Bethany College Books

The book's framing device involves a modern day Jewish bride to be in Israel who is taken by her father to the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum and there is presented with a document written by Hadassah (Esther) of the Biblical story outlining her experiences.
We are then taken to the Negev at the time of King Saul where Saul disobeys G-D's command to annihilate all of the Amalekites and capture of Prince Agag by King Saul, and his execution by the Prophet Samuel.

Agag's pregnant wife escapes however and perpetuates the descent of the ancient enemy of Israel, the Amalekites.

We are then taken several centuries forward to the night that Hadassah witnessed her family being murdered by the Agagites.
She is then raised by her cousin Mordecai who rescues her, and later she is forced into King Xerxe of Persia's harem of candidates for the new Queen of Persia after he deposes Queen Vashti and Vashti is murdered by the Agagites on Haman's orders.
Political intrigue and romance follow in a story which for the most part stays true to the Purim story of Esther and how she and her cousin Mordecai thwart Haman's evil plans to annihilate the Jewish people.
Some resonating passages such as the one that describes how the "The Amalekite race had developed it's foothold upon the land of the Hebrews. And from that day forward generation upon generation passed upon the earth, each one gathering to itself increasing levels of hatred and the means to wipe G-D's people out of existence. Each mother cooing to the baby tales of Hebrew treachery. Each father flaming the rage of his children's resentment and rage'.
For me this strongly resounds with the hatred that has been fostered in "Palestinian" Arab culture gaining intensity and ruthlessness in each generation and has been passed onto the international left.
Witness the brainwashing culture in Palestinian schools and media and Hamas and Hezbollah's threats of genocide against the Jews of Israel and instructions to 'kill the Jews wherever you find them".

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said of the Jews after the 2006 Lebanon War "If they gather in Israel it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide" and former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani thundering his aims of a second holocaust and final solution declared "The use of nuclear bomb in Israel will leave nothing on the ground, whereas it will only damage the world of Islam."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has thundered his intention again and again to "wipe Israel off the map" while building a nuclear arsenal to do so.

It may require a miracle for Israel to survive the contemporary Amalek, the most powerful incarnation of them all. But the very existence of the Jewish people after so long a travail is itself a miracle. It is clear that God has always pulled the Jewish people through and ensured the total defeat of our enemies.

Jews and Israel must once again call up their reserves of courage and hope and, in alliance with the pro-freedom forces that still survive, continue to fight back. Perhaps our stamina, tested so often in the past, will once again help us over this grave crisis. Most importantly God will once again destroy our enemies and save Am Yisrael.
The story of Hadassah and Morcecai and the defeat of Haman provides a sterling example and inspiration.

This is a wonderful story and well written. I would not go as far as to say that it is an enthralling read, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

This is a wonderful book. It keeps the main story in the bible but adds to it in ways that makes you think more about the people you read about in the bible. I think it was very well done, and very respectful of God's word.

This book is totally awesome. The story line is beautiful, and it also
follows how everything happened in the Bible. It is one of the greatest
love stories that I have ever read. I would highly recommend it. ONE
NIGHT WITH THE KING is one of my very favorite books. It could have been
twice the pages, as I hated for it to end.

I saw the movie first and instantly new I had to get the book. I read the book in 3 days and I absolutely loved it!!! The movie doesn't even come close!! The book is truly inspirational. I would recommend anyone to read this wonderfully written novel. It's time well spent!

Awesome book that addresses my struggles and how to deal with it.
Highly recommended to both single and married couple.
Loved it

While there are many books available on sexual sin and purity, I haven't read a book specifically on lust until now. In this easy-to-read title, Josh Harris offers Biblically-based, culturally-relevant advice for this sin of the heart and mind. Rather than seeming holier-than-thou or clinical, the author makes himself very vulnerable, accepting and encouraging readers who may be struggling. I recommend this book highly without reservation -- it's the only one of its kind of which I am aware.

Another great book by Josh Harris. We battle lust by keeping our eyes on the greater glory and pleasure God offers us through purity in our single and married lives.

I like how he addresses the way in which men and women struggle differently with lust. That difference is the result of a twisting of the differences God built into us. God made men and women to complement and provide companionship for each other through our differences. Harris points out that remembering this good thing will help us put sin in its place.

