A Sound Like Fire

A Sound Like Fire, by K D Veron
WestBow Press A Division of Thomas Nelson
English, 444 pages

After a brief Prologue where a new mother is slain and her day-old baby is delivered to a wealthy aristocrat, our story gets underway with Dax Soileau in a Jerusalem prison in July, 2020. He and his fellow prisoners live in squalor, and the only way they are able to pass the time and maintain their sanity is to hear Dax's life story, as he is the newest person to join the ranks of the imprisoned. We find out that Dax used to be a United States senator, living a high life of privilege counter to his Christian upbringing and against the pleadings of his Christian younger brother, Zack. As the pages turn, we find out that Dax and his cellmates are some of the last Christians on earth, those who received Christ after the Rapture, and the Great Tribulation is in full-swing. Dax lays out his journey from rejecting God to finally coming to the truth and his life after salvation and before this final incarceration.

It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed reading it. The plot is good, and I think a decent picture is painted of how so many deceive themselves and are deceived by Satan into rejecting Jesus. God's grace is evident in the lives of many of the characters who finally hear the Lord's call and respond.

My biggest complaint is with the writing style. Again, not to say that I am a perfect writer by any means, but this manuscript shows evidence of either a sloppy editor or no professional editing at all. The perspective from which the story is being told isn't always clear. There are many consecutive sentences with repeated words (e.g., "something began"..."something began"..."something began"); such verbal repetition is something my editor counsels my co-author and I to avoid, and constantly saying something "began" is a weak statement (I think it falls under the passive voice)--instead of saying "The sun began to rise over the horizon," it would be better to say "The sun rose over the horizon," or something to that effect. There are quite a few typos, too. I know that digital versions sometimes have typos and have dealt with that with many other titles I've read on the Kindle, but there are more than really should be present.

There are some scenes that might not be appropriate for younger readers, and I would be hesitant to allow someone who isn't at least in high school to pick up this book. Not that things are necessarily graphic, but topics come up that younger readers might not be emotionally prepared to handle. Parents, I would suggest reading this book first before giving it to your children.

Finally, as I've seen on Amazon.com and the bookstore at WestBowPress.com, the hard copy of this book is outrageously expensive: $30.95 for a new softcover, and $43.95  for a new hardcover. While I understand that this is very likely a much smaller printing company than many of the ones from which I get my non-Christian fiction titles (and spend less than $25 on nearly 1000-page hardcovers), the cost of this book could be a lot better (this is a complaint I have about a lot of Christian books, fiction and non-fiction; not only can I not afford to buy them very often, I think it further drives the notion that Christians talk a good talk but are just after the money). If you have a Kindle or Nook--or at least a computer program to read their respective file types--I would recommend going that route as you can pick up a digital version for less than $4.00.

Overall, I'd give this book a hesitant 3/5.

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.”

The Ride of a Lifetime

The Ride of a Lifetime, by Kitty McGregor
WestBow Press a division of Thomas Nelson
English, 208 pages

Lucas McCade has retired from the PRCA rodeo circuit. Now, he is moving his wife and son, neither of whom he has seen much of for many years as he has spent nine months out of the year on the road, from their Texas home to a working ranch in Oklahoma. McCade has been given a new lease on life after a near-death experience in his last ride, and though he is no Bible scholar, he has a genuine saving faith. His wife, Hannah, is grateful for the time the family will now have to spend together, but his son, Connor, is bitter about being moved away from home after his sophomore year of high school; he has had to leave friends and the joy of the football field behind. Starting over isn't easy for anyone. Despite initially feeling at peace with God over attending a church in the area, Hannah is upset over the show that is being displayed and the lack of genuine faith and conviction. Still feeling that God wants them there, she and Lucas decide to stick it out. However, no one in the family has any idea of what lies below the surface of the area where they now live.

I thought this was a pretty good story overall. I think the writing style was okay, but it lacked some measure of polish. I don't say this because I am some great writer myself, but because things I've had to learn through being published have been hammered into me. One complaint I know Christians will raise is the use of a little bit of swearing. I believe it was only one word used a handful of times, but it will still offend several people, I'm sure. I try to find ways around such language when I write, though I will admit it lends a certain degree of credibility to some characters.

I appreciated that this book tackles the issue of spiritual warfare, something many Christians are happy to ignore. Even I don't think about that area of things too often, potentially to my detriment. It's a fine line to walk, however, because some people see demons around every corner and behind every sin. Believe me, my flesh is bad enough that it doesn't need demonic influence to get me to do things that displease God.

Overall I'd give this book a 3/5. There is a lot of promise, and with the door left open for a sequel, I'm looking forward to seeing where Ms. McGregor might take this story next.

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.”

