Religion Books

This is the best guide I have ever read to helping you understand personal evangelism and to putting it to work.

It seems to me that today's mainstream evangelical Christianity is guilty of putting too much importance on what people SAY they believe, rather than placing importance on what beliefs actually have meaning in people's lives. About My Father's Business, written in an easy-to-grasp style and in terms that members of most evangelical churches will be comfortable with, urges us to return to the essence of Christianity. Campbell explains that as Christians we should focus on loving and building relationships with others (NOT just getting them to believe what we believe.) This is exactly the attitude that many churches (including my own) need to adopt in order to create a positive influence in today's society.

Go ahead and buy multiple copies, (if you have the $) because you will want your Christian friends to have this book too.

About My Father's Business is more than a Typical Christian book. It is a discussion of the calling and the lifestyle of "making disciples". As a result it makes the reader deal with issues of our heart like "How much do I really love the people around me?" and "What are the core motivations of my life?". Seeing this book as another book about workplace evangelism is a superficial reading of a book that calls out to much, much more. Campbell's setting is mostly the workplace becasue that is where his experience lies. About My Father's Business is a profoundly challenging book for Christians ready to expand beyond knowing more to following Christ. Letting this book seep into your life will challenge you in new and fresh ways to live in daily dependence on the guidance of the Spirit and to live sacrifically out of the overflowing gratitude in your heart.

I saw this book for the first time at PromiseKeepers and was interested as soon as I cracked the cover. Campbell does an excellent job of explaining his thoughts about bringing Christ to work and walks the reader through the thought process. For most the thought of "evangelizing" at work sends shudders down the spine, but Campbell shows that it doesn't have to be as scary as many of us view it. His approach of meeting co-workers where they are and giving them what they need is refreshing, and is far more akin to wading into the shallow end of the pool than jumping into the deep end blind-folded. This book has helped move me on a path to increased comfort in spiritual leadership in the workplace. A must read for those who struggle with how to keep from checking Christ at the doorstep to work.

This book includes an incredible tool for evangelism called the IMAP. It lined up perfectly with a passion for evangelism God was birthing in me, and as a result it's been one of the most impactful tools I've ever come across. It's helped me see the areas where I'm weak, it's given me consistency in keeping in touch with people, and it's given me vision for what to pray for them for. As I've had a desire growing again to have my time on this planet be all about personal ministry, this has been possibly the most effective tool I've come across to help me do that.

I was first tuned into Jonah Blank through the Travelers' Tales of India anthology. Reading his hilarious account of discovering that a poorly functioning Delhi airport clock was in fact manually operated, I expected more of the same in this book. While there are more of these entertaining cross-cultural discoveries throughout, this overly ambitious book addresses what you'd expect from a naïve twenty-something writer, covering the broadest of all philosophical topics- with chapter titles including "Rites," "Fate," "Caste," "War," and "Love." The scary thing is that he succeeds, displaying a remarkable ability to grasp complex issues.

This work is held together with a strong narrative thread. Beginning each chapter by retelling a passage from the Ramayana, he then applies this theme to modern Indian culture, and compares this with life in America. Despite a reflexive defensiveness of American culture and government, he portrays a deeply nuanced understanding of the complexities of Indian traditions as they clash with modernity. For example, he dispels any notion that Hindu fatalism is the same thing as passivity. Unlike Christianity, you can't just pray for salvation in Hinduism; you have to earn it and change yourself to adapt to an unchanging world. In a later chapter, he credits Hinduism's adaptability to the well-educated elite's acceptance of metaphorical (rather than literal) interpretation of the Vedas, and credits Sikhism's sustainability to its openness that the Gods of all religions are really different manifestations of the same entity.

In his chapter on love, he respects the value of an arranged marriage in offering stability in a hard peasant life, acknowledges the potential rewards of society's increasing acceptance of the risk of marriage for love, but listens to an individual who swears the happiest people he knows are the ones who arranged marriage through a matchmaker.

Traveling to India is a life-changing experience in itself. This book is one of the most articulate reflections I've seen on what that experience can be like.