Well if you want a straight up book..here it is. NO questions asked. This book lays it out there for ya. This book is so important to read... our world is so caught up in the lies about sex. But the truth is always going to be the truth even if no one else believes it... Sex outside of marriage is going to hurt! whether you admit it or not. This book gets specific on how to keep pure, what you need to be doing, what's going on in the opposite sexs' mind and how you can help that. If your struggling with bad habits that your ashamed to admit and know you need help.. here it is. Harris helps us understand why wait, and gets specific on how we need get rid of the lust in our lives.. it will ruin you if you don't do whats right!

I'm not really sure what to think about this book. Joshua Harris is not a doctor, and Christians reading this book should not take this book as the absolute bottom line manual on lust. Yes, I believe there is a big problem today toward lust and sex outside of marriage. I am a 33-year old Christian male still waiting for a marriage partner before engaging in a sexual relationship. So Josh, what am I supposed to do buddy? It's easy for him to tell me not to lust for women when he is a married man. His advice is to get married. I'm trying Josh, but not having a whole lot of luck right now. So what am I to do, not have even a hint of lust in me because it's sinful? Don't masterbate? How do I deal with lust in a healthy manner? The thing that scares me about this book is that it seemingly takes the human factor outside of sexuality. Humans are animals, it's just a manner of how we deal with our sex drives. Some of the stories that Harris goes into in this book are funny, almost silly. For instance, he tells of going to rent a video with a friend of his who is too ashamed of even going into the video store with him because he feels he can't control himself enough to not lust after the pretty ladies on the covers of the videos. Harris has to resort to bringing a video title to the window for his friend to approve of. I guess his friend had to give him a thumbs up or a thumbs down on the title. Give me a break! His buddy must be pretty weak-minded! I guess his friend should just stay home in bed with his teddy bear and the covers pulled up over his head! God forbid he venture outside of the house, he might see an attractive young lady in a mini skirt on a summer day and "lust" after her. He also tells of being at a preachers house to watch the Super Bowl. The preacher flips the channel to CSPAN during the commercials so that the other guys watching the game don't see the racy commercials with the ladies in them and "lust" after them. How weak-minded can you be? I would much rather masterbate and deal with my lust in that manner that have it build up to unhealthy levels that lead me to sin sexually, but that's just me. I am hopeful that God will lead me to a marriage partner and baby hopefully before I turn 40, but what if he doesn't? Am I supposed to never lust sexually for a woman and deny that I am human being as well as a Christian? Yes, I am a Christian, but am I not supposed to have animalistic instincts toward sex as well? I'm not sure I can recommend this book. I checked this book out from my church's library, so at least I didn't buy it. Maybe it can be beneficial to some people, but I wouldn't take everything in it that Harris says as the final word. I would talk to my doctor or see a professional counselor before taking a lot of Harris' advise. Just my opinion.

Although the verbage and life examples used in this book are a little antiquated, the principles of leadership used are timeless. Certainly the wisdom diplayed by Sanders was aquired through tough failures and joyful success. We would do well to heed his experience and cash-in on his been there done that exposition.

One of the best-known and most-loved books on leadership in Christian circles in J. Oswald Sanders' Spiritual Leadership, first published in 1967. John MacArthur, Chuck Colson and John Maxwell all highly recommend it. The book has sold more than half-a-million copies since it first appeared. So, when I came to this book, I was expecting to read one of the best offerings ever on the subject of spiritual leadership.

The book didn't live up to the hype, at least for me. Maybe I need to read it again just to make sure I didn't miss something. This is a very good book - don't get me wrong. But a classic? I don't know.

Here's what I loved about the book. Sanders makes fantastic use of illustrations and quotations from other people. Sanders quotes so widely one wonders if he all he did was read! Terrific stuff from great sources. Another aspect of the book that was compelling to me was the emphasis on prayer and the upside-down nature of God's kingdom. Sanders has startling, delightful words that cut against the world's definition of success. All throughout the book, the reader gets the sense that spiritual leadership is costly and dangerous while at the same time rewarding and fulfilling.

Spiritual Leadership is a book of passion. The author's walk with God is evident throughout. I gleaned some good insights from Sanders' work and I enjoyed the book - enough to give it a solid recommendation. Is it a classic? I guess that's not for me to judge. But Spiritual Leadership is definitely a good book that deserves a wide audience.

