Books of the Month - March 2009

This month's Book of the Month selections were an easy choice for me to make. After recommending this series in December 2008 and this series last month, it only seemed natural to recommend these two books as well.

This month's selections close out the series of the Belgariad and Malloreon in, what I think, is some of David and Leigh Eddings best work. I generally don't read real life biographical or autobiographical material because I find it very tedious reading. But in "Belgarath the Sorcerer" and "Polgara the Sorceress" you have autobiographies of the two fictional characters that form the pillar of the Belgariad and Malloreon, which intertwines the history of the world the Eddings' have created that is totally engrossing.



I have read the two five-book series many times, but I had only read these two books once before, when they were each first published. I had a hard time putting them down then and an equally hard time putting them down this time. When I finished with "Polgara the Sorceress," I almost wanted to start reading the Belgariad again. Almost.



If you loved the ten previous volumes as much as I did, then these books will be a welcome addition to your collection.

Purchase your copies here and here.

Bonus: For those of you aspiring writers who want to enter the world of fantasy writing, here's how they did it.

Books of the Month - February 2009

I really didn't want to do these books for this month's selections, but since they have dominated my leisure time reading in the last several weeks, I figured I'd do 'em anyway.

The selections this month are volumes one and two of The Malloreon, by David Eddings. The first book contains volumes 1-3 of the original series and the second book contains volumes four and five. This story begins some 12 years after The Belgariad ends, continuing with some of the same main characters and introducing some new ones.





Purchase The Malloreon, Volume One (Books 1-3) here.

Guardians of the West was published in 1988. King of the Murgos and Demon Lord of Karanda followed in 1989. Volume four, The Sorceress of Darshiva, was published in 1990 and Seeress of Kell completed the second, five book cycle in 1992.

I started reading this series shortly after the first book came out in hardcover, and eagerly awaited each new volume, devouring it within days of its release.

While not quite as good as the original series, this story is still good and entertaining. I think you'll enjoy them.

Purchase The Malloreon, Volume Two (Books 4-5) here.

Books of the Month - January 2009

Happy New Year everyone!

The first Books of the Month selection for 2009 will be "Fabricating Jesus" by Craig A. Evans. Evans specialty is the historical Jesus and the Jewish background of the New Testament era. He is a Professor of New Testament and director of the graduate program at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.



Sensationalism sells books, newspapers and Hollywood movies. Has sensationalism also reached the colleges and universities, such that exaggerated claims about Jesus, unheard of even a century ago, are now being popularized by scholars as true facts? What are some of the outrageous claims being made about Jesus? For example, was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene? Was Jesus a cynic, mystic or even Gnostic? Did Jesus never claim to be the Son of God? Did Jesus fake his death on the cross? Did Jesus really ever exist? Evans addresses these and other questions being raised today by scholars who should know better and convincingly argues why such claims should be soundly rejected.

Purchase your copy here or here.


The second Book of the Month feature this month is "Jesus Among Other Gods" by Ravi Zacharias. Born in India, he is President of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and has lectured in over fifty countries and is widely known as one of today's leading apologists for the Christian faith.



You can believe anything you want from a religious standpoint these days, and be accepted in most circles as long as you do not claim your beliefs to be true and exclusive. Why? Because that's not tolerant of other people's beliefs. Zacharias points out that unquestioning acceptance of all things spiritual is absurd, for plainly and simply, all religions cannot be true. Logically, only one can be true and the rest must be false. But how are we to know what is true and what is not?

Zacharias deals with some important questions, such as:

Aren't all religions fundamentally the same?

Was Jesus who He claimed to be?

Can one study the life of Christ and demonstrate conclusively that He was and is the way, the truth and the life?

Two of my favorite chapters include 'The Anatomy of Faith and the Quest for Reason' and 'Is God the Source of My Suffering?'

Purchase your copy here or here.

Books of the Month - December 2008

For the last Book of the Month selections for 2008, I thought it would be good (for me) to stroll down memory lane and review one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. That series is The Belgariad, written by David Eddings.

That being the case, the first selection is Volume One, which contains the first three books in the original five book series. The first book, Pawn of Prophecy was published in 1982, followed by Queen of Sorcery, also in 1982 and Magician's Gambit in 1983.

I first stumbled on this series when I was a junior in high school and loved it from the first time I read it. I've been rereading this series recently, as I've done five or six times over the past twenty years.

The Belgariad will never be confused or mistaken for The Lord of the Rings trilogy or other pillars of the fantasy genre and that really is too bad. Eddings' puts in place some of his philosophy on the fantasy genre. His character development is strong, and the detail of the world in which his characters roam is wonderful. The characters are flawed but compelling and you become invested in them and actually care about (what happens to) them.

