A Book Review: Lectio Divina Bible Sutdy

Over the past 10+ years, and more so over the past 7ish years, I have been an avid reader of the Catholic Theology and Philosophies. I am striving to “grow into” my faith in a more profound way than I have to date, and I am always looking for a good book t read on the subject. Through The Catholic Company, I have found a great resource of books to choose from, and I get some free by reviewing them, as I am this one.

This book is a hard book to review. While it has several great Bishops and other people giving it great reviews and a strong backing, I fear I do not agree with their thoughts on the book. While it is structurally correct, as near as I can tell in my neophyte status within the Church, in general I do not agree with the resources he pulls together to support his claims. The writing is hard to read and follow, and over all I was not impressed.

The book does have some good gems though, and the concept the Author, Stephen J. Binz, shows is valid, and is a good way to process the Bible as you read it.

Not an easy read, and not a book I’d want to have bought.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Lectio Divina Bible Study: Sacraments.

Meet the Saints: A Book Review

Over the past several years I have been very interested in the Saints of the Catholic Church. I have been wanting to know their history, how they became Saints, and a bit about them. I have read many books on individual Saints and a few on groups of Saints.

Most of those books put words into the mouths of the Saints, as well as feelings and thoughts, that I often felt the author had no way of knowing if it was true or not. Basically putting words into the mouth of the Saint where I felt they shouldn’t.

This book broke the mold I was seeing in the other books. The book takes 12 months of articles posted in a newsletter series called “Walking With the Saints”. It covers the lives of 37 Saints and what got them Sanctified.

It is an easy book to read, well written and informational. It appears to be factual without glorification. The result is well received by me, and I’m betting by you as well.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Meet the Saints. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Clement and the Early Church of Rome: On the Dating of Clement’s First Epistle to the Corinthians – A Book Review

I selected this book from the list available at the Reviewers section of The Catholic Company, as I am very interested in the foundations of the Catholic Church, and the early writings of the Church.

I highly recommend before acquiring or reading this book that you acquire and read a copy of the two letters sent by St. Clement to the Corinthians, as it will make the reading of this text mean more to you.

Over all the book was pretty good. Reverend Thomas J. Herron goes into great detail into the history of the time and the reasoning he has for dating the writings as he does. He has, what I believe to be, sound reasoning behind his though processes, and gives strong validation to those thoughts.

Why is this important? It provides a context to the extent of the Church at the time of Clement before and after he took over as the “Pope” (he was not called Pope in that time in history) of the Christian Church. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the foundations of the Christian and specifically the Catholic Faith.

It is a well written book, worth the read, but I’m not sure most lay people would want to acquire this book, unless they are historians.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Clement and the Early Church of Rome . They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

Reading Books – Paper or electronic?

Over the last few months I have read several blog entries on reading books, which was better, reading from a paper book or reading from an electronic book. Last night, Christmas Day, we went to my wife’s brother’s house for dinner and another exchange, and the topic came up there as well.

Those people on the side of reading books in paper format have the following reasons, among others, for preferring to read in paper:

Those people that advocate the electronic books mainly say:

For the past 5-6 years, since the e-book concept has been around, I have tried reading books on my Palm, or on my laptop, and just couldn’t get into it. I agreed with many of the comments that the pro-paper book people had to say.

But with the advent of the current e-book hardware options, I have to say I’m a VERY happy convert. I have acquired, thanks to my wife, a Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology. Some of the worries I had initially where screen flicker, hard to read, eye and hand strain. None of these issues are present with this great device. I have been able to now purchase over 40 books, receive them instantly, and start reading them when I am ready to. And I can read them on my computer or cell phone if I want as well, at no added cost. (Not that I will often.) After having my first Kindle stolen at work, when I receive the replacement, bought by my wife again, I was able to instantly update the books I had purchased before to the new Kindle.

LOVE it!

So, my reasons for going to electronic books:

I have to say the reasons to stick with a paper book, especially in today’s economy and with environmental concerns are no longer valid, we should all shift to ebooks…

YAY!!

Not that any of you were using it, but it gives my wife easier access to my wish list, Amazon has created their own widget for wish list for blogging, so I have my wish list back in the mix!! Scroll down and you should see it. At the same time, I was able to get my book and movie reviews back in place (as I waited for my car to warm up to go to Mass)! So, I’m happy again!!

Feel free to use the wish list to see what I would like.. Like I said, mainly books…

What do you want for Christmas?

For those of you that celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts, what are you wanting for Christmas, if you could have anything you wanted?

Aside from books, especially for my Kindle, about the only thing I’m wanting this year is this:

So if you are looking for a gift idea, send away.

SHiFT! – Turn Prospects into Customers – A Book Review

For the past several years I have been on LinkedIn member, building connections and business. In the process, I became connected with Craig Elias, a very successful person that has done outstanding in the sales area. One of my weak areas, but an area I have been deep in as an owner or senior executive of several business.

He recently published a book with Tibor Shanto outlining their well developed sales techniques for all to use:

Over the past several years these two gentlemen have developed a system that seems to me to work well.

The book takes you through the process of evaluating your past successes, and showing you how to fine tune recognizing what works and what hasn’t worked, but the focus is on what works.

They then take you through the process of knowing who and when to make your sells calls, and how to go about it. The detail they give you and the reasoning behind what they tell us is VERY valid and matches what I found upon reviewing my past successes after reading this book.

Throughout the book you are taking to their web sites to get some great paper tools to help you through the process, and for even more great information.

You can also get more information by going to this page where you are able to get on their email list for great info, and get a better preview of the book.

If you are in sales, and in almost any job you are in, you are involved in sales in one form or another, this book is a MUST read book. It is available at Amazon.com in both Kindle format and in hard and soft format.

Just “Who Is Jesus Christ?” – A Book Review

The list of books available to select from this time around from The Catholic Company Book Reviewer Program made it hard to choose a book to read. There are some great sounding titles there. At first glance I passed on this book, “Who is Jesus Christ?” for many reasons. One of those reasons is that every Protestant Preacher seems to lean on and preach mainly out of this book, and not out of the whole Bible. But I kept coming back to it, and I finally picked it. I’m glad I did!

This books was a great read. It went through the 25 titles and names given to our Savior and Christ, Jesus. In each naming, Eric Sammons, the author, gives great detail behind each title, the meaning of that title or name, and why it is important. He adds text from the Leaders and Doctors of the Church and what they have had to say about the titles/names as well, adding more credence to what he says. He ends each section with a question about that name or title or the meaning behind it and how it effects you, or your response to it, which really got me thinking on many levels.

This book is a MUST READ for any person starting in theology, or at any level of theological studies, and should be read by every Christian, especially Catholics!

This review was written as part of the Catholic Book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Who Is Jesus Christ? Unlocking the Mystery and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.