Books at the Beach

Those aspiring to professional ministry have an amazing feat awaiting them.  Any young minister who gets a copy of this book will have been given a treasure.  My review is enclosed. (Also has been posted at Reader Views...). Happy Friday! -Steve Available at Amazon.com Letters to a Young Pastor Calvin Miller David C. Cook 4050 Lee Vance View Colorado Springs, CO 80918 (800) 708-5550, http://www.davidccook.com Reviewed by Steven King Those aspiring to professional ministry have the same dreams as individuals entering various careers. After sufficient academic preparation, each young minister has an idealistic view of the world and enters his first parish hopeful that he will translate biblical realities to an eager congregation.  Idealism fades to black rather quickly, however, when this same minister realizes that ministry can be arduous work.  Parishioners complain frequently, there never seems to be enough time, and there is always one more meeting to attend...

Between teacher certification, military entrance, and seeking a few graduate degrees...I have had to take my fair share of standardized tests.  Sometimes, test questions are straightforward and the answer seems to jump off the page...other times you scratch your head and say, "What was I thinking...why am I even taking this exam?" Tor Constantino has written a great primer on the world's major religions where he has taken the approach of answering a standardized test question.  Is it possible to use logic to deduce the correct answer?  His conclusion might startle you...but, yes...you can find the correct answer.  See my review below. Comments are always welcome and I suggest that you subscribe via email as you see the link to do that on the left. That way, you'll never miss a review. (One every Friday at a minimum...) Happy Friday! -Books At The Beach Available at Amazon.com A Question of Faith: A Simple Question toward Ultimate Truth [Paperback...

I have always liked the symbol of yin/yang...it even adorns the martial art I study: Jeet Kune Do .  The implication that there could be an interdependent dependence upon which life resonates is an intriguing idea. The author of The Yin Yang Complex sent me his book for review.  I found the passion about balance very compelling: even if I did not agree with the take on spirituality.  My review is enclosed. Happy Friday, -Steve Available at Amazon.com The Yin Yang Complex: Create Success by Understanding the World's Oldest Dynamic Forces [Soft Cover] By Brendan Foley 252 pages, $24.95 ISBN-13: 978-1856356527 Nonfiction Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd In Asian philosophy, the concept of yīnyáng has been traditionally rendered as Yin and Yang in the West and is depicted as the complement of unity and duality. The essence of this philosophy describes how polar opposites are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world and how they give rise to each...

I hope you have had the feeling of a book you just couldn't put down. I read Crazy Love while flying to Texas.  The truth that Francis Chan communicates is amazing.  If you are a Christian, you will want to read this book. Happy Friday! Comments always welcome (and certainly are appreciated...) -Steve Available at Amazon.com Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God [Soft Cover] By Francis Chan 205 pages, $14.99 ISBN-13:  978-1434768513 David C. Cook Nonfiction Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd It is refreshing to read a book that directly addresses the problem inherent in Christianity today. Have many who darken the doors of various churches forgotten the central message of Scripture: the Creator of the Universe loves us all with a radical form of love ?  If church attendees believed that fundamental truth, why does “doing” church seem as if we are merely checking religious boxes and not having any real impact upon the world? The implied lack of impact...

We live in frightening times...and I'm sure you're probably sick of the political grandstanding that defines the months leading up to an election.  "You did this" and "I'll do that, if elected."  We have heard all the bologna before. A scarier reality is the amount of personal freedom we find eroding and how little of this reality makes it into the news, or even in discussions with friends.  Judge Napolitano's book should be read by those who want our country to act congruently with how it was founded. My review is included below.  Comments always welcome. Happy Friday, -Steve Available at Amazon.com It Is Dangerous to Be Right When the Government Is Wrong: The Case for Personal Freedom [Hardcover] By Andrew P. Napolitano 320 pages, $24.99 ISBN-13:   978-1595553508 Non-fiction Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd Perhaps the most distressing aspect of living in the United States is what appears to be a daily onslaught against personal freedo...

This trial stunned Florida...I am sad for the life that was vanquished. My review is enclosed below. -Steve Available at Amazon.com Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony [Hardcover]   by Jeff Ashton with Lisa Pulitzer 336 pages, $26.99 ISBN-13: 978-0062125323 Nonfiction Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd Sometimes, truth is a lot stranger than fiction.  Do you remember where you were a t 10 AM on October 3, 1995?  I remember riding around with a co-worker awaiting the verdict of what was hailed as the “trial of the century”—the O.J. Simpson double-homicide murder trial.  Had one been orbiting the planet when OJ was declared “not guilty,” I am quite sure he would have seen the earth tremble a bit. In spite of what seemed like obvious motive and plenty of culpable evidence – ultimately, OJ was acquitted of any criminality in the death of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman, an aspiring model who happened to be at the wrong p...

When the parcel arrived at my front doorstep containing The Batman Files , I was ecstatic to read it.  As always, I enjoy all things related to The Dark Knight...and cannot wait for the third movie in the newest trilogy to be released this July. As always, Happy Friday... -Steve Available at Amazon.com The Batman Files Matthew Manning Andrews McMeel Publishing ISBN-13: 978-1449408220 308 Pages (Includes front and back matter) Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd Purchasing gifts always has an aura of mystery attached to it. In anticipation of my most recent anniversary, my wife and I visited our local mall. We toured a number of shops with the idea that I would get a new watch for my anniversary. Each store had an ample collection and I knew the decision was going to be tough. After departing the fourth such store, as we were walking by a tattoo parlor I quipped, “I know—how about I get a Batman tattoo for my anniversary?” My wife’s shocking response was, “Go for it.” ...