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I have always admired Marcia Wallace. Although I was not around to see the original broadcasts of the "Newhart Show", she made a permanent impression on me through the countless hours of reruns that I've seen over the years. She has endlessly been called a 'one trick pony' - inasmuch as she is only really known for one role, that of Carol Kester Bondurant on the "Newhart Show". And Marcia herself admits that she has never really gotten good reviews for any of her other work (save of course for the also iconoclastic Ms. Edna Krubappel voicethrowing that she's done on "The Simpsons" for years.) Nonetheless, the character of Carol was a significant contribution to television history. She was very much her own person, and Marcia's comedic talents made her unforgettable. Carol Burnett, a genius herself, has said that 'if you're too pretty, you can't be a comedian.' Such was the case with Marcia. No, she wasn't that attractive - but she had a perfect look that lent itself perfectly, even if it was only for that one role. She never even had to read for the part - she was hired instantly by MTM Enterprises.

Marcia's life has indeed been a rocky one - and the tone of this book is fine. She's a survivor and she isn't full of self pity. Despite the rags, she's gotten plenty of riches, which included a brief marriage to a man who was very much the one-and-only for her, and a great kid.
However, I think the book overly emphasizes her marriage, the adoption of their son, and her husband's subsequent death. Virtually no details are given about her work on the "Newhart Show", "The Simpsons", or much of anything else. And in that regard, the book is a disappointment.
If these things were added, it would be an absolutely killer book.
Hopefully someday a second edition will be done. Nonetheless, what is presented is a very enjoyable read.

Marcia Wallace-what can be said? She is a woman on the umpteenth wit and full of honesty, always saved from being too sorrowful with her God-given ability to bring humor to situations that would bring the regular person to their knees...but Marcia isn't one of those "regular" people. I love this book because it tells anyone, no matter what circumstances they find themselves in, with a bit of keen-sighted observations and an always open pot of humor, they can achieve all of their dreams one day at a time.

I just finished reading Marcia Wallace's autobiography. This is an incredible read. She opens the door to her life for us as if she were opening the door to her closest confident and friend. I laughed out loud at her many mishaps and cried during the deepest loss a person can experience. This is a great gift for anyone who has had cancer touch his or her life, and who hasn't. It is also a celebration of life, friendship and family. This is a wonderful gift to share with girlfriends of all ages.

This book is NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER material. Marcia Wallace's book is as deeply profound as it is silly. It doesn't matter if nothing or everything has happended to you in your lifetime, you will relate to the humanity in her stories.
The book is bursting with self empowerment and triumph over tragedy and it's one of the funniest books I've ever read.

Look, if everyone who wrote a memoir was a literary writer, would we all be devouring memoirs like we are? Heck no--we've already heard that story. Marcia's story is... well, it's not your typical, 'here's-my-life-as-an-actress' kind of story. Marcia acknowledges indirectly that who we are has a lot to do not only with where we came from but also what we've been through. And heaven knows, she's been through a lot. But somehow she manages to remain a genuinely sincere person who seems to have a rainbow hovering quite near her at all times--something I will now try to be aware of in my own life after reading her book. Unlike many memoirs currently on the market, this is not an outpouring of self-absorbed angst (as it would be if I were writing it). It's a riotous celebration of the absurdity of human life and the power of the human spirit to triumph against all odds. Marcia writes the way she talks, and she's hilariously funny. Buy this book and read it all the way through the next time you have a "life sucks" day. That's my prescription for happiness.

When you're going through hard times, you're too close to the pain to learn the lesson from it. Usually it takes years of distance before you're objective enough to gain any benefit. How to see beyond the surface suffering is what R.T. Kendall teaches in God Meant It For Good.

Kendall's insights are simple yet profound: "Would it change your conversation if Jesus physically walked up when you were talking?" "We feel no need of the Savior as long as we are enjoying plenty." "The question is, do you trust Him?"

I learned about this book in a strange place, the autobiography of Jim Bakker, titled I Was Wrong. I'm suspicious of rave reviews on Amazon, so I had to read it for myself. It's everything the other reviewers and Bakker said and more.

What you'll like most about it is that it's easy reading yet will cause you to think deeply about your life and God's hand in it. We tend to believe in circumstances and coincidence when the truth is that a loving God was arranging things behind the scenes all the while.

If you're feeling frustrated or abandoned, treat yourself to God Meant It For Good. When you understand how God has been refining you and shaping you into the character of his Son, it will bring tears of joy to your eyes.

