Trial By Ordeal by Craig Parshall

In “The Associate,” John Grisham wrote about young man who finds himself in a crisis. The man nervously muddles around a bit, then finally hires a lawyer and tells his father. The lawyer calls the feds, Dad writes a few checks, and the problem goes away. Critics and readers panned the book and its unlikeable, self-serving characters and thin plot.

Craig Parshall creates a similar circumstance for young college professor Kevin Hastings in “Trial By Ordeal,” but manages to breathe life into characters and situations that Grisham could not. The result is a cast of intriguing, developing characters journeying through a believable, page-turning plot that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

The milquetoast Hastings, having just been dumped by his girlfriend, decides to sink his life savings into a sure-fire commercial real-estate deal, hoping to “flip” the property for a quick profit. Things only get better when a buyer quickly emerges guaranteeing Kevin a hefty payday. But a minor glitch in the deal starts a downward spiral that includes unemployment, eviction, violent attack, and destitution. It’s not quite Job-like, but it’s close!

There’s a new romance, a group of new Christian friends, an ambitious politician, and a comically brash attorney to keep the plot moving. The villains are a bit two-dimensional, but they serve their purpose and provide just enough menace to evoke concern for our heroes. The plot winds-up quickly in the end, and an epilogue-style final chapter ties-up the loose ends a little too neatly. But it keeps the book under 350 pages – the upper limit for this genre – and the first person narrative makes the summary natural and believable.

Believers will see this as a cautionary tale about business deals and relationships undertaken without God’s guidance and without the counsel of Godly men and women. Nonbelievers will enjoy the rollicking story and the likeable characters, and they will be introduced to the Savior, just as Kevin is.

An outstanding effort by an outstanding Christian author.

(five stars out of five)

The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews, illustrated by Philip Hurst

I would love to recommend Andy Andrews’ children’s book, but I cannot. “The Boy Who Changed the World” has the best intentions, but misses the mark with its intended audience by telling a time-shifting story of complex relationships that caused even your fifty year old blogger to re-read pages just to get the story straight.

As an elementary media specialist who has selected and presented dozens of storytime books, I recognize the importance of a concrete-sequential story for younger readers. By choosing to go forward and backward in history at will, Andrews presents a challenge that I feel the typical 7-year old would find complex. A more direct approach – starting from the past and proceeding to the present – would make the book much more accessible. For example, George Washington Carver is presented as (1) a college student, (2) a young boy, (3) an older adult, (4) a college student, and (5) a toddler – in that order. Most characters are presented similarly. A young child would probably not be able to follow that plot.

One line in the book has Moses Carver – George’s adoptive father – saying “Good night, little George Washington Carver.” The Carver biography that I read states that Carver took the middle name Washington as an adult as a way to differentiate himself from another George Carver in town. And he likely was known simply as “George” or “Carver’s George” until leaving home to attend elementary school. The book also describes George’s parents as “workers,” when of course they were Moses Carver’s slaves. Was the manuscript subjected to historical review, or were the stories presented just convenient to the theme?

The book ends with a page describing Andrews’ famous Butterfly Effect, which is oddly out-of-place and disconnected with the story. Philip Hurst’s illustrations are excellent throughout, but he can’t save the out-of-sequence plot.

Adults will probably love the heart-warming concepts presented in this book, and they should. The book speaks to the importance of mentoring, and the value of pouring into a child’s life. Just don’t expect the local elementary child to understand the plot or reminisce with the grown-ups about a life he has yet to live.

(two stars out of five)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Andy Stanley

Direction determines destination. Sounds pretty simple. In "The Principle of the Path," author and pastor Andy Stanley expounds on this idea, fully develops it, and helps us apply it to our lives and decision-making process. In ten brief but well-thought-out chapters, Stanley takes us through the motions of decision making, and helps us develop a Godly strategy that will get us where we want to go.

You can read great descriptions for this principle on other web-sites, so I'll not bother to formulate my own. Let me just say that the concept is wonderful in its simplicity, and thought-provoking in its practicality. This is the book I probably would have ignored at age 20, and (I hope) embraced at age 30. Now, at age 49 I read it with some wistful regrets. But - with many years left to live, I plan to remember The Principle of the Path in my decision-making process.

