Christian Book Notes

Ham, Ken and Mally.  Illustrated by Jeff Albrecht.  A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis.  Green Forest: Master Books, 2011.  77 pp.  $16.99.  Purchase at Amazon for $11.42.

Introduction

At this point, Master Books and New Leaf Publishing no longer needs to be introduced.  Ken Ham is in the same boat.  Ken is the founder of Answers In Genesis–a ministry dedicated to reclaiming the authority of Scripture especially the foundation of the Bible in Genesis 1.  You can read other reviews I have written of Ken’s books here.

Summary

A is for Adam is a spiral bound tent-book designed for homeschooling families and/or the classroom.  On one side of the book (the side facing the child) there is a vibrant colorful picture with a few lines for the child to see.  On the back page (the side facing the parent or teacher) is a lesson plan.  There is a “let’s read” highlighted in yellow that allows the parent to read what is before the child.  The next point is “The Starting Point.”  This gets the lesson rolling.

“Bible Bits” offers some bullet points to offer discussion topics for the instructor.  ”Let’s Talk” further enforces the lesson plan and is set up such that the child has to respond which is great for discussion and knowing if the child is understanding what is being taught.  ”Always Remember” drives home the important lesson for that particular letter and is a key component to the gospel message being shared with the child.

“Visual Vocabulary” offers some interaction with the picture itself while the “Stuff to Do” section gives more critical thinking and interaction.  The “Quick Review” helps to ensure the child has comprehended the lesson for the particular letter.

At the back of the book are further notes for each letter.  These are best read before the lesson and will help to give the teacher the overview of the discussion and the lesson.

The final element of this resource that is extremely helpful are the free coloring pages one can download.  These can be used as take home pages or to keep small hands busy.

Review

This tool is one of the best put together resources for homeschooling, Sunday School, and even the standard classroom I have come across in some time.  In essence, you have a 26-lesson book completely prepared for your use.  You do not necessarily need to prepare longer than it takes to read the notes in the back of the book before each lesson.  Everything is spelled out on the instructor’s side of the resource.

The vividly colored drawings by Jeff Albrecht are top notch and will keep the child’s interest long enough to be able to get the lesson in without much concern of losing them.  What is best, and is to be expected with Ken Ham (thankfully!), is that the child (and possibly the parent) are being introduced to a biblical theology with the gospel being found (and rooted) in Genesis.

My wife literally started using this resource right out of the package with our 3 and 2 year old during their “letter time” during the school day.  That is how easy it is to use.

Recommendation

Yes, I have recommended everything from New Leaf Publishing very highly.  This resource is no different except that if you are teaching the alphabet to your children or you have smaller children still completely learning their ABC’s, you will find this tool to be invaluable.  Trust me.  I recommend this resource to all parents with small children, homeschooling or not.  Also, to all children’s ministers, you will want to make this resource available to your teachers in your department.

Hodge, Bodie and Tommy Mitchell with Ken Ham.  Answers Book for Teens: Your Questions God’s Answers.  Green Forest: Master Books, 2011.  96 pp.  $14.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction/Summary

New Leaf Publishers is back again with yet another quality resource.  This time, the work is geared toward teenagers with legitimate questions about life, faith, and why truth matters.

Ken Ham offers some assistance but largely steps back to allow Bodie Hodge and Tommy Mitchell to gain traction as a voice for the defense of the Christian faith.  You can read more and check out a free preview of this work here.

This resource is organized by fifteen questions pointing toward one answer–faith in Christ.  They begin with a list of definitions of a few words that will be used throughout discussion in the book.  After defining these terms, they embark on a fact-filled Q & A aimed at answering some of the toughest (and most common) questions teens have (especially those in youth group).  The book is full of colorful illustrations and pictures designed to give an edgy look to the book.

Review

The questions asked (and answered) in Answers Book for Teens are very common questions that often catch a parent or youth pastor or Christian off guard.  The answers are more than introductory but not so comprehensive as to leave the reader feeling as though they are drinking from a fire hydrant.

I personally found the graphics to be a bit distracting (am I showing my age?).  They seemed at points to distract from the material being discussed.  I can, however, understand the reasoning for the these graphics even if I do not necessarily agree.  The glossy pages do not allow the reader to write in the margins without running the risk of smearing the ink but does make for a very nice resource to add to a church’s library, a youth group or even a home school group.

