The Scribe's Portion

"The Attributes of God" (Vol 1) by A.W. Tozer I enjoyed this Tozer book, it is very similar in nature to "Knowledge of the Holy" which is also a good one. Tozer discusses ten attributes of God: infinitude, immensity, goodness, justice, mercy, grace, omnipresence, immanence, holiness, and perfection. Something that I've always liked about Tozer is that he takes an extensive and complex topic and explains it so well in simple terms; the everyday vernacular that the average high school educated layman can understand. Tozer has given me much to chew on and process with this one. As Christians, we know about God's attributes but Tozer makes you really meditate on who we thought God was and takes it a step further. He puts our human thought and compares it to the elevated perspective of God, we then realize that it's one thing to know about God and another to know God. This is a great book on the attributes of God that is great for all- Christi...

"Jesus: The Life and Ministry of God the Son"  Collected Insights from A.W. Tozer   This is a collection of Tozer writings on the character and personhood of Jesus. He addresses the attributes of Jesus as the Son of God, the messianic prophecies that identify Him as the Messiah, the importance of His crucifixion and resurrection, and His character as part of the Godhead. These seventeen chapters each talk about an aspect of Jesus as He relates to our Christian faith. While I enjoyed most of the book and found some great quotes to highlight, I was expecting more on the character of God. Tozer spends the first few chapters on that but gets sidetracked in the last couple of chapters where he talks mainly about the misconceptions and wrong teachings Bible teachers and pastors promote about Jesus. I don't fault Tozer on this but rather whoever compiled these essays. This is a problem I have seen in various other Tozer volume compilations. This is the reason why I...

"Out of the Embers" (Mesquite Springs Book 1) by Amanda Cabot This sweet love, coming of age story is perfect for those looking for a good clean and faith novel. Faith plays a minor role in this Christian novel, which accounts for my taking away one star. Other than that, this book contains mystery, adventure, romance, and faith. I appreciate the protagonist, Evelyn Radcliffe, taking six-year-old Polly under her wing and becoming a mother of sorts. She looks beyond the prominent birthmark on her face and loves her unconditionally. Wyatt, the hero of the story, also takes on a role supporting his family after the death of his father and will stop at nothing to protect them. Both major characters are mature beyond their years and reading about their friendship blossoming into love was just sweet. This is a story about young love, faith, courage, and adventure. I recommend this book to teens and young adults alike. I received a copy of this book from Revell in ex...

"The Star of Persia: Esther's Story" by Jill Eileen Smith This was a great rendition of the story of Esther, queen of Persia. Now, let me start off by saying that I'm not a big fan of Bible story retellings. Moreso because I can't stand to see authors change how the Biblical narrative goes. For that reason, I only stick to Francine Rivers who always stays true to the original narrative. However, I had heard so much about this author that I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed how the author did justice to the story of Esther.  I love that she stuck with the main theme of faith, relying on God that all things happen in His time for His divine purpose. Esther constantly asked the same question, that many of us struggle with "what is my purpose?" Her story is very relevant to us today. Jill did an amazing execution with this novel. Although some details were changed from the original story, I didn't mind so mu...

"The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible" by John A. Beck This is a very helpful and much-needed resource! I'm glad I chose to review this compact Bible atlas. Although not exhaustive, the maps in this book are thorough and the information that goes along with each map is enlightening. It breaks down the maps into sections and in Biblical chronological order. Starting with the creation and ending with the early church. I have learned quite a bit just by flipping through the pages. The maps are clean and easy to follow.  I really liked the Jesus section, it brings Biblical times back to life and helps you understand Scripture more fully in the right context. I love resources such as this one because it makes you appreciate the Bible even more.  This is a great addition to every personal library - if you're looking for a Bible Atlas, get this one you won't regret it.  I received a copy of this book from Baker in exc...