I got this book yesterday and I will have read by tonight. I can not put this book down! Joseph knew betrayal and trials. The author explores Joseph's struggles and helps us explore ours. All I need to know is that God hasn't forgotten me in the midst of this mess and if I cling to Him He will bring me through...as gold, even. This book is biblical and that alone soothes my soul. It's an easy read. I'm not sure what Bible translation he uses, but my guess is King James. That's okay, because it just makes me dig in my NIV a little deeper. I'm telling you...if you are desperately looking for God in your current betrayal, struggle, problem...this book will lead you to Him if you're willing to be lead.

This is a good read. Each chapter came from a Sunday's sermon -- so easy to read a few pages and set aside, and easily pickup again later. I strongly recommend this book!

An absolute read for everyone
essential for anyone who has been "screwed over"

If someone or some organization has "done you dirt" then you'll live longer and happier if you read this book.

This is truly one of the best books ever written. Actually, anything by RT Kendall is a book with substance

Although I am not a vegan, I do try to limit my dairy. However, dessert is my major weakness. This book is nothing short of fabulous. It taught me how to make healthier desserts, make appropriate subs., etc. She explains all of the uncommon ingredients for those we are new to vegan desserts. I have made a ton of recipes from this book and have not been dissapointed by any! I highly recommend this book.

This book is brilliant. Of my myriad vegan cookbooks, it's recipes are consistently the best and most thoughtfully presented. Every single recipe I have tried has been mouthwateringly good. Fran (if I may use her name so informally, which only feels natural since I use her cookbook so much) leaves out no details when it comes to baking delectable desserts and provides tons of background information on healthy sugar substitutes and the like. I have made many of these desserts for my family and peers and they too have been shocked that there are no animal products or refined sugars in them. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to vegans and non-vegans alike. I am delighted each time I get the opportunity to make something from it.

Fran has really broken some important ground here and offered helpful tips for substitutions and alternatives to the nutritionally pathetic traditional method of dessert making. DO NOT come to this with the expectation of everything tasting like grandma made it -- vegan baking cannot taste exactly like double fudge cake with butter cream icing, nor should it have to. It is tasty in its own way, and once you get used to it, other desserts are overwhelming and unappealing.

Before you read further, however, know that I am not sold on the 0% refined sugar routine because I don't like everything to taste like maple syrup and barley malt, and would rather not spend an arm and a leg to purchase these items over plain old sugar. Fran refers to everything that does not have white sugar as "sugar-free" which is very misleading, inaccurate, and confusing if you don't know what she's referring to. For example, "sugar-free lemonade" (which I thought must just be frozen lemon juice and water?) actually meant organic lemonade sweetened with juices. If the viscosity of the syrup she calls for is necessary, then I will use it, but I ration them out so as not to break the bank.

If you share this mindset, don't dismay -- it is easy to tweak the recipes to allow for some refined sugar. I was seriously impressed with the boston creme pie/cake, which I fed to many dairy-eating carnivores that didn't know it was vegan (and my husband went crazy over it). I was disappointed that the only sugar cookie recipe was wheat-free and nearly inedible (I threw the remainder away after I served them, and vowed never to make something out of here for others without trying it first!). Brownies were amazing, oatmeal cookies were very good (and I tried those using no white sugar), chocolate sauce/glaze made me want to sing and dance.

The "great" recipes in this book are reason enough to buy it, but the good information about successfully baking using the prescribed methods is invaluable (minus the scientific claims and warnings that are presented without reference to any empirically valid source, yet printed as fact).

It is not the most professionally made book (several typos and not aesthetically pleasing), but that doesn't matter to me as long as it's useful. Buy it, peruse it carefully, adapt the techniques, and then use that as a springboard for fashioning your own great good desserts!

These are some of the best desserts ever. I served the blueberry slump at a dinner party, and my guests were blown away that it was all natural. Go Fran!!!

If you really want to make vegan desserts at home, this is a good reference. However, be prepared to shop for hard-to-find, expensive ingredients like arrowroot, kuzu, and agar. Also, I wish the author included approximate times for each recipe, like some of my other cookbooks do. I made the tofu frosting, and even though it was good, it wasn't good enough to justify the two hours it took to make. I think this book is good enough to give it four stars, but I've discovered that, personally, I'd rather just go to a vegan bakery than bother doing it myself.

