QUESTIONS OF LIFE by Nicky Gumbel

The Alpha Course – in book form.  That pretty much says it all. Nicky Gumbel shares his own personal journey from atheist, to agnostic, to acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Nicky is the pioneer of the Alpha Course, which ( in Nicky’s own words ) “is designed for nonchurchgoers, those seeking to find out more about Christianity, and those who have recently come to faith in Jesus Christ.”

Questions of Life contemplates 15 crucial questions that need answers if one is to be an authentic follower of Jesus.  Questions like:  “Is There More To Life Than This?”, “Why Did Jesus Die?”, and “How Can I Make The Most Of The Rest Of My Life?”  In this book, Nicky covers topics such as faith, prayer, the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.  He also tackles some sticky questions such as “How Can I Be Filled With The Holy Spirit?”, and “Does God Heal Today?”  And he does so in a careful, candid, and clear manner, anticipating and responding to side questions that are sure to pop up. 

Questions of Life is a warm-hearted conversation from one believer to those who may be sitting on the fence, dipping a toe in the water, or taking the plunge into Christianity for the first time.  I’m reminded of an illustration that fits this book:  “Christianity is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”  Are you hungry?

5 stars

Questions Of Life

Nicky Gumbel978-1-934564-66-0

ISBN 1-5955-4037-7

Christian Life

Alpha International Press

213 pages

Review of SOUL'S GATE by James L. Rubart

Soul’s Gate

James Rubart

ISBN 978-1-4016-8605-5

Fiction \ Christian\General

Thomas Nelson

400 pages

$15.99 U.S.

“Not afraid, for His armor is the best

But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.”

                                                                          Twila Paris

In James L. Rubart’s new book, Soul’s Gate, spiritual warfare has taken on dimensions of Biblical proportion.  Which is as it should be.  The quote in the fly-leaf of the book is one which Christians ought to take to heart: 

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.  One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.  They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.”

                                                                                               C.S. Lewis

In Soul’s Gate, Rubart contemplates what it would look like if a person could travel inside the soul of another human being, and wage war on their behalf “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Reese Roth could tell you, speaking from first-hand experience.  That was his life, until tragedy struck  and seemingly ended his destiny.  But God is the God of the second chance, and Reese is being called upon to train four new warriors to carry on the work.  Teach them to see the spirit world.  Train them to enter the spirit world.  And survive.

Keep in mind . . . every war has TWO sides, and this is no exception.  While the warriors train and prepare to carry the fight to the enemy in a way that even Reese has yet to fathom, the enemy is not twiddling his thumbs.  He’s determined to stop these young warriors.  At any cost.

Soul's Gate was a real eye-opener for me, as it reminded me that we really are in a spiritual battle, and Satan takes no prisoners.  Fast-paced, grittily real, Soul's Gate has very engaging characters and a solid plot, as well as what I believe to be a sound spiritual foundation.

5 stars

About Soul's Gate:  Book 1 in the Well Spring series. "Every now and then we get a break from reality. A glimpse into the other world that is more real than the reality we live in 99 percent of our days. The Bible is about a world of demons and angels and great evil and even greater glory." What if you could travel inside another person's soul? To battle for them. To be part of Jesus healing their deepest wounds. To help set them free to step boldly into their divinely designed future. Thirty years ago that's exactly what Reece Roth did. Until tragedy shattered his life and ripped away his future. Now God has drawn Reece out of the shadows to fulfill a prophecy spoken over him three decades ago. A prophecy about four warriors with the potential to change the world . . . if Reece will face his deepest regret and teach them what he has learned. They gather at a secluded and mysterious ranch deep in the mountains of Colorado, where they will learn to see the spiritual world around them with stunning clarity-and how to step into the supernatural. Their training is only the beginning. The four have a destiny to pursue a freedom even Reece doesn't fully fathom. But they have an enemy hell-bent on destroying them and he'll stop at nothing to keep them from their quest for true freedom and the coming battle of souls. Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/eGyGA Meet Jim: James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. While being the owner of Barefoot Marketing certainly keeps him on his toes, his passion is writing fiction. Rubart is an ECPA best-selling author who has been positively reviewed by both Publisher's Weekly and Romantic Times. His first novel,Rooms, won a Best Books 2011 award from USA Book News, as well as a Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award. His debut release was followed by Book of Days and The Chair. Soul's Gate is Rubart's fourth release. In addition to being an author, Rubart is also a photographer, guitarist, professional speaker, golfer and semi-pro magician. With all of this, he says that he barely sleeps. Rubart lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest. Find out more about Jim at http://jimrubart.com/.   ***To save the photos above to use on your blog, please right click on the photo and "save as".

