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

RELIABLE TRUTH: The Validity Of The Bible In An Age Of Skepticism

Have you ever wanted to engage one of your favorite thinkers, writers, or speakers in an intimate, one-on-one conversation?  Grab your favorite beverage, a chair in your favorite corner, and open the pages of Reliable Truth.

Written by Richard E. Simmons III (no relation to the fitness fanatic, as far as I know!) Reliable Truth provides the reader with insights into the thought of authors such as Anne Rice and C.S. Lewis, philosophers such as Dallas Willard, Craig Blomberg, and Norman Geisler, and scholars from practically every field of knowledge.  And they are all shining the cumulative light of scholarship, faith, belief, and logic on one question:  is the Bible truly the inerrant, infallible, inspired and unique word of God?

The reader will be exposed to numerous ways in which this question has been approached throughout history.  And the most interesting principle I find expressed, over and over is this:  it doesn’t matter the approach, the more questions you ask of the Bible, and it’s relation to history, and geography, and nature, and archeology – the more valid the Bible is proven to be.

This is crucial, because while the just live by faith, it’s not a blind faith.  It’s a faith that has been placed squarely on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we only know about him . . . by reading the Bible.

Finished your refreshments?  Go get another cup.  We may be here awhile.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from The B & B Media Group.

5 stars for honest, open interaction over a polarizing subject.

Reliable Truth

Richard E. Simmons III

ISBN 978-1-939-35800-4

Christian / Inspirational

Union Hill Publishing

189 pages

$22.00 U.S.

                                        CLASH OF THE TITLES 2013

LAURA HILTON'S AMISH FICTION, "AWAKENED LOVE," IS A FINALIST IN THE 2013 CLASH OF THE TITLES.  FOLLOW THE LINK TO VOTE FOR THIS LAUREL-AWARD WINNING AUTHOR.  VOTE TODAY!  VOTE NOW!  VOTE OFTEN!!!

Awakened Love                      

By Laura V. Hilton                           

He’s hiding from a cold-blooded killer; her Amish identity has been stripped away. Both must find a way to balance their hearts, their jobs, and their faith while risking their lives for another.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ by Davis Bunn

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but  woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

                       Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (KJV)

A lesson which Marc Royce and Kitra Korban must re-learn if they are to survive.

In this installment of the Marc Royce adventure series, the story which began with Lion of Babylon and continued in Rare Earth finds an emotional and spiritual conclusion. 

Marc, Kitra and a multinational, ethnically diverse cadre of supporters strive to match wits with a determined enemy adept at saboutage, subterfuge, and misdirecion.  Racing against time, struggling to overcome insurmountable odds, and battling the enemies both external and internal, the team draws courage and confidence from the most powerful force the world will ever experience:  intercessory prayer.

While written as suspense fiction, author Davis Bunn shines the light of faith on the meta-narrative; the story which lies beneath the story.  Timeless truths are skillfully woven throughout, reminding the reader of two spiritual principles that should be rehearsed before getting out of bed in the morning, or retiring to bed at the end of the day:

          1.   There is an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God who is still ruling the universe.

          2.   You are not He.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Bethany House Publishers.

5 stars for hours of arm-chair action and suspense pleasure.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Davis Bunn

ISBN 978-0-7642-1138-6

Fiction/Suspense

Bethany House

332 pages

$14.99 U.S.

MARC ROYCE ADVENTURE SERIES SWEEPSTAKES . . . YOU COULD BE THE WINNER!

                    MARC ROYCE ADVENTURE SERIES SWEEPSTAKES