A Bounty of Books

Wounds Are Where Light Enters: Stories of God's Intrusive Grace by Walter Wangerin Jr. is a collection of short stories that illustrate the various facets of grace and how it is expressed in human beings. From the mundane to the extraordinary, the youngest child to the oldest man, the miracle of birth and the sorrow of death and everything in between, when one is looking, one can see grace anywhere.

A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman, and the Birth of Modern China, 1949 by Kevin Peraino is an in-depth look at how American foreign policy in 1949 allowed Mao and the communists to defeat Chiang Kai Shek and the nationalists in the Chinese civil war that followed the end of WWII. Using many first person interviews and recently declassified American government documents, Peraino takes a look at both the personalities and the policies that shaped the world during this time.

It is astonishing how small the world was after WWII and how one nation's support or lack thereof can shape the destiny of another nation. The steep toll paid by China during WWII created a kind of vacuum that Mao was able to exploit. America's support for the nationalists, which had been strong during Truman's first term, was quickly withdrawn during his second under the direction of Secretary of State Dean Acheson. While there were many other factors that played into Mao's victory, this was a significant one. The subsequent policy of containing communism in the rest of Asia led to American involvement in two more significant conflicts.

Peraino does a good job of delving into these policies and the people behind them without getting bogged down in minutiae. A Force So Swift is easy to read and flows well. The balance between policy and personality is such that one doesn't get trapped in either. It is informative and somewhat entertaining.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence by Thabiti Anyabwile is a primer from an ex-Muslim on tips for effectively sharing the gospel with Muslims. The book is broken into two sections, one about the gospel and one called "As You Witness." Each of the eleven chapters are short and comprised mainly of practical tips, though there are some personal stories from Anyabwile.

While there are good practical tips, there is nothing new or super unique about this book, except for Anyabwile's personal experiences. The main components of sharing the gospel with anyone regardless of religious background, is knowing the truth and sharing it and depending on Holy Spirit to do the actual work in a person's heart. Almost all of the advice given in this book could be applied to sharing the gospel with anyone.

Overall, The Gospel for Muslims is a good resource, but not a great one. It is short and easy to read if one is pressed for time, or needs a quick boost of confidence.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, See Part 255