"Surprised by Oxford" by Carolyn Weber

As anyone can find from a simple Google search, this book is about a woman's journey of finding God at Oxford. Now, as a young person in a collegiate setting, this got my attention, and I eagerly suggested the book. The book came in the male like a brick. Don't let the paperback cover fool you. This 400+ book packs a whollop. When I read the "author info" printed, I saw Weber was a student of literature. After getting through the first chapter, I was not blown away. Thus, I thought this was the work of a well-meaning woman who was simply trying too hard to be brilliant. So, I confess, I skimmed the second chapter. However, after skimming it, key words and phrases popped out at me and made me re-read the second chapter. I was hooked and actually began to like her style of writing. The rest of the book flew by. As a professional book reviewer, I must say I do speed read when time gets the best of me, but rarely am I compelled to re-read what I thought was skimmable. This is saying something. Anyway, for the plot, it is real. After all, this is a memoir of sorts. What I enjoyed was Weber's candid honesty--even if she confessed to changing some characters' names for privacy issues. What was also interesting was how she viewed men both before and after her conversion. This book is a splendid tale of love that knows no bounds. Read it.

"Connecting in Communities" by Eddie Mosley

From the snazzy cover to the concise title, you guess it--this is a book on small groups...or so it would seem. The foreword got my attention as I was promised great insights with impeccable writing. Now, don't get me wrong, Mosley is a great author who both writes well and knows what he's talking about. However, the more I looked at this book, the more I felt it relating less and less to me. Granted, there are tips for small group leaders and helpers, as well as advice any Christian could use for discipling others. Still, the book felt like it was geared towards pastors who are training other leaders and how to effectively grow a church (the author's church was mentioned several times as if parts of the book were from some sort of church leadership manual). All in all, this book is real insightful and flows well, but it is more of a reference book than a concrete book on how to lead small groups of all ages (this one focuses primarily on working adults).

"Perfectly Invisible" by Kristin Billerbeck

When I realized this book is a sequel to "Perfectly Dateless"--which I also reviewed--I was pleasantly surprised. I greatly enjoyed Billerbeck's previous book, and this one did not let me down. The details from the first book are interspersed throughout this book so that the reader does not feel out of the loop (so to speak) if they didn't read the first book or simply forget details [as in my case]. In this book, the protagonist Daisy feels underappreciated and--you guessed it--invisible. Her boyfriend ignores her, and there is trouble with her so-called best friend. I know that this review makes the book sound like some teeny drama, but that's exactly what it is. However, the author manages to keep the flow so the pages keep turning. The plot is very modern, and with the exception of certain phrases that the average teen would not consider cool, Billerbeck does a good job of infiltrating teen culture to get them to listen to her story. Many important lessons are meshed into this book, like humility, gratitude, trust, and what to do in dangerous situations. While there is some romance, none of it is graphic, and I'd go as far to say that pre-teens could read this book. The ending is a bit out of the ordinary, but the book is anything but predictable and will leave readers smiling.

Available July 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

"An Expose on Teen Sex and Dating" by Andy Braner

With a headline as shocking as this one, readers are expecting a tongue-in-cheek read. However, Braner provides a sound set of arguments and observations on teenage relationships without too much information. While he is brutally honest about what is doing on, he does not provide explicit diagrams of explanations. The emphasis in this book is that, while purity rallies are well intentioned, they do not work. Braner suggests talking to kids about sex and explaining how God made it to be in marriage for joy and how relationships relate to Jesus and the Church (comparing physical wholeness to spiritual wholeness). Much advice is written as if for a parental audience, but any reader can learn from this book. Adults will learn how to navigate the wishy-washy psyches of adolescents, and teens will learn that pre-marital sex is more than just whoredom. While educational and rooted in Biblical principles, I'd suggest very young readers only go through this book with adult supervision.

"Seeing the Unseen" by TW Hunt

The captivating water scene captured my attention (I confess to being a fluid dynamicist at times) as did the simple yet captivating title. Who doesn't want to know more about seeing God? Anyway, I read and picked up on Hunt's theological arguments, which were both sound and not very controversial. I looked up Scripture he quoted from time to time, which was unique. Clever Christian authors will paraphrase Bible verses so that readers recall it or get the gist for some verses but be more vague for other verses to get readers to crack open their Bibles for themselves. Whether or not this was intention--well done. Also, by the time I was nearing the end of the book, I realized I had not learned anything new about seeing God in terms of steps to take or how to be more mystical / holy. Then, I realized that I instead came to learn how to draw closer to God and be more in tune with His Spirit. Seeing the unseen. This book is short and ingenious.

