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At 67, Norman Arnz is well aware of his narrative limitations: "I dare say that no one understands more than the part of the story that is directly contiguous to them." Yet the conjunction of placement and perception is crucial to both him and his tale. The title novella in Jim Harrison's The Beast God Forgot to Invent takes the form of Arnz's written report explaining the death by drowning of a lifetime resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Slow, different, backward--Joe Lacort had been labeled all these and more since a car accident illustrated "the Newtonian principle that an object in motion (your head) tends to remain in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced or unequal force (in Joe's case, a massive gray beech tree)."
What Arnz realizes, to his dismay and envy, is that this man "had crossed over a line into an otherness of perception that was unavailable to the rest of us," that his "sense of time has become hopelessly round while ours is linear." Joe's story, told as Arnz circles back and back, questing for original cause, is the story of mapping oneself and one's place in a profoundly captivating--and dislocating--universe. "Maybe," he ponders, "the world really doesn't look like the one I've been seeing all along. That was one of the questions Joe offered." These questions, and answers, are relayed by an astonishing voice: Harrison gives his narrator an oddly intoxicating blend of E.B. White's wry irony and perfectly matter-of-fact precision and Humbert Humbert's solipsistic bravura and edgy suspiciousness.
And the other two novellas are equally engaging. In "Westward Ho," a Michigan Native American finds himself on a quixotic quest through Los Angeles in pursuit of a stolen bearskin. An assortment of jaded Sancho Panzas aid (I use the term loosely) Brown Dog in his search. Sentimental without being trite, the story soars easily above potential "small-town Indian, big city" limitations. "I Forgot to Go to Spain" returns to a first-person narrator, a glib biographer suspicious that "the language I was using to describe myself to myself might be radically askew."
Harrison is a rare beast, an author whose ideas are at once grand and simple. His prose is so tantalizingly right that you might be tempted to gather his sentences and fling yourself into their midst, just for the sheer pleasure of it all. --Kelly Flynn
Book Description
Jim Harrison is an American master. The Beast God Forgot to Invent offers stories of culture and wildness, of men and beasts and where they overlap. A wealthy man retired to the Michigan woods narrates the tale of a younger man decivilized by brain damage. A Michigan Indian wanders Los Angeles, hobnobbing with starlets and screenwriters while he tracks an ersatz Native-American activist who stole his bearskin. An aging "alpha canine," the author of three dozen throwaway biographies, eats dinner with the ex-wife of his overheated youth, and must confront the man he used to be.
Customer Reviews:
Mr. Harrison is the MAN! .......2006-01-28
I'm a painter not a writer so I will not be able to do justice to Jim Harrison. In my mind Harrison is our best living writer. It is an exciting, humanizing and exceptional experience to read his work and this book is no exception. I have read all of Harrison's books and my respect for him has never flagged. His characters are driven by lascivious and intellectual curiousity - you're never sure you are reading the book or thinking the book.
~It's as if you were having a conversation with the author ~.......2002-07-15
I have just found a new obsession and it's Jim Harrison! Not the man, but his books of course. I am always open to a new discovery and in this case, what a pleasant surprise. Jim Harrison has an impressive command of words that keep his story(s), in this case 3 of them, flowing without being bogged down with excessive descriptions. It's as if you were having a conversation with him rather than reading a book.
After doing some research I found that he had written "Legends of the Fall", and that is one of my all time favorite movies. I just can't understand why he doesn't get more press. I have mentioned his books to several people and none of them were aware of him at all. He difinitely is a talent not to be missed. I have already ordered "A Woman Lit by Fireflies" and looking forward to his upcoming Memoir!
One more thing,if you are not familiar with his writing take a peak inside one of his books, you might just like what you see.
Brilliant.......2002-05-18
And here's why: many authors write in the first person to give themselves an alter ego. Not so here, as Harrison uses the first person to give us 3 truly engaging partners in crime, who let us in on the most intimate details of their lives. His genius is that, although he brings the disparate together, he also understands their inevitable separation.
These stories begin in Minnesota. They always come back there.
Worth your time, if only to meet people who should go on and reoprt back "beyond the end"....
Three Novellas by Our Modern-day Hemingway.......2002-03-12
It has been a while since I've read anything by Jim Harrison, and after reading this book, I can't quite remember why it's been so long. Harrison is an amazing wordsmith, and his stories are very engaging, in a hedonistic, manly kind of way. The Beast God Forgot to Invent is a compilation of three novellas, each about different men at interesting points in their lives.The title novella is about a retired book dealer who is charged with the task of describing the last days of his brain-damaged, womanizing friend, Joe, to the coroner...This book has definitely inspired me to continue reading Jim Harrison's works. I encourage you to pick this book up. It's an enjoyable read, interspersed with profound truth.
