"The Lands of the Bible Today" (Dave Branon)

TITLE: The Lands of the Bible Today: Experience 44 Places in Scripture and Photos
AUTHOR: Dave Branon
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: ODB Publishing, 2020, (192 pages).

The Bible is the bestselling book of all time. It is also ancient with many names, places, and cultures totally foreign to many modern readers. One of the best ways to get a feel of the Bible context is to physically go visit the Holy Land. For various reasons, not many people would be able to visit the places. It could be physically demanding or financially limiting. For the rest of us, the best way is remotely or through the print medium. This book is a powerful version of the latter. With beautiful and captivating pictures of 44 places in the land of Israel and beyond, readers are able to get a glimpse of the biblical terrains. The purpose of this book is two-fold: Firstly to help readers be more familiar with the knowledge of these places. Secondly, to make our reading of the Bible a little more personal and also to bring the physical locations alive to us when we read Scripture. For each of the 44 locations, one to two pages have been allocated to provide salient information for Christians interested to know more about the physical locations. Some of the features include:

• Name of the city or place and where is it on the map;
• Events that occurred there;
• Bible passages that referred or alluded to the specific place;
• Key passages that show us the significance of the location;
• Where we can find the location now;
• Some attractions that visitors can see;
• Beautiful photographs and maps;
• Buildings and monuments; as well as scenery;
• Historical background of the place;
• Favourite Site Reflection;
• and much more.

My Thoughts
As I was reading this book, I felt that the book could benefit three groups of people. First, for those who have been to the places mentioned, it would trigger memories of what they had seen or heard. There are times in which the tour guides give us so much information that we are unable to remember everything. We might also be so in awe of the places that we didn't pay attention to what the guide was saying. At the same time, the tour guide might not be familiar with how Christians read and study the Bible. They might not even be believers at all! Thus, the book helps one to link what they remember with the spiritual significance of the place.

The second group of people are the tourists or visitors wanting to make a trip there. While there are many other guide books to help us navigate the terrain, this book is a compact volume that provides brief and concise notes for us. Usually, we depend on the guide to do all the talking. However, not all guides are equally knowledgeable. With this resource, we can easily use it to supplement what we have heard or to ask more questions based on the knowledge in this book. Books like the "Christian Traveler's Guide to the Holy Land" would give us more information. This book is a good companion to that. We can even map out our own itinerary!

Finally, this book is for the rest of us who had never visited or not intending to go to the Holy Land. They would find this book a welcome guide to bring the holy land scenes to them. Not everybody have the privilege or the financial means to travel to such a distant place. It is also useful for professors, preachers, pastors, and teachers of the Bible, where they could use information in the book to teach their students or their congregation. My favourite part of the book is the many references to help me connect the place to the Bible, and to help my audience visualize the physical place. This would make this book a helpful teaching resource.

Dave Branon is a freelance writer for many years. For 18 years, he served as managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine. Now he is an editor for Discovery House. He loves going on ministry trips with students.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Our Daily Bread Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Israel, the Church, and the Middle East" (Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, eds)

TITLE: Israel, the Church, and the Middle East: A biblical response to the current conflict
EDITORS: Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2018, (304 pages).

This year is the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel. In conjunction with this momentous event, a team of scholars and theologians have come together to reflect upon the identity of Israel, the role of the Church, and the conflicts in the Middle East. For Israel, it is the constant struggle against threats against her existence. For the Church, it is about the contrasting arguments between those who are Pro-Israel and those who are Pro-Palestinian. For the Middle East, it is that constant tensions arising from a melting pot of historical dimensions; political ambitions; religious contentions; ethnic dissensions; and social apprehensions. This book attempts to cast light on all of these with a specific coverage on the relationship between Israel and the Church. At the heart of it all is to challenge the super-sessionist standpoint among many Christians who are arguing that in God's overall plan, the modern Church has now replaced Israel. In Part One, four contributors highlight the biblical foundations. The underlying belief is that the Bible must inform all views on contemporary issues surrounding the way we view Israel. Dr Richard Averbeck discusses the theological covenants of Israel, Jews, and Gentiles with the hope that a biblical understanding will ease the conflicts between Jews and Gentiles. Dr Walter Kaiser writes about the relationships between Israel and her neighbours with Isa 19 as a guide, and hopes that the day will come where both Jews and Arabs are able to go to the house of God together. Mark Yarbrough looks at the big picture of the Bible story from Genesis to Revelation and draws out four significant genres before concluding with a "surprise narrative twist." Michael Rydelnik takes a step back to examine the "hermeneutics" of the conflict from the Old Testament arguing that both the Old and New Testaments tell of one integrated story. Using four propositions, he traces the covenant promises from Genesis to Revelation, and to say that even though the New Testament is relatively "quiet" about the land promise, it nevertheless affirms the Old Testament in many ways.