"Dressing with Dignity" by Colleen Hammond

When I picked this book up, I had high hopes and expectations. Modesty isn't always written about in Christian circles, and the back cover doted information about the author that listed her as an image consultant and beauty queen. I open the book and on the dedication page, guess who the book is dedicated to? Not Jesus but Mary--who she claims is born without sin even though this is nowhere in the Bible and directly contradicts Romans 3:23. Anyway, I kept on reading. Discussions about fashion were informative but no pictures were given. What was interesting was the results of psychology tests that showed that men's eyes went right to the crotch when women wore pants. Also fascinating was how the author quoted the Freemasonry occult in having a hand in the decline of women's modesty. I did not like the suggestions of praying with saints / angels (Bible says do not communicate with God and to pray only to Him). Also, the author referenced that appearances of the Virgin Mary were always modest. Need I quote 2 Cor 11:14-15? If the real Mary came for a visit, I highly doubt she would instill prayer beads (pagan origin) with repetitious prayer that the Lord does not prefer (Matthew 6:7). For readers that want a book on Christian modesty, I recommend "Fashioned by Faith" that I reviewed in the past.

"Earthen Vessels" by Matthew Lee Anderson

This book is very well written and highly intellectual. It dives deep into the theology of the body, quoting both from Scripture and theologians. It discusses the mortality of the body, why homosexuality is not meant to be, why caring for the body is important, and the importance of how Jesus came to earth in a body like ours. With all of this, my only criticism is that the book can read like a textbook at times with highly philosophical language that does not flow very easily to the modern reader. I have no doubt in my mind that the author is very smart (grammar is impeccable), but suffice to say, this book is not a page-turner.

"Don't Check Your Brains at the Door" by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler

Although this book is aimed at children, it seems like an excellent resource for all ages. It is essentially a simplified apologetics book that juxtaposes quick humor with deep insight. The chapters are tremendously short and to the point. This makes it easy for young readers to stay connected and for older readers for make time to read it. Various "myths" are dispelled about Jesus, the Bible, the resurrection, life, and more. Books written by two authors sometimes seem choppy, but this book flows very nicely with creative ideas. At the end of each chapter, there is an exercise section that involves questions, prompts, and puzzle-like activities that directly correlate to the Bible, oftentimes having the reader look up very specific verses. Bible verses are also quoted in the actual chapters, although those tend to be written out and not just cited. Overall, this book may not be a treatise on apologetics, but it will give Christians quick answers to those pesky questions both from the world and their doubting minds. The notes section includes great resources, including books on archaeology of the Bible that the authors cleverly yet succinctly summarize.

"It Couldn't JUST Happen" by Lawrence O. Richards

This spectacular book is a gem for children of all ages. It dives deep into science (earth science, physics, biology, chemistry, and more) to showcase to readers that there is indeed evidence for a Creator. The book starts off talking about galaxies and Earth, transitions into living creatures, highlights humans, and wraps up with how we know the Bible / Christianity is both true and historically accurate. At the end of each chapter are "just for fun" sections that both kids and adults will enjoy. They are not so much the fill-in-the-blank or journaling type but are more of just initiated prompts for the reader to learn more. Bible is quoted at times, which is nice. The pages are nice and glossy with excellent pictures. My only criticism is that I'd like for the book to be hardcover!

"The Little Red Book of Wisdom" by Mark DeMoss

As the title implies, this is a small book of advice for readers. Divided into two categories, DeMoss tackles both professional and personal issues. While the early chapters of this book are not overtly religious, this book published by Thomas Nelson starts to introduce some spirituality towards the end. Not surprisingly, the book of Proverbs is often cited. Given his PR (public relations) success, DeMoss mentions his highs and lows without the expected air of arrogance. Even if one is not in the professional sector, they can use the professional tips in any aspect of leadership. Some tips given have to do with integrity, listening, relationships, alcohol, career paths, and more. I won't spoil all of the advice, but I will say this is a nice little book.

