Religion Books

This book provided an easy and interesting read. Handy to carry in your purse for those few moments when you must wait! I truly enjoy this author's technique.

This book is written in a weird manner. I've only made it through Part I, and he toots his own horn for almost it's entirety. I bought this based on the reviews, and I am sorry that I did. Even at $10, it's not worth it. I am inherently skeptical of "self-help" books, and this does nothing to change that opinion.


Skip it.

Could be as an introudtion of a book on Leadership, because it just gives broad and theoretical ideas on Leadership.

Leadership 101 is a great gift and the special (buy three get one free) was perfect for holiday gift giving.
I also used this book in a post grad. class for a book review and it worked out great.

Maxwell's right on target when he describes this book as a quick read to review and develop a specific skill. I got through the 100+ pages in under 2 hours. It's specific, concise and immediately applicable, particularly if you're just starting a new job where you're in charge of someone else. Even if you're not 'the boss' just yet, you'll get a very good overview of what skills you need to develop before that next promotion or job shows up.

This book MUST become a part of your library if you are looking for a clear definition of how all Christians are called to help others deal with difficulties in life. Tripp has written a masterpiece in this work. The reader is gently led through a building discussion about how every Christian is personally in need of change, but who is also called to help others in need of change. Students in my graduate classes that are assigned this book to read almost unanimously agree that the work is "life-changing". It is great for both the professional and lay person. It is easy to read and is filled with personal reflections that add a warm tone to the book. Excellent in every regard!

This is a must read for anyone who wishes to learn more about Kingdom Building in a Covenantal sense...

Jesus says they will know us by how we love one another.... This book tells us exactly how to do just that.

I received my books in great shape and in a very timely fashion. Would order from this place again...Thanks so much!!

Just started book ,but am truly amazed at simplicity yet depth of information to live and serve as a Christian in this life. Am anxious to finish and apply.

I was given this book by a mentor of mine and told that it would be extremely helpful. The problem is that I saw it was deemed a "counseling" book on the back, so I moved on for a while before I picked it up and read it. I continued to see the book on the "Best Seller's" list at many sites that I admire, so I finally picked the book up and started to read. I have to be honest, if I were to try and write all that I learned this review would turn into a novel itself.

Paul David Tripp really unpacks a three part effort.

One: To show me who I am
Two: Who others are
Three: How to practically minister to them, and accept their ministering to me

This book gets to the root of the issues and he even starts with the theological impact of understanding who God is and then who we are, namely: we aren't perfect, we need change, and we need help in that changing process from Christ and others.

This book not only unfolds what we are to do in daily ministering opportunities, but he unpacks the practical ways to do them. One of my favorite quotes in the book is that:

"We often say we need to preach the Word, but we also need to counsel the Word."

That is what this book is all about. It is how to counsel the Word of God to those in everyday life that need change just like you and I. What will hinder this book is that some will think it is only for the pastor or counselor, but it's intention is for all believers and it is written that way and is desperately needed for today's church.

I have already used the book and will continue to go back to it to try and unpack my shortcomings and also to help others do the same when they are in need of ministering. I know this is not the "hot topic" of discussion around the water cooler, but this book is much more needed in today's world that wants to only deal with actions instead of the root of those actions, namely, our darkened heart in need of the power of Christ. You will learn how to effectively and biblically (synonymous terms) counsel another as they ask a simple question or are having everyday life problems, instead of giving a "pat" answer or reciting Scripture and telling them to pray about it. I cannot recommend this book more highly.

Everyone has been wronged and done done wrong to others. Appoligising is not being weak. It is admitting that we are human and make mistakes. This book helped me to show that I am truely sorry for what I have done. It showed me how to let the other person know that I am sincere. It also helped to truely forgive.

This book did not live up to my expectations after reading "The Five Love Languages". I would rate it a 6 on a scale of 10 positive. It used far too many illustrations to make the point and made reading it more a labor than a joy. It could have been published in fewer pages and carried greater impact because the points are valid.

