A Bold Inpiring New Genre of Christian Writing
921221
In a typical Christian book, the world is put back together again. They have relatively few characters and after a few twists or turns all the issues are resolved.  There are plenty of excellent Christian books of this format or genre out there.  Enjoy.

Cooper Moon takes us to another place. We walk into the crazy, never perfect, chaotic world like the one we live. In this skillfully woven story, we enter the unpredictable grace of an awesome God?  A grace like that which took to paradise a criminal being executed on a cross.

This novel will cause us to consider God's, life transforming power. Whether we find ourselves far from the doors of the church or have been active for years, we will ponder the grace of God again.

Enjoy the journey, it is an adventure like no other.
3873423
I deeply enjoyed reading this new book by Mick Mooney.  In this book he managed to weave a real plot with believable characters together with his
faith sentiments - a difficult feat.  It would be easier to simply share faith sentiments, or to simply create fiction, but to do both at once is much more challenging.  The book really made me think about my own Christian faith, my experiences with church, and the disappointments and hurts I've experienced and seen others experience in Christian religious settings.  Apparently religion drives people with an attempt at self righteousness, which also involves despising and condemning others.  I recommend this new book to Christians and to unbelievers, but especially to Christians, because it will help them to confront and question the religiosity that passes for Christian faith.  My only criticism would be that I think the book ends a bit too neatly, tying up all the loose ends of a broken family too readily.  This makes the ending less believable, in my opinion, than it would have been if the ending had been just a bit more tragic.  A very promising fiction work.  I certainly look forward to reading the rest of the series which the author promises will be coming.  The book will inspire me to think about my own life, relationships, faith, and about Christianity for a long time to come.  Thanks, Mr. Mooney.  I also think Mr. Mooney may have created a new genre here.  I've never read a book quite like this one.  Be sure to read it.
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Bestselling author Randy Alcorn offers his faithful fan base a powerful alternative to the doom and gloom messages that individuals across the world are inundated with on a seemingly moment-by-moment basis. He writes about suffering in a hard world not from man's perspective, which is limited and frequently shortsighted, but from God's eternal perspective. Keenly aware of the worldwide suffering thanks to immediate electronic access, he shares how easy it is to grow overwhelmed and disheartened by the mere scope of pain that we hear about.

Alcorn is always a sensitive writer who offers hope, encouragement and a can-do (with God's help) attitude. He gives this same type of uplifting and often heavenly perspective on humanly woes, which is essential for traversing this life as God intends. One of the most valuable aspects of this devotional is that in each of the 90 chapters, he reveals something distinct about God's character as shown throughout Scripture. He gently reminds and urges Christ followers to spend time daily searching out the Bible before tragedy hits, before they're forced to their knees by life's hardships, before they feel they have nowhere else to turn. Alcorn explains that knowing who God is and what He has promised is necessary for enduring and then overcoming the challenges that have the potential to undo individuals.

Throughout this hefty little book, readers will not only discover fresh ways to view suffering, they will realize how valuable suffering is to the development of their character and how it aptly equips them to be agents of change and of comfort to others at a later time. Taken from the principle that God never wastes anything, Alcorn beautifully unveils how God uses the past personal pain and tragedies that befall men and women to bring hope to those in the undercurrent of suffering today. Each of the 90 devotionals opens with a section of Scripture that touches on a specific theme followed by a real-life scenario that illustrates the biblical principle. Alcorn then closes the chapter with a heartfelt prayer that neatly brings together the Bible verses, the story, and its spiritual takeaway in a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

A few of the topics Alcorn writes about include the oft-overlooked relationship between man's suffering and Christ's own, and how this unites them in a mysterious yet powerful way. He spends a good deal of space reminding Christians that this earth is not their real home and what they're enduring today (or for their time on earth) is but a wink in the space of all eternity. He also helps readers understand what the Bible says about heaven, giving Christ followers an ever-growing desire to be there with Christ and all their loved ones who have passed on. Given how tumultuous the days are at present, Alcorn's primer in "studying" God's goodness in the midst of pain will be greatly appreciated and effectively put to good use.