Recommendation

Once again New Leaf has published a quality resource that would be most useful in defending the faith to a skeptical generation.  Perhaps another effect of this resource would be to get it into the hands of a youth pastor or parent wanting to be able to biblically answer legitimate questions and finding that they were misinformed themselves!  I recommend this resource to youth pastors, parents, and Christians who may be asked some tough questions about your faith.

Parragon.  The World of Science: Fascinating Facts about the World of Science.  Green Forest, Master Books, 2011.  256 pp.  $24.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

This is the second book in what I am calling the “World of” series from New Leaf Press.  The other book is entitled The World of Animals and was reviewed here.  From the back of the book:

World of Science explores Gods creation all around us, from the furthest star in the Universe to the smallest atom under our feet. Through six accessible sections, children will gain an understanding of the importance of science in our ever-changing world. This book brings a fresh and engaging approach to all aspects of the subject, while a final section of practical activities and experiments makes the application of science fun and enjoyable.

Summary

As with The World of Animals, this book needs to be viewed to understand the quality and detail found on each page.  You can see a sampling of pages here.  This resource is divided into seven sections beginning with matter and chemicals.  Section two looks at energy, motion and machines and then proceeds through the rest of the non-life science disciplines.  The final section offers many (and I mean, many) experiments that will help your child see science in action.

Review

Again, there are a ton of pictures (over 800 I believe) over the course of 250 pages.  There is more information on one page of this resource than what is on many pages of a public school science book.  Personally, the section offering the experiments make this resource worth whatever the cover price.  Each experiment gives the reference to the page number and scientific subject that it covers.  As a parent who is involved in homeschooling, this section is gold.  My wife, who is more of a life scientist (she was a genetic engineer who worked on the Human Genome Project), will benefit the most from this section as she has found herself at a loss for fun and easy science experiments in these particular scientific disciplines.

Recommendation

Wow!  I highly recommend this resource to any family who has an inquisitive child who wants to know how things work and why.  If you are a home schooling parent, you will immediately fall in love with this resource.  This will be a resource that is used over and over again in your home as your child(ren) grow.

Walters, Martin and Jinny Johnson.  The World of Animals: Fascinating Facts about the World of Animals.  Green Forest, Master Books, 2011.  256 pp.  $24.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

The website sums up this resource well:

The World of Animals investigates and describes the anatomy, behavior, and habitats of over 1,000 animals. From microscopic worms and insects to reptiles, birds, and mammals, this book will provide children with an insight into the incredible range of life in God’s wonderful world. This comprehensive but easy-to-use book boasts a wide range of features to help bring its readers face-to-face with the science and beauty of the living world.

Summary

The best way to summarize this resource is to allow you to see it for yourself.  You can see a selection of fifteen pages here.  Trust me, the colorful pages will speak for themselves.  As for a summary, you have seven basic sections throughout the book beginning with simple animals and moving to fish, amphibians, birds and finally mammals.

Each basic section has a plethora of different animals therein.  For example, the “simple animals” include sponges, jellyfish, sea anemones (think Finding Nemo) and Corals.  Fish include gars, herrings, salmon, catfish, tuna, and marlins.  Throughout the pages, you will find “world watch” boxes that offer information about a particular animal around the world.  Also, there are what I call “did you know” boxes that give tidbit trivia type information.

Review

This book is as interesting as it is colorful.  While I know it is supposed to be for students, I could not help but flip through it over and over again.  There is so much information on each page that this will be one of those resources that you will learn something new every time you open it.

The organization of the book is well done.  All one needs to do is look at the contents page (two facing pages) to see quickly what is in the book and where it is located.  Once you turn to that page you are greeted with more information than you think does exist about the animal.

Recommendation

I know there is at least a second book in this “World of” series, World of Science.  One can only hope that this is just the tip of the iceberg.  If your children enjoy biology or books on animals at all, then The World of Animals is a must own.  If you are a homeschooling parent, you will want to get a copy of this for your reference as well as for your children.  It is, after all, co-published by My Father’s World.

 How Do We Know the Bible is True? Volume 1.  Edited by Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge.  Green Forest: Master Leaf Books, 2011.  $14.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge are back with an excellent resource that seeks to answer some of the toughest questions by critics of the Bible.  Master Books has done an excellent job recently in the field of apologetics and this resource is yet another example.

Powerful biblical insights are soundly presented by more than a dozen respected defenders of the faith, including Ken Ham, John MacArthur, Terry Mortenson, Jason Lisle, Brian Edwards, Tommy Mitchell, Jobe Martin, Georgia Purdom, Bodie Hodge, and Roger Patterson.

