The Return

Review: D.L. Moody: A Life Kevin Belmonte Moody Publishers 2014 Belmonte has told Moody’s story so well that only the toughest will not shed a tear in the final chapter.   The narrative reads like good fiction.    Moody was a member of an exceptional generation in Western history.   That generation saw unmatched wealth and poverty, invention, education, and opportunity---for some, but not others.   Think of the stories of Charles Dickens to imagine this period, or the US before the Civil War and after.   Moody knew the hard side of this period, especially after his father died leaving his family destitute.   But for family and community who knows what Moody would have become. However, his hardships made him more attuned to those around him. So as it turned out, we who are living a century later still partake in his legacy and his life’s work.   What did I not like about this book?   I did miss his family, and especially...

Review: God’s Story for You: Discover the Person God Created You to Be Neil T. Anderson Bethany House Publishers 2014 This is the first of the Victory Series studies designed by the author as a “comprehensive discipleship course” (155).   The series will be an eight book series by the author.   This particular study is foundational and even though it seems too basic at first glance, it is not.   Neither is it so difficult that it would be not be useful for its stated purpose. This study contains six sessions that examine the Person of God as He relates to His creation.   Therefore, the first session covers not only the beginnings of the story, but also the natures of God and man, why that matters, and what expectations exist between God and man.   Through five different lessons that conclude with questions to consider, the reader will have a basic, yet thorough, understanding of the early interactions between God and man.   The sessions t...

Review: Exploring Christian Theology Nathan D. Holsteen & Michael J. Svigel, General Editors Bethany House Publishers 2014 The strength of this book was identified by the endorsement written by Darrell Bock where he says that this book “combines biblical texts, what people have said across history, and that alludes to contemporary culture…”     Bock’s description is quite accurate.   With the help of a glossary the person just coming to theology can obtain a helpful overview a range of topics that involve the church, spiritual growth and end times information. The presentation of material is even handed when different positions exist.   The positions are not debated happily, and the information supplied helps to differentiate the various opinions.   A very good and concise church history that points up some of the major doctrinal decisions from the earliest times forward is the best I have read.   The section on end times is equally a...