I am a Pastoral Counselor and for years I have recommended all of my clients to read this book. It is well put together and quite simple for every level of reader to understand. I tell each client not to rush to read the book but to allow the book to "read you". In some cases where David Seamands examples may not be specifically speaking to an element of emotional damage for the reader, I advise the reader to substitute their particular issue. In December 2008 I am releasing my own book, Stop Tripping Over Your Past, and I am hopeful it will be as much of an excellent tool for those who read it as Healing for Damaged Emotions has been for countless readers.
Dr. Ramona Joseph
Charlotte, NC

Great book to help you understand why you are the way you are.
Really helped me a lot.

I have read this book twice and given it to many friends and the responses are always the same. We need to understand the priciples is this book and apply them in our lives. None of us are exempt at some time or other in our lives from the issues discussed.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It pointed out to me that I've been looking at myself through different mirrors, and I haven't been seeing myself the way God sees me. Instead of placing more guilt on ourselves, David Seamand identifies the lies and misperceptions that we've been taught over the years and encourages us to break free from the bondage of those misperceptions. This is a book that every Christian should read.

As a pastor and spiritual director, I've been using this book as a regular give-away to believers when it becomes obvious that they are stuck - some old wound is yet hindering them from normal spiritual growth in Christ. Having ministered among Native People for several years, as well as those dealing with addictions (even as Christians), I found the truths and principles Dr. Seamands expounds on very beneficial in truly helping people heal from their past emotional wounds, and the memories of them, and then be able to progress in spiritual development. I believe our churches have many folks sitting in the pews, Sunday after Sunday, with serious pain from their past adversely affecting their present ability to relate freely to Christ, or to others in relationships. Until we understand this, and how Christ can work through us as "ministers" by his healing grace to nullify the effects of debilitating memories, we will continue to see believers spiritually 'stuck', stagnated in their growth.
Dr. Seamand's book HEALING OF MEMORIES (now titled, REDEEMING THE PAST: RECOVERING FROM MEMORIES THAT CAUSE OUR PAIN), builds on HEALING DAMAGED EMOTIONS by going, in detail, into the process of ministering healing to those with painful, debilitating memories. Every pastor who counsels should understand how to help believers in this way!

This is a book for those wanting to see how metal reacts to various applications --- which are covered in some detail for the metal artist to try some of the procedues on their own. I was truly amazed by how simple variations for the process of Patination and Oxidation could produce such a varied coloration or patterns upon various substrates (metal). Who knew that by mixing ammonium chloride with tobacco will produce such an interested moss-evergreen color variation upon copper. Thus this book served as a great learning tool for me and allowed me to work metal without waste (particularly due to the cost of some metal these days) as the examples provided in the book gave me the confidence to move forward with my own designs. Each section is followed by wonderful gallery examples by numerous artists using the techniques described. Great ideas can be developed by reviewing the metal finishing techniques and observing the gallery examples. More info on how to actually do each technique would have also been helpful, but there is enough to enable every metal artist with significant knowledge of metal to move forward and proceed on some of the finishes described and maybe not fleshed out in the beginning of the section. So classify this book for intermediate or advanced metalsmiths...beginners can review this book, but please gain enough enough knowledge (at least for some processes) to aid in becoming bold enough to proceed. Some techniques are easy enough for beginners - the stamping, rolling-mill, polishing/matt/satin, press forming, and engraving. The other techniques - etching, patination/oxidation, casting, foil, granulation, enameling inlay, and chasing/repousse - are appropriate for those with more experience either through instruction, other book information, chemistry knowledge, and other methodologies.

However, I could only give it 4 stars since one of the most important issues was not covered in significant detail - safety. One page devoted to the subject (page 8) is NOT enough, particularly since some of the techniques are dangerous or at least require controlled conditions with appropriate protective covering of hands/eyes/clothing with stabilizing materials available in case of an accident (e.g. spilling chemicals).

This is a great book to envision the possibilities when working with metals and producing your own jewelry or fine art; and the price makes it an easy addition to your reference library.

I have lots of jewelry books. This is more of "class examples" and the like. It shows many ways to do textures, finishes, etc. and shows the finished product. It has saved me the time and expense of doing them myself. What a help!

Its title is the best description of this book; you must try all possibilities that you can find inside.

I found this book well structured for me as a novice. It provides lots of beautiful examples of the techniques. I'll look for more detailed "how to" instructions elsewhere but this book is a great start.

Awesome book with great illustrations and techniques for many different finishes in jewelry making!! Get this one!!

