3 comments about Jesse: Found in Heaven with CD (Audio).

1. This is an inspirational and touching story of a mother's grief, triumph, and love for her child. The pictures of children were breath taking and tender. It is a perfect gift for women and mothers of all ages. As soon as I read it, I bought a copy for my sister-n-law and sister.



2. Book was totally boring. Did not even merit giving away. I tossed it.



3. I found this book at the time when our daughter had a miscarriage. It touched me deeply and I gave a copy to our daughter. She found it helpful in her time of need and has bought copies for other people in need of comfort in their time of loss.

No comments about Padre on Horseback (The American West).

1 comments about Billy Graham: A Narrative and Oral Biography.

1. "BILLY GRAHAM" BY DEBORAH HART STROBER IS A VERY FASINATING AND ONE OF A KIND BIO OF BILLY GRAHAM THAT I REALLY ENJOYED.THIS BOOK WAS SPECIAL TO ME CAUSE INSTEAD OF BILLY GRAHAM BEING INTERVIEWED ALL OF HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THE PRESIDENTS AND WORLD LEADERS THAT HE HAS TOUCHED SHOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE HE HAS MADE IN THE WORLD AND IN THERE LIFES. ALSO THESE FAMOUS PEOPLE SHOW DR. GRAHAMS FAMOUS LEADERSHIP ABILITIES AND MORALS.
   GREAT GIFT FOR A FRIEND OR FAMILY OR A SOLDIER SERVING OVER SEAS. THIS BOOK IS A REAL BLESSING. "THE JOURNEY" BY BILLY GRAHAM IS ALSO A GREAT BOOK.

2 comments about Mary of Magdala: What the Da Vinci Code Misses.

1. There are so many competing books about Mary Magdalene that an author has to do a really good job to stand out. Unfortunately Mary Thomspon doesn't. Had the book been written 10 or 20 years ago, it might have been considered innovative. With books by Starbird, Cilton, King, and Meyer, Thomspon's book pales in comparison.



2. There is an unspoken compact between an author and his/her audience. It says "Buy my book because I have done my homework." Mary Thompson violates this compact in so many ways there should be a warning label on the outside of the book. If that sounds severe, look at some of the major errors which this author commits.
   
   
   * "Mary of Bethany was clearly a Judean, while Mary of Magdala was just as obviously a Galilean (p. 15)." While it's clear that Mary of Bethany lives in Judea, it's not at all clear that Mary Magdalene is a Galilean. The gospels tell us that Mary followed Jesus from Galilee (e.g., Luke 23:55), but that doesn't by any stretch mean that she is from Galilee. She could easily be Mary of Bethany who left home, joined the Jesus sect in Galilee, and now is among the woman who follow him from Galilee.
   
   *"Mary of Bethany was of a contemplative nature...Mary of Magdala was an activist... (p. 15)." These are necessarily incompatible. The fact that Mary sits at Jesus' feet and listens to him (Luke 10:38-42) is not incompatible with her being a follower of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3). In fact, it seems highly correlated.
   
   *"The empty tomb narratives, all four of them, are consistent in regard to the time when the discovery was made, the question about the stone being rolled back, the presence of angelic messengers...(p. 21)." Excuse me, what gospels are she reading? The Gospel of Mark has no angelic messengers. Matthew has one and Luke has two. How "consistent" is that? In Mark, Mary comes to the tomb in daylight (16:2). In John it's still dark (20:1). How consistent is that?
   
   *"Mary of Magdala is mentioned by name in eleven incidents in the canonical gospels (p. 28)." Untrue. If you count the number of times her name is mentioned, (Mark - 15:40,47, 16:1,9; Matthew - 27:56,61, 28:1; Luke 8:3; 24:10, John 19:25, 20:1,12,18) it is 13, not 11. If you count the "number of incidents" it is 8, not 13 (Mary follows Jesus, Present at the crucifixion, Watches Jesus placed in the tomb, Goes to the tomb to anoint Jesus, Told to tell the disciples, Tells the disciples Jesus' body is missing, Talks to Jesus, Tells the disciples Jesus is risen).
   
   *"In the canonical gospels, Mary Magdalene is always referred to by the geographical place name (p. 29)." Untrue. She is never referred to by the geographical place name which is "Mary of Magdala", and she isn't even always called Mary Magdalene. One time (Luke 8:3) she is called "Mary (that was called Magdalene)."
   
   *"These two expressions [who was called Judas Iscariot] seem to associate the person with the place (p. 29)." Good theory. But there never was a place called "Iscariot" Most true scholars believe that Iscariot is a reference to the fact that Judas belonged to the sicarii, or daggermen. No one seriously puts forth the case that Judas is from Iscariot!
   
