Thomas Frank Books

Frank Thomas presents a thorough description of the process of preaching in the African-American tradition. In doing so, he makes the case that his "Sermonic Plot" for planning sermons can be adapted by preachers of any tradition to help not only plan the structure of the sermon, but also build in an assurance of grace for the hearers of the sermon.

Frank Thomas has developed a methodology for the kind of preaching that moves the congregation from the pew to the "mountaintop." Although this book is spiritually based, it contains steps to follow throughout the entire preaching process. One of the things I really liked about the book is that it the powerful treatment of the subject of "celebration." Whereas, most authors of preaching books briefly mention the topic, Thomas provides a thorough analysis of the phenomenon as experienced in African American Christian worship. He takes the time to explain what celebration is, its purpose and function in preaching, and a process that evokes the spirit of celebration. This book moves the reader into a state of awe by discussing the core belief of the "assurance of grace" as it relates to celebration and preaching. Thomas discusses theses topics from the emotive and theological perspective of black preaching and the impact it has on the hearers of the sermon. When the reader is able to fully grasp what Thomas is saying, he or she is better equipped to design and deliver sermons, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, that touch the very souls of the congregation, and motivate or challenge the preacher to be the cheerleader in the worship service that, "never quits praisin' God. This book is suitable for any preacher who loves to preach. The material in this book is suitable for both professional clergy and lay ministers alike.

What is it that makes Black Preachers so compelling? Why does it seem as though the Black Preacher is more passionate and emotional in presentation and the people?

Well this book seeks to answer these questions as well as defend the use of Passion and emotion in sermon delivery and preparation. This book presents a sermon as follows:

* Introduction of a problem
* Resolution of problem by the Gospel
* Celebration of the resolution of the problem.

At the introduction of the problem stage it is important to get the congregation on board in not only understanding mentally the problem, but experiencing the problem by being able to see the problem in their own lives. This is primarily emotional, but there is also a cognitive component

Then the black preacher skillfully shows how the gospel resolves not only the problem of the Biblical Story, but also the problem that the people are going through. This is primarily cognitive, but as always there is a emotional component.

Finally the black preacher closes with the clebration of the resolution stage. This celebration is experiential for we have experienced every other part of the sermon to this point. This is primarily emotional.

The writer privides tips and guidelines for celebration and even provides a method for sermon preparation that has celebration as the goal. This method includes a sermon worksheet that is to be filled out when putting together a sermon.

Finally, there are 3 sermons that illustrate the method which help to clarify the use of the sermon worksheet developed in the body of the book.

This is a good book that can help most preachers to provide an emotional component to their sermons.

The only thing I would probably like is a few more sermons that illustrate the method provided in the book.

Frank Thomas has penned a rare book. Very few books on preaching address Black preaching from a sermonic and exegetical perspective. And very few examine celebration in Black preaching. Most people, naively simply think that "Black preaching is emotional." Thomas, instead, looks logically, rationally, and exegetically at the compelling nature of Black preaching. He outlines celebration in preaching as the passionate and compassionate presentation of a problem, resolution of that problem by Christ's Gospel of grace, and celebration of that resolution by the pastor and people as one united congregation. None of these three elements are only emotive, as they all involve cognitive, spiritual, experiential, and volitional components.

Thomas not only explains the "what," but equips preachers, of any race, with the "how to" of developing a sermon from start to finish that has as its goal corporate celebration of the good work of God. That work, as Thomas explains, moves from the context of the text and the Biblical work of God to the context of the people and the modern-day work of God.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

I just dropped by amazon.com to check on the availabilty of the Heinz book for a potential client. As the owner of a world class art glass studio specializing in FLW "inspired" designs, Studio Deco, I have had the opportunity to review countless books on the subject. In my opinion this is the finest book presently available.

Thomas Heinz is extremely well credentialed and has written the best source book on FLW art glass designs. Finest photography available of a myriad of FLW projects incorporating art glass windows in sequential sequence. This book is the finest book on FLW works in glass. Mandatory read for any design sourcing for art glass projects. You will not find a more authoritarian reference book on art glass designs by FLW.