The story may be ordinary as far as the fantasy genre goes but there is something compelling about Eddings' writing style, though far from perfect, that keeps bringing me back. I seem to lose track of time when I get involved reading this story, even after all these years. Though I must say that I'm not too keen on this combined 3-in-1 book and prefer reading the individual volumes instead. Below is the original cover art for the first three books.





Pawn of Prophecy opens with the boy Garion living on a farm and being raised by his Aunt Pol. Occasionally a mysterious storyteller drops by the farm to visit. On one occasion the storyteller, comes by with news that a certain object has been stolen and needs to be recovered quickly, uprooting the life of Garion, his Aunt and Durnik, the smith. Turns out that the storyteller is Belgarath, a 7,000 year old sorcerer who happens to be Garion's grandfather, several hundred generations removed and Aunt Pol is Polgara the Sorceress, who herself is 3,000 years old. Garion, Durnik, Polgara and Belgarath are joined by other characters, and the quest to recover the certain object, which happens to be the powerful and legendary Orb of Aldur, begins.

I'm not going to tell you what happens in the other books. You'll have to find out for yourself! And I hope you do just that! Suffice it to say though that everyone I've recommended this series to over the years has loved it. I've never gotten any bad feedback from anyone.

Purchase your copy here.

The second selection this month is Volume Two, containing books four and five of the original five book series. The fourth book, Castle of Wizardry and the fifth book, Enchanter's End Game were both published in 1984.






Castle of Wizardry opens with Garion receiving his birthright and thus becoming King Belgarion, the long awaited heir to the Rivan throne and Guardian of the West. But one daunting task remains for the young king, of which prophecies have spoken for millennia. How it will turn out is anyone's guess, and nothing less than the fate of the universe rides on the outcome. Obviously.

Purchase your copy here.

Books of the Month - November 2008

This month I've picked two excellent selections for you.

The first selection this month is "The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity" by Alex McFarland.



So what are these ten most common objections that this book covers? Well, let's see...

1. God is not real
2. Creation is a myth
3. The Bible is not completely authentic
4. The Bible is not completely accurate
5. Jesus was just a man
6. Jesus is not the only way to heaven
7. A loving God wouldn't send people to hell
8. People are basically good
9. Christians are all hypocrites
10. A merciful God wouldn't allow suffering

If you're like me and many other people, you've struggled with some or maybe all of these questions at one time or another. Well, this book doesn't provide all of the answers and it doesn't claim to. It couldn't possibly in 253 pages. What this book does is give the foundation for answers to these questions. The answers given are biblically accurate, factually correct and existentially satisfying.

Purchase your copy here and here.

The second selection this month is "What if the Bible had Never been Written?" by D. James Kennedy. This is one of the books I'm reading now.



There is no denying that the Bible has impacted the lives of many people throughout the centuries, whether they believed it to be a purely historical book or words to live by. But the Bible, more than any other book, is also the most maligned. The authors attempt to show that the Bible was the inspiration behind almost all of the great explorers, scientists, writers, artists, politicians and educators that the world has ever known. They also attempt to show what extremes non believers will go to discredit the Bible, dismissing it as myth or folklore, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Purchase your copy here.

Books of the Month - October 2008

I'm going to recommend three books for you this month, all by the same author. Some of this man's work has been around for a hundred years and I just recently discovered it this year. The man is Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936).

The first selection this month is The Everlasting Man, first published in 1925. This is the first book of his that I read, back in the spring.




Through an insightful study of the history and nature of man, Chesterton draws the conclusion that the central character in history is Jesus Christ. Then he triumphantly explodes the myth that Jesus is the product of human imagination, asserting with unassailable logic that Jesus Christ is the God who stepped into his own creation right at the perfect time.

This book was one that had a profound effect on the life of C.S. Lewis.

Buy your copy here and here.

The second selection is The Man Who was Thursday, first published in 1908.



Seven members of the Central Anarchist Council, for reasons of security, call themselves by the days of the week but meet out in the open to discuss their evil plans. Who are these guys, anyway?

Buy your copy here and here.


The final selection is Orthodoxy, first published in 1908, which I'm reading right now. Well, not at this precise moment but have been reading for the past week or so.



A bit from the back cover: Of the numerous works that Chesterton wrote, the most scintillating synthesis of his philosophy and deeply religious faith was manifested in Orthodoxy, written when he was only thirty-four. It tells of his earth shaking discovery that orthodoxy is the only satisfactory answer to the perplexing riddle of the universe.

Chesterton was a pagan at twelve and totally agnostic by sixteen. His personal positive philosophy turned out to be orthodox Christianity. This is his account of it and the simple plausibility of traditional Christianity.

