Religion Books

We often do praise trips to places of special beauty, where we sing songs of praise and worship to the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
We go to the Grand Canyon, one example, but also to the lakes and other canyons in Arizona. I have often been to Oregon and experienced the beauty of the water falls and to Colorado to enjoy the Rocky Mountains.
This book is a praise trip for the reader, each page is an experience of worship. How great is our God, who created such magnificent beauty for us to enjoy. How blessed I was to receive this book as a gift and I immediately bought copies for my family. May many enjoy the beauty of God's creation. We are to fill our hearts and minds with praise and this is a wonderful way to start!

The most visually beautiful book I know of, THE ART OF GOD is in appearance a nature photography book of the most glorious sort, but upon closer look it is so much more. Ergenbright pairs brilliant awe-inspiring photography with artfully presented text and scripture verses that precisely match each photo and combine to make the heart leap, the soul rejoice. Though written in the spirit of worship, whether intended or not, the beauty, range, selection, and presentation of the book end up also being an apologetic making a visual case for a Creator that's both an intelligent and artistic designer. The photos are arranged purposefully, with the story flowing seamlessly thru the categories Elements, Design, Environments, and Ebb & Flow. The adjective "stunning" often's used to mean just really beautiful, but with this book it's beauty really does stun or take a bit of breath away. THE ART OF GOD is wonderful for a gift or to put on one's own coffee table for visitors to enjoy. Truly an aesthetic and spiritual masterpiece (and a bargain too).

Former agnostic and nature photographer Ric Ergenbright spreads before us a stunning visual feast of God's glory, as reflected in creation. Travel through gorgeous views of air, water, fire, forests, stones, and more. Not just a coffee table book, The Art of God provides a theology of creation as part of a two-fold design (the second part being the story of Christ played out through history). We can even learn about the complexity of creation, as in Ergenbright's discussion of how freshwater rain needs undrinkable seawater to send it on its journey.

The Art of God by ric Ergenbgight is my most favorite book after the Bible. Even people who do not know Jesus can appreciate the beauty found in this book through the outstanding nature scenes that were photographed all over the world. Mr. Ergenbright is truly gifted by God to bring to life in paper form all of these magnificent places.

Eden may be lost, but Ergenbright's insightful eye for beauty proves that much of paradise is still to be found. Amazingly beautiful nature photographs of every element can be found in this book: skies, bodies of water, cliffs, and even lava flows present the viewer with beauty that only a Supreme God could create. Ergenbright's modest introduction in the beginning of the book and his Biblical passages leave no doubt in regards to his devotion to God as the true artist here, but Ergenbright's own artistic talents certainly cannot be overlooked! I'm a huge lover of beautiful art and Ergenbright's uplifting Christian messages greatly added to the peacefulness of his breathtaking images, luring me into a state of blissful lethargy. This book is truly a wonderful testament of nature's beauty and I recommend it even if you are not a Christian; everyone can appreciate the beauty here, no matter what faith they are.

I've had this calendar for over a year now - I keep it on my vanity, flip to the new day and ponder the thought while I do my makeup and hair. It really is a fantastic *nudge* every morning to help keep you in the present moment and to remind you that positive thought can always lift you up.
I love it. And the artwork is wonderful.

Beautiful calendar! Excellent messages to learn and live by. I'll be enjoying this calendar everyday for years to come. Thank you Abraham, Esther & Jerry!! Love it!!!

Great perpetual calendar. Just flip it to the appropriate day. I keep it at my desk.. read it in the morning & it helps keep me focused on a particular concept through the day. It's very high-quality printing/etc. as well. Very happy with purchase.

This perpetual calendar is definitely made to stand the test of time! Very well made, with lovely graphics. However, it's broken down more as if you're progressively reading a short excerpt from the book(s) each day rather than the traditional stand-alone "thought for the day" that I'd come to expect from perpetual calendars. It takes a little getting used to, but in general a very nice calendar.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RMV09W5EM70A3 This "perpetual flip calendar" has a beautiful illustration and inspirational quote from the Teachings of Abraham for each day of the year. As I explain in the video, the calendar is very sturdy but the pages are a little flimsy. However, this calendar will still be enjoyed for many years.