This book is a riveting read.
It touches upon a myriad of social, economic, political, emotional and ultimately human themes from the Ramayan epic and juxtapositions them with the present day Indian psyche.
The substance is informative and interesting without falling into the trap of being academic or verbose.
The author's style is succinct, witty and appropriately poignant.
Being a non-resident Indian, I was pleased to read such a well written and objective analysis of such a behemoth of a country.
This is a very vast, tricky and interconnected subject matter to tackle.
Jonah Blank does it with aplomb.
I would recommend that anyone wanting to know about India read this book.

I love India and have been there many times but this book taught me a lot I don't know. The book has an original format which was risky but works. You really get both caught up in the story and then feel like you've visiting the countries he's talking about.

As travel writing, it doesn't get better than this. So refreshing to not be talked down to and he avoids the horrible snobbishness often encountered in the gendre.

I just wanted to savor each page. It's not a book you flip through. I was sorry when I finished it. I just wish I could give it six stars.

I guess this book has been out for some time, but I had not known about it until I stumbled upon it at the bookstore and I am very glad I did. The book is written in a style that is unlike other travel books I have seen or read about India in that it reflects on one of the treasured literary epics in Hindu/Indian culture and mythology--the Ramayana. Each chapter focuses on a single aspect that is explained through the characters in the Ramayana, (caste, kings, swamis, fate...etc..), and each chapter begins with a summarized "Jonah Blank" version of the epic of Rama, Sita, and Hanuman. What I have enjoyed so much about this book is that the point of view that Blank brings is that of a twentysomething who is seeing India from the eyes of a young person who at times is both humorous and skeptical, yet idealistic and hopeful. You can truly tell that Blank, although a young person at the time of the writing, truly has passion and depth of vision about the complexities of India and you yourself get caught up in the majesty and the mysticism of India through his journy and the journey of Rama and Sita.

This is a wonderful book about the travel experiences of a young Harvard scholar in South Asia and how they evoked or resonated with certain episodes of the Ramayana. In one way or another the Ramayana has had an immense influence on South Asian civilization (as well on that of S.E. Asia) so it was interesting to see how Blank brought together, and exposed as timeless, so many of the epic's themes. This is a excellent introduction to India. Highly recommended.

Behaving as if the God in All Life Mattered is one of those life altering reads. Machelle's recounting of her childhood and her understanding of how we go from "there" to "here" bringing along the gifts and skills we unknowingly craft from an early age, brings awakening to a broader perspective into the hands of every person if they choose it.

Behaving as if the God in all Life Mattered is a marvelous book, which I had heard about through the grapevine over the years, but had no idea how to find. Now, in her 1998 updated version, which I located on Amazon while looking for her new book, The MAP System of Healing, a very useful book as well. I am reading "Behaving" now and enjoy it imensely. It is so true and right in its assertions of Nature Spirit's willingness to work with us in our gardens, that I read a few pages daily as a meditation and to make the book last. Thank you, Machaelle, for this delightful book. Winifred O'Brien

The information in this book is great. I could have done without so much life-history in the first half of the book, but I understand why she included it, and think for many people it will be helpful. The second half is great. I wish her garden was still open to the public sometimes.

This book was delivered within one week and it was in great condition.
Thank you.

ALL OF LIFE IF LIFE. I FIND ANYTHING THIS AUTHOR WRITES IS EASY TO READ. EASY BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED. I ENJOY HER SENSE OF HUMOR. THE CONTENT GIVES ONE MUCH TO PONDER. THE BOOK MADE ME AWARE OF HOW LITTLE, STILL, MOST HUMANS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THE PLANET HAS TO OFFER. ALL THE POWER, HELP &HEALING THERE IS AVAILABLE IF ONLY WE LISTEN; LOOK.

Sargeant W's efforts are helpful to Sanskrit lovers/learners. Sargeant Krishna & Sage Vyasa's message is made more transparent to sanskrit learners.

