Tag Archive - bookreview

Wisdom for the Church Today

May 4, 2009 in Book Review, Inspiration, Scripture with 1 Comment

I was thrilled to see that Thomas Nelson Publishing was offering Christianity in Crisis 21st Century for their book bloggers review program.


Wow discernment for those who will listen!

The church today desperately needs this book! There are so few bold “watchmen on the wall”, and Hank Hanegraaff is indeed one of these discerning ministers. Hanegraaff says in the preface “ the Biblical model of faith has given away to an increasingly bizarre array of fads and formulas.”

Two decades ago “Christianity in Crisis” was published. This new book expands on the information in the original. The “Crisis” is only intensifying as we are nearing the fulfillment of all prophecy.

Hanegraff, who is President of the Christian Research Institute is not afraid to name names as he exposes the heretical doctrines taught by leaders of the “faith movement.” From Kenneth Hagan to Todd Bentley. I thank God for your boldness Hank!

Ultimately man is taught to believe that “the face of faith is so powerful that even God (however you define him) is bound by its irrevocable reality.” The power lies not in the sovereignty of God; but in the words we speak.

Is this not exalting man and his thoughts above God?”

I was glad to see that Hanegraaff takes time to distinguish the charismatic renewal movement from the deceptions found in the Word of faith movement. “ The Crisis within Christianity is not the fault of the charismatic renewal movement. It is focused on a life and death struggle between orthodoxy and heresy; between the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the cults.”

Such depth of detail revealed within this book; I counted 157 pages of Appendixes and Indexes, Bibliography and Notes. This kind of research comes from an Institute whose focus is indeed researching these topics. This book is filled with scripture, quotations and references.

Those of you who have the original “Christianity in Crisis” need to know that the Crisis continues to grow deceive many. I encourage you to get this book. I again thank Thomas Nelson Publishing for making this book available for review.

Check out ThomasNelsonProductPage for more information.

I’ll take my Psalms Plain

March 27, 2009 in Book Review, Inspiration, Scripture, SwitchingGranny's Stuff with 0 Comments

It was exciting to receive ” The Word of Promise The Gift of Psalms” from Thomas Nelson Publisher’s to review for the Book Review Blogger program I’ve enrolled in.

The book is a beautifully bound book that looks and feels like an expensive gift edition. Pages are embossed with gold. And tucked in the back of the book are 3 cds that are dramatic audio renditions with background music of 30 of the Psalms and devotionals from the book read by professional actors

Yet the actual read of the book was difficult for me. I am a lover of the book of Psalms. And each of the 50 selected Psalm excerpts are laid out nicely (NKJV) on the left page with the right page being the devotional. Something just did not feel right about the devotional aspect of the book. It was like the Psalms alone weren’t complete enough to minister to the reader. As if there is a deeper explanation needed for us to understand the intent of God.

The same being true of the included cd’s. If the cds were only readings of the actual Psalms I’d be listening to them over and over. Yet with the devotionals read after each Psalm I won’t care to listen again.

I doubt I’ll be recommending this book, mostly because of the added content beyond the Psalms. I’d love this exact format for the entire book of Psalms without the added content. I find the book of Psalms alone to be a devotional fully complete in themselves

What I will be glad to do is to “re-gift” this book. Because of it’s beauty. I’m sure anyone who gets this book will be initially very impressed as I was.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishing for encouraging your book review bloggers to fairly review the books received either negatively or positively.

I’m happily awaiting my next book to review.