The information in the book is outstanding. I have gone through secular management training and read other management and leadership books. This book has really helped me tie in the training I have had and my Christian faith to be a more effective leader.

Keisha's DilemmaThe Ultimate Dilemma

I am an Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. My job is to cultivate leadership on middle and high school campus'. What an awesome and rewarding responsiblity. I've spent time as an Assistant Pastor and a Youth Pastor, I've read many books from Dale Carnegie to John Maxwell. J. Oswald Sanders has written a book for every spiritual leader. This book is for every demographic, and for leaders on every level. AWESOME!

Easy to read with good information on leadership in the church. I also like the "reflection questions" at the end of each chapter.

I encourage teams to meet weekly (either in department groupings or in full staff meetings), but, trust me, I've endured (and often led) more than my fair share of really boring staff meetings. So if the meetings you lead are not fun and inspiring for you, why drag other team members into the drudgery?

The solution? Your weekly meetings need a balanced dose of Cause, Community and Corporation, as described in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit. The Corporation side (budgets, binders and bureaucracy) often overload the meeting agenda--to the neglect of the relational needs of Community and the results and strategy imperatives of the Cause. Always evaluate your staff meetings with an eye on the three-legged stool of Cause, Community and Corporation. Are your meetings balanced with all three?

To add inspiration to your weekly staff meetings, bring this amazing resource book to your next meeting. Operation World lists every country of the world in alphabetical order and includes a map, population, language, religion and missions statistics, plus prayer requests. It also includes the percentage of evangelical Christians in each nation. Resources available on the Operation World website also feature revisions and updates and a different country to pray for each day.

When your team has a world view, with help from Operation World, your own problems and challenges will take on a different perspective. Try it.

I highly recommend this book to use as a prayer guide or reference book to see what the needs are in each country.

The power of prayer has been underestimated by the secular and even amongst the community of believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus gave to all who believe in Him and His words and works a very clear command: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, when we pray according to this command, Jesus, the Son of God, works, always in conjunction with the Father and the Holy Spirit. I believe this book is an outcome of answered prayers done in the past, that motivated people passionate about changing lives all over the world, to produce such an essential and strategic work like this book. Operation World puts us into God's perspective of reaching all nations and tribes and languages with His love and salvation. It is a very powerfull and useful tool to equip anyone interested in getting a grasp of the world's scenario, so that when we start praying and when we keep on praying for the nations, we are much more aligned with God's work and love for all peoples of the earth.

This book is very useful in prayer, and I'm very grateful for it.

HOWEVER

it is dangerously ecumenical, and even advocates praying for the spread of Roman Catholicism. Rome's false gospel of works will send folks to Hell just as fast as their indigenous religions or their atheism.

It is easy to want the world to hear the gospel, but it is difficult to pray specifically toward that end. This book is a great tool to use daily so that you may pray more thouroughly for the different countries of the world and to know more about the people in them. It has at least one country for every day of the year and it tells so much helpful information. I learn as I pray for these people. It's a great book for your individual use, or with your family.

A great book. Quick to read, but really helped me to understand the times of Ruth. It helped me to understand Old testament scripture.

This is a very good book. Especially for non-Christians who would not or would have a difficult time reading the story from the bible and understanding. However, I highly recommend that if this book (or any of Francine River's novellas) is done as a bible study that you emphasize the parts that are biblical and the parts that are not as it is easy for those not familiar with the stories to come away believing some of the fiction is biblical. We used Unafraid for a bible study in my office and I participated in a study using Unshaken which I am now doing with my office bible study group.

I bought 2 CDs in this series for my mother in law who lives alone. After she received them she told me she listened to them 5 times in the first week. A great gift idea for shut-ins.

I usually don't like biblical fiction. I think it can explain itself with out an author's insight. BUT....this book and the other five linage of grace books are different. The author really put background behind the story. Such as their walk from and to. How much the people wouldn't accept Ruth and the fact that Boaz was also of the same background as Ruth!

I have heard the story of Ruth's dedication to her mother-in-law Naomi, but again, Francine Rivers brings life and cultural context to this poignant Old Testament story. Naomi thought her life over when her husband and her two only sons had died. Moreover, she was a foreigner in this land her husband had brought her to years prior.

