Baker Books

I bought this when the book I was looking for was out of stock. I absolutely LOVED it! The activities use easy to find inexpensive materials and make the Parables of the Bible easy for kids to apply to TODAY'S world. I would strongly recommend this to any youth leader who wants to build excitement in coming to youth class! I used this for a preteen class and a teen class; they both enjoyed it.

This is my first year as a volunteer youth leader. I used this resource as a 6-week session. It was excellent! The kids loved the high energy activities every week, yet each lesson had a profound message. Highly recommended!

From London to the coast of Wales we follow the chase. For Nayland Smith has been knidnapped and Dr. Petrie knows he needs help. And he finds help via a friend, Dr. Watson, in the form of Mr. Sherlock Holmes! Mr. Holmes comes out of retirement to help Dr. Petrie only after his own life is threatened. They find themselves dealing with abandoned mines, flying killers and advanced weapons only Dr. Fu Manchu could think up.
Great for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Fu Manchu and old fashion adventures!

The late Cay van Ash was head of the Department of Literature at Tokyo's prestigious Waseda University. He was also the author of an authorized biography of Sax Rohmer, MASTER OF VILLAINY. This is the second of van Ash's three novels (the first was published under a pseudonym in the 1940's) and it is a delightful recreation of the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Fu Manchu. The book fits seamlessly into the continuity of both HIS FINAL BOW and THE HAND OF FU MANCHU. Long-time readers of Conan Doyle and Rohmer will thrill to read how effortlessly van Ash revives these beloved characters. For anyone who has been disappointed with the portrayal of Holmes in countless pastiches, you can rest assured that van Ash recaptures the spirt and character of the original. Best of all, for Fu Manchu fans, van Ash leaves the door open for future authors to mine ideas from the opening of this wonderful literary re-creation.

While living in Thailand for most of the 1990's, I was determined to understand the history of that wondrous country. Unfortunately, at the time there was little written that provided more than the chronologies and "accomplishments" of the Thai monarchy. That was, until "Thailand: Economy and Politics" was published.

This wife and husband team - she (Pasuk Phongpaichit), an economics professor at Thailand's top university, and he (Chris Baker), a history major from Britain - has written the most enlightening history book I've ever read. Beginning with the peasants and the impact that the aristocracy had on their lives, this book looks at history from an economic rather than a time-line perspective. It may be academic in nature, with plenty of tables and references, but it is immensely readable. Rather than fixating on the "who, what and when" of traditional history books, the authors explain why and how events happened as they did.

More than just explaining the past, this book (stealthily) explains a lot about what made the Thai people the way they are. Why are Thais so deferential to authority? Why is petty corruption so endemic in the bureaucracy? How has the large Chinese minority so easily integrated with Thai culture, unlike in many of its neighbors? How was Thailand impacted by the war in Vietnam? How does the monarchy cohabitate with the military and political leadership?

For those unfamiliar with Thailand, this book provides a beautiful portrait of the making of a country. For those who have spent a bit of time in Thailand, it will provide many "Ahh, now I understand" moments. How can a history book be any better?

In the past, Thai history was written by noblemen and created an idyll of a virtuous past, filled with happy peasants living a simple life under the watchful eye of benevolent despots. Unfortunately, many Westerners followed in this tradition, although they (and Thai nobles) criticized more recent, military regimes. This book breaks out of that box and makes it clear that life has never been easy for Thai peasants and that upper classes have rarely been all that virtuous. The authors also show a much more diverse Thailand than the "homogeneity" that is popularly ascribed. In addition, they detail the corruption of recent decades that should make Americans (as well as Japanes and others) who abetted it ashamed of the role they've played in in supporting horrible regimes. An excellent volume that is revisionist in the most positive sense of the word.

In this volume, Gordon Haddon Clark (not "Maddon"; that's a typo on Amazon's part) provides a thorough survey of the history of philosophy. His overarching concern is to argue that secular philosophy cannot provide knowledge of truth and that -- as he suggests on his closing page -- it might be necessary to consider seriously the possibility of divine revelation as the sole alternative to total skepticism. This volume, while suitable as an introduction to philosophical thought, thereby also segues nicely into Clark's own philosophical theology of "Scriptural presuppositionalism."

