Bob Fuhs

Book Review: The Ends of the Earth by Tim Downs

You should know that I've been a Tim Downs fan for a while now. Since even before he started writing fiction. Tim is actually on staff with Campus Crusade and is a very popular speaker now with our Family Life Ministry. A few years back Tim started writing a series of fiction books centered around Nick Polchack, a self-proclaimed "Bug Man" or forensic entymologist. Nick helps solve murders using the science of entymology. In this novel we find Nick trying to stop an agro-terrorist bent on crippling America's farming industry. I really enjoyed this book, like I have all the others. Tim develops his characters well so you feel sad at the end of each book knowing that you won't get to be involved in their lives until the next book. He is also very funny and each book is laced with the kind of humor that makes Tim such a great communicator. And, like any good work of fiction, plot twists keep you completely engaged in the story as it unfolds. I also like that Downs is subtle in the message or moral of his novels. You won't find any Peretti-esque angels and demons here, or characters who wear their faith on their sleeves. Each story will mak you think about importan issues of the day if you dig deep enough and are looking for it. Sort of reminds me of another Story Teller. So, if you like fiction and don't mind reading about bugs on dead people, check out Tim Downs' latest, published by Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: Obstacles Welcome by Ralph de la Vega

Obstacles Welcome is part autobiography and part leadership wisdom.  Ralph de la Vega not only shares his story of escaping Fidel Castro’s Cuba as a 10 year old without his parents, but also the principles used to lead Cingular Wireless and now ATT Mobility as President and CEO.

I am a business-book junkie and, while it wasn’t in the top 5, I really enjoyed it.  I especially appreciated the visuals laced throughout the book.  Each chapter includes a diagram illustrating some business process or model, such as: “The Success Framework,” “The Learning Cycle,” and “Operating Plan Elements.”  Seeing these inspired me to diagram some of my own leadership challenges and thoughts.

I would have appreciated more details regarding the inner workings of Cingular and ATT.  Ralph seems to skim the surface of major decisions and certain business challenges.  More details would have helped better translate the principles to my work.  Also, the book doesn’t cover anything about Ralph’s faith or make connections between faith and leadership. I would have liked some of that.

Overall I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for practical management and leadership wisdom. I’d also recommend it for those looking for a compelling story about overcoming adversity as an immigrant and ethnic minority.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Book Review: Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

Book Review: Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

Take a half cup Donald Miller, 2 Tablespoons of CS Lewis, sprinkle in a pinch of Kierkegaard, Sartre, Hume, and a handful (no, two) of Chesterton.  Let it simmer for an hour, then baste with colorful metaphors (earth=a carnival ride, Shakespeare= a lesson on evil and suffering, kittens=more lessons on evil and suffering). 

 What you might get is something like N.D. Wilson’s wonderful book, Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl. We got a free copy at our recent Campus Crusade for Christ National Staff Conference (Thanks Thomas Nelson!).

 One of the problems with writing a review of a book like this: I don’t write as well as N.D. Wilson and probably never will.  If you like books that are more like art than science, that are more like a meal of words, that cause you to think: “Oh, I wish I could say things like that.” Then, you’ll love this book.

This book is, at the heart, an “apologetic” (apologetics=a defense of the faith) book covering questions of the existence of God, the problem of evil and suffering, intelligent design, why would God send people to hell, and who’s to say what’s right and what’s wrong? It’s meaty stuff covered as a poet might, not as a scientist.  The arguments are logical and well-thought-out, mind you (they really, really are), but N.D. writes in a free form prose that draws on the best of metaphor and word-picture.

Bottom line: I loved it and can’t wait to read it again…this time slower, taking in each word, each phrase, each argument.  Hop on, I think you’ll enjoy the ride.

 

Preview of Book Review To Come

I just finished Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson.  I read it for two reasons: 1. We got a free copy at our recent CCC staff conference, and 2. I was sucked in by the first page and really had a hard time putting it down.

I want to post a more complete review in a later post, but I wanted to link to an interview with the author for you to take a look at.  Check it out here. 

The Puddle

A couple summers ago, my wife had a conversation with a girl on the boardwalk in Ocean City.  The conversation turned to reasons for God's existence.  Jill talked about the order and design in the universe as a reason to believe that there is a God, or designer.  In response, the girl said that was like a puddle thinking to itself, "Wow! How great is this that this hole was specifically designed for me!"  The idea is, just like the hole was not designed for the puddle, the earth only appears to be designed for us humans.

While shaving just now, a response to that argument (which perhaps you have heard) just occurred to me.  What if Jill had said, "Well, what if, instead of a hole in the ground, the water was in a swimming pool?  What would the water conclude?  The hole (i.e. the pool) was designed for the water! If you look at the incredible order in the universe, it makes more sense to me to see our world more like the swimming pool than the hole in the ground."

I doubt that this girl reads my blog, but now you know what to say if you ever come across that line of reasoning.

For some great illustrations to use when you are having conversations about God, I highly recommend a book by my friend Tim Muehlhoff called The God Conversation. You can order it here .