Acts: EP Study Commentary by Guy Prentiss Waters (Book Review)

Act: EP Study Commentary by Guy Prentiss Waters

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction / Commentary

Published by- EP Books (Evangelical Press)

Copyrighted- 2015

Number of pages- 614

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $44.99, ISBN: 978-1783970032

Acts: EP Study Commentary, by Guy Prentiss Waters, is a study commentary on the Acts of the Apostles.  It covers each of the verses in the book of Acts along with well documented commentary and an application section for each grouping of verses.

About the author- Guy Prentiss Waters is a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.

My thoughts- I have read other study commentaries, but I have never read one that was easy for me to read and full of useful information.  I really enjoyed reading and learning from Guy Prentiss Waters.

One of the best parts of this study was the application section in each chapter.  In that section I learned many ways to apply what I learned in Acts to my life. 

One part I was not sure about was the version of the Bible verses.  Waters rewrote each of the verses himself, so I spent time comparing what he wrote with my NLT version.  I found that what he wrote was accurate.  I was glad.  I did not want to be reading something, which was not accurate to the Bible.

I really liked the commentary, because it was written in a way I could understand and was not boring.  There have been so many times when I have read a book and I either could not understand what was being said or it made me sleepy.

I think this was an excellent book.  I highly recommend it to others.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Acts: EP Study Commentary, by Guy Prentiss Waters, for free from Cross Focused Reviews. 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. All links were current when posted.

Salt, Light and Cities on Hills by Melvin Tinker

Salt, Light, and Cities on Hills by Melvin Tinker

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- EP Books (Evangelical Press)

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 119

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $10.99, ISBN: 978-1783970438

Salt, Light and Cities on Hills, by Melvin Tinker, discusses social action and evangelism in Britain today.  He uses writings from John Stott and Tim Keller.  He also references Isaiah and the Sermon on the Mount. 

Some questions answered are:

• Can evangelism and social action work together?
• Did the disciples use evangelism and social action?
• Should we be doing what the disciples did?

About the author- Melvin Tinker is currently married and has three sons and six grandchildren.  He is the Senior Minister of St. John, Newland, Hull.  He is a speaker as well as an author.

My thoughts- I know this book is about the church in Britain, but I feel this book would work in any country in the world.  Our churches need to learn how blend evangelism with social action.  The disciples and those in the book of Acts knew exactly how to do it so all learned about Jesus.  This is something that we need to do as well.

I think this book would be good for ministers and those who are involved in evangelism and social action in the churches.  Some of the reading was tedious to me, but I knew how important it was and I kept reading.  I thought the last couple of chapters were the most interesting, because they involved Melvin Tinker’s opinions  I thought reading about his views were much more interesting than reading a discussion of the different view points of John Stott and Tim Keller. 

One of my favorite parts of this book were the notes at the end of each chapter.  I learned a lot of extra information about evangelism and social action.

I think Salt, Light, and Cities on Hills is a book that everybody who is involved with evangelism and social action in the church must read.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Salt Light, and Cities on Hills, by Melvin Tinker, for free from Cross Focused Reviews. 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. All links were current when posted.

Samuel Rutherford by Richard M. Hannula (Book Review)

Samuel Rutherford (Bitesize Biographies) by Richard M. Hannula

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- EP Books (Evangelical Press)

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 140

Age Group- Adult (I think this would be good for students of middle school age and up.

Description of book- paperback, list price $10.99, ISBN: 978-1783970186

It was 1636 and King Charles I thought he would never hear of Samuel Rutherford again, because he had been banished to Northern Scotland.  It was not to be, Rutherford came back to his congregation again, and he came to help Scotland develop important documents to help fight against England.  And during all that time he wrote sermons, letters, and a variety of books.  

About the author- Richard M. Hannula currently lives in Washington where he is a school principal and an elder in a Presbyterian Church.

My thoughts- I’m not sure if I had heard of Samuel Rutherford, before I read this book.  I know a lot more about him after reading this excellent book by Richard M. Hannula.

I really enjoyed all of Rutherford’s quotes that were added to the book.  Sometimes I find that too many quotes in a book can take a way from the book, but I feel that this book would not have been the same without all of the quotes.

My ancestors come from Scotland, but I did not know how truly independent they wanted to be as a country and how intense they were.  I was really proud of them for doing their best to take a stand against England and her kings.  I’m glad that Rutherford and his passion for God and the truth was there to help guide them in the difficult times.  After I read the section in the book about the Book of Common Prayer, I went downloaded a copy to the Kindle and took a look at it.  I could understand why the Kirk and Rutherford did not want it.  It was full of rules and order.  It would not have allowed them to be free.

