Having grown up in a church that sang only hymns, this book was a treasure to me! Not only did I have the beautiful words to the hymn songs but they came with the musical notes so I could play these songs on the piano! Morgan also includes a history of the songs and their authors! Not being a history buff, I was surprised to find Morgan's short 1 page histories fascinating! I couldn't put the book down. The stories behind the songs gave the songs themselves greater meaning. Knowing how difficult life was for some of the authors gave me a greater appreciation for God and I could see the authors intent in worshipping and writing the song.
I also really enjoyed the histories of hymns in general. I feel like hymns are a lost beauty - a lost form of poetry and worship that is fading away in our culture. Sadly, if more people read books like this, they might see the deeper value in hymns as opposed to current day music. Many hymns include a different theology and a deeper theology. Remember people back in the old days were way smarter theology wise and started college at 13, so many of them had a deep grasp on spiritual things. Instead of just singing Jesus songs of joy or watered down Jesus songs of today, these hymns have a true deep deep meaning. Even if you cant sing these hymns or know the tunes, I found myself reading the words to the songs as a worship to God. I didn't need to know the melody to appreciate the words. I loved this book and look forward to reading Book 1 and 2 also! I'm sad to hear this will be the last of the hymn books from this author.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Tyndale By David Teems
Tyndale is the story of how the Bible came to be translated into the English language. Teems seeks to take readers on a historically true account of The Great William Tyndale. This story includes other notable names like John Firth, Thomas Poyntz, the Catholic Thomas More, Martin Luther, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Henry Philips, the Judas of the story. This is the story of the Catholic Church and Thomas More's blood-thirsty hunting down and martyrdom of one of the greatest men in church history, William Tyndale.
Teems seeks to leave legendary stories out of his work and focus on the accounts that can be classified as factual. The story is of enormous importance and for that alone, I cannot recommend this book higher. Every Christian needs to know this story and must read this book or a book on Tyndale's story. Tyndale's story shows us what sets apart men from boys and Christian living from selfish living. This is what a man should be - a man of the truest deepest character. The story is epic, poetic, sad but also joyful. It is one of the greatest stories in all of Christian history.
That being said, I had trouble with Teems' writing. Some may find that he's impartial - admiring Tyndale but also his arch-enemy Thomas More, but I found the pro-More pre-king Henry VIII and pro-King James I of England perspective sickening. The author seems to be Anglican/Church of England-biased. As an appreciator of what William Tyndale did for all Christianity, More in contrast was on the other side - the perverted, blood-lusting, evil, sick, enemy with no class whatsoever. He is the guy who tortured people in his own backyard. He's the guy who lusted and received immese joy over watching people burn to death. He's the guy described as writing "the greatest heap of nasty language that perhaps was ever put together". More's writings are filled with uncontrollable evil and rage as he curses and "throws fecal material" at his opponents. I cannot grasp in the slightest, the author's admiration of Thomas More.
Teems writes "[Thomas More] culd not call William Tyndale enough names or curse him with more conviction. He could not write enough words or burn enough "heretics" to make [the Reformation] stop. He could not torment enough offenders in his own backyward." Yet Teems somehow writes "what is truly great about Thomas More - the depth of his belief, or his literary contribution, his peculiar intelligence, the martyrdom he suffered..." I find none of this admirable. William Tyndale kills him as a human being. Thomas More will be burning in hell while the men he burned will be comforted in heaven. I don't understand the author's love of "the bad guys" in this book. This is not Robert DeNiro in the movie "Heat", where you like the "bad guys" better than the "good guys".
Also, the author spends SOOO much time looking into the lives of people who are fairly irrelevant to the story. The first half of the book is painfully slow. Only later, as Tyndale is being hunted down by the Catholic Church, does the story pick up. I'm sure readers can find a much better written account of Tyndale's story, but if not, not matter what, all Christians must know this story.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Teems seeks to leave legendary stories out of his work and focus on the accounts that can be classified as factual. The story is of enormous importance and for that alone, I cannot recommend this book higher. Every Christian needs to know this story and must read this book or a book on Tyndale's story. Tyndale's story shows us what sets apart men from boys and Christian living from selfish living. This is what a man should be - a man of the truest deepest character. The story is epic, poetic, sad but also joyful. It is one of the greatest stories in all of Christian history.
