Song of Solomon put in a whole new light
340961
*Book Description*

The song is a captivating book on The Song of Solomon as well as Ecclesiastes. It features Jed King after his stardom plagued father has passed on. Inheriting his father's love for music and writing song lyrics, Jed meets Rose and quickly pens a song...He had no idea it would launch him into stardom, quickly having him follow in his father's footsteps. Then a new temptation in the form of Shelby Bales and Jed must make a choice. Stay true to himself, his wife, and his morals or give into a tempting girl out for herself?

*What I liked*

I love how Chris depicted the book of Song of Solomon and how, even though it was sad, he was accurate and included verses even in song lyrics. Such a wonderful idea and now I need to watch the movie!

*What I didn't like*
 Though there may be inappropriate parts in this book, I don't consider it to be too serious to hinder your view of the book.

*My Rating*
I give The Song.. five stars!

*Why my rating is what it is*

 My rating is five stars because of a creative plot, in depth characters, and because every book is made better with a movie to compare it to, right?
862555
This book is unlike any other children's Bible I've seen. It shows how Jesus is a part of every Bible story--and how the Father had planned for Him to come all along. I'm 22, and it has challenged and encouraged me and so many of my spiritual brothers and sisters, including friends I read it to in China who had no idea what God has done since Creation. The language was so simple that they were able to understand, and they were able to see how Jesus is the key to EVERYTHING.

Recently, an older nominally Jewish relative told me that the Old Testament was not really Christian--it was Jewish. I can see what he meant, but at the same time, I disagreed. After reading this book, I saw that all along, if God's plan was for Christ to come, and the Messiah was a part of every Old Testament story, then Christianity--in the effect that it is about God Himself coming to save this broken and self-condemned world through Christ--was actually a part of God's beautiful plan all along, and fulfills Judaism. You cannot have Judaism without Christianity. Woah.

This book is plainly filled with God's simple, powerful truth, and the Holy Spirit's wisdom is written all over its pages. And it's for children!!!!

I never write reviews, but I felt like I needed to for this one because it was so impactful to me and so many of my friends who aren't even within this age range! Haha. What a treasure--a book that comforts us and whispers God's loving plan to save us since time began.

BUY IT. Buy 10. Give them away. May it remind you of God's faithful love over the whole history of this world.
2046579
This book is a very pleasant surprise. It's a serious discussion of a number of themed topics in the Hebrew Bible but written with a completely modern sensibility and outlook and a lovely sense of humor. A "must read" for anyone interested in the Hebrew Bible (of course, "Beginnings is written in a delightful English) who wants some charming new insights into its "firsts" (the reason for the title "Beginnings"): its first presentation of love, its first king, etc. The style is loving, lighthearted, yet filled with interesting insights.
2583308
I'm a lifelong Christian, but I'm just beginning to become familiar with the Ignatian Method that is played out in _Noah and Her Sisters_. I'm thrilled. By diving in with the senses, we come back from Scripture with more connections to the depth of timeless material.  As I read, I felt doors opening to the Spirit that too often remains hidden behind words. Thank you, Miriam Therese Winter, for guiding this journey.

I honestly had had no idea that there had been female Noahs in the Bible, but sure enough. I did the research. There they are hiding in plain sight. Eye opening.
1595328
I was a religion major, thus why I am an attorney. I always enjoyed the story of Solomon and how he took over from Saul. We see even with all of the wisdom that Solomon had he was still left unfulfilled...because he had surrounded himself with material items. This is one of the points that the author makes in this book, about today's wealthy. He also links Solomon, author of my favorite book of the Bible, Proverbs with Jesus. Without Jesus, we do not have Christianity. I felt at home reading this book and expanding on the knowledge I had gained almost 20 years ago in College. This author writes well and makes ideas easy to grasp. This is a must read.
3118472
If you're like me, you've probably read a story in the Bible and not given it much thought. I've read 1 Kings 10 and never wondered how she came to be queen in a male dominated world. I never gave it much thought as to how she heard about Solomon and his wisdom or what her visit was like.