Lusty Pan Theme.......2002-02-06
In the title story the narrator, a fifty-something antique book collecter and real estate agent, feels chagrined living in the north Michigan wilderness where he lives a paradoxical life of ruggedness tempered by his dependence on consumerism, creature comforts and gadgetry. Divorced twice, the lonely narrator lusts over young women who flock Joe, a feral young man, who, sustaining a brain injury, takes on the role of the town's "Noble Savage." The novella's comedy and deep, soulful pain comes from the sexually-frustrated, overintellectual narrator idealizing Joe into something akin to a hypersexualized Pan. It's clear that the narrator lives vicariously through what he perceives as Joe's unlimited sexual prowess.
The novella is well-paced and combines a compelling narrative with a meditation on the conflict between our impulse to live the simple, "real" life resembling our animal nature and our impulse to indulge in our "sophisticated" passions, which too often make us forget who we really are.
Book Description
With the unparalleled worldwide success of the Left Behind series, both fans and critics are curious about the relationship between Bible prophecy and the events depicted in the novels. Responding to recent works that question Left Behind's biblical accuracy, two respected theologians set forth solid, biblical answers in this reader-friendly resource. Beginning with a clear presentation of prophecy interpretation and dispensationalism, the authors examine specific end times events represented in Left Behind and offer historical and biblical support for each event.
The popular Left Behind books are works of fiction. But how seriously can you take their predictions about the end of the world - and you own future?
In this reader-friendly resource, two respected theologians respond to recent attacks on Left Behind's interpretation of Bible prophecy, providing clear historical and biblical support for specific end times events described in the novels.
Gain a deeper appreciation of these phenomenal bestsellers - and a deeper understanding of earth's cataclysmic final days!
Story Behind the Book
With the incredible success of this series, we believe that it would be beneficial to the body of Christ for someone to publish a book that gives solid, thoughtful, biblical answers to the critics of the Left Behind theology. With the questions that are being raised and will continue to be raised, many may begin to wonder if the Left Behind theology is really biblical. Some of the impact of the series could be undermined. This book would set forth substantive biblical points in favor of the various end times events presented in the series.
Customer Reviews:
book review.......2004-06-15
I was quite amazed at the "epistle" negative reviews of this book. One in particular talked about the 'literal' weapons and such. It only took reading three sentences of this review to know that the writer has an extreamly limited knowledge of the Bible itself, and biblical prophecy, yet went on to write what amounted to a 300 word essay. Those who are not of the spirit, can NOT understand the things of the spirit.
Why Not Believe the Truth?.......2004-04-23
I have just finished reading "The Truth Behind Left Behind" by Hitchcock and Ice. As a layman who considers himself to be a well read and versed student on the subject of Bible prophecy, I would consider this book to be an highly accurate and well documented explaination of the end times as they are written in the Bible. Many people who study prophecy have many different interpretations of what, when and how the Bible says that the world will end and Gods Kingdom will be ushered in. To many of those people I would say, "stop trying to read between the lines!" The Bible is the inerrant Word of God and what it says as you read it is exactly what it means. People try to put too much conjecture into Gods Word that simply isn't there. The books of the Old Testament and their prophecies of the end times identically match those in the New Testament so I truly do not understand where most of these detractors of the "Left Behind" series come up with their arguments that say the books are untrue and not well founded. These people are supposed to be Biblical scholars, well they either aren't reading the same Bible I do or they need to work on their comprehension skills. "The Truth Behind Left Behind" is right on the money in explaining the Biblical accuracy and validity of the "Left Behind" series of books concerning end times events. So as I stated in my title, "Why Not Believe the Truth?" this book is a must read for all of those who have been distracted by the detractors. I would recommend that everyone who is seriously interested in the truth about end times events should read "The Truth Behind Left Behind"!