That being said, I had trouble with Teems' writing. Some may find that he's impartial - admiring Tyndale but also his arch-enemy Thomas More, but I found the pro-More pre-king Henry VIII and pro-King James I of England perspective sickening. The author seems to be Anglican/Church of England-biased. As an appreciator of what William Tyndale did for all Christianity, More in contrast was on the other side - the perverted, blood-lusting, evil, sick, enemy with no class whatsoever. He is the guy who tortured people in his own backyard. He's the guy who lusted and received immese joy over watching people burn to death. He's the guy described as writing "the greatest heap of nasty language that perhaps was ever put together". More's writings are filled with uncontrollable evil and rage as he curses and "throws fecal material" at his opponents. I cannot grasp in the slightest, the author's admiration of Thomas More.
Teems writes "[Thomas More] culd not call William Tyndale enough names or curse him with more conviction. He could not write enough words or burn enough "heretics" to make [the Reformation] stop. He could not torment enough offenders in his own backyward." Yet Teems somehow writes "what is truly great about Thomas More - the depth of his belief, or his literary contribution, his peculiar intelligence, the martyrdom he suffered..." I find none of this admirable. William Tyndale kills him as a human being. Thomas More will be burning in hell while the men he burned will be comforted in heaven. I don't understand the author's love of "the bad guys" in this book. This is not Robert DeNiro in the movie "Heat", where you like the "bad guys" better than the "good guys".
Also, the author spends SOOO much time looking into the lives of people who are fairly irrelevant to the story. The first half of the book is painfully slow. Only later, as Tyndale is being hunted down by the Catholic Church, does the story pick up. I'm sure readers can find a much better written account of Tyndale's story, but if not, not matter what, all Christians must know this story.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Job 38-42 WBC Volume 18B By David Clines
Job 38-42 Word Biblical Commentary Volume 18B By David Clines is the fourth book in the Job word commentary series by Clines. Volume 17 covered Job 1-20, Volume 18A covered Job 21-37 and this final Volume 18B completes the coverage of the Book of Job with Job 38-42. Of the 3 books, this one is probably the most interesting, as it covers God's reply to Job's question of why he is sufferring. And for those familiar with Job and God's response, this book upholds the normal answer "Just because He IS God and how who is Job to question God?"
I found this book to be way above the average reader's interest or head. It is very college-oriented and would bore most readers. A good majority of the book is UNREADABLE - About half the book is detailed end notes and references! You actually only get a small portion of the book as commentary. And even that part of commentary is difficult to read and a bit painful, unless you are SUPER into technical biblical word interpreations. Otherwise, for the average reader, this stuff will bore you silly.
I guess I would recommend this book to those into college-level bible translations but for the average reader, this could never interest you.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
I found this book to be way above the average reader's interest or head. It is very college-oriented and would bore most readers. A good majority of the book is UNREADABLE - About half the book is detailed end notes and references! You actually only get a small portion of the book as commentary. And even that part of commentary is difficult to read and a bit painful, unless you are SUPER into technical biblical word interpreations. Otherwise, for the average reader, this stuff will bore you silly.
I guess I would recommend this book to those into college-level bible translations but for the average reader, this could never interest you.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow
This book is about the reasons men (and young women 18-35) don't go to Christian church. The percentage of men participating in church grows smaller each year. The US Congregational Life Survey concurs: “While the U.S. population is split fairly evenly between men and women, there are more women (61%) than men (39%) in the pews." Young men and women are not all turning athiest. While other religions are increasing their male membership and spirituality is very interesting to the youth of today, people are just choosing other places to practice their spirituality. Of the planet’s great religions, only Christianity has a consistent, worldwide shortage of male practitioners.
I loved this book. It was a super interesting, thought-provoking read. And on top of that, I feel the conclusions the author draws are pretty accurate. The reason my friends and I do not go to church are outlined in this book - church is too shallow and not relevant to me. Here are some of my favorite snippets from this book that sum up the general ideas from this book:
If you asked them their religion, they would confidently reply, “Christian.” They would even admit to feeling a strong connection with God. All three would say they’re trying their best to follow Jesus. Yet they do not go to church.
- I can worship God better at home than in a church building.
- I don’t feel like I need to go to a church to be a good kind Christian.
- I’ve found church rather boring and irrelevant to my life.
But church isn’t on their radar. They’ve tried it. It didn’t work for them. Their time is precious, and church just doesn’t provide the return on investment they’re looking for.
“Your system is perfectly designed to give you the results you’re getting.” What if church is built to reach women, children, and elderly folks? Not sure you agree? The US Congregational Life Survey pegged the typical churchgoer as a fifty-year-old, married, well-educated, employed female.
