Today's book review is by guest writer Keith Ward.
 
Our old Baker's Bible Atlas from our 70's classes at Florida College was not only outdated but so worn as to be tossed rather than moved when we relocated last year.  So we looked for a more up-to-date replacement once we got settled in.
 
Though the 1998 copyright shows it is 20 years out of date, HBA has a wealth of material written by a believer and color maps created by superior technology. And, I doubt any of the mountains or rivers have moved since its publication! It shows the reasons geography determined some events in the Bible not only in words but with detailed maps and graphics.
 
It provides just enough secular and Bible History to adequately supplement the inspired record and maps. Should one desire more, he needs to find appropriate history books.
 
I read it and recall no theology being pushed other than a belief in the Bible record.
 
My complaints are that the pages are too glossy and sometimes reflect in a way requiring maneuvering to get the light right to be able to read. This may be necessary to have the quality necessary for the excellent maps. And to read the detail on the maps, I needed a magnifying glass.
 
The Holman Bible Atlas is published by the B & H Publishing Group.
 
Keith Ward

I can hear you now.  How in the world can I do a review of my own son's book objectively?  Well, I probably can't, but the next few books I will review are too good for me to ignore just because of that.  We are a book writing family, evidently, and we help one another and encourage one another, and our purpose is to help and encourage others as well.  So I will do my best to tell you the plain truth about these books, what they contain and what they are meant to do, all of which have authors who bear the same last name—Ward.
            This small book (119 pages) came from a series of sermons Lucas preached at the church in Navarre, Florida, where he labors as an evangelist.  He called them lessons on self-improvement.  I don't know why no one has used this terminology before.  Our secular bookstores are full of "self-help" books.  And surely, Christians should be striving daily to improve.  What we seem to do, instead, is read verses with big words in them and say, well, we are doing our best.  How about something very practical that will actually help you do your best?
            Lucas takes the lists in 2 Peter 1 and Galatians 5, and makes them accessible.  First, he defines the words Biblically, undoing several simplistic definitions "we" have come up with through the years.  Then he makes it practical, giving concrete examples of both appropriate and inappropriate behavior exemplifying that Christian trait, and methods for improving that behavior.  He uses colloquial language easily understood with a few pop culture references that make the point clearly.  He also has his tongue firmly planted in cheek occasionally, using humor to make the point.  If you know his brother and father, you should be expecting it!
            A good teacher could easily turn this into a Bible class book by adding a few discussion questions.  A good preacher could make the same series Lucas did and have all his research done for him.  Anyone can read it and understand it and use the examples within to improve as a Christian.  Anyone who thinks he doesn't need to improve will find out otherwise.
            Make Your Calling and Election Sure is published by DeWard Publishing.
 
Dene Ward
 

This is one extremely practical book, and is meant to be that way as evidenced by its subtitle:  40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith.  When I read the foreword, by J. Warner Wallace, whose own Cold Case Christianity has become a popular staple in the Apologetics world, I was excited.  Here was a book we could use not only in family Bible studies, but perhaps in Bible classes or special Teen Weekends, as many call them these days.  In fact, some of my brethren need to read that foreword themselves as they seem to miss some vital points in their work with the young people of our congregations.  Mr. Wallace says the same and points to this book as the solution.
            The biggest problem with this book is that the author's theology often gets in the way of her advice.  You don't teach teenagers to be careful students of exactly what the Bible says, then turn around and twist passages like Mark 9:1 and say they don't really mean what they say because that makes premillennialism untrue.  And although she professes to believe in freewill, her Calvinism also causes her problems.  Some of her arguments are just as specious as the ones she is trying to counter from atheists.
            On the other hand, this can be used carefully as a guide in talking to your children about the things they will hear at school, on media, and from friends.  Several chapters contain a wealth of information that will save you a lot of time gathering for yourself.  My husband will in fact use some of it in the high school class he is teaching, but he has a great deal of knowledge gathered over decades and can find his way through the potholes.  We also have a son who has a degree in Apologetics to bounce some of these things off of.  If you use this book, be sure you use some of the same kind of resources to avoid problems.
            Keeping Your Kids on God's Side is published by Harvest House Publishers.
 
Dene Ward

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Finally, a book with an answer that makes sense.
            Everyone has problems.  We all face trials.  Sometimes it seems that God has especially chosen us for the worst.  List all the things that can happen:  chronic pain and illness, increasing disabilities, loss of loved ones in events that seem random and meaningless, severe financial reversals, or as Paul puts it:  Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches (2Cor 11:24-28).  If righteousness made a difference, surely none of these things would have happened to that great apostle.
            And of course, we have Job who lost everything, including every one of his children.  Yet God never told him why.  Job was never given an explanation.  Is this book the explanation?  If not, it seems to come awfully close.  This is the only book my well-read husband has ever read and, upon reading the last page, turned back to page one and started again.  That is the best recommendation I could give any book.
            Celebrating the Wrath of God is published by Waterbrook Press.
 
