Sorry, this is long. Below is a review of the C.H.A.O.S. series by Jon S. Lewis. It’s a sci-fi, alien adventure series aimed at the young adult market. I borrowed the first two books from the library and was given the third to review. There are probably some minor spoilers scattered here and there, but I tried to avoid major plot points. Enjoy.

In 2010-2011, aliens seemed to be making a huge impression on the pop culture psyche. In the movies, the studios released Skyline, Cowboys and Aliens, Transformers, I Am Number Four, Battle: Los Angeles, and even Mars Needs Moms. On television, shows like Flashforward, The Event, and Falling Skies constantly reminded us that an alien invasion was all but imminent. Given this media attention, the ground was certainly fertile for an Christian alien book series. And that’s exactly what we’ve got here… but is it any good?

The C.H.A.O.S. Series by Jon S. Lewis

Book One: Invasion

Despite some logical flaws, this is a nice introduction to a trilogy filled with emotion, excitement, and energy, one I can’t wait to continue reading. Readers obviously sign on to suspend their sense of disbelief and it pays off as you flip through the pages and Colt McCalister’s story unfolds. The story begins almost as a dream. Colt is dropped off at a mysterious camp where he tests his ability to fight aliens and save the world. Like the video games he loves playing. Anyway, it’s like a dream because after the testing, all the applicants have their memory wiped.
[continue reading this post...]

I like to read in batches. It’s probably not the best way to read, but it seems to be the way my head can handle it. Similarly, I write reviews in batches. So, even though I read Visioneering a few weeks ago, I held off on this review because I had already begun reading Start and quickly realized their reviews belonged together. As a side note, I’m already reading You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins, which also fits in this theme, but it could go on indefinitely if I kept waiting, and that’s the point of these books, anyway. Stop stalling and get MOVING. So here I am, moving. (Well, this first paragraph was stalling, but NOW we’re ready to move.)

Visioneering – Andy Stanley

I’ve mentioned before how much I appreciate the teaching and leadership of Andy Stanley. No, I’ve never met him, but I’ve been listening to his podcasts and reading his books for a while now and I feel like I know him. VISIONEERING is a combination of VISION and ENGINEERING. Planning and putting plans into motion. It’s a practical guideline that addresses everything from idea conception to realized vision (and back again).

Using the backdrop of the Biblical account of Nehemiah and his quest to rebuild the fallen walls of Jerusalem, Stanley walks readers through the process in a candid, step-by-step format. We begin by identifying our calling/dream/passion/goals/whatever you want to call it. Something wrong in life that bothers us enough to actively seek a solution. Then begins the preparation, which is different for each of us because we surely find ourselves in different life situations with unique obstacles and opportunities. [continue reading this post...]

Today, I’ve got some young adult (YA) fiction (a.k.a. kid’s books) to talk about. In fact, I’ve got a swath of YA books (at least 15) to talk about, but I’m limiting this to four. First, from Tyndale is the latest episode from the Imagination Station series. Then, two comic book meets novel hybrids – one from the library and one from Tommy Nelson. And finally, Harvest House offers a Bible study for kids with a topical collection of memory verses. Okay, let’s get to the quick.

The Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon – Wayne Thomas Batson

The Imagination Station series, which falls along the lines of Magic Tree House and Secrets of Droon books, takes finds a nice balance between focusing on Bible accounts and stories of the Christian faith. This time the time-traveling cousin duo of Beth and Patrick encounter first hand the tale of Saint George and the Dragon, which has many sources and variations. Here’s how this one plays out (with minimal spoilers).

Beth feels regret for chickening out in the face of a bully picking on her friend. Mr. Whit sends her to ancient Africa with Patrick to witness the courage of Saint George, a newly converted Christian who stands up for the rights of peasants under the rule of the Roman forces. And to keep everyone’s interest throughout the story, there are dragons and other fantastical creatures. Through it all, Beth (along with Patrick and the readers) learns the intended lesson.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. Sign up for Tyndale Rewards or the Tyndale Blog Network and learn how to get free books, too.

