Poignant Presentation of Facts Supporting Faith
589723
Craig pulls together logic and reason with facts that belie the misconception of Christians taking a blind leap to come to faith in Christ.  The faith is based on reality, not mythology, and Craig supplies an intellectually satisfying apologia (defense).  Recommended for anyone whose intellect and heart cry out for truth.
4069112
`Religion kills', religion `is a form of mental illness', `religion poisons everything' - these are some of the hyperbolic slogans put forward by the popular New Atheist movement over the last decade.  However, in this meticulously researched and refreshing debut, Deena Guzder helps counter the reductionist polemic of Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens by revealing the under-reported story of progressive Christian activists in America.  For secular liberals and foreign onlookers, it can often appear that `Christian activism' comprises solely of attacking abortion clinics or rallying against gay marriage - yet the voices of the religious left are often drowned out by the louder, more confrontational right as well as ignored by progressive atheists. Nevertheless, these compassionate campaigners, motivated by their faith, have pushed for social progress throughout US history, rather than hindering it - aiding Native Americans, confronting slavery and supporting gender equality movements.

Guzder profiles ten more recent individuals who, instead of proselytising,  "hope to serve as God's hands and feet rather than as his mouthpiece" and who "bear no resemblance to parochial, hierarchical and exclusionary fundamentalists obsessed with determining who descends to hell." From those who achieved their vision, such as Jim Zwerg and SueZann Bosler, to those who are continuing their struggle, such as John Dear and Charlotte Keys - the famous and less well known examples selected by Guzder embody their religious convictions, disavow violence and remain inspiring examples of humility, commitment and sacrifice.

These stimulating stories have helped me to mature beyond the black-and-white rhetoric of the somewhat combative form of atheism I once held. By highlighting the common ground between both religious and secular leftists, this well-timed book will appeal to readers of both persuasions and hopefully help encourage them to unite against inequality, militarism, discrimination and join together in favour of social justice and a better future for all.
607283
Karin Harrison addresses a controversial topic with sensitivity and compassion. The reader empathizes with the characters as the plot reveals and the tragedy unfolds. The discovery of human imperfection does not destroy the faith of the protagonist as he opts to serve God outside the protective mantle of the Catholic Church.
4893553
Susan's notes and Tom's contributions of his memories paint a clear picture of their experience with necrotizing fasciitis.  Whatever your religious persuasion, this little book is an expression of faith and hope in the face of the unknown.  The account demonstrates the strength of their insistence on the human ability to know and prevail, their ability to participate fully with the medical team, and to gratefully utilize the strength of family, religious beliefs, and friends in coping with the disease process and the real limitations of healthcare.
1750412
For those who have just started on the path of Christianity, this book is an invaluable tool to aid in understanding why the faith has so endured.  For those who have long embarked on that path, it reaffirms and at the same time warns us of the many pitfalls that we face.  The author provides a wealth of historical facts that strongly under gird his message and encourages us in our daily lives.  It is meant for serious study and those who engage in THE LOST PARABLE OF THE CROSS, either in class or as individuals, will be strengthened and enriched by the experience as I was.  Rosemary Newton
1972033
As a Bible Scholar and Exegete I found this book's worth to be immeasurable. The facts given therein are to educate the reader about not only the Samaritans religion from the beginning, but to show what they believed at the time of Christ. True light is shown on the Woman of Samaria (John 4:3-44) and how she is to be the virgin bride of the Samaritan messiah called Taheb in order to reestablish a pure bloodline. The woman's husbands are figurative and not flesh. There names are Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the sixth is "made alive again" Moses in the person of Taheb to whom she is only betrothed/engaged to awaiting for him to appear at Jacob's Well so they can consummate the betrothal. The author makes the statement regarding the knowledge of this book as being essential and without it everything said about Samaritans is nonsense. At the time of Christ the Samaritans practiced a Patrilineal/Patriarch theology. The meeting between the woman at the well and Taheb is based on a replication of the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24). In short, the Woman of Samaria is a title likened to royalty and has been falsely accused of being an immoral person. Jesus came to Samaria to persuade her to denounce her Taheb-ism and accept Him as the true Messiah. The Samaritans were the first to announce Jesus as the Savior of the World. To the Samaritan Moses is lord of the universe and all things came into existence through him. The Jews called their religion a silly religion.
2187976
Prolific author and speaker Jill Briscoe sets a tone for robust, faith-driven hope against a backdrop of cultural despair, fear and uncertainty. She challenges all Christians to cling to this positive expectant-type of thinking as the only viable lifestyle in a world gone adrift.