This book is meant for scholars or students looking to translate Bhagavad Gita and have a reference point for those difficult verses. There is nothing more to the book than an intro., and the Gita translated word for word. Even the verses themselves cannot be found whole. That is not to say that this isn't an excellent book. I have another similar book but he has some different opinions on the names: winthrop's Gudakesha- "thick haired one" but the other guy says: Gudakesha- "conquerer of sleep" This also happens with Hrishikesha: (don't quote me on this one) "spiny haired one" and the other guy writes Hrishikesha: "conquerer of the senses" I'm leaning toward the other guy (forgive me for not having the name) because the rest of the "nicknames" refer to past achievements and such. So, if you want to learn sanskrit and you're ready for the Gita this will be excellent, or if you're memorizing verses and want to know the exact meaning behind them, this is for you.

I have read over a dozen translations of Bhagavad Gita over the past 25 years. IMHO, this is the best English translation. The "inter-liner" translation is really a neat idea and I wish someone does inter-liner translations for other ancient works such as Thiru-Kural.

The book is a translation from Sanskrit to English. Excellent if that is what you are looking. However, if you are looking for interpretation or an understanding of what it means then better buy some other book like the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by A. C. Bhaktivedanta. Some may call it biased, but I think it is better for a new reader.

This is an excellent interlinear translation. For each word, Sargeant gives grammatical information, like gender, case and number. Then each verse has an idiomatic translation to English which is very faithful to the original. Some verses also have a commentary - very useful. There is also an introduction describing the contents of the Mahabharata, of which the Bhagavad Gita is a part. One thing missing is an index, therefore I would recommend buying also Schweig's or Easwaran's translation.

If you are looking for the best book on expository preaching...YOU FOUND IT!! This was a required textbook for one of my seminary classes, and I absolutely loved reading it. No other book that I have read so far and I've read quite a few about preaching, really explains the "HOW-TO" of expository preaching! I highly recommend this book to all pastors, teachers and laymen.

Introduction

"In this book, I pass on a method to those learning to preach or to experienced people who want to brush up on the basics" (14). So says Dr. Haddon Robinson as he offers this second edition of this classic volume known as Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages. Though first published in 1980, this work is still a staple in homiletics departments and pastors' studies across the world.

Robinson received his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois and serves as the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Prior to this position, he served as president and professor of homiletics at Denver Seminary after teaching homiletics at Dallas Theological Seminary for nineteen years.

Summary

Chapter One, entitled "The Case for Expository Preaching," Robinson begins by saying, "This is a book about expository preaching, but it may have been written for a depressed market." In this chapter, Robinson shows the lack of regard for expository preaching in evangelical circles, then outlines the church's need for this manner of preaching and exactly what expository preaching is. Chapter Two, entitled "What's the Big Idea?" displays the importance of an expositor to mine out one main concept or idea. He defines an idea as something which "enables us to see what was previously unclear" (39). He also notes that "an idea begins in the mind when things ordinarily separated come together to form unity that either did not exist before or was not recognized previously" (39).

In Chapter Three, entitled "Tools of the Trade," Robinson introduces three stages in preparing expository sermons: "choosing the passage to be preached" (53), studying the passage and gathering the notes (58), then proceeding to "relate the parts to each other to determine the exegetical idea and its development" (66). Chapter Four, entitled "The Road from Text to Sermon," includes stage four which is "analyzing the exegetical idea" (75).

In Chapter Five, entitled "The Arrow and the Target," Robinson covers stages five and six in the development of expository preaching: "Formulating the Homiletical Idea" in which he encourages preachers to state their exegetical idea in "the most exact, memorable sentence possible" (103); and determining the purpose for the sermon. "A purpose differs from a sermon idea, therefore, in the same way that a target differs from the arrow; as taking a trip differs from studying a map; as baking a pie differs from reading a recipe" (107).

In Chapter Six, entitled, "The Shapes Sermons Take," Robinson helps the preacher decide how to accomplish the purpose of the sermon as well as outlining the sermon (stages seven and eight, respectively). Chapter Seven addresses filling in the sermon outline and, as Robinson states in his title, "making dry bones live" (139). Chapter Eight has the provocative title, "Start with a Band and Quit All Over," which deals with the preparation of introductions and conclusions.

Chapter Nine, entitled, "The Dress of Thought," Robinson notes, "Gift or not, we must use words, and the only question is whether we will use them poorly or well" (184). He helps the preacher in areas such as transitions, clarity of thought, developing a personal style, and the use of metaphors. The last chapter, "How to Preach So People Will Listen," deals with the delivery of the sermon itself. Robinson says that sermons "live only when they are preached. A sermon ineptly delivered arrives stillborn" (201).

