Reviews by Jonathon Burns
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Bound Together
On 5/16 Jonathon Burns wrote: Individuality is something desired by many, especially in the United States. We want to be judged by our own choices and make our own path. When someone else's choices negatively affect us we want to be disassociated with that person. In Bound Together, Chris Brauns wants to show that we are not ... Bound Together by Chris Brauns
God's Not Dead
On 4/6 Jonathon Burns wrote: It seems like attacks against Christianity are growing more direct and reaching an ever widening audience. At the same time, it is rare to hear a solid defense to the attacks. Usually defense’s offered seem shallow, or they don’t hit as wide an audience. This is what prompted Rice Broocks to write ... God's Not Dead by Rice Broocks
Next Door Savior
On 2/11 Jonathon Burns wrote: Too often Christians explain Jesus in terms that can make him seem unreachable. Or they go in the opposite direction, and talk about his humanity while neglecting the divine. In his book Next Door Savior, Max Lucado writes to bring both to the table. One of the things I appreciate about Lucado is his ... Savior Next Door by Max Lucado
Darkness Rising
On 1/30 Jonathon Burns wrote: Darkness is moving around East Salem. After the events in Waking Hours the darkness is getting worse. After discovering the person behind a gruesome murder, Dani and Tommy wade deeper in the supernatural world. No longer is it a fringe element, with angels and demons making their appearance. Working ... Darkness Rising by Lis Wiehl
Red Letter Revolution
On 11/24 Jonathon Burns wrote: I didn’t expect a whole lot in opening this book. I was mildly familiar with Shane Claiborne and had no idea who this Tony Campolo guy was. Disappointment started in the first chapter. The authors begin with the history of Red Letter Christians, as well as offering a defense for it. This was ... Red Letter Revolution by Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo
House of Mercy
On 9/3 Jonathon Burns wrote: Beth is a young woman with a dream of becoming a vet. She has a love of animals, and as she works with injured animals, she begins to wonder if she has a gift of healing. Being a vet would allow her to work at her parent’s ranch in a role that she would enjoy. However, in an attempt to help a nearby ... House of Mercy by Erin Healy
A Shot of Faith (to the Head)
On 6/4 Jonathon Burns wrote: n the era of the internet, opinions are a mere click away. So are rants, meaningless gibberish, anger, and people are always `right.' Bring in television, film, and book publishing, there are a multitude of ways not only to present an opinion, but also to hear it. In an age where everyone tries to have ... Well thought out and reasoned book
The 13th Tribe
On 4/17 Jonathon Burns wrote: After the Israelites were caught worshiping the Golden Calf at the foot of Mt. Sinai, they were severely punished by God. They are punished by God for their sin. However, Liparulo paints a picture in which the true extend of the punishment is not completely revealed in Exodus. Of the Israelites, ... The 13th Tribe by Robert Liparulo
Called to Controversy
On 2/21 Jonathon Burns wrote: Upon receiving Called to Controversy I had no idea what to expect. I requested it from Booksneeze because the title sounded interesting, a reason that has not always worked out so well in the past. Ruth Rosen tells the story of her father, Moishe, the man who founded Jews for Jesus. To my delight, ... Called to Controversy by Ruth Rosen
The Voice New Testament: Revised & Updated
On 1/4 Jonathon Burns wrote: Working with Ecclesia Bible Society, Thomas Nelson has published, “The Voice,” a new translation of the New Testament. The goal of “The Voice” is to make the story of the Bible readable and engaging, even for those who may be unfamiliar with the texts. I’ll do my best here to highlight ... The Voice: New Testament
Why Men Hate Going to Church
On 10/23 Jonathon Burns wrote: Churches today are facing a problem: they are having trouble drawing in men. According to Murrow, a typical church service’s attendance is predominantly female, at 61%. Furthermore, women tend to volunteer more, and most Christian colleges also have a noticeable gap between male and female attendance. ... Why Men Hate Going To Church by David Murrow
Ascent from Darkness