Opening her text, Briscoe shares the tremulous moments she experienced on 9/11 while flying back from Russia to the United States. High above the Atlantic, writes Briscoe, our world entered the "new normal." It was at this moment (as she reached for the emergency procedure card in the seat before her) that the author had to revisit her faith and decide if she did indeed believe what she had for years professed both publicly and privately. Was God in control? Like so many other believers, Briscoe admits that her faith was tested and she battled to find her mental and spiritual footing.

Wrestling internally, Briscoe reaffirmed to herself some foundational key principles regarding her understanding of God and His character. She reminded herself that God is never caught off-guard and He cannot be shaken or moved, even when everything else falls apart. God is there (here), sustaining and supporting. Like so many in the world who ask why God would allow such tragedy, Briscoe also felt these questions rise. She considered life --- with all its pain, divorce, infidelity, disease, financial ruin --- and wondered how people would be able to cope with the added burden of this "new normal" and its substantially heightened level of uncertainty that gave rise following 9/11. People aren't coping well; society as a whole is experiencing more anxiety, depression, panic and pessimism across all classes, creeds and ages. Briscoe admits to some sleepless nights following 9/11 where instead of counting sheep, she was counting terrorists.

So what is the answer to regain a solid spiritual standing whereby Christians do not simply survive the next onslaught of terror, but reach out with compassionate care and courage? Briscoe believes Christians have two choices. They can head down the path of fear, thus paralyzing and debilitating any potential good that hope may offer an unbelieving world. Or they can deal with the fear factor with faith; the faith factor, says Briscoe, is rooted in the Father factor. Whom we place our trust in is paramount. Likewise, trusting God and His unfaltering love is essential because the Bible states plainly, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God..." (Deuteronomy 29:29). Meaning what? That on this side of heaven there will be countless "secrets" Christians will have to leave hanging in God's faithful hands --- not every answer will be given on earth. Briscoe tells Christians to remember that life is fleeting and today's opportunity to share the love of Christ with a terrified world is short. The author lovingly admonishes fellow believers to set aside mediocrity and get on with the business of evangelizing, seeing the brevity of life for what it truly is.

As is Briscoe's custom, she communicates with a gentle sincerity and her advice begs to be followed. Both the careworn and the apathetic will appreciate this message to live life boldly and with unconventional conviction.

  --- Reviewed by Michele Howe
4456591
I cant say that Ive ever considered myself a progressive Christian, in fact I cant even say that I had heard of the term. But perhaps that doesnt matter. In fact perhaps labels themselves don't help and don't matter after all.
Could it even be that faith, at its best and fullest, is more a case of believing that God is up to something in this world (Living the Questions, page 59) and less about people believing in extraordinary things than it is about living in renewed restorative relationships not only with the divine, but with those others (especially those distinctly other) we share, and sometimes discover, our lifes journey and personal destiny.
The biggest obstacle to this kind of faith is certainty  the certainty based more on presumption than knowledge, on arrogance more than humility, and, perhaps above, adherence to creed over compassion and experience. Certainty is where faith stops and persecution and barren legalism begin.
Living faith is, by definition, unfinished. Living faith is restorative, welcoming and ever-growing.
But what of the most elemental theistic belief of all  Gods omnipotence?
If God is all-powerful, should He be held responsible for all natural (and personal) catastrophes? Are divine intentions behind disasters?
Few people of faith really believe this, but too many of us have absorbed the certainty of belief without the wisdom and depth that any real faith is based on.
But real faith is the opposite of certainty, it is a journey into the unknowable, the mystery of our origins and our eternal destinies. Real faith is inherently, immediately, and personally transformative.
But most of us fear few things more than transformation, in fact we are inclined to mistake homogeneity for holiness, (page 160) and conformity for Christianity.
But mystery is all we have, and know, for sure. And our encounters with truth and reality beyond our reach or definition are what makes our faith both real and an honest reflection of our Creator.
Creation stands as the literal expression of the ultimate Creator. And when we see this fully, we also know that there is only an arbitrary, human distinction between the sacred and the spiritual, the spiritual and the material.
This book closes with a quote from Albert Einstein. And if this is progressive Christianity, sign me up.
The most beautiful and most profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical.  It is the sower of all true science.  He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.
192380
Straightforward, impartial writing style. He lays out the facts clearly. It quickly becomes clear how the mythology of the Bible and Christ have been constructed over time.

