A Bounty of Books

An Outlaw and A Lady: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon, and the Faith that Brought Me Home by Jessi Colter tells the story of musician/songwriter Jessi Colter and her life with Waylon Jennings. One of the main focuses of this book is the story of Jessi's journey of faith.

Born Mirriam Johnson, Colter's early life was a simple one in the Arizona desert. The daughter of a miner and minister, Colter's life revolved around music from the beginning. She often sang hymns during her mother's revivals. She was encouraged by her family, specifically two of her older siblings. It was through them that she met her first husband who introduced her to the professional side of music. It wasn't until after her first marriage ended and she started a relationship with Waylon Jennings that her professional career gained traction. It was also during this time that she returned to the faith of her childhood. This is what sustained her during the turbulence that being in Waylon's life caused.

Colter's writing style is easy to read and flows really well. Her story is engaging and easy to relate to even though it involves larger than life figures such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and George Jones. The simple but always exciting story of God's redemptive grace is evident in the life of Colter and those around her. Anyone interested in autobiographies, personal stories of redemption, or one of the greats of country music will enjoy An Outlaw and A Lady.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers 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, Part 255

The Dawn of Christianity: How God Used Simple Fishermen, Soldiers, and Prostitutes to Transform the World by Robert J. Hutchinson uses biblical and extra-biblical sources to historically trace the beginning of "the Jesus movement." Hutchinson starts from a bit before the birth of Jesus and goes through the Jerusalem council.

Each chapter is short and deals with one particular person or event in the formation of Christianity. The writing flows well and is easy to read and understand. There are numerous helpful end notes at the back of the book that provide either sources or more detail, some of which is very interesting.

There isn't really anything new in this book, but it does serve as a great introduction to an important topic for both believers and skeptics. It is organized and informative without going so deep into any one particular topic or scholarly controversy that someone new to the topic would become bogged down. Overall, I recommend The Dawn of Christianity to anyone interested in how Christianity was formed and took root.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers 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, Part 255

Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi is a primer on understanding jihad and how it affects our world. Qureshi was raised as a devout Muslim. In his early twenties, after an in depth investigation of Islam that led him to reject the faith he was raised he, he converted to Christianity.

Qureshi states in the preface that he felt more comfortable addressing these questions individually rather than writing a book. However, he felt compelled to do so by the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernadino and Paris as well as the fiery responses to these attacks offered by certain American presidential candidates. As he says, "...lives are in the balance, and we must respond carefully. I cannot feign impartiality. Ignoring the reality of jihad endangers my nation, while responding with fear endangers my Muslim family" (11).

In Answering Jihad, Quershi provides a very understandable and basic explanation of both modern and historic Islam, jihad, and how people, specifically in the West, should respond to both. Using a question and answer form, Quereshi address eighteen questions he commonly gets asked, including "Is Islam a Religion of Peace?" and "How Does Jihad Compare with the Crusades?" Qureshi acknowledges that his treatment of each question is very basic and gives suggestions for resources that provide a more in depth look.

There are four appendices included at the end of Answering Jihad. They are "A Selective Timeline of Jihad in Islam," "Muhammad's Words on Jihad in Sahih al-Bukhari," "What Is the Caliphate?" and "Ahmadi Muslims and Details about My Former Sect of Islam." There is also a two page glossary of common Arabic and Islamic terms used throughout the book.

Overall I enjoyed Answering Jihad. I learned some important distinctions about subjects that are too often painted with a broad brush. This is a subject relevant to every American. Wherever one falls on the political spectrum, everyone can benefit from more information, and less fearful rhetoric. Answering Jihad is accessible enough to be a useful tool to aid in this conversation, therefore, I recommend it to anyone willing to more thoughtfully engage in this crucial topic.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers 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, Part 255

Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World by Rich Wilkerson Jr. discusses the futility of building one's life on anything but Jesus Christ. Using four characters found in Luke 7, Wilkerson discusses the problems with building one's life on the things of this world such as relationships, money, power, fame, or even religion.

Before reading this book, I knew enough about Wilkerson to be interested, but not enough to know for sure if he and his message were something I could get behind. Sandcastle Kings removed any doubt that Wilkerson is a man whose faith is relatable while not compromising any element of the Gospel. This book is filled with scripture and everything points back to Christ. While not a deep theological treatise, Sandcastle Kings is full of solid theology applied in a way that is both encouraging for the long time believer, and easily accessible for those just checking things out.

I like this understated design of this book. It's easy to read and fits with the message that the point is Jesus, not anything else. I'd recommend Sandcastle Kings to anyone interested in the message of Christianity on any level. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Wilkerson.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers 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, Part 255

The Case for Hope: Looking Ahead With Confidence and Courage by Lee Strobel is an attempt to prove that true hope is real, if it is grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Lee Strobel is known for tackling subjects thoroughly and with an eye for truth and clarity that only a former journalist could have. Those who have read any of Strobel's previous works will find familiar content in this latest addition to his body of work.