Tomas Heinz, a practicing architect and skilled photographer has written several books on the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. In this volume, Heinz provides a thorough examination of Wright's glass art designs. The beauty and power of the designs are faithfully captured in nearly 400 illustrations, most of them in color. The first four chapters cover Wright's architectural glass designs from 1889 to 1936. Chapter Two is entirely devoted to the Dana house, which contains the largest and most extensive collection of art glass designs by Wright. Chapter Five covers Wright's use of light screens later in his career, and Chapter Six gives a brief overview of other decorative features which Wright incorporated into many of his architectural designs. A thoroughly annotated bibliography provides an execllent source for further study. This book is highly recommended for the insight it offers, its visual aesthetic appeal, and as a source of information and inspiration to stained glass artists.

Although the project was supposed to last only a few months, Asahi shimbun were absolutely deluged with responses and they eventually printed 1,000 out of 4,000 letters received. Not only does the book give the reader a personal glimpse of what it was like to be a foot soldier, housewife, high school teacher, etc.,it is also organized in a way that details the events of the war from the first settlements in Manchuria to the occupation and even how people feel about their role today. It's a great way to get the full chronology of events as well as all the personal depictions.

I was shocked at how the footsoldiers were treated by the officers and was surprised to read tales of killing superiors in battle, much like "fragging" occurrences in the Vietnam war. Throughout the book there are gut-wrenching stories of combat, but there is also an underlying thread of humanity; officers finding ways to keep their soldiers alive, a vacationing zero pilot who convinces a group of admiring boys not to join the military, a young soldier who secretly puts some of the bones and ashes of other soldiers into the empty boxes so the families have something to pray to.

I sat down to read the first chapter at 6 pm but I couldn't put it down. I finished it at 2 am. My best friend teaches high school history and I'm going to copy off a few of the best stories for him to use in class. This is a must read... for anyone.

This book does a great service in helping us see the Japanese in WW2 as more than mindless fanatics.It is an compilation of letters written to the editors of one of Japans largest newspapers, the Asahi ("Morning Sun")Shimbun during the 50th anniversary commemorations of the end of World War 2.The stories are primarily from military participants or family members of military personnel and most are very frank and gut wrenching. I got the sense that many of the ex military men were trying to come to grips as to why they were fighting- and the answers are not what this American reader has come to expect. I have always thought that the Japanese were brain washed sub-human fanatics when it came to fighting, but many of the stories reveal compassion,caring and a full awareness of the situation they were in. They speak of heartless, cruel and inhuman superior officers who thought nothing of leading entire battalions to death in their quest for glory, but they also realize that these officers were just the products of a military system where cruel treatment of recruits was a tool to instill blind obedience to superior officers. I still don't think that this is a good excuse for the many atrocities that were committed by Japanese forces during the war, but it goes alot farther in helping me to understand how such atrocities,e.g., Rape of Nanking, Bataan death march, arose. The letters from family members are particularly poignant as they recall fathers, brothers, uncles and sons who were never seen again.I was very moved by several letters from family members who had childhood memories of the deceased soldiers that really drove the point home that war is such a terrible waste(hate to sound like a cliche). The Japanese lost more than 2 million people during the war, and it would be hard not to find a family that didn't face tragedy. I gave this book to several friends who said it completely opened up their minds about what they thought about the Japanese during World War 2.While we all agree that Japan was not right for its war of aggression and the pain and suffering it caused to millions of Asians, Americans, British,Dutch and Australians, we can now hear for the first time the voices of the Japanese participants and learn that they too cried and suffered and felt deep guilt for what they did.

The first shocking chapters of this book give us a picture of a military culture whose sadistic norms were so out of control that it's almost incomprehensible. Sometimes I wonder if the allies did Japanese soldiers a favor by killing them so they could escape an army with an absolutely sick sense of discipline. One soldier wonders how many trainees committed suicide to escape punishment: just for breaking a firepin on a rifle! On Japan's surrender, an army nurse recalls soldiers turning on and beating officers who were screaming, "Forgive me, forgive me". Another soldier remembers suffering trainees whispering, "Bullets come from behind in a battlefield". I grew up hearing Korean stories about Japanese abuse that I never thought to be true until now.