The book reinforced what I had already begun to suspect: Just as the Santa Claus mythos has taken on a life of its own having arisen from the life of Saint Nicolas, blended with the myths of more ancient deities and traditions, and constantly reinterpreted through time, so to has a religion arisen out of the life a man who lived and died two thousand years ago, like so many other religions before and new ones that came after.

Christians should not be afraid to read this book. You will either find freedom or faith. Christianity, after all, is ultimately a religion that rests on faith, so the facts should have no bearing on the strength of your faith and there is no point in pretending as if the facts don't exist just to make it is easier to keep your faith. Faith that is dependent on your ignorance isn't faith, its just fantasy. So, if you review the facts presented and still maintain your faith your faith will be that much stronger for having been tested. Conversely, if upon review you find your faith evaporates like the mist exposed to sunlight, you will feel a sense of freedom having been relieved of obligation to continue trying to believe that which you do not truly, in your heart of hearts, believe in. And then your true spiritual journey will begin.

So, Christians should not be afraid to read to read this book. But it is not for the faint of heart - you will be tested, Sojourner. Will you be found wanting?
387996
Just as the man, the presentation is understated and matter-of-fact. Uncle Buddy relates stories from his childhood and his days on the mission field that leave you in laughter and tears. In each circumstance, he points to God's provision and care. A refreshing testimony of God's faithfulness over a lifetime of service. Well worth the price, it's a book I'll be glad to pass on to my children as an inspiration and a reminder of why we are here.
4415766
This book is for the honest inquirer, for thinking people of faith, and for those who do not want to abandon their intellect or disown their beliefs in the pursuit of truth. The authors share their personal yet common struggle in the hope that others on a similar faith and intellectual journey may be helped. This book is born from their individual experiences where the authors face up to real life questions and doubts, using the bible and faith in a way that offers hope for other honest inquirers. This book offers a gentle learning curve for those who are willing to learn - without any hint of antagonism. This book is written from the perspective of a respectful understanding of what is at stake.

This book will be of appeal to a broad spectrum of people including academic inquirers and also those, such as parents, who are aware of the contentious issues in the high school science class that their children may face. This book raises questions that many high school and university students will be asking as they encounter the biological and other sciences. Eventually our children need to know where babies come from, this book is a gentle assist to those who are asking questions about life and origins while related to faith. This is an honest journey of faith seeking understanding where faith does not have to be rejected by embracing science. The authors undertake their task with great sensitivity and great respect for both their subject matter and their readers. This book shows how faith can be enlarged by such an unlikely liaison of science and religion.

This book would make good preparatory reading for anyone entering a theological seminary. Alternatively, this book would make good reading for those in high school or those embarking on a university course.
25350
I first saw the two writers of God is Back on C-SPAN. One is a Catholic and one is an atheist but their belief systems do not define them. They are intellectually sophisticated writers who make their point about the rise of religion with anecdotes wittily told and without condescension. Even though I was smiling through much of the book, it's hard to smile when you read on page 308, "The revival of religion is multiplying the numbers of people who are willing to kill and die for their faith."
1624651
Desperate Hope is the story of the tragic death of 23 year old Rick Pearson, brother to the author, Candi Pearson-Shelton.