"Messiah in the Passover" (edited by Darrell L Block and Mitch Glaser)

TITLE: Messiah in the Passover
AUTHOR: edited by Darrell L Block and Mitch Glaser
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2018, (384 pages).

The Passover was a significant event in the history of Israel. It was a demonstration of God's final straw for Pharaoh who refused to let the enslaved people of Israel go. It represented the night when the angel of death passed over any home their front doors painted with the blood of the lamb. It was a time where the firstborn of every Israeli slaved lived while the firstborn of every Egyptian family died. After this Passover, Israel was free to begin their journey to the promised land. Since then, the importance of the Passover had been written in the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah where it remains one of the seven great festivals of the Jews. The Passover is about deliverance, freedom, community, hope, life, prophecy given, prophecy fulfilled, and much more. This book gives us more, especially about Christ the Messiah. The five parts of the book are as follows:

1. Biblical and Theological Foundations of the Passover
2. Passover and Church History
3. Jewish Tradition and Passover
4. Communicating the Gospel Through the Passover
5. Celebrating Messiah in the Passover

"Chosen?" (Walter Brueggemann)

TITLE: Chosen?: Reading the Bible Amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
AUTHOR: Walter Brueggemann
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015, (108 pages).

Whenever people think of the Middle East conflict, they would shake their heads as if there will never be any solution to the conflict. It is one of the most, if not the most, difficult problems in this world. For Christians, it is one huge theological puzzle of disagreement. At the heart of the disputes are the questions surrounding the nation of Israel.

• Who is Israel?
• Is Israel still God's chosen people?
• How should evangelicals see the Israel of today?
• Is there any theological basis to support Israel with military weapons? 
• What should we make of the relationships between Israel and the Palestinians?

For scholar and theologian, Walter Brueggemann, far more important than political maneuvers for or against Israel is the plight of human rights for Palestinians. It is not right for US lobbying groups to continue to support Israel's bullying tactics by sending them military weapons and at the same time downplaying the human rights of the Palestinians. Worse, it is bad theology to just interpret the Bible as if it is a command to prop up Israel regardless of what she does to her neighbours. For Brueggemann, the well-being of all must be foremost.

"Where Jesus Prayed" (Danielle Shroyer)

TITLE: Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminating the Lord's Prayer in the Holy Land
AUTHOR: Danielle Shroyer
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (168 pages).

Many Christians know the Lord's Prayer. Many also recite it by heart each Sunday during Church services. What is so special about this prayer? Is there a context that can reveal the depths of the prayer? How did the early disciples anticipate the prayer? What about the environment where Jesus first taught the disciples how to pray? Believing that the environment itself presents profound opportunities to re-discover the truths and depths of the Lord's Prayer, author and pastor Danielle Shroyer took a 27 hour flight from Dallas to Jerusalem, spent two weeks in the Holy Land, by walking where Jesus walked, and prayed where Jesus prayed. Apart from a profound renewal of the spirit and the refreshment of the soul, there are plenty of revelations about the Lord's Prayer. So amazing was her experience that while she did not intend to write anything like this before the journey, after the journey, the whole experience was so overwhelming that she simply had to write this book, to showcase the amazing pilgrimage of faith, and her interactions with fellow pilgrims. Above all, it is a book that describes how she personally enjoyed God.

"The Christian Traveler's Guide to the Holy Land" (Charles H. Dyer and Gregory A. Hatteberg)

TITLE: The Christian Traveler's Guide to the Holy Land
AUTHOR: Charles H. Dyer and Gregory A. Hatteberg
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 2014, (272 pages).