This book cries out for a different rating system - perhaps a 1-10 scale. Even then one would have to reward an "11" for this magnificent tome. I could not find a single flaw in the entire reading - character development and portrayal was realistic yet unforgettable, the setting mesmerizing (one is instantly transported back to the time of the Inquisition and the faith-filled, simple lives of the city dwellers) and the plot was perfect.

I have read criticism that the tale was not realistic or made suppositions and assumptions that are not exactly correct in the historical sense. But what one should remember is that this tale is an allegory, not a documentary. The fictional city is in Spain and the Inquisition is at its high point when a stranger appears. He is intelligent, interesting, and friendly but an unbeliever. He tells of a land in which belief is arbitrary and where one can change their religion - or choose to have no religion at all. This is too much for Church officials for in their eyes murder, torture and lying can be forgiven but also blessed. A trial of sorts is proposed.

Now we have the second story and the joy is how the two are seemlessly weaved into one arc. A child found among the wolves is being raised by nuns. She is not to be given any religious instruction and if she comes to a belief in a Supreme Being the visitor will be found guilty, otherwise he will be judged to be innocent.

The battle is not between atheist and believer. It is a civil war between two schools of thought within Catholicism - the plain folk and their local leaders and a grand inquisitor who employs "unusual" methods for "protecting the faith". The wolf-girl finally is made to make a statement that can be interpreted as belief and Palindo, the visitor, is tortured to confession. When he refuses to follow this up with another confession (which would then validate the previous "confession") he is sentenced to be burned alive at the stake. A lowly follower trades all her material goods for a balm that will bring instant death upon being heated.

The aftermath is a short but appealing denouement. The bishop's assistant announces he cannot believe in a God that seeks obedience through torture. The wolf-girl returns to her solitary mountain home but not before catching a glimpse of a vast naval armada from the foreign land streaming toward the city that burned its citizen. The rewards of sin...

While I can't top Avid's review (see below) for insight and eloquence, I can say that this book will appeal to you even if you're not normally the type interested in vast philosophical questions. Part of Jill Patton Walsh's triumph is that she makes the discussion of ideas so accessible. One truly feels drawn into the world of this tiny Spanish island and the people who live there. And one does not have to be a literary genius to realize that the structuring of this novel is nothing less than symphonic in its brilliance.

I won't reveal the powerful, throbbing revelation that lies at the core of the novel. Know, though, that this book will almost certainly spark your imagination and challenge your assumptions about faith, life and, indeed, the universe.

This story is an especially pertinent discussion of religious intolerance, and how to live a beautiful, joyful, inquisitive life in the face of it. A revealing look at the genuine sources of wonder life grants us.

Knowledge of Angles by Jill Paton Walsh is one of the best books of our time. Its richly illustrated plot was truly unique. We read this book for a high school English class and both agreed that it was one of the best books we've ever read. The story of a wolf-girl slowly interwines with that of a man unjustly persecuted because of his beliefs. A young girl, raised by wolves, is captured by men and brought into the human society. A kindly boy finds help from the Cardinal who in turn decides to perform a religious experiment with her. She is brought to a secluded cloister where she is to be kept without any mention of God in her presence. In this way, the Cardinal tries to find out if there is actually a high spirit, that seems to guide you. This careful experiment soon leads to surprises, that would best have been left unknown. The story of a wrongly persucuted man makes "The Knowledge of Angles" even more amazing. Palinor, a king from an unknown "perfect world" fell off a boat and swam to a nearby island. He is immediatly thought to be an athiest because he neither knows that God exists, or knows that He doesn't. Palinor was put into prison, then released and taken to talk to the Cardinal. His arguments are so convincing that he even has the Cardinal somewhat doubting his faith. The two stories come together to create a very important theme, one of love, hate, God, and sympathy.

Every single chapter ends with an astonishing line that makes you want to stop and think, to contemplate yet at the same time has introduced a quiet shocking revelation that there is nothing to do but read on, and read and read. The book is clever, is wise but not judgemental. It touches the heart, the soul but is neither sloppy nor politically philosophical. A book to fall in love with, i recommend it to all.

Very good book, lots of useful info that goes beyond the normal documentation.

The content reveals a lot of details of RS. However, I had a hard time to make the samples running.

I found this book to have lots of information, but if you learn best by hands on examples, this is not the book for you. The author shows you a report already done and gives a quick explanation of how he got there. It is not a step-by-step type of book. As a lot of the examples shown do not have a how-to to go with it, I found this book not a good place to start. There are others that are more hands-on and step-by-step which are easier to learn from.

