Category Archives: The Randleman Review

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Book Review: Jungle Sunrise by Jonathan Williams

Jungle SunriseJungle Sunrise was a surprisingly good book.  I realize that is a rather cryptic statement.  Allow me to explain.

Christian fiction is not a genre that I get too excited about.  I’ve had a hard time finding many authors who write on a level with some of my favorite secular authors.  When I received this book, and found that it was not only Christian fiction, but missions fiction, I wasn’t really looking forward to reading it.

But I was pleasantly surprised.  In Jungle Sunrise, Jonathan Williams tells several stories, woven into one.  He tells the story of a struggling author, Jonah Frost, and his brother Noah.  Jonah is an unpublished writer who can’t seem to write anything, and has turned to alcohol in order to hide.  Jonah finds purpose, and something else.

Another story woven into this narrative is the tale of Memphis and Abigail Jones, missionaries to an indigenous native tribe in Peru, called the Amarakaeri.  They have spent the past several years living with this tribe, and are transitioning to begin working with another tribe in the Amazon jungle.

A third story is of Grace Cervantes, a photographer from Madrid.  She finds something unexpected while in the jungle.

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Book Review: Tithing by Douglas LeBlanc

TithingTithing is the second book I’ve read from Thomas Nelson’s Ancient Practices Series, and I could not be more disappointed in it. The first book that I read from this series, Sabbath, was enlightening. Tithing, however, was very disappointing.

First of all, Tithing isn’t about tithing. Author Douglas LeBlanc has instead written a series of interviews with different people about their experiences in giving. Most of the stories that he relates bear no resemblance to the scriptural mandate of tithing, but rather focus on social activism.

Second, LeBlanc, a religion journalist, has selected nearly all of his stories from religious fringe groups, emergent philosophies, and liberal churches. And as a result, he shares nothing that is even instructional about the concept of tithing.

The stories were somewhat interesting, but in a way that created a response such as, “Hmmm, that was nice…” I found almost nothing of significant substance to take away from this book.

The one story that I found more than mildly interesting was the story of Randy Alcorn’s work with the pro-life movement, and his subsequent involvement in the lawsuit brought against the abortion clinic protestors. But once again, this really had nothing to do with the biblical principle of the tithe.

Over all, I found Tithing to be very disappointing. There are many other resources available on the topic that do a much better job teaching it.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze blogger review 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 Commissionís 16 CFR, Part 255: ìGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.î

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Book Review: Soul Print by Mark Batterson

Soul PrintMark Batterson’s new book is another home run! I was first introduced to Batterson when I read Primal. I loved it! It was one of the best books I read in 2010. So I wondered just how Batterson’s new book would compare. Batterson has done it again. Soul Print is an excellent resource and challenges you to live your life more completely.

In Soul Print, Batterson sets put to help the reader understand their identity and destiny in Christ. In order to do this, he examines the life of David as an example. Batterson identifies several defining moments in David’s life that helped him understand just who he was.

  • David rejected King’s Saul’s armor and instead used his sling to defeat Goliath.
  • David allowed God to use his skills with a sling and harp strategically.
  • David kept Goliath’s armor after defeating him.
  • David refrained from harming King Saul when he found him in the cave.
  • David danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it was returned to Jerusalem.
  • David stayed home from war and entered a sinful relationship with Bathsheba.
  • David received God’s promise to establish his descendants on the throne.

Some were good; some weren’t. But these are some of the moments in David’s life that made him who he was. These moments defined him.

Batterson uses each of these examples to ask the same question of the reader. Who are you? More importantly, whose are you?

You see, you can’t understand your destiny until you comprehend your identity. But you can’t grasp your identity until you grasp who God is, because he made you in his image.

Your soul print is unique. God has created no one else like you, and he created no one else to serve the same purpose as you. Understanding your soul print helps you live your life as it was meant to be lived… to the fullest.

I highly recommend that you read Mark Batterson’s Soul Print. You won’t regret it.

If you are interested in reading Soul Print by Mark Batterson, you can purchase it at Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Multnomah Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are ìaffiliate links.î This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissionís 16 CFR, Part 255: ìGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.î

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The Case Of The Missing Mountain by Kim Jones

Case Of The Missing MountainOne of the main arguments evolutionists bring against Creationism is a lack of evidence for a global flood. However, the evidence is compelling for those who are willing to take a closer look. One such accumulation of evidence lies in the destruction caused by Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980.