It's certainly not surprising that such an army of the walking dead would commit atrocities as a norm rather than as an exception. One story recalls using prisoners as targets for new recruits who were so scared that their bayonets were shaking. He recounts how they drew a red circle around the prisoners' heart, not as a target, but as the one place you were NOT allowed to stab so the prisoners would suffer as long as possible. Many of the tales of wartime heroism are simply acts of decency in defiance of unspeakably cruel punishment.

Was such ferocious sadism unique to Japan, or does this teach us about other great cultures as well? Many admire the samurai, the Zulu, the Spartans and other great warriors reknown for superhuman conduct. Perhaps this sadism is the cost of such greatness - the natural reaction of humans being held to an inhuman standard?

Nevertheless, as the war drags on and unrealistic notions of superiority fade, the stories inevitably become more human and share much more in common with the horrible sufferings of all people from war. It was a war where both the innocent and guilty suffered from the fanaticism of the strong.

The editors reveal that they did not publish articles that were simply long nationalistic rants. Interestingly enough, this coincides with the fact that almost no articles were written by or defended those who perpertrated this plague of barbarism. It may very well be that the anti-war bias of the editors has robbed us of a look into the psychology that gives birth to atrocity.

I read this collection of sermons in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. And I wished I could have heard them. This message is powerful (of course! It's got the power of the Creator of the universe behind it!) and practical. These words grasp the hurting soul and show a better way, a way out of pain. No sugar coating or shortcuts here.

In looking for a book to give advice to a heartbroken teenage Christian girl - who had fallen into sexual sin- I stumbled upon this treasure. How refreshing to hear from an African American male on this subject. As a female, we can only give girls so much advice, but when the girls hear it from the male point of view, maybe they will believe what Christian mothers have been trying to say to their daughters for years. I also found the book helpful for parents as well. Have your teen read this book as soon as the issue of dating comes up!

It went from curiosity to a life-changing journey. Dr. Thomas has delivered his soul to people struggling with relationship additions. He delivered his heart and faith to the fiber of my feelings. It was during the second reading that I transformed from teacher to pupil. I have taught teens for years the fundamentals of love God's way. Never have I heard so succinctly the truth God's love His way. Melodramas, relationship additions, sex-capades and stuck on stupid are all spelled with care and honesty from an author with an attitude. His book shook my soul and broke my heart. I knew God was dealing with my own weaknesses, then. When God's uses this author in real time, you know a booklet of this caliber has the passion and power of a preacher at large. He delivered his soul and saved mine. Read it and be changed. It may save your relationships.

My 12 year old son has the complete set of Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories. He's had them for five years since they came out in 2000 and has a total of thirteen Wild & Wacky CD's that he treasures. He listens to one almost every night, but frequently pulls them out during the day, as well. Not only does he find them interesting and entertaining, but Mom and Dad do, too. Frank Peretti is a master story teller, comedian. You'll find yourself visualizing Bible stories in a whole new way and laughing out loud at these wonderful stories, time and time again.

My kids love Mr. Henry!!! If you want your kids to have a deeper understanding of the Bible and have a lot of fun at the same time then buy this product. This is unlike any other childrens Bible stories/education program I have ever seen. Even though my kids have heard most of these bible stories, Mr. Henry helps them to experience them. They beg to hear Mr. Henry tell them "just one more." Mr. Henry (Frank Peretti) does such an amazing job making the stories come alive. He helps the kids comprehend God's Word. I am so thankful for these audio cds.

I love Frank Peretti's books and decided to take a chance with this CD collection. "It is terrific!" It is done for kids but believe me adults will love it also. Be ready to laugh yourself silly. I think that it deserves more than 5 stars!