John Crowder Review

Let's start with "Mystical Union." First off, I know one should not judge books by their covers, but a red flag came up for me when I saw a picture of "Jesus" on the cover. From Deuteronomy 4, I know God does not like us to make images of Him. Anyway, I started going through the book to see how it was. From the get-go, Crowder proclaims to the reader that their theology will be flipped upside-down with his revolutionary new teaching--who's never read that before from preachers? Anyway, Crowder promotes the notion that Christians are sinless and that they mystically died with Christ on the Cross. Several verses are quoted, I'll give Him that, but when he tries to address notions of Matt 26:41 or Romans 7:15, he says those arguments are demonic and heretical. What better way to get Christians to stop thinking for themselves than to say their arguments belong in hell? Also, something he did, which I personally can not stand, is that he said some verses are only in specific contexts and that they were written to specific Jews and not the reader. With this nonsensical logic, people could say they don't have to obey the Ten Commandments because they weren't there at Mt. Sinai being addressed by Moses. On page 183, he also says "you are not saved by your love for God. you are saved by His love for you." What about Matt 23:37 and connecting Matt 7:21-23 with 1 Cor 8:3? Also, at points, this book feels like it preaches the "health and wealth" gospel. At one point, Crowder says his wife encountered an angel called Sovereignty. Who is sovereign besides God?! My goodness!

Given all of this, when I picked up "Seven Spirits Burning," I was a bit skeptical. After all, if Crowder was off on some things in his first book, will he be off in the second one? I tread very carefully when I read this one. In general, this book was more Scripturally sound than the first one. There were some insights into how the seven Spirits of God can relate to the seven wicks on the menorah and how Yahweh has seven marks in the Hebrew way of writing it out. Those were interesting facts. However, considering deep prophesy and Revelation, I didn't take Crowder as seriously. He spoke of angels frequently and even mentioned some apocrypha. He tries to make various connections to churches and people as Temples, which aren't horrendously blasphemous at all. However, given his first book, I was careful not to take any of his "prophetic" knowledge and insight too seriously. At points in the book, he writes of miraculous healing and being called a prophet and being willing to suffer for Christ, which I suppose is good to some degree. Overall, from Crowder's writing, I gather the main message is that the work on the Cross was fantastic and that God has big plans for us. That's great, but I think a simpler lesson is that our God wants our love like in Phil 1:14. These two books are semi-thick, and, if one has time to read, they should pick up their Bible and think things through for themselves.

"Surviving Your Serengeti" by Stephan Swanepoel

A first glance at this book may make readers think they are holding a creative self-help book that uses animal comparisons. Well, that's true, but only up to a certain degree. While there are many life tips and business strategies implemented on the pages, this book does not read like a work of non-fiction. Rather, there is a story. At the end of certain chapters, there are short synopses of "tips" for the reader. However, besides those, the reader is immersed into the Serengeti as they follow travelers in Africa being led by a charismatic and sagacious leader who not only shows them exotic animals but what traits the animals possess that help make them successful. While the setting is in Africa, Swanepoel is careful not to point out any races, which is nice. The animal descriptions are not incredibly detailed, but they do the job. As for the literary style, the writing flows very well and is suitable for its genre; if the "tips" were omitted and the spacing were worked out, this could be more of a novella or longer short story. Even though this is published by Thomas Nelson, it is not overtly religious at all, which is a bit sad. Anyway, at the end of the book, Swanepoel provides a link to his website where one can take a quiz to see which animal they are most like. I am apparently a graceful giraffe.

"Double Take" by Melody Carlson

Just when I thought Carlson couldn't think of any more original book ideas, out comes this book. It's about a high school senior girl--no surprises there--that has an out of the ordinary situation. She is stressed out--again, not too unlikely--and meets a girl that looks almost exactly like her. Same hair color, same height, same complexion...different life. The city girl has worries about college, family life, boys, and other it-girl troubles. The Amish girl is bored to tears from her domestic life of homemaking. This double-take book will really hold young readers' attention as most do not know the in's and out's of Amish life. The grammar is excellent and graceful while not being too hard to understand. There are funny moments and serious ones. The actions are facetious without being too cliched. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say it is well worth the read. Enjoy!

iShine NLT Bible

While these Bibles are marketed towards tweens (that is, pre-teenage youngsters), I daresay anyone will enjoy them, regardless of age. Having read the New Living Translation of the Bible earlier this year, I know how well the thoughts of God are conveyed to the reader. Meaning is not lost, but there are none of the complexities of old English to mess people up. These soft leather-bound Bibles have excellent detail on the cover. The front in the picture is actually just a paper case. The left one has a mark of a boy rocking out to guitar with sparks flying. The right one has stars and flowers with three girls holding hands. Even though these Bibles are small (about 6in x 4in x 1in), they still include all the books of the Bible with footnotes, inserts, and fun concordances in the back. I'm really excited that I got these to review. Usually, I underline my Bible and read it from start to finish. Once I'm done, I just peruse whatever I feel like. With two new and unmarked Bibles, I'll have incentive to read my Bible start to finish in order two more times. Bravo. God is great (Rev 19:13).

