Nonfiction Review: Passing Through by Jeremy Walker

It will be easy for many a reader to dislike what Jeremy Walker has to say in "Passing Through." I'm included in that. Walker does not hesitate in calling Christians to live a Christian life under the headship of Christ, in the world but not of the world. That does not come easy to me because I'm not a big talker. The written word is more my thing, and I'm no missionary. But the topic appealed to me because Walker talks from the perspective that we are pilgrims. He uses a great deal of Scripture to support his points, and encourages readers to fight the Devil, pursue the Great Commission, and so on. I appreciated his extensive use of Scripture and his thought-provoking points, but found that Walker tended to repeat himself and that many of his points overlapped. Although there were certain chapters that interested me more than others, such as the chapter on respecting authorities, the book really needed more specific examples: How does Satan appear in our lives? Where do we draw a line? How do we confront the issues of our modern culture?

*Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Nonfiction Review: Mormonism 101

"Mormonism 101" presents a detailed, document-supported record of Mormon history and belief. Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson contrast common Mormon perceptions and beliefs with Christian Old and New Testament Scriptures, quoting most from the Mormon-approved King James Version. Coming from a Christian perspective, the authors do aim to point out faults and inconsistencies in the Church of Latter Day Saints. However, they write with respect and mostly use actual Mormon sources for their proofs. The book is long and comes in small print, organized by topic (rituals, salvation, pretty much everything), but is very much so worth a read.

*I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Christian Fiction Review: Dead Dog Like Me

Five stars for a wonderful and engaging story of redemption. Two stars for some big "no-no's" in style and more. "Dead Dog Like Me" by Max Davis is nothing like its back cover description. When mega-church pastor Nick tries to commit suicide, his trip back in time as Mephibosheth in the Bible lasts only two or three chapters in the book - and they're short, easy-to-read chapters. The rest of the book is about Nick's struggles with his inner demons over his bad relationship with his wife and his son's suicide. The story and characters themselves are interesting and compelling. Still, Davis has several small typos in his writing, his narrative style is plain, some of the situations and the time they take are unrealistic, and Davis uses parentheses and foreign languages in some odd style choices. The real unforgivable sin for Davis as a writer, however, is that more than halfway into the book he switches from first person point of view (as Nick) to third person point of view (as Nick's wife, Abbi). And the third person doesn't last long or take much space in the book, either. Worst of all, in one section he changes in the same section from third person as Abbi to third person as Nick! This would be a really fabulous book if Max Davis could just decide on one style of writing and change the Mephibosheth episodes to dreams or looks at the Bible rather than time travel.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Nonfiction Review: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality

Kevin DeYoung gives a historical and Biblical view on homosexuality in his short, quick and easy read, "What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?" DeYoung addresses popular liberal arguments and controversial Bible passages from a strong, reasoned conservative position. His insights on God's attributes (love vs. judgment) and explanations of misunderstood histories are particularly interesting. However, DeYoung's aim is to address what the Christian perspective should be, so his book does miss a few opportunities to defend his case. A discussion of whether a homosexual can be a Christian would have fit well. And I would have liked to have read more about homosexual parenting (DeYoung implies that marriage is solely for procreation - which makes either a misunderstood or faulty argument), as well as responses to liberal arguments that compare straight to homosexual relationships (i.e. What is the difference between desire and companionship?).

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Nonfiction Review: Redeeming Philosophy

"Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions" is basically a systematic theology for Philosophy. Unfortunately, there is nothing basic about this book. Although there are a few small insights about the Trinity and non-Christian worldviews, the author gets caught up in the complicated details of "perspectivalism," "the one and the many," triads (I make it a point to not use a triad here), and giving names to the obvious. By the time the topic actually becomes interesting, chapters are shortened and explanations become confusing. It takes a lot of concentration and patience to read this book.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Fiction Review: Empire's End by Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerry B. Jenkins' "Empire's End" deserves three stars just for being slightly more readable (and less painful) than previous Jenkins efforts on fictionalizing the Bible. His version of Saul/Paul's story maintains interest, but feels more like the story of any other early Christian. It just doesn't feel like the Paul of the Bible - this Paul keeps a journal and has a romance. Furthermore, Jenkins misses several opportunities to delve deep into emotions, motivations and history. His descriptions are plain, and because he quotes directly from the Bible, characters' speech habits are inconsistent. When Paul is in the wilderness, Jenkins has God teaching Paul word for word from the New Testament, which strips the NT books of their historical context and style as authored by man (inspired by God). Paul repeats his conversion story a lot, and it becomes tiresome to read again and again. And Jenkins inserts a modern, relativistic sensibility into Paul's conversations. The ending is sudden and begs for a sequel. Again, this book is far better than past books by Jenkins, but the author has a long way to go to become a notable writer worth the reader's time.

*I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Romance Review: Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson

Christine Johnson creates enjoyable characters and strong character and plot development in the first of her "Keys of Promise" series, "Love's Rescue." The story involves ships in a tropical setting, it's a historical story, and the leading lady is named Elizabeth, so I couldn't help but think of Pirates of the Carribean as I read. Still, playing the score for those movies in my mind as I read only added to the excitement.

The secrets revealed are expected, but serve their purpose, and Johnson uses her Romeo and Juliet plot to deal with patience, painful sins, slavery and more. Starting the story with our characters already in love, however, left little room for Elizabeth's chemistry with Rourke, the ship Wrecker she loves whom her family has forbidden. The solution to their troubles is a bit obvious (why didn't it come sooner?). Also, Johnson uses a lot of confusing jargon in her first chapter.

The suspense is there, however, and the action starts immediately, from the first page. Once I started, I could not put the book down.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.