The Return

Review: NIV Pink Bible: An Invitation to Hope Zondervan 2013 This is a special issue of the NIV prepared for “any woman whose life has been affected by breast cancer”.   Yes, I borrowed that description from Zondervan website since it was so well stated.   This is the NIV and I will not comment on the content of the Bible itself since that is for experts in that area to concern themselves with.    The copy I received was covered in a synthetic leather two tone pink.   Very nice feel and the size is perfect for carrying.   Only about an inch thick, so not too heavy.   The paper is delicate, and is silver edged.   Typeface is quite readable---even for bifocal sorts like me.   It has a matching ribbon place holder.   I like this book.    What makes it especially for those affected by breast cancer is the insertion of several pages of uplifting, encouragements from a survivor.   They are short, but address many areas of the journey including the fear, anger and confusi

Review: Praying the Attributes of God: A daily guide to Experiencing His Greatness Ann Spangler Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2013 Devotions can be difficult to review because their worth is discovered over a more extended period of time.   This one is no exception.   The author has assembled 17 weeks of study, each week looking at one of the attributes.   Sounds familiar?   Some of the chapter titles look like this:   God Cares about You, God is not Moody, God Always Knows What to Do….   It isn’t the list you may have worked from before with all those “omni” words, at least not initially.   That is one of the things that makes this particular devotional different from some others I have seen, and for that I am glad.   Much less daunting. Spangler has organized each week’s focus into a series of five elements: background information, Bible study, devotions, Bible promises, and prayer (xv).   Each week begins with a key passage and some background information followe

Review: God in Slow Motion: Reflections on Jesus and the Unexpected Lessons You Can See in His Life Mike Nappa Thomas Nelson 2013 This is probably the freshest breath of air I have read in quite a while.   Really, truly, it is.   The subtitle talks about reflections on Jesus and this is what this author has done.   No scholar talk or the usual stuff here.   These are reflections.   He has taken the time to look and think about 10 different moments recorded in the Gospels.   The author enters the moment, lives it, and presents his thoughts to us.   My favorite moment comes from chapter 4, Frightening Wonder .   This one looks at Jesus calming the storm.   Nice placid little lake goes berserk while all the disciples and Jesus are trying to get across it.   You know the story, if not it’s in Mark 4.   The subheading for the scene where the disciples witness Jesus speak to the storm is Jesus is One Scary Dude.   This works and isn’t the least bit irreverent if you read on.