Books « Journeyman Journal

Book Review: Blink of an Eye

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

This is the fifth Ted Dekker book that I have read (the first four being the Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, and White) and Skin…which where fantastic and got me hooked on Dekker). Blink of an Eye more along the same genre lines as Skin, both of them being action thrillers. The Circle Trilogy is in the fantasy genre.

On with the review at hand…

The book centers around two characters: Seth Borders (a boy math genius) and Miriam (a Saudi Arabian princess). Miriam and Seth are thrust together as Miriam has fled to America to escape an arranged marriage that is part of a coupe to overthrow the Saudi Arabian government by a radical Muslim sect. Seth become Miriam’s unlikely protector and he discovers an unusual ability…he can see into the future. And not THE future, but all possible futures.

They are the run together from many forces attempting to capture them and during this time they find out about themselves, their faith, and about love in general. Dekker addresses two key issues in this engaging work: The differences and similarities between Christianity & Islam (focusing on what we have in common) and our call to love one another. The issues addressed are contemporary, but Dekker tackles them from a biblical perspective—a unique perspective from the current media and political spin.

This book has something for everyone without the language or sexual innuendos of others works in this genre. It has action and intrigue (you will keep turning the pages) as well as dash of romance (not so much to make you throw up though). The religious overtones are muted…it is effective without being preachy.

Overall, another hit by my new favorite author. I must say that I liked the Circle Trilogya little better, but only by the slightest of margins. This isn’t my absolute favorite Dekker book but I still highly recommend it (I would just read the others first). It tackles a modern issue from a fresh perspective and will keep you entertained.

Overall Rating:

05.06.2008 Books, Review 1 Comment

Walking with God

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

I have been reading a new book by John Eldredge called Walking with God for a couple of weeks now. I am only about about 70 pages into the book, but had to write about it before I was anywhere close to being done with it.

Plain and simple: You must read this book…immediately (if not sooner).

This is one of those books that is life changing! It will transform how your think about walking and talking with God. It has challenged me, encouraged me, and brought me to my knees more than once. Eldredge addresses spiritual issues that I have simply either been ignoring or didn’t know how to deal with them.

John is sharing his own struggles and his own walk with God over the course of a year…and it is an encouragement to the reader to see how he deals with daily life and walking with God through the process of life.

Have you ever wondered if (and how) God speaks to us? Ever wished you could have such a close, intimate walk with God that you could have conversations with Him? Ever wondered what it would be like to deal directly with the life wounds you’ve been carrying around for so long you don’t even remember when or where they started?

Then get this book today and start reading it. Don’t read it cover to cover in one sitting…take your time and let God use it to speak to you…and to teach you to listen to His voice. This is almost a money-back-guarantee. If you do buy the book and start reading it, please come back here and share your thoughts and comments on the book and how it is (or isn’t) affecting your spiritual journey.

Here’s the jacket cover description of the book for quick reference:

Walking with God moves through a year in the life of John Eldredge showing and teaching what an intimate relationship with God looks like day to day.

God longs to speak. And it is our right and privilege to hear His voice. Our deepest longings could all find sufficient fulfillment in God’s company. Yet, somehow, the looming discontent of most Christians is a lack of intimacy with God. Walking with God is unlike any book John has written. It moves through a year in his life showing and teaching what conversational intimacy with God can be like. It teaches readers how to make decisions aligning with God’s will, understand barriers and “agreements” keeping them from the life God intends, fight spiritual battles for their own heart and for others, and much more. Ultimately, Walking with God shows readers that walking intimately with Him can be a normal part of the Christian life.

22.05.2008 Books, Review, Spiritual Development No Comments

Your God Is Too Safe

Monday, March 17th, 2008

I actually read Your God Is Too Safe book last year before I started blogging, but have picked it up again as I am using it as a sort of “textbook” for my next Faith Basics series on “Holy Habits”. The title alone got me to buy and read the book, but I got more than I bargained for! Mark Buchanan has a fresh writing style unlike anything I have read in secular or Christian works. He has a way of making the mundane come alive and getting his reader to see things from a new perspective. This book is all but guaranteed to change your spiritual journey…at worst it will get you thinking about things differently.

I have read one other book by Buchanan (The Rest of God), but Your God Is Too Safe is the better of the two. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to grow in their walk and read a new author with fresh ideas and a new style. I look forward to reading some of Buchanan’s other works as well.

Here is the excerpt from his website summarizing what Your God Is Too Safe is all about:

Here’s a thoughtful, probing exploration of why Christians get stuck in the place of complacency, dryness, and tedium — and how to move on to new levels of spiritual passion! Buchanan shows how the majority of Christians begin their spiritual journey with excitement and enthusiasm — only to get bogged down in a “borderland” — an in-between space beyond the “old life” but short of the abundant, adventurous existence promised by Jesus. Citing Jonah, he examines the problem of “borderland living” — where doubt, disappointment, guilt, and wonderlessness keep people in a quagmire of mediocrity — then offers solutions … effective ways to get unstuck and move into a bold, unpredictable, exhilarating walk with Christ. Inspired writing!

Happy reading!

17.03.2008 Books, Hobbies, Spiritual Development No Comments

Get Black

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

Black Cover One of my hobbies is reading. While I read both fiction and non-fiction my real love is for a good fiction novel. Until recently my favorite authors have been the likes of James Patterson, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. Obviously I’m a big fan of suspense and thriller novels.

Every now and ten I’ve tried a Christian fiction author but haven’t found one that really knocked my socks off (quite the opposite really). I just couldn’t find a guy (or gal) that could write well and tell a good story.

Until now!

I just finished my second book by my new favorite (and Christian) author: Ted Dekker. The book I just finished is the first in a Trilogy entitled Black. His writing is edgy and original…I couldn’t put down either book (the first one I read was Skin…all I can say about that book is WOW, got my attention!). Here is how his website describes Black:

Enter an adrenaline-laced epic where dreams and reality collide.

Fleeing his assailants through deserted alleyways, Thomas Hunter narrowly escapes to the roof of a building. Then a silent bullet from the night clips his head…and his world goes black.

From the blackness comes an amazing reality of another world-a world where evil is contained. A world where Thomas Hunter is in love with a beautiful woman. Then he remembers the dream of the chase as he reaches to touch the blood on his head.

Where does the dream end and reality begin? Every time he falls asleep in one world, he awakes in the other-both facing catastrophic disaster. Thomas is being pushed beyond his limits…even beyond the limits of space and time.

Black is an incredible story of evil and rescue, betrayal and love, pursuit and death, and a terrorist’s threat unlike anything the human race has ever known. Some say the world hangs in the balance of every choice we make. Now the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance of one man’s choice.

I am greatly impressed and plan on reading everything he’s written. Not sure how I missed this guy, but I obviously highly recommend him if you’re into this sort of read.

02.02.2008 Books, Hobbies 2 Comments