Buy your copy here or here.

Books of the Month - September 2008

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

With the Democratic National Convention now behind us and the Republican Convention beginning this week, I thought it would be relevant to focus this months selections on the candidates running for President. Especially now that we're beginning the homestretch in the race for the highest office in the land and arguably the most powerful job in the world.

I strongly believe a person's religious faith shapes their character, Presidential candidate or not.

This first selection will give you a clearer picture of what Democratic nominee Barack Obama believes. There have been many misconceptions circulating in the shark infested media waters about Mr. Obama. I mean, don't you have to be a Muslim with a name like Barack Obama?



Product Review from amazon.com:

Get inside the mind and soul of Barack Obama.

In The Faith of Barack Obama, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield takes readers inside the mind, heart, and soul of presidential hopeful Barack Obama—as a person of faith, as a man, as an American, and possibly as our future commander in chief.

America faces looming inflation, climate change, a national credit crisis, war in the Middle East, threats to security and liberty at home, and skyrocketing oil and gas prices.

With all of these threats to our security, prosperity and freedom on the horizon, it has never been more important to choose the right leader for America.

“If a man’s faith is sincere, it is the most important thing about him, and it is impossible to understand who he is and how he will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life,” writes Mansfield.

In The Faith of Barack Obama, Mansfield holds back nothing to share that vision and explain its roots, including:

• Obama’s upbringing in a non-Christian home
• the influence on his life from his agnostic mother and Muslim father
• his remarkable turn to Christianity after working in the inner cities of Chicago
• his years at the controversial Trinity United Church of Christ
• his association to the radical teachings of Rev. Jeremiah Wright
• the source of Obama’s relentless optimism and hope for America

Every American voter concerned to know more about Obama’s beliefs, both religious and political, and how the two intertwine should read this book, as should every thinking person who continues to shape and evolve his or her religious beliefs.

Barack Obama, according to Mansfield, is “raising the banner of what he hopes will be the faith-based politics of a new generation . . . and he will carry that banner to whatever heights of power his God and the American people allow.”

“You must read this perceptive and well written book. Then you will know why Barack Obama has such a passion for justice and equity, such a gift for filling people of different generations with a new found hope that things can and will change for the better.” —ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU

Order your copy here and here.

For this month's second selection, and in the interest of fairness, I was looking for something similar about John McCain. However I couldn't find anything, so this will have to do.



Product Review from amazon.com:

Books by politicians are not often worth reading, but John McCain's Faith of My Fathers is an astonishing exception to the rule. The Republican senator from Arizona has a remarkable story to tell--better than just about any of his peers--and he tells it well, with crisp prose and an unexpected sense for narrative pacing. The first half of the book concerns his naval forbears: his grandfather commanded an aircraft carrier in the Second World War, while his father presided over all naval forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. They were the first father-son admirals in American history.

Young John McCain knew he had enormous shoes to fill and rebelled against many of the expectations set for him. At the Naval Academy, he was nearly expelled, graduating fifth from the bottom of his class. He never became an admiral, but achieved fame another way: as a naval aviator in 1967, he was shot down over North Vietnam and spent several years in POW camps, where he was beaten, tortured, and nearly allowed to die. McCain describes the awful details of his imprisonment and tells how he stayed mentally strong during seemingly endless months of solitary confinement and how he communicated in code with fellow captives.

Faith of My Fathers concludes with McCain's release and contains no information about his subsequent political career. It is, nonetheless, a complete and compelling memoir of individual heroism--one that will interest both political and military history buffs. --John J. Miller


Purchase your copy here and here.

Books of the Month - August 2008

I had a hard time this month trying to choose which books to recommend for you this month. So I decided to suggest two selections from one of my favorite authors, John MacArthur. You'll find that MacArthur writes with a graceful, easy to read style which you will appreciate. I own many of his books and always enjoy reading them.

Tonight's first selection is:

"These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." -Matthew 10:2-4

Who were these guys and what were they like? Of all the people in Israel, why did Jesus choose them? What does the Bible actually say about them? John MacArthur digs deep into the New Testament to discover more about these people who have a lot in common with you and me.

Purchase your copy here and here.

Not to be outdone, and certainly worthy of fair treatment:





In the companion volume, John MacArthur examines the lives of a dozen significant women form the Bible. They are Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Anna, The Samaritan Woman, Martha and Mary, Mary Magdalene and Lydia.