"Revise Us Again" by Frank Viola

In this Biblically sound short book, Viola puts his foot down on many Christian practices. He urges readers to come back to the main attraction that is Christ Jesus and to actually walk the walk they talk. Some topics gone over are lax Christians versus judgemental Christians, claiming to have revelation from God, saying one will pray about something, adhering only to one denomination's set rules about Jesus, and more. Sometimes the Bible verses are quoted, and other times they are just referenced. With an uncanny voice for the truth, Viola will make readers really take a good hard look at themselves in the mirror and see if they actually see Christ.

"Fashioned by Faith" by Rachel Lee Carter

Written by an actual Christian model, this book is a must-have for women. Carter's modeling experience with her highlights and regrets are spilled onto the pages. While there is some fashion advice given, this is not a book on how to restructure your entire closet or what "looks" are modest. Rather, Carter gets at the issue of the heart. After all, fashion tips won't do a girl any good if, at the end of the day, she does not care about modesty. Bible verses and questions (with space provided to write) are included. At the end, there is even a 45-day Bible study. What's also great is that each chapter starts off with a photot of a teenage guy, a little bio, and what he thinks of modesty. Also included is a color collection of some of Carter's modeling. I'm glad I snagged this book from Thomas Nelson publishing!

"Love Written in Stone" by Philip Carlson, MD

This book takes a deep look at what God tells us to do from a medical perspective. I'm not just talking about the Ten Commandments or old school Levitical rules but commandments of God in general. Some examples have to do with love, joy, happiness, not worrying, etc. Even though the author is a medical doctor, he does not complicate things too much or put big medical words in his writing. Things are easy to understand, and various Bible references are made with some actually quoted on the page (something I personally like). If you're looking for a scientific dissertation on Leviticus, this book isn't for you. However, if you'd like to know how following God will made you a little better, have fun reading this.

"Heart of Ice" by Lis Wiehl

This heart-pumping thriller will have you turning the pages until your eyes begin to droop. Wiehl weaves a clever web of characters whose lives intersect (but not immediately so as to seem forced). You have a pyromaniac with a scarred inner and outer facade, three crime fighting women (not superheroes but those whose jobs are actually to handle crime), and a psychopath who just so happens to exude perfection. All the while, there is a story going on about a killer whose story resembles the "Craig's List" killer story from real life (although those terms are not used here). Best of all, Wiehl gets deep into the mind of the disturbed.

"Heaven Revealed" by Paul Enns + FREE GIVEAWAY

This book has lots of good intentions but bothers me on some levels. Sure, the fact that Enns writes on heaven is fine. However, he starts off the book with how he misses his deceased wife. The rest of the book seems to convey the notion that heaven will be a fantastic place where one can be reunited with loved ones and lead the best life possible. While Jesus is mentioned--we can't get to heaven without Him, anyway--there is not an emphasis on it. For instance, what I look forward to most about heaven will not just be reunions or fantasticness but the notion that I will finally be able to love God as I should (will all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind) and that I won't be able to ever sin or fall from Him again (if this were possible, there'd need to be a New New Heaven and a New New Earth. Also, for lots of verses, Enns just assumes they mean what he wants them to mean and does not cross-reference. Take Genesis 25:8. Enns says this means Abraham was taken to heaven. Other translations add "in death" after "Abraham joined his ancestors." Also, in 1 Corinthians 15:52 (in addition to various other parts of the Bible like Revelation 20:11-15), it is said that the dead will be raised to be judged and be with the Lord at the Second Coming. Before then, the Bible refers to a deep sleep (John 11:13 amongst other places). Sure, God made exceptions (like Elijah and Enoch), but for the rest of us, one can't say without a shadow of a doubt that we'll instantly be in heaven. I do believe God controls time and that our rest will feel very short (like a person doesn't feel the number of hours they sleep). All in all, Enns' intentions don't seem all that bad. However, if you want to know what heaven will really be like, please just crack open your own Bible and see for yourself. God wants to see you face to face there (2 John 1:12).

*The publisher gave me an extra copy to give away. If you want it, leave a comment with your email and say what you look forward to most with regards to heaven.

"Thriving at College" by Alex Chediak

There are many college books out there to advise students out there. What makes this book different is that it has a focus on Christian students and is written by a college professor--who teaches engineering at a Christian institution. Depending on one's level in life, some of the lessons in this book may be redundant. However, when used as a reference book for when students have particular questions, this does a superb job. Bible verses are quoted often, and pertinent advice is given. I don't agree with everything the author says, but the overall intention is good. For instance, I think it's good for students to take a Sabbath (or whole weekend) to do no homework. However, I do like how he said that female students ought not to dumb themselves down.