We are teaching this book in our Young Married class and I think it is a wonderful book. Many in the class have said the knowledge in the book is invaluable. I can't recommend this book enough. All couples should read this book...

This book was revolutionary to me. If you are considering purchasing it, do so and read it! What a concept, that we need to apologize in a language that the person receiving the apology can hear it and accept it.

I've been waiting for(needing)this book for years and years. Being involved in relationships where apologies were rare, and from parents who never did, this book will change the way I approach my future relationships. This, paired with the Five Love Languages, is a must read. Too bad they don't teach this kind of stuff in High School. This pair of books would be a perfect graduation or wedding gift. Jim from Florida.

This Bible is very helpful in the Disciple study in which I am participating. I recommend it because it is a good study guide.

This book was shipped within the next 5 days. Service was excellent. The book was exactly what I was looking for. The book was in perfect condition and has been a great asset to my BIB102 class.

I had recently been looking for a Study Bible that would be challenging and faith affirming to my walk. I made the mistake of purchasing the Apolgetics Study Bible and found myself questioning how Christianity could possibly survive when fodder like that is what we are presenting to a non-Christian world. When I was directed towards this study bible I found that finally there are biblical scholars who deeply care about what a text actually means, not so much about conforming the text to pre-conceived ideas. So far my reading has been enjoyable and enlightening and I'm looking forward to continuing my study. I highly recommend this study bible.

The Bible commentaries are written from a liberal theological perspective. It is obvious that the authors believe the Bible is just a product of ancient myths and storytelling. They disbelieve miracles and explain away prophecy by assigning late dates to the books. The notes put forth theories that are based upon opinion and conjecture rather than solid textual evidence. More a work of anti-Christian and anti-Jewish propaganda than a balanced, scholarly work. Also, while it is not a bad translation, the NRSV does have some gender-neutrality inserted into it. All in all, I cannot recommend this study Bible. It reads like skeptics and non-believers wrote it. Instead, I would recommend the NIV Study Bible or NKJV Study Bible.

I find this Bible to be an excellent resource although like everything in life it has a few minor flaws. As to the Bible text, it is complete in content and easy to read, clear and understandable. As to the commentary it is unbiased from any denominational point of view, excellent in informational content and historical fact although a bit repetitive with repeated readings. All in all an excellent resource!

Minister Robert M. Wright (Th.M.,D.M.)
Host "Instrument of Grace" ZKING 100.9 FM British Virgin Islands

Master storyteller and popular pastor Max Lucado is at his best in his 130-page riff on one of the best-loved passages of the Bible, John 3:16, a verse he beautifully calls "an alphabet of grace, a table of contents to the Christian hope, each word a safe-deposit box of jewels." Following the main text is a 40-day devotional study on the life of Jesus, excerpted from many of his widely-read books.

Lucado kicks off his book with a retelling of Nicodemus's famous conversation with Christ, in which Jesus tells him, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (NKJV) The thought, Lucado says in his trademark prose, "coldcocks Nicodemus." When he asks Jesus how anyone could possibly be reborn, Jesus responds with John 3:16.

The words of John 3:16, Lucado says, are to Scripture what the Mississippi River is to America --- an entryway into the heartland. "Believe or dismiss them, embrace or reject them, any serious consideration of Christ must include them." They are "heart-stilling, mind-bending, deal-making-or-breaking." Lucado's anecdotes are warm, poignant, often funny, and help him make his points. Chapter by chapter he unpacks each piece of John 3:16, mining the treasures to be found.

One of Lucado's trademarks is his ability to retell biblical stories in a way that refreshes them for Christians who may have heard them a hundred times before or that piques the interest of the first-time listener. He is not afraid to introduce scholarly terms (anothen) but always unpacks them for his audience in an informative, inviting way. His language is vivid and precise, and his writing reflects that of someone who makes it look easy because he has wrestled over every sentence. "Heart-breakers, hope-snatchers, and dream-dousers prowl this orb.... But God loves."