On 9/29 Jonathon Burns wrote: Ascent from Darkness is probably one of the most chilling books I’ve read, made more so because it is a true story. Feeling unfulfilled by where his life was leading him, Michael dedicated his life to the service of Satan. Through much of it he tried leading a double life. He tried to keep this ... Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan
With
On 8/23 Jonathon Burns wrote: There are some books which make me nervous before I pick them up, and not in a, “I’m afraid this book might actually challenge me” sort of way. The books that make me nervous feel like they were written because the author felt obligated to write a book. Often this is a feeling I get when I ... With by Skye Jethani
J.R.R. Tolkien
On 7/19 Jonathon Burns wrote: When I was in late elementary school, my parents read me The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings – I quickly fell in love with both. Since then I read the books numerous times and did more than one report on J.R.R. Tolkien, especially where The Lord of the Rings was concerned. When I saw that Thomas ... Christian Encounters: J.R.R. Tolkien by Mark Horne
A Place Called Blessing
On 6/25 Jonathon Burns wrote: When I picked up A Place Called Blessing I had no idea that it was written as a story to outline ideas brought up in the book The Blessing (co-authored by Dr. John Trent). A Place Called Blessing tells the story of Josh, a child who is placed in foster care after his parents die in a car accident. ... A Place Called Blessing by Dr. John Trent and Annette Smith
Be the People
On 6/8 Jonathon Burns wrote: "A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise"What is America’s future? Is the country moving on the right path, or the wrong path? How do we get on the right path? If you were to ask random people these questions, you’d probably get an equal number of random answers, some more ... Be the People by Carol M. Swain
Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me
On 5/30 Jonathon Burns wrote: Subtitled: "A Memoir of Sorts…" by Ian Morgan CronThe first thing that caught my eye on this cover was the word, “CIA.” Then I saw the image of a young child waving at the photographer (the photo is an actual photo from Ian’s childhood). The title and synopsis promises a story ... Jesus, my Father, the CIA, and Me - a review
Nick of Time
On 4/30 Jonathon Burns wrote: Nick of Time by Tim DownsNick of Time is the 5th Bug Man book starting Nick Polchak. I will avoid major spoilers for Nick of Time, but there may be spoilers for the earlier books.Nick Polchak is getting married. At the end of the previous novel, Nick proposed. But the story ended before we knew ... Nick of Time - a review
Max On Life
On 4/18 Jonathon Burns wrote: Max on Life by Max LucadoMax Lucado seems as if he is constantly writing! He publishes at least one book a year, though including gift books there are often more. His books have connected with people in various stages of their Christian faith. His most popular titles include 3:16, Facing Your Giants, ... Max on Life - a review
The Final Summit
On 4/11 Jonathon Burns wrote: David Ponder, first appearing in The Traveler's Gift, returns in The Final Summit, set nearly 30 years after his quest for knowledge and truth. He has learned the Seven Decisions and has worked hard to employ them in everything he does. Yet he seems to have hit some sort of rut in his life, despite all ... The Final Summit
The Promises She Keeps
On 2/20 Jonathon Burns wrote: The Promises She Keeps is the second solo novel by Erin Healy, who broke into fiction writing by co-authoring with Ted Dekker on Kiss and Burn. Her first solo outing was titled Never Let You Go. As would be expected by someone who worked with Ted Dekker, Healy’s novel writing bears strong elements ... The Promises She Keeps - a review
The Jesus Inquest
On 1/30 Jonathon Burns wrote: Charles Foster is a barrister in England (a barrister is a type of lawyer). In deciding to write about the authenticity for the death and resurrection of Christ, he decided to take an approach which felt most comfortable to him: that of a lawyer. The Jesus Inquest is an interesting book in that it strives ... The Jesus Inquest
Slave
On 12/23 Jonathon Burns wrote: In his newest book, Slave, John MacArthur examines the way the Bible in commonly translated. Specifically he examines the term that we commonly render as ‘servant.’ According to MacArthur, this may be a mistranslation and the original language may mean something closer to – “Slave.” Don’t ... Slave by John MacArthur, your true identity in Christ
Seeds of Turmoil