Having said that, if you've had some Reporting Services experience and are just looking to brush up on techniques and/or learn additional techniques, then this book will probably save you the tediousness of having to go through a step-by-step example that you have already done in the past.

Being a Microsoft trainer, and needing to get up to speed in a hurry, I found this book - luckily. This book was able to give me the answers to the "how do I do..." questions I had, and then enabled me to explain these concepts to my students.

Teo's style is easy to read, and he makes it easy to see how you can apply his examples to your reporting needs.

If you need to get up to speed on Reporting Services in a hurry, and need a book you can refer to in the future, this is the one.

The project: create a secure, distributed, Internet-facing, interactive ASP.Net reporting application for a Very Large Customer. The schedule: short. The budget: low. Amazingly, we got it done, and I credit Teo and this book with helping us meet our requirements.

The Microsoft Reporting Services 1.0 documentation is not very useful to the newcomer, and with 7 months' experience now, I can also say it's not very useful to the rising journeyman. The product is quirky, with surprising gaps and baroque security features. Without expert guidance from someone who has worked with the RS dev team I don't see how anybody would get much done with Reporting Services 1.0.

Teo Lachev worked intensively with the Microsoft dev team and the book shows it. Perhaps one of the reasons other reviews here gripe about the examples is that the most useful examples are the non-trivial ones in the second half of the book. Report authoring is the easy part! Delivering your reports to your users in the ways they demand is the hard part, and in my opinion this is where Teo's book shines.

It is no exaggeration to state that without Teo's book, and in particular his discussion of custom security extensions for Reporting Services, we would have failed to deliver the goods. But we succeeded... thanks Teo.

This is the first volume of the two volume herbal set.If you like classical literature and recipes,you will enjoy reading this book.Also has information on tonics and liniments for various aliments.Methods of harvesting and chemical dosages are discussed.And preparation of the extracts and tinctures are detailed.Some illustrations,from the root to the bud,are drawn clearly.Folk tales and cosmetic aspects are included.It's a bit old-fashioned ,yet it reads like an enchanting medieval Herbal Arthurian text. If you're a serious student of herbalism and classical studies,then you'll find this botanical set engrossing reading.

I enjoy this book because it has so many plants in it, even plants we don't usually consider herbs. It gives a lot of info about each plant listed. Very good!

Wish this was back in print in one volume but glad I was able to pick this up. One of the most invaluble resources I have give tons of wonderful information very comprehensive...love it. Only wish the pics of the plants were with each description instead of in their own lil groups.

I received my book in excellent condition and in very short order. I am pleased to add it to my library and am sure it will be well-used.

Although I preferred the older verison this is great for the beginner and advnce alike.

Fulton sheens wisdom is present in these short, daily readings. I highly recomend it to anyone searching spritual encouragement.

An earlier reader, who claims to be from San Jose, states that the readings are nothing more than sayings... perhaps he or she is unaware of the old adage, "Big things often come in small packages." The definition of "Reading" as a noun, does not state the number of words, length of sentences or time required in order to be called a "reading."
Perhaps our friend from "San Jose" should meditate more on the messages contained in each reading and less on the length of them... the unwarranted attack on Ms. Heirich speaks volumes of this individuals character and lack of understanding about meditation and how to best grow and benefit from a book such as Mornings With Fulton Sheen.
The simplicity of the selections is what draws me to this precious little book each morning. Over the past 2 years I have gained much...learned much and in turn, shared much of the simple wisdom found in it.
I encourage you to get a copy and carry it in your car or handbag or backpack...for those times when, as Winnie The Pooh said, you need a little "something."
Ms. Heirich did an excellent, may I say, profound job of editing the massive volume of Bishop Sheen's work. The simplicity of Mornings, reflects her skill as an editor and is what keeps people, like me, returning to it morning after morning.

Mornings with Fulton Sheen was HILARIOUS and IT HAS A GREAT striking words. I STRONGLY recommend to buy this book, It is inspiring as well as encouraging to anyone who reads it.

I have never heard about Fulton Sheen's name before, as well as his writings too. There is one short stories that I like, this book is called Mornings with Fulton Sheen.

As I was reading these pages of this book "Mornings with fulton Sheen" it was about A tough man named John who is subject to sentence to die, after he murdered his wife. John doesn't like to talk to anyone in his cell room. Fulton Sheen shared his words to John. Amazingly, John turns to Fulton Sheen and begins to focus what Fulton Sheen has something to say to him..