[continue reading this post...]

I’ve mentioned in the past that I hadn’t read any of Joel’s fictional works, despite reviewing a few of his non-fiction books. Well, no more. I received his latest release, DAMASCUS COUNTDOWN, for review a while back and could hardly wait to dig in. Of course, there’s always a catch. It’s the third book of a trilogy. (I can’t tell you how often this happens to me). The choice, then, is whether to blindly start reading the finale before understanding all that led up to it or to start at the beginning. And since book one, THE TWELFTH IMAM, was free on Amazon (temporarily) and book two, THE TEHRAN INITIATIVE was in the library, the choice was a little easier – it was just a bigger commitment. One that I don’t regret making.

The Twelfth Imam – Joel C Rosenberg

The story begins here. The Twelfth Imam opens during a time of unrest in 1979 Iran, where a friendship is forged between two families – the Harpers and the Shirazis. After a secret CIA operation (based on the Argo account) frees both young couples to Canada and later America, the two families maintain a relationship as they grow through the years. Until a fateful September 11th, when a terrorist attack on America claims the life of Mrs. Harper and driving a rift between the two families.

The main story centers on the youngest Shirazi son, David, as he enters the CIA with a personal vendetta to hunt down Osama Bin Laden. David experiences much success early on in his career, but he’s a little antsy because his assignments seem less than fulfilling. He wants to be used more effectively. And that’s when things take a turn. David is called in and briefed on a new assignment. At the same time, David receives a letter from Marseille Harper, who shares a special history with David.
[continue reading this post...]

NOTE: I have some book reviews and another issue of The Overflow in the works, but first, this little rant/confession about eBooks.

The trouble with eBooks is the publishers, am I right? Or is it just the rights? As publishers are still trying to figure out how to best make money on these new-fangled formats, consumers are stuck in the lurch.

Publishers argue with libraries about lending their books and what restrictions need to be in place. Everybody and their mother wants to use a proprietary format to make sure no one else can read their books without following proper protocol.

And things like this image start to happen.

No reading aloud. No sharing. No joke.

In stark resistance to a culture that has leveraged digital platforms to over-socialize and over-share everything for the sake of “community,” the publishing world is doing their best to define their digital world with high walls, secure isolation, and clandestine individualism. If we’ve learned anything from the music industry, we know it won’t last.

And yes, I understand that the “reading aloud” that is forbidden by the restrictions above refers to built-in audio functionality of some devices that steps on the toes of the audiobook industry. They’re not really trying to outlaw reading to your children. Or are they?

Now, my problem with eBooks is that it exposes my bent towards becoming a full-fledged digital hoarder. [continue reading this post...]

I have a couple more devotionals to talk about today. They definitely seem geared towards two different generations. One is a straightforward essay-style devotional and the other is what I’m calling the first truly Social Devotional. (Someone may have already called it that, but I thought of it myself, promise.)

Live Second: 365 Ways to Make God First – Doug BenderLive Second is kind of a cool movement that collects testimonies from celebrities in the worlds of sports, acting, music, etc. The videos are well produced and feature honest revelations and sometimes surprising admissions from familiar faces. It’s inspirational, encouraging, and, at times, emotional. The goal being to raise awareness of spiritual influences and stories of faith, while encouraging others to commit to putting God first in their lives and, themselves second.

This book attempts to build off of the momentum created by the videos and impart these timeless lessons into the lives of readers everywhere. And it may just be the most social media aware book I’ve come across – certainly as a devotional. Each entry – and they’re broken into week-long themes – offers one of the videos, a brief written message, a Bible reading, questions designed to help you process that information and apply it to your life, as well as a bevy of social media components. These are lessons designed to be both personal and shared and, for the most part, it works really well.
[continue reading this post...]

I have a lot of book reviews/write-ups that are way overdue. Here’s one, but expect more in the coming days.

