Slightly disappointing heroes

Book review. 12 Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur.

I have to say upfront that I found this book to be hard work but that should not detract from the fact that it is a well written exploration of 12 heroes and heroines of the faith.

It is well written and well referenced and considers each of the heroes in some depth and I was quite sad it just didn’t hit the spot for me. I think I may have been expecting something slightly different that would have me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately I didn’t get there but that may because I thought this book was something different to what it is.

I know a number of people who would find this book useful and while it did not do anything for me from a style perspective there was plenty to get your teeth into. I don’t think I would recommend it as a must read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review–No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe

I wasn’t sure when I chose this book how it would be – as a fan of Sherlock Holmes and the writing of Conan Doyle  I was unsure if I would like this book. I have to say that while the writing was not quite Conan Doyle I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The storyline was very believable, it included mention of Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty as well as Moriarty’s nephew and featured the rivalry between Rupert Snodgrass and Sherlock who both lived at 221 Baker Street. Also featured was Griffin Sharpe the nephew of Rupert Snodgrass and in some sense the hero of the story although it could be argued that Rupert was also a hero in his own right.
There are lots of wonderful inventions in the story and most of them were called the Snodgrass ……… Rupert obviously wanted to try to make his name as a great detective but if he could not as a great inventor of marvellous mechanical devices.
Essentially the story is about a watchmaker called Frederick Dent who goes missing after being swallowed by a dreadful monster that came out of the River Thames and according to one eye witness resembled the Loch Ness Monster – I have to admit that from this point on I was hooked.
I think that Jason Lethcoe did a very good job here because despite my initial doubts I was soon persuaded that here was a story I could enjoy and enjoy I did – in fact I enjoyed it that much I am going to buy the next book in the series so I can see what happens to Griffin and Rupert as they continue to fight crime in old time London (and elsewhere).
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own

Book Review - Reggie

Reggie

By Reggie Dabbs, John Driver

This book as the title suggests is based on the life of Reggie who finds out in second grade that his parents are not his real parents. His birth was as a result of a 20 dollar deal his mother made to obtain food when she was just sixteen years old. His past was not what you might call good and while the news did affect him it did not stop him making a future for himself.

We are taken through Reggie's life and as we watch him grow up we see the lessons he learnt and how we might apply those lessons in our lives. I think there should be something in this story that most of us can associate with and there are questions and discussions at the end of each chapter to help readers think through the events in the story.

I found this to be an inspiring read which should appeal to people from all walks of life and may help us to see life from a very different perspective.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own

Been a while.

Well its been a while since I posted here and it might be that some of you are wondering where I have been – the simple answer is nowhere, other than where I normally go in terms of life. It should be said however that I have not been here and this is because I have been doing stuff on Facebook where I am a member of two groups, one which is for UK Methodist in general and one which is for Faith and Worship students plus others like tutors.

There have been some interesting discussions over on UK Methodists and one of the current ones is about the cover on the Jubilee Bibles that have been produced – some people are debating the use of the Union flag on the cover and there are two main camps it seems – those who think it was good way to get part  of the Bible into the hands of people who may not otherwise ever look at a Bible and those who feel it is totally inappropriate to use the flag on the cover of the Bible.

I am often amazed at how some of these topics take off on Facebook and have not worked out what it is that will create a lot of interest or not. The debate about the Bibles started more or less from someone asking why they had not been publicised better –it seems a lot of people had not heard anything about them surely a lost opportunity.

Singing the faith update

I have read and heard some discussion about the lack of an organ edition of Singing the Faith so thought the item from their website below might be inbteresting to the odd reader that passes this way.

I suspect some of you will have seen it on the Singing the faith Website but I thought it worth mentioning here just in case.

 

Organ edition proposal and survey Proposals have been agreed for a possible Singing the Faith organ edition. All the details can be read and downloaded on our Other Editions page. We need 400 orders before this edition becomes viable. If you think that you or your church would be in a position to order the proposed 3-volume organ edition at a cost of £180 plus p&p, please complete the survey on the website.

Passport to …………..?

I am beginning to wonder if it is just me or if others are in the same boat because whenever the subject of passports comes up I feel I am almost the subject of scorn and derision. Is it so wrong not to have a passport or to not want to go abroad?

Am I really strange, do I have two heads, should I be taken out and shot? It is often the way I feel from the reactions of people who find it quite incredulous that I do not have a passport.

Here are my thoughts on the matter. Why do I want or need a passport as I have no desire to go abroad – there are many parts of Britain I have not seen or been to yet. Why do I want to pay what I believe to be an extortionate amount of money for a little book? Why should I need to attend an interview to prove that I am who I say I am having lived in this country for 57 years, paid large amounts of money into both income tax and national insurance, held a full driving licence for over 40 years and been register with DVLA as a car owner/tax payer for almost 40 years.

Why is it considered almost unnatural to not hold a passport – surely at the current time I have the right to choose and as for using it as a proof of indentity it is not a used friendly size to do this with.

I know I have just thought of the answer – I am turning into Victor Meldrew.

Book Review–Reggie by Reggie Dabbs, John Driver

Reggie

By Reggie Dabbs, John Driver

This book as the title suggests is based on the life of Reggie who finds out in second grade that his parents are not his real parents. His birth was as a result of a 20 dollar deal his mother made to obtain food when she was just sixteen years old. His past was not what you might call good and while the news did affect him it did not stop him making a future for himself.

We are taken through Reggie's life and as we watch him grow up we see the lessons he learnt and how we might apply those lessons in our lives. I think there should be something in this story that most of us can associate with and there are questions and discussions at the end of each chapter to help readers think through the events in the story.

I found this to be an inspiring read which should appeal to people from all walks of life and may help us to see life from a very different perspective.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own