Dene Ward
 

This book shocked me.  Instead of reading all the reasons the Bible does not mean what it says, Kassian carefully exegetes all those passages about a woman's role in the family and the church, and comes up with almost all of the same conclusions I have.  She believes in the hierarchy established by God based upon the creation of man and woman, and tells us exactly why it has to be that way.
            Please reread the above paragraph and in your mind underline almost all.  In the first place, as a Baptist, she believes in Calvinism.  At least twice she tells us that we cannot do good unless the Holy Spirit acts on our hearts (Irresistible Grace).  Then you will find a couple of places where, after carefully and logically going through a passage, she simply asserts something without proof or quotes the passage incorrectly, leading to the opposite conclusion she should have reached.  When it comes to the head covering issue, she reads right over something that for me is the pivot point in my understanding of the text.  With all of these warnings, however, I think you would be like me, shocked to find a modern woman who, for the most part, gets it and does not resent what cannot be changed based upon the order of creation.  And she makes several arguments I have made myself in explaining these things.
            Chapter 12 on Feminism, is one of the most helpful chapters.  She explains the different kinds of feminism and carefully shows their error.  She comes right out and says that "Biblical Feminism" just plain isn't, which I found refreshing coming from a woman.  Her conclusion about that branch of feminism is that if you take their stand, you can ignore any part of the Bible you don't care for.  She is absolutely right, and needs to apply that to her own theology as well.
            This book was printed in 1990.  If you Google it, you can find many different places that carry it used.  I am positive I found my copy in a used book store, I just don't remember where.  I looked up her books on Christianbook.com, however, and could not find it new among the other nine or so of her books listed.  The book is no longer listed on Crossway Books, who first published it, but it is out there and easily found with a little web surfing, if you are interested.
 
Dene Ward

Usually I will not recommend a Bible study workbook written by a member of a denomination.  Far too often, the author's theology gets in the way of the Truth.  In fact, let me start this out with a brief description of this author and her affiliation.  Cynthia Heald is evidently well-known in Protestant circles.  She works for The Navigators, which is described as a "para-church."  Para-churches are Christian organizations that work outside of and across denominational lines to participate in social welfare and evangelism.  They are usually quite large.  You will probably not agree with a lot of her beliefs in that regard.
            So why would I even read the book, much less recommend it?  Because, by and large, much of the study involves reading scriptures and discovering what is in them yourself—which is exactly the way I write Bible class literature:  read God's Word and see what it says.  She does offer a small bit of commentary, but it is truly small and I found only a little in it to disagree with, nothing you couldn't easily see for yourself.
            When I write class books, I expect the teacher to adapt it, both the format and the instruction, to what best suits the abilities and needs of her students.  In my teacher's manuals, I often give far too many supporting scriptures to use, so the teacher must go through them and choose the ones she thinks need to be included in the study.  I may give half a dozen practical applications.  Some of them are unsuited to a particular culture and some are on the nose.  Once again, it is up to her what to use and how.  If you use this book exactly the same way, never being afraid to point out anything--and really there is very little--that is simply wrong, then I think it could be helpful.
            However, this book will not work with a class that is not willing to be open and honest, both with each other and with themselves.  But then, that is true of any Bible class and is the very atmosphere I try to foster wherever and whenever I teach.  Frank discussion and sharing of one's weaknesses and the solutions that have and have not worked are how we help one another.
            I counted 10 other "Becoming a Woman of…" books on Mrs. Heald's website.  Honestly, though, I think they would get a bit monotonous if studied one after the other.  This is the one I had and I assume the format, which is not objectionable, would be the same.  If it sounds like something you might like to try, you don't have to be afraid to do so.
            Becoming a Woman of Excellence is published by the Navigators through NavPress.
 
Dene Ward

First, please note:  "Second Edition."  This book is written by various members of the Florida College Bible faculty, and was intended as their own textbook to the class "Survey of the Pauline Epistles" which was first offered in 2018.  At that time the book included only essays on each epistle so that it could be printed in time for classes.  But over the years essays on "Pauline thought" were added.  These include Paul's view of God, Scripture, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Humanity, Sin, and Salvation, and several other topics, all taken not just from one epistle but all of them as an aggregate.  Indeed, the first edition anticipated the second and would have been that if not for the time factor.
            Second, do not think "textbook."  That may be an unfortunate description of a book that is far more and will be used often as the reader grows in his knowledge of the Word and begins to teach more.  The second edition opens with the newer essays and lays a good foundation that enhances the essays on the epistles.  Those essays, just as in the first edition, cover each epistle thoroughly with things like date, culture, themes and content, giving you both a new appreciation and possibly even a new viewpoint for each of those books.  This should be thought of as a necessary book for any Bible class teacher.  It can profoundly affect his ability to teach each epistle accurately as he learns its context and purpose.
            As with any collection, the essays are not equal.  Some are better written than others.  But the book is well worth your time and money overall because most are excellent or even better than that.  Just to name a few you do not want to miss:  David McClister on "Paul's View of the Holy Spirit," Tom Hamilton on "Paul's View of the Local Congregation," and Nathan Ward's "Paul's View of Humanity, Sin, and Salvation."  In the essays on each epistle, David McClister will let you know that yes indeed, there is a reason to study Philemon after all.  And leaving any of the others out in this list does not mean that they are not worthy of your attention just that I did not want to list almost every essay in the book!
            From the Pen of Paul is published by Florida College Press.
 