Mount St. Helens’ eruption is rich in evidence for a global flood. But how do you go about teaching that to children? Geology is a tough subject for younger kids, especially early elementary.

Fortunately, Kim Jones has found a way to teach the truth of Noah’s flood through the evidence presented in the Mount St. Helens catastrophe. In The Case Of The Missing Mountain, Jones creatively examines the evidence, which she has provided in a series of clues, leading the young researcher to the final conclusion of volcanic activity being part of the mechanism God used to destroy the earth in Genesis 6-9.

My kids are excited to go through The Case Of The Missing Mountain as a part of our geology unit in our homeschool science curriculum. I feel it will serve as a great resource for me to teach the reality of Noah’s flood. And Jones has made it interesting and fun.

I highly recommend The Case Of The Missing Mountain. This is a valuable resource to include in your library, and will assist your children in the development of a biblical worldview.

If you are interested in reading The Case Of The Missing Mountain, you can order it from Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from New Leaf Press/Master Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Passport To The World by Craig Froman

Passport To The WorldPassport To The World is a great book to introduce young children to several different world cultures and languages. Featuring 26 different cultures, this resource is an excellent primer for a family to use as a family activity, prayer guide, or a homeschool resource.

Passport To The World includes several interesting features for each culture visited, including location around the world, population and other statistics, phrases from that particular language, and several facts about the country or culture being examined.

Passport To The World also includes a children’s “visa” and a series of stickers that can be inserted after reading about a particular culture.

While not going too in-depth, Froman has created a great resources that can introduce not only world cultures to young children, but world missions as well.

There are numerous possibilities for using Passport To The World. We plan on using it with our children to examine a particular people group, and add more details to our study using resources available from Operation World.

I think it will be a well-used book in our home.

If you are interested in reading Passport To The World, you can order it from Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from New Leaf Press/Master Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave

Deadly DisclosuresDeadly Disclosures is Julie Cave’s first book in her Dinah Harris trilogy. I read and reviewed the second book in the series, A Shadowed Mind, late last year, and I loved it.

So I went back to read the first book in the series. And loved it as well. Julie Cave does a great job of weaving current issues into a non-stop, edge-of-your-seat, gripping plot-line.

In Deadly Disclosures, FBI agent Dinah Harris is called upon to investigate the high-profile murder of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. While dealing with her own issues, such as alcoholism and the loss of her husband and son, Harris has to get a grip on her life in order to dig to the bottom of this conspiracy.

And conspiracy it is! What could cause someone to murder the Secretary of the Smithsonian? Creationism. When the Secretary wants to add displays featuring Creation to the heavily evolutionized museum, he causes some serious agitation in the highest levels of society and government.

Cave does a great job in this book explaining the young-earth creation model, and its struggle with evolutionism. And she lands firmly in the camp of Creation, without compromising.

As with A Shadowed Mind, I am extremely impressed. Order this one and read it today!

I highly recommend that you read these two books. Order Deadly Disclosures from Amazon.com by clicking here. Or, you can order A Shadowed Mind by clicking here.

I received this book free from New Leaf Press/Master Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Sabbath by Dan B. Allender

SabbathHave you ever had one of those weeks where God uses a dozen different avenues to grab your attention in one particular area? This week has been that way for me.

I’ve been reading Sabbath, by Dan Allender. It’s part of The Ancient Practices Series from Thomas Nelson. In this book, Allender takes a closer look at the “day of rest” that the Bible calls Sabbath. It seems that our society may have a few false notions about this biblical concept.

Allender contends that our view of Sabbath is one of forced quiet, when it should be a day of joy, delight for the body and soul. Rather than it being a day where we force ourselves to be still, Allender examines the idea that we should use the day as a festival that celebrates God’s creativity and redemption.

Allender defines four Sabbath Pillars: sensual glory, holy time, communal feast and play. When our Sabbath is balanced and viewed appropriately, the balance of our week falls into line as well, more often than not.

Part of the idea that Allender describes is what we might call “creating margin.” This isn’t just balancing our time. It’s not simply being more efficient with our lives.

I think it’s more like stewardship…