book review: "israel - God's heart - landscapes and legacy" by ron gafni and kathleen barrett

Many of us only dream of traveling to the Holy Land. Very few, like Israel's top aerial photographer, Ron Gafni, soar above the craggy mountain ranges of Masada, the salty Dead Sea, and the iconic locations where Jesus walked. Israel - God's Heart - Landscapes and Legacy, beautifully captures the ancient landscapes of this great nation, as well as presents the legacy of God's redemption plan for the world.

I really enjoyed this book! I would love to travel to Israel some day - to see where the Bible unfolded! I like what it says on the first page: "The land of historical sites linked to the most decisive events in the history of humankind." The pictures are stunning! It just amazes me to see pictures of Capernaum, Nazareth and the Jordan River. And I like the narrative that runs through the book. It just all comes together to beautifully show such an important part of our Christian faith. 

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. You can learn more about the book by clicking here.

book review: "questioning evangelism" by randy newman

There was something different about the way Jesus communicated with the lost: He didn't force answers upon people. He asked questions. So why don't we?

Following Christ's lead, Randy Newman has been using a questioning style of evangelism for decades. In this proactive book, he provides practical insights to help Christians engage others in meaningful spiritual conversations. He challenges us to examine how we think about people, their questions, and our crucial message. 

I found this book insightful and interesting! I've never thought about how Jesus would often answer questions with questions and it makes sense! Reading this book has helped me to see how I can be more effective at talking to people about Jesus. 

I like how Newman gives possible conversations to allow the reader to see how things could go. To see how answering a question with a question would look and provoke thinking and ultimately understanding. "Answering a question with a question, then, has significant advantages over using direct answers. It brings to the surface the questioner's assumptions. It also takes the pressure off you - the one being asked - and puts the pressure on the one doing the asking. Shifting the burden of the response is important because as long as we're on the defensive, the questioners are not really wrestling with issues. They're just watching us squirm." I feel like the book can be summed with with these sentences: "I'm proposing a style of evangelism that is a dialogue more than a sales pitch. I'm pleading for conversations that lead to conversions, rather than presentations that lead to preconceptions. I'm encouraging the use of questions more than the use of answers."

This is a great book for those who want to do a better job of understanding what they believe and why and being able to help those understand who want to know more about the Christian faith.

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications for my honest review.