When providing examples of correct and incorrect decision-making, Stanley wisely bypasses modern media examples, and instead walks us through scenarios from Bible history. This is refreshing, and many modern pastors/teachers give examples from TV shows and secular movies in an attempt to be "relevant" and "seeker-friendly." (I recently visited a church in which the pastor showed clips from secular movies to show the congregation how they should treat each other. Needless to say, I did not return!) Stanley also spices the book with self-depreciating accounts of his youth, as well as his experiences in counseling as a pastor.

This is a book I wish I had read at 30. I'll be passing it on to my daughter, who is 23 and finishing grad school. Christian men would do well to share this book with his family, adult children, and friends.

A rare gem. Read it. Apply it. And share it.

(five stars out of five)

What in the World is Going On? by Dr. David Jeremiah

In What in the World Is Going On? 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore, Dr. David Jeremiah presents a solid, introductory exposition on end-times prophecy as it relates to current events.

The book is well-researched and thought-provoking. Jeremiah is at his best when analyzing scriptures that relate to end-time events. Chapters about the Rapture, Armageddon, and Christ’s triumphant return are the best, giving Jeremiah a chance to flex his well-earned academic muscle. Chapters about the oil market and Islamic terrorism contain almost no Biblical references, and are comparatively weaker. Perhaps Jeremiah thought it was important to include these chapters, and I won’t argue with him. However, that information might best be presented in an introductory chapter, or as an appendix.

The book reflects the author's pre-tribulation view of the rapture, and this stance contributes to the calm, assuring message. Mid-trib or post-trib readers might get a different feeling from the book altogether.

Dr. Jeremiah cites his abundant research, but oddly an index is missing. Because so many topics appear in several chapters, an index would be valuable.

Unfortunately, it is quite possible to attend a church for many years and never hear a sermon or lesson on end-time events. For someone with little or no knowledge of these prophecies, “What in the World Is Going On?” would be a good beginner’s book. However, readers with prior knowledge will want a more in-depth study.

1/2 (three-and-a-half stars out of five)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enemies Among Us by Bob Hamer

Can you really judge a book by its cover? If you apply this maxim to Enemies Among Us by Bob Hamer, then you'll make a mistake. Enemies Among Us is promoted as "A Thriller," complete with a hooded terrorist sporting a bad attitude and an automatic weapon on the cover. The book is really an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable tale of an FBI agent working undercover to ferret-out a terrorist cell in Los Angeles.

Hamer's resume as a veteran FBI agent is touted on the front and back covers, as well as the "Praise for Enemies Among Us" section in the front of the book. This experience is reflected in the details provided about the intricacies of FBI work, departmental organization, and office politics. Hamer's writing style lets the reader walk through the methodical pacing of an anti-terrorist investigation.

The protagonist is FBI agent Matt Hogan. He's a likable character - a bit of a rebel, always one-step ahead of the supervisors, and quick to figure-out the bad guys' next moves. Potential terrorist sleeper-cell activity leads Hogan to an undercover assignment as a volunteer handyman at a Christian Children's hospital. There, he watches an Afghan physical therapist, and an Arabic doctor. He strikes-up conversations, searches a desk or two, and basically pokes around, but doesn't find out much. It's almost a coincidence that he winds-up in the danger zone in the story's climax. Of course, that's probably how most FBI work goes - go through the motions, gather information, and prevent a catastrophe.

And there-in lies the problem. While grasping for accuracy, the slow pace of the plot and the chapters where nothing really happens leave the reader unfulfilled. The cover, the title, and description promise suspense, but nothing really exciting happens in the first 150 pages. Only in the book's climax was I at the edge of my seat.

Reading through the book, I get the impression that Hamer's first priority is to present FBI work as it really is, and his secondary goal is to provide a rocking-good read. I've heard that many law enforcement officers go weeks, months, even years between action-packed confrontations with the bad guys. But as a reader, I want to read about those episodes, not the standard work-a-day drudgery.

That said, the story itself is very good. There are several believable characters, and Hamer has a real flair for keeping the reader interested. I would certainly recommend this book to friends, but not as a Vince Flynn/Tom Clancy thriller.