The principles in the Esther and Jerry Hicks books are awesome but it is sometimes difficult to remember to apply them throughout my day. This calendar is a great tool to help remind me to apply the teachings. If you are interested in the Teachings of Abraham then you will definitely benefit from adding this to your desk!

What it comes to Christian mothering help (with the right touch of humor) Jean Stockdale is by far the BEST! Biblical principals, much needed empathy, and large doses of humor make her entire teachning series a hit with me. I'm on my 2nd teaching book and I actually enjoy & look forward to doing my homework. I have learned so much.

There is so much advice on how to be a good mother. Jean Stockdale teaches that it is impossible to be a good mom without being a godly mom. What our children need are mommas who are walking in the Spirit, submitted and obedient to the Lord. How do we do that? Jean makes it clear - become a faithful student of the Word of God. There is no other way! God used this book to radically change the way I study and apply God's Word to my role as a wife and mother.

Jean Stockdale has truly changed my life and the way that I mother my two girls. She has so much wisdom and provides so much insight on how to raise Godly children. She is also very practical on how to handle such things as sibling rivalry, discipline, and releasing your children one day to go into the real world. I have learned so much from her. I recommend this book VERY much. You will be blessed.

Jean Stockdale is such a Godly example of what a mom should be. I love how Jean incorporates her own life experiences as a mom as well as God's word to teach. I recommend this to any mom or expectant mom. It is very insightful and uplifting.

The author's sense of humor from her own experiences as a mom mixed with truths from God's Word make it an easy read. She shows how relevant and applicable the Word is to our every day lives as moms. She teaches how important it is to be a student of God's Word and how to pass that on to your "built-in disciples". Even those times you feel exhausted as a mother, she shows you how to run your race well and to finish strong. Excellent study! Would highly recommend to all moms!!!

The Psalms, often described as the Prayer Book of the Bible,has been translated by a scholar of Biblical texts, to produce not only, probably, the most accurate translation of the Hebrew Text, with detailed notes, but more importantly from a layman's point of view, the most beautiful poetically up-lifting hebrew poetry, and indeed,truly prayerful at that. Highly recmmended.

Executive summary: Going back to oldest available texts, Hebrew scholar Robert Alter has produced an unbiased and accurate translation, with copious explanation and footnotes. While the prose is inelegant compared to the familiar KJV, it is beautiful in keeping the economy, syntax, reflected meanings, etc. of the ancient Hebrew.

The author: Alter is a Professor at Berkley. His translations of the Pentateuch and other parts of the OT are also fabulous and noteworthy.

Author's special approach: Aside from being faithful to the Hebrew, Alter has struggled mightily to avoid selecting English that might lard Psalms with Christian meaning not actually there. He also uses copies annotations to explain when he has chosen between multiple meanings, damaged texts and why. He also explains when known what the intent of each psalm was, how it might have been sung, etc.

Surprises? yes-- Alter comes up with literally dozens of places where the much later Mesoretic texts appear mistaken. he explains just why the numbering in the Septuagint is correct, for example. This should be enough to prompt Christian readers to perhaps consider reading their English-language psalms from the newly published (Conciliar press) Orthodox Study Bible rather than, say NIV.

Conclusion: A valuable bit of research; wonderful translation effort, handsome edition (nice paper, built-in bookmark, etc.)--a must have for Bible scholars

This was high on my daughter's Christmas and birthday list. It was a high spot in her birthday celebration. It arrived on time and in great condition.

I read this over the course of almost a year, one psalm a night just before bed. I found it illuminating and inspiring. Much has already been written about how Alter's translation of the Hebrew word "nefesh" or "nafesh" as "life's force" instead of the traditional "soul" changes the whole perspective. Ditto for "l'Hoshua" -- to rescue instead of to "save or redeem." Simply by doing this, Alter reorientates us away from a later Christian world view back to the original. The writers of these poems did not have a concept of an immortal soul. As the Psalms themselves repeatedly say, the dead cannot praise God. That is the job of the livimg.
I also am fascinated by his insights into Temple worship -- the musical instruments we can no longer identify -- the "ayalet hashachar" or morning star. What kind of music did that make? The "almut laben" -- another lost instrument. When Alter doesn't know what something means he says so. When the text was jumbled through scribal mistakes many centuries ago, he unjumbles it and points out the mistake.
This is an intellectual and spiritual feast, good for the mind and the soul. Take your time, savor it and appreciate anew the genius that went into creating it.
For more on me and my bookThe Nazi Hunter: A Novel go to www.alanelsner.com.