My 12 year old son has the complete set of Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories. He's had them for five years since they came out in 2000 and has a total of thirteen Wild & Wacky CD's that he treasures. He listens to one almost every night, but frequently pulls them out during the day, as well. Not only does he find them interesting and entertaining, but Mom and Dad do, too. Frank Peretti is a master story teller, comedian. You'll find yourself visualizing Bible stories in a whole new way and laughing out loud at these wonderful stories, time and time again.

These are great stories done very skillfully by Frank Peretti. His series of "Wild and Wacky" tales is a super alternative to TV. It holds the attention of children, it's funny but it has a clear message.

My kids love Mr. Henry!!! If you want your kids to have a deeper understanding of the Bible and have fun at the same time then buy this product. This is unlike any other childrens Bible story/education program. Although my kids have heard most of these bible stories, Mr. Henry helps them to experience them. They beg to hear Mr. Henry tell them "just one more." Mr. Henry (Frank Peretti) does such an amazing job making the stories come alive. He helps the kids comprehend God's Word. I am so thankful for these audio cds.

I ordered this book on pre-release several years ago. I have laughed my way though it. Children are fascinated by the illustrations, and they love the stories. All the great ones fom the Bible. Moses, Adam & Eve,Noah, David & Goliath, Jesus and the Little Children.

I am a pastor and loaned his book out to a 5 year old girl, to keep her interested in something as I was talking with her parents. After I stopped counseling with them I thoughtI wouldn't see the book again, so I began a search for another copy only to find out it was no longer in print. I located it through Amazon was able to buy it. The day after I received the new one, the little girl brought my copy back and I told her it was hers to keep. Tears of happiness and a big hug followed. Thank you for helping me introduce a little girl to a Christian outlook on life.

Frank Pereeti as Mr. Henry is a wonderful story teller. He makes classic bible stories and lessons fun and easy for kids to understand. Parents too will enjoy reading these stories to and with their children. Great for all ages! Wonderful Christian stories, for everyone!

Frank Peretti is a master storyteller and his talent shines through with this book. From the age appropriate text to the eye-catching, comical pictures, this book is a worthy investment. And on CD Frank Peretti is his expressive, wild and wacky self.

Although this books is truly focused for young children, I've found that teens, adults, and seniors enjoy the pictures and sometimes even the CD!

Note that the audio CD is NOT a word for word read along CD. The CD actually has a lot more details than you will find in the text. With that said it is still delightful to listen to the CD and follow along with the pictures.

We bought this book to introduce our son to the stories in the Bible. It is a really good book because it relates to everyday life and the book is divided up into sections : Obedience, Faith, Trust, Courage, Prayer, Jealousy, Forgiveness, Nativity, Miracles, Helping Others, and Salvation. Our son just loves these stories is alway picking up the book to read. The stories are funny and at the same time you learn a lesson from the bible.

This book kept me interested thru out. The story of LT Frank Erickson is one of persistance and will. I felt the books ending is what really made it all come together "The Sum of All dreams". The story of Michael Odom is a book within itself. This autor really did his home work and left me understanding the importance of helicopters and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Tom is a gem. He's one of the few people who has written of Coast Guard Aviation who knows that of which he speaks, having been there and done it. This is not to disparage the various historians and popular authors such as Sebastian Junger who have tried to get a handle on what it is we do, but we Pterodactyls are a tight-lipped bunch to outsiders. But Tom is one of us, and we're glad he blabbed. He has done a meticulous study of Frank Erickson and the evolution of the search & rescue helicopter and the mundane, but necessary innovations such as the rescue hoist. Without the machinations that Frank went through, rescue at sea would be a very different business today. Many people do not understand that the United States Coast Guard INVENTED hoisting people from the water. Frank was brilliant, uncredited, and unknown, outside of CG Aviation. He was disdained by the seaplane community in the CG during his lifetime. The passage of time has proven Frank right. In his book, Tom grasped and articulated the struggle that Frank went through proving his theories and nicely packaged Igor Sikorsky's vision for the helicopter as a tool for humanitarian service. Even my non-flying friends enjoyed the book...which I recommend when they ask what the heck it is that I do for a living.