Now, that philosophy is not without its flaws. In the first place, Clark does not, to my knowledge, ever consider the possibility that "Scripture" might consist of anything other than the Christian Bible; why the Jewish scriptures are inadequate by themselves is not addressed. (If it is argued that the "Old Testament" contains clear pointers to the "New," I shall argue in reply that it contains much clearer pointers to the Oral Law and the Talmud. For example, the written text clearly assumes that its readers have knowledge of various practices -- e.g. the wearing of tefillin, the ritually-correct method of slaughtering animals -- that are not discussed in the text itself. For another, an oral tradition of some kind would have been necessary just to guide the pronunciation of Hebrew words that would have been ambiguous without vowel points. Nothing so clear as this is offered by the standard Christian readings of "Old Testament" prophecies, which uniformly depend on wrenching passages out of context.)

In the second place, Clark's eminently defensible view that God is rational and logical would, on the face of it, seem also to provide a foundation for criticizing the text of Scripture itself. (If the Bible teaches that God is logical, and the Bible is then found to contain contradictions, do we not have a _reductio ad absurdum_ argument against Scriptural inerrancy?) In fact Clark takes it to be a foundation for criticism of _misunderstandings_ of God's axiomatically-inerrant Word, and at a broad, general level this approach is surely defensible. But why this tack cannot be likewise taken by defenders of the Torah (or the Koran) is never made sufficiently clear.

However, these issues actually tell in favor of the usefulness of the present volume. Though Clark himself would surely not have condoned its use in the defense of faiths other than Calvinist Christianity, many of his critiques of opposing philosophies and even some of his defenses of "presuppositionalism" could be profitably adopted by, e.g., Jewish theologians. His reading of philosophical history should therefore be of interest more generally than just to Calvinists.

And at any rate, it is all too seldom that a really great philosophical-theological mind tackles the entire history of philosophy in the first place. Clark certainly deserves respectful attention in this regard by rationalistically-inclined religious believers everywhere, whether their primary philosophical-theological loyalties are to Moses Maimonides or to John Calvin.

I found this book while browsing through the school library and, after remembering an awesome quote which was taken from it, I decided to check it out. Now, having read the book, I would like to recommend it to anyone wanting to study the history of philosophy.

The reason why is two-fold. First of all, the author has a skill rarely equalled in explaining the ideas of the major thinkers on a level the beginning student can understand. Secondly, he shows the errors that each philosopher makes only when it matters--and he does so eloquently.

As proof of the first, consider this quote (the one that I heard once and thankfully remembered) which is excerpted from the section dealing with Heraclitus:

"From a promontory above a mighty river as it flows down a valley, the river between a frame of trees seems to stand still as in a picture. We know that it moves, but we cannot see its motion. Sensation is too feeble and clumsy to see things as they are, and hence common opinion holds that some things do not move. On the contrary, all things flow. No man can ever step twice into the same river. How could he? The second time he tried to step, new waters would have flowed down from upstream: the water would not be the same. Neither would the bed and banks be the same, for the constant erosion would have changed them too. And if the river is the water, the bed, and the banks, the river is not the same river. Strictly speaking, there is no river. When common opinion names a river, it supposes that the name applies to something that will remain there for a time at least; but the river remains there no time at all. It has changed while you pronounce its name. There is no river. Worse yet, you cannot step into the same river twice because _you_ are not there twice. You too change, and the person who stepped the first time no longer exists to step the second time. A person is also a river, a stream of consciousness, as William James called it; and the stream of consciousness never has the same contents, the same bed or banks. Persons do not exist."