Critical Analysis

With engaging writing and timely humor, Robinson seeks to communicate one prominent theme: "expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept" (35). Even though one would be more persuaded by his thoughts had he served more in the preaching ministry of a local church (he served at Dallas Youth for Christ from 1952-55, then as Associate Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Medford, Oregon from 1956-19581), his principles of preparing and preaching expository sermons are tremendous and will serve the Church of Jesus Christ and his ministers very well indeed.

One of the strengths of this work is its pastoral nature. Preachers are not called to be lecturers and are not simply called to preach the Word of God. Preachers are called to preach the Word of God to God's people. Robinson rightly observes that "we must preach to a world addressed by the TV commentator, the newspaper columnist, and the playwright" (29). In the Preface to the Second Edition, Robinson notes how the culture has changed since 1980 when this work was first published. "Television and the computer have influenced the ways we learn and think. Narrative preaching has come into vogue and reflects the reality that listeners in a television culture think with pictures in their heads" (10). While he may go too far in giving room for narrative preaching, he rightly assesses 21st century culture. This culture is the world in which the expositor preaches. So not only does Robinson note that "as shepherds, we relate to the hurts, cries, and fears of our flocks," we must also understand the external issues to which our people are exposed every hour of every day.

Along with this area of pastoral ministry in connection with preaching, Robinson also gives more room to the role and responsibility of the listener. He notes:

Expositors may be respected for their exegetical abilities and their diligent preparation, but these qualities do not transform any of them into a Protestant pope who speaks ex cathedra. Listeners also have a responsibility to match the sermon to the biblical text. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, "It takes two to speak the truth -- one to speak, and another to hear." ... If a congregation is to grow, it must share the struggle (24).

Robinson notes that the average listener in the pew hopes you will answer this one question: "So what? What difference does it make" (86)? Before this question is in the congregants' hearts, this question must be answered in the study as he asks, "Exactly what is the biblical writer talking about (66)?" The shared struggle starts with the preacher in the study as he wrestles with God to find out his intended meaning.

Another strength in this work is the engaging humor Robinson employs in this volume. While many would consider reading a book on expositional preaching boring (even some preachers may feel this way!), Robinson's use of humor helps hook the reader in order that the reader may approach this material with ease. This example, though mentioned earlier, stands as a great example of opening up the very first chapter with humor: "This is a book about preaching, but it may have been written for a depressed market" (17). In the preface to the first edition, he makes this observation:

If I can claim any qualification, it is this: I am a good listener. During two decades in the classroom I have evaluated nearly six thousand student sermons. My friends marvel that after listening to hundreds of fledgling preachers stumble through their first sermons, I am not an atheist (14).

In another example after he acknowledges his debt to all who have influenced his thinking on expositional preaching, he closes the paragraph by noting, "Since all of these and others influenced me deeply, it is only fair that for weaknesses in this volume they should shoulder a large share of the blame" (15)! This brand of humor disarms the critic and relaxes those who initially approach the topic of expository preaching with any misgivings or fears.

One weakness is a quote located in the Preface to the Second Edition about his view of women ministers, a view which has changed since his first edition in 1980. He notes:

I've also changed my language to reflect my theology. God doesn't distribute gifts by gender. Both women and men have the ability and the responsibility to communicate God's Word. I have always believed that, but the language in my first book reflected a distinct male bias. . . . In this revision I hope I have demonstrated the fruits of my repentance (10).

Robinson's theology is on display when, in an explanation of how our outlines should have development, he plays the part of a listener who asks of the preacher, "What evidence does she have for that statement" (140)? Here again he opens the door for us to peer into his theological framework which allows for women ministers. If Robinson had titled this book, "Biblical Teaching," then the reader would understand the necessity for this revision. Many men and women in our churches teach, but the New Testament sets parameters on who teaches whom and where (1 Corinthians 14:33-35, 1 Timothy 2:11-13). For twenty-seven years however, this book has borne the title, "Biblical Preaching." When Robinson notes that the theology he has is "my theology," this reviewer is troubled by the use of the `my.' For someone who claims to look to authorial intent, the description of his views seems too self-centered. This reviewer believes that his theology has strayed in this area from Scripture.

