Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool and Wild Honey
by Margaret Feinberg

Author Website: www.MargaretFeinberg.com

Available in hardback and Kindle format. Zondervan, 2009; ISBN: 0310291224; 224 pages.
The author also has a 6-week DVD series and coordinating workbooks for small group discussions.

You've likely heard of Margaret Feinberg before. She has been named in a few prominent lists: "30 Emerging Voices" that will shape the next generation of Christians and "40 Under 40" who will shape Christian publishing, among others, I'm sure. She is the author of Organic God and The Sacred Echo.

Scouting the Divine is her most recently published book. It records her journey to discover the depths of meaning behind specific visuals in Scripture. We all know Jesus is the Great Shepherd, but what does that really mean? If we've never been around sheep or their caregivers, how can we fully understand? The author spent time with actual sheep and their shepherdess. She learned hands-on about wine and honey and farms. In this book she shares what she learned and how that tangible knowledge affects her understanding of Scripture.

When I first started reading this book, I felt it was redundant. How many pastors have stood behind pulpits and told us why the shepherd analogy makes sense or how Jesus' parables would have been received in His day? But the more I read, the more engrossed I became with these too-often simplified concepts. The author used every one of the five senses to put flesh on these parallels. Culturally we can be so far removed, but with her research and well-written help, we can see, touch, feel even taste and smell what the Scriptures really mean.

In the end, I enjoyed the book and do recommend it. Yes, parts may feel like she's stating the obvious, but most of it offers gems of comprehension sparkling with personal application.

One complaint (which has more to do with the publisher than the author or content): I didn't like the layout. The publisher chose block formatting rather than the traditional indented paragraph. This made me feel rushed, as if I were scanning an email rather than melting into a book. Also, the publisher often employed digits to section off the chapters rather than subtitles. It looked and felt like newly released software (2.3, etc.). Again, this made me feel rushed and disconnected to the content.

Final Thoughts: An interesting, insightful read, but not a must-have.

Angels
by David Jeremiah
Author Website: www.DavidJeremiah.org

Available in paperback. Multnomah Books, 2009; ISBN: 1601422695; 222 pages plus multiple indexes.

Angels does exactly what the subtitle suggests; it lays out “what the Bible reveals.”

Now, the Bible doesn’t tell us a lot about angels, but it reveals much. Let me explain what I mean. The Bible contains over three hundred direct reference to angels, but it doesn’t have a single book or passage that explains exactly how angels work or why God uses them. It doesn’t even expound upon the relationship or responsibilities between us and them. There are clues. There are stories. There are glimpses. David Jeremiah pieces all these together to offer an accurate picture in a condense and approachable package.

The content includes discussion about:

• What angels are
• God’s relationship with angels
• How they work
• How they worship
• Jesus’ relationship with angels
• When they appear
• Our relationship with angels
• Famous angels (and lesser known ones)
• Fallen angels and Satan
• Eternity with angels

There are several things I like about this book. The conversational, easy-to-read nature is one, but two attributes stand above the rest.

It is flooded with Scripture. Bookstores contain hundreds of books about angels, miraculous sightings and spiritual encounters. Experience is valuable, but its interpretation is subjective. I want to know the truth and the only way to know that is to study God’s Word. This book does contain relevant stories, but its focus is more on what Scripture teaches us about these heavenly beings.

Its purpose is to glorify God. From the very beginning through the middle and into the end of this book the author repeatedly shines the focus on God. Let me prove this with a few quotes from the book.

“The writer of Psalm 73 shows the right heart when he tells God ‘Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.’ Besides God there is no one on earth and no one in heaven — not even angels — who can give your soul true fulfillment.” (p. 23)

“That, in fact, is the only sufficient aim in a study of angels: that you might draw closer to God. If you study angels and the result is anything less — if you build up only a file of information about angels or a fascination with them or even a supposed relationship with one, but haven’t encountered at least a tug toward humble submission to the Almighty God … you’ve totally missed what angels are all about.” (p. 25)

“Angels can help lift our eyes from this troubled and temporal earth. But they are meant to draw our gaze to the Lord, not to themselves. All glory is due to God, and he has no intention of sharing it with angels … as we go honestly and carefully into a deeper study of angels, our spirits cannot help but experience the desire to worship. If you remember any words at all that you’ve heard angels speak in Scripture, remember especially these two: Worship God!” (p. 56)

“God’s angels always point us to God … [Ezekiel] isn’t being shown this vision just to learn about cherubim, but rather to hear a word from the Lord.” (p. 145)

“Again and again in Scripture we see this pattern: Those who are given the privilege of a direct visible or audible ministry from angels are those with mature hearts who want to encounter God — not angels. … No one got excited about seeing angels. They were excited about what the angels said.” (p. 192)

Please note this is a 2009 repackaging of Dr. Jeremiah’s book What the Bible Says About Angels, published in 1996. This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Final thoughts: An excellent resource!

Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today
by Kathi Macias
Author Website: www.KathiMacias.com

Available hardback. New Hope Publishers, 2009; ISBN: 1596692154; 256 pages.

In this book the author combines her personal, conversational style with thoroughly researched information to provide stunning portraits of biblical moms. The emphasis is on what these women can teach us today. Each chapter concludes with a “Something to Think About” section of questions and space to journal, as well as a prayer. Readers also enjoy quotes about motherhood from a wide spectrum of people, historical and contemporary, famous and not.

“Who’s included?” Rather than just listing names or chapters, the author actually includes a descriptive paragraph with each listing on the Contents page. I think it’s fabulous. Right off the bat, from the very first pages, she makes the stories of these ancient women relevant to us centuries - even millenia later. I can’t share all of this with you, but I can give you an example.

Rizpah: Grief-Stricken yet Faithful — Can there be anything more painful to a parent than the death of a child? In addition to the agony, losing a child to death seems to be out of the natural order. Yet, from the beginning, mothers have endured this tragedy, which can result in additional problems: divorce, financial difficulties, and even a loss of faith in God. Yet God sees and cares.

In addition to this chapter readers will discover:

* Eve: Without a Role Model
* Sarah: Mother of Nations
* Rebekah: Playing Favorites
* Rachel and Leah: Competing Through Their Children
* Jochobed: The Greatest Sacrifice
* Hannah: Woman of Prayer, Gratitude and Integrity
* Bathsheba: Redemption and Restoration
* The Widow of Zarephath: Generous to the End
* Elizabeth: A Willing Sacrifice
* The Canaanite Woman: Persevering in Prayer
* Salome: Catching the Eternal Vision
* Eunice and Lois: Passing the Torch
* The Proverbs 31 Woman: A Woman for All Seasons
* Mary: In a Class by Herself

Throughout these chapters readers learn about women who have faced infertility, adultery, death or exile of children, death of husbands, public ridicule and scorn and even the little things we all face on a daily basis: wanting our kids to love God, to be their best, to be better than the rest; personal feelings of insecurity or ignorance; isolation. These women were under-appreciated and overworked, just like mothers today.

My only complaint about this book (extremely minor) is the decoration on the pages. The publisher included green scrolls and flowers behind the text on every single page. It seems an unnecessary expense.

Final Thoughts: This is a great book, one I recommend and one I'll reference again and again.

Secure in God's Embrace: Living as the Father's Adopted Child

by Ken Fong

Available in paperback. InterVarsity Press, 2003; ISBN: 0830823719; 132 pages.

Ken Fong is a pastor in LA, a noted conference speaker and a pioneer in multi-ethnic ministry, specifically among Asians. He is also an adoptive father. It is the last of these credentials that lends such personal authenticity to this book.

In candid and personal style, the author weaves his personal story with Biblical and historical truths to detail the doctrine of adoption. The result is an undeniable view of God's choice to love His children, those who believe in His Son, Jesus. It's a beautiful reality, one offering freedom and peace. It is well written and an easy read.

My sister was adopted from Korea at the age of three, three years before I was born. Because of this, the doctrine of adoption has never been a difficult concept for me, but Mr. Fong does an amazing job making this spiritual truth tangible. My favorite part is the details of Roman adoption as it was when Paul wrote his letters. It was much more than just accepting a stranger into your family. It was about cancelling debts and freely giving an inheritance, regardless of age or merit. It is a perfect illustration of God's love.

Final Thoughts: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. While it may seem "academic" in parts, this is a foundational doctrine to salvation and intimacy with God the Father. Every Christian should read this book.

SuperMom Has Left the Building: Being a Proverbs 31 Woman in a 21st Century World

by Judith Edwards

Available in paperback. New Hope Publishers, 2004; ISBN: 1563097729; 176 pages.

What woman hasn't been intimidated by Proverbs 31? In today's world, who is free from the pressures of needing to do it all and do it perfectly? In this book, Judith Edwards takes a personal look at this super-woman verse by verse. In candid voice and with great humor, she encourages and challenges women to re-evaluate our understanding of what God expects from us. It's not about doing everything. It's not about being the best or having the cleanest house. It's about our relationship with Him and how we overflow that relationship to those around us. Using personal stories of her life as a wife, mother and missionary, she relieves the pressures of trying to be SuperMom and the guilt from not meeting what we think society and God demand.

This is an excellent book of encouragement and edification. The chapters are short making them easy to digest. Her teachings are biblically accurate. Within just the first few pages, I felt I had made a new friend. That friend carried me through to a new, more positive view of self and responsibility.

Final thoughts: Definitely RECOMMENDED.