Each pages I read is TRUE. He shares many hilarious stories and good advice. He speaks about himself, too. I can imagine, that after I read the pages of this book, I realized that all the writings speaks about ourselves, our neighbors, virtues, and most of all, OUR DEAR LORD!! I think, if you read this book, you may find a good quality of the stories and you may want to share this to your love ones. They too, will laugh..and ask for a copy of Fulton Sheen's too.

This wonderful resource will lend insight and depth to the time you spend in daily prayer. Each of the 120 chapters contains a thought provoking reflection and a related scripture passage. An excellent addition to your devotional library.

What an amazing book! I'm a Christian who has used Transcendental Meditation (TM) and practiced Yoga, but I had never heard of "the ancient and powerful practice of Christian meditation." Of course I knew monks meditate, but this book encourages purely Christian meditation for all Christians, and explains why the difference between Eastern techniques and Christian meditation (which Fulton Sheen said is not the same as devotions) matters a lot! "In meditation the ear of the soul is more important than the tongue. St. Paul tells us that faith comes from listening. In a daily Holy Hour, we wait for Him to speak--and He does!"

This book tells how to meditate on 120 of the hardest questions in life by connecting the heavenly wisdom of Fulton Sheen with down-to-earth action from the Book of Proverbs. I'm a reader and I've read books with 600 pages that haven't had anywhere near the level of practical knowledge and godly wisdom that I've gained from this small book.

Here are just a few of the questions the book asks and answers, each in a few words on a single page with a space to record what you hear from God: How can we teach children to work hard? What is the secret of the missing link? What is the only personal favor Jesus ever asked of His followers? What is the connection between beauty shops and worms? What can you learn from golfing with Jack Nicklaus? What is a five-minute health routine? What is the connection between dirty rivers and bed-hopping? What are the saddest words of all? What is the great fallacy of some types of sex education? How can I know for sure if I'm a true follower of Christ? What three surprises are waiting for me in Heaven? Why do so many acts of rape end in murder of the victim? What are three fool-proof steps to build self-esteem?

I am pleased with Robert Bowman and J. Ed Komoszewski's treatment on the deity of Jesus. I have read a number of books on the person of Jesus, but I have never read one as chock-full of biblical documentation as this. Of course, none of the information in this book will come as a surprise to the committed Christian, as the deity of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith. But when one considers ALL the evidence compiled in this book, it baffles me how the Jehovah's Witness (and those belonging to other faiths that claim to uphold biblical authority) can say this was a doctrine made up by Constantine and Co. in the 4th century. Jesus is not just "a god," He's not an angel, He not the spirit brother of Lucifer. No, this is the God-man, Immanuel, and how fortunate we are that He dwelt among us. All of this is there for anyone to see. I love the acronym "HANDS" and the many resources we've been given, including the appendix A that includes many dozens of verses to support the claims made in this book. One final note: Because this book is very thorough, it is not easy to skim through and get full benefit. I suggest you go slowly, absorb the many verses found within its pages, and remind yourself how Jesus is both Lord and God forevermore!

In genre, this is an apologetic work. That means it is advocating a specific position and marshals the necessary evidence to support that position. The topic under consideration is the deity of Jesus of Nazareth as attested to by the New Testament. And, the preceding reader reviews here on Amazon have well made the point that this book is exceptionally successful in accomplishing its goals to the satisfaction of its target audience. And, its target audience is Christian laity. The authors, Bowman and Komoszewski, are professional apologists and, therefore, professional writers which is evident from their clean, to the point and accessible prose. The list of academic endorsements for this book is long and impressive. And, to the author's credit they spend no time excoriating their opponents.

That the target audience is the faithful and the perplexed speaks volumes about our postmodern era. Almost two thousand years ago, the original Christian apologetic works by Justin Martyr and his successors were aimed at those outside the faith who subscribed to a different "philosophy," polytheism or Judaism. This of course immediately raises the question of why the thrust of current Christian apologetics is almost exclusively inward looking. And quite simply put, Christian faith has been under assault from a variety of sources for the last fifty years or so. Rational skeptics, Jesus deniers, and surprisingly academics within the schools of theology and religious studies have raised doubts about Jesus and his deity and captured a wide audience and media attention . Their opinions range from outright denial of Jesus as a historical figure, to Jesus as a figure so surrounded by myth as to be unknowable, to Jesus as no more than a great teacher who was deified long after his death by his followers. It is probably this last opinion that has gained the most traction from academic sources such as the "Jesus Seminar" and fiction such as that of Dan Brown's, "De Vinci Code."