There are many reasons why books get re-published or revised. Whether it is demand related, or updating required, books that are constantly relevant will always be sought after. This is one such book. As interest in Israel and the Middle East increases, and as more people travel to the Holy Land, whether tourists or pilgrims, people go to sandy deserts, ancient monuments, and massive landscapes for a reason: to know the history and to have personally encountered how the people of old lived in that valuable estate often referred to in the Bible. For many, a visit there is a life changing experience. While some information can be shared by tour guides and experts on the way, it is always a valuable resource to have a book that gives us an A-to-Z synopsis of what to see and what to expect. For touring the Holy Land is not like touring manmade theme parks or massive nature parks. It requires preparation. It demands physical walks and exercises. It needs a planned itinerary. In some cases, groups of believers would depend on some seminary professor or an experienced Bible teacher to guide them through the terrains. This book supplements such trips, and in some cases, can be a self-help guide for the independent traveler.

Written with the traveler in mind, Dyer and Hatteberg, both seminarians at Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary respectively compile their knowledge and expertise into a handy guide. One of their key concerns is how many travelers mix up modern expectations when they traverse the land full of ancient history. Thus, they take time to explain the contexts, to give some safety tips as well as packing details, getting visas (mainly for US citizens), things to pack and not to pack, as well as reference links to various sites of interest. For the Christian, knowing that there is no better way to prepare than to read the Bible, the authors put together a convenient Bible reading plan over four weeks that take us from Genesis to Revelation. Two sets of schedules are made.

1. For Preparing to Travel to Israel, Egypt and Jordan, Greece and Turkey
2. For Spiritual Preparation as a Group 

The passages are carefully selected to help travelers appreciate the contexts behind the lands they are about to visit. With the tour guide, plus the biblical contexts, travelers would be well equipped to learn even more when they see the actual lands coming to life before them. There are many maps to help us along. The alphabetical listing helps us refer to the guide conveniently. Every page contains generous spaces to allow travelers to record down observations, thoughts, and reflections on what they have seen. The last section of the book demonstrates the authors' conviction that every traveler would be touched and changed by a trip to the Holy Land. With several blank pages called "tour notes" to preserve their trip, readers and travelers can record down their thoughts in the same book, making it personal and archived for future reference.

The pictures in the book bring to life the ordinary lives of people living there. In one book, one becomes more familiar with the history, the contexts, the people, how ancient cultures look like, and what we can do to appreciate them even more. As tours to the Holy Land continue to pick up, this book is set to be one valuable resource for travelers to have. In order to learn well, one needs to prepare well. Anyone wanting to make a trip to Israel and the biblical lands, this book is a must have.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The People, The Land, and the Future of Israel" (Darrell L Bock and Mitch Glaser)

TITLE: The People, the Land, and the Future of Israel: Israel and the Jewish People in the Plan of God
AUTHOR: Various contributors (edited by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser)
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2014, (352 pages).

The Middle East continues to be a hotbed of violence, terrorism, and war. Central to the ongoing conflicts is the nation of Israel. In an increasingly unfriendly Arabic neighbourhood, coupled with direct declaration of war by various Islamic terrorist groups, Israel walks a fine balance between defending their people and their land, and inflicting damage on their neighbouring countries. At the same time, people wonder whether there is more to learn about the people of Israel, the land and the future of Israel. In the West, watching the news sometimes leaves one feeling a bias toward the Palestinian causes, and how Israel often appears to be the bully and instigator of violence. What if the present state of rising violence in the Middle East had all been predicted in the first place? What if Israel is more important than simply a nation that several radical organizations and countries are seeking to exterminate? What if God's plan for Israel remains vital for the Middle East situation? Is there a biblical perspective of the Palestinian issue? For the eighteen scholars, theologians, professors, pastors, and authors, the answer is a firm yes. With so many different perspectives, several top theologians and scholars, both in the USA and Canada have come together to offer the public what they deemed as the biblical perspective of Israel and how the biblical prophecy is being fulfilled. These scholars affirm several things:

• God loves both Israel and people in Palestine; Arab countries
• People often fail to examine what the Scriptures say about the ongoing Middle East crisis
• The Iranian nuclear threat is real
• Biblical prophecies (not only Ezekiel 37) do speak into the present climate of hostility and promise
• Many Jews continue to differ in their perspectives of the Person of Jesus
• There are many reasons for hope
• The Church is called to embrace the whole house of Israel as well as their neighbours in love

"Pilgrimage" (Lynn Austin)

TITLE: Pilgrimage: My Journey to a Deeper Faith in the Land Where Jesus Walked
AUTHOR: Lynn Austin
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013, (240 pages).

