a timeline from 26 AD to 117 AD showing who was ruling and a black-and-white map showing the areas around the Mediterranean Sea.

The author then gave a paragraph or two of Scripture from John and then studied through that verse-by-verse. At the end of each section, he discussed how we can apply the writer's message to our own lives. He also included occasional "journal" pages were he talked about how those verses had been applied or worked out in his life.

Though you can look up information on just a single verse, this is more a Bible study book where it's assumed you'll read the whole book. Some sections kept focused on clarifying what the verses mean so the reader can better understand them. Others were more of a sermon where he tells the reader what to understand from it. There were a few places where I didn't share his conclusions, but generally he kept to points that I think most Christians would agree with.

Overall, this book was easy to follow and understand. I'd recommend it to Christians who want to dig deeper into understanding John.


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 Case for Grace Student Edition by Lee Strobel, with Jane Vogel

The Case for Grace, Student Edition by Lee Strobel, with Jane Vogel ISBN-13: 9780310736578 Trade Paperback: 132 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: February 24, 2015

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

Book Description from Back Cover:
Lee draws upon his own journey from atheism to Christianity to explore the depth and breadth of God’s redeeming love, including those whose lives have been radically changed after discovering the “how” and “why” behind God’s amazing grace. You’ll encounter racists, addicts, and even murderers who have found new hope and purpose. You’ll meet once-bitter people who have learned to forgive those who have harmed them—and, equally amazing, people mired in guilt who have discovered that they can even forgive themselves.

Through it all, you will see how God’s grace can change your eternity and relationships…starting today.


My Review:
The Case for Grace, Student Edition is teen nonfiction about how grace impacts people's lives. The author tells the stories of people who have been transformed by God's grace: from someone who was told she was worthless and unlovable from childhood, to the drug addict, to the good guy (do "good guys" need grace?), to the cruel mass murderer (is there anyone God won't forgive if they genuinely repent? why is this good news for everyone?), to the homeless druggie and burglar, to the evangelist's son who wanted to live wildly. The author explored what grace is, how it can transform people, and how to give and receive grace.

I don't know how this teen edition differs from the "adult" book, but it's a quick read and shared some clear examples of transforming grace. I don't think a teenager would have any problem reading or understanding the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who can't quite understand the idea of God's unearned love due to growing up with approval-based family relationships.


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 at Christian Book Store's website.

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.