The Return

Review: Short Answers to Big Questions about God, the Bible & Christianity Clinton E. Arnold and Jeff Arnold Baker Books 2015 The title describes this book well.   It gives short answers, but as the authors say in the preface, “… Short Answers is not meant to be the end of your study; rather, it’s the beginning.   Let this be the springboard for you to dive into the deep ocean that is understanding God.” (17)   To help the reader move toward that goal each chapter ends with several Scripture passages related to the chapter topics and then a few questions for thought.   Some of those questions are tough, too.   There is a list of titles for further reading provided at the end.   The authors have achieved their goal, in my opinion. This is no light, fluffy read.   There are illustrations that are relevant though, so it isn’t like trying to read a catechism book.   That is good.   It is not written for the totally unchurc...

Review: The Original Jesus: Trading the Myths We Create for the Savior Who Is Daniel Darling Baker Books 2015 This book is one the target audience will probably never read.   The cover is less than attractive for starters.   The back page clearly identifies Darling with several conservative organizations that carry enough assumed baggage to deter many readers.   For those that persevere the contents will not disappoint their expectations. Those that most need to rethink who Jesus is generally respond to a different style of writing and presentation in my opinion.   The author may like lattes, but that’s about as far he’ll get with many people.   But, I thought maybe I had misread him, so I tried his blog.   The same “I need to correct your theology” tone oozed from that as well.   I don’t write many reviews this negative, but this one I just couldn’t avoid.   What the author has to say is important, but he doesn’t seem to kn...

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...