How God works in wonderful ways! And ways that are above our human understanding! This story brings awareness that human decision making based on human reasoning is so far from the glory that God would have for us. It this tale, this is evident in Elimelech's decision to "provide for his family because God was providing in the Promised Land;" in Ruth's decision to stay with Naomi rather than to return to her own family's prosperity, in Boaz's decision to wait on God for his wife--if he were to ever marry, in Ruth's decision to take Boaz's wise hand in marriage rather than accept a younger more handsome man. Each case demonstrates how much greater our life is if lived for the Lord! God provided to those that remained faithful to Him.

What a wonderful love story! A nice parallel to the previous generation of Boaz's father Salmon accepting a foreign woman, the Canaanite Rahab from Jericho, as Boaz takes Ruth, a Moabite woman, for his own. Another step in the direction of the birth of the Savior, Jesus!

I recommend this book and the others in this series by Rivers. I especially recommend reading the book and then going back to the Old Testament story and comparing.

If you are one of those insecure individuals who feel intimidated by the accomplishments of others, don't read this book. For everyone else, you are truly in for a treat. This book not only tells the remarkable life stories of Ohio brothers, Powell and Lewis Crosley, but also takes the reader for a fascinating trip through history. From Crosley's dominance in radio, ownership of the Cincinnati Reds and winning a World Series, appliances, aviation, automobiles and even helping to win World War ll- the list goes on and on. The monumental accomplishments of these two brothers literally "transformed a nation" and greatly impacted the lives of millions of Americans.

Kudos to the authors for their meticulous research and a beautifully written biography. I certainly will have a higher degree of pride driving my '49 Crosley Hot Shot having learned the fascinating history behind the Crosley name.

I did not know anything about the Crosleys until I read this book and was amazed at all the products Powel Crosley dreamt up and created. It is a very thorough book about their lives and successes, and failures, but I give it 4 stars only because the writing sometimes detracted me from the story. (How many Exit, Stage lefts/rights can you put in a book and who even writes that way?) plus too much info about minor or unimportant things (Lewis' dog?) but still a good read, and entertaining and informative.

Great read for a radio fan or anyone interested in early 20th century business moguls.

I bought this book for my brother who owned a Crosley years ago, but I read it before I gave it to him. Great book! One of the best I have read in a long time.

It was a great history lesson and you do not have to be a Crosley buff to enjoy it.

Would highly recommend.

Richard Flory

The person for whom I purchased the book absolutely loves it!! It's the story, the pictures and presentation that just makes reading it so enjoyable. I'm very glad that I made this purchase.

This book had a lot of meaning to me as I lost a child to cancer at the age of almost 6. I could live what the other children went through and the parents, what they were going through. I would recommend this great book.

This novel is one of the most beautiful novels I have ever read. I highly recommend it!

Dana's Valley is written in the same excellent style of all Janette Oke books, however, this book is really sad. I've read it twice and cried a lot both times. I would have only read it once, but I forgot I had read it so read it again. It's a great book, it's just not for me.

I was very surprised that the reviewer from Publishers Weekly didn't like this book. I thought this was a wonderful book.

I thought this book gave a really good idea as to how a family struggles when a family member is seriously ill, as is the
case with Dana. The book was told from Dana's sister's point of view, to give insight about how family members cope with an
illness like cancer.

The book showed Dad, who is struggling with finances and has to make some tough decisions. There is Mom, who is exhausted
from taking care of Dana and the other kids in the family. There is Corey, the baby of the family, who feels left out and
just wants a puppy. There is older brother Brett, who ends up distancing himself from the family. And then there is Erin,
whose point of view the book is told. She is taking care of Corey while her mother takes care of Dana. Erin reaches a point
of frustration, feeling angry at God for Dana's illness, feeling like her teenage years are robbed by the illness, missing
out on her basketball tournament to take care of Corey when Dana got sick, etc.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was that I did feel that Erin was "punished" a little bit for her anger. She had
a right to feel angry. Her sister was sick, she missed out on her teenage years, and a lot of the burden was placed on Erin.
It might have been good to include a scene in the book, where Mom and Dad express appreciation for Erin's hard work and
acknowledgement on how hard things are on her. A serious illness can affect a person deeply.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. I highly recommend this book.