  --- Reviewed by Michele Howe
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In Colette's Harrell's debut novel, The Devil Made Me Do It, we meet Esther, Lawton, Briggs, Monica and a slew of other wonderful characters. I admit I was intrigued by Briggs and Monica and hope to see more of them, hint, hint. My favorite line in the book was, "Girl, I'm saved, not stupid." Infused with the right mix of spirituality, drama, realism and humor, I see a strong, new voice in Christian fiction.  I look forward to hearing more from Colette Harrell.
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Godawa is one of my favorite Christian writers, and this new series promises to be his best one yet. I am amazed at the amount of research he has done to demonstrate the truth of the preterist interpretation of the book of Revelation. There are footnotes along the way to guide the reader into the scholarly research behind his conclusions. That may seem odd for a fictional novel, but since the claim is that the framework of Tyrant is the actual original meaning of Revelation, and since most American Christians have been bamboozled into the false doctrine of Dispensationalism and the Left Behind series, the footnotes are necessary. I believe this sort of fictionalized drama based on historical and biblical truth is a great tool to reach both believers and non-believers.

Some may balk at the idea of a past-fulfillment of Revelation; that would be a shame. It's time to leave behind the corrupt Left-Behind theology and move into actually true biblical storytelling. And if that isn't enough reason to read it, then at least be entertained by great storytelling - you will be enchanted by the budding romance that slowly develops, and you will be appalled by the depravity of Nero and his treatment of Christians and despised Romans alike.
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I have just finished reading "Tesseract," Book Two of the New Millennial Trilogy by author Doug Joseph. "Tesseract" is a Christian novel written with a dual story line and refers not only back to the early history of the characters in Book One, "New IMmortal" to lay a foundation for the complete story but also projects the reader 1000 years ahead and beyond to the beginning of the time after the Great Judgment Day. Written from an active imagination yet tempered with actual Scriptural references and the author's insight as a pastor and preacher of the Gospel, this book throws in  surprise elements that left this reader anxiously awaiting Mr. Joseph's completion of Book Three of the series.  "Tesseract" will make an entertaining and thought provoking addition to the library of anyone who enjoys fantasy coupled with a high moral standing.  It can be done.
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The Catalyst is an important novel that moves the bar several notches higher for an emerging genre of Christian fiction known as Edgy Inspirational.
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George L. Duncan's new novel, "At Play in the Seas of the Lord," is possibly his finest achievement to date, and that's saying a lot considering the high quality of his first four books. "At Play" is a modern-day treasure-hunting adventure and sparkles with savvy, stylish prose, witty, believable dialogue, and profound spiritual insights. Duncan has earned a place among the finest Christian novelists working today. He is never preachy nor does he have any need to; his characters' dialogue and actions say it all. While Duncan's emphasis is on the Light, he is not afraid to acknowledge the Dark, or tangle with the supernatural. Although Christians will love this book, one does not have to be a Christian to appreciate Duncan's work. His prose, dialogue, wit, humor, fast-paced action, well-developed and believable characters will keep the most jaded skeptics as well as believers turning pages.

Chip Ballard
 -- author of "Peace River," "The Snapshot & Other Stories: Tales from Flowing Wells," "Literary Escapades," and the upcoming "Literary Escapades - Vol. 2: Front Porch Ramble."
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Admittedly, this is review placed to counteract the injustice of a previous review entitled "difficult writing style."  Perhaps so, if by difficult one means "not boring."  Francesca Murphy's delightful romp through diverse conceptual terrain illuminates the theological landscape of the last and present century in a way that few publications have.  She manages to contextualize different currents in twentieth century Thomism, Barthianism, the New Criticism, film theory, and the meta-theology of the Yale School, somehow making sense of all of them.  Her main thrust, as the title of the book implies, is a critique of narrative theology diagnoses the dramatic (in several senses) effect of George Lindbeck's linguistic approach.

