by Steve Ink ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2015
A succinct but thorough analysis of the Christian faith that raises thought-provoking questions in a personable voice.
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An investigation into the foundations of Christianity through one of its most popular verses.
Ink, an attorney with experience in full-time and lay ministry positions, brings careful, precise analysis to one of the Bible’s most well-known lines: John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life”). Citing quotes from a range of cultural figures, such the Rev. Billy Graham an Christian author Max Lucado, Ink discusses the impact of simple, profound phrases on our conscience as a society. For him, though, nothing compares to the depth and profound nature of John 3:16: “One could dwell and meditate for a lifetime on this one sentence.” Ink offers a thorough probe into the words of the verse, including an insightful retelling of the Gospels for context. He deconstructs its words and phrases to find the engaging subjects they represent by blending historical references, personal anecdotes, biblical analysis, and figures of popular culture. The components of the verse—including “God,” “the world,” “believes in him”—become springboards to discuss myriad issues and ideas pertaining to modern Christianity. In the section on the phrase “his one and only Son,” which covers both notions of parenthood and Jesus as “a historical figure,” Ink shows his true powers as a researcher, bringing together information from varied sources and making it all accessible to a wide audience. He often shows skill at filtering complexities and making them relatable. He often inserts clever takes on classic ideas, as when he refers to John as having been “a strange desert creature” before finding Christ, or when he breaks down the complicated theological study of sin into layman’s terms. Overall, Ink has produced a very close textual reading that’s academic in its approach but clearly intended for a wide audience. His inclusion of “Thought Questions” at the ends of chapters make it ideal for personal or group Bible study, but his accessible tone and obvious knowledge may appeal also to other readers who are curious about Christianity.
A succinct but thorough analysis of the Christian faith that raises thought-provoking questions in a personable voice.Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4908-7688-7
Page Count: 202
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Timothy Paul Jones ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2005
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
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by David Brooks ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2015
The author’s sincere sermon—at times analytical, at times hortatory—remains a hopeful one.
New York Times columnist Brooks (The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement, 2011, etc.) returns with another volume that walks the thin line between self-help and cultural criticism.
Sandwiched between his introduction and conclusion are eight chapters that profile exemplars (Samuel Johnson and Michel de Montaigne are textual roommates) whose lives can, in Brooks’ view, show us the light. Given the author’s conservative bent in his column, readers may be surprised to discover that his cast includes some notable leftists, including Frances Perkins, Dorothy Day, and A. Philip Randolph. (Also included are Gens. Eisenhower and Marshall, Augustine, and George Eliot.) Throughout the book, Brooks’ pattern is fairly consistent: he sketches each individual’s life, highlighting struggles won and weaknesses overcome (or not), and extracts lessons for the rest of us. In general, he celebrates hard work, humility, self-effacement, and devotion to a true vocation. Early in his text, he adapts the “Adam I and Adam II” construction from the work of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, Adam I being the more external, career-driven human, Adam II the one who “wants to have a serene inner character.” At times, this veers near the Devil Bugs Bunny and Angel Bugs that sit on the cartoon character’s shoulders at critical moments. Brooks liberally seasons the narrative with many allusions to history, philosophy, and literature. Viktor Frankl, Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Tillich, William and Henry James, Matthew Arnold, Virginia Woolf—these are but a few who pop up. Although Brooks goes after the selfie generation, he does so in a fairly nuanced way, noting that it was really the World War II Greatest Generation who started the ball rolling. He is careful to emphasize that no one—even those he profiles—is anywhere near flawless.
The author’s sincere sermon—at times analytical, at times hortatory—remains a hopeful one.Pub Date: April 21, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-8129-9325-7
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
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