I just finished reading this book in a few hours time. I simply couldn't put it down and I used a half a box of tissues along the way. I thought Dana's Valley was extremely well-written. The Oke writing team captured perfectly the emotions and frustrations of cancer and it addressed them honestly without sugar coating. My Mom died of cancer 6 months ago and my husband spent alot of time in the hospital following a spinal cord injury. I loved this book because it captured some of the feelings I experienced as a Christian trying to make sense of the trials God allows in our lives. Sometimes, like Erin, we are so blinded by our immediate circumstances that we miss the overall picture of how God is working in our lives to accomplish great things. I've read alot of non-fiction books about understanding why God allows trials, but I felt like this fiction book helped me alot more than some of the non-fiction books I've read. I know this story will stick with me. It's not one you can easily forget.

I have just finished John Piper's The Supremacy of God in Preaching. I purchased the book shortly after a conversation with a good friend of mine on the topic. I'm still somewhat of a novice in the world of Reformed literature and I don't really know all the `reliable' authors. Maybe that's a bad way to put it. Regardless, when I went in search of a book on the topic of preaching, it was something like going into a restaurant for a blind date and not being too sure who you're there to meet. I had seen Piper preach a few times and I love his affection for the Lord in all the things he says. So, when I saw that he'd written a book on my topic of interest, I was relieved and excited.

I received the book late last week and immediately began reading. The book is short, a brief 109 pages, broken up into two parts, seven chapters and a conclusion. I was concerned at the beginning of the book, during the first two chapters (`the goal of preaching,' and `the ground of preaching'). It seemed that he was staying in somewhat shallow water, recapping old truths about God (although, who can ever get tired of those, really?). It really did prove to simply be laying some groundwork for the rest of the book though. By the third chapter in which he began to discuss the power with which we ought to preach, and the fourth chapter where he unpacks the gravity of preaching, he had gotten my attention.

A major theme throughout the book is clear, that the point of preaching is not to make converts, but to glorify God. All is for the glory of God and when truth is obscured or withheld for the sake of conversion, God is cheated and will not be glorified by those actions.

Into the second part, Piper sets up the rest of his teaching using the great preacher Jonathan Edwards. Piper does an excellent job of using Edwards as a clear case study on the subject of preaching. Going through, explaining the disposition and heart condition of a true preacher of the Word of God. He highlights clearly the preacher's need to be personally affectionate and in love with God, to pursue God, to hate the things that God hates, and to pray, pray, pray! Just as Edwards did, hours and hours before dawn.

I think the most important word that Piper continually drove home was that preaching must be not just be `based' on scripture, but be `oozing' with it. Piper writes:

"I say that good preaching is `saturated with Scripture' and not `based on Scripture' because Scripture is more (not less) than the basis for good preaching. Good preaching does not sit on Scripture like a basis and say other things. It oozes with Scripture."

I consider this view of teaching, literature, whatever totally quintessential (although I'm not always very good at it myself). That is exactly the way this book was written. It's scarce to find a page without bible references strewn throughout. It is clear that Piper's priority and love is for the Word of God.

I would recommend this book to anyone in the position to preach; I believe you will be encouraged, inspired and convicted. Perhaps by God's grace, power and affection for his own glory, he would give us another Jonathan Edwards through Piper's words of teaching and exhortation. To that end, I will pray.

What Pastor John writes about here; the first part being "Why God should be Supreme in Preaching", and the second being the practical counsels on how a genuine sincere preacher should look like, taken from Jonathan Edward's life, theology and preaching; comes down to a single question that every minister or one who thinks he is called to preach the gospel should examine himself with; that is, "What is my motive to be a preacher?" There can not be a more important question than this for two reasons.

The first reason is because the answer to this question determines whether the call to preach is indeed from God, or it is simply a selfish impulse for material gain by being a minister in an affluent neighborhood, or for worldly fame, to be a brilliant preacher holding on to solid theological doctrines, either out of personal ambitions or an envious desire because of the success of others; or for any other reasons than "... to speak the oracles of God, by the strength that God supplies, in order that in everything God may be glorified, through Jesus Christ, by the restoration of the throne and dominion of God in the soul of men, with an unwavering passion for the honor of the name of God and his glory" (pp.17, 26-27).