Not being a scholar, I cannot review this book appropriately. But I can tell you why I am enjoying it and why I recommend that you read it and use it for reference (or reverence)

Alter writes, "What I have aimed at in this translation - inevitably, with imperfect success - is to represent Psalms in a kind of English verse that is readable as poetry yet sounds something like the Hebrew - emulating its rhythms wherever feasible, reproducing many of the effects of its expressive poetic syntax, seeking equivalents for the combination of homespun directness and archaizing in the original, hewing to the lexical concreteness of the Hebrew, and making more palpable the force of parallelism that is at the heart of biblical poetry."

Now ... with regard to two Psalms you may know by heart...:

Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd...", in this translation is rendered:
The Lord is my shepherd / I shall not want. / In grass meadows He makes me lie down, / By quiet waters guide me. / My life He brings back. / He leads me on pathways of justice / For His name's sake. /
Though I walk in the vale of death's shadow, / I fear no harm. /For you are with me.

But what i truly enjoy are Alter's commentaries. Alter's commentary states, "Although the likening of God or a ruler to a shepherd is a commonplace in this pastoral culture, this psalm is justly famous for the affecting simplicity and concreteness with which it realizes the metaphor. Thus, in the next line the shepherd leads his sheep to meadows where there is abundant grass and riverbanks and where quiet waters run that the sheep can drink... [he makes me lie down] The verb used here, HIRBITS, is a specialized one for making animals lie down...... [My life he brings back] Though "he restoreth my soul" is time-honored, the Hebrew NEFESH does not mean "soul" but "life breath" or "life." The image is of someone who has almost stopped breathing and is revived, brought back to life... ...[in the vale of death's shadow] The intent of the translation is not to avoid the proverbial "in the shadow of the valley of death" but rather to cut through the proliferation of syllables in the King James Version, however eloquent, and better approximate the compactness of the Hebrew - BEGEY TSALMAWET. Though philologists assume that the Masoretic TSALMAWET is actually a misleading vocalization of TSALMUT - probably a poetic word for "darkness" with the UT ending simply a suffix of abstraction - the traditional vocalization reflects something like an orthographic pun or a folk etymology (TSEL means "shadow" MAWET means "DEATH"), so there is justification in retaining the death component... ... ... [You moisten my head with oil] The verb here, DISHEN, is not the one that is used for anointment, and its associations are sensual rather than sacramental...

And so.. you get a more in-depth understanding of the Psalm and its intentions in the original Hebrew. Or, take Psalm 137, you may recall it as, "By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion."

In the Alter translation, we get:
By Babylon's streams /
there we sat, oh we wept, /
when we recalled Zion. /
On the poplars there / we hung up our lyres. / For there our captors has asked of us / words of song, / and our plunderers - rejoicing / "Sing us from Zion's songs."

But it is in the commentary that the esteemed Alter shines, when he writes, "This psalm was almost certainly composed shortly after the deportation of the Judeans by the Babylonians in 586 BCE - the experience of exile is fresh and acutely painful... The first Hebrew noun, NEHAROT, generally means "rivers," but because the more probable reference is to the network of canals that connected the Tigris and the Euphrates, "streams" is a preferable translation here. It should be noted that in keeping with the evolution of Hebrew poetry in the later biblical period, semantic parallelism within the lines in this poem is weak, an absence occasionally compensated for by interlinear parallelism."

Alter goes on to explain how the Hebrew use of the word SHAM (there), twice, in the next line is used poetically to express the alienation of the collective speakers from the place they find themselves, and how "hung up our lyres" can refer to the hiding of their lyres in the foliage, or a gesture of renunciation of their use.

If you are reading this review, you have been sucked in by the title, probably because you somehow relate. If so, then the topic is of huge significance to you. The book is solid, and the content reflects the title.

Regardless of your background, if you have a Christian faith and desire to live out that faith with your children, then bring your highlighter and keep notes as you read.

Not everyone comes into parenting with great childhood experiences to draw from. Even if you did have a safe upbringing, ALL parents are forging a new way for their children. We are all "pioneers". This book is a wealth of information, and challenges you to re-evaluate how and why you do what you do and believe what you believe. Mary DeMuth shares her personal journey of overcoming her painful past. She offers great hope & encouragement to all parents. You will glean from her writing, no matter what your story is.