I plan on reading this book to my children.  I believe they will learn and be inspired by Samuel Rutherford.  I highly recommend it to you too.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Samuel Rutherford, by Richard Hannula, for free from Cross Focused Reviews. 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. All links were current when posted.

Growing Up God’s Way for Boys by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones (Review)

 Growing Up God’s Way for Boys

By Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- EP Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 80

Age Group- 10-14 year-old boys

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-0852349991, $12.99

Dr. Richards and Dr. Jones have written a fully illustrated book which will help teach young men what puberty and marriage is about from a Biblical point-of-view.  The Bible is a constant reference point and there will be no doubt in the young man’s mind how a Biblical life should be lived.

Some of the topics are:

• Marriage
• Puberty and how it starts
• Physical Intimacy

About the Authors- Dr. Chris Richards is married and has four children.  He is a Consultant Pediatrician and a deacon.

Dr. Liz Jones is married with three married daughters.  She is a retired Community Pediatrician. 

My thoughts- I thought Growing Up God’s Way for Boys, Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones was very interesting. 

I have a son who is almost eleven and I think this book would be good for him to read.  I need to read it again and study it to make sure he would be the best age for it.  I will have him read it and discuss it with his father, because I think that is a good subject to discuss between father and son. 

There are parts of this book that I thought might be important to wait until he is older, like 14, and that would be the changes in girls and physical intimacy.  I personally feel that a lot of innocence will be lost if he knows more about girls at a young age than is pertinent. 

I think this book was well written and illustrated.  I would recommend it to all parents of young men. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Growing Up God’s Way for Boys, by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  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.  All links were current when posted.

Growing Up God’s Way for Girls by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones (Review)

 Growing Up God’s Way for Girls

By Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- EP Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 80

Age Group- 10-14 year-old girls

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-1783970001, $12.99

Dr. Richards and Dr. Jones have written a fully illustrated book which will help teach young girls what puberty and marriage is.  The Bible is a constant reference point and there will be no doubt how a Biblical life should be lived.

Some of the topics are:

• Marriage
• Puberty and how it starts
• Physical Intimacy

About the Authors- Dr. Chris Richards is married and has four children.  He is a Consultant Pediatrician and a deacon.

Dr. Liz Jones is married with three married daughters.  She is a retired Community Pediatrician. 

My thoughts- I thought Growing Up God’s Way for Girls, Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones was very interesting. 

When I was young my mother gave me a book to read about puberty, but it did not have any of the Biblical aspects that this book did.  I have a daughter, so this will be the book that I will show her and read with her.  It is important to know how your body will be changing and especially the physical intimacy with her husband. 

There are parts of this book that I thought might be important to wait until she is older, like 14, and that would be the changes in the boys and physical intimacy.  I personally feel that a lot of innocence will be lost if she knows more about boys at a young age than is pertinent. 

I think this book was well written and illustrated.  I would recommend it to all parents of young girls. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Growing Up God’s Way for Girls, by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  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.  All links were current when posted.

Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany by Dolores Kimball (Review)

Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany

By Dolores Kimball

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion /Christian / Nonfiction / Bible / Women’s Studies

Published by- EP Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 120

Age Group- Adult (Women mostly)

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-0852349632, $10.99

Who is Mary of Bethany?  Dolores Kimball explores the mystery in her latest book, Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany. 

Mary of Bethany along with her sister, Martha, and brother, Lazarus, were friends of Jesus.  Their story is mentioned in the gospels and Mary is specifically mentioned in Matthew 26:13 and Mark 14:9.  Kimball writes in the introduction, “For years I’ve pondered the words of Jesus spoken as Mary anointed him for his burial: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’”  This is the basis for her look at a woman who was totally committed to a life with God.

About the Author- Dolores Kimball is currently a freelance writer and editor.  She has worked with Focus on the Family, David C. Cook, and Compassion International.

My thoughts- I have never thought much about Mary of Bethany, but I know much more about her now that I have read Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany, by Dolores Kimball. 

I never knew that Mary had anointed Jesus for His burial and that what she had done would be told as a memorial to her.  What a powerful testament to her commitment to Jesus.  She was definitely dedicated to him and his teachings.  I am glad that Kimball wrote a book dedicated to Mary. 

Since there are several women named Mary in the Bible, I was glad to read about the different women and how this Mary was not the others.  As women we need to learn and become like Mary.  Women filled with faith, spiritual understanding, and a quiet spirit.

Nonfiction books are always best when they include questions at the end of each chapter, especially when they can be used as Bible studies.  I wish that this book had those questions.

This was an interesting book.  I think that women should read this book and learn about Mary of Bethany.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany, by Dolores Kimball, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  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.  All links were current when posted.