Dene Ward

DeWard Publishing Company has begun a new collection called The Heritage of Faith Library, which they define as "Classic Christian Reprints."  All of these books are old, but all of them have stood the test of time and are still well worth yours.  I just finished reading one of them, The Training of the Twelve.
            First, what should be some obvious caveats.  When you are reading books over a century old as many (most?) of these are, the language will be challenging.  The sentence structure is a bit more complex.  You simply cannot rush through it.  You might need a dictionary at hand for words you have never heard in your life and which may no longer even be in use.  Consider it a learning experience.  Don't read too much at once, maybe 8-12 pages, depending on the length of a chapter or even a section in a chapter.  Then stop and think awhile.  Your critical thinking cannot help but improve.
            So why is this book worth all that trouble?  Suddenly you will see the Gospels as Jesus' method of teaching his disciples instead of a history/biography and/or a defining of the rules of the new Kingdom.  You will understand why Jesus may have chosen the parables he did at the time he did.  You will feel the impact of certain teachings on the disciples themselves.  For instance, even though I knew it and could have told you if you had asked, John 15 and the vine analogy occur the night Jesus was betrayed.  Within an hour or two, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6), was no longer theoretical, but painfully real about someone they had known very well for over three years.  I had never thought about that before, completely divorcing this chapter from its context.  This book will help you feel with the apostles the effects of Jesus' teachings in a tangible way.
            Another warning:  Bruce has a habit of paraphrasing and extrapolating.  Keep a Bible handy so you know when one stops and the other begins.  As for the paraphrasing, it is another way of helping you see the impact of Jesus' words and actions on his disciples.  It may or may not be exactly what they were thinking and feeling at the time, but you would never have even considered the possibilities without it. 
            DeWard has other books in this series that are well worth your time.  They are classics for a reason.  A guest writer has already reviewed Albertus Pieters's book on Revelation, The Lamb, the Woman, and the Dragon, and proclaimed it the best out there (see right sidebar for Book Reviews and scroll through it).  And everyone interested in evidences ought to read Haygood's Man of Galilee.  I heard J. W McGarvey's Original Commentary on Acts quoted from as a child.  Go to DeWard.com to find the complete collection of 14.  More may be in the works.  Keep an eye open for them.

Dene Ward

Lydia McGrew has written four evidences books that I know of.  This is the second I have read, and it is every bit as good as the first one.  Her aim every time is to prove that the Gospels are reliable reportage about what happened in first century Palestine with Jesus and his apostles.  Most of her books are accessible to the average reader and this one is no exception.
            Ms. McGrew makes new arguments and revives older ones that have been abandoned to show why we can trust the "four evangelists," as scholars call Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  And she shows without much regret why modern critical scholars, some of whom she names, are "all wet."  Her chapters include things like Undesigned Coincidences, Unnecessary Details, Unexplained Allusions, and Unexpected Harmonies among others, to prove that what the gospel writers have left us is absolute truth, not made up stories.  Some of these are things you and I take for granted, never realizing their value as evidence material.  You will be emboldened by her arguments and ready to face your skeptical friends with new vigor.  And you will learn more about the gospels than you ever have sitting in an auditorium Bible class!
            Testimonies to the Truth is published by DeWard Publishing.
 
Dene Ward

Those of us in North Florida who have been around awhile, know the name "L. A. Mott."  Though he has passed on to his reward, he still might be one of the most respected preachers and teachers in our area, and the entire southeast for that matter.  I have reviewed several of his books before.  This one is the transcription of three lessons he taught in Atlanta in October, 1976, regarding, as the title says, faith as explained and taught in the book of Romans.
            Romans is widely regarded as one of the most difficult epistles.  Part of that is the fact that we spend so much time on "what it doesn't teach" and neglect to let the entire context of the book show us what it does teach.  My husband Keith also does an admirable job with Romans, lessons I have heard over and over, so it was especially interesting to hear brother Mott's approach.  They are very much the same.  While he may barely mention a couple of false doctrines, he spends the majority of his time doing exactly as Keith does—showing what faith is in the context of Romans, not what it isn't. 
            This book is three lessons so I read it in three days.  It is perfectly comprehensible, but the subject matter is not exactly shallow either, so I let each lesson "sit" a day to make sure it jelled.  Otherwise I could have read it in about an hour and a half.
            The last lesson was most appreciated.  Brother Mott deals with the problem of Christians who are "running scared," as he puts it, unsure of their salvation and fretting themselves to death, lying awake worrying at night over whether they are saved or not.  He shows you that this is not the life a Christian should be living, not a life of faith, and tells you how to do otherwise.  I know many who need this.
            Now the difficult part.  Amazon says this book is "temporarily unavailable."  So does Abebooks.  I couldn't even find it on Thriftbooks or Alibris.  You might try calling the Florida College Bookstore, CEI Bookstore, or OneStone.  Even if they don't have it, they might be able to give you a contact.  I hope you can find it, and if you do, enjoy an excellent study.
 
Dene Ward