Finally…Some Book Reviews!

Since I write very brief reviews, I have been waiting to do a review post until I had several to pass along. Here is the latest batch.

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The Mystery of God’s Will

Charles Swindoll

Thomas Nelson, 1999 (222 pages)

It is rare that a writer admits from the outset that he does not know the topic very well, but Swindoll clearly makes that claim at the beginning of this volume. Gaining a true and full understanding of the will of God is a nearly impossible topic to cover, but Swindoll’s effort in this book is commendable.

Obviously, there are some things Swindoll writes in this book with which I disagree, but I still found it to be a helpful read. Simply put, it is impossible to explain God’s providence and how it works, but in this book, Swindoll tries to do just that in ways that I find to be over-stating the case.

I would recommend this book for serious Bible students, but would not for those who are not well-grounded in the faith. The book is an easy read, and it worth your time, but it is not a book you can just skim through and take at face value. Deeper study is necessary alongside this book.

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Contrary to Popular Belief

Joey Green

Three Rivers Press, 2005 (272 pages)

This is a simple “gift book” that contains brief nuggets that we all assume are true. Green tries to give a few short facts to show that these things are not true.

Some are very interesting, while others are clearly wrong. Green, if he is a Christians, surely does not share a literal view of the Bible, as he has about three things in this list of 250 that are Biblical, but claims they are wrong.

The historical and scientific things in the book, though, are quite interesting. They are also fun to read. (One example: “George Washington was not the first President of the United States.” He was the first under the Constitution, but there were Presidents under the Articles of Confederation, too.) If you enjoy little nuggets like that, you’ll enjoy this book. Be warned, though, there is a lot of chaff with the wheat!

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Faith is My Fortune

Richard Clark & Jack Bates

Pepperdine College Book Store, 1962 (316 pages)

A biography of George Pepperdine, Faith is My Fortune is an interesting and entertaining look at a man who truly left an amazing legacy. Pepperdine is best known by many folks as the namesake of California’s Pepperdine University, but he was more than just a philanthropist.

In this book, the authors share tales of Pepperdine’s life from the very beginning. The book is basically divided into three parts. There is the background and growing up years, followed by his work with Western Auto stores, then his work in the Church and with the college. Each of these sections shares insight not only into Pepperdine’s personal life, but also into America at the time. From a small farm in the midwest to a very wealthy man on the west coast, George Pepperdine saw so much.

The book is hard to read at times, as it seems somewhat disjointed, but it is still worth your time if you are a student of Church history, or of biographies.

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Decision Points

George W. Bush

Crown Publishers, 2010 (497 pages)

I like “W.” While I don’t agree with everything he did as President of our country, I still find him to be a fascinating figure in modern history. His memoirs were a fantastic read.

The title is well-chosen, as Bush sets forth decisions he made throughout his life (mostly during his time as President, of course) that he felt were most important. Instead of a chronological day-by-day account of his time in the White House, these points of decision are a wonderful focus on what Bush will most be remembered for.

To me, the chapter on 9/11 (“Day of Fire”) is the most compelling. I knew much of what Bush’s day was like, but this chapter tells far more that I did not know.

One of the strengths of this book is that Bush is willing to tell of things he did that he now regrets. It is not just a “look what I did right” book, and I highly respect that. Even if you are not a “fan” of George W. Bush, you will find this book to be a great leadership volume. Though long, it is an easy read, and one that I hope to read again someday.

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Seven Things a Loving God Hates

Allen Webster

Heart to Heart Publications, 2007 (159 pages)

This is the second time I have read brother Webster’s book in a cover-to-cover manner, although I have used it many times for sermon and lesson preparation.

My Sunday morning Bible class is currently studying the book of Proverbs, so, when we came to Proverbs 6 and looked at these “seven things,” we used brother Webster’s book as the basis for our study. It was a great help to me as the teacher, and the class truly enjoyed the study and the discussion each chapter led to.

Based upon his popular tract series, Seven Things is a must-read. Webster supports each chapter with strong research, a multiplicity of Scripture references, and well-chosen illustrations. I highly recommend this book for personal study or for a class or small group study.