Building The Christian Family You Never Had is a must read for every couple contemplating having children, every parent who has children, and every adult who found life with their parents difficult or confusing. Not have the right role model can be frustrating--even confusing. But thanks to DeMuth's great advice we can learn to let go of the past, foster positive parenting skills, and shield our children from the negative influences others have left on our lives and continue to drill into our psyche.

Mary's book is a MUST READ; not only for every parent, but also for everyone who has ever had a parent. Her insights into family dynamics are revealing and instructive. Her words bring healing and resolution. Mary's skill as a writer makes her Guide for Pioneer Parents an enjoyable, fast-moving read. But watch out - one time through will NOT be enough! You will want to keep this Guide around to read over and over.

Of the three excellent books of Mary's I have been priviledged to read, this is the one that has had me most riveted to each nugget of truth. I am a quick reader, and usually don't read a book twice in a year but this one has me dipping into it almost daily. I have read and re-read the chapters, blinking in the freshness as I absorbed and processed each life altering concept. It has revolutionised my way of life, the sense of who I am, how fragile we are and how Great is Our God. It has given me a glimpse of the Father heart of God and my husband and I have turned our mistaken foundation of parenting back to the example in the Word, thanks to reading this book. I am also peeling away the 'onion layers' of my own childhood.

Mary is a highly proficient messenger of the truth. Her words fly directly from the heart of the healer in my belief and I am honoured to have walked through the pages of her journey and find my own healing in that experience.

Get this book. Even if you have the most Christian upbringing possible. Especially then.

I shared this with a young mother recently. Her baby is due soon. She had fears about the birth, the process of mothering an infant, and so much more. "Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time" has the potential to ease those fears, and perhaps even to introduce a little laughter along the way. Marla Taviano discusses the joy of motherhood, but also the reality of being a mom. She encourages mothers to leave the image of perfection behind, and enjoy the journey one day at a time.

I have both read this book, and given it as a gift(the recipients are thrilled)! Taviano's transparency and humor are rare and endearing. She truly relates to the reader, and points them to God. I enthusiastically recommend this book to all moms and mothers-to-be!

If you're a new mom you need encouragement! You will find it in this book. I have a 5-month old son & just got my hands on this book. I've already enjoyed it & am ready to buy more copies for some of my favorite moms-to-be. This book is not only honest, real, & relevant. It's also fun!

I am not yet a mom, but I found this book to be so refreshing and interesting. The book is full of funny tales of mommy-hood. I found myself encouraged to embrace that stage of my life (once it comes!) with less perfectionism and more as a journey designed to reveal God's love and grace for His children. I don't usually read books more than once, but this is one that I know I will read again because it's full of wisdom and encouragement. I highly recommend this book!!!

Changing the World One Diaper at a Time by Marla Taviano is a girlfriend to girlfriend look at how being a mother changes a woman inside and out. Taviano, who's also written the wonderful Is That All He Thinks About, tackles motherhood from a Christian point of view from preconception to the toddler years. Almost every woman dreams of holding a little bundle of joy in her arms, and sometimes motherhood is just like that, but those moments are few and far between. Most of the time it's feedings, diaper blow-outs, marathon crying sessions, and exhaustion. Taviano reminds readers not to lose sight of their marriage or themselves in being a mom. Her stories are hilarious and heart-breaking told by women who have been through it all and want to share their stories with other women who understand. She also tackles the tricky topic of moms attacking other moms for their parenting. Breast vs bottle, working or staying at home, etc. And pulling no punches, she lets us know that we need to be supporting each other, not tearing each other down. Amen! Postpartum depression, nursing, sex, Taviano covers it all (as usual) with humor and grace. This would make a perfect book for a first time mom or even for a mom with a few years practice in. I haven't had a child in diapers in a couple years (Thank God!), and I enjoyed every page.

I enjoyed this book even more than The Christmas Shoes. When I finished Christmas Shoes I couldn't help but wonder what happened to Nathan Andrews, the little boy who lost his mother when he was only eight years old. This story picks up many years later when Nathan is in medical school trying to figure out what he will do with his life. He meets a girl and is faced with the possibility of loss again. Nathan has to remember the lessons his mother taught him before she died and remain strong for the woman he loves. This is a very sweet love story perfect for the holidays.