The second reason is the answer to the question of motive will determine the ultimate outcome of the ministry; whether it be the glory of God or the glory of men and (or) the glory of anything else other than God including but not limited to, the minister himself, family, country and church. The success or failure is not measured by the size of the congregation or the church building, or how many books the preacher publishes, or how many conferences he is invited to speak at, or how well people think of him, but his faithfulness, the holiness of the congregation and their preservation and perseverance in the faith; all of which the minister is responsible for and has to give an account to the Chief Shepherd, the Chief Priest, and the Chief Minister Jesus Christ.

One obvious benefit from reading this text is to help reveal the true intention of a minister's or minister wannabe's heart of why he is a preacher of the gospel, by what the Bible teaches in regard to the multi-dimensional views of preaching; the goal, the ground, the power, and the measure of preaching; the gravity and the gladness. Assuming one is qualified to be a preacher, what he needs to get right to begin with is the first two; the goal is the glory of God and the ground is the cross of Christ. Only then will he be able to preach right by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God with gravity and gladness; where in regard to the former, Piper also uses the word, "blood-earnestness". He points out gladness without gravity may be fun and entertaining, yet superficial and could be dangerous and deadly, while gravity without gladness is legalistic, hypocritical, cold and compassionless and in the end, useless in converting souls, and strengthening the saints. The gladness and gravity can only come together when a preacher is what Jonathan Edwards calls "a burning and shining light", preached in an ordination sermon in 1744; where Piper elaborates in great details that shining light in the mind and burning light in the heart of a preacher produces enlightening of the mind of the congregation with the ultimate target of the arousing and kindling holy affections in their heart. In other words, by learning from the theology of Jonathan Edward, the core of which is the sweet sovereign grace of God that he embraced so dearly; the goal of solid "shining" theology in the mind is to produce white-hot "burning" doxology in the heart, that in turns leads to and bears fruits accordingly through the holy exercise of the will (pp.77-88).

One only needs to read the life and work of Jonathan Edwards to understand it is not easy or convenient or trivial to be a minister of the gospel. It requires, in addition to piety, an extraordinary ability for serious study and understanding of Scripture, as well as compassion to love and care for people because the truth and eternity are at stake. Preachers hold the most important job in the world because they have the greatest responsibility that no one else has.

Dr. John Piper's goal for The Supremacy of God in Preaching is "to advance a movement of God-centered worship and life" by encouraging pastors to "show the truth of Christ and savor the glory of Christ" in their preaching.

In order to achieve the "exposition of the Word of God and exultation in the God of the Word" (11), the entire book reminds pastors of preaching's goals by way of the Trinity's role in preaching and Jonathan Edward's expositional philosophy.

Piper argues for preaching as uniquely designed by God with the dual goals of informing the mind (seeing God) and igniting the emotions (savoring God). He wants to make sure pastors do not sacrifice one for the other, but see to it that our preaching reaches both aspects of the human soul (15, 23, 84-88).

The preaching he has in mind gives people an enlarged vision of their great God (15, 41) which restores the His throne in their souls (25, 27). However, this will not happen unless the preacher's words come from a heart that is enraptured by God (15, 25) and the gravity of His message (103-5).

On a personal note, I found myself constantly writing "Me?" in the margins. These markings are to be checks on my life the next time I pick the book up. When I read it again I will ask, "Does this describe you or not?"

Some of these include: Do I have an "intense, all-absorbing desire for the work?" (22) Do I see everything in relation to God? (25) Do I glory in my abilities, "sufficiency" and rhetorical techniques? (41-2, 53) Do I still want to be a man of one book and does my life and ministry show it? (46, 89) Is my demeanor one of true earnestness and reality, or am I "playing pastor?" (55, 61, 100) Do I truly care for the souls under my charge? (62) Am I spending the time needed in meditation to become a good heart surgeon? (98) Am I in true agony over my sinfulness? (102) Have I seen and savored God, so I can encourage others to do the same? (11, 108)

In the end, I really enjoyed reading this little book because I think it recaptures the center of what biblical preaching should be and do.

Obviously, Piper loves Jonathan Edwards. The book started out well enough, but the second half seemed an idolization of Edwards. My thinking is that we have much better role models in Christ and the apostles, and to put such an emphasis on the work of Edwards is disconcerting.

Edwards himself was in awe of the unfathomable work of God work during the Great Awakening, and probably would have attributed much less of its effects to himself than Piper does.

