BLOOD MOONS RISING: BIBLE PROPHECY, ISRAEL AND THE FOUR BLOOD MOONS

By now, it would appear that unless one lives completely isolated from any source of communicative devices, one has become aware of the impending Blood Moons tetrad: four lunar eclipses (two in 2014, and two in 2015) that will occur each time upon two of the major Jewish feasts.  Mark Hitchcock provides a convenient table in his book, and notes the following celestial events:

          04/15/2014 . . . . . Passover

          10/08/2014 . . . . . Feast of Tabernacles

          03/20/2015 . . . . . Total Solar Eclipse

          04/04/2015 . . . . . Passover

          09/28/2015 . . . . . Feast of Tabernacles

God has, according to Genesis 1:14, placed the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens “to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years . . .” and scientists have been able to pinpoint with great accuracy the upcoming celestial events that we have observed over the years; lunar and solar eclipses, solar flares, meteor showers, and so on.

And the religious community has not been hesitant to take advantage of the spiritual, emotional and psychological disturbances that such celestial events produce in the soul of man.  The impending Blood Moons mentioned above are no exception.  Prophecy conferences have sprung up almost overnight, offering “their” interpretation of what the celestial events of 2014 and 2015 are “communicating” to those of us on earth.  Prophecy speaker John Hagee is adamant; “The history of the world is about to change forever, and God is sending us messages on His high-definition billboard by speaking to us in the heavens – using the Four Blood Moons; the question is . . . are we listening?”

Mark Hitchcock has provided a balanced response to both the skeptic and the sensationalist alike in his book, Blood Moons Rising: Bible Prophecy, Israel, And The Four Blood Moons.  Noting that God, indeed, has placed his celestial lights in the heavens for a purpose, author Hitchcock nonetheless counsels proper grammatical, historical-cultural, contextual interpretation of the Scriptures as the appropriate starting point for any understanding of Bible prophecy. 

And his conclusions are Biblical as well.  The times and seasons are in God’s hands.  No man knows the day, or the hour.  But what we have is today, and the proper response is to be ready.  One shouldn’t be skeptical, and one doesn’t need to be overly distraught.  One needs to be prepared. 

Along with a well-researched bibliography, Mark Hitchcock has included three appendices.  The first is a copy of Leviticus 23, which provides details concerning the Feasts and Festivals that every Jew was to observe.  The second provides a series of Prophetic Checklists for The Church, The Nations, and for Israel, including the major prophetic events in the order of their predicted fulfillment as found in Scripture.  The third is a Proposed Chronology of The End Times, the author’s attempt to put all the pieces of the end times together in a chronological sequence.

While avoiding both skepticism and sensationalism, author Mark Hitchcock has provided an informed response to the issues surrounding The Four Blood Moons controversy.

5 stars for a reasoned response to religious sensationalism

BLOOD MOONS RISING

Mark Hitchcock

978-1-4143-9708-5

Religion / Current Events

Tyndale House Publishers

202 pages

$15.99 U.S.

IF I HAD LUNCH WITH C.S. LEWIS

The 50^th Anniversary of the death of Clive Staples “Jack” Lewis has provided an opportunity for much reflection by scholars of his life and works.  I’ve had the opportunity to review several, and they have all been excellent.  This book is no exception. There is one caveat – when you sit down to read this book, make sure you have a pen (for writing notes in the ample space provided on facing pages and margins) and a highlighter (for highlighting the passages that WILL be leaping off the page).

This is not light reading.  This is important reading.  But that does not mean that it is boring.  Alister McGrath has been “reading” C.S. Lewis for over 40 years, and his insights into the thought of C.S. Lewis help the rest of us to really “get” what this wonderful writer and apologist was trying to communicate.

And don’t let the small footprint of this book fool you; that merely aids in portability.  When you open this volume, you will be immersed into a world of thought and ideas that will challenge you to the very core of your being.

As I said . . . this is important reading.  It requires reflection; you may find yourself reading passages over and over to comprehend the truths being reflected.  Don’t stop.  It’s worth it.  It really is.

