Reflections on the Bible, and Other Writings, from a Christian Perspective.
Over the past month, I have been focusing on uploading all of my backlog of book reviews that I originally posted on Goodreads. Since so many have been shared recently, I've put together a list of such posts and a brief summary of each one.
Bad Church Good Church: A Memoir of a Former Catholic Priest by Tom Kane is a short, and surprisingly psychological book. It contains four parts. The most important of which discuss the author's upbringing and journey to become a priest, the problems he faced, and how his beliefs have changed over time.
20 Most Asked Questions about the Amish and Mennonites by Merle and Phyllis Good is a quick, easy read for those who want a short summary about these religious groups.
The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History seeks to accomplish a very difficult task. That is to provide a fair list of the 100 most important events in Christian history in just over 200 pages. They strive to provide an overview of events in the perplexing history of the people of God that will provide a convenient look at major contours and catalysts that have shaped Christianity.
In her book, If Nuns Ruled the World: Ten Sisters on a Mission, Jo Piazza profiles ten nuns and the causes to which they have dedicated their lives. Her primary goal is to show how badass nuns are, and spends about twenty pages on each woman’s story to do so. In a sense, she succeeds.
The Catacombs of Rome by Fabrizio Mancinelli is an exploration of a number of burial sites around the city of Rome. It features a large number of photos of artwork from the third through fifth centuries that depict a wide variety of Biblical events. Even though the book is only 64 pages in length, it contains an impressive 120 images.
Blasphemy, by Asia Bibi, is the memoir of a Catholic woman who was sentenced to death over a cup of water. It tells the story of a simple, illiterate farmer's daughter who was accused of blaspheming against Mohammed and the religion of Islam. This book records what led up to her imprisonment, the first two years of her terrible treatment, and attempts to free her.
Sometimes it is necessary to be rebuked in order to see our faults. This correction can help us move toward change that results in us being more like Christ. As I reflect on Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris, that is the concept that comes to mind. Despite its small size, it can make an impressive impact on the reader. In some ways it did for me.
When Life Hurts, by Philip Yancey is a short book that tries to help the reader understand God’s place when one feels pain. It contains five short sections that one can go to when facing a particular challenge about pain.
What can we expect when Jesus comes in His glory and sits on the throne of His glory? Many things, but one of them is division! Matthew 25:31-46 provides an incredible and terrifying glimpse of the judgment to come. In the passage, Jesus separates people from all the nations as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. This will be great from some, and horrible for others.