Because the hope Strobel discusses is based on the person and work of Christ, he does spend some time discussing proof for the veracity of Christ's claims, though in a very condensed fashion. He spends the rest of the book discussing the relationship between hope and doubt, as well as telling stories of how this hope has changed people's lives, including his own.

While I normally don't comment on the aesthetics of a book, I feel compelled to this time. The overall feel of the cushy hard cover, and the blue color scheme somehow adds to the overall feel of hope that reading this book gave me. It almost has a gift book feel to it. It's rare for me to feel that way, but in this case, it was something I noticed from the very beginning.

Anyone who is a fan of Strobel will enjoy this book. I'd also recommend The Case for Hope to anyone who is investigating Christ and the claims of Christianity. This is a good primer on the basic facts. Christians who may be struggling to have hope or remember the reason for it will also benefit from reading this book.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers 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, Part 255

 When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman could be the story of the life of any number of Millennials one would meet on the street. While the story is a common one, the intensely personal and eloquent way it is communicated sets it apart as something special. Mrs. Zierman shares her journey from a 14 year old "Super Christian" to a thirty something recovering cynic, struggling to consistently engage the Evangelical culture she has alternately embraced and rejected.

I found several parts of Mrs. Zierman's journey that resonated with me. While our paths have not been exactly the same, we were a part of the same culture at around the same time, and the imprints it left on our life are similar. I applaud the brutal honesty with which Zierman shares her journey. I appreciate that she didn't try to tie anything in a nice neat bow or whitewash the ugly parts of her story. She understands the complexity of life in all of its ups and downs. Her retelling of her story is powerful because of that complexity.

When We Were on Fire comes with an author's note, a discussion guide, and an interview with the author. This book would be excellent to read individually or as a small group. While it's told from a distinctly female perspective, Zierman's story carries meaning for both men and women. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys personal narratives, is struggling with Evangelical Christian culture, or anyone open to the subject of faith and it how can shape one's life.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book review bloggers 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, Part 255

The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution by John L. Allen Jr. is an in-depth look at the growing trend of the persecution of Christians world wide. The book consists of an overview of five regions of the world: Africa, Asia, Latin America, The Middle East, and Eastern Europe, as well as a look at five prominent myths associated with the global war on Christians, and the consequences and possible responses to the overall problem.

Allen's background is as a speaker and journalist for various national and international publications, most predominantly the National Catholic Reporter. His background as a journalist is clear in his style of writing. The Global War on Christians consists mainly of facts and figures. While there are several examples and anecdotes to help push each point home, the entire book reads more like several very long articles joined together, rather than a self-contained book. This sometimes made it tedious to read for more than fifteen to twenty minutes at a time.  The other thing that made it difficult was the sheer number of facts, figures, and examples; reading this often felt like drinking out of the proverbial fire hose.

However, while it was difficult to read for long periods of time, the strength of Allen's journalistic background shines through in the depth of his research and the willingness to discuss and examine his word choice. The Global War on Christians has a twenty-two page introduction dealing with the possible objections to and reasoning behind his choosing the word "war" to describe his topic. In this introduction, he also discusses the difference between a "war on religion" and a "war on Christians," explains the silence about this topic both inside and out of the church, and ends with a call to action even before the first chapter.

Allen's passion for his topic is clear throughout the entire book. His diligence in research is evident, and his arguments are fair and easy to understand. This book isn't for everyone. it is a semi-difficult read both in content and style. However, its an important topic, and for those willing to take the time to read it, The Global War on Christians does a thorough job of informing its reader.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book review bloggers 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, Part 255

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book review bloggers 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, Part 255

Unleashed by Erwin McManus is a re-release of his book The Barbarian Way. Serving as a primer to living a life of what most people would consider an extreme faith, the main thrust is God intended His people to live a wild life of faith, not the tame, safe, institutionalized, often fear based faith that characterizes the majority of American Christianity. Through personal anecdotes from his own life as well as his childrens' lives, McManus illustrates what a life of untamed faith can look like.

A couple of key quotes that sum up the message of Unleashed are: "His [God's] desire is not to conform us, but to transform us. Not to make us compliant, but to make us creative. His intent is never to domesticate us, but to liberate us" (p. 64). "The freedom to love and the freedom from fear make the barbarian an entirely different species within the whole of humanity. This may be the most extraordinary mark of the Spirit of God within the heart of humanity: the freedom to live out dreams greater than ourselves" (p. 102).

Unleashed is a quick and easy read. For anyone searching for a more meaningful faith, or looking to live a life based on absolute faith in the wildness of God and His promises instead of fear, it provides an encouraging example of those who are living that way. It made me stop and think, and re-examine my own life, to see if there were areas where I was letting fear dictate my actions and decisions, instead of the faith I profess.

There were a few things I would've changed about the book. One is that it seems extremely redundant after a bit; it almost seems as though everything could've been conveyed just as effectively in a long essay rather than a short book. Another thing is that the Scripture references are few and far between, and the extrapolations based on those used are a bit of a stretch sometimes. I believe there is truth in what McManus says, and what he proposes can be seen in Scripture, just not necessarily in the ones he picked, or the way he chose to present it.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to break out of the standard mold of American Christianity.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers 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, Part 255