Summary

With 28 chapters, How Do We Know offers in depth introductory answers to some of the more common though critical questions of the faith; specifically, of the Bible.  Some of the questions answered include:

• Is the Bible totally without error?
• Did the resurrection really happen?
• How do we know that the 66 books of the Bible are from God?
• Does the Bible contradict itself?
• How were people saved before Jesus came?
• What is the purpose and meaning of life?
• Did miracles really happen?
• Was Genesis derived from ancient myths?
• How should we interpret the Bible; should Genesis be literal?
• Do you have to believe in a young earth to be saved?

Each chapter is roughly 10 pages in length and offers a readable explanation for each question.

Review

How Do We Know Volume 1 is well written with both depth and clarity.  With quite a few charts and photographs, this resource offers many answers that have been made stronger by recent discoveries and academic discussions.

Unlike other apologetic works of this type, this resource has more than one voice.  With more than a dozen contributors, there are many different perspectives and backgrounds in which the subject matter is being dealt with.  Even more, the wide ranging evangelical contributors offer one common answer – the Bible is true.

I do wish the editors would have included a recommended resources section for further study.  As it is, the reader can extract from the footnotes further resources to use for their own edification.

Ultimately, I thought this resource to be well written and pleasurable to read.  Often times a work of apologetics can  come across as dry and boring.  The writers, in my estimation, brought energy and worship to the table as they sought to answer some extremely important questions of the faith.  We can only hope that volume 2 is not long in coming.

Recommendation

There are numerous resources available today that offer answers to tough questions.  What sets How Do We Know apart from the rest is the many contributors and the one common objective–you can trust the Bible.  If you are looking for a resource to engage unbelievers and skeptics of the faith, you would do well to begin here.  This book will make a great gift for the young Christian headed off to college as well as being a resource that would be used often, if not regularly, in your own library.

The Big Book of History.  Edited by Laura Welch, Bodie Hodge, and Ken Ham.  Green Forest: Master Books, 2011.  15 feet! $19.99.  Purchase at Amazon for $13.59.

Introduction/Summary

The following video will produced by Master Books will give you an introduction and summary of this massive time line.

For more information, check out the Big Book of History webpage.

Review

This was a hard resource to review – I had to pry it out of the hands of both my wife and my older children.  This review is for the bound version though there is an unbound version available that can be mounted on the wall of a classroom.  Both stretch 15 feet long!

The color coding of the events in history help to keep everything in perspective.  For example, the yellow shows Bible and Christian history while the orange shows various world events.  The green offers inventions and technology and the red gives the dates for civilizations and empires.  There are arrows of like color pointing to a more in depth description of the events discussed.

I was somewhat intrigued to find that they dated the beginning of the world to 4004 B.C. only because that is a disputed date though it is also acceptable as it was the date Bishop James Ussher came to when he calculated the genealogies.  I guess I would have like to see a note about that more than anything else.  To be honest, I have come to the personal conviction that if Ussher was wrong, it wasn’t by much!

The colorful pictures help to bring the historical events to life while the descriptions are age appropriate and will lead the child (and parent?) to do a bit of research themselves.  Obviously, the closer to the present day the timeline is, the more information there is included.  For example, the first 4,000 years only comprise 8 panels while the last 2,000 comprise the last 13.  There is something in this resource for children and adults.

Recommendation

Though it is for children ages 7-12, I recommend this resource to any homeschooling family or anyone in general who enjoys history.  The ability to look up a biblical event and see what else was going on in history at that time is both cool and amazing.  It really helps to put into perspective that history really is His Story.  This is a fun resource that will be used for years.  Don’t forget, you can also get the unbound version that is perfect for hanging on your wall.

Begin: A Journey Through Scriptures for Seekers and New Believers.  Edited by Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge.  Green Forest: Master Books, 2011.  $12.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

Ken Ham is the founder of Answers In Genesis–a ministry dedicated to reclaiming the authority of Scripture especially the foundation of the Bible in Genesis 1. .  You can read other reviews I have written of Ken’s books here.

Bodie Hodge graduated from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (90 minutes from my house) where he received a B.S and an M.S. in mechanical engineering.  He now serves as a speaker, writer, and researcher for Answers in Genesis and is a co-author of Dragons: Legend & Lore of Dinosaurs.  You can read the review of that resource here.