Conclusion

Robinson excels in bringing a topic which many would deem dry and gives it life by coupling his extensive homiletical and hermeneutical knowledge with picturesque wit. Aside from the one weakness mentioned above, this book is a must-read for every pastor and aspiring preacher of the Gospel.

This is Robinson's highly revered "how to" preaching textbook. He presents a ten-step process of sermon preparation in his typically precise style. No word is wasted. In many respects numerous other books on preaching are building on this one, trying to offer some clarification or slight adjustment. That is certainly not true of all, but of many.

The emphasis throughout is on preaching a thoroughly Biblical message, through effective communication, in a way that is entirely relevant to the specific contemporary audience. The "Big Idea" is central to the philosophy and the procedure of preaching. So the ten steps move from understanding the text to the point of an accurate and clearly defined exegetical idea, through the process of developing the homiletical idea with clear purpose, to the practical matters of sermon shape and effective content. Although there are other books that deal in detail with issues of delivery, Robinson's brief section on delivery is helpfully succinct.

I think it is fair to say that anyone interested in the subject of preaching should have this book. Robinson's combination of Biblical commitment, expertise in communication theory, and renown as a teacher of preaching, effectively blend to make this a very effective book. The book does not deal with everything as fully as one might like, for example it would be nice to have more examples and demonstration of Biblical exegesis. However, this book remains the number one book in its field with good reason!

This review deals with the 2nd edition, a great book made even better.

[...]

This is a great book on expository preaching. While it covers the basics, I believe that it does so in such a way that it will benefit even very experienced preachers. For those who are relatively new to preaching, this tool will foster good habits. For those who are more seasoned, it will sharpen the mind regarding some things that are often taken for granted or done almost unconsciously. The text is well-respected for a reason.

I thought I knew about preaching the Bible before I read this book but relised how ignorant I had been. It helped me to get down to some basic but vital principles of studying and preparation.

Initially, I bought the Praying for Purpose book to infuse my daily quiet time (plus it was on sale). I was enjoying Praying for Purpose so much that I decided to take the advice at the front of the book and read Pathway to Purpose as the foundational book. Significant time elapsed between my buying the book and actually reading it--mainly because the longer chapters were daunting when combined with my hectic schedule. Nevertheless, I knew I need to really delve into it because I am at a watershed period in my life. Well, once I began reading I was drawn into the contents. I was particularly struck by the author's relation of her own story. She writes with strategic candor--sharing vignettes of her life with precise relativity to the principle being shared. I was not able to fully relate to the first 2 chapters but I appreciated their advance wisdom. I am still working my way through both books because ever so often I stumble on something that takes me a few days to "soak in." Nevertheless, I've enjoyed Pathway to Purpose so much, I bought copies for each of my Women's Ministry Coucil members. I would totally recommend it!!!!!

I found this easy to listen to but not of much help to any pathway to purpose for me. It was interesting and did get some ideas from listening to it.

This book is excellent for doing exactly what the title predicts. It has certainly been a pathway to God's purpose for my life. I am slowly discovering the passions that God has placed in my heart and connecting them with, what else but, His purpose for my life.
Carole

This book is one of the most significant books I've read in awhile in regard to helping me honestly evaluated God's place in my life and my own motivations for serving Him and relating to others. This book makes me feel like I want to sit with the author and discuss at length the concepts she brings forth in her book. Ms Brazelton must be an awesome mentor.

If you are wondering about your purpose or or ust plodding along day to day, this is for you!!!!!

I love that "A Child's Geography" is written so simply, yet gives a wonderful depth of relavent information that leads the teacher and student on a wonderful journey through the world. It gives hands on activities and lists other outside sources that draw the student closer to the subject, tying the student to the place being studied. Some of the activities include notebooking & mapping activities, and "Excursions" that bring it to life, with text that is written with the curious student in mind, so they may practically apply it to their life. CD at the back of the book includes maps, quizes, postcards, and a Plate Tectonic Puzzle. Love it!

