Review Of Ted Dekker's Green

Okay my review of Green is pitifully late, but the past months were crazy busy for me. I finished reading Green a few months ago but was unable to think through to review it. So here goes the review now that my brain has had time to "recover" from busy activities.

In the book Green, Ted Dekker once again masterfully continues and finishes the story of Thomas Hunter and Billy Redigar, with Thomas in the future and Billy in our current time. Such is the last of the Circle Books, cleverly deemed Zero: the beginning and the end. It picks up where White left off or if you haven't read Black you can read this to start the adventure. I love the way Dekker has cleverly woven the past and the future together so masterfully. Filled with action this book is a non-stop adventure helping us to see that there is a distinct choice between good and evil knowing that we cannot serve two masters. Ultimately Elyon must be served and only His path leads to real Truth and Life. I cannot wait to read the next books due out by Dekker this year.

To purchase Green click here. Its a great read and filled with promise and hope.

Notes From the Tilt A Whirl

Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl
Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World
By N.D. Wilson
Read this for the Nelson bloggers review and must admit I have a love-hate relationship with it. I love the challenge he gives to the reader to experience life to its fullest through observing and awareness. Some of the topics he covers in his most creative way:the problem of Evil, Heaven and Hell, does God exist, Creation, and the Sovereignty of God.
I love the creativity of his writing and alliteration as well as the imagery his words invoke. Also that he truly is "showing" you his insights from the Tilt-A-Whirl. I also love the challenges to see the world through God's creative eyes, not missing all that He is trying to show us through this "ride" called life. For instance one of my favorite quotes: "We are always on stage. We are always in a novel, and even when no other characters are around, the art continues. The Triune audience watches" (p. 33)

But I do "hate", which is truly too strong a word for my emotions with this, how long it takes him to make a point due to his creative use of words. I do "hate" how he uses offensive slang and curse words at times, I think its unnecessary and to some I think it will be offensive and they will miss the points because they are focusing on the words too much. I "hate" how he never resolves questions leaving the reader to wonder where he stands.

Finally, reading this is definitely a wild ride. It is an experience. If you are a logical, "just give me the facts and the bottom line" type of reader I can almost assure you that you will be frustrated reading this book. However if you are an experiential reader, loving the ride that the author will take you on while gleaning from his insights then you will love this book. Having the words Tilt-A-Whirl in the title are indicative of the "ride" you will be on from the very first chapter to the end.

Another Great Resource for Parents of Little Girls

I want to reccommend a book to all you mommies and daddies of little girls. God’s Little Princes Devotional Bible is a Children’s Bible story and devotional guide for little girls ages 4-7. As a preschool minister I highly recommend this book to families. It is a great tool to help start that faith journey for little girls and to grow them up understanding what it means to be God’s little Princess. This little book is packed with ideas that will help parents to share family Bible Reading time together. But it is much more than just a little Bible Story book. Sheila Walsh has done a fabulous job weaving in ideas for acting out the stories which helps the story come to life as well as a great way for little girls to remember what the story was about which helps scripture stick; manners alerts, that allow mommies and daddies the opportunity to teach their little girls how to have those traits that every little princess should have; Bible Princess snapshots, allowing you to take a look at some of the Bible’s “Princesses” and finally reminders to them about where real beauty originates from within. If you are looking for a great book to inspire your little girls to read the Bible and to help you jazz up your family devotionals buy this book.

Recommended Reference Book: Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions

I am sure many of you that normally read my blog are wondering why in the world are you putting this review here? Well I have started something new and am reviewing books for Thomas Nelson as part of their blogger readers program. And I actually chose this book. Crazy? Yes and no. Yes in that this is a reference book and most are not drawn to reference book and no because I believe this is vital information for every Christian believer. Today we are seeing the "back door" of the Evangelical Christian Church church grow wider and wider. Many that have grown up with a basic belief in Christianity are leaving in droves to pursue religions that are scary at best. Many of our teens that have grown up going to church are being drawn into the self absorbed self consumed religions such as Witchcraft and Spiritualism. Have you checked out the preteen and teen sections in Barnes and Nobles lately? Your child can learn to channel and also cast basic spells. So all this to say I am concerned. Because many of our parents are not informed or educated about #1 what they believe as Christians and #2 what their neighbor who is a big Mary Baker Eddy fan and follower believes who is taking their children to reading rooms with their kids. To some parents this seems harmless but it is a deceptive luring away of your child to their faith. But this won't happen if you as parents will first of all know what you believe and pass that along to your children and second of all become educated about what others around you believe. So that you can talk educatedly with your children. So.. below is my "official" review of this reference book. I do think its a great resource. And although it is pricey as all reference books are I think it is a necessary read and reference source.

This is another needed reference book to be put on the shelves (or at least donated to your church's library) of everyone who is in ministry and every parent who wants to be up to date on today's major religions. The author, Mr. James Beverly, writing from the evangelical Christian perspective, covers the beliefs of Buddhism, Christian Science, Hinduism, Islam and many of the other world religions that we are "used" to hearing about. But he also tackles some of the "newbie’s" that are growing rapidly in popularity such as Baha'i, Sikhism, New Age Sects such as Christian Science, Satanism and Witchcraft. I appreciate the information on the origin of the beliefs, and their belief structure as well as the historical and current impact that these religions are having on our world today. While Mr. Beverly has done an excellent job outlining his perspective and giving the reader his thoughts on the Christian’s response to other religions and the basics of the Christian faith in the beginning of his book, I wish he had included charts at the end of each religion he covers that allow the reader to quickly compare that religion’s beliefs to basic evangelical Christian beliefs.