Wasn't that grand? I myself have never heard a more forceful (nor a more memorable) argument for the idea of a Heraclitean flux than that. But my second statement beckons for an example of its validity as well. And so, here is the author skillfully pointing out an error in the arguments of the skeptics:

"The skeptics call propositions false, doubtful, probable, and plausible. Their basic principle, however, does not in consistency permit them to use any of these terms. A false proposition is one opposite to the truth. How then can one say that a proposition is false, unless one knows the truth? A doubtful proposition is one that might possibly be true; a probable or plausible proposition resembles or approximates the truth. But it is impossible to apply these terms without knowing the truth by which they are determined."

Now, do you see my point? This truly is a great introduction. It not only "makes the difficult attempt of bringing the student up to philosophy's level," it succeeds. Because of this, it deserves much more than the five stars I'm giving it here.

This book puts work and Christian living in perspective. I found practical and applicable guidance on how to be successful in the corporate world, or on any job, and not compromise my Christian integrity. Kim Hackney takes integrity on the job to another level...character building. When you read this book you realize you don't have to succumb to worldly ways to get ahead; it is already in God's plan to give us a hope and a future. If we do things His way He will give us favor with man.

The style of this book is candid, personal, and easy to follow.
The self reflection sections at the end of each section promote personal growth. I think this book is wonderful for personal or group study.

Buy one for yourself and a few to give as gifts.

Kim's approach to the subject of Christians in the workplace is very real and practical. After reading the book, I actually have bible-based insight and answers to address the many circumstances that all Christians face in the workplace everyday. I now have a whole new perspective of "Why" God has placed us, Christians, in the workplace. My job is no longer just a place where I go to work and earn money, it is now my mission field. Excellent reading!

I was searching for a book that specifically excludes Paul's views, or pre-dates Paul. For once I did not wish to hear what Paul had to say.

The Apostles of the Lord were 'with Him from the beginning' and they formulated the oral and written traditions as they obviously had an important influence on the NT development. They also defined what was normative for the NT Church, and it was in relation to this that I wanted to hear them clearly and unambiguously import Christ's teaching.

Enter Adolf Schlatter. With the precision of a theologian, he incisively went to work on my request. The whole book is profound and Christ-honouring. Every second sentence asks to be re-read. Schaltter's honesty in being truthful to the text makes this an absolute pleasure to read and study. He does engage with other greats from his time, people who have become famous for their unique interpretation of Holy Writ. And yet I experienced him to be above those esteemed by a certain fraternity in Europe. He is not to be confused with the Enlightenment school in any way.

The content of this tome is pure and sound. It is uncluttered by today's
syncrystic standards of theology. I humbly recommend you read it. Thank you, Dr Kostenberger.

'For the Spirit's work consists in subjecting the community to the Christ.' pg 104

'Jude does not fight for a body of fixed doctrines whose possession made one a Christian and whose denial was the Gnostic's sin. He measures solely the orientation of a person's will. Religion is not theory but action, and an individual becomes guilty or righteous by his deeds.' pg 105

Echoing Calvinism:

'It derives its importance from the fact that it comes into being, not as the believer's own accomplishment, be it by decision or insight, but as the gift given to him by God. Therefore faith is exceedingly holy, because it links the community directly with God.' pg 105

'At the present time, the community experiences Jesus' rule by possessing the Spirit. Since it has Him thru its union with Christ...' pg 106

'Alongside Scripture, the community has its foundation in the word of Jesus' messengers. Jude thinks of a closed circle of such messengers and does not include himself among them.' pg 107

'By uniting knowledge with love John also clarifies its relation to faith. Since selfish longings are, however, completely separated from faith, answers are denied to questions that hanker after no more than knowledge.' pg 129

'For this reason theological speculation has always gratefully appropriated Johannine knowledge but always supplemented it with its own ideas. All these theories fail to stop where John does, because his statements do not satisfy their intellectual curiosity. John considered what he wrote to be sufficient, since he wrote in order to establish faith, not speculative theories.' pg 129

