Book Blurbs: December 2019

I love books, and every month I attempt to give quick thoughts (or “blurbs”) on books I read that month. These are not extensive book reviews but bite-size endorsements or warnings about books available for church. Enjoy!

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking (published by Bantam Books, 2017). 223 pages. I don’t have any idea how to rate this book, because I didn’t understand hardly anything within it. My brain already is science-challenged, and this author was in a completely different universe. The words he used weren’t that difficult, but I simply did not understand his conclusions, theories, etc. Even though Hawking was an atheist, I am not convinced that is why I didn’t like this book. I can read books I don’t agree with and still enjoy parts of them. For me, with this book, it simply flew over my head. I don’t have a better understanding of black holes, time, wormholes, and physics. You probably won’t see me reading this author again. BOOK RATING: 5 out of 10 stars.

Immanuel God With Us by Robert Doares (published by Crossway, 1994). 125 pages. This was my first photo essay book to read. Well, it wasn’t really a “photo essay” – more like an “art essay”. But I think that’s close enough. Because I have never really read a book like this, I have nothing to compare it to. I enjoyed reading the captions for each picture, even though they are brief. The book is an artistic chronology of the life of Christ, with a synopsis of the major events and passages in the Gospels to read. In my opinion, the art was a little blurry and some of the main characters were not as noticeable as the scenery around them. And the scenery wasn’t all that special either. Truthfully, I am glad this was a shorter book, because I wasn’t very stimulated by it. BOOK RATING: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (published by Chosen Books, 2006). 269 pages. This book has been on my shelf collecting dust for too long. The author was a Dutch watchmaker who survived the Holocaust and helped hide Jews from the Nazis. All her family were killed in concentration camps. This story is one of resolute faithfulness and compassion, survival and restoration. It was an enjoyable read filled with moments of inspiration and heartache for what was taking place in German during her lifetime. In a dark period of our history, this author’s life was a beacon of hope. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Billy Joel: America’s Piano Man by Joshua D. Duchan (published by Rowman and Littfield, 2017). 183 pages. I am a huge fan of this musical icon! I have listened to his music since I was a young teenager, but have never got around to reading anything biographically about him. This book, however, is not a biography. Only 1 chapter talks about the history of his life – Chapter 1. Most of the chapters explain the musical theory behind his hit songs and meanings of his lyrics. I was intrigued to learn about the heavy amount of political and social statements that Joel has attempted to make over the years, and admit as a lazy listened, I hadn’t observed that feature to his music. I learned that I have not been as thoughtful in listening to the lyrics as I was being “pumped up” by the sound of the music. This book has encouraged me to pay more attention to what is being sung than how it sounds. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

Do Not Hinder Them: A Biblical Examination of Childhood Conversion by Justin Peters (published by Justin Peters Ministries, 2017). 117 pages. This is more of a book about childhood baptisms than it is childhood conversions. And when I refer to childhood baptisms, it is the author’s contention that children who profess the name of Christ are too easily confirmed as Christians by baptizing them, when they often make superficial professions of faith. He goes as far to say that 20 might be a good age for baptizing Christians – so we can establish patterns of repentance and spiritual growth. The author’s concern about preemptive baptism in children is a valid one, but where this book falls short is offering practical advice on how to navigate through those “steps of faith” that children often make. So, if you are looking for a “warning book,” you have found it. But if you are looking for a book offering practical suggestions on leading your child to Christ, keep looking. BOOK RATING: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Green Mile by Stephen King (published by Plume, 1997). 465 pages. Love, love, love. I saw the movie first, bought the movie, and have watched the movie. The book? Not much different from the movie. A few things left out, but no major characters, plots or scenes vary from movie to book, which is a relief. I love the “things are not what they seem” theme to this book. The story follows a number of prisoners on death row (aka The Green Mile). The main character Paul uncovers a false accused crime on behalf of the large prisoner name John Coffey, who has a supernatural power to take evil and sickness out of others. Even though Coffey is eventually (spoiler alert) put to death, the prison guards all come to realize the real story behind Coffey’s crimes. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Becoming by Michelle Obama (published by Random House, 2018). 672 pages. This book is not a political book; it is a memoir. Because of that feature, the book is more biographical than you might think. Michelle was a very down-to-earth young woman never aspiring to become a political influencer and/or First Lady. She was simply a young woman who was working as a lawyer mentoring a young, ambitious lawyer named Barack Obama. Her reflections on elections and living in the White House are very compelling. Her sense of humor is an asset to the book. In short, I really enjoyed reading this book, as I believe I have seen another side to this family the media (even a liberal media) never refers to. While I may never vote for her in political office, her story of growing up in southside Chicago to the White House is a fascinating one. Her reflections on the subtle and overt racism in our country is also helpful. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage: Critical Questions and Answers by Jim Newheiser (published by P&R Publishing, 2017). 310 pages. Follow this question and answer format (40 questions) through some of the most challenging issues regarding the family. You will be helped by the author’s simple and biblical answers. This may be one of the most accessible books on the family in recent years. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Changed Into His Image: God’s Plan for Transforming Your Life by Jim Berg (published by Bob Jones University, 2000). 372 pages. Have you ever read a book that you didn’t disagree with but still couldn’t really understand the author’s main point? That was my experience when I read this book. I think this book is supposed to be a resource for discipleship/spiritual growth, but each chapter really didn’t transition well to the next, and at times, I was confused why the author chose to even include certain material. And it certainly doesn’t help that the author’s writing is dry. I wasn’t helped by the book and probably won’t recommend it to others, but I wouldn’t be surprised if others “hear what the author is saying” and benefit. Like I said, I didn’t discover any error – just bored by the way it is compiled. BOOK RATING: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Life of God in the Soul of the Church by Thabiti Anyabwile (published by Christian Focus, 2012). 243 pages. These series of expositions (from Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and I John) will fill out what the Bible teaches us about biblical fellowship. Fellowship is not something we do as much as it is what we are in Christ. This book will educate and equip you to better love, serve, partner, encourage, restore, comfort, forgive, sin, give, and accept others. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.