Most people think of Christ as having the values that come naturally to a woman. To “be like Christ” means always loving, always caring, always compassionate, and always gentle. Jesus does not judge people; he hugs them. Highly involved churchmen often possess the values that are normally considered "feminine". Men who are verbal, studious, musical, and sensitive rise to the top. While the average Joes who lack these soft virtues either leave the church or become passive pew sitters. Men don’t hate God or Christ or the Bible or Christianity. They hate a system that’s perfectly designed to reach someone else - women, children and elderly folks.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
I loved this book. It was a super interesting, thought-provoking read. And on top of that, I feel the conclusions the author draws are pretty accurate. The reason my friends and I do not go to church are outlined in this book - church is too shallow and not relevant to me. Here are some of my favorite snippets from this book that sum up the general ideas from this book:
If you asked them their religion, they would confidently reply, “Christian.” They would even admit to feeling a strong connection with God. All three would say they’re trying their best to follow Jesus. Yet they do not go to church.
- I can worship God better at home than in a church building.
- I don’t feel like I need to go to a church to be a good kind Christian.
- I’ve found church rather boring and irrelevant to my life.
But church isn’t on their radar. They’ve tried it. It didn’t work for them. Their time is precious, and church just doesn’t provide the return on investment they’re looking for.
“Your system is perfectly designed to give you the results you’re getting.” What if church is built to reach women, children, and elderly folks? Not sure you agree? The US Congregational Life Survey pegged the typical churchgoer as a fifty-year-old, married, well-educated, employed female.
Most people think of Christ as having the values that come naturally to a woman. To “be like Christ” means always loving, always caring, always compassionate, and always gentle. Jesus does not judge people; he hugs them. Highly involved churchmen often possess the values that are normally considered "feminine". Men who are verbal, studious, musical, and sensitive rise to the top. While the average Joes who lack these soft virtues either leave the church or become passive pew sitters. Men don’t hate God or Christ or the Bible or Christianity. They hate a system that’s perfectly designed to reach someone else - women, children and elderly folks.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Love & Respect Experience by Emerson Eggerichs
If you normally enjoy devotionals & psychology, you will like this book. If you want strong Biblical teachings, you will not enjoy this book at all.
This is a large-sized devotional book designed for married couples, designed to appeal to both men and women, with its brown leathery cover. Unlike most devotionals, this book is full-sized and very simple and plain looking, to appeal to men. This is not a 365 day devotional but only has 52 chapters. This book has the feel-good from being a devotional and also from all its psychology emphasis.
Bible verses that are used are VERY short because they are cut off and not full verses. Verses are plucked out of context from the Bible, cropped accordingly, and rarely is the full verse even used. These short cropped verses are then used to support what the author wants to say. Often the author's story and the verse really have nothing to do with each other. They are out of context. The verses come from about a dozen different very paraphrased modern Bible translations: think Message, Good News and many I've never even heard of before! If biblical accuracy or biblical counseling is important to you, you will probably not like this book.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required.
This is a large-sized devotional book designed for married couples, designed to appeal to both men and women, with its brown leathery cover. Unlike most devotionals, this book is full-sized and very simple and plain looking, to appeal to men. This is not a 365 day devotional but only has 52 chapters. This book has the feel-good from being a devotional and also from all its psychology emphasis.
Bible verses that are used are VERY short because they are cut off and not full verses. Verses are plucked out of context from the Bible, cropped accordingly, and rarely is the full verse even used. These short cropped verses are then used to support what the author wants to say. Often the author's story and the verse really have nothing to do with each other. They are out of context. The verses come from about a dozen different very paraphrased modern Bible translations: think Message, Good News and many I've never even heard of before! If biblical accuracy or biblical counseling is important to you, you will probably not like this book.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required.
No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado
This book is supposed to be about finding hope in Christ's sacrifice on the cross. If you are already familiar with the writings of Max Lucado, you will probably enjoy this book. If you enjoy devotionals or books that make you feel emotionally warm and are light reading, you will also probably like this book. But if you enjoy using your brain, want something deep and profound, this book is not for you.
Prologue: The question is presented: "Forget the Christian religion - tell me what really matters." Lucado answers the seeker with a quote from 1 Corinthians 15: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. That he was buried, that he was raised o the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." Lucado tells us that no one can ignore the cross. However, I feel like millions ignore it, every single day, so I'm not convinced and Lucado's words mean nothing to me.
Each following chapter is a disjointed story that has nothing to do with the next chapter and not all that much to do with Christianity. I found this book pretty shallow. The main points can be summarized in one or two sentences, like "It's much easier to die like Jesus if you have lived like him for a lifetime." Not really all that profound, but this was the very best sentence in all of Chapter 1.