Lee has done an incredible amount of research an has crafted a thought provoking fictional account of the queen's visit. She gives us a plausible story as to how she became queen with her mother dying and her father remarrying. The cruel step-mother has her exiled to Punt. When the king finally dies, those loyal to the kingdom come to her to make her queen.

She wants to excel as queen and refuses marriage. Men from her kingdom who trade, taking spices to the north, tell her of the new kingdom there and the king. She is amazed at the influence and power of such an upstart king of an infant kingdom.

She is stunned when she hears that Solomon is building a port city at Ezion-geber. Solomon, the Israelite king, meant to neutralize Saba's trade and render our caravans obsolete. (126) Who was he to presume to challenge the queen of a land as old as time itself? Her counselors advise war but she wants to send an emissary to negotiate with the king. With the very future of her nation threatened, she decides to go herself.

As I have found with Lee's previous books, she is meticulous in her portrayal of the ancient world. She describes well the caravan and the journey north that takes months. Lee has also written a very thought provoking lengthy interchange between Solomon and the queen. It was thought provoking for me because I hadn't given much thought to Solomon's spiritual state at this time in his life. Lee explores the many wives Solomon had and what that meant.

Lee has combined the biblical account, extra-biblical accounts, and legend into a very readable and enlightening novel. She provides a plausible reason for the legend that the ark of the covenant ended up in Ethiopia. She adds drama to the fact that Solomon knew his kingdom would be divided.

I am again impressed with Lee and her ability to craft excellent historical fiction. I highly recommend this book. It brings to life a portion of Scripture I have too often quickly read through without thinking.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
3792484
When I was in college in the early 70's, I attended the regular Sunday services and youth activities in a Presbyterian church in Taiwan, where the culture was very conservative then, romantic love between man and woman was seldom openly discussed. My pastor focused on the Christian's devotion to God when he mentioned the "The Song of Solomon", he sort of avoiding the implied relationship between a man and a woman.

Rabbi Benjamin Segal translated and commented the "The Song of Songs" in a way that I had never thought of then. The title "The Song of Songs: A Woman in Love" clearly speaks that "The Song of Songs" is the book in Bible that celebrates the unconditional romantic love, it's not just a book that emphases divine love to God. I found Rabbi Segal's interpretations very interesting and liberating.
2039514
A fantastic and very well researched book that focuses on the Garden, the Temple, and the Ancient Near East. Expect your brain to explode with new and unique perspectives that make you rethink everything you thought you knew about Adam and the Garden. This book is guaranteed to make you want to dive into scripture in a whole new way. This is more than a book; it's a research tool. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
1788926
This book has opened a new understanding to me of the different people affected and motivated by the words spoken by Jesus in Johns gospel. It opened John up as I never have experienced before.  Each person Jesus touched had a story behind them and a reason they were seeking Him.  I was able to see in my mind where the important places Jesus walked.  Learning the history behind the people who lived there was really helpful and gave me insight into why each person acted like they did.  I was really interested in the burial customs of the people that has been documented through archeologists.  A melting pot of many different people from Israel, Rome, Greece and other countries. Learning about the Samaritan Israelites as a faithful remnant of the Northern tribes and keepers of the original Torah that was from Moses, put them in a different light for me and helped me to understand why John had written his book.  Once I began the book I could not put it down because I wanted to know more about what Jesus said and did, but seeing the people.  Getting to know the people of Israel when Jesus walked on this earth was amazing. Israel is a blessed land. It is an honor to learn more about Israel  Gods Chosen People. I already have recommended this book to my friends.  I was so blessed by reading and beginning to understand Gods love for us.  I am reading it again, more slowly this time, to get more out of it.
2879602
I love to garden as a way of worship, and I was so pleased to see this concept in this book. It's amazing how many garden metaphors there are in the Bible, and this book describes them all beautifully and ties them all in from Genesis to Revelation. Amazing to realize that the instructions for the Solomon's temple were filled with garden images. This is a good read for those who like to have lights of spiritual understanding come on.
2198648
This is a very different way of looking at the bible.  Its probably the way bible software always should have been designed but until now has not been done in this manner. With the ability to navigate between the timeline, map and scripture it brings a whole new understanding of bible stories, places and people.  It has a very impressive graphical interface.  I also enjoy using the topical index.  It makes it very easy to drill down to specific topics and find scripture that relates to it even if the key words are not part of the text.
4571050
I purchased this book a while ago. This text is a poetic reinterpretation of the Book of the Dead. Wow. This is probably the most lyric translation of an ancient work I've ever read. The recent Mitchell translation of the Epic of Gilgamesh is the only other thing even in the ballpark.