The Fiction Behind Left Behind.......2004-04-16
Let me cite just one example from The Truth Behind Left Behind that makes it a very weak defense of the Left Behind theology. There are many more, but there are space limitations. In Tim LaHaye's Introduction to TBLB, we read: "Jerry [Jenkins] and I have unashamedly taken the position that all prophecy should be interpreted literally whenever possible. We have been guided throughout by the golden rule of interpretation: When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. Take every word at its primary, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise" (7). So shouldn't the reader interpret the weapons of Ezekiel 38-39--bows, arrows, shields, war clubs, spears, horses, and chariots--literally? Not according to our authors. Here's their interpretation from their chapter "The Coming Russian/Islamic Invasion": "Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Ezekiel spoke in language that the people of his day could understand. If he had spoken of MIG-29s, laser-fired missiles, tanks, and assault rifles, this text would have been nonsensical to everyone until the twentieth century" (47). Of course, this is question begging in the extreme. Why would the people in Ezekiel's day need to understand a prophecy if it wasn't meant for them? Why confuse them and us? How do Hitchcock, Ice, and LaHaye KNOW that this is what the Holy Spirit meant? Once the trio makes these ancient weapons of no consequence, they are free to create their own prophetic scenario that can't be tested because it all takes place after Christians are no longer here! Convenient. Consider their words: "The focus clearly is NOT the specific weapons that will be used by these invaders" (47). What happened to "literal interpretation"? The weapons may not be the passage's "focus," but they can't be dismissed as inconsequential to the narrative. The weapons are part of the story from beginning to end, and if taken literally would negate the future scenario outlined by the authors. They claim that Ezek. 38-39 has to be a DISTANT future battle because it takes place in the "latter years" (38:8) and the "last days" (38:16). Most biblical scholars, even some dispensationalists, would say that these two time expressions most often mean nothing more than "in the future" or "in the days to come." The same Hebrew phrase is translated as "the days to come" in Num. 24:14, which probably refers to David's victory over Moab. The prophecy of Deut. 31:29, where the same expression is used, came to pass in the period of the Judges (cf. 2:20-21). Here's how one Bible expositor explains it: "this expression does not refer to 'the latter days' (KJV, RSV) in the eschatological sense. . . , but rather to that portion of the future that falls within the scope of the speaker's perspective (cf. Gen. 49:1)." Then one has to wonder why the authors avoid interacting with Edwin M. Yamauchi's Foes of the Northern Frontier which refutes their historical, geographical, and lexographic arguments line by line, and it was written in 1982! Yamauchi is a noted expert on this subject. The Russian invasion premise is only one of the book's many problems. If readers are interested in this topic, I suggest that they pick up a copy of End Times Fiction: A Biblical Consideration of the Left Behind Theology written by me. Since Hitchcock and Ice refer to it several times, it would be helpful to read what they do not deal with.
Dissapointed.........2004-04-06
I waited for this book for months. It's a fair read but the information's chunky. Mark's written much better. Read Mark's, 'WOEIGO' instead.
A good explanation of the truth behind Left Behind........2004-04-05
This book has very good explanations for the questions raised by many of the readers of the Left Behind series. It is a good companion to "Are We Living In The End Times?" by LaHaye and Jenkins. I encourage readers to read this book side by side with a Bible, in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
There are several views of interpretation of the End Times, and I happen to agree with the view presented in Left Behind.
For all serious seekers and skeptics out there, there are many good books on Bible Prophecy and Eschathology, but the best answers will always come from the Bible.
To anyone interested in this subject, I suggest taking a good course on it at your local Bible college, or attend a class or teaching of prophecy at your local church.
The LB series is fictional, but the events are very real nevertheless. They will happen. Weather they will happen as portrayed or not, they will happen regardless.
This is a very good book indeed, although I did expect a little more of it than what was delivered (thus the 4 stars), but it's still good enough for answering basic questions.
Customer Reviews:
Wore me Flat Out.......2007-08-15
My goodness, this book just kept going...and going... and going....
One catastrophe after another.
Needless to say, I was glad when it ended. Finally.
Both main characters were annoying and could have used a "thunk" on the head to stimulate some brain cell activity.
If you enjoy this author, you'll enjoy this book. I would not recommend someone picking up this book that does not know Connie Mason's style. She has other books much better than this for a first time reader.
Adventure/ Extraordinary Romance.......2005-10-11
What a wonderful adventure through the Yukon gold rush and into Montana in 1890's. Maggie is newspaper report who seeks out the story of her lifetime in the Alaska/Yukon gold rush. She finds adventure, murder, amazing stories and of course loves. The love story of Maggie and Chase is mature and heated. Chase continues to be jealous and questions Maggie's love which leads to some interesting storylines. I finished this book in a day and found myself enthralled the whole time. Enjoy!
great, but............2003-03-04
I love connie mason for her sizzling but tasteful stories that never leave me wanting. Her fiesty characters, passionate stories and involved plots always bring me back for her next book. "Ice and Rapture" was a good read though I got more than one curious look at the bodice ripper cover. Standing alone the book was a very nice read but compared to the rest of the her work it seemed to fall below her usually standards.