Most of Lucado's writings are unemotional, untouching, not life-changing, not profound in any way, and sometimes just plain disagreeable. Example: "What kind of people mock a dying man?" Well... the majority of people mock based on their anger. Most people become angry when they hear about someone on death row - they just assume the person is a "bad person" and did "bad things", so they say "good" to his/her death.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required.
Prologue: The question is presented: "Forget the Christian religion - tell me what really matters." Lucado answers the seeker with a quote from 1 Corinthians 15: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. That he was buried, that he was raised o the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." Lucado tells us that no one can ignore the cross. However, I feel like millions ignore it, every single day, so I'm not convinced and Lucado's words mean nothing to me.
Each following chapter is a disjointed story that has nothing to do with the next chapter and not all that much to do with Christianity. I found this book pretty shallow. The main points can be summarized in one or two sentences, like "It's much easier to die like Jesus if you have lived like him for a lifetime." Not really all that profound, but this was the very best sentence in all of Chapter 1.
Most of Lucado's writings are unemotional, untouching, not life-changing, not profound in any way, and sometimes just plain disagreeable. Example: "What kind of people mock a dying man?" Well... the majority of people mock based on their anger. Most people become angry when they hear about someone on death row - they just assume the person is a "bad person" and did "bad things", so they say "good" to his/her death.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required.
The Book of Man by William J Bennett
This book is about "the path to manhood" or how a man is made. It focuses on how young and old need heroes to demonstrate the characteristics of what a man should be: honor, duty, valor, integrity, etc. Bennett defines what he thinks a man should be, how a man should love, and how a man should live in war time, at work, during sports or play, with family, and in prayer and reflection.
Being semi-familiar with Bennett's Book of Virtues, I figured this book would really give good solid examples of a godly man with Character. However, Bennett fills this very thick book with NON-CHRISTIAN morally-questionably political figure and athletes and elevates these as the heroes that our Christian kids should be looking up to.
If you are politically active, believe in sending your kids into the military/war, and very pro-US government/politics/political figures as "heroes" "icons" or "idols", then you may enjoy this book and not mind these guys being your kids' heroes. But if that's so, then let's also hold Madonna, Britney Spears, Hilary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and every other famous female musician, actress, athlete, and political figure regardless of their character, virtue and morals up as heroes for our daughters. Hey, I bet I could even find a few "good characteristic" stories on Saddam Hussein, Richard Allen Davis, Jeffrey Dahmer and all the mass murderers, child molesters etc.
As a Christian, do you really want your kids to hold these guys up as heroes? Winston Churchill, Ronald Regan, Plato, General Douglas MacArthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Jack London, Mark Twain, William the Conquerer, Benjamin Franklin, Booker T Washington, Cal Ripkin Jr, Buster Douglas the boxer, Mario Andretti the car racer, Aristotle, Davy Crocket, Navy Seals, John F Kennedy, Homer, Nolan Ryan the baseball player, and dozens of others.
I strongly recommend against this book. There are dozens of other books about raising Christian men using men of God as examples. What's wrong with using Jesus, the apostles, or the forefathers? Bennett's book is shocking to me - how he can use secular political figures and athletes with questionable character and morals is beyond me.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required.
Being semi-familiar with Bennett's Book of Virtues, I figured this book would really give good solid examples of a godly man with Character. However, Bennett fills this very thick book with NON-CHRISTIAN morally-questionably political figure and athletes and elevates these as the heroes that our Christian kids should be looking up to.
If you are politically active, believe in sending your kids into the military/war, and very pro-US government/politics/political figures as "heroes" "icons" or "idols", then you may enjoy this book and not mind these guys being your kids' heroes. But if that's so, then let's also hold Madonna, Britney Spears, Hilary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and every other famous female musician, actress, athlete, and political figure regardless of their character, virtue and morals up as heroes for our daughters. Hey, I bet I could even find a few "good characteristic" stories on Saddam Hussein, Richard Allen Davis, Jeffrey Dahmer and all the mass murderers, child molesters etc.
As a Christian, do you really want your kids to hold these guys up as heroes? Winston Churchill, Ronald Regan, Plato, General Douglas MacArthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Jack London, Mark Twain, William the Conquerer, Benjamin Franklin, Booker T Washington, Cal Ripkin Jr, Buster Douglas the boxer, Mario Andretti the car racer, Aristotle, Davy Crocket, Navy Seals, John F Kennedy, Homer, Nolan Ryan the baseball player, and dozens of others.
I strongly recommend against this book. There are dozens of other books about raising Christian men using men of God as examples. What's wrong with using Jesus, the apostles, or the forefathers? Bennett's book is shocking to me - how he can use secular political figures and athletes with questionable character and morals is beyond me.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)