Every month we show what is on our reading table.

This month we added four books:

Comments on current reads:

  1. “Resurrection Shock – Did the Disciples Get It Right?” (378 pages, paperback, 2020) by Lane Sanford Webster: This was another recommendation from the Stanford Alumni magazine. Previously I said, “I’ve read the first few chapters and it seems to be a fairly standard book on apologetics and a review of what happened by eyewitness accounts.” Not true. It is much better than the typical apologetics book for me. Webster uses a lot of examples and includes a lot of historical notes including recently found evidence to support the scripture.
  2. “Restoring the Christian Family” (320 pages, paperback, 2011) by John Loren and Paula Sandford: I found this buried on my dresser after doing a complete cleaning, i.e., putting aways stacks of clothes. I don’t know where it came from or who bought it. I was intrigued by leafing through it and so it is on the reading list.
  3. “How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Own How-To Book” (199 pages, paperback, 2020/4th edition) by John T Reed: Previously I had reviewed Reed’s book on life, “Succeeding”. I have read his real estate materials (he does much more than real estate, see John T Reed) for decades and have great respect for his knowledge, understanding and common sense. So, I bought this book on self-publishing and the next on overall best practices to see if I could learn something new. I plan to pass this book on self-publishing to my partner, Just Jeff. He might add ‘author’ to his already extensive bio.
  4. “Best Practices for the Intelligent Real Estate Investor” (223 pages, paperback, 2009) by John T Reed: See above.
  5. “Intercessory Prayer” (275 pages, paperback, 1996) by Dutch Sheets: I just started reading this. I have read the first two chapters. If the rest is as good, and as documented, this is an OUTSTANDING book on what is intercessory prayer and how to do it. I like his explanation of theology and how he backs each claim with scripture.
  6. “Fourfold Kingdom of God” (239 pages, paperback, 2020) by Gerald Paul Kooye: I bought this book after reading “The Holy Longing” based on a recommendation from the Stanford Magazine. The book looks at God’s kingdom from a mathematical and physics perspective. I did get a chance to read this on a trip to Bakersfield and it is outstanding. Lots of speculation; on scripture and on physics but soundly based. That said, it is speculation. Remember Jesus’ caution in Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
  7. “Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe” (576 pages, paperback, 2021) by Stephen C. Meyer: His claim “the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind—but the existence of a personal God” based on three scientific revolutions/theories: The Big Bang Theory, The Fine Tuning Observation and Information Coding in DNA. This is a long, detailed book. I hope to get to it soon. I note that there is now a documentary planned. Here are two interviews with the author.
  1. “Bad Moon Rising: The Unofficial History of Creedence Clearwater Revival” (358 pages, paperback, 2001) by Hank Bordowitz: Our dog Danna was investigating a hoodoo in a potted plant. Michelle wondered what she was doing. I explained via the Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR) song, “Born On The Bayou”.

“And I can remember the fourth of July,

Runnin’ through the backwood, bare.

And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin’,

Chasin’ down a hoodoo there.

Chasin’ down a hoodoo there.”

I was a big CCR fan in the late 1960s given that I grew up in Northern California and CCR was a “local” band. John Fogerty has always fascinated me. Immensely talented, learned by ‘copying’ and an epic antisocial streak. I found this book exploring for CCR material.

And a little-known fact, I was the original author of one of CCR’s hits!

You know it as “I Put a Snout lock On You”. I originally wrote it as “I Put a Snout Lock on You”. It was written about our family dog, Ror. He was a rare, barking Basenji from Australia. Basenji’s are famous for not barking. Our Ror barked. More, later.

  1. “Honour Bound” (412 pages, paperback, 2017) by Alaric Bond: I read and reviewed the first nine books in this British Naval Fiction series; “His Majesty’s Ship”, “The Jackass Frigate”, “True Colors”, “Cut and Run”, “The Patriot’s Fate” and “The Torrid Zone”, “The Scent of Corruption” and “HMS Prometheus”, and “The Blackstrap Station”. I give them high marks. Now that I read the first nine stories in the series, I like it even more. And these last four; ‘Scent’, ‘Prometheus’, “Blackstrap” and now “Honour Bound” show a new levels of plot complexity and character development.

 

From before: I learned that the author does not center the series and each book around the captain. All the other series are about the captain rising from humble or noble beginnings to the end of an illustrious career. In Bond’s world, he follows a cross section of the crew, from the lowest to the captain. You are never sure who will survive and who won’t. There are some spoilers in the review concerning what happens; so, beware.

  1. “The Drama of Scripture” (272 pages, paperback, 2014) by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen: Recommended by Pastor Jeff. “I skimmed the first two chapters and really like this approach. Let’s see how it ends.” Almost finished now. And I am even more impressed. But I got a warning from now Vicar Ryan on possible Baptist heresy herein. More in the video review.

Not pictured:

  1. “The One Year Bible” with help from the “Lutheran Study Bible“.