Review: The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments

In several different occasions online I have seen the question asked about recommended Christian children’s book.  This is one that I do highly recommend.

Marty Machowski.  The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments.  Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, November 1st 2011. 328 pp.

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Several people have told me they thought this was one of the best Bible story book for kids.  There are many Children’s Bible and Children’s Bible story books out there so I was skeptical when I first heard it until I discovered that the author told Old and New Testament stories in such a way as to point the readers back to Jesus and the Gospel.  I thought that was what made this book unique among children’s book out there.

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Review: Rogue Heroes

Note: I’m away at the moment preaching at a church retreat.  But here’s this weekend’s nonfiction reading review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading.

Ben Macintyre. Rogue Heroes: The History of the SAS, Britain’s Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War.  New York, NY: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, June 1, 1989. 352 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What a fascinating book on the origin of the British Special Air Service and also its early years during World War Two.  This is the first book on the SAS that I read as an adult.  I remember being a little kid reading a book on elite military units and seeing the glossy pictures of the SAS famous raid on the Iranian embassy in London to rescue hostages from terrorists with SAS commandos dressed in black and armed with MP5s.  Ever since then I have been hungry to know more about these guys and as I got older I discovered that I’m not the only one who remains fascinated with this unit.  This book surely is written because of that public interests of Britain’s most famous unit.

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Review: Batman Beyond, Volume 1: Escaping the Grave

A later post today because I was trying to finish this review.  Thank you to DC Comics for this advance review copy.  This volume comes out today.

Dan Jurgens.  Batman Beyond, Volume 1: Escaping the Grave. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, July 11th 2017. 144 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a story of the next generation Batman.  It tells the story of a man name Terry who took the place of Batman. This is volume one of Batman Beyond in the New DC “Rebirth” makeover of the DC hero universe and while some of these new Rebirth series has started out with a shaky start I think this is one that was started out solid.

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Review: Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. Marriage & the Mystery of the Gospel.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 31, 2016.  128 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This is a great book on a biblical theology of marriage.  It is part of Crossway’s Short Studies in Biblical Theology Series.  So far in this series this is my favorite work thus far.  Don’t let the size of this book fool you; it is packed with a lot of insightful gems from Scripture in each page.  I actually spent a longer time reading this book as I was taking notes than some books on marriages that has more pages than this work.  The publisher Crossway definitely picked the right guy to write this volume since the author Raymond Ortlund has previously written an excellent chapter exegetically examining what Genesis has to teach us about marriage for the massive work Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  If you want a beautiful portrait of what a biblical view of marriage is, in its sacredness and dignity, get this book.

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Review: The Shadow: Year One

A lighthearted reading review…because sometimes a Pastors need a break from heavy reading also.

Matt Wagner.  The Shadow: Year One.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, April 28th 2015.  304 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a longer story of the pulp comic book hero known as “The Shadow.”  Not that I’m complaining about it being longer but rather I see it as a delight since this past year I have been immensely enjoying the stories and the character of “The Shadow.”  If you enjoy other titles on the Shadow you will enjoy this one.

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Audiobook Review: The War Before Independence: 1775-1776

It’s the Fourth of July!  For those outside the United States that doesn’t know, today is the day Americans celebrate the founding of the United States as a country.  Here’s a review of an audiobook that’s fitting for today.

Derek W. Beck.  The War Before Independence: 1775-1776.  Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, June 1st 2016.  528 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This audiobook is a fascinating military history on the first few months of the American War of Independence.  Tantor Audio turned the written book into an audio book.  While the physical book is over five hundred pages long the book in audio format comes in at 13 hours and 49 minutes long.  The narration was good and both the reader and the content of the book captured my attention from start to finish.

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Review: Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical

Timothy Keller.  Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical. New York, NY: Viking, September 20^th, 2016. 320 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Over the years I have appreciated the writing of Timothy Keller.  Keller has written this title not just only as Christian apologetics but he makes a direct appeal to those who are non-Christians to consider Christianity.  I thought it was a great angle that Keller was trying to write this book to “talk” to those who aren’t Christians rather than this being another book on Christian apologetics written by a Christian for Christians.

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