The storyline is wide-open for more FBI cases, and I would imagine more will follow. I look forward to more of Hamer's work, and I hope that future Matt Hogan stories will provide more suspense and action, even if it comes at the expense of realism.

(three stars out of five)

The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur

Mild. Quiet. Non-threatening. Docile. Do you use these words to describe Jesus? In The Jesus You Can’t Ignore, John MacArthur presents additional characteristics of Jesus – bold, demonstrative, confrontational, and accusing. By describing Jesus’ running battle of words with the Pharisees, this book reminds us that our Lord met false teaching head-on, even in the face of rejection, threats, and attacks.

MacArthur’s chronological approach taps all four gospels to bring the reader to an understanding of Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees over their false teaching and burdensome laws and requirements. Examples from Jesus’ private and public ministries are used to define His personality – from the one-on-one meeting with Nicodemus to the the Sermon on the Mount. MacArthur skillfully weaves Old Testament references and cultural explanations to bring the reader to an understanding of the subtleties behind Jesus’ statements to the Pharisees.

Rather than tip the scale away from a description of a calm and loving savior, MacArthur’s goal is to leave the reader with an accurate and balanced depiction of Jesus. Many times, MacArthur reminds readers that as Christians, we aren’t to seek arguments or violently react to the little things. But when faced with false teaching, we should be prepared to dispute the falsehood as Jesus did with the Pharisees – good advice for our postmodern-thinking world.

(four stars out of five)

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen

When was the last time you had one of those "Yeah - I never thought about it that way" moments? The title of Skousen's benchmark book begs that question, and provides a reasonable, if sometimes contrived answer.

The premise of The 5000 Year Leap is simple and evident, yet often overlooked: in the late 1700's, society was still doing basic tasks the same way they'd been doing them for 5,000 years. Want to plow a field? Hook up an ox, and walk behind the plow. Need to go to the next town? Walk or ride a horse. Looking for basic rights from your government? Good luck! Two hundred years later, men are walking on the moon (as well as many equally-dizzying advancements) and the people are in power in the United States. So - what happened? Skousen's explanation is that the American founding fathers adopted or adapted "The 28 Great Ideas that Changed to World" and the implementation of those ideas led to the civic and technological advancements current to our time.

Skousen takes little time discussing the obvious advancements, and doesn't argue the validity of these advancements (is the world really better?) Instead, he dives right in to a quick but tremendously effective lesson in historical civics - how to bring power to the people. Then, in a series of 5-10 page chapters, he lists and explains the 28 Great Ideas presented by the founders.

Each section is supported with quotes from the writings of the founding fathers, as well European philosophers Locke and Montesquieu. Admirably, the author uses the quotes to investigate the concepts, not to simply support his own ideas. Skousen draws the reader into a deeper understanding of the founder's philosophy, not his own. This is a refreshing approach, considering many modern political books are written strictly to further an author's opinion.

At the heart of the 28 ideas is the importance of people who are Godly, moral, and virtuous. The importance of religion is prevalent throughout the book. The reader also gets a great education in many elements of our government, such as the separation of powers and the republic form of government.

Most of the great ideas are espoused in the United States Constitution, and that's where "The 5000 Year Leap is most effective. Other topics deal with ideas presented by the founders, and here the explanations are weaker, probably because they appear to be influenced more by the author's opinion, and less by the founders' writings. For example, in the final paragraph of the chapter "Avoid Entangling Alliances," Skousen appears to object to our participation in World War II. (How different would the world be had Hitler been allowed to continue his quest for world domination?) As a Christian, I stand firmly by Israel, and believe that their future is tied to our future as a nation. I think George Washington would approve of these "entangling alliances." Also, the chapter about avoiding debt is somewhat confusing. The author builds a case against a national debt, then writes about how our nation has historically ignored this advice. It seems contradictory give this "idea" credit for building a strong nation, when the policy was ignored only a few generations after the founders' writings.

Still, the logic and research presented by Skousen is too profound to be ignored. A return to the ideas presented herein would certainly improve our nation, and all citizens should be educated about the philosophies that built the USA - the greatest nation in history. Reading this book would certainly help in that endeavor.

(four stars out of five)