Only a speed read could conclude that Murphy is unfair to her primary target: Robert Jenson. "We have not repeatedly compared Jenson with Hegel in order to denigrate him, but to show that the problem which lends its title to this book has deep roots in the Christian tradition; rather, we honour him, because he perceives that the problem is not only an intellectual one, but an imaginative one."  Murphy's main contribution is to show how Hans Urs Von Balthasar's dramatic theology provides a better imaginative solution, being not "melodramatic," but genuinely dramatic.  Murphy thereby joins George Hunsinger, David B. Hart, Paul Molnar and many others in a critique of Jenson's theological peculiarities.  Murphy's account differs, however, in her adventurous use of film theory to illustrate what she perceives as Jenson's errors.  Unfortunately, it will be a rare reader who catches all her film references, but this is something for which Murphy can't be blamed.  Theological readings of cinema proliferate, but this is the only cinematic reading of theology of which I am aware.

Is Jenson's theology melodramatic?  No doubt he could defend himself against this charge, and Lindbeck defended himself against charges similar to those made by Murphy in a lengthy response to the queries of Avery Dulles (First Things, Jan. 2004).  Furthermore, one would have liked to see Murphy engage the critiques that have been made of Balthasar's dramatic theology, suggesting that it is itself sub-orthodox.  But these are side issues.  Murphy is a force, and one senses her overall argument would endure such pushback.  If only more theologians would engage fields beyond their own to bring new relevance and currency to their projects as she has here.  God is Not a Story leaves theology looming with a powerful question:  Are there any obvious advantages to "story Barthianism" or "story Thomism" that one cannot get from Balthasar, who offers similar, if not superior benefits, absent the obvious risks?
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Many books recently seem to offer a step-by-step process to the Christian faith (Osteen's "Your Best Life Now") or a spititual pep-rally (McManus' "The Barbarian Way"), yet "Velvet Elvis" offers the reader something quite different: a challenge.  In this book, Bell's purpose is not to hit you upside the head with page after page of his own practical theology - it is to make you question yours.

Bell's style is captivating and his words are thought provoking.  By diging into the Jewish history behind scripture and challenging the church's attitude towards serving others, the reader will find "Elvis" hard to put down. Most importantly, the reader is encouraged to never stop testing and probing what they hear or read, including this book.  Perhaps those who find themselves disagreeing with what the author writes should take a moment to realize that in doing so - Bell has already achieved his goal.
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We read this for our little book club group and attended a discussion of it at New College in Franklin,TN.  I'm so glad we did!  It was a well-written and engaging story that walks or entices the reader through the author's struggles and delights with accepting Christianity.  I enjoyed her kindness in describing her wonderfully brilliant friends, belivers and unbelievers alike.  The insights into literature, history and British culture were also intriguing. It makes me want to visit and/or send one of my kids to school there.  Deep theological insights, clever word-smithing, and enticing story building make for excellent reading.  Thanks, Carolyn!  I'm looking forward to reading another one of your books.
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This is a very well-written book which expresses a new approach to theology and worship.  A must-read for anyone questioning traditional Christianity.
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How Jesus Saves the World from Us makes some insightful points about how Christians can live more fruitfully in Christs image.  These include finding rest in Gods mercy and grace rather than striving to perform for him or others.  Guyton encourages a life of prayer and devotion that depends on Gods gracious justification.  This book truly includes some of the best devotional and reflective Christian writing Ive read by a contemporary author.  It also includes some poor writing typical of a writer that occasionally seems to subordinate Scripture to sentimentalism or a secular cultural bias.

Through the reading of the book, it becomes clear that Guyton is trying to emphasize the right approach to the Christian life.  Nobody could come away from reading the book and think that all parts of the Christian life are not valued by Guyton.  I appreciate his writing about a healthy approach to the spiritual disciplines and sacraments like prayer and fasting and Holy Communion.  He has a high view of the body of Christ and serving one another in love as serving Christ himself in others.

His writing indicates the influence of several esteemed writers on the Christian devotional life: Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen and Alexander Schmemann to name a few.  These citations show the level of seriousness the author has about Christian discipleship.  Jesus calls everyone; Guyton shows how anyone can draw closer to him and into the abundant life.

