Book Review

Erasing Hell : What God Said About Eternity, and the Things We've Made Up
by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle
David C. Cook, 2011

Reviewed by Diane Busch

Having read the controversial "Love Wins: a Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived" by Rob Bell, earlier this year, (and generally liking it, although having difficulties with parts of it), I felt compelled to read "Erasing Hell" to get another Christian author's perspective on these topics and to get scriptural backing for various views on hell.  (See my earlier review of Bell's book on this blog.)  I am grateful to Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle, and also to all the other authors, who this year jumped right in to research scripture and write about this hot button topic of hell.

I like the spirit in which "Erasing Hell" is written.  The authors were not out to bash Rob Bell, but to delve into scripture and really wrestle to find some answers to questions like: Is hell real?  Why did God make hell?  What is hell like?  Who goes to hell?  What did Jesus do to save us from hell? What can we do to not go to hell?

The problem is that we don't like to talk about Hell because it is awful, terrible and ugly.  We would rather talk about God's love, heaven, and all the happy stuff.  But we can't bury the parts of the Bible or the things that God said that we don't like.  We have to take all of it.  God is love, but he also is just.  God made heaven, but he also made hell.  What do we do with the things of God that we don't like?  We can't pick and choose what we like about God.  God is God.  God is Creator.  God is Almighty.  God is Holy.  God is just.  God hates sin.  God punishes those who do not put their faith in His son Jesus.  At the end of the day we have to choose whether we can love and honor and obey and serve a God who made Hell.

Jesus talked a lot about Hell, mostly to warn people about it.  This was a loving thing to do.  Jesus didn't speak about Hell just so we could study, debate, and write books about it.  He did it so we would live holy lives and not go to Hell.  Our belief in Hell should rescue our complacent hearts from passivity.

God has the right to do whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3).  God is perfect and right in all He does.  God invented justice and knows what unbelievers deserve.  God is free to do whatever he wants...wrath, power, glory, mercy, etc.  We must let God be God.  He alone decides how he will deal with people.  Does the Potter have the right to do whatever He wants with the clay?  Yes.  Can the clay say to the Potter, "you messed up; let me show you a better way to mold me?"  No.

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.  "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Book Review

In the Company of Others
(A Father Tim novel)
by Jan Karon
Viking, Oct. 2010

Reviewed by Diane Busch

If you have read any books in the Mitford series by Jan Karon, then you already know and love Father Tim.  If you are new to these delightful books, you can jump right in with this book and not feel like you have missed anything.  (Although, I am sure that when you are finished, you will want to go back and read the other Mitford and Father Tim books.)

This delightful book takes place in Ireland.  Father Tim Kavanagh, the beloved retired Episcopal priest and his wife, Cynthia, are on vacation at a Bed & Breakfast Inn in County Sligo.  Before long there is a mystery to solve.  Father Tim has daily adventures and Cynthia is laid up with an injured ankle.  They both are reading a journal from the bookshelves of the inn to learn about the history.  The food, the people, the history, and the character of Ireland are women through each page.  I found myself smiling every day as I immersed myself in the story.

New Releases

Living Beyond Your Feelings
Joyce Meyer
FaithWords, September 2011
In Living Beyond Your Feelings Joyce Meyer turns her focus to feelings. Through blending the wisdom of the Bible with the latest psychological research, and flavored with her own straight-forward style, she provides a comprehensive guide to the range of emotions that people feel every day, and how to manage them.

The Sky is Not Falling
Charles Colson
Worthy Publishing, September 2011
From controversial wars and political power struggles to reality shows and celebrity scandals, it seems the world has gone mad! But Colson's astute insights restore balance and sanity. Encouraging you to abide in God's love, he reveals the truth behind today's pressing political and social issues so you can live fearlessly in a godless culture.



The Scroll
Grant Jeffrey & Alton Gansky
WaterBrook Press,  September 2011
One last dig.  One final descent into the twisted tunnels of ancient Jerusalem.  Will the truth be fund among the treasures that lie beneath the holy city? Dr. David Chambers, leading archaeologist, has spent his professional career uncovering the facts in the artifacts. His work sets the standard for biblical research in the Holy Land. But surrounded by the evidence, David has sunk into an abyss of doubt. A painful experience with a seemingly unresponsive God has left him without hope. The Old Testament scriptures that used to fill his mind with wonder now drive him to frustration. His unanswered questions have ripped him from both his academic pursuits and the love of his life, his fiancé, Amber.An old friend and mentor reaches out to David, enticing him with the riches described in the enigmatic Copper Scroll. Losing ground with his peers, his love, and his faith, David Chambers has a choice to make. Will he undertake one final dig to unlock a secret that could alter the course of history? Do the mysteries of the Old Testament hold the key to the political turmoil of the Middle East?In a world where faith has been eclipsed by the allure of doubt, The Scroll offers a different journey: a gripping adventure to find truth worth dying for.


Get In, I'm Driving CD
Ginny Owens
EMI, September 2011
The first collection of new songs from the three time Dove award winning singer/songwriter in over six years. This looks to be her strongest project, yet! Owens continues to bridge the gap between Christian Contemporary Music and mainstream audiences. Get In I'm Driving delivers a unique array of catchy Pop songs with strong R&B, jazz, and soul overtones, while staying lyrically consistent to her profound and inspirational style.

You Are Love CD
Darlene Zschech
Ino Records, August 2011
Proclaiming God's unwavering love, Darlene's music encourages a hurting world---and you---to rest in his arms and accept his gift! Includes "Love Is Saving Me," "We Are Your People," "I Will Wait," "Beautiful," "Hope for Humanity," "Faithful," "Cry of the Broken," "Face to Face," the title track, and the radio single "Under Grace."

New Releases

Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer
Richard Foster
Intervarsity Press, August 2011
Embark on a soul-transforming journey of meditative prayer with Foster---best-selling author of Celebration of Discipline. Featuring biblical background for this faith tradition, methods, insights from classical Christian writers, and reflections from Foster's own experience, his introduction will guide you in practicing extended prayer alone and in community.


Living Crazy Love
Francis Chan
David C Cook, August 2011
Move beyond the status quo and pursue the relentless, all-powerful love of God! In this insightful 7-week workbook for individual or group study, Chan offers thought-provoking teachings that will help you live like never before---selfless and Christ-like. Use as a stand-alone study or companion to the DVD curriculum. Includes leader's guide.

The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub
Jan & Mike Berenstain
Zondervan, August 2011
Helping a lost cub find his mother is a perfect good deed for the Scouts. After all, if they are living by God's example, they cannot let even the smallest go astray! Will they find the cub's mother and bring them back together?

Book Review

In The Company of Others 

(a Father Tim novel)

Viking, Oct., 2010

by Jan Karon

Reviewed by Diane Busch - 8/29/11

If you have read the Mitford series by Jan Karon, then you already know and love Father Tim.  If you are new to these delightful books you can jump right in on this book and not feel like you have missed anything.  (Although, I guarantee that when you are finished, you will want to go back and read every other book in the Mitford and Father Tim series.)   

This delightful book takes place in Ireland.  Father Tim Kavanagh the beloved retired Episcopal priest and his wife, Cynthia are on vacation at a Bed & Breakfast in County Sligo.  Before long there is a mystery that needs solving. The food, the people, the history, and the character of Ireland are woven through every page. I found myself smiling every day as I immersed myself in the story.