The story of Maggie Afton, a self proclaimed spinster at the ripe old age of 25 and a reporter, and Chase McGarret, a cowboy seeking gold in the klondike rush of the late 19th century was an intriguing one. It would have been easy for Mason to spin off on tangent after tangent on the numerous other characters that were just as colorful as the hero and herione but instead she always manages to brings the story back. When Maggie and Chase end up partnered together to make it to the Klondike goldfields sparks fly and a great story emerges. This tale travels across two years and from Alaska to Oregon to Montana but without the reader feeling overwhelmed.
That said... I had a few complaints about this book. There were so many misunderstandings between maggie and chase, that were really same scene being played out over and over again with a bit of variance. I literally threw down the book a few times screaming "again?! They are doing this again?" What I mean is chase keeps assuming Maggie is having an affair with one person or another, usually a secondary character named Scott Gordon. This jealous mistake scene is expected, once or even twice in a story, and can enhance a story but by the fourth time I was over the jealous lover bit and waiting for something new to happen.
Also there are a number of annoying secondary characters that are there solely to "tempt" the main characters but end up just making the story drag. This is most apparent in the mountie Scott Gordon and Chase's housemate, Virgie. Both go after the hero(or herione) purposely or not ending up wrecking chase's and maggie's relationship several times.
I personally wanted to punch virgie several times. This is all well and good, who doesn't like a nasty villian you can hate? But mason's conclusion with virgie miraclous and sudden about face and repentence was so unbelievable I felt cheated. A self serving, spoiled, brat who purposely tried to tear our hero and herione apart constantly suddenly becomes good? yeah right.
aside from that i actually liked this book. no really. the love scenes are fantastic. Aside from the first one that seemed odd because it just happened. There was little build up, but I can forgive that in the face of the rest of the book. Chase and Maggie are both head strong and if their story does seem a little unbelievable most of that is just the fantasy of romance novels.
so check this book out for a light read on some rainy afternoon but for something with a little more meat check out some of mason's other works.
Sizzling Romance.......2002-07-15
This story is about Maggie , a 25 year old independent woman who is a newspaper reporter in 1897, in the days where women reporters were rare. She wants to do big in life and decides to go to Alasca, to report on the Klodnike gold rush. On the ship to Alaska she meets Chase,a brash cowboy who also wants to build his furtune. Fiery sparks fly as soon as the two meet. The two are complete studies of opposites. Maggie is cool, and reserved while Chase is hot and brash, and sure of himself.
Even though Maggie detests Chase at first because of his outrageous behaviour towards, (he does not hide his fierce attraction to her), she has to resort for his help when she decides she wnts to cross the Yukon to report on the Klondike gold rush -he is the only one who can take her there. The journey there is full of peril and the adventures these two pass throughout the whole book are numerous and awesome. The thrills keep on going until the very end of the book
If you like sizzly hot romance and lots of adventure than this is the perfect buy for you. I think this is one of the best Connie Mason books - actually quite detailed and sparkling dialogue with some humour scenes too.
EXCELLENT READING.......2001-12-11
I own a lot of Connie Mason books and this is one of my favorites. Its full of Adventure and Romance. Like most of Ms. Masons' books her love scenes sizzle. If your looking for a book that you will enjoy read this story of Maggie and Chase and you will love it just like I did.
Average customer rating:
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ICE AND RAPTURE
Manufacturer: P/B
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HJ15VC |
Average customer rating:
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Serie Profecia: el arrebatamiento de la Iglesia: Rapture, The (Serie ProfecIa)
Ice y Demy
Manufacturer: Editorial Portavoz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Topical | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Topical | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
No-Ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Automotriz | Ciencias Sociales | Crimen y Criminales | Educación | Estudios de la Mujer | Feriados | Filosofía | Gobierno | Hechos Verídicos | Planeamiento Urbano y Desarrollo | Política | Sucesos de Actualidad | Transportación
General | Biblia | La Biblia y Otros Textos Sagrados | Religión y espiritualidad | Libros en español | Formats | Books
De Actualidad | Referencia | Cristianismo | Religión y espiritualidad | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0825413400 |
Book Description
Serie de verdades profeticas presentadas en formato de preguntas y repuestas. [Series of prophetic truths presented in a question-and-answer format.]
Average customer rating:
- The Truth is Not always what it seems.