Humility permeates his work and continues to endear this mega-selling author and his writing to his readers. When Lucado writes about himself, he pens lines like this: "Burger dependent. Half asleep....and sinless? I can't maintain a holy thought for my two-minute commute."

Yet there is a toughness to his theology. Lucado is quick to reach out with comfort, but also refuses to compromise his beliefs. His writing on the "in Him" portion of the passage emphasizes this. Looking at the popular belief that all spiritual paths lead to heaven, he takes a firm stand. "Salvation is found, not in self or in them but in him," Lucado writes. "...Don't believe in you; you can't save you. And don't believe in others; they can't save you."

In another uncompromising and passionate look at the word "perish," Lucado writes a no-holds-barred short treatise on hell. "Hell, like heaven, is a location, not a state of mind...an actual place populated by physical beings." He adds, "There is no point on which I'd rather be wrong than the eternal duration of hell...if God, on the last day, extinguishes the wicked, I'll celebrate my misreading of his words." It is not God's will, Lucado says, that anyone should perish. "...but the fact that some do highlights God's justice." There's plenty of fodder here for discussion among Christians. Yet Lucado doesn't leave it there. He adds that "The supreme surprise of hell is this: Christ went there so you don't have to. Yet hell could not contain Him."

Lucado can be as reassuring as he is tough. Consider this lovely passage:

"Allow the only decision maker in the universe to comfort you. Life at times appears to fall to pieces, seems irreparable. But it's going to be okay. How can you know? Because God so loved the world. And, since he has no needs, you cannot tire him. Since he is without age, you cannot lose him. Since he has no sin, you cannot corrupt him. If God can make a billion galaxies, can't he make good out of our bad and sense out of our faltering lives?"

This is a fine introductory book for those new to Lucado's writing and will also be appreciated by his legions of readers. Don't miss it.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid homey style of Max Lucado in this work which is just one more example of his ability and skill as writer who knows his subject well and lovingly.

Reading this book was an incredible experience for me and brought me to tears, all with gratitude, for what Jesus out of His love for me and others. Max Lucado has a beautiful and gifted way of presenting the meaning of John 3:16 and provides the vivid descriptions and context, which is helpful to understanding the power of this verse. Prior to reading the book I could say I was familiar with the scripture, hearing it so many times throughout the years, but reading this book provided me with the understanding of what this scripture really means. I encourage anyone who is actively seeking a spiritual relationship experience with Jesus Christ (versus a religious experience) to read this book.

As the title of Mr. Max Lucado's "3:16: The Numbers of Hope" suggests, this book is almost entirely centered on the most famous bible verse, John 3:16. Mr. Lucado's writing style is very easy to read and digest and his use of analogies throughout the book provide an excellent context to some of the deeper meanings of this simple yet so complex bible verse.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 King James Version)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 English Standard Version)

You see references to this verse throughout your daily walk. People at sporting events hold it up for the television cameras, etc. But have you really ever sat down and thought about the profound meaning of this short verse? That is exactly what this book tries to do. While it does go too deeply into theology, it provides an excellent platform to build off of. Some people have complained in their review of the book about the fact of a lack of deeper study but I don't think that was the intended audience of this book.

Jesus turned the world upside down with his teachings and many argue that this quote is perhaps the cornerstone of Christianity. Contrary to many religious theologies this verse points out the fact that you can't "earn" your way to heaven. How could you? How could you ever good enough in the eyes the perfect being? Instead John 3:16 shows the beauty and easiness to receive eternal life. And yet we as human beings take it and make it difficult.

This is the third book I have read by Mr. Lucado. The other two were Facing Your Giants: A David and Goliath Story for Everyday People and And the Angels Were Silent: Walking with Christ toward the Cross (Chronicles of the Cross). I would also recommend both of these books.

In this book, Max Lucado takes readers on a short tour of John 3:16--one of the best known and most beloved verses in the Bible.

As always, Lucado does a fine job of articulating God's love and longing for humanity. While some might consider "God loves you" a simplistic message, it is the heart of the gospel and a much-needed word of comfort and encouragement for today's increasingly fragmented society.