MacArthur writes that "The faithfulness of these women is their true, lasting legacy. I hope as you meet them in Scripture and get to know more about their lives and characters, they will challenge you, motivate you, encourage you, and inspire you with love for the God whom they trusted and served. May your heart be set ablaze with the very same faith, may your life be characterized by a similar faithfulness, and may your soul be overwhelmed with love for the extraordinary God they worshiped."


Purchase your copy here and here.

Or buy them both as a set.

Books of the Month - July 2008

The last time I featured one of John Stott's books was back in August 2007.

Honored by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World," John R. W. Stott is known worldwide as a preacher, evangelist and communicator of Scripture. For many years he served as rector of All Souls Church in London, where he carried out an effective urban pastoral ministry. A leader among evangelicals in Britain, the United States and around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). He has written many books which have sold millions of copies around the world and in dozens of languages. A hallmark of Stott's ministry has always been expository preaching that addresses the hearts and minds of contemporary men and women. Here is a book written by one who for a lifetime has followed Christ with heart, mind, soul and strength.

The first selection this month is "The Incomparable Christ."

Stott examines four viewpoints of Jesus:

The Original Jesus-- How does the New Testament witness to Jesus in the Gospels, Acts and Letters?

The Ecclesiastical Jesus-- How the church has presented him from Justin Martyr, Benedict and Anselm, to Thomas á Kempis, Luther and Jefferson, to Guitierrez, Wright, and the Edinburgh and Lausanne missionary confessions of the twentieth century.

The Influential Jesus-- How he has inspired people from St. Francis to Tolstoy, from Gandhi to Roland Allen, from Father Damien to William Wilberforce.

The Eternal Jesus-- How he challenges us today through ten visions from the book of Revelation.

In recent years numerous books have been written on Jesus, books that are shaped by faith or skepticism or follow the Western academic quest for the historical Jesus. The result has been a kaleidoscope of Jesuses, a thicket of viewpoints, some troubling to faith, some puzzling to the intellect, and a few that enrich our vision as they explore familiar terrain from new and promising angles.

But the criteria of Scripture's testimony and the effective power of Jesus in lives and history point to a multidimensional Christ who defies categorization and measurement. Jesus is the one figure who, like no others, has changed lives, shaped culture and offers one sure hope for the future. He is the incomparable Christ.

This is the Jesus who is like no other--worthy
of our worship, our confession and our obedience as we follow him into the future.

Purchase your copy here and here.

The second selection this month is "The Cross of Christ."

Stott says, "I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?"

With compelling honesty John Stott confronts this generation with the centrality of the cross in God's redemption of the world---a world in which our world is shaken everyday by tragedy of some sort.

Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? What does the cross mean for us today?

In his eminently readable style, one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of our day brings a contemporary restatement of the meaning of the cross. The cross where the majesty and love of God is disclosed, and the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and the twentieth century. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission.

* A masterpiece from one of the most respected Christian teachers which explores all the facets of the cross and its implication for our lives.

* A classic study on the heart of the Christian faith that examines Scripture, tradition and modern experience with regard to the cross.

* Biblically precise, thoughtful, thorough and filled with practical passion.

Purchase your copy here or here.

Books of the Month - June 2008

You may have heard me say before that Israel is a wonderful and fascinating country, even if you're not into the religious scene. The history speaks for itself, and not just in Israel but for the entire Middle East region, because this area of the world is known as "the cradle of civilization" and for very good reasons.

This month then, I thought it good to focus on archaeology and how the study of these ancient cultures can help us understand our past and where we might be headed in the future.

The first selection this month is "The Stones Cry Out" by Randall Price. Even though this book is ten years old and probably needs to be updated, it will still knock your socks off.



Archaeology very well could be the final nail in Christianity's coffin - if it weren't for the fact that it supports the Bible at almost every turn. Dr. Price has studied, taught and performed archaeology for many years, and puts that expertise at your fingertips by showing what archaeology can prove, what new discoveries are revealing, and what all the evidence could mean.

From the book's back cover: Discover what new archaeological finds have to tell us about Israel's journey to the Promised Land, the fall of Jericho's walls, the Ark of the Covenant, the kings and prophets of Israel, the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the time and people of Jesus, and more. Includes testimonies and interviews from leading archaeologists and exciting pictures featuring the latest finds made in the lands of the Bible. "The Stones Cry Out" will give you a new appreciation for both the world and the Word of the Bible!

Order your copy here and here.

The second selection this month is "Biblical Archaeology" by John McRay and Alfred Hoerth.




From cbd.com: For years archaeologists have been excavating historical sites to recover a better understanding of early civilizations. Their discoveries have given us insight on how, where, and why our essential religious beliefs came to be. Now Alfred Hoerth and John McRay offer you the opportunity to experience these early cultures for yourself.