Moments of Truth

Moments of Truth, by John MacArthur
Published by Thomas Nelson
400 pages, English

John MacArthur has been one of my favorite authors and preachers for a decade. Some of the first sermons I listened to were from the Gospel of John dealing with the crucifixion. As a young Bible college student, I was not aware of how starved I was for solid, biblical preaching. With over 40 years of preaching experience, the depth of his knowledge of Scripture is staggering. I don't want to hold him up as a standard or idol (nor would I expect him to appreciate such treatment), but I will say he has been a tremendous inspiration to me to study God's Word more diligently.

His newest book is a devotional. Each month is given a general theme, and that theme is expanded using excerpts from many of his other books. In a few short paragraphs each day, he packs in a great deal of truth, much of which the church at large today seems to have ignored and/or forgotten. However, even with what he offers in this book, I would caution readers to not make this devotional their sole source of daily reading. No matter what someone has to say about the Bible, the best thing we can do as Christians is to read the Bible itself. Nothing will replace spending time actively engaged in the Word. But, I will say that this book will make for an excellent starting point for further study.

All in all, I would have to give this book a 5/5 rating. It would be an excellent gift, and should prove quite useful for Christians at all stages in their faith.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for a fair review.

Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions

Note: This post is from my previous blog.


In this book, Max Lucado sets out to answer 172 questions, falling under the general categories of: 1) Hope: God, Grace, and "Why am I here?", 2) Hurt: Conflicts, Calamities, and "Why me?", 3) Help: Prayer, Scripture, and "Why church?", 4) Him/Her: Sex, Romance, and "Any chance of a second chance?", 5) Home: Diapers, Disagreements, and "Any hope for prodigals?", 6) Haves/Have-Nots: Work, Money, and "Where's the lifeline?", and 7) Hereafter: Cemeteries, Heaven, Hell, and "Who goes where?". I found a couple of instances where an allowance for evolution/old earth might be seen, but otherwise I didn't find anything I would consider to be theologically incorrect. My main frustration was with how short the answers were. At best, roughly a page and a half was the longest answer given. 

There isn't a great deal of depth, not surprising because of the length of the answers, so I would recommend this book to someone who is fairly new in their faith. However, after 6 months or a year a person who has been consistently feeding on Scripture should be able to handle more extensive works. 

Overall, I'd give this book a 3/5. 

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

Take Action Bible, NKJV: Together We Can Change the World

Note: This post is from my previous blog.


For the most part, this is a Bible, plain and simple. There are some notes as to certain manuscripts having slightly different wordings, and there are some cross-references given (all of these as footnotes as far as I saw...there are no center column references), so this is not a study Bible. I advocate that primary reading of the Bible is done without study notes because those notes are not inspired text. Read for yourself what Scripture says, wrestle with the ideas, write down your questions and observations and keep that list handy whenever you read; the more you read, the more you will find your questions answered. Use study Bibles and commentaries when you're stuck, but be sure to check those things against the rest of Scripture and be aware that while there are many godly people who have written great works about the Bible, they are still human and subject to error (unlike the Bible which was divinely inspired). 

The main addition is that there are five groups of color photos inserted, falling into the categories of "Go," "Serve," "Give," "Heal," and "Teach." These sections have brief stories of people who have gone out into the world and are serving God in these areas, and there are a couple of questions asked per couple with Scripture references. I think anyone who reads these stories should be inspired to take action, even if not called specifically to world missions. 

In the back is a list of 52 Take Action ideas. These ideas can be implemented anywhere, so people of all ages and abilities should be able to find something they could do (or at least be thinking along the lines of service). Many of the ideas are not expressly Christian, simply nice things to do. I don't have a problem with that per se, but if I am truly wanting to follow the Great Commission, I can't stop with merely a smile and a handshake (my life has to square up with Scripture, there's no doubt about that, but there are plenty of nice, charity-minded people who aren't saved-there has to be something more). Neither am I necessarily advocating door-to-door witnessing or fire and brimstone street preaching. There must be a balance. 

This Bible is visually appealing, and while not pocket-size, it is small enough to fit easily into backpacks, briefcases, and suitcases and taken basically anywhere. It would make a good gift, especially for someone who may be mission-minded. 

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

The Final Summit

Note: This post is from my previous blog.


I found this book to be quite interesting. I have not read the prequel, so I don't have a complete grasp of everything the main character did, but I think most of the pertinent details were given in this work. Especially because this is a work of fiction, I don't want to give too much away, but in order to steer you towards or away from this work, I'll share a bit of what's taking place. 

It is now 28 years after the events in The Traveler's Gift. David Ponder has used what he was given in that adventure to become very successful. He is approached early on by the archangel Gabriel (who took him on his last adventure) and told that a summit of all other Travelers throughout time is being convened to discuss an important question: "What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?" Ponder, being from the current point in time, is chosen to lead the summit because he represents the everyman (unlike all other Travelers, Ponder has not aspired to greatness) and because he should care the most earnestly about the result of the summit. 