Summary

Extracting passages and books from the English Standard Version Bible, Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge have compiled five important sections to provide a new believer with a decent biblical theology.  Beginning in Genesis 1-11 as the foundation for all of the Bible, they move to Exodus 20 where the Lord gives to Moses the 10 Commandments.

After an extremely brief history from Exodus 20 to Matthew 1 (3 pages!), they introduce the life of Christ through the lens of the Gospel of John.  They next offer 2 page overview of basically the book of Acts and then divide the book of Romans into three parts.  They conclude with another 2 page overview of the rest of the epistles in the New Testament and then give us Revelation 21 and 22.

The final “section” is an explanation of what it means to be saved coupled with an exhortation to boldly proclaim a biblical worldview.  Here they equip the reader/student with 10 basics of the faith (including a literal understanding of Genesis 1).  The final chapter looks at the inerrancy and authority of Scripture as they answer the charge that the Bible was written by man.

Review

As with any resource Ken Ham has  a hand in, you will be given a steady dose of why the foundation of the entire Bible is rooted in a literal understanding of Genesis 1.  Thankfully, Begin is no different.  Each section offers ample space to write out thoughts as well as interact with questions liberally sprinkled throughout.

The editors allow the Bible to speak for itself while offering a guide to show how the New Testament fulfills the Old while the Old is the foundation for the New.  I would have liked, however, to see a few more selections from the Old Testament such as the covenants with Abraham and David as they are essential to our understanding of why Jesus Christ did come (to fulfill the Law and the Prophets and for God to keep His covenant promises).  Nonetheless, the editors achieved their goal of providing an introductory study to biblical theology rooted in Scripture.

Recommendation

Begin is a wonderful resource for your new believer’s/members class at your local church.  It can be for personal study or group study.  It can be used devotionally or in a homeschool setting.  It deserves our attention and consideration as a viable apologetic for the new believer or the one who has questions about the Christian faith in general.

Bunyan, John.  The Pilgrim’s Progress 125th Anniversary Attic Books Collector’s Edition.  Forest Park: Master Books, 2005.  920 pp.  $59.99.  Purchase at Amazon for $40.03 or less!

Introduction

Those who know me and have read reviews here for awhile will know that I am HUGE fan of John Bunyan. Of all the Puritans, he has been the most influential on my life.  Bunyan really does not need an introduction.  Neither does Pilgrim’s Progress.  This edition, however, does.

Summary

This collector’s edition contains much more than just the Pilgrim’s Progress.  Also included in this collection is The Holy War, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Bunyan’s final sermon preached from John 1:3, a discourse on the gospel entitled The Water of Life as well as two other discourse: Christian Behaviour and The Barren Fig-Tree both of which talk about fruit (or lack thereof) in the Christian life.

Two other writings are included the first of which is a fourteen page writing of the imprisonment of John Bunyan.  There are 63 pages of Bunyan’s dying sayings that are rich with content and show the end of this life for a man who was steeped in the Word of God.

There are vivid pictures of paintings interspersed throughout the book that are evidently from Adam & Co.  I really could not find out more information on this artwork though if you know of any more, please share it with us!

Review

I will not be reviewing the various books found in this 125th anniversary edition. The publisher’s website states:

This hardcover edition was originally published in 1876. Over 125 years later, Master Books has re-created this valuable and rare heirloom with today’s modern technology, but kept the original look and feel by painstakingly scanning in high-resolution every page of this 860-page tome – historic look and all!

The print for the two allegories is quite large and is great for the times when you read these works for your family read aloud time (and I do recommend you do this!). This also means that the book is not as big as it appears. About 2/3 of the entire book is comprised of The Pilgrim’s Progress and The Holy War.

The inclusion of Grace Abounding, which is perhaps the best “salvation testimony” ever written, is wonderful and will undoubtedly be a blessing to many who will read it – some for the first time.

Perhaps what brings me the greatest joy in this particular edition is that they kept the original language.  This may pose a problem to the modern reader, but it is absolutely worth wading through the language barrier with a dictionary to capture the true beauty and master story-telling that John Bunyan possesses.

The publisher is correct that this particular edition will be a wonderful resource to hand down to your children…that is, if you can part with it!

Recommendation

You may be asking why would someone recommend purchasing a $60 copy of these nine books when you can get them for much cheaper.  I’m glad you asked!  There are very few books I would recommend spending this much money on.  John Bunyan’s works (especially The Pilgrim’s Progress and Grace Abounding) are timeless yet timely.  I recall giving a copy to an older neighbor who was a new believer and he remarked that “this John Bunyan fella knows what he is talking about!”