In a workmanlike, scholarly, and exhaustive fashion, "Putting Jesus in His Place" addresses the question of Jesus' deity as portrayed in the New Testament writings. What it finds is that the New Testament contains a myriad of references to the deity of Jesus and that these references in many instances are quite early. A well worked out typology is offered by the authors that divides these affirmations into five categories. Not only is this information convincing, but on numerous occasions, this book provides the reader with clear and insightful exegesis of N.T. passages. For example, the exposition of the concept of "coming" as a proof text for the pre-existence of the Son of God. End notes are extremely valuable and comprise nearly a quarter of the text. Advanced material as well as bibliographic references may be extracted from these notes if the reader wishes.

One star is duly subtracted because of dating issues regarding the composition of the N.T. books. Following J. A. T. Robinson, the authors date the entire New Testament prior to 70 C.E. While this is a tenable position, it is not the consensus scholarly view. Therefore, we may find the prayer of Stephen in Acts which almost certainly dates to within a decade of the crucifixion juxtaposed with a quote from the Revelation of John which may well date to circa 95 C.E. or 1 Peter which was probably written after 100 C.E. The books only deviation from conservative dating and authorship attributions is that Bowman and Komozewski state that the book of Hebrews was not an epistle of the apostle Paul. While this may be disconcerting to some, it in no way detracts from the authors' exposition of the many passages in the New Testament that date to within twenty-five years of Jesus' death, circa 33 C.E., and which attest to His divinity. Within the context of this books clearly stated objectives, the writers have provided a compelling document that is accessible to almost all.

I haven't yet had the opportunity to read the entire book, but after working through a few of the chapters, taking notes, etc., I can say with confidence that this book is essential reading for anyone interested in how the New Testament describes the person of Jesus.

The book provides a window into the thinking of the New Testament authors, in particular, as they draw on their Jewish background and their common understanding of God Almighty, and then apply that same understanding to Jesus of Nazareth. For example, in the Old Testament, in passages devoted to describing God's uniqueness (Isa 44:6-7ff), Creation is an act ascribed only to God (Isa 44:24); then, in the New Testament, we find Jesus engaged in Creation (e.g. John 1:3; Col 1:16-17). The book is extensive and detailed in terms of pointing out the various ways that the New Testament declares that Jesus is indeed divine, on the level of the Father. The evidence is overwhelming, and the conclusion can only be avoided by distancing oneself from Jewish belief and practice.

This book would make for a fine Sunday School series. The material is well-researched and footnoted, but is also presented within the framework of an easy-to-remember acrostic (H-A-N-D-S). It is also a nice complement to a shorter work by theologian Richard Bauckham - God Crucified : Monotheism and Christology in the New Testament. I would recommend reading Bauckham's book first, then following it with this one.

Ed Komoszewski and Robert Bowman should be congratulated on their fine work. Christians should keep an eye out for both authors. Bowman is prolific, and relevant to the topic of this book, has written some excellent books discussing the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses (who deny the full deity of Jesus), e.g. Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An Answer to Jehovah's Witnesses. Komoszewski is the director of Christus Nexus, an organization of scholars devoted to educating the church in a time when the Scriptures and the person of Christ are constantly under attack. Don't miss his Reinventing Jesus.

Putting Jesus In His Place (PJIHP) is perhaps the most accessible book on Christology to come along since Raymond Brown's "An Introduction to New Testament Christology" -- but this is more than a mere introduction. J. Ed Komoszewski and Robert Bowman, Jr. introduce the interested layperson to Jesus but then bring us into an intimate relationship with him through what the New Testament and current scholarship have to say about him.

The authors have developed the acronym H.A.N.D.S. in order to help the reader memorize the various themes discussed in this book which show forth the deity of Christ. As a student in general, I appreciate any pedagogical tool that will help me to retain useful information, but as a Charismatic-Pentecostal in particular (the Trinitarian kind) I very much appreciate this specific acronym. As a Charismatic, I am accustomed to lifting my hands in worship and adoration of the Lord Jesus. I'm also accustomed to clapping and waving my hands in praise of him. I take the New Testament at its word when it speaks of laying hands on the sick and praying the prayer of faith, so as you can see, HANDS are an integral part of my faith. So when the authors set forth this acronym as a way to instill the Biblical teaching of Christ's deity, it really hit home!