Donna Vanliere is a talented author who brings the page to life in every book. This is a Christmas book that can be read any time of the year and left on the shelf to read again or share with a friend. A very thoughtful gift that will make you laugh AND shed a tear. A must read!!

The Christmas Blessing doesn't disappoint. It's just hard to top the 1st book. (The Christmas Shoes)

I can tell you: It is seemingly impossible for Donna VanLiere to write a book that is anything less than GREAT! Because she writes from the heart, her writing touches your heart. I sense that she is a person of great faith. Reading her books has increased my faith.

Donna's plots and sub-plots are well thought out and hold your attention.

After reading The Christmas Blessing, not only will you feel the Christmas spirit, you will feel a deep sense of hope.

Another book that has brought me inspiration and hope is Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices.

One of the other readers admitted this is sappy, romantic literature. It is indeed. If you like rather cliched plotlines, phrases, and character developments, then this is for you. But if you want a heart-warming story about a young man coming to grips with love, with his calling, and with his past, (I'm being half-truthful, half-sarcastic) this is for you.

Yes, this is a sweet little story. For anyone who reads good literature, it is too predictable and written like a film, not like a book. But if you like sweet little stories, this is for you.

The Concordia book of Concord provides great resource material for working out your faith. It is however, a book for those looking for greater insight into doctrines and passages of scripture, but not a book initially for those unfamiliar with what the Bible says.

Sometimes it is difficult to use this version in a Bible study where other's have previous versions because page numbers do not match up.

Absolutely amazing, wonderful book. Concordia is an absolute must read, whether Catholic, Lutheran, or other protestant Christians. Please read and enjoy.

It's been said that when the philosophers and scientists climb their mountains of knowledge, they find the theologians at the top waiting for them. If this is true then the reformation period represents the pinnacle of human intellectual endeavor, and this book stands at the top of any collection of reformation writings.

I'm not a theologian, I consider myself more of a historian. I don't read that many books on theology, but this is clearly one of the best. Some of it is over my (and I suspect most laymen's) heads. Yes, it can bog down in theological tedium for the average reader, but purely from an historical perspective, the book is invaluable in putting the events and characters of the 16th Century German Reformation in place.

The book is organized chronologically, starting with the Augsburg Confession. This simple statement of belief is a must read for any Christian, layman or clergy alike and frames the questions raised by the Reformation in easy to understand terms. It then goes into Melanchthon's Apology (defense) of the Augsburg Confession. Here it starts to bog down and is meant more for serious students of Theology.

Fortunately, it moves quickly back into laymen's territory with the Luther's Small and Large Catechisms. With no offense to my beloved Presbyterian brethren, the organization of the Small and Large Catechisms is superior to the Westminster Catechism, if not as broad in scope.

At this point I should mention one of this book's real hidden gems. Being simple minded, I like a book with lots of pictures. Most theology books are lacking in the graphics department. This one, however, is loaded with color plates of important people of the reformation, although it lacks color portraits of the opponents of the reformation. The black and white wood cuts and color allegorical paintings are fantastic, full of hidden symbols and nuances of 16th century life (remember - historian at heart). I spent hours just looking at the pictures, never mind the text.

Finally the book concludes with the Smalcald Articles and the post Martin Luther Formula of Concord written to delineate Lutheran as opposed to the "Phillipists" Lutheran/Calvinistic hybrid.

A big book - not easy reading. I bought it intending to keep it as a reference, not thinking to read it cover to cover as I did. But having done so, I recommend it to any Christian wanting to really think about their faith on a deeper, more intellectual level than is common in the 21st Century.

If you are a Christian and you want to read a book that explains the Holy Scriptures in great detail look no further than Concordia Reader's Edition. In this reader friendly book you have laid out before you a concise understanding of God's Holy Word - The Bible. In Concordia you will read about the Law and Gospel language that God uses in His Word to convey both the sinfulness of man and his salvation through the Messiah - Jesus Christ. But unlike many theological books, this one brings our heavenly Father's message of sin and salvation to light in layman's terms. In other words, you don't have to be a pastor to understand it. In fact, I have been giving this book to my God-children at their confirmation.