Altared – Claire and Eli

It took me a long time to get through this book. I struggled with whether or not I should even finish it. If nothing else, it makes a clear case for the axiom of not judging a book by its cover. On its face (or cover) ALTARED appears to be a quirky little book by a trendy couple explaining how their marriage works and how you, too, can experience marital bliss with your fellow hipster spouse. (Well, maybe I’m overstating a bit.)

In reality, the book details the courtship of said couple, describing in great detail the path that brought them together, as well as the challenges presented by their background in the church and the “marriage or bust” subculture among Christians everywhere. And while their story does have its interesting moments, the book is more a study of dating than marriage. (Which is fine, except that – as previously mentioned – the title implies the opposite.)
[continue reading this post...]

Some books to talk about today. I may even be back later with another post about books. (I have a sizable back-log of book reviews to write.) First up, three unconventional young adult novels, or YA, as the cool kids say.

The Secret of Indigo Moon – G.P. Taylor

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of these Dopple Ganger books. I was quite pleased to get my hands on a copy of the second book to fill in the gaps I had in the overarching story line. (I read book 3 first and book 1 second.) The truth is, though, that each book so far has stood alone quite nicely. The story of twin orphan girls and a mischievous abandoned boy as they face adventures beyond their imaginations and become detectives in their own right. As with the other two books, Indigo Moon is a beautifully designed book from cover to cover. The binding and illustrations are captivating and begin the story before you’ve read a single word.

Book two finds our fearless trio searching secret passages to uncover a patient burglary plot that reveals in culprits and mysteries from the past. [continue reading this post...]

I have a book review today and probably another post for a little later. Had a lot on my plate this week and things got all twirled around. This was initially slated for Tuesday, but here it is today.

Fatherless – James Dobson and Kurt Bruner

There’s enough truth, logic, and/or reasonable possibility in the pages of this book to make it mildly depressing. Set in the near future, Dobson and Bruner paint a rather bleak future of the world, with a few rays of hope sprinkled in for good measure. The media serves as something of a mouthpiece for the political agenda of the day and the pressing issue at hand revolves, unsurprisingly, around the sanctity of life. The twist, however, is the debate has shifted from life’s beginning to the end.

Due to an ever-growing national deficit, citizens are treated as assets and debits. Productive members of society live as they do today, but the elderly, sick, and disabled are labeled as burdens. Burdens are encouraged to participate in a booming national program, known as transitioning. The transition process, which is essentially assisted suicide as a business model, is marketed as a responsible, even heroic action to take, because it will free future generations from the financial constraints of caring for you in your decline.
[continue reading this post...]

Given the recent box office debut of The Hobbit (part one), the bookstores have added a trove of materials covering all sorts of themes and topics relating to elves, dwarves, and all things Hobbit-esque. While I have my thoughts on these trends and outpouring of derivative publications, they are, in fact, unavoidable, and it’s only fair that I talk about some of them here. So, today we have four books – two devotionals and two studies – each covering spiritual aspects of the themes found in The Hobbit. And that’s all the introduction I have, with four books, it’s already a lengthy post. Perhaps later, I’ll share my thoughts on these types of books. For now, we begin…

Walking with Bilbo – Sarah ArthurLeading things off is Sarah Arthur, with a devotional book based on The Hobbit that originally released in 2005 and has returned to the presses. This book is designed to “walk” you through the spiritual aspects of The Hobbit as you read through the classic saga. WALKING WITH BILBO consists of 22 readings meant to be considered, one per day as they enhance your understanding of the story while simultaneously applying the practical principles to your personal practices.

Each reading (less than 10 pages) has the following components: a quote from the book, a practical illustration (historical, personal, etc.), examples from The Hobbit, examples from the Bible, as well as questions and Scripture for further study. It’s a nice casual, but challenging conversation of sorts, with an overarching theme of accepting our call to follow Jesus and live a dangerous, adventurous life as He leads. In that regard, it works well and offers plenty of insight to the reader.
[continue reading this post...]