Many characters throughout history make appearances in this work. King Solomon is in the stands watching the summit proceedings, as are Anne Frank, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein, to name a few. I would suggest a reader particularly take note of World War II era personality Eric Erickson. 

While and entertaining read, this book is quite theologically shallow. Gabriel mentions that in history, God has decided to start over, and says the most recent of such reorganizations took place with the Flood in Genesis. If you want to count Adam and Eve being banned from the Garden of Eden, then I can be okay with this statement, but as it is written, it suggests that there have been several other instances where such events have taken place. Another problem I had with the theology is when Gabriel tells us that current scientists suspect a highly advanced civilization that existed some 30,000 years before the Aztecs and the Incas. As I reread this portion, Gabriel doesn't say that these people are right in their assumption, but being a staunch believer in a young earth (roughly 6,000 years old), this portion rubs me the wrong way. And, by and large, there is little reference to God, Jesus, or the Bible. 

I found the resolution to the summit to be anti-climactic. I won't spoil the answer that is ultimately accepted, but to me, it falls far short of what would truly need to happen. We cannot save this world, as God has already declared He will eventually destroy it and create a new heaven and new earth. What we can do is give people the chance to be saved by faithfully witnessing to everyone of God, Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice that has redeemed us from sin if we would only accept it. 

Overall, I'd give this book a 3/5. It is well-written, and should be quite entertaining for anyone 10 or 12 and older. 

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

A Conversation with God

Note: This post is from my previous blog.


I found this book to be a very interesting approach to answering questions that many have. The questions are categorized as being about God, the Bible, the Future, Pain and Suffering, Jesus, the Kingdom of God, Heaven and Hell, Humanity, Christian Living, and Today's World. Each answer is just a few pages long, and is written from the persepctive as being answered by God, Jesus, and several characters from throughout the Bible. This book is meant to be written in a very personal way, which it manages to some degree, but it's not the smoothest dialogue. 

The Notes section at the end of the book quotes the verses that were alluded to in each chapter and gives the references to those verses that were quoted within the chapter itself. This is a minor thing, but I don't especially care for endnotes (I prefer footnotes if such notation is going to be necessary) - however, in the way that this book is written, I think it would have been something of a distraction to have parenthetical references within the text itself. 

This book doesn't use fancy terminology ("Christianese"), but neither is it incredibly deep. I got the impression it is targeted more specifically to non-Christians or newer Christians who have not had a great deal of theological training. It is by no means a tome on apologetics or systematic theology, but it is a good beginning for those not ready to step into the resources of academia, and I'd recommend it especially to middle and high school students who are asking questions. 

One nice feature is how this book is organized. The questions are all independent, so you can pick and choose which ones seem interesting to you at the moment. 

Overall, I'd rate this book 4/5. 

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

Couples Who Pray

Note: This is a post from my previous blog.


The title of this book immediately grabbed me as my wife and I have been committed to praying together since before we got married. Granted, I didn't expect that any book would have some incredible, earth-shattering truth contained within, but I thought the book might at least be interesting. 
While I agree that prayer is the most intimate act in which a couple can engage, I found the studies and testimonies did little to reinforce this. There were several couples quoted who I had never heard of, but there were several celebrities quoted, too, and yes, celebrities are people just like the rest of us, but the feeling I got was more of the celebrities being used to sell the book than anything as six celebrity couples were mentioned right on the front cover. 

Probably what alarmed me most was the very sparse use of Scripture (granted, the quizzes in the first appendix mention God and the Bible a couple of times, and the second appendix listed forty circumstances and corresponding verses). The book had the feel of trying to appeal to everyone, that prayer will make the lives of every couple better. I don't discount the power of prayer, but truly effective prayer only works in the lives of Christians. To that end, this book would have been much better served by starting with an evangelistic message. 

The basic message of the book is that if you are married, you should pray with your spouse. 

I'd rate this book at best as a 1/5. 

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

Voices of the Faithful: Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World

Note: This is a post from my previous blog.

Voices of the Faithful: Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World

Thomas Nelson, 2010

English, 480 pages


I am generally not very impressed with devotional books because there tends to be little meat. While I found nothing inherently wrong with this book doctrinally, it was also light on content. I appreciated the emphasis on missions, and the monthly themes that gave more consistency than I have seen in many other books of this nature, but I would have preferred to have heard more in-depth stories of the missionaries involved rather than just the little snippets. 

My recommendation would be to not use this as the sole source of devotional material. The readings for each day are short, and it would be most beneficial to spend time in true study of the Bible itself. Since this book is divided into monthly themes, and verses are given at the top of each page, I would suggest supplementing with a more thorough study of the verses given and/or the topic of the month. 

