Friday, March 16, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Seeds of Turmoil The Biblical Roots of the Inevitable Crisis in the Middle East by Bryant Wright
In order to have a complete understanding of what mankind is like today, it is important to understand the history of mankind. The entire purpose of studying history is to understand where we each came from and to give us insight for today. Wright, the author of Seeds of Turmoil, looks back to the Old Testament days of history and draws lines directly to the conflicts going on today. He explains how the sin of Abraham and Sarah has formed a division between brothers and ultimately has formed the conflict in the Middle East. From conception, Jacob and Esau were in competition with one another. This competition has followed their bloodline into the conflict that is going on in the Holy Land.
This book had a slow start, but eventually becomes interesting as more facts are laid out. I was able to reflect on how the past and the present are very much related to one another. By reading Seeds of Turmoil, I am able to understand how sin can destroy relationship and cause a lifeline of turmoil. This book was gripping in that it pulls you in to understand that conflict is deep rooted. Conflict may not be easily solved, as is the case in the Middle East.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history and learning from the past. As a Christian, it is good for us to understand the division between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is also important for us to understand how our actions today have real potential for changing tomorrow. I would recommend this book as a way to help people reflect on how our actions are vital for change.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan
Growing up as the child of two worship leaders, in a predominately traditional church setting, I can honestly say that “Then Sings My Soul” gives me a greater appreciation for hymns. Robert J. Morgan has studied and documented the historical background of each hymn, as if he were living with the very creator. He tells the individual’s life story and how each song came into fruition. Not only does he document the artist’s story, but he also includes a copy of each hymn.
“Then Sings My Soul” is a treasure for any worship leader, or historical buff. I personally found most of the stories within the pages interesting and even inspiring at times. Morgan takes the author’s life stories…the good, the bad, and the challenging occurrences…and sheds an understanding on them. It is almost as if he takes you through the person’s life through God’s eyes, knowing full well that the end result is going to be an endless masterpiece. He documents the trial and error that any artist goes through, and how God oftentimes uses our difficulties to create something or someone beautiful.
It took me a while to read through this book because it honestly was a bit difficult to get tied down to. Every page is about a different artist and hymn, so it was easy to set down and forget about. Some of the stories were a bit dry at times, documenting a bland lifeline of facts with no real attention grabber. However, not everyone experiences a monumental event in their life. With that in mind, Morgan is overall successful at turning something that could be boring, such as hymns and historical facts, into a fascinating collection of 150 mini-biographies. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing the background behind those holiday classics.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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