Suitable for both believers and seekers, the book includes a bonus 40-day devotional on the life of Chirst.

More than once in the past thirty years I have turned to Frederick Buechner for inspiration, information and correction. In the recent past, I have yearned for the fresh insights, fluid writing, and challenge contained in most of his work. But it seems to me that "The Yellow Leaves" offers none of these qualities. Instead, it seems like random collection of the author's musings concerning the privileges of the upper class. From his teaching days at a posh prep school, to his peregrinations through Europe, the author seems more interested in showing us the glories of wealth and status than in confronting us with new truth. Though an outspoken advocate of the unfettered imagination, Mr.Buechner shows little of it in this book.

Obviously keenly aware of his own mortality, the author seems to pay scant attention to its implications either for his own life or that of the reader. Previously he wrote two brief autobiographical sketches that were compelling and of universal interest. While this book alludes to specific details of his life, it employs them for paltry purposes. For example, his long ago Christmas Eve visit to St Peter's once made a compelling sermon illustration, but repeated here, it seems rather limp and purposeless. In fact, by book's end I was unclear what motivated Mr Buechner to publish it. It is neither a travelogue nor a literary piece, but merely a loosely constructed narrative of an individual's experiences, some of which are quite unremarkable.

In the end, I found myself harboring the same hungers with which I began. With the Israelites of old, I found myself asking, "Is there any word from the Lord?" If not, perhaps there are whimsical scraps which could ignite intellectual curiosity or sober reflection. Though the author has not lost his considerable writing talent, it appears that he no longer uses it either to comfort the afflicted or to afflict the comfortable. For that reason I came empty away, though still convinced that this well has not run dry. I hope not. In the past it has refreshed and restored many of us. I hope it will soon do so once more

the number of people on this planet who can write like frederick buechner are a tiny, tiny lot. seriously, the dude can put some words into sentences! so, in a sense, i don't care what buechner writes about -- i'll read it, and enjoy it. fiction -- yup. non-fiction -- sure, bring it.

the beek (ah, that's my little pet name for him) hasn't written a full length book in a while. and, as he writes in the forward of this collection, he guesses that ability has left him (i sure hope that isn't true). in the mean time, buechner says he could pull together a collection of essays, scraps of fiction, poems, and family memories, with a sprinkling of faith and church thrown in. somehow, it works.

the best parts of this collection, in my opinion, are the first few pieces -- little memoirs about family members (buechner's mom and brother-in-law, in particular). the whole thing is a bit voyeuristic, looking into a period of time and slice of society that is not my own. buechner comes from east coast, private school, intelligencia, with old money thrown in (buechner's wife is heir to the merck fortune, and his own family, while experiencing some rough times during the depression, did pretty well).

reading often felt a bit like sitting with mr. b in an old but fancy sitting room, somewhere in an old money neighborhood in new england, listening to him tell stories while sipping tea. with milk.

it's a quick read, really, but just lovely. intimate and brilliant.

A writer of tremendous integrity, Buechner opens the book with an acknowledgment that this is not one of his great novels, but is, in fact a miscellany. It is the stuff from which other material could be developed. Some is reflective, and much is the stuff of his life - the ground from which creativity flows. I enjoyed the book tremendously, because Buechner has always challenged me. Good read, short. I would give it a 5, but that should be reserved for his other works, like Godric, or The Clown in the Belfry.

Frederick Buechner was - and remains - a pioneer in spiritual memoir.

A promising literary light whose works have attracted the attention of even New York's inner circle, Buechner dared to move further and further along his spiritual journey. He admits that his ordination as a Presbyterian minister was a terrible career move for a serious writer. He did it anyway. And, he's not easily categorized as a "Christian writer," either. His memoirs with titles like "Telling Secrets" through "The Longing for Home" are almost impossible to classify with our oh-so-easy labels of "evangelical" or "emergent," "progressive" or "conservative." He wrote them, anyway, and they found a loyal audience of thousands. Over time, his books have formed one the great spiritual reflections on life in turn-of-the-millennium America.