My daughter loved, loved, loved this book. She loved the readings, activities, notebooking, and especially the projects. She used it when she was 11 and was able to do most of it independently. This book makes learning geography fun.

Our family enjoyed this book last year in our homeschool. It gives a wonderful, rich, homey feel to the study of the earth and its geography. It is written directly to the reader and makes an excellent read aloud. The explanations of difficult to understand concepts (such as why it is hotter in the summer when we are farther from the sun, and colder in the winter while we are closer to the sun) actually clarified some of my own thinking. One of our favorite projects was tracking the "ship wrecked shoes" using lattitude and longitude. Talk about making a dry subject interesting. This is a lovely book that will appeal to many people (especially to those following a charlotte mason philosophy) and has been an asset in our home.

We bought the e-book version of this when Knowledge Quest first created it, and we loved it so much we bought the hard copy of the book when it came into print! (Snuggling on the couch with a good book with my five children is so much better than reading from a computer screen.)

We used this book in correlation with another Geography curriculum; we loved the way the narrative style incorporated all the things that we were learning in a grand story of the incredible world that surrounds us. Highly recommended by everyone in our house!

This is more than your typical geography book. In addition to such mundane terms as the equator and the hemispheres that we are all familiar with, you'll learn about the atmosphere, seismic waves, the hydrosphere, cartography...166 pages may not seem like much but this book has a lot to offer. Its conversational style and well thought out activities will make it a welcome addition to your homeschooling library. Examples of activities are making a model of the atmosphere, making an edible earth out of ice cream, investigating the earth's plates with play dough (including a recipe for making your own play dough), making a clock to tell the world's timezones, and much more. It includes a CD with templates for some of the activities as well as copywork.

But what I love about this book is its focus on the fact that this is God's world, not ours and how awesome His world is. The quality of the book itself is very good, the pages are thick and glossy, and full-color pages are alternated with black-and-white pictures.

My only real qualm is that this book is not available in hardcover, preferably a library binding, because I know I'll be using it for many years to come!

Pelikan's 5 volume series on Christian Tradition has become a fairly standard reference work that is accessible to newer students as well as those more familiar with Christianity.

Pelikan has written a very useful, accessible and noteworthy history of the beginnings of Chirstianity covering the major issues in a creative and lucid manner. Certainly, a book worthy of the library.

Volume 1 of Dr. Pelikan's 5 volume magnum opus is a breathtaking panorama of the development of Christian doctrine over the course of its first 6 centuries. Dr. Pelikan tells us what the infant Church taught, and the fascinating process by which it came to those conclusions, introducing us to the specific arguments of the various positions regarding issues like the relationship of the Old Covenant to the New, the Trinity, the nature of Christ, the question of Christian authority, predestination, grace, salvation, etc. This book is a sumptuous feast for the theologically-oriented mind and an intellectual achievement for the ages.

Two words in the book's subtitle should be emphasized to clarify the book's purpose; firstly, that this is a study of Christian_doctrine_, not a history of Christianity per se. The mention of dates and years is rare, and indeed, this book seems to operate in a world outside of time, where spiritual ideas are debated by disembodied theologians unmoored from any earthly context. As a history-buff, that lack of chronological perspective sometimes grates, but I came to accept that this is a historical study of ideas, not events, and the book is made stronger by its single-minded focus on that area. Secondly, the starting point of this book that has to be accepted is that the basics of Christian doctrine have come down to us by a_process_of revelation, development, evolution, and scholarly dialectics, not from the self-exegesis of Scripture Alone. Pelikan himself once sarcastically asked what human being could sit in a room with the New Testament and come up with the idea of the Trinity without the benefit of Tradition. That kind of thinking is no obstacle to those sectors of Christianity which believe that the Holy Spirit works through properly appointed authority (Eph 4:11-14) to ensure that Christ's one Church will never err in doctrine, but it might be a stumbling block to those Christians (particularly religiously anarchic Americans) who think that the whole of Christian doctrine, history and devotion is, and was intended to be, contained in and clearly spelled out in the pages of the New Testament, which fell from the sky on Good Friday 33 A.D. leather-bound, annotated and translated into the King James Version, ready-made to be individually interpreted anew by every generation of average Joe-Christians. As a previous reviewer said, this book is an antidote for ahistorical Christians.