'Thus Jesus' messianic ministry merges entirely with His function of revealing God. From this John gains both the complete separation from all forms of piety opposing Jesus in the power of His union with Him. There cannot be any share in the love of God that is not rooted in union with the Son. Following Jesus, brings about inclusion in the love of God, and thus one has passed from death to life. Since believers perceive Jesus to be in the Father, they know that His fellowship with them grants them union with God. Those who believe in Him therefore consider it to be the highest good that they know Him, remain in Him, and are where He is. John 5:24, 6:56, 15:4-7, 17:24' pg 131

In recent years there has been an increase of interest in the writings of Adolf Schlatter. This book is a good example of how a first rate late 19th century (and early 20th century) theologian rises above the prevailing liberalism (esp. the exegetical liberalism) of his day to produce more conservative works. The strongest element in Schlatter's work is the fact that he remains true to the biblical text.

In this text, Schlatter focuses his attention on what the Apostle's writings are communicating. For instance, Schlatter discusses the Apostle's theology regarding God, the Lord's Table, The New Church, Christ and His work, etc. Several Apostle's are given special attention (i.e. Paul and Peter)and James' writings are a major focus as well. Moreover, a brief examination of the Gospels of Mark and Luke, as well as the early Church is brought forth in this text.

Some of the added features of this work include a very nice and informative Preface on the reception of Schlatter's work (1909-23), a subject index and an exhaustive Scripture index. This text is a great place to begin if you are interested in New Testament theology or studying the Apostle's letters and theology. It is also a nice companion volume to Schaltter's work titled "The History of the Christ" (also available here at Amazon).

the illustrations in this book give the western reader a spectacular glimpse at some of the visual spendor of Tibet. the actual writing only gives a basic analysis of tibetan medicine, but this book is a must have for both well-studied practicioners and people with a passing interest.

Age, behavior, diet, personality, physical environment, and season all have a part in health: all disease is caused by jarring the flow between body and world and by not understanding that a self-identity is not fixed or lasting. Good health balances diet, lifestyle, and mental and seasonal conditions. A good diet is the particular basis of all Tibetan medical treatment, with the emphasis on butter, milk, roasted barley flour, and tea. Tibetan medicine wants health kept or restored by internally balancing body and mind: aging shows up with mental and physical stress, and we are poisoned by attachment, aversion, dullness, envy and pride. However, a good doctor has the advantage when strong on compassion, medical understanding, and wisdom: THE TIBETAN ART OF HEALING draws heavily on being sensitive to internal energy flow and knowing plants. Ian Baker's book of 79 medical paintings by Nepalese artist Romio Shrestha backtracks to the Blue Beryl commentary on Tibetan Buddhist health, which is also a concern of John F. Avedon's equally impressive BUDDHA'S ART OF HEALING. I find it helpful to have two other books by the same author: CELESTIAL GALLERY, with the same illustrator, and THE DALAI LAMA'S SECRET TEMPLE, with all the special meditative artwork.

I love the book it was real like someone could have been in your family that was going through that. When I have a little girl I would love her to read this series. I hope very little girl or adult reads these books.

Matt and Julie are approaching their first anniversary, and Julie, pregnant with their first child, couldn't be happier.

Then one day, with a sense of freedom she knew she wouldn't have for much longer, she is in a car wreck that knocks her unconscious. Matt, concerned about possible injuries to the baby, signs the papers to go ahead and have the baby delivered 2 1/2 months early. As a result of being premature, the baby does not make it. Naturally Matt blames himself and Julie sinks into depression and goes back to her parents.

I don't want to give away the ending! It's not as bad as you may think! A grande finale to a wonderful series!!

I am continually impressed and enlightened by Williams' approach to the tradition of the Roman and Eastern Christian communions as a way to build bridges for Protestants to better understand and appropriate their own often unacknowledged theological foundations. The past really does matter, and there are no theological wheels that need to be reinvented.