A clear theme emerges in these more than 30 volumes of memoir, fiction and nonfiction - a clear character to the relationship Buechner has been building with us. His overarching theology of writing goes something like this: Fundamentally, he argues in one book after another, we tell our stories because we have a deep yearning to participate in a far greater story. Whatever terrible secrets we think we are concealing, we soon discover that they weave themselves into a far, far larger narrative. And, in telling those stories, ultimately, we find ourselves in a community not only with other storytellers, but with the ultimate Storyteller.

That's why you should buy and read "Yellow Leaves." If you flip through it in a bookstore, you might mistake this slim volume for a late-in-life after thought. You would be mistaken. Within these 133 pages are some of the "yellow leaves" left toward the end of the season - vividly hanging from the limbs in Buechner's garden. In his mid-80s now, his reflections aren't the brawling spiritual wrestling match of "Godric" or the grand literary feat of "Bebb" or even the moving dramas of "Telling Secrets" or "Longing for Home."

These are last leaves. And what leaves they are! In this volume, Buechner gives us the spiritual gem of his catalytic evening with Maya Angelou; then he waves a wand and takes us with him back into Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol;" then another wave and we're attending a 1943 family picnic where he nervously gets to his feet as a boy and dares to read a poem and speak "simple truth." And, of course, the greatest spiritual gem in the book - the one-page Introduction of a memoirist now in his mid-80s, invoking Shakespeare's own "yellow leaves."

After all these years, Buechner fans, you can't miss this one. And newcomers? Here's a sparkling, multi-faceted showcase of this master's eye, ear - and heart.

I found Dobson's objectivity too tough on the first read, I was neck deep in my own horror stories and wasn't too interested in reading the sordid tales of others. Therefore, I skimmed over most of the "Real Life" stories meant to help readers connect or to feel they are not the only people to experience the pains of marital unrest.
Yet, here and there I was able to pull out some things that helped me put the breaks on my emotionalism. The stages of a woman's infidelity gave me a ton of perspective of what was happening in my marriage. The next book I read about how to deal with offense by John Bevere was more helpful in giving me a path to follow to help me out of all the pain I was feeling.
As far as Dobson goes, if you didn't know that sin is not pretty and that our culture is literally swimming in it, then you'll understand it when you finish this book. If you are a Christian, it's a sad commentary on the state of our affairs. Maybe my marriage will heal, maybe not.

Super book! This is a detailed account of the cycle that the vulverable party creates by continually accepting/condoning inapproprriate behavior!

It gives a detailed description of the hard choices that must be made - to invoke "Tough Love"

Lots of examples from real life!

While the main points of this book seem sound, the heavy Christian emphasis may be too much for some people. Basically, the book deals with infidelity and says that in order to save the marriage, the wronged party must stand firm on what he or she wants. It is time to stand strong on what you will not tolerate. Seems like good sense to me, but to someone who is not that involved in a church, the religeous overtones may overshadow some of the common sense approaches in the book.

I have lived a year with a spouse engaged in infidelity. Shock and despair have been my constant companions. All the crying, pleading, yelling, begging, and reasoning did no good at all - my spouse kept relapsing into the affair. At last he was talking of moving out and really taking up with the lover. Once I took the advice of the book, that very first week my spouse went into a tailspin and I felt much more centered and stronger. It was a week from hell for my spouse and a week where various people told me how great I looked! I have discovered that you really have to act in the opposite way that your feelings are telling you to act in this kind of a crisis. Be calm and firm in expressing your boundaries (you are free to leave or stay as you like but if you stay you cannot be in contact with the lover). Open the cage door and have backbone. You have to be willing to back it up. My process in not finished but things are looking up for the first time in a year. It has been almost a month since I took the advice and my spouse is still at home, appologised for all he has put me through and says he thinks he can resist the tempation to be in contact with the lover while he lives under the same roof with me. I read this book together with the book "Not Just Friends" by Shirley Glass which helped me to understand extramarital affairs very clearly. I strongly recommend reading both. I am not a practicing Christian and this orientation in the book is not a problem - the advice is very sound from a psychological standpoint.