An informative and engaging introduction to biblical archaeology, this accessible book explores the histories, cultures, and social forces of the earliest civilizations. Full-color maps, photographs, and diagrams walk you through archaeological digs, including those in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Palestine. The knowledge gained through these excavations will give you insight into the historical context and cultural setting of the biblical narratives. The result is a compelling look at the biblical text that allows you to see and truly experience the life and work of such godly men as Abraham and Moses, as well as Jesus and his disciples.

Order your copy here and here.

Books of the Month - May 2008

Wow, it's hard to believe that, with this month's selections, May 2008 begins the second year of my Books of the Month feature. I invite you to the sidebar on your left to review the selections I've featured in the past 12 months.

This month, the modern nation of Israel will celebrate it's 60^th anniversary, on May 14^th, so I think it's appropriate that we focus this month on the history of Israel and it's people.

There have been many good books written on the history of Israel, both ancient and modern. I've simply selected three that I think give a good representation of the subject. I hope you enjoy reading them them as much as I will.

From Amazon.com: "The story of Israel is one of the outstanding tales of human history. Israel, occupying a narrow strip of land between sea and desert, was positioned on an international highway of commerce and warfare. This was a people whose future would be intertwined with the stories of nations great and small. Historian and Bible scholar F.F. Bruce shapes the daunting complexities of this history, nearly fourteen hundred years from the Exodus to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, into straight prose that sparkles with clarity. More than half of the book is devoted to the postexilic history of Israel, the "intertestamental" period and the first-century history that forms the backdrop of the New Testament. First published in 1963, Israel and the Nations has achieved wide recognition as an excellent introduction to the history of Israel. This new edition, carefully revised by David F. Payne, includes some new material and a revised bibliography."

Purchase your copy here and here.

From the book's dust jacket: "In Kingdom of Priests, Eugene Merrill follows a sound methodology that uses explicitly stated and well-reasoned principles in analyzing Old Testament events. He demonstrates how the 'facts' of Old Testament history emerge only after sound hermeneutics that give attention to issues of style, genre, and rhetorical strategies are applied to the biblical text. Merrill provides historical background for each biblical book and period of Israel's history and gives up-to-date information from extrabiblical sources regarding nations and rulers with whom Israel often found itself in conflict. This work is a crowning achievement of a distinguished career devoted to the study of Old Testament history and is destined to become the standard evangelical treatment of biblical history for decades to come." --Mark F. Rooker, professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Purchase your copy here and here.

"The book contains over 350 maps and illustrations. It is, as the author says, 'a verbal/visual feast of the chosen people's story over the last 4,000 years.' There is full coverage of the biblical, Mishnaic, talmudic, medieval, and modern periods based on the latest detailed research. Shmuel Ahituv is one of Israel's most respected scholars."

Purchase your copy here. Amazon.com does not list this title.

Books of the Month - April 2008

The first Book of the Month selection for April is "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible", by Robert J. Hutchinson.

From the back cover: "The Bible was once regarded as the 'Good Book' ... but today is under attack from left wing academics, novelists and screenwriters to justify their own political agendas. But fear not: award-winning religious journalist Robert J. Hutchinson turns the truth about the Bible- as well as the latest biblical scholarship- against the mockers, skeptics and deniers to show that not only is the Bible true, but it is the source of Western ideas of charity, justice, reason, science and democracy. Hutchinson takes you on a fast-paced politically incorrect tour of the most important book ever written. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible is a book that atheists fear and that honest inquirers and believers will relish."

You can purchase your copy here or here.

The second selection for this month is "The New Atheist Crusaders and Their Unholy Grail: The Misguided Quest to Destroy Your Faith", by Becky Garrison. This is the book that I received a free copy of for doing a little bit of price comaprison shopping, which I mentioned here.

From the back cover: "Restless from sitting on the sideline while the latest crop of New Atheists attempts to pulverize Christianity into oblivion, Becky Garrison - a professional religious satirist- has decided to throw down the gauntlet, pick up her pen and meet the anti-God gurus challenge head on in The New Atheist Crusaders and Their Unholy Grail.

Employing a whetted wit and unique spiritual perspective, Garrison wields her irreverent and insightful satire to turn aside the assaults of pop-atheists Dawkins, Harris and Dennett. The New Atheist Crusaders pours a cool, refreshing cup of reason on the most heated debates of our day, including:

Forget War- What is Religion Good For
God: Our Great Celestial Security Blanket
C'Mon, Religion and Science, Can't We Just Get Along?

As humorous as it is honest and as biting as it is poignant, this book will challenge your actions, reinforce your faith and inspire you to stand tall in your beliefs."

You can purchase your copy here or here.