So if you are looking for a good book that explains the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, truly the Christian faith, in terms that are easily understood, look no further than Concordia Reader's Edition.

Rev. Raymond A. Smith
"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
John 1:29

From the Overview on page xxx, you know this book is going to be helpful. There you'll find an easy to read chart showing the various sections of the Lutheran Confessions, the dates they were written, the authors, and a brief summary of their content.

Then there's a Reader's Guide with suggested readings for each weekday over 52 weeks that takes you through the entire book.

That's followed by a Reformation Timeline that covers 200 years of key events in a few, short pages.

Other useful information is packed into the first pages as well. Thirty-eight pages of very easy to access and useful information before you even get to the beginning of the text! I think that the first section is worth at least half the price.

Then you'll find the section introductions, timelines, and outlines throughout the book. I particularly appreciate the introduction to The Formula of Concord, Epitome.

All of that is followed by appendixes and indexes.

So, while the translation is very helpful and readable, the ancillary material alone is well worth getting the book.

This is a book that deserves space on the shelf of every Bible student. Anyone in the Reformation tradition will most especially appreciate having it for regular reading and study.

J. D. Lowitzer
Collierville, TN

This book is a non-stop argument for successfull thinking. Mr Castro reminds us that we are in charge of our own potential and it is never too late to begin to accomplish your dreams and goals. This no excuses approach is motivating and inspiring.

When craziness breaks loose in your life, how will you handle it? Not that each of us will experiences the type of heartbreak often inevitable in life, but Critical Choices examines how overcoming difficulty is largely a matter of how you choose to focus your mind. What do you think will happen? Now that might sound easy when not faced with difficulty, but the author talks to so many people some famous and some not, and shows us examples on how focus and belief in an outcome will cause us to act accordingly. The examples from Martin Luther King, Walt Disney, James Earl Jones and countless others are inspiring and uplifting. While we may have heard the believe it, achieve it homily before, Castor motivates readers, inherent in the examples that there are ways the average person can achieve a hero's status in life.

Critical Choices by Dan Castro is one of the largest sources of inspiration I have come across in many years. The book is a quick read, and packs an incredible amount of motivation.

Each success story is easy to understand, and all of them are relevant to every day life, and the bulk will likely help you do what needs to be done; make choices to change your life for the better. All the short accounts of the Hero's lives are bound by common themes which led them to success.

Critical Choices will likely change the way you think about many things for the better, and positively change the way you perceive the world.

I learned a great deal from reading Dan's book, and I plan on sharing it with my friends and family. I suggest you do the same.

One day I was in a very cool book store People's Books) in Austin, Texas; you know those lazy, Summer afternoons when you find yourself all blissed out with the very, very rare opportunity of time? Time to think about your place here, your life and the bountiful world we create around us. Well, as soon as I walked into the store, I felt this magnetic pull toward the second floor...as I rounded the corner up the stair case, I came across this handsome gentle, sweet man in a suit, with this impressively large poster sized cover of a book. It was clear he was getting ready to speak, not privy to the topic of this book or if even this bright soul had written it, I checked out the cover and asked if he was going to be speaking soon and if he had written this book? His warm reply cemented my interested in hearing what this intriguing stranger had share with an intimate group, in a funky book store in Central Texas. When the time approached for him to begin, I took my seat quietly at the front of the room. The beautiful little voice inside me said that I was in for delicious surprise! As soon as Dan Castro stood up in front of the room and began to speak, I was captivated! His beautifully woven tale of how this book came to be was like watching an artist recreate with love and compassion. The light in his eyes as he held the room for more than an hour was so incredibly vibrate, that it made you lean forward with the concentration level of a surgeon. I was so taken by the heart, drive and message coming from this man that the hour felt like only seconds had passed. It was such a gift to have stumbled across this book that I bought two copies that day right after he was done and I have bought three more since, for family and friends. In today's busy world, I know we all wish we had more time to read; please let me personally assure you this book is worth the precious spare time you indulge yourself to read a wonderfully good book!

Like many inspiring, self-help books, Castro's contains myriad stories of "success" under fire. But to me, the most important point he makes is that we all face decision points in our lives. We can CHOOSE how we respond. A common thread ties together almost all of those briefly profiled in this book--they chose to act in an "heroic" manner.

