THE LOGIC OF GOD, by Ravi Zacharias

This book s part apologetics and part devotional. It uses apologetics in 52 devotions. Apparently, these are supposed to cover each week of the year, if preferred. Ravi Zacharias starts this volume with an Introduction. Then he launches into each of his 52 devotions. Each devotion begins with a cover page containing a Bible verse. He ends each chapter with questions for personal reflection, and questions. The author ends his book with Acknowledgements, an author bio, and Notes on all the sources consult for each chapter. Ravi Zacharias, the author, describes himself as a former skeptic before he became a christian. He is the Found and President of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and has written or edited over 25 books in theology, apologetics, camparative religion and philosophy.

This devotional is meant to be read slowly. Each of the 52 devotions is meant to be digested for a week, adding up to a year for all 52 devotions. Because of time constraints, I could not wade through devotions at that pace. I was glad that many of the illustrations are taken straight from the Bible, not from events in the life of the author or others around him. I averaged three or four devotions each day. The author makes his case for his principles in each devotion. At the end of each devotion, we have to ask ourselves a couple of questions that indicate that we have comprehended the gist of the chapter. Then we answer two questions that are personal, meant to apply Scripture to our own hearts and lives. The first two questions are meant to get the reader to pay attention to the material. The second two questions, often uncomfortable, are designed to personalize the devotion.

I recommend this devotional for all Christians at any level of spiritual maturity. It is designed for the Church to know God better and to influence those around them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of this book? I was not required to give this book a favorable review.

CASE FOR CHRIST (Devotional), by Lee Strobel

This is a devotional. But it is written in an apologetic venue. Apologetics is Lee Strobel's theology specialty. A former atheist, Strobel has written many apologetics venue. He also serves as a teaching pastor at a Texas Church, Woodlands Church. These are some of his many apologetics books. Among his books are THE CASE FOR CHRIST, THE CASE FOR FAITH, and seasonal books like THE CASE FOR EASTER. Mark Mittelberg is the other author for this devotional. He is a Christian author, speaker, and outreach strategist. In this devotional, Strobel and Mittelberg begin this book with an Introduction. They spread the content across 358 actual pages of material. Each devotion begins with a Bible verse.Each devotion is about two pages long. Each devotion ends with a food for thought segment after the devotion. Strobel and Mittelberg end with Notes for each chapter, author bios for Strobel and Mittelberg.

I have just finished these devotions early this evening. As i was reading them for review, I knew that I had only a limited amount of time to go through this book. But these devotions are meant to be read maybe once a day. The material, which is heavy on loving God and Christ with all our minds and all else we have, and sharing His message with others, may be easy to grasp intellectually. But they are hard to apply to one's life. I was glad that the authors leave out politics, for the most part. But I could pretty much guess where they lean. At a time where the United States is so divided, this divide affects the Church between the Religious right (who focus on opposing abortion and same-sex marriage and the Religious Left (who focus on opposing racism, social and economic injustice and man's cruelty to man). I found this book encouraging and challenging.

I recommend this book for everyone. It is especially intended for Christians at all levels of maturity.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a favorable review of this book.

Searching for Jesus by Robert J. Hutchsinson

This is an apologetics book how the Biblical Gospels authenticate the historical case fr Jesus. The author, Robert Hutchinson, got his degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of six books and has written for many national publications, including CHRISTIANITY TODAY. This book is solidly based on the research he has done to write it. He begins with an Author's Note which poses questions that this entire book are meant to explore and answer. He continues with an Introduction, which gives a summary of his experiences in the Holy Land, which give him much bacground for this book. He continues with a Prologue, which focuses on the Person of Jesus. The the author begins his actual first chapter, the first of his 11 chapters for this book. Each chapter ends with a number of books for suggested study. He ends the book with an Epilogue, which is like an afterthought to this book, acknowledgements of those who made this book possible and a bibliography. Finally, he concludes all this with many pages of notes, arranged as notes of sources used in each chapter.

I found this to be a fascinating book. While solidly based on research from start to finish, it was more than just another apologetics book. It was also a memoir of this author's experiences of the land where Jesus lived and walked when He was living as a human being. With his use of photos of the Holy Land, though in black and white, I got a feel for what life may have been when Jesus lived His human life here on earth 2000 years ago. I liked how he challenged some of the conclusions about how the Scriptures were written, translated and perserved over the centuries, that those in Christendom have traditionally made. He states that Jesus was probably a learned Rabbi, not an illiterate peasant as based on how He handled Himself in dealing with the religious leaders of His day. I was saddened at the very end of the book when the author states that on our own, none of us individual followers of Jesus reflect much of His goodness or decency. Yet I realize how true that this is. I liked how the author anticpates the arguments of those who may object to the assertions that he makes this book and then answers them. I got through this lengthy book faster than I thought I would because it was interesting and well-written.

As this is a rather long, scholarly book, I do not think it is for everyone. However, I do recommend it for all college students, including the non-Christian majority among them. This book may go a long way toward answering honest, intelectual doubts about the Bible and its authority. I recommend this book for all pastors and Christians who specialize in apologetics, as this book will equip them to better answer skeptical questions about the authority of Scripture and the reality of Jesus. I would like to see a youth version of this book written, as this is an age of reductionism and raionalism where everything is put through a test tube. It is true that we can never know God through our intellects, but all barriers tofaith, including intellectual doubts, need to be removed before people will consider Christ's claims.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review of this book.