A straightforward, interactive devotional meant to help readers reach out to others with messages of faith.
A devotional resource that encourages Christians to spread the Gospel through one of most common means of modern communication: text messages.
Not long ago, a Christian might have called their children to reflect on a recent church sermon. Now, they can do the same via the ever popular text message. This devotional encourages daily reflection on the Word of God over the course of 31 days. Many sections begin by introducing a hypothetical person, identified only by a first name and a brief description—such as someone who enjoys boxing matches, a student, a homeless man, or a mother raising a child with autism. Each of their situations provides a gateway to a discussion of faith and God’s plan. All sections end with brief passages of Scripture or paraphrased reminders that readers may text to a friend, family member, or other loved one; it’s all meant to encourage Christians to stay present in their faith. Brooks’ debut is straightforward and thrifty, and each of the “texts”—which is what she calls its chapters—are short, economical, and to-the-point. This makes them easy for a reader to revisit as needed, whether one wishes to share its lessons with new friends or simply strengthen their own beliefs in times of crisis. Each entry reaffirms common biblical ideas, such as the wisdom of parents and the importance of showing them fealty, while interjecting modern touches and everyday examples, including a fondness for sports metaphors. Early on, however, the author makes it clear that she believes that faith is often ridiculed and that Christians are wrongfully stigmatized as intolerant—a defensive tone that’s incongruent with the book’s largely positive message.
A straightforward, interactive devotional meant to help readers reach out to others with messages of faith.Pub Date: July 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-973601-07-4
Page Count: 92
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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