   And this is merely a representative sample of the errors in the first 20 pages.
   
   This book is not without some charm and some merit. But the blatent errors obviates any positive attributes.

1 comments about Dorothy Carey: The Tragic & Untold Story of Mrs. William Carey.

1. William Carey is known as the father of the modern missionary movement. From a self-educated cobbler to a genius in linguistics, his place in missionary history is undisputed. However, the wife he took to India with him did not thrive in this adopted country as William did. She suffered from terrible homesickness, months of disabling dysentary and the death of a child. Within three years of arriving in India, she was suffering with mental illness and she died in India never having recovered her sanity. James Beck has given a facinating picture
   of her life.

5 comments about Crossing Myself: A Story of Spiritual Rebirth.

1. I knew Greg from seminary and never knew all of his story except that he was a great writer and I always enjoyed his sermons and lectures but this book is
   a godsend. I was raised in a similar dysfunctional religious background and know what he is talking about. There are also people I know that struggle with depression and are afraid to share their story especially with those who call themselves Christians. I highly recommend this book for people who are struggling, hurting and are looking for a gracious God that accepts people unconditionally. God's grace is everywhere even in the suffering of everyday life.



2. This very readable book takes the reader on a journey from faith to faith. Though Greg grew up in a church which he calls toxic for himself, he demonstrates a never-ending faith in God - even when he himself didn't know that he was a man of faith. His struggle with depression for most of his life is very real and his joy in once again knowing that he is a man of faith is inspiring.



3. I have read everything Greg Garrett has had published. For those who would be interested in reading Greg's other works, I would recommend his first novel Free Bird, and especially his novel Cycling. But far and away the best thing I have ever read from him is this book. He gives voice to the two things that Christians typically WILL NOT speak about -- depression and doubt. In a painfully honest and poignant way, Greg shares how he navigated the path that leads through the valley of the shadow of death back into the light and life of living. In so doing, he appears to hold nothing back (another refreshing viewpoint from a Christian). I believe that ANYONE who desires to live a spiritual life will be heavily influenced by Greg's gripping testimony. I mean, who can't learn from a guy that teaches at a conservative Baptist university but is also studying to be an Episcopal priest?
   -- Ryan G.
   
   As a person who has suffered from depression Greg Garrett's pure honesty in this book is comforting. I loved hearing how God spoke to him even in his deepest darkest moments. I believe God saved Greg in his deep pit of depression to speak to those like me who have felt the same way. Greg is candid about the ups and downs and struggles in his Walk with Christ and that is being Real, a trait greatly needed in American Christianity today.
   -- Anne S.
   
   One of the best books of honest Christianity since Blue Like Jazz. Greg Garrett's testimony encourages and re-energizes the struggling and downtrodden spiritual soul.
   -- Joshua J.
   
   As someone who is also pursuing the goal of becoming an Episcopal Priest as I emigrate from evangelical Christianity, Greg's is a voice crying out to me in the wilderness. As someone who also struggles with depression, there are large sections of this book that echo the very situations of my own life. I can't recommend this book enough!
   -- Brian P.



4. I am a pastor in the same tradition that Greg has spent so much time trying to recover from.Yet I totally resonated with Greg's journey. The church has offered little help to those who are suffering from depression other than a scolding for a lack of faith. Greg's honesty pierces the heart and his writing style is so amazing that you feel like your sitting down with him over a cup of coffee as he tells you his story. I hated to read the last page because I know that it will be a long time before another book like this comes along.



5. I love Greg Garrett's willingness to share his questions about his faith in God and religion, and then showing the reader the outcome of this exploration. I already enjoyed his other works and this makes me appreciate him more as a Christian.

1 comments about Tsung-Mi and the Sinification of Buddhism (Studies in East Asian Buddhism, 16).

1. An absolute must for anyone who wants to do an indepth study of Buddhism in China. Clearly explains the different ways of thinking in the various Buddhist schools in China.

   It is a shame we don't see more books of this quality from other authors.

No comments about Locked Up: Letters and Papers of a Prisoner of Conscience.

2 comments about Pat Robertson: An American Life.

1. the book was less biography and seemed more of a collection of old news stories, gossip and complaints with nothing really new to offer. A readable prose was undone by too many factual errors, unattributed sources in personal attacks and innuendo. unfortunately, the book failed to rise to the professional standards of a work of either a genuine historian or a journalist. too bad.



2. I found this book a great read! Dr. Marley presents the facts of Robertson's life from his extensive research. What I found most surprising and refreshing were the excerpts from the personal interview Robertson gave to the author. This was an open and honest discussion regarding Robertson's life and beliefs.

No comments about The Book of Margery Kempe: Abridged Translation; Introduction, Notes and Interpretive Essay (The Library of Medieval Women Series).