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The Truth About the Rapture (Pocket Prophecy Series)
Thomas Ice , and
Timothy Demy
Manufacturer: Harvest House Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Topical | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Pocket | Formats | Bibles | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 1565073924 |
Customer Reviews:
The Truth is Not always what it seems........1999-11-08
I was Pre-Trib, Pre-Mil for the last 17 years, simply following what all the popluar authors taught and nevery really being a 'Berean'. I bought this book to give to any of my "misguided" friends who might know the "Truth". It sat on my bookshelf for about a year before I decided to read it. I beleive it was one of the best decisions of my life. I immediatly began to find many theological faults, improper exegesis, and just plain poor biblical hermeneutics in it. I couldn't believe that I had fallen for this garbage for so long. I give it three stars because it has broken me from my errorful ways of interperting the bible. No longer does a certain eschatology theory rule my theology, now theology rules my eschatology. I have done a full blown study in dispensationalism (which is what these authors preach) and have found it wrought with errors. It is unbiblical and was only brought about to help premote the pre-trib, pre-mil. viewpoint.
Customer Reviews:
DREDD FACES THE COVERT OPS UNIT.......2005-11-18
Twice a year here in the Detroit area there is a huge comicbook/sci-fi show that is a three day event with dealers from all over the country. I've been attending for many years and at the recent show in main I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw a dealer with an entire box full of old Judge Dredd and other Fleetway comics that he was selling for .25 cents each...25 cents!!! He was only too pleased to take the $20 bucks I offered him for the full box. I was only too pleased to get some 200 comics for such a paltry sum. In the mid-80's and into the 90's Dredd was one of my favorite characters and I regretfully have not kept up with him in recent years.
I was thus very excited to see that Games Workshop's Black Library has been producing Dredd's adventures in novel format for some time. Whiteout is the first book I've read in the series and I will definitely be back for more. Author James Swallow has written a couple of books in the Dredd series as well as other books in the GW family such as Warhamer and Rogue Trooper. The book begins with a shadowy group of scientists and presumably a military commander testing out a deadly new weapon on some mutant gang members. The stealthy weapon performs flawlessly and yet too well with dire consequences.
Fast forward a bit to Mega City 1 where Judge Dredd and several other Judges are in the midst of shaking down the residents of a seedy building to send a message to the local perps. A napalm explosion by some would-be terrorists goes off killing them, and providing the distraction that small-time crook Wes Smyth needs to escape the building and the Judges notice. He doesn't get far as the strong arms for a local crime boss catch up with Wes demanding the money he still owes and delivering a brutal warning to come up with the money in 24 hours.
Later Dredd and several other judges have come under attack by a group of wreckers, highway bandits who literally set the road on fire. Wes finds himself again caught in the middle of this mess as his own vehicle is destroyed sending him out on foot to scavenge when he comes upon a tipped transport van. In it's cargo hold a single item that Wes quickly procures, recognizing something valuable when he sees it. The van proves a mystery to Dredd. There are no records of the license and registration, and the serial number has been removed on every part on the truck, right down to the light bulbs on the headlights. The truck is removed to headquarters where Tek-Judge Tyler orders it to be disassembled, but when Dredd comes to check on the truck, Tyler finds the droid disassembled it and had it destroyed. But who have the order for the van's destruction? Furthermore, why is a Judge Vedder, a member of the shadowy COE the Covert Operations Establishment, skulking about near Dredd's evidence and what was she doing at the sight of the wrecker attack? Wes has now found something that is sure to turn his life around while Dredd must not only find out what was in the van, but also contend with this covert ops unit who is determined to keep him out of it, even if it means killing the legendary law officer.
Swallow maintained all of the thrill-ride action and violence that fans of Dredd have come to love with also showing Dredd's detective side as he works with Judge Tyler who is kind of a high-tech CSI type Judge. Swallow is faithful to the long-time character while giving us a plot that shows Dredd having to rely on his intelligence and instincts as much as his guns and fists. Highly recommended.
Review By Tim Janson
Book Description
More than 100,000 sold! Piper's must-read plea for God-centeredness in evangelization points to worship as the church's ultimate goal and proper fuel for outreach.
Customer Reviews:
Let the Nations Be Glad.......2007-05-16
I think this book is awesome, biblically based. Good for anyone who wants to lead a group or just themselves on the right track. I highly recommend this book.