Rick Pearson's life was taken by leukemia in 2005, and he left behind not only his immediate family, but his fiancee' Suzanne.  Candi writes about her personal struggle related to her brother's death and how her faith was rocked.  Losing her brother caused Candi to ask a lot of questions and it also helped her solidify her faith in Christ.  This book details her journey and ability to find hope mixed with faith and in the end, proclaim that God is faithful - no matter what.  I found this book to be a beautiful expression of Candi's faith and trust in God, and also a moving tribute to her brother.  What I found most inspiring about this book was at the very end  (Page 223).  Candi writes that all of the profits from the sale of this book are going to her brother's memorial fund, called Legacy.

Legacy supports various interests and organizations that Rick supported when he was alive - to learn more about this fund, visit [...]
1442595
This readable book tells the stories of hope and giftedness in a small, urban, poor church. These stories will stick with you and you will find yourself re-telling them as parables of the vitality of the church.  The premise of these stories is that everyone - really everyone- no matter what "needs" they have - walks in the door with something to give to the greater community. You'll remember Adele, who came to the food pantry for help and ended up as a caterer; Bill, Aaron and Marie, who started Pictures of Hope to use the talent of youth to create a photographic portrait of the richness of the neighborhood; Rob, who came to help in a community where his brother was murdered... Not only is it theologically correct to look for these gifts, the small church cannot afford to overlook these valuable resources (their greatest resource).  When people challenge you to prove why you need a church, why not just be a solitary person of faith - this small book provides strong parables to answer that strength lies in a community of faith.
908944
With an abundance of often startling examples and facts, The Silence of Our Friends forcefully conveys the message that long established Christian communities throughout the Middle East are being victimized with survivors driven to flee their homelands.  Readers will learn that the cause of this violence and persecution is the actual or attempted overthrow of despotic regimes and the subsequent rise of radical Islamist groups engaged in religious cleansing. British author Ed West, a journalist and Deputy Editor of the Christian Herald, focuses his reporting on civil war torn Syria, but also describes similar persecutions that are occurring in Egypt and Iraq.  In Syria, sectarian violence has repeatedly devastated ancient Christian villages.  In Iraq, the Christian population has fallen from over a million in 2004 to a current estimate of 150,000. History is replete with examples of war or civil upheaval resulting in the persecution of religious minorities and the author provides interesting and informative historical background on Middle Eastern Christianity that aids in understanding the current situation.  The author bemoans the medias failure to bring attention to this crisis to the US and British publics and assails their respective national foreign policies as  designed to hasten the destruction of the (middle east) regions religious minorities.  West fails to recognize the significant  dilemma that now confronts the major western democracies as they struggle to find an effective Middle Eastern  foreign policy approach for the spread of insurgencies across the region that might support the development of democracies without resulting in civil and social chaos  Is there a moral obligation among Christian majority nations to come to the aid of their Christian brethren in the Middle East?  West clearly infers that such an obligation exists.  Unfortunately, the bitter wake of over ten years of war by the US and Britain in Iraq and Afghanistan has chastened the ardor of both governments and their publics for further intervention efforts.  Consequently, The Silence of Our Friends may be yet another sad chapter in history with little hope of a positive resolution.
1147293
I know the author, Mary Koch, so I hear her sincere voice as she writes this heartfelt testimony and memorializes her Dad's life.  Anyone struggling, especially with bad health, will be encouraged by the Bible-based faith statements that helped Mary's family through their ordeal.  I appreciated learning examples of how Mary's entire family supported each other and shared tasks, as they loved each other and God through this Alzheimer's ordeal.  Read & share!
401009
It should be easy to spot people who really believe that God exists and Jesus was who he claimed to be, because they should be acting as if God is an ever-present part of their reality, and yet surveys tend to show that there is very little difference in the way people who claim to be Christians behave when compared to others. Craig Groeschel explores why this is so in this book.

The book examines a number of ways in which Christians fail to act consistently with their stated beliefs: not really knowing God, remaining ashamed of your past, being unsure of God's love for you, not believing in prayer, not trusting that God is fair, failing to forgive, not believing that you can change, clinging to worry, pursuing happiness at any cost, trusting more in money than in God, not sharing your faith, and not being part of the church.

The book demonstrates that a lack of faith can be manifested in many different ways, and it points out what are likely to be some key areas of sin in the reader's life, although it does this in a non-judgemental way because the author confesses that he commits the same sins. This is a very well-written book which anyone who claims to be a Christian would benefit from reading.