Spiritual dryness is not something that is easily avoided. It comes in many forms. It can be boredom about the daily routines of life. It can be the staleness one feels about the weekly worship services. It can also be the increasing sense of restlessness about what the spiritual life actually mean and whether there is more than simply going through the spiritual disciplines. For many of us, a popular project is to take either a long sabbatical or a short retreat. For Lynn Austin, she decides to take a pilgrimage to and through the Holy Land where Jesus walked. Sharing many of the spiritual dryness sentiments described earlier, bestselling author Austin packed her bags to tour Jordan, Israel, various cities in the Middle East as well as the Wilderness of Zin.

With her keen sense of observation and her grasp of the Old and New Testament, she interleaves her sights and experiences of her travels with insights and perceptions of the ancient biblical times. Having done that, she then puts together lessons that touch her and reinvigorated her life and her faith. As she hikes through the wilderness of Zin, she experiences first hand the elements that the Israelites felt when they were struggling through their 40 years of wilderness. She becomes more sympathetic of the real struggles the people felt at that time. It reminds me of our tendency to become armchair critics of the Israelites without actually empathizing with their conditions. The call to faith is actually more challenging than we often think. Even the sight of shepherds leading sheep to graze on dry terrain and rough paths is a reality check against any simplistic picture of shepherds in the ancient times having large green pastures for sheep. Austin also relates the Israelites' crossing of an "unimpressive" looking Jordan River as a milestone to mark the end of their wanderings. It can also be a milestone for our Christian beginnings. Interestingly, despite the sight of the heavily armed security personnel and the sight of weapons, the paranoia and vigilance actually made the visitors feel safer.

Austin spends quite a bit of reflection on Jerusalem, a most important city among the three major religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Observing the nature of the walls that keep enemies out, Austin sees how futile it is to depend on the wall for security as history had shown that it is God, not the walls who has the power to save the city. Even her tour through the Pool of Siloam provides her lots of fodder for spiritual thoughts, about abundant water of life, about free flowing spring waters of life, and its spiritual implications. Of special significance is the Holy Week trek where Austin's tour group traces the days and places Jesus walked, leading up to the crucifixion. She closes her reflections with the Sabbath keeping, learning directly from the people there what it means to live leisurely and more humanly.

So What?

For many believers, it is not a question of whether there will be such lethargy but WHEN the spiritual dryness will occur. When that happens, how then does one deal with it? The popular biblical fiction writer has written a non-fiction book that traces her own spiritual pilgrimage and has given readers a window into her thoughts and her spiritual experiences. Just following her journey is like a mini-tour of the Holy Land without having to leave our homes. For those of us who are unable to journey to the Holy Land, this book is a good glimpse through the eyes of Austin. For those of us who experience spiritual dryness, we can visualize that the ancient pilgrims and Old Testament people are in a more challenging positions. For those of us needing a re-invigoration of spiritual vitality, this book brings us back to visualizing the ancient times and to imagining how we would have responded if we can transport ourselves back in time. The pilgrimage has given Austin a breath of spiritual freshness, and to excite her to start a new journey in her spiritual pilgrimage outside the Holy Land. There are three reasons why I like this book.

Firstly, it is a mini-tour guide of the Holy Land. It works like a literary video camera that traces the various landmarks and biblical places. For one who has never stepped foot on Israel, I appreciate the descriptions of the various sites that I have grown so familiar through reading the Bible, but have not seen the place for myself. It gives me a better appreciation of the Bible. For instance, when she was describing her tour of Jerusalem, I find myself grasping on her descriptions to try to paint a picture of what it actually looks like.

Secondly, I appreciate the way Austin links the places she saw with the biblical parallel of what had happened many years ago in the same place. It is one thing to read about the wall. It is yet another to be reminded how the wall had meant to the biblical characters of old.

Thirdly, the spiritual lessons Austin had learnt are powerfully conveyed in the book. Whether it is hunger or thirst; rough terrains or tough territories; towers, walls, or temples, Austin is able to reflect upon the most ordinary things with some extraordinary applications. For example, she reflects on the engineering wonders and the impressive projects King Herod had commissioned during his reign, and how his once prosperous city now had disappeared into the ruins of today. Earthquakes and the natural elements had devastated these symbols of human arrogance.

If you are able to, nothing beats the experience of seeing the Holy Land firsthand. If not, reading this book may very well be a helpful alternative.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The Key to the Middle East" (Derek Prince)

TITLE: Key to the Middle East, The: Discovering the Future of Israel in Biblical Prophecy
AUTHOR: Derek Prince
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis, MN: Chosen Books, 2013, (208 pages).