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Review of PLACEBO by Steven James

Placebo

Steven James

ISBN 978-0-8007-3425-1

Fiction \ Suspense

Revell

409 pages

$14.99 U.S.

Jevin Banks makes a living exposing people.  Bad people.  The hucksters, the charlatan’s, the grafters who make a living separating the fool from his money.  Along with a slightly seductive assistant, a typically paranoid pyrotechnics geek, and a stay-at-home mom who routinely assigns computer hacking projects as extra credit to her four children, Jevin’s latest assignment is to debunk a pharmaceutical firm’s contentions that mind-reading and extra-sensory perception are for real.  And maybe, Jevin will find the answers to the tragedy in his own life along the way.

This isn’t your typical Steven James novel.  You need to know that from the very beginning, because the very beginning is extremely disturbing.  It took me a couple of days to process the prologue to PLACEBO, before I could continue on with the book.

Once into the book, other differences showed themselves early on.  I was introduced to Steven James through the Patrick Bowers series, and avoiding the urge to make a comparison is difficult to do.  The “supporting cast” in the Bower’s series were more connected, more believable to the story line.  Patrick Bowers was more acceptable in his actions, due to his training and experience.  The plot lines in the Bower’s series were more authentic and true-to-life.  And the pace in the Bower’s series was much more pleasing.

To be honest, this latest Steven James novel was more along the lines of Clive Cussler.  The hero is slightly larger than life, and while allowances can be made for some of the action sequences, some situations are difficult to swallow at best.  There are some humorous moments, but it takes time to get to them, which in and of itself is a disappointment, as well.

2 stars

Review of RADICAL by David Platt

Radical

David Platt

Copyright 2010 David Platt

ISBN 978-1-60142-221-7

Christian Living

219 pages

$14.99 softcover

After a life-transforming trip to Asia, and a soul-searching journey through the gospels, author and pastor David Platt began asking a lot of questions in his book, Radical.

Thought-provoking questions like, “Do I believe that Jesus is worthy of sacrifice in our lives?”

Easy-to-answer questions like, “Was I going to believe Jesus?”

Tougher questions like, “Was I going to obey Jesus?”

Proclaimed (in the press, no less) “The youngest megachurch pastor in history,” Dr. Platt (David holds two undergraduate degrees and three advanced degrees, including a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) found himself in a quandary.  The disparity between the soul-shocking sights, sounds and stories he experienced in Asia, and the multi-million dollar facilities, theater-style lighting, and cushioned chairs of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama was too great to fathom.  And the disparity between Pastor David Platt, (“the youngest megachurch pastor in history,” I remind you) and Jesus Christ ( in David’s own words, “the youngest minichurch pastor in history); well that, too, was too great to fathom.

David Platt has covenanted with God to answer all three of the previous questions in the affirmative, and challenged his flock to join him in this RADICAL departure from the usual way “church” is done in 21^st Century America.  And his invitation is open to all who wish to accept it.

Jesus?  or The Great American Dream?  Which one is worthy of your time, your energy, your talents, your treasure . . . your life?  Are you having trouble with the question?  Let me put it in terms that I believe David Platt would appreciate . . . “What has America done for you lately?”

The conclusion that David Platt arrives at is both simple and profound:  this RADICAL Christianity that Jesus is calling us to is actually the normative Christianity that he has been preaching all along. 

Filled  with soul-stirring stories, humorous anecdotes, and down-to-earth doctrine from the Word of God, this book cannot help but transform the way you look at your relationship with God, with Jesus Christ, with the world, and with yourself.  You have been warned . . . this book is RADICAL!