On 11/30 Jonathon Burns wrote: The story of the conflict in the Middle East is a troubled one. Today that conflict seems to reach headlines nearly every day. Whether a terrorist bombing, the current US military operations, or Islamic leaders decrying Israel. The story behind this is also a long one. For many people, the issue is thought ... Seeds of Turmoil - The Biblical Story Behind Conflict in the Middle East
Illegals
On 10/18 Jonathon Burns wrote: Illegal immigration has become a very politically charged issue in the past couple of days, with both sides engaging in heated debates. Illegals is no exception. Ankarlo is strongly opposed to illegal immigration (though not immigration itself). He is firm in his position and often exudes what could ... Illegals by Darrell Ankarlo
The Gospel According to Jesus
On 9/24 Jonathon Burns wrote: The Gospel According to Jesus by Chris SeayWhen I picked up The Gospel According to Jesus, I wasn’t sure what to expect. At first I expected something along the lines of The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. I quickly realized this wasn’t the case. What this book is instead, is largely a look ... The Gospel According to Jesus
Outlive Your Life
On 9/10 Jonathon Burns wrote: If you have ever read a Max Lucado book before, you probably have noticed that all of his books follow a similar set up. The same is true with Lucado’s latest book – Outlive Your Life. Lucado follows the old adage of “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”. And it’s not broke as far as I can tell ... Timely Subject
The Falling Away
On 9/7 Jonathon Burns wrote: The Falling AwayThe Falling Away is the latest book by T.L. Hines and the first book of his that I have picked up.This is the story of Dylan, a wounded Iraq war veteran and a man who ends up being in the middle of a huge conflict of good and evil. Plus, he has a past that he feels the need to escape ... Falling Away
Patton (The Generals)
On 8/12 Jonathon Burns wrote: Patton by Agostino Von Hassell and Ed BreslinI usually find biographies a hit or miss. And If they miss, it’s usually because the writer makes even exciting events sound boring and fill the book with information that I never cared about. Thankfully Patton avoids these problems.Patton tells about ... Patton
Beyond Opinion
On 7/29 Jonathon Burns wrote: Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias Beyond Opinion is not a book a I would suggest reading in one sitting, or even in a couple settings. It is a compilation of essays from various people who practice apologetics. Ravi Zacharias is the general editor for the book and also contributed some of his own articles. ... Beyond Opinion
Wonders Never Cease
On 5/13 Jonathon Burns wrote: Wonders Never Cease by Tim DownsWARNING! If you are a fan of Tim Downs and are expecting something along the lines a Bug Man Novel, drop all expectations. This is not a gritty thriller that dives into the details of crime scenes leaving your hard pounding and sweat beading your forehead.If you have ... Wonders Never Cease
Plan B
On 5/9 Jonathon Burns wrote: Plan BPlan B, by Pete Wilson, reads like a generic “What Do I Do When Something Terrible Happens and I’m Wondering Where God Is?” sort of book. He offers examples of time when things go wrong in life that God is still present, even if it is not obvious. He interchanges personal experiences with ... Plan B
After the Hangover
On 4/13 Jonathon Burns wrote: After the HangoverNo, it’s not a written sequel to the hit movie.“Oh no, not another political book about the awfulness of Liberalism and the death of Conservatism”—this was my first reaction when I saw the description. I received the book from Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze Program and none ... After the Hangover
Why You Say It
On 3/22 Jonathon Burns wrote: Why You Say It Being a lover of words and phrase as well as being a writer, I decided to try Web Garrison's Why You Say It as part of Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program. Little did I realize this is not a brand new book, but rather a reprinted one. It was first published around 2000 (according to the ... Why You Say It
The Word of Promise New Testament
On 2/10 Jonathon Burns wrote: Word of Promise – New TestamentPreviously I have reviewed Word of Promise: Next Generation. That audio set featured voices of many teen stars and was aimed at the teenage audience. This audio set is the New Testament (as was the other one) but features “mature” voices such as Jim Caviezel (Passion ... Word of Promise. New Testament
The Search for God and Guinness
