Book Review: Jesus on Every Page – 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament, by David Murray

25 August 2013 by particularkev

Many years ago on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-27), two of Jesus’ disciples came upon Jesus but did not recognise him. A discussion soon began between the two disciples and Jesus concerning what had been happening over the last couple of days and in the course of the discussion Jesus, ‘begining at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27). In every believer’s life there is an Emmaus Road event – sometimes it is a short journey, for others the journey is a lot longer, yet at some point we come to see Jesus ‘in all the Scriptures.’

Now, David Murray takes the reader of his book on a new adventure down the Emmaus Road in which he shares his own experience of discovering Jesus ‘in all the Scriptures,’ allowing us to discover this same Jesus whom he has come to know and trust ‘in all the Scriptures.’ It is a journey through history – Israel’s history, yet Jesus is there through it all. In this book David Murray seeks to enable each believer who reads it to experience their own journey on the ‘Emmaus Road,’ with the benefit of a tour guide pointing out all of the attractions along the way. This is the ‘Jesus Road’ and it is the Old Testament, described by one who has travelled it many times and who is therefore qualified to assist others along that road.

This book is especially geared for the young Christian (even if aged in years) and as such is extremely easy to read. It comes in readily available packaged sizes (chapters), which is great as most young Christians these days are generally not readers of good food and find it difficult to consider weighty matters. But these especially prepared meals are easily consumed and equally easily digested. Even Christians not accustomed to any reading will find these meals palatable. They come in manageable portions and are made up of prime, quality cuts. Read rightly, this excellent book has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach the Old Testament, yet in exactly the manner it was meant to be read.

This is not a dry read, but a very personalised read as the reader enters into the process of discovery that David Murray himself experienced and now shares with the reader of his book. Take up this book and begin a journey along the Emmaus Road with an experienced guide, it is a journey not to be forgotten or regretted.

The Book’s Webpage:
http://jesusoneverypage.com/

Buy this book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Every-Page-Testament-ebook/dp/B00B7QRAMM/

Purchase before 31st August 2013 and get $100 of free Old Testament resources:
http://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/08/12/100-of-free-old-testament-resources/

Book Review: A Song of Ice and Fire (Book 1) – A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin

25 August 2013 by particularkev

Like many I have watched the hugely popular television series ‘A Game of Thrones,’ except that I have viewed the the first two seasons on DVD and not on Pay TV as it is currently in Australia. With that said, I am an entire season behind most who have watched via Pay TV/Cable. Of course there are aspects of the series that I could do without, but overall I have enjoyed watching the show, which brought me to the point of wanting to read the books behind it. This is the first novel in the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series and the only one I have read so far. I was expeting it to be quite different to the television series, yet the reality was that it wasn’t too different at all, which I was pleased to see – unlike The Hunger Games, the Jason Bourne novels, etc.

This is a fantasy novel, with inspiration taken from Middle Ages England. Yet there is much about Westeros that is different to England in the Middle Ages. You have a fantastical plethora of difference with the presence of White Walkers, magical intrusions, fire-breathing dragons and more. Yet the intrigue, the weaponry, the buildings and more reminds one of Middle Ages England. It is a setting one can picture from our past, yet it is also a setting that cannot be imagined in our past, except that past be some alternative universe featuring powers and beings beyond our own reality.

There is much in this novel not to like, particularly in the natures of many of the characters about whom the novel is about. Yet it is a novel that is so very easy to read and carries you along and into this world of incredible adventure and herosim, yet so full of moral corruption and violence. There is always some surprise in the plot of the novel (unless you have seen the television series of course) and usually just when you think you know what the result of a certain action or actions will be.

It is difficult to write too much here without giving the game away, though I suspect that most people who would want to view the television series have done so by now. This novel captures the attention and runs with it. It is difficult to put the book (or ebook reader) down and very easy to get caught up in the world that is ‘A Game of Thrones.’ When the novel ends, it leaves you wanting to go straight on to the next in the series and that is perhaps one of its strengths – especially for marketing purposes. It is not a stand alone work, but the first in a series of fantasy novels in which the plot is constantly developing. It’s a great read.

I think I would give it 4 out of 5 as a rating.

Buy this book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GJXQ20

Book Review: Power and Glory – Jacobean England and the Making of the King James Bible, by Adam Nicolson

25 August 2013 by particularkev

I first came across this book at a book shop a number of years ago now – but no more than 5 years ago I would say. It caught my attention immediately, as the subject matter of the King James Version of the Bible is one that I am most passionate about, being a Christian who loves the King James Version, despite a short fling with the New King James Version and an enforced effort with the New International Version some years ago. I have always come back to the King James Version as my preferred choice. So seeing this book when I did, I thought ‘I must read that.’

I immediately started to read it after I purchased it but never finished it. I suppose I got about halfway through it and never took it back up again until recently. I expect the consequence of trying to read a multitude of books at the same time as the ultimate reason for my failure to complete the book back then, as well as perhaps the desire to read others that came across my desk. So when I saw it again recently, while doing some much needed cleaning and organising of my personal library, I thought ‘I must read that’ and took it up again.

The book left me disappointed, but not surprised. It was written by someone well and truly outside of my Particular Baptist and Reformed understanding, so I wasn’t surprised that it didn’t live up to what I had thought the book might be like – or perhaps hoped it would be like. So I was disappointed with its lack of understanding concerning the Christian faith, especially viewed from my Particular Baptist and Reformed perspective. It is certainly a very interesting read in providing some great background to the period of the translation, yet it really is very light on the actual translation of the Bible into what is now known as the King James Version or Authorised Version of the Bible. It is not light on dishing out plenty of criticism on those that did the work and plenty of that is undoubtedly warranted, yet there is I believe, a poor understanding of these men, particularly those branded as ‘Puritans’ – as there was back in their own day.

I think I would give it a 2 out of 5 as a rating.

Buy this book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0007108931/