Unlike his predecessor Harnack, Pelikan doesn't take the historical development of doctrine as a justification for religious relativism. Pelikan always approached his subject from the perspective of a believer, and even though he wrote this book as a Lutheran and later converted to Eastern Orthodoxy, I-as a Catholic- find no cause for any accusation of sectarian bias in his work. This is a work of impartial scholarship through and through, on a subject which is ripe for the insertion of denominational proclivities. My criticisms are minor: as far as I can recall, this book barely touched on the questions of Biblical canon and pre- 5th century Roman claims of primacy, two subjects I would describe as "doctrinal" but of which Dr. Pelikan apparently disagreed. In his section on infant baptism, he apparently neglected the testimony of St. Polycarp (died ca 155-167- a self-described "Christian for 86 years") as an additional buttress to the tradition. And there are stray sentences which could have been rendered with less theological opacity. But these are minor. This is the standard reference work for any serious student of Christianity, and will likely remain so for many decades to come.

If you profess to be a Christian you need to read this book and understand how what you have accepted on faith. The Good News from Jesus was forced through a Hellenic sieve of of Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy; on the Platonic side the essence of the unknowable is stressed, on the Aristotelian side the existential details are laid out in a highly logical fashion.

In this book you will learn why the Apostle's creed reads the way it does. You will learn the dissenting views that were pushed aside as anathema; 3 participants at the Nicene council refused to sign the Apostle creed revision and were excommunicated on the spot.

Why is it important that Jesus was born of a virgin? Exactly how was Jesus God and man at the same time? When and where did original sin and infant baptism come about. Jaroslav Pelikan is a brillant man who expounds upon all this and more in an eluminating fashion. If your Greek is not strong, I do recommend having wireless laptop with you to help out at those tricky points to understand words like homoousia and homoiousia.

The late Jaroslav Pelikan demonstrates why he is the master ecclesiastical historian of our era in his five volume series _The Christian Tradition_. While Adolf Harnack made tremendous strides respecting Dogmengeschichte, there is no history of early church doctrine more readable and scholarly than Pelikan's five volume series. Jean Danielou's series is excellent. But still not on par with _The Christian Tradition_ by Pelikan.

In volume 1, we are treated to a non-linear discussion of doctrinal history from 100-600 CE. Pelikan touches on the notions of impassibility (apatheia), predestination, Christology, the Trinity and much more. He carefully defines key working nomenclature in the treatise and he packs the book with marginal notes for ease of reference. In the final analysis, Pelikan teaches us what the church has universally professed, taught and believed. Moreover, the author tries to be fair in his analyses while he offers some trenchant criticisms in volume one.

My favorite portion of this work is the discussion regarding Christology and the Trinity doctrine. In chapter four, which reviews the Arian Controversy, Pelikan argues that the Arians and orthodox pro-Nicenes had more in common than previously has been supposed. He reviews the factors that precipitated the famed controversy and supplies references demonstrating the common elements that obtained between Arius and those who opposed him.

Pelikan is never deterred from his primary goal of elucidating doctrinal history; nor does he allow political or social developments to distract him. Hence, if you enjoy reading about Dogmengeschichte, buy this work. You will have a chance to learn from the master historian. I own all five volumes and find them to be indispensable for serious historical research.

I have purchased a few of these. Great gift for someone that left the Big Apple or that doesn't have the opportunity to see it. I sent it to my sister in Florida, my best friend in Florida and my cousin in Texas. If they can't be with us, at least they can remember how beautiful it is!

Christmas in New York: A Pop Up Book is a wonderfully artistic representation of its subject. I have bought several copies of this lovely book, and I have given them to adults and children alike. One of them was sent to France.

I purchased this book as a sort of "virtual trip" to begin to fulfill my dream of celebrating Christmas in New York one day. The illustrations are beautiful and it is interesting to learn the history behind the great city's Christmas traditions. It seems that every time I open the book there are new surprises awaiting me. This book is a keepsake to enjoy for years to come. My other dream for Christmas one day is London, England. Mr. Fischer, are there any plans for a "Christmas in London" or even a "Christmas in Germany" or Europe? If so, I just "can't wait to open" them! Thank you for the sweet gift of imagination, color, and beauty in a book.