Books of the Month - March 2008

This month, I've decided to review three books. You'll see why when we're done.



The first selection for this month is "The Dawkins Delusion", by Alister and Joanna McGrath. McGrath, who holds a doctorate in molecular biophysics, was an atheist himself at one time and wonders how he and Dawkins can evaluate the same scientific evidence and draw such different conclusions about God. McGrath, in a polite, non-offensive way, systematically, meticulously and effectively picks apart Dawkins arguments in his book "The God Delusion."

Purchase your copy here and here.



The second selection this month is "Dawkins' God", by Alister McGrath. This book attempts to delve into the mindset of Richard Dawkins, who is an outspoken scientist and proponent of secular humanism, evolution and cultural Darwinism. Response is given to many of the theories, foundations and worldview he champions.

Alister McGrath, Oxford professor of Historic Theology and former atheist, offers a vast wealth of information in this volume, following the path that has led many away from faith, Opening windows into theories both for and against natural selection.

McGrath's coverage of memes and mimetics is intriguing, as it illustrates in Dawkins' own terms the types of problems he dismisses from theologians but has no problem believing outside of the religious sphere.

McGrath also touches on thinkers like Thomas Huxley, William Paley and Gregor Mendel. He also covers the idea of Lamarckism (basically, the theory that traits that have changed during the lifetime of an organism can be directly passed on to the organism's offspring) and the concept of awe.

Purchase your copy here and here.



Finally, this month's third selection is "The God Delusion", by Richard Dawkins. It would hardly be fair of me to promote books that criticize this book without acknowledging it as well.

World-renowned scientist Richard Dawkins writes in "The God Delusion": "If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down." Dawkins also writes that, "Evolution has been observed. It's just that it hasn't been observed while it's happening."

Dawkins, a scientist who criticizes religion for its intolerance, has himself written a surprisingly intolerant book, full of scorn for religion and those who dare to believe in it. Dawkins however, anticipates this criticism and claims that it's the scientist and humanist in him that makes him hostile to religions, mainly fundamentalist Christianity and Islam. He claims that these religions close people's minds to scientific truth, oppress women and abuse children psychologically with the notion of eternal damnation.

Even some confirmed atheists who agree with his advocacy of science and vigorous rationalism may have trouble stomaching some of Dawkins rhetoric, like the biblical Yahweh is "psychotic," Aquinas's proofs of God's existence are "fatuous" and religion generally is "nonsense." The most effective chapters are those in which Dawkins calms down, attempting to draw on evolution to disprove the ideas behind intelligent design. Dawkins also attempts to construct a scientific scaffolding for atheism by using evolution to rebut the notion that without God there can be no morality. He insists that religion is a divisive and oppressive force, but is less convincing in promoting the idea that the world would be better and more peaceful without it.

Purchase your copy here.

Books of The Month 2007 archive page

Today is that wonderful extra calendar day that we only get to see every four years.

Do you know anyone that actually celebrates a birthday on February 29th?

The most famous name I came up with is Alieen Wuornos (b. 1956), the Florida prostitute turned serial killer. She was executed by lethal injection in Florida State Prison on 9 October 2002. She was gruesomely portrayed by Charlize Theron in the film "Monster" (2003) for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2004.

-----

With the March 2008 Books of the Month post set for tomorrow, I thought today would be a great day to clean up the template a bit and archive the selections I recommended in 2007:

December 2007: Wizard's First Rule and Confessor by Tery Goodkind.

November 2007: Captured by Grace by David Jeremiah, The Doctrines of Grace by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken and Grace - an Exposition of God's Wonderful Gift by Lewis Spery Chafer.

October 2007: I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek and Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller.

September 2007: The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel and 3:16 The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado.

August 2007: Basic Christianity by John R.W. Stott and The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias.

July 2007: 3 Seconds by Dr. Les Parrott and Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels.

June 2007: What have they Done With Jesus? by Ben Witherington III and Evidence for Christianity by Josh Mc Dowell.

May 2007: The Biblical Basis for Modern Science by Henry M. Morris and The Big Argument: Does God Exist? edited by John Ashton and Michael Westacott.

Books of the Month - February 2008

The first selection for February is by Dr. Werner Gitt.



This book takes a fascinating look at information and attempts to answer two crucial questions: What is information and where does it come from? Does it originate randomly or is it the product of intelligence?

The retired Dr. Gitt is an information specialist and was a director and professor at the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig), the head of the Department of Information Technology.

Purchase your copy here and here.