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

Nick of Time by Tim Downs

From the back cover:

"The Bug Man is getting married on Saturday...if his fiancee can find him.

"Forensic entomologist Nick Polchak lives in a world of maggots and blow flies and decomposing bodies. No wonder he's still single.

"But Nick has finally found a woman as strange as he is--dog trainer Alena Savard, a woman who is odd, reclusive, and can seemingly talk to animals. It was a match made in heaven.

"Nick and Alena are scheduled to be married on Saturday--but there's one small problem. Nick has disappeared.

"Caught up in a murder case involving an old friend, Nick finds himself on a manhunt that's drawing him farther and farther from the church where Alena is waiting. But will he make it back in time? Could Nick's single-minded focus cause him to forget his own wedding? Is he really pursuing a killer, or is he running away from something else?"

I have to say that this story was a good read, and I had trouble putting it down whenever I got started in it. Mr. Downs has done a great job of creating quirky characters. My one complaint with the characters is that they didn't seem to grow until the very end of the story, and they seemed a little over-the-top, particularly main character Nick. However, I haven't read the other books in the series, so I am at a bit of a disadvantage there. I was pleased that Nick learned a lesson in the end, and Mr. Downs set it up nicely for at least one more sequel.

For being listed as Christian fiction, I was disappointed that there was so little mention of anything related to Christianity. As an aspiring author myself, anything I want to get published under the heading of Christian fiction needs to be not merely covered with a bit of Christian veneer but full of information that will speak to the readers in a way that they will be drawn closer to God, be they Christians already or not. My other main complaint is that the book retails for such a high price ($15.99 for a softcover). This isn't terribly unusual in the realm of Christian publishing, unfortunately, and is not a direct commentary on this book or author specifically, just something of note.

I would be very interested in reading the rest of the books in the series so I could see where the characters have come from and where they are going. Overall, for readability and interest, I would give this book a rating of 4/5 stars.

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze.

A fantastic look at the problem of evil...

Note: This is a post from my previous blog.


This book is one of the best expositions on the problem of evil that I've ever seen. Filled with stories from Alcorn's interactions with people, the human element is clearly seen. He balances this beautifully with an abundance of Scripture, for which I deeply respect him (too often Scripture is left out of discussions on topics it clearly addresses). Alcorn has also done a very thorough job. There is a lot of repetition (though most people learn best by hearing something over and over), but the topic is addressed from many angles. 


Some have said that the font in this book is small enough to make it the equivalent of a much longer book, but I don't agree. That being said, this book is on the longer side, which might deter the more casual reader. To overcome this issue, the book is divided into eleven sections based on general themes, and there are forty-five chapters, each in the neighborhood of ten pages. This book is thus set up well to be read in small portions over a longer period of time. It is also quite easy to read and understand. 


If you are faced with serious questions about the problem of evil and aren't sure of the best response, or even if you're familiar with the problem and want a more in-depth look, this book is definitely one I would recommend. 


Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Mere Churchianity is an interesting discussion...

Note: This is a post from my previous blog.


I have to admit, when I first started reading this book, my reaction was entirely defensive. I have grown up in the church my entire life, and even though I recognize that it's not perfect, some of my best memories and greatest learning experiences have taken place inside. However, I have come to understand that my hour or two a week at church is no replacement for daily growth through prayer and study of the Word, sometimes rereading passages and wrestling with the things they teach for days or weeks because of something I don't want to admit I'm doing wrong. 


Spencer makes several interesting points along the way. One that particularly stuck out to me was, "Wrong ideas about God are, themselves, false gods. They are idols just as much as a graven image." It is vitally important that we have a full, complete picture of who God truly is, and for that we need to be well-versed in the entirety of Scripture. Part of coming to such an understanding involves other believers who will see things we don't see, and church is one location you would expect to be able to partake in sharing. From experience I know this isn't always the case (and I'm sure many of you have sat in Sunday school classes and felt like you couldn't or shouldn't participate). I have learned a great deal from my various involvements at church over the years, but I've also learned a great deal at coffee shops, in living rooms, and outside, to name a few, as I've had lengthy, deep conversations with godly men and women. 


I guess a frustration I had while reading this book was that it seemed like Spencer was elevating out-of-church experiences so completely above in-church ones. I would argue that there is a balance to be found, that it is a both/and, not an either/or situation. 


My other frustration, which was minimal, was that the verses he quoted were not referenced directly in the text but were instead endnoted. I don't generally mind footnotes because they are right there on the page you are reading, but I don't usually take the time to turn to the back of a book to read the references. 


While I don't fully agree with the stance that Spencer took in this book, I would rate it as a 3.5/5 for the amount of discussion reading this book could generate. 

Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.