As is evident in the title, Piper is beating his "supremacy" drum again, so if you're not really enthusiastic about Calvinist theology, you might find this book to be a bit difficult to enjoy.

This is an excellent book that unabashedly attacks some of the problems with preaching today. The author argues effectively for a return to a focus on God in preaching instead of all the trends and gimmicks used in so many churches today. As an example of a God-focused preacher, Piper spotlights Jonathan Edwards' life and ministry.
Very educational and readable.

A real help when you are trying to compare all the parallel passages in the four gospels. You don't have to waste time flipping back and forth.

This is a wonderful tool when studying the Gospel's account of the life of Christ. The author (or should I say editor/compiler?) arranges the texts in harmony, but also includes approximate dates of when the events took place. Some are critical of this approach, wondering how Mr. Daniel came up with the method of dating the events. Mr. Daniel asserts that the method is by no means difinitive. However, by following the feasts and seasons mentioned in the Gospel texts, he does leave us with useful benchmarks as to when these events took place. There are also useful comments about events like the cleansing of the temple. Were there two such events or only one? Mr. Daniel begs the question, then gives his view in the footnotes. This is a great book to use in a long Bible study on the life of Christ - with the emphasis on long. Our care group is currently working our way through the book . . . it's taken us a year and a half, and we're just now half way through! Take your time . . . learn all you can about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I was looking for a harmony of the gospel accounts and this was recommended to me. What an AMAZING effort Daniel has put forth. I call it the "golden thread" but its more of a bold-font that connects and weaves the verses together. This interweaving is done very insightfully and is most noticeable when all 4 accounts tell the same story, but use different or enhanced definitions as in, for example, the transfiguration. Very respectable work. This has helped me and some of my friends SO much. A MUST HAVE TO ANY WHO ONLY COLLECT QUALITY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE!!!!

Even a student of the Gospels already quite familiar with the details of the life of Christ, will find that the parallel format in chronological order provides a new clarity and richness to the flow of the life and ministry of Christ. While any Gospel harmony is an essential bible study tool, this version has the added benefit of a single bold print path that helps the student tread more easily through the four narratives.

Think you know the Gospels? You don't know the Gospels at all until you read this book over and over and over.

Each event of all the four Gospels is printed side-by-side in columns with the continuity of the narratives printed in bold type so that the whole story comes alive, giving the complete narrative from beginning to end as it unfolds.

I have owned this book for over 12 years and I'm still rereading it all the time. It never gets old. It's great for devotionals, for study or for leisure reading.

At first I felt deceived, expecting a paperback book and getting a 23 page quick read Magazine on various steps, some of which I have already seen in Bondage Breakers. I did find it to be a good lesson guide in overcoming things like fear,resentment, etc. but if I had seen this product in person, I would not have selected this out of the other books available by Neil T. Andersen.

This is the best I have read on Spiritual Freedom. It is practical. It is biblically based. I highly recommend it!

The ONLY reason this book caught my attention was due to it's thinness amidst the grand and colorful Christian books at my favorite local retail bookstore. Boy, was I shocked after reading only a couple of pages while still standing in the isle of the bookstore. Before I knew it, I purchased this book with my last bit of cash in my purse.

This book is excellent for new Christians, Christians who are struggling with sin, and especially for the unsaved. Every church should have this book, especially those in fields of counseling, psychiatry and healing.

The author, Neil T. Anderson, has a refreshingly concise and clear approach in his writing. He doesn't just use Scriptures as mere footnotes. He states the power of Christ and the enslavement of sin and the reality of Satan. I use the word "state" instead of "preach" because preaching, as it is seen in today's churches, doesn't even begin to touch the power of this book.

Hey, do yourself a favor. Buy this inexpensive, yet valuable book. Once you do, read it and LIVE it!!

This is a small pocket guide that does not explain very much and basically includes mostly his steps as written in his other books.These steps are not very detailed, and some of his other books include a more detailed approach.I would recommend buying Victory over the Darkness which teaches the truths needed to learn before you go through this.

I picked up this book not expecting anything much, but boy was I suprised. I had been struggling with forgiving some people in my life - and this book helped me more than I can explain. It helped me identify my need to forgive these people, and led me step by step through the hard parts. The included prayers were very helpful for me - and I have come back to over and over. I would reccommend this to anyone who needs to forgive - those few pages on forgiveness were worth the purchase.