Guyton starts off his book on antidotes to toxic Christianity with an introduction that I think convolutes the theme of the book.  The introduction, in contrast to the balance of the book, shows a lack of coherence and thoughtfulness.  The concept of Jesus needing to save the world from Christians never materializes.

Amidst some helpful writing, Guyton periodically makes odd statements.  Some of these may not make much sense while others are quite off-putting.  His chapter on insiders and outsiders is indicative of what I consider a mix of excellent, challenging writing to the church and non-sensical, sentimental writing demonstrating enculturation and bias.  These are juxtaposed by brilliant insights that spoke to me as a fellow pastor.

I appreciate his topics for each chapter.  Despite not agreeing with all of his sentiments and assertions, his topics and reflections resonated with me.  Much of this book was encouraging, challenging, confrontational or instructive.  At the very least, the book offers material for consideration and discussion with others.  I would hope that disagreements would be subjects of dialogue rather than finger pointing.
3366509
"Bid the God's Arise" is a very unique book. It's sci-fi mixed with fantasy set place on a  Romanesque world of gladiators, slave traders, corrupt politicians, flying cars, creatures from many worlds and of course the demons that pull the strings.

The writing is good, the storyline is in-depth and in some ways complex, the characters are diverse and rich, and the stress the story causes makes it a real page-turner. This is book one of a series (of how many books I do not know) but it has enough closure in it that you do not have to read the next volume unless you want to. My guess is, you'll want to.

I became aware of this book through a couple of Christian websites but none of the reviews said it was Christian fiction. Neither did any of the Amazon reviews. Well in case you are curious I'll answer the question. It's yes and no. If you are not a Christian then you can rest easy, you'll probably not see a Biblical worldview. Believers however are going to see some aspects of their faith expressed in the storyline. Nothing life-changing but at least motivating. The novel contains lots of violence, sex, debauchery, rape, slavery and torture etc, but the author writes with enough intelligence and class that none of it is gratuitous and yet none of it is softened. No foul language either. For this I thank the author.

If you are looking for an exciting book with lots of edge yet still entertaining then I suggest picking yourself up a copy. My plan is to read the rest of the series. If the author reads this review I'd like him to reply and let me know how many books he plans on writing for this series. Lots of good books to read and so little time.

1 Star = Pathetic
2 Stars = Fair
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

For those who give me a negative vote on my review please comment and let me know why. I'd like to improve my reviews so they can be helpful to those who read them. Please understand I choose not to give a synopsis of the book because it's already given at the top of the home page. I find in doing so too many reviewers give away too much of the plot. Thank you.
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Archon offers a refreshingly new perspective on spirituality and religion, blurring traditional lines between heaven and hell, good and evil and angels and devils. Author Sabrina Benulis's unorthodox approach challenges established perspectives by striking a new path, moving literature into a brave, new frontier.

Shades of the classics are embedded in the storyline. Benulis introduces a world reminiscent of Dante's Purgatory and Milton's Paradise Lost, with its battle between gods and titans. Archon appeals to more discriminating tastes. The complex theme makes for compelling reading.

Archon has all the strengths and qualities of a masterpiece - excellent writing, crisp metaphors and similes, tight sentence structure, eerie scene descriptions, a complex main character (Angela). Each chapter begins with a text blurb extracted from ancient text, establishing appropriate tone and context for what follows.

The second chapter introduces the multi-dimensional, conflicted persona of Angela in an intriguing, well-crafted way, establishing a firm base from which the story builds momentum with each subsequent chapter. The reader is left dangling on a cliff's edge, puzzling whether Angela is insane or in possession of supernatural powers, and, as the story draws to a climax, whether she's the Archon.

Throughout the novel, Benulis refuses to compromise her unique imagination to appeal to simpler tastes. Archon does not follow established genre formulas, thereby protecting the integrity of this incredibly unique story. Innovation and creativity strike at the heart of this must-read novel.
210312
As an aspiring writer myself, I've come to appreciate Gabriel Robert's accessibly eloquent, wittingly daring style that pushes the reader right up to the edges of their comfort zone, and nudges them right into the unknown. Gabriel is an ex-Christian fundamentalist turned gnostic explorer and countercultural author. This book tells his story, a testimonial of hardships, tribulations, confusions, and illuminations as he tries to reconcile his spirituality with a troubled Christian faith.