5 stars for a challenging book that will change your life for the better

IF I HAD LUNCH WITH C.S. LEWIS

Alister McGrath

978-1-4143-8378-1

Religion / General

Tyndale House Publishers

241 pages

$17.99 U.S.

The A - Z of C. S. Lewis - An Encyclopedia Of His Life, Thought and Writings

The A – Z of C. S. Lewis is a comprehensive introduction to C. S. Lewis’s life, family, friends, career, marriage, and writings, as well as the worlds he created, the creatures that he imagined, and the studies he delighted in.  It’s also a volume that I wish that I had had close at hand when I was reading many of Lewis’s works.  The entries (in encyclopedic form, alphabetically listed) provide rich background for practically every important aspect of Lewis’s life, thought and works.  An asterisk clues the reader in to the fact that there is another important entry to be found elsewhere in this volume. 

The entries provide enough information to enable the reader to better appreciate Lewis’s writings, without boring the reader or inundating the reader with a glut of inconsequential details.  And the hardbound volume, at a size of 8 X 5 ½ makes this an encyclopedia that is truly portable.  Whether you are just discovering C. S. Lewis, or are a seasoned scholar of his life and works, this volume will enrich your appreciation for the genius that is C. S. Lewis.

5 stars for an outstanding addition to a Christian library

THE A – Z OF C. S. LEWIS: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HIS LIFE, THOUGHT AND WRITINGS

Colin Duriez

ISBN 978-0-7459-5586-5

Encyclopedia \ Biography

Lion Hudson

352 pages

$24.95 U.S.

Shadows Of The Past by Patricia Bradley

Patricia Bradley has provided for your consideration a mystery filled with intrigue, suspense, and a spice of romance in her first of the Logan’s Point series.  The author has taken care to ensure that the reader is hooked from the beginning, and with a liberal dose of “red herrings,” inexplicable incidents, and a strong undertone of looming danger strives to “land” the reader at the very least possible moment – at the end of a breathtaking climax.

I must admit that this is probably not my favorite genre, so the criticisms I offer probably owe a lot to that statement.  Patricia Bradley has done her homework, and on the way has gathered a myriad of details on a wide range of interests.  Sometimes . . . it’s best to leave the tools in the tool-shed.  Some of the “details” that she has garnered in her research serve to slow the pace of the book.  Some descriptions seem to take longer to get through, and I found myself bogged down at times.  And the “liberal dose of ‘red herrings’” mentioned of above . . . the emphasis is on “liberal.”  Again, my unfamiliarity with the genre probably made me more sensitive to this aspect than some other readers.

Having said that, Patricia Bradley takes the same detailed approach to her characters. And in this instance, it really works.  The psychological and emotional palette that each character brings to the scenes help you understand why the character is thinking, or responding, in a certain way.  And the author is completely consistent with those characteristics, even as the characters learn, and grow, throughout the book.  This is an aspect of the “novel” genre that distinguishes good, from great, from classic literature.  I would love to see a novel from Patricia Bradley.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review of this book.

3 ½ stars for a thoughtful mystery

Shadows Of The Past

Patricia Bradley

ISBN 0-800-72260-4

Mystery / Romance / Suspense /

Revell Publishers

353 pages

$14.99 U.S.

Rapid Fire Action, Suspense, Intrigue, Faith and Romance All Included At No Extra Charge!

BEOWULF:  EXPLOSIVES DETECTION DOG

Beowulf.  The name says it all.  Named after the Scandinavian mythical hero who defeats a troll by tearing its arm from the socket, the brindle-haired beast exists for two things:  to detect explosives – specifically, chemical weapons of mass destruction – and to protect Timbrel Hogan, his handler.  In fact, the only person who was able to connect with “Beo” and train him for military service.

Beowulf has his hands – paws – full, when Tony “Candyman” VanAllen enters the picture.  Tony just can’t seem to take “NO!” for an answer when it comes to Timbrel, or defending those who can’t or won’t protect themselves.  Tony likens his service as a calling from God, and carries out that calling in true warrior fashion.  He also sees a relationship with Timbrel as a mission . . . and he’s up for it.