I encourage you to read this book if you are willing to fight for your marriage, no longer fight with your spouse! If your life has been touched by any addiction,this book will be a great guide for you! It sure has been for me, Thanks Dr. Dobson!!

Professor Friedman's book shatters most of my beliefs since childhood relative to who wrote the Bible. My earliest beliefs were formed by my teachers who were strict orthodox protestant believers. Basically I believed that every word of God in the Old Testament was there as if God had dictated it to those who penned its contents. I can recall questioning authorship at least of some of its sections, such as the death of Moses. It was logical to assume that the account written describing his death and burial was written by someone other than himself. I questioned that if Moses did write the first 5 books, why did he keep referring to himself as "Moses said", or "Moses did?" That didn't make sense. Why didn't he use the first person referring to himself? In seminary, the Documentary Hypothesis was studied as a satanic deception. We had Jesus own testimony with his referral to Moses throughout the Pentateuch and Paul's own statement that every word of God was written under inspiration. My viewpoint was as most of the editors of the 1995 version of the NIV: "These first five books were most likely written by Moses, except for the last chapter of Deuteronomy which tells about Moses' death."

It is evident that the first 3 chapters of Genesis contain two totally different narratives, each telling not necessarily a complimentary account of the same event. He points out that the first version of creation, the writer always refers to the creator as God (35 times). The second version refers to the creator always as Yahweh God (11 times). "The first version never calls him Yahweh; the second version never calls him God." He illustrates the two flood stories, with contradictory numbers of animals taken into the ark, number of days of the flood, and other details. He takes you though other Old Testament stories containing doublets and written in different language. He gives the history behind the Documentary Hypothesis and gives reasons for the scholastic credence of it. I had to cast away some of my superstitious ideas of how the Bible came to be after reading this. The Bible was cobbled and woven together over a long period of time. It is evident we don't have final answers for a lot of it, but I came away believing it is as logical to believe Ezra wrote most of the first 5 books during the exile as it is that Moses wrote all of them.

This is a very good book, making careful and reasonable arguments about the various authors of the Bible - J, E, D, P, and their redactor R. While I am not an expert in this field, Friedman makes arguments that seem very compelling and accessible even to a lay audience not deeply familiar with the historical, academic of constructing the Bible's authorship. Careful reading is required, and an open mind. Friedman's analysis seems to be fair-minded and academically honest, without sounding pretentious or claiming to have an absolutely definitive view. Anyone interested in a review of Biblical History (Old Testament or Jewish Tanakh only) should read this book to become acquainted with the field. It provides an excellent staring point into the historical construction of one of our most important and pervasive texts.

This book is an excellent read. For those who are literary critics of the Holy Bible, this would prove to be the back bone for understanding who evolution of who wrote the bible, why they wrote it, and when. Friedman's emphasis' lies on the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the bible which were purportedly written by Moses. Friedman however dismisses this, and provides a more plausible explaination behind these first five books. His image of the documentary hypothesis cannot be matched in this day and age.

Most of this book concentrates on a hypothesis for how the Torah, not the bible as a whole was written (regardless of what the book's name or some of the reviewers say)- it is the origin of Torah that is attributed to Moses, not the bible as a whole.

Torah in its own right, if this hypothesis is correct, is a) an omelet and b) has a history. I don't know why for Christians it is important that the written Torah was revealed to Moses all at once, for the Orthodox Jews, this is important because Torah is the covenant between the Suzerain - God and a King - the people Israel. This relationship between God and Israel is at the core of Judaism. Also, it is important for the Orthodox that Torah is attributed to Moses because of the position that the Orthodox hold that the ancient state of Israel had to find its justification in the Torah - not the other way around. Israel only has one ruler and law giver - God.

I will leave it to the reader of this review to look at the other reviews to see what the book is talking about. In my review, I would like to raise a few questions about the validity of some of what the author of "Understanding The Bible" wrote.

