Tag Archive - review

Number, Please…

May 21, 2013 in Ministry with 0 Comments

Last week I talked about the demographics of the area surrounding our church – it’s vital to know who you are trying to reach. What I didn’t mention was how easy it is to find that information.

Initially, I tried looking through census data but that takes a lot of time to simply find data that in turn, you’ll need to refine, especially if  your ministry covers multiple zip codes or town names. Then I stumbled on MinistryArea.com. Using reports compiled by the Percept Group Ministry Area makes finding the demographics of your area drop dead simple. It’s inexpensive as well.
Continue reading…

10 Christians – a review

April 23, 2013 in Books with 0 Comments

I enjoy biographies and try to read at least one each year. I thought 10 Christians Everyone Should Know would be a good way of reading several mini-biographies at once. I was looking forward to reading about Saint Patrick, Galileo, D.L. Moody and the rest of the diverse set of historical figures.

Unfortunately, the writing is dry and uninspiring. Much of the tales seem to be hacked together from other sources with no overall goal but to impart random information about the figure. In some ways, that’s what a biography is about – learning random facts…but they also tell a story about the person that helps you get to know them, this book doesn’t.

A book of abbreviated biographies should give the reader a taste of the people, perhaps sparking a hunger for more. These simply make me want to avoid reading any more biographies.

While I’m fairly certain the collection is historically correct, I found this to be a tedious, dry and uninspiring read. I received this book free via Book Sneeze in return for a review. I’m sure that they were hoping for a positive one, but instead, I was so uninspired by this book that I allowed my account to be suspended rather than finish reading it.

If you’re interested in these people, you’re better off reading wikipedia.

Fatherless

April 16, 2013 in Books with 0 Comments

There is no denying that family is an emotional word. It brings different images to mind for different people. And for many, it’s an uncomfortable word. I think that is part of why there is such a backlash against family in our culture.

A couple of months ago, I was doing some research for a sermon on family and found a large number of anti-family comments, many from popular authors or leaders. Here’s just a sampling:

  • Speaking at a colloquium at Colegio Mexico in Mexico City, UNFPA representative Arie Hoekman denounced the idea that high rates of divorce and out-of-wedlock births represent a social crisis, claiming that they represent instead the triumph of “human rights” against “patriarchy. – Reported by Lifesite News
  • Writer Linda Gordon seems to side with Lenin’s idea of winning the country through the destroction of family as she writes, “ The Nuclear family must be destroyed.”
  • “Marriage as an institution developed from rape as a practice. Rape, originally defined as abduction, became marriage by capture. Marriage meant the taking was to extend in time, to be not only use of but possession of, or ownership.” Andrea Dworkin, author

So what, this is simply radicals, right?
Read more of the Review of Fatherless »

Tools for the Hungry

March 26, 2013 in Books, Education, Ministry with 0 Comments

Last week I mentioned that I would share some of the implications of our marriage’s preaching to others – especially to out children. However, I’m going to put that off until next week. This week, I want to share a resource with you that I think may be helpful for you and your children.

Last year I had the opportunity to review The Action Bible. The commercial for the this Bible shows a child running home from school and dashing to his room because he wants to dive into this book. While I thought that may be a bit of an exaggeration, I found that my son did pretty much the same thing – he loved reading the stories…so much so that he pulled out his full bible and began comparing the two versions.

When I preached a few weeks ago I mentioned that one of the main signs of a converted heart was a growing hunger for God. I also said that is hard to see. I want my kids to be in the Word, to fall in love with it, to have it oozing from them. I think the Action Bible helps bring that to life for them. While their hunger is still hard to measure, it is reassuring to see them desire to read the stories of faith.
My Thoughts on the Action Bible Handbook »

The Preschooler’s Bible (a review)

October 30, 2012 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Last week I was able to spend about an hour on the phone with V. Gilbert Beers, author of the Toddler’s Bible and now, The Preschooler’s Bible.

A week earlier, I received a copy of the Preschooler’s Bible so I could review it here. The package came while my youngest son (age 6) was near and, of course, he wanted to know what it was. I told him it was a book for me to review and he wanted to watch me open it.

When I pulled it out, he said, “Oh, that’s my Bible.” Took it from me and began reading it. Over the next few days I inquired about taking a look at it so I could share with all of you and was consistently told, “I’m reading it, you can see my Bible later.”
See the rest of the review and enter to win a copy »

Page 1 of 3123»
You shall teach [my words] to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house,
and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deut. 11:19