On 12/7 Jonathon Burns wrote: The Search for God and GuinnessWhen I think of a book about historical events I usually think President’s, war, and scientific discoveries. I don’t think of beer. However, that is what part of Stephen Mansfield’s The Search for God and Guinness is all about. Still, it’s not just about beer. ... Search for God and Guinness
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
On 9/29 Jonathon Burns wrote: A Million Mile in a Thousand Years by Donald MillerDonald Miller is back! Yes! Long have I been anticipating his latest book (I actually didn’t even know he had a new one coming out until I checked Thomas Nelson’s web page and saw it). Needless to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated ... A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Green
On 9/23 Jonathon Burns wrote: Green by Ted DekkerThe very first book I ever read by Ted Dekker was “Three.” After that I was hooked and I rushed to the library to read every Ted Dekker book available. When a new book came out I would hurry to find it. Though some of his books have disappointed me (“Skin” and “Showdown”) ... Green by Ted Dekker
Fearless
On 9/8 Jonathon Burns wrote: I have never read a Max Lucado book before.Well, at least that I remember. I may have heard/read of his children’s books, but none come to mind. So, Fearless was my introduction to Max Lucado.Overall, I liked this book. Lucado is a strong writer and uses examples that really connect. One of my ... Fearless - Max Lucado
Let Go
On 8/30 Jonathon Burns wrote: Oh, how to begin?First I’d like to clarify: This was not a terrible book; I just didn’t care for it much.When I ordered it, I neglected to look at the subtitle: “Live Free of the Burdens all Women Know.” Whoops. Being a guy, I would not have ordered this book had I realized this. This was ... Let Go -- Sheila Walsh
Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl
On 8/6 Jonathon Burns wrote: N.D. Wilson’s Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl is a strange book.I can’t really think of any way to describe it. Indeed, it resembles a tilt-a-whirl…when the ride is finished, you’re so dizzy, you aren’t even sure of what you just read, let alone if it made any sense.There were many small bits ... Notes from the Tilt a Whirl
It Happened In Italy
On 6/4 Jonathon Burns wrote: It Happened in Italy, by Elizabeth Bettina, is an intriguing little book about the holocaust. Instead of focusing on Germany, however, Bettina focuses on Italy, and the Jews living there. Revealed in this book is a little known piece of history: whereas almost all the Jew who went through German concentration ... It Happened in Italy
The Noticer
On 4/27 Jonathon Burns wrote: How does one sum up The Noticer, for it is a story of life: life’s tragedies, hopes, and remedies.Plot-wise, it is a story of a man named Jones, who goes about offering a little of what he calls, ‘perspecitive.’ He mostly stays out of sight, noticing things about people. Small things. And sometimes ... The Noticer
Face of Betrayal
On 4/25 Jonathon Burns wrote: Cassidy (a reporter), Allison (a Federal Prosecutor), and Nicole (an FBI agent) are very close friends. They decide to call themselves the Triple Threat. All three of them become involved in the case of Katie, a missing senate page. Questions surround the disappearance: suicide, running away, or kidnapping. ... Face of Betrayal
The Rivers Run Dry
On 4/13 Jonathon Burns wrote: The Rivers Run Dry is the second book about Special Agent Raleigh Harmon. Though I have not read the first book, I had no trouble at all delving into this story.Harmon has been transferred to Seattle, on what appears to have been disciplinary action. While she is in Seattle, a hiker goes missing. ... The Rivers Run Dry
Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament MP3 Set
On 3/29 Jonathon Burns wrote: The Word of Promise: Next Generation c.d. set proved to be a very convenient way to listen to the Bible. Whether driving, studying, or working out, I can quickly flip it on and chose what part of the New Testament to listen to. On top of that, it isn’t even like listening to dry book on tapes, with ... The Word of Promise -- Review
Rachel's Tears
On 3/11 Jonathon Burns wrote: Rachel’s Tears by Beth Nimmo and Darrell ScottThere are some events that will never be forgotten. Among them is the Columbine shooting in 1999 which claimed the lives of thirteen people, including Rachel Joy Scott. Rachel’s Tears is comprised mainly with stories from her parents about their life ... Rachel's Tears