For a book that is the number 2 selling of all time (behind the Bible) I recommend spending the money on this resource to honestly be able to hand down to your children.  My family has a family read aloud time most evenings and while we’ve read various children’s editions of Pilgrim’s Progress, this one resource presents 9 different books by John Bunyan that should be read by every Christian today.  Obviously, Pilgrim’s Progress is what Bunyan is known for, but his other works that are included in this anniversary edition.

Comfort, Ray.  The Defender’s Guide for Life’s Toughest Questions:  Preparing Today’s Believers for the Onslaught of Secular Humanism. Green Forest:  Master Books, 2011.  176 pp.  $12.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

Ray Comfort has written some 70 books and is the co-host of The Way of the Master – a television and radio program as well as an evangelism course.  You can read about his interactions with atheists daily at Atheist Central.  His sermon, Hell’s Best Kept Secret, has been heard by hundreds of thousands if not millions.

Summary

This resource is divided into five chapters with two appendices.  The first chapter comes out swinging with discussions on the rights and suffering of mankind.  Chapter two looks to the Bible and seeks to answer questions and challenges to the Scriptures.  Chapter three delves into the scientific realm while chapter four looks at the philosophical.  The last chapter offers a discussion on religion.  In this chapter, atheism is portrayed as a religious system akin to Christianity and any other world religion (and rightly so).

The two appendices are valuable in that they will equip the Christian to engage the unbeliever (atheist) at their own level with their own “heroes.”  The first appendix offers quotes from many famous atheists that really shows the bankruptcy of such a worldview.

The second appendix is a print answer to the YouTube video, “10 Questions that every intelligent Christian must answer.”  The main question in this video was the silliness of “Why won’t God heal amputees?”

Review

From a Christian perspective, this resource if well written.  Basically, Comfort has dealt with many of the common statements (he categorized them for the sake of the book) made by those professing to be atheist.  The book is conversational in tone and makes for a great learning experience for the Christian.

From the perspective of an atheist or agnostic, Comfort seems to come out swinging.  He calls all atheists “unthinking men” and then quotes Sir Isaac Newton who said, “Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors” (p.6).  This approach will have one of two effect, in my estimation.  Either the unbeliever will keep reading to see how Comfort backs up his charge of their being an “unthinker” or they will throw the book on the table and never open it again because of his arrogance.

In any event, the content of the book is well written and well-researched.  Comfort’s style is enjoyable and interesting.  The tone throughout the book is one of the Christian remaining on offense so to speak.  In essence, Comfort comes out swinging and never lets up.

Recommendation

Far from an apologetics book, The Defender’s Guide is certainly an apologetic book.  This is an excellent resource for the college student who will definitely have to deal with these charges in the classroom–even on the so-called Christian campuses!  Still others will do well to read this book and become familiar with its contents in order to engage the unbeliever at his level in order to bring him to a higher level of understanding.

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs.  Green Forest: Master Books, 2011.  24 pp.  $17.99.  Purchase at Amazon for $12.29 or less.

Introduction

What kid does not fantasize about dragons?  Boys want to slay them and girls are held captive by them.  But, from where did these mythological (?) creatures derive?  Are they real or made up by some culture?  Do they have a connection to dinosaurs?  These questions and more are answered in the pages of Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs.

Summary

More like a coffee table book than a chapter book, Dragons looks at the legends found on every inhabited continent in the world.  The reader is then treated to a discussion on the connection between dinosaurs and dragons.

All of this is shared in the context of God’s creation and man’s fall.  The argument is made that the many legends all over the world offer the solution that dragons, were (are?) indeed real creatures.  This is also the argument (among others) for the reality of a global flood as found in Genesis 6.

Review

The colorful pictures and the cited research helps to make the case for the reality that dragons did (and do?) exist.  Much of the information about the dinosaurs is pulled from another book published by Master Books entitled Dinosaurs by Design.

Each page is interactive with a door to open or a card to unfold.  The children love it and learn much about God’s creation.  It also helps to engage them with gospel truths of God’s holiness and His creation, the fall of man and the redemption of man through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.

Recommendation

For the dragon slayer or princess in your house, you will want to have this book available.  Your child will learn much about God through the legend and lore of the dragon.  They will be introduced to the world through the myths.  They will learn that there have been sightings of dragon-like creatures as recent as 1890 in the United States and even more recently in jungles throughout the world.

Parents and children alike will learn from Dragons and will find that it is a popular book in the house that your child will return to again and again.