I was especially interested in Castro's first chapter where he laid out his thinking about the difference between what he defines as "heroes," and the rest of us. The secret, he asserts, lies with how they answer three questions: 1. What are you focusing on? 2. What do you believe? 3. What are you expecting.

As a life coach, I think these are excellent questions for anyone who wants to achieve anything outside of their comfort zone. In fact the entire first chapter of the book where Castro develops his thesis about why "heroes" make the choices they do, was informative and helpful. His Seven Laws of Critical Focus could be a roadmap for people who are looking for ways to help them meet challenges in their own lives.

Da Jesus Book is the New Testament in the Hawaiian Pidgin language. It will read like a paraphrase to most English speakers but is actually a true translation (done by the highly respected Wycliffe people).
Hawaiian Pidgin is distinct from typical English in several ways. It seems to use only three verb tenses. Some words are used repeatedly for many different things. The vocabulary is extremely limited.
This is what makes it so very wonderful. The Scripture becomes alive in new ways because of the limited vocabulary. For instance; they have no word for 'peace' so they say 'let your heart rest inside', 'sin' becomes 'da bad kine stuff dey like do jus cuz de peopo', 'verily verily' becomes 'ho!', and 'Messiah' becomes 'da Spesho Guy God Goin Send'.
When I use this translation for public reading, the typical initial response is giggling... but after a paragraph or two, fascination sets in as the truth takes on a childlike quality that connects with warmth and emotion. For me, more often that any other translation, people are moved to tears when they hear it read. Most people do not want it to stop. But some people... uh, well, I guess we must always suffer with some people...
Because of the vocabulary, technical parts of the Bible suffer, but then other parts take on new life. For me, Romans is terrible to read in Da jesus Book, but the Gospels and Acts are wonderful.
If you're trying one out, I might suggest Luke 24:13-35 (road to Emmaus), or Galatians 5:19-24 (deeds of the flesh & fruit of Spirit). But beware, they have words which we do not. And it takes practice to read it well. There is a companion CD that you might purchase to help with pronunciation, inflection, and rhythm.
God Bless,
Thomas S Boswell

This is such an excellent translation of the New Testament and just so down to earth. I've never been to Hawaii, but have always dreamed of going. This gave me some insight as to how some of the native Hawaiians think and it was a simpler way to read the New Testament. Great buy!

I fully admit that when I first saw this book on vacation on the
Big Island, I thought "hey, what a cool novelty." I came back and decided to order it. When it arrived and I began reading it, I quickly found out that this is far more than a New Testament "Pidgin' do da max."

I love language, and read different translations of the Bible to get a different perspective. This is, as the authors state, a genuine translation directly from the Greek. You do not have to be Hawaiian or even know pidgen to appreciate this book. It is, probably, closer to the kind of language that a blue collar construction worker from a poor, rural area of the Roman empire would preach in than the lyrical, yet stuffy, King James English. I looked at some things with new eyes (read the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord's Prayer), and this has quickly become my favorite study Bible. I am eagerly anticipating the promised "Befo Jesus Book." All in all, a beautiful translation that turned out to be much more than I had expected.

I first heard of Da Jesus Book at a Men's Night Out sponsored by our church where guest speaker Mike Silva kept quoting it. Since my mom is building her dream house overlooking North Shore, Hawaii I thought she'd get a big kick out of it. Before I gave it to her, I brought it to my men's bible study and the guys passed it around all night - comparing it to New Testament scriptures in our 'regular' bibles. Aside from getting a good laugh from it, we all also noticed that it was actually very accurate, boiling down the scriptures message to it's literal roots before then 'translating' to Pidgin Hawaiian. Once you get used to the Pidgin English being used, you can actually understand it easier than most other bibles since any archaic referrences have been removed. What I also get from it is HEART - the heart of the Hawaiian people, and the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's cute and funny, but it also captures the Spirit of Love perfectly.

This book is well written, and true to the Bible's word. It cracks me up, just because I'm from Hawaii, and it's written as the locals actually talk. It actually was easier for me to understand than the King James Version. I love it. I would recommend this to anyone who's a local in Hawaii. Otherwise, the words used would be hard to understand if you're not used to talking in this manner. Very good book. It is only the new testament, not the old testament, so don't expect the whole Bible in this book.