We often think of the Catholic Church as the staple of abuse and scandal in the Western religious world, but Gabriel sheds a light on sexual and, yes, even spiritual abuse rampant in the Protestant American south and midwest. A literal reading of the Bible, he suggests, can tear the soul in two: compassion and cold judgment, the promise of Heaven and the fiery, eternal torture of damnation. The cognitive dissonance and psychological rift this literalist reading can have on an individual's mind, heart and soul can have devastating effects, as Gabriel attests and many readers will certainly empathize with. As much as it is a personal story of one man's struggle with Protestant faith and eventual exposure to a world of pagan, gnostic, and heretical ideas, Gabriel's story, I think, is pointing to an important juncture point in modern day spirituality. His struggles with so-called demons alludes to a critical neglectfulness in the Christian world with the sidereal realms of night-time visitors, the dark and un-integrated aspects of psyche, and the shamanic realms of initiatic experience. To deny these is to deny a part of ourselves. In the ancient world, `demons' were known as `daemons' to the polytheistic Greeks. They were not evil, but part of a living world `minded' with spirits of all kinds, intermediaries of our world and the gods who were responsible for both good and bad, initiation and inspiration. It was only later, with the development of Christianity that these beings were polarized into Good and Evil, angels and demons, losing their ambiguous and fluidic nature that our encounters with with them emphasize throughout history and to this day. Gabriel's hard-won leap out of religious literalism allowed him to appreciate these nuances and reconcile his experience with a more complex faith.

Gabriel's story, I think, is pointing to an important juncture point in modern day spirituality. That is, alludes to a shift away from the rampant literalism of religious practices to a larger world of spiritual ideas and religious crossroads, one where faith must evolve into a highly individuated form if it is to survive from "born again" backslides into a larger, esoteric and participatory spiritual future.

Born Again to Rebirth is a highly engaging book that you will likely not put down until you finish. That's what I did. When we listen to the story of another's journey through life, I believe that we, too, experience transformation. So this book comes highly recommended for anyone, of any faith, going through hardship, and doubly so for those of us wanting insight on the global, evolutionary struggle in transitioning from religion to what historian and mystic William Irwin Thompson recently called "post-religious spirituality."

Gabriel's story gripped me as much as it spoke to my soul. Do check it out for yourself.
1663974
Author Eric Wilson, known for his modern mysteries that fuse eccentric characters with history and novelizations of popular films turns the creative page to his latest biblical thriller series The Jerusalem Undead. Book one, Field of Blood, introduces readers to a groundbreaking genre that seems to be on the rise in Christian fiction.

 Shammed betrayer Apostle Judas Iscariot spilled his blood across a field in Aramaic circa 30 A.D.  The man's blood and sin seeped into the ground creating a powerful evil only to be resurrected into current times, an undead enemy that seeks to rein destruction and death. Trapped in the middle is Gina Lazarescu, a woman laced with a troubled and murky past. She must make a choice to confront her uncertain future and collide with forces of darkness or become a victim along the wayside.

 Wilson's technique and craft as a writer blossoms in this starter to the trilogy.  The plot and pace are woven tightly around biblical history and scripture proving Wilson's deep research just as well as his intellectual creativity. As always Wilson is known for his unique and fervent characters and Blood introduces us to some juicy ones. Telling the story from multiple individual perspectives, it's difficult at times to keep up with each one, yet Wilson does a seamless job of describing every diminutive part with passion and prose.

 Book one, of The Jerusalem Undead, is supernatural folklore meets Christian biblical scriptures in this shadowy thriller, as Wilson gives us innovative look at a very controversial topic that readers will be eager to eat up. Whether you're a long time fan awaiting this title or just want a divisive topic that combines an utmost original plot with real to life characters then this is one to seek your teeth into.

 Field of Blood is one of those books that rips into your thoughts well after the lights are out and things start to go bump in the night, then you flip on the lamp not only to read another chapter, but to calm your nerves.