My Best Friend and I have a Christmas Tradition where we buy each other Children's Christmas books as gifts... I chose this one because she recently took a vacation to NYC. I bought it from Amazon without being able to look at the inside and was suprised and a little disappointed to find that it was more historical and less story-ish. But the book is great and the story behind the Traditional NYC Christmas icons is told. I would recommend this book but remember that it is not a Story book more of a history book.

It has been a surprise to open this book. Just amazing! I believe it is perfect for a baby, for an adult, for everyone, it is a pleasure to go through the colorful pop-up pages and the inserts.
I really love it.

I've read this book twice, the first time in one sitting. It's a great book for taking a look at Christian doctrines without having to crack an intimidating theology textbook. I highly recommend this book for use with a small group.

It seems that "theological novels" are becoming increasingly popular. Of course English literature began with a theological novel in the form of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. In more recent years we have seen a series by Richard Belcher that has been quite popular in Reformed circles and Brian McLaren's somewhat notorious series, popular in Emerging Church circles, that began with A New Kind of Christian. A recent addition to this list is Common Grounds written by Glenn Lucke and Ben Young.

Ben Young is a Southern Baptist who is associate pastor of worship at the inconceivably huge Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Glenn Lucke is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary and leads Docent Communications Group. Their relationship and a common concern about the lack of theological understanding in the young people they interacted with, led them to write a book presenting the basics of the faith. As they began to write the book evolved into its current narrative format.

Common Grounds is the story of three friends who are all at different places in life. Brad is a nominally Baptist investment banker; Lauren is an unbelieving former Catholic corporate attorney; Jarrod is a Charismatic graduate student in philosophy. These three friends gather each Sunday evening to talk and share their lives with each other. One day Brad meets a new friend, a semi-retired professor of theology. He invites this man to join their group and the professor begins to mentor them in the faith, presenting to them the foundations of Christian doctrine. These weekly conversations address critical doctrines such as sin, evil, revelation (both natural and special), sovereignty, and more.

This book is notable for at least two reasons. First, the doctrine presented is Scripturally-sound and consistent with Reformed theology. Second, the authors present a way of evangelizing people that is geared to a postmodern generation. They employ the twin concepts of narrative and story to present sound doctrine in a way that will appear to postmoderns more than the traditional abstract propositions one might find in a classic book like Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Today's generation is less-likely to be persuaded by a cold, rationalist presentation of the facts, and more likely to be persuaded by the presentation of a person's own testimony or story. Common Grounds will help believers understand how this can be effective.

My only concern with the book was that there was no clear presentation of the gospel. This postmodern method of evangelism can be effective, but only if it includes the gospel! My concern was alleviated, though, when Glenn Lucke sent me the following in an email. "The 3 key missing words on the last page are 'To Be Continued.' Book 2 is largely done but needs revision as MacGregor continues to teach Brad and Jarrod more deeply about the Christian faith and to explain it to skeptic Lauren." Common Grounds is only the first chapter of the story. I look forward to reading the continuation of this fascinating dialogue. I echo Al Mohler's endorsement where he writes, "If you want to reach the postmodern generation, read this book and give it to your friends."

What Mr. Lucke has done with this novel has provided threads through which I can converse with close friends regarding topics I might otherwise avoid. As a theological resource, this novel's dialogue brings religiosity to the commonplace discussion. The book also includes well-developed characters either I know or am. Please read this book and engage in these conversations.

A good friend of mine gave me this book as I was looking for a deeper understanding of my faith and what I believe in. This book was amazing in how it really got to the core of who God is and how he fits into our lives. The author chose fun, interesting, and compassionate characters to make it a book I couldn't put down.

Reading "Common Grounds" is like overhearing any conversation in your local java hut--where people reflect on life and how to live it. Ultimately the conversations turn to questions we all ask--about purpose, God, suffering. Lucke (and Young) deftly explores the issues our culture wrestles with and presents the option of faith in a winsome, non-heavyhanded manner. Look forward to more in this series.