Why is peace so hard to attain in the Middle East? Is there ever going to be a solution to the Middle East quarrels? What significance does Biblical prophecy has to the future of the disputed lands? What if someone tells you that there is a "key" to understanding the Middle East? Published previously as "The Last Word on the Middle East," author Derek Prince insists that the two biggest reasons behind the problems and promises of the Middle East are oil and Israel. As one who had personally lived and witnessed the events in Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Palestine, Israel, and other Arab lands, Prince first chronicles the historical developments surrounding the Middle East before giving his prophetic take.

On the historical overview, Prince begins by noticing the Jewishness of the Old Testament, of Jesus, of the Bible's context, and of the future according to Revelation. The return of the Jews coincides with the prediction of a coming home from the Northern land. Prince is convinced that the Holocaust followed by the founding of Israel on May 14th, 1948 is a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah 3:14,18. He even accuses a "succession of Christian theologians" who have helped to promote anti-Semitism. As a Briton, he tells of the good and bad deeds of the British government that have largely shaped the formation of the Palestine of today. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 sets in motion a good plan for statehood for the homeless Jews. The inconsistent implementations and "hypocrisy of the highest order" have played a big part in the instability of the holy land. Six key prophetic fulfillment are described. First, the formation of Israel is a direct fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. Just imagine how miraculous a tiny nation can survive amid a formidable and hostile neighourbood. Second, regathering the people from exile is a common promise in the Old Testament. In the formation of the state of Israel, God has given His people "their own land," that they will "never again be uprooted," and that the land is a "gift" from God. Third, even the New Testament, especially the gospels have reiterated the same message of the founding of the nation of Israel. Four, on the identity and the disputes of the lands, God has frequently spoken about the importance of this land, that the land belongs forever to the ones who will obey God's will. Only when everyone, both Jews, Arabs, and all inhabitants of the land bow down to the will of God can there be peace and harmony. Five, how we respond to the biblical prophecy is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Under the judgment and mercy of God, the unjust will be punished. The persecuted will be shown mercy. Six, Jerusalem will remain the center of contention, even though Israel has promised freedom of worship and passage to the holy city for all religious faiths, especially the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

So What?

Derek Prince is clear and convicted that the key to the Middle East is Israel, and the relationships with the Jewish state. Just to see how resilient one nation can stand up against the huge political, economic, military, and social pressures is a case in point. Other than divine help, it is impossible to see how human efforts can bring about the present Israel. The book is a huge call for all, especially the Christian community to take Israel seriously because how they are treated is how the future of the world will be shaped. As long as there is no peace in the Middle East, the rest of the world will have no peace.

Readers will find this book a fascinating read, but it remains one interpretation of the whole Middle East event. In fact, there is no silver bullet solutions as far as the Middle East peace initiatives are concerned. Think about how America, especially at the efforts put in by five American Presidents to achieve peace between Israel and the Middle East. To this day, nations like Iran and several other Arab nations continue to insist on the "destruction of Israel." Israel too continue to defy world council leaders in their struggle to fight back and take their own actions in the name of self-defense. For me, the Middle East is one big complicated puzzle that cannot depend on any one single solution. There are many ideas, many strategies, and many initiatives. Without a common person driving it, without a common understanding of the complexities involved, there will never be peace and prosperity. I agree with Prince that the key to peace is on the question of Israel. I do not quite agree that the entire future stems from one nation. My reading from Scripture is that there is a "new Israel" which comprises of Gentiles grafted into the called people of God. Just like there are good Jews, there are also good Arabs. There are good Gentiles. There are good being done by people of various religious beliefs. God can use any of them, including the people of Israel. God can use evangelicals too, not just for the benefit of any one people group, but for upholding peace, justice, mercy for all people.

Read this book to gain greater insights into the history, the contexts, the cultures, and one interpretation of the biblical prophecies. Even if you are convinced by Prince, which I am in some way, be ready to consult alternative sources so as to gain a bigger picture of what is going on. Prophecies are not the property of any one person. In fact, it is entirely possible, that what Prince has written forms a part of the bigger picture. My recommendation: Be informed with the importance of Israel. Be equally informed that it is the Player up there that will determine the playing field, the players, and the how the future is going to be played out.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Chosen Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.