The second book of the month selection is "The New Answers Book", with Ken Ham as general editor. The book features contributions by Paul Taylor, Mike Oard, Mike Riddle, Dr. Andy McIntosh, Dr. Bryant Wood, Dr. Tommy Mitchell, Dr. Georgia Purdom, Dr. Jason Lisle, Dr. Monty White, Dr. Terry Mortenson, Bodie Hodge, Dr. David Menton, Dr. Andrew Snelling, and Dr. Clifford Wilson.



The book takes on such topics as:

millions of years
the gap theory
dinosaurs turning into birds
local flooding vs. the great flood
the Ice Age
distant starlight
carbon-14 and radiometric dating techniques
the supposed proofs for evolution.

Purchase your copy here or here.

Books of the Month ~ January 2008

To start 2008 off right, the first selection of the year will concentrate on two classic works from C.S. Lewis: "Mere Christianity" and "The Screwtape Letters". Mere Christianity was my first exposure to Lewis, long before I appreciated his Chronicles of Narnia series. Both books are excellent reads and are not overly long or technical.

Arguably the 20^th century's most influential Christian writer, C.S. Lewis sought to explain and defend the beliefs in "Mere Christianity" that nearly all Christians at all times have held in common. Lewis employs thoughtful, logical arguments that are eloquently expressed. He describes those doctrines that the four major denominations in Britain (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic) would have in common, e.g., original sin, the transcendent Creator God, and the divinity of Jesus as well as his atonement and bodily resurrection.

Whether or not one agrees with Lewis's arguments, it is a pleasure to read such an eloquent work. This simple yet deeply profound classic, originally delivered as a series of radio broadcasts in the 1940's, is a work that is still relevant today; must reading for believers and skeptics alike.

On "The Screwtape Letters" (summary appears on Amazon.com):

Who among us has never wondered if there might not really be a tempter sitting on our shoulders or dogging our steps? C.S. Lewis dispels all doubts. In The Screwtape Letters, we are made privy to the instructional correspondence between a senior demon, Screwtape, and his wannabe diabolical nephew Wormwood. As mentor, Screwtape coaches Wormwood in the finer points, of tempting his "patient" away from God.

Each letter is a masterpiece of reverse theology, giving the reader an inside look at the thinking and means of temptation. Tempters, according to Lewis, have two motives: the first is fear of punishment, the second a hunger to consume or dominate other beings. On the other hand, the goal of the Creator is to woo us unto himself or to transform us through his love from "tools into servants and servants into sons." It is the dichotomy between being consumed and subsumed completely into another's identity or being liberated to be utterly ourselves that Lewis explores with his razor-sharp insight and wit.

The most brilliant feature of The Screwtape Letters may be likening hell to a bureaucracy in which "everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment." We all understand bureaucracies, be it the Department of Motor Vehicles, the IRS, or one of our own making. So we each understand the temptations that slowly lure us into hell. If you've never read Lewis, The Screwtape Letters is a great place to start. And if you know Lewis, but haven't read this, you've missed one of his core writings. --Patricia Klein

You can get them both in one volume here, and in two separate volumes here and here.

The final selection for this month is "Many Infallible Proofs: Evidences for the Christian Faith" by Henry M. Morris.

Many Christians today are woefully ignorant about the Bible, and what impact it can have on a world in darkness. Even skeptics can get some solid answers to many common questions about the Bible and its authenticity and reliability. In this excellent book, Morris discusses such hot topics as:

Problems in verbal inspiration
Fulfillment of Prophecy
The structure of Scripture
Alleged Bible contradictions
The Bible and science
The Bible and ancient history
The unique birth of Christ

You can purchase your copy here, here and here.

Books of the Month - December 2007

This month, I thought I'd do something a little bit different with the Books of the Month.

In November, the eleventh and last book in the "Sword of Truth" series was published. The selections this month are the first and last books in the series. I've been reading this series for several years now and have eagerly snatched up every installment as it has been published.

Terry Goodkind has invented a world filled with intelligent, flawed, compelling characters and a level of realism that rivals the best that the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre has to offer. Each book in the series has a satisfying conclusion to it but also continues the overall story along from book one through eleven.






The "Sword of Truth" Series by Terry Goodkind

Wizards First Rule
Stone of Tears
Blood of the Fold
Temple of the Winds
Soul of the Fire
Faith of the Fallen
The Pillars of Creation
Naked Empire
Chainfire
Phantom
Confessor

Debt of Bones (prequel)

Books of the Month - November 2007

Do you know what the true meaning of grace is? Have you experienced the grace of God firsthand? Certainly we humans don't fully understand the level of grace to which we've been afforded. This is such a pivotal topic that this month we're highligthing three excellent texts that deal with the issue as well as it can be covered by the pen of mortal man.