Not only is this marvelously well-written, the theological-philosophical content is amazing and you can finally recognize it thanks to the style of the author. There are some profound things to meditate on in this book. This is probably the only text that "new age" types enjoy that I've ever really enjoyed, too.

Highly Recommended to lit buffs, persons with an interest in egypt, and those seeking a meditation text.

A final note. 2 different people have borrowed this book and never returned it. If that's not a testament to how good it is, I don't know what is. I'm online now buying my 3rd copy. The only other book I've lent out that's been stolen more is "A People's History of the World".
3443800
I have all three volumes. It has become my quiet time ritual. It truly puts me in a place of worship. The words of the bible are paired with the most beautiful music. The artist singing it brings the scripture alive. I would recommend this for anyone, not just babies.
2319152
As a Pastor and a man of God, I bought this book for my wife.  She kept quoting it and talking about how good it was.  So, I started reading it. I found myself to keep going back to it.  Each time I open the book I am amazed! It is exciting. it is like finding a new jewel everyday! Simply illuminating is how I would describe it.  It is well worth the price of admission!
4330922
This book has cast the alleged Biblical condemnation of homosexuality in a whole new light.  For those who always felt that there was something very wrong and un-Godly about the fundamentalist's extreme anti-gay views, this book will certainly confirm what you have known and felt in your heart all along.

For those Christians with gay family and friends, who have understood first hand the conflicts between what they know, experience, and God has impressed within their hearts, and the fundamentalist (and even mainstream) condemnation of the lives of your loved ones, this will open your eyes to the reality and truth of what is written in the Bible.

All in all a great read and an eye opener.
2563052
This book was absolutely NOTHING like I expected.  It was so much better.  The account of one woman as she tries for one year to live out the bibles "commands" on how women should be.  Rachel draws you in from the very first page and doesn't let go until the very end.  This book made me laugh out loud, drop my jaw in horror, and has opened my eyes to so many new things that I'd never even thought of before.  Written so beautifully that you feel for Rachel as she cries on the kitchen floor, laugh when she clomps down the halls of the monastery, and cheer for her when she completes her final task.  Bible stories and histories on biblical women are throughout the book giving it the feel of a bible study as you go through the journey with Rachel.  Also a liberating and inspiring book for women.  It lays out the trials and troubles we have been through throughout the ages and how we have conquered and overcome obstacles and continue to do so.  I feel like I have a whole new outlook on who I am as a woman, wife, mother, and Christian after reading this book.  Simply a fantastic read!
1389384
I read the first "Shocked by the Bible" from the same author a few years ago and was flabbergasted by some of the amazing "facts" in the Bible that I never knew or didn't take the time to pay attention to. Frankly, it made me realize how little that people (even Bible-believing Christians) understand, or refuse to understand about the words on the pages of their own Bibles.

Basically, the author isn't preaching to you about what the Bible means, but rather just asking you to read the words on the page and BELIEVE what it says. It really is shocking when you realize much of what you've been "preached to" about in church and by family and friends isn't even in the Bible! In fact, it's often actually the complete opposite. All you have to do is open your eyes and read the words on the page and BELIEVE what the words say. God is speaking to you in plain and simple language. All you have to do is pay attention to the words on the page and you'll see His entire plan for our lives.

This new book "Shocked by the Bible 2" takes that to a whole new level. I previously read the first "Shocked" book in spurts when I had time to spare. I thought it was eye-opening and even humorous. However, I couldn't put this new book down. It felt as if God was compelling me to read it, and as the author delved deeper and deeper into the Bible, I felt like I was being given a special "gift" of information -- things previously unseen and unspoken. My mind was opened up to an amazing unseen world, a world that God wants you and me to understand and be a part of as one of His children. I highly recommend this book!