U. S. Coast Guard aviator, Lt. Frank Erickson, on December 7, 1941, saw sailors struggling in the waters of Pearl Harbor. He remembered an article about a small helicopter developed by Igor Sikorsky. Erickson felt here was the ideal rescue tool for the U.S. Coast Guard aviators to help those in distress. From this time forward Erickson worked toward this goal. In the end, it cost him his career. Erickson ran head-long into those officers who felt seaplanes were the ideal rescue device. The book traces the struggle to have the helicopter accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard. One of the interesting currents running through the book is that of strong-willed officers fighting for a cause and willing to sacrifice their careers to advance it. This is one of those rare histories that show the contributions the U.S. Coast Guard has made to naval history. The book is recommended to anyone interested in military and naval history, either in or out of aviation.

Just an addendum to my previously submitted review: This review reflects my personal opinion and not necessarily that of the American Bar Association or any of its committees or subcommittees. Thanks!

As the chair of the American Bar Association's Subcommittee on Electronic Commerce, I recently reviewed this book for an upcoming issue of the South Carolina Law Review. In that review, I noted that few other works have addressed the intersection of electronic commerce and banking law, and characterized the book as "a consistently impressive combination of a treatise and a client memorandum." I found particularly useful the authors' detailed, informed, and intensely practical surveys of electronic payment technologies, regulatory actions, and judicial decisions. Separate sections, which can be read independently, are devoted to the missions and relevant activities of various regulatory agencies such as the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Other chapters discuss security and privacy of online banking systems, the operation of stored-value systems such as Mondex and Visa Cash, online brokerage and insurance services, intellectual property online, and Internet-based jurisdiction. I believe that this book is useful not only for reference but as a survey of developments in this rapidly-moving area. In my opinion, someone who sat down and read 50 pages a night of 21st Century Money, Banking and Commerce could get painlessly in two weeks more substantive information than most seminars on electronic commerce could deliver.

This is one of the latter works written by Thomas Paine, one of the
founding fathers of the U.S. and writer of THE AGE OF REASON, a two part
treatise on the error of the concept of written revelation, particularly
in the form of the bible. This book is titled as part of that work, but
this part is rarely to be found in any edition of it, but is found
simply under the separate title of EXAMINATION OF THE PROPHECIES. If you
have not read the two parts before this one, I recommend you do, as much
of this one will not make sense without them.

In this work, Paine examines many supposed prophecies, mostly those
mentioned in Matthew, since that gospel is the one that lays claim to
the most prophecies out of any of the gospels. Paine shows the original
statement in the Hebrew scriptures that the New Testament writing
quotes, often altered, and displays with his characteristic humor how
out of context and contrived they are. He also did some of this in part
2 of THE AGE OF REASON.

This particular edition is helpful in that the editor, Zindler, includes
some commentary with insights from the original Hebrew and Greek that
Paine did not have at his disposal, showing how frequently he was
correct in his assessments, as well as places where he was mistaken.

This is an important addition to the library of anyone interested in
Thomas Paine or in biblical criticism.

This book is a excellent antidote to books like "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" that fool unsuspecting readers into the validity of the Bible. Paine's work "Examination of Prophecies Age of Reason" examines one by one, each alledged prophecy and compares them to the Old Testament to determine if the texts where prophecies or not. It's a superb work on the NT but really belongs with a Christian, he needs to read it much more than a non-believer.

Many Christians cite Old Testament passages as prophecies of Jesus that appear in the New Testament. In this work, Thomas Paine exposes all of the so-called prophecies as either irrelevant or taken out of context from the original Old Testament passages. This is the Third Section of his masterwork "The Age Of Reason" which does not make all editions, due to its' content, yet it is probably the most vital section. This particular edition is made even all the more valued by the footnotes of American Atheist scholar and writer Frank Zindler. He does an excellent job in clarifying the Greek and Hebrew grammar problems and also in making certain chronologies clearer. This is an excellent book for the debunker of Biblical claims.