The third in Ronie Kendig’s “A Breed Apart” series crackles with the author’s characteristic energy, fast-paced action, intrigue, and suspense.  Throw in unexpected romance, and unfeigned devotion to a God who is not content with sitting on the sidelines, and you have all the ingredients for a book that you will not be able to put down.

Ronie has done her homework in researching the military battle sequences, as well as the Military Working Dog training and working scenes.  But, like every master craftsman, she’s left the tools in the shed and presents the reader with the finished product.

Since it is the third book in the series, the uninitiated reader may feel like they’ve “dropped into the middle of a conversation,” but this quickly passes and the book easily stands on its own.

5 stars for another “rapid-fire” work of fiction by Ronie Kendig!

RONIE KENDIG

ISBN 978-1-61626-639-4

Fiction/Christian/Romance

Barbour Publishing

316 pages

$12.99 U.S.

EXPLORING CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

I want to RE-SEND this review, and extend my apologies to Bethany House, and to the authors for the previous post.  I misunderstood the situation, and did not realize that this was part of a three-book set.  My previous concerns were with the brevity of the book, and the material that had been "left out" of this volume of systematic theology.  Having said that . . . 

What the authors of this book do, they do well.  With references and illustrations drawn from current technology and quotations from recent movies and books, this is a very readable book that engages the reader from page one.  Other welcome aspects of this book include tight outlines that provide a summary of the doctrine at hand, a brief history of that doctrine throughout the ages, distortions to be aware of and avoid, reading lists for further study, and a glossary of theological terms.  The authors have taken "dry and dusty" out of the study of theology, and have not only shown the relevance of a systematic study of the church, spiritual growth, and the end times . . . they have provided numerous examples for how it works out in real life . . . "where the rubber meets the road," so to speak.

I'm looking forward to the finished set.

5 stars for a systematic theology that motivates the reader to do something about it! 

EXPLORING CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

Nathan D. Holsteen & Michael J. Svigel

ISBN 978-0-7642-1129-4

Bethany House

251 pages

$16.99 (U.S.)

DAVID AND GOLIATH, BY MALCOM GLADWELL - YOU'RE SEEING IT ALL WRONG!

DAVID AND GOLIATH

Malcolm Gladwell

Little, Brown and Company

ISBN 978-0-316-20436-21

Sociology / Motivational

305 pages

$29.00 hardcover with jacket

I’ve never read a book by Malcolm Gladwell.  This is my first.  And as a pastor, I have to confess that I requested the book for review under the misguided notion that I was going to get a deeper insight into the story of David and Goliath.  Some new information that I might have been missing.  I thought it was a book on the Bible.

However, having agreed to review it (and it really is an interesting jacket cover, with a hole coming out of the paper showing where a stone had been hurled through it) I gave it a go.  And it took awhile to put my finger on the source of my disappointment.

Then it came to me.  This book has absolutely nothing to do with the Bible.  The very first “illustration,” and the namesake of the book, is an attempt at demythologizing of the story of David and Goliath.  Not that I consider the historical account of David and Goliath a myth.  But Gladwell obviously feels that the readers of Scripture have been misunderstanding the whole story from the get go.

Delving into the historical intricacies of Middle Eastern battle tactics, and drawing some rather unique conclusions as to the medical condition of Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell would have us believe that David was the absolutely best individual to go up against Goliath.  That courage, and faith in the God of Israel had nothing to do with the outcome.

As far as the author is concerned, our issues (like that of Goliath, apparently) are rooted in the whole idea of perspective.  We are looking at things in our lives in a wrong manner, and responding to those things in our lives based upon our wrong perspective.  If we would only recognize that black is white, and white is purple . . . that good is bad, and bad is better . . . we would be able to come to a more correct perspective, and make better decisions, and we would all be happy, healthy, wealthy and wise.

Coming back to the story of David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell would probably tell me that my Sunday School teachers had it wrong all along.  Thank you for the disillusionment, Mr. Gladwell.  But, I think I’ll stick to the Bible.  If it were not such a mighty demonstration of the power of God acting on behalf of his chosen people, the story of David and Goliath would never have made it into print.  And your book would have to find another jumping off point.

2 stars for a smart looking, albeit extremely dangerous book