Review of HIDE AND SEEK by Jeff Struecker with Alton Gansky

Hide And Seek

Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky

ISBN 976-1-4336-7142-6

369 pages

$14.99 U.S.

If you are a fan of action-packed, no-holds-barred military fiction, this is the book for you.  By the same token, if you are a fan of  Christian inspirational fiction where God is real and the situations are, too . . . this is the book for you.  Hey . . . if you enjoy READING, this is the book for you!

This is the second book that the authors have constructed around an Army Special Operations team that is blacker than black, and is now being led by Master Sergeant J.J.  “Boss” Bartley.  And while I have not read the first book {though I’m planning on acquiring it ASAP) I had no trouble getting into the book.  It stands alone, and the references to the previous book are clear enough without bogging down the story line.

The Kyrgzstan government is precariously positioned for either a triumphant future, or a devastating defeat.  Army trained Foreign Affairs Officer Amelia Lennon is seeking to help stabilize the regime through diplomatic negotiations with the newly elected president.  While following the lawyer daughter of the president, she thwarts an abduction attempt by those who are resistant to the new government, and finds herself struggling to survive in the war-torn landscape of Kyrgzstan. 

“Boss” and his spec ops team have been tasked with the responsibility of rescuing the two fleeing women.  In addition to the old team, two new members have been added.  And now the team has been ordered into battle with zero time for assimilation.  Unknown to the team, there are larger stakes at hand in this game of war and deception.

Written with a thorough understanding of what it takes to get the job done, you will roll with laughter at the give and take that goes on between the team members, and you will weep with sorrow at the situations they are forced to endure.  Grab some coffee, and a box of tissues, because you are not going to be able to put this book down until you’ve finished the journey, and you are not going to want to get up to get supplies! 

5 stars.

Review of Germ By Robert Liparulo

Germ

Robert Liparulo

Copyright 2006 by Robert Liparulo

ISBN 0-7852-6178-8

Fiction/Thriller

496 pages

$22.99 Jacketed Hardcover

Do we have a match?  That is the question that is on everyone’s mind, as they contemplate their fate.  In Germ, the deadly Ebola virus has taken on a new dimension, as bioterrorists have developed the genetic know-how to determine just who will develop a full-blown case of the deadly disease, and who will survive with a common cold.  And the determination is made with cold-blooded, 100 percent accuracy.

Julia Matheson is a specially-trained FBI investigator, attached to the Bio-Terrorism Unit of the Department of Homeland Security.  Her partner, Goodwin Donnelley, has been ruthlessly murdered by assassins working for a shadowy figure, after coming in contact with one of the “carriers” of the virus.  Now it is up to her to unravel the threads leading up to her partners murder, bring the deadly plot to an end, and the sinister masterminds to justice.  Before they manage to target her for murder . . . or worse.

While in seminary, I was told to “leave the tools in the woodshed,” and bring out the finished product.  Robert Liparulo has done exactly that in his novel, Germ.  From page one I was drawn into this masterfully crafted work of fiction.  Even when handling technically difficult material, the author manages to “show” rather than “tell,” thus keeping the reader fully informed, completely up-to-date, and thoroughly engrossed.  While the price may seem a bit steep, you won’t begrudge the expenditure of a single penny when you invest it in the purchase of this action-packed thriller.

A Review of FINDING GOD WHEN YOU NEED HIM MOST by Chip Ingram

Finding God When You Need Him Most

Chip Ingram

ISBN 978-0-8010-6812-6

Christian Living

Baker Books

209 pages

$14.99 U.S.

Chip Ingram, president and teaching pastor for Living On The Edge, reveals how you can meet God in the midst of your most difficult circumstances.  This is a topic near and dear to Chip’s heart, as he strives to spur Christians to a deeper, more authentic walk and talk with God.   Candidly coming to grips with some of life’s most challenging, discouraging, and humbling situations, and providing personal anecdotes to let you know that he, too, has “been there,” Chip opens up the Scriptures to find God’s answers for each particular encounter.  There are also Questions for Discussion and Reflection at the end of each chapter, so you can use this book as a study guide for small groups, as well as a personal devotional.  This book would make a great gift for a friend or loved one who may be facing some of life’s challenges.

5 stars