I purposely do not say "patristic tradition", although it is a perfectly adequate term in the proper context, since that would imply that it is somehow "out there" and we can just latch onto it without also participating in the liturgy and sacramental life which all of the Fathers accepted as normative and necessary. A strong argument can be made that thinking otherwise would be to fundamentally misunderstand the very heritage that this book is trying to promote and sustain, but you may see my other reviews for that discussion (basically, saying you feel French doesn't make you French, and to feel connected to the past doesn't actually connect you to its living present reality, to paraphrase Schaeffer). There is more to it than an intellectual assent. That said, this primer is a fantastic way to start thinking about why the past matters if you are a Christian of any denominational persuasion, and why a serious student of theology cannot assume that what forms the Christian tradition is merely a byproduct of people sitting down and reading their bibles that magically appeared in their midst, without any reference to the Tradition of the Church out of which those very same scriptures were written and interpreted. Everything the Church Fathers wrote is not of the same worth or quality, but you may certainly find a straight line of continuity there concerning worship and doctrine, as they go hand in hand.

To start off with this book is great, and the rest of Williams' works are fantastic and highly recommended. Just don't forget the liturgical context and theology behind that context when you read the Fathers.

Enjoy!
The following books may also be of interest.

Reading Scripture With the Church Fathers

Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement

The Relevance of the Fathers

By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition

Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity for the American Christian

With extensive use of writings from the early church fathers, Dr. Williams takes us into the church's approach to scripture through the interpretive lense of apostolic tradition. This, in itself, is not at all surprising since the writings of the early church fathers team with such "insight." What is surprising is that this text was written by and for the evangelical "bible alone" Christians who deny apostolic tradition as a necessary presupposition for biblical interpretation. This insight coming from such a distinguished professor is refreshing and enlightening in the direction that evangelical thought may be going.

The texts included in this work demonstrate clearly that tradition and scripture are not a dichotomy between two authorities. Dr. Williams' deep insight is that indeed they are necessary parts of a whole. Scripture is part of that all encompassing apostolic tradition that has been handed down to us from the beginning. The scriptures belong to the church and can only be interpreted through the church's authority and tradition. The church is the pillar and foundation of truth that determines the meaning of scripture from the context of what the church has always taught from the beginning. Any other approach to scriptural interpretation must be suspect.

Dr. Williams approaches this topic with extensive use of writings from the church fathers and very short summary commentaries on a few of those texts. The short commentary is always insightful and enlightening and always bringing us back to the context of the historical early church. Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians alike will find the work instructive and rich with historical context. This is an important and invaluable resource for any library of patristics or early church history. Very well done and very highly recommended.

Unlike most autobiographies of WWII, this one was written before the War was even over. It was written sometime between Scapa Flow, and Prien's loss in action in 1941. If you are looking for a blow by blow account of convoy battles, or even the raid into Scapa Flow, then you will be disappointed. BUT, if you are looking for a fascinating glimpse into the German mindset at the beginning of the 1940's, this is the book for you.

The book spends relatively little time discussing Prien's adventures in WWII, but concentrates on his coming of age as a 16 year old cabin boy in the Merchant Marine and Labor Corps.

Prien's memoir has more in common with those of Herzen, Tolstoy, and Gogol, than those of Doenitz, Werner, or Guderian. Extolling the Germanic virtures of loyalty, honor, and perseverence in the face of hardship, Prien describes how his traditional upbringing made him a great man and war hero.

And, on page 2, he is already talking about black-eyed, pointy-nosed merchants....

A must read for the student of German social history. I wonder if this is the basis for the u-boat captain in "Cat and Mouse"?

What a hidden gem this book turned out to be! It appears from the outside to be just a run of the mill naval warfare book, but it is actually one of those rare biographical accounts that leave you feeling like you understand a man on a higher level. The book is full of honest emotion, and gives you a very insightful portrait of the desperation of pre-Nazi Germany. It leaves no question about why the National Socialists were so supported.

My favorite passage from the book, after a young man commits suicide: "We examined his locker. There was a bundle of letters from a girl, the last of them three days old. She wrote, "I have been waiting for four years and now I can't wait any longer. You can't get a job and I will be an old woman by the time we can marry..." It was always the same. Want, misery, despair and the future merciless and grey. You had to be tough to stick it."

Tragic..

This is, and will always be, one of my favorite books. Gunther Prien is a hero.