Firstly. The author Richard Friedman, wrote in Chapter 14 about how the various pieces that sometimes contradicted and were totally unrelated were put together and that they created something that the originators could never have imagined. I argue that this is not correct. There are major themes in the Torah that are constants that are seen throughout and have been preserved all throughout the "merges".

1) The theme that leads from the creation story to the Tabernacle and the first temple. The idea is that the first temple represented Eden.
2) The moral growth of humans as well as the moral changes in the conceptions by God. This leads us from Cain who killed his brother, but was tolerated by God to the dictum made by God that all those who shed the blood of man will die by man's hand. As well as that God will demand a reckoning from every beast for killing men. This was a legal principle that Israelites used from the earliest time (even if the writing down of this principle is attributed to a later age). Additionally, we go from Adam and Eve who are children, to Noah who is the most righteous of his generation, but doesn't attempt to change God's mind about killing all people and animals, to Abraham who tells God not to dare to destroy an entire city.
3) The covenental formulary is preserved throughout all the so called modifications, "arbitrary additions", political feuds, etc. To learn what covenental formulary is and why it is important, please read the book Sinai and Zion: An Entry into the Jewish Bible by Jon Levenson.

Here is another thing that one has to watch out for. The so called contradictions. On page 229, the author lists two "contradictory" passages.

(1) "Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it...because in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it."

(2) "Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it...and you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day"

The author claims that (1) and (2) above are somehow contradictory and yet people who read them seem to be able to reconcile them. Let me suggest that (1) states why the Sabbath day is sanctified while (2) states why you should keep it sanctified. Had the author understood that the story of the bringing out of the land of Egypt is the reason for why we as Jews obey God's commandments, he would have understood the reason for (2). (1) simply states that given that you will obey God and keep Sabbath holy, here is an explanation for why it is holy. Contradictory? Perhaps in the author's imagination.

In any case, the bible is a living book. It is the way in which one communicates with a living God. Perhaps the reason that so many people object to the kind of study that leads to the documentary hypothesis is the notion that it is like cutting up a dead frog in order to do a postmortem. Instead, you can use the book to create a relationship with God that has been described by many as a relationship between lovers.

There are precious few books out there that critically examine the Bible as an archaeological item without bashing the religions that hold it up as a divine creation. While there are few fundamentalists or traditional religious believers who would applaud Dr. Friedman, "Who Wrote the Bible?" is a fantastic work that critically examines some books in the Old Testment and places them in a historical context.

In looking at "apparent contradictions" and other anomalies of the Old Testament, Dr. Friedman's explanations provide a plausible alternative to the strange, twisted logic of apologists. Archaeology tells us that the Bible was written by many different people over a very long period of time. Dr. Friedman lays that path out for us with stunning clarity.

If you consider yourself a "Bible Freak", or know someone who does, then you owe it to yourself to learn about the Holy Book. Dr. Friedman's book is a great start.

Rick writes in a way that is easy to understand. His ability to enrich your knowledge of the text from the bible is amazing. He makes it so easy to become more knowledgeable in the greek words and gives you an easy was to apply it to your life. Thank you for a wonderful daily devotional that not only improves my education but my life.

This book is a wonderful journey into the greek, what a vat of information, and brings such depth and understanding to the scriptures, I never miss a day. Thank you Rick Renner for your time and effert that went into this book of sparkling gems.

This book is a powerful learning tool that enhances the reader's experience into God's word. The book is a 365 day devotional that takes readers into a deeper look of our English words through the Greek language. This is an exceptional read that truly touches and moves the believer to stir up the fire for Jesus inside of themselves. I recommend this "gemstone".

This is one of the most helpful books I have ever had. Not only is it a daily devotional thought, but it explains how the words used in the Bible relate to our every-day lives. After I saw how wonderful it was, I went back to Amazon and purchased two more copies for gifts, and they are in daily use and much appreciated.
Highly recommended.

This devotional is wonderful. It is a great way to get some in-depth study for a devotional time. It will enlighten and deepen your walk with God in a very real way. It is a great book to give you more in-depth study, but to apply it to your every day life.