Conversations on Faith's Beauty and Logic
Bill Giovannetti
(Endurant Press)
ISBN: 978-0983681267
September 2011/208 pages/$13.99
Thou shalt tolerate every opinion... except the Christian's. Today's postmodern "prime directive" leaves many followers of Jesus tongue-tied. In the global village, isn't it unreasonable, and even dangerous, to suggest that the Bible has a monopoly on truth?
The church needs a new breed of Christ-follower. We need Christ-followers who are alert to today's touchy ideas, the truths that fire up more heat than light. We need Christ-followers who can make a clear case for the Bible's worldview; who are ready to help our friends think through their beliefs; who can recognize inconsistencies and challenge them; and who can do all of this with humility, confidence, humor, and love. For more information visit the book's website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill is celebrating the new Kindle edition of Four Letter Words (only $4.99)! He’ll be traveling coast to coast over the next few weeks on this virtual book tour and he's celebrating by hosting a great giveaway!
Click here to find out how you can win two gift certificates to Amazon (in the amount of $50 and $25) and free downloads of his yet-to-be-released title, Recession-Proof: Living a God-Blessed Life in a Messed Up World.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book endeavors to help teens know what and why they believe so that they are able to defend their faith. It has some excellent points and I like how each chapter begins with several Scriptures relating to that chapter's focus. The title is catchy, as the Four Letter Words of which Bill Giovannetti writes are not edgy but are simply words such as True, Know, Pain, Evil, and Wait, among others. Talking points in the back of each chapter, a discussion guide available for download, and scannable "QR Enabled" codes throughout make this an interactive book which will appeal to Christian teens. While I didn't agree with everything exactly as he presented it, this will be an asset to students looking for answers to deeper questions of faith. I would recommend this book be used in a group led by a wise adult rather than just handing it to a youth to read without discussing the content further.
I do think teens need to be cautioned against expecting to debate someone into becoming a Christian; the Holy Spirit must woo and draw a seeking heart. And the idea that folks have to understand and accept many theological concepts before believing is in opposition to the Bible's directive to come as a child. In fact, I'm reminded of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, where he said, "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." and "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power." (I Corinthians 1:20-21, 2:4-5) The neighbors and friends of the blind man whom Jesus healed, and even the Pharisees, peppered him with questions about Jesus, and his response was ". . .I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25)
See what others are saying about this book and follow the blog tour here
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity and Endurant Press as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Sounds like a book to add to my grands collection.
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