The first book this month, by Dr. David Jeremiah, examines grace through the lives of Apostle Paul and John Newton. I'm reading this book now.

"By examining the dramatic stories of the "Amazing Grace" hymn writer John Newton and the Apostle Paul's encounter with the God of grace, Dr. David Jeremiah helps you understand the freeing power of permanent grace and mercy. These vivid examples and fresh biblical insights demonstrate how grace wondrously spans all differences, rescues you from your lostness, helps you overcome your weaknesses, and transforms you from victim to victor. Through Captured By Grace, you'll have a fresh experience of the very personal, transforming effect of God's wondrous gift of grace."

Order your copy here or here.

The second title this month is by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken. I read this book on my trip to and from Dallas in March, 2006. Boice was one of my favorite authors. This book was in the works when he died in 2000 and was finished by Ryken, using Boice's notes.

"There is no question that we live in an age of weak theology and casual Christianity. We have substituted intuition for truth, feeling for belief and immediate gratification for enduring hope. Evangelicalism desperately needs to return to the doctrines that once before reformed the world: radical depravity, unconditional election, particular redemption, efficacious grace and persevering grace. James Boice and Philip Ryken not only provide a compelling exposition on these doctrines of grace, but also look briefly at their historical impact. The authors leave no doubt that the church suffers when these foundational truths are neglected and that she must return to a Christianity that is practically minded, kind hearted, and most importantly, biblically based."

Order your copy here or here.

The third, but by no means least, book for this month is Chafer's landmark classic on the subject of Grace. Chafer's writing style is much more scholarly and intense but eminently readable on the whole.

"No one word in all the Bible more fully describes God's plans and purposes than "grace," and no one work more fully expounds the multifaceted nature of God's grace than Lewis Sperry Chafer. Emphasizing the dispensational distinctions between law and grace, Chafer deals systematically and thoroughly with the relevant Biblical doctrines on the topic of grace. The text is extensively indexed by subject and Scripture reference, making it a handy reference tool for Bible study. Grace is a classic work by one of the 20th century's pivotal evangelical leaders and a basic reference text on the subject for pastors, Bible students and Bible teachers."

Order your copy here or here.

Books of the Month - October 2007

The first book for this month's Book of the Month Selections is absolutely fantastic. The authors don't even mention God or religion for the first half of the book and do a fantastic job with convincing, logical arguments. A must read for Christians and skeptics alike.


All worldviews---including atheism---require faith. But some belief systems are more reasonable than others! Geisler and Turek make the case that Christianity requires the least faith of all because so much evidence points toward the existence of God and the reliability of Scripture. An engaging, easy-to-follow defense for Christians and very informative for skeptics.

“I already know ten people to whom I will give this book. It’s truly a Godsend.” –David Limbaugh, author, Absolute Power and Persecution, from the Foreword

“I wish [this book] had been available when I was an atheist—it would have saved a lot of time in my spiritual journey toward God!” –Lee Strobel, author, The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith

“If you’re still a skeptic after reading "I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist", then I suspect you’re living in denial!” –Josh McDowell, speaker, author, Evidence That Demands a Verdict

“Atheism requires gobs of blind faith while the path of logic and reason leads straight to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Geisler and Turek convincingly show why.” –Phillip E. Johnson, author, Darwin on Trial and Reason in the Balance

“I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist will equip, exhort, and encourage you‘to give the reason for the hope that you have . . . with gentleness and respect.’” –Hank Hanegraaff, president, The Christian Research Institute & host of the Bible Answer Man

“This book should disturb anyone claiming to be an atheist . . . perhaps enough to persuade them to begin a search for the God who has been there all along.” –Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist, host, After Hours, Fox News Channel

“Geisler and Turek present the crucial information needed to avoid being swept away by the onslaughts of secular ideologies that cast science, philosophy, and biblical studies as enemies of the Christian faith.” –William A. Dembski, author, The Design Revolution

Purchase your copy here or here.


The second book for this month was recommended to me by Esther. Donald Miller is one of her favorite authors. When she suggested I read the book, I did not know what to expect, having never read anything that the author had written previously. Obviously, I thought it was a bit off the wall but still excellent or I would not be recommending it to you.

Brokenness. We deny it, but our innumerable doubts and fears reveal its constant presence. We try and hide from it, but it's lurking behind every concealed corner. In Searching for God Knows What Donald Miller explores the countless ways that we try to fix our brokenness, which work about as well as the attempts of the king's men to put Humpty back together again, and clearly guides us to the fix we've been frantically looking for: redemption. Through clear biblical teaching and witty, engaging stories, Don Miller will help us to confess our brokenness and find the fix we've been searching for.

Get your copy here or here.