Piper honours God.......2007-03-23
In August 2006 I noticed a guy who was sitting right behind my wife on an intercontinental flight to Johannesburg, reading a book. Every now and then he was asleep. I thought: "Must be a pretty boring book!" When during that flight both he and I stretched our legs, we introduced ourselves. He is a Baptist minister, flying from the USA via Amsterdam, I am a Reformed one on our way to ou children. He talked enthusiastically about the book and its author (John Piper, Let the nations be glad! (The supremacy of God in missions). He made me read the first line of chapter 1, which hit me right between the eyes: "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is." Wow, I decided to order the book at Amazone and have it airmailed to our address in South Africa - thus paying triple the price of it.
It was well worth it! The clear way in which Piper writes on God's supremacy, not only in missions, but in everything, should make many theologians and church members reconsider their relationship with the Lord and their obedience to the Word of God. They should become praisers!
Piper makes it very clear that idividualism plays no role in spreading the Gospel. The main issue is not the regeneration of men, but the glory of God. God does everything because He delights in Himself. And this delight becomes clear in the regeneration and belief of His new people! He wants to delight in Himself with a PEOPLE that He hath chosen and given to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
How many portions of Scripture become crystal clear in this way! Piper has served the Church of Christ with a valuable help, not only in missions. It should be widely studied and applied in Christian living and ministry.
Is there no criticism? Unevitably! The question arose in my mind whether in Chapter 2, para 5, God's covenant and its impact in the life of the Church, is sufficiently taken into consideration in his argument. But such questions keep one, as reader, fresh!
The book has neatly been published by Baker Academic.
I hope that it will find its way to many readers.
Dr. Marten Kuiper
Emeritus professor of the Reformed University of Zwolle (The Netherlands)
and minister of the Free Reformed Church of Twijzel (The Netherlands)
(E-mail: m.kuper@chello.nl)
Overrated, poorly written.......2007-01-11
This book really deserves 2 stars (not the 1 that I gave it) but it is so overrated by the other reviews that I felt a need to balance it out.
I have not finished this book yet, and will edit this review with more detailed information when I have completed it. Piper has interesting ideas which suffer from his attrocious use with the English language. For one, his obsession with constructing catch phrases from words that all begin with the same letter is corny, and leaves him scrambling to cohere to a malconstrued outline. The writing contains neither the common-man appeal of C.S. Lewis nor the eloquence of great theologeans such as Jonathan Edwards, to whom Piper seems to aspire.
As for the content - Psalms seems to be the bulk of his theology in the first chapter, and what follows is hardly an exigesis: ideas are presented as if from nowhere, while Piper hurls often non-contextual scriptures at them. If this is really the best book available on missions, then Christianity is in big trouble.
God centered examination of missions.......2006-06-17
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship does not." With those startling and counter-cultural words pastor and author John Piper takes us on a journey in search of the biblical motivation for missions: that God be glorified by people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. With an obvious passion for God's supremacy in all things Piper let's the bible speak for itself on topics like worship, prayer, suffering, who is saved and why, and what a "nation" is.
This book is readable but full of sound, deep theology. Piper tackles some pretty sticky issues head on delving into the original languages, but not so deeply that a layman can't follow. He kindly but firmly interacts with common misconceptions and differing points of view from his own. I found myself continually challenged throughout reading the book. This is one of those works that requires thought as it is read, but the rewards for pondering Dr. Piper's words are awesome! All followers of Christ should read this book.
Non-Calvinist viewpoint........2006-06-01
I know how important the notion that God does everything for His own glory is to Piper and his ilk, but I don't buy that idea about God's character, which makes this book just about impossible to get behind, since Piper keeps coming back to that point over and over. The book has some inspiring moments that should motivate people toward at least giving the missionary world a hard look, but the heavily Calvinist theology that undergirds it was a turn-off for me. Piper's a fine writer, however.
Books:
- The Beautiful Room Is Empty: A Novel
- The Bowl Is Already Broken: A Novel
- The City and the Pillar: A Novel
- The Courage Consort
- The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
- The Dork of Cork
- The Guns of August
- The Hamilton Case: A Novel
- The Harris Family : A Novel
- The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (Oxford World's Classics)
Books Index
Books Home
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- McDonald's Happy Meal Toys in the U.S.A.
- Cuba Libre
- History: Fiction or Science
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- Mirror Symmetry
- I Hope You Dance
- Gustavo Cisneros: The Pioneer
- Domestic Service and Gender, 1660-1750
- Southern Hospitality: Tourism and the Growth of Atlanta
Legends of the Fall
Dalva (Contemporary Classics (Washington Square Press))
Returning to Earth: A Novel
A Good Day to Die
The Woman Lit By Fireflies