As other reviewers have noted, the H.A.N.D.S. acronym stands for:

Honors
Attributes
Names
Deeds
Seat

Jesus shares all of these things with the Father and the way in which Komoszewski and Bowman go about proving this is nothing short of remarkable. Both authors are extremely gifted writers who for quite some time have been producing top quality material for a lay-audience. They examine not only the major passages of Scripture that many of us are familiar with with regard to this debate, but they also bring to our attention some more obscure passages. We've all seen countless apologists cite John 1:1 or Titus 2:13 in defense of the deity of Christ, but when was the last time you saw someone draw attention to Luke 8:39 (p. 204)? When was the last time you took into account the vast Old Testament material that speaks of Yahweh and the way it is appropriated and applied to Jesus in the New Testament? Think about it... Exactly... It's been a while, maybe even never. It would be impossible to say that no stone was left unturned, but in reading this volume one gets the sense that if there are some stones that haven't been looked under, they're few and far between.

This is a book that needs to be in the hands of every Bible Study teacher, every Pastor, every counter-cult Apologist, and every person interested in theological and biblical studies. Why?, you ask. Because there's not a book on the market that is so easily accessible which dialogues with the best of current scholarship (names like Larry Hurtado, Richard Bauckham, James Dunn, R.T. France, etc.), interacts with the best of current arguments against the deity of Christ (names like Greg Stafford, Jason BeDuhn, etc.), and which takes into account the various points of study that these men have chosen to focus on. Sure, you can find a book that deals with one or two of these themes, but you won't find anything that deals with all of them, and even if you did, it wouldn't be as readable as this!

It's also worth noting that the book is lined with helpful charts that will aid in your memorization. There's detailed endnotes for anyone who wants to dig deeper than the text itself (and trust me, that deep all on its own!). A Scripture index is included and my favorite extra, a recommended reading list. This list reads like the top shelf of my main bookcase, so I can attest to how good it really is.

There's simply not enough positive things to say about this book, but I will say this... There are going to be people who read this book and take exception to it. They'll give it bad reviews and chide about how the authors haven't made their case or have misrepresented x or y. So this is what I say... Get your own copy and find out for yourself. It's that simple and at the price Amazon has it for, you can't afford not to get it!

If you'd like to read my full multi-part review of Putting Jesus in His Place then you can visit the following site:

[...]

B"H

Is Jesus Christ God? Did he claim to be God or was this a fiction manufactured after his death? What circumstantial evidence is there that Jesus and his followers believed he was God or that even his opponents believed that Jesus claimed to be God?

"Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ" is a new book by Robert Bowman and Edward Komoszewski. It is published by Kregel under an academic and professional label but I found the writing style to be very accessible. The authors write, "Our aim is to provide a comprehensive case from the New Testament for the deity of Christ," and they don't disappoint in their efforts.

Bowman and Komoszewski use the acronym "HANDS" to organize the material:

Jesus shares the honor due to God.
Jesus shares the attributes of God.
Jesus shares the names of God.
Jesus shares the deeds that God does.
Jesus shares the seat of God's throne.

As they work through these themes they frequently engage critics of Jesus divinity including everything from the Jesus Seminar types to the Jehovah's Witnesses. In the concluding chapter they write:

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One of the most basic methods of journalism is to ask the "wh" questions: who, what, when, where, and why? (Sometimes a sixth question, "how?" is also asked.) We can apply these five question to the matter of the deity of Christ (arranged in a different order.)

1. Why? This question asks for the significance of the person to others.
2. When? This question asks for the time when the person was present and involved.
3. Who? This question ask for a person's name.
4. What? This question asks for an account of the person's activity.
5. Where? This question asks for the place where the person lives or was active.

You can see that these five questions correspond (perhaps a bit roughly) to the five lines of evidence for the deity of Christ discussed in this book. The honors that Jesus shares with God are the answer to the question of why knowing Jesus is God is significant. Perhaps the most basic of all Christ's divine attributes is that he existed when creation began and in fact is eternal. The names that Jesus shares with God, of course, tell us who he is. The deeds that Jesus does with God tell us what Jesus has done. Finally, that Jesus shares the seat of God's throne tells us where Jesus is.

That these five investigative questions correspond to the five categories of evidence for Christ's deity is not accidental. The information gathered from these five questions provides a complete picture of the facts pertaining to the identity of the person in question. (274-275)

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Throughout the book there are helpful charts to highlight key points. At the end of the book is an appendix organized by each of the five themes with tables that summarize the evidence.

Apart from the apologetic applications of the book, there is helpful commentary on numerous difficult and controversial passages in the Bible. And as you might expect from an academic book, about one fifth of the contents is end notes. I suspect this book will be residing on my reference shelf for some time to come.