New blog

I am trying out Wordpress to see if I like it better than blogger check out the new (yet same) blog at wordpress www.xnapologetics.wordpress.com

Demon: A Memoir, a review

Tosca Lee writes this story about a man, Clay, who meets a Demon, Lucian. In this encounter Clay learns about the fall of the angels and how they fall. Clay is an editor, and recent divorcee. Lucian wants Clay to publish his story. However we find this story may actually be more about Clay than Lucian.

This read was strange for me as I wanted to keep reading but did not feel engaged in the book. I do not read many first person books, but have now read two in two weeks, so maybe that was the problem. Not sure. I recommend the book but something was off. I did not find any problems with the theology, as it dwells in the theoretical, unclear portion of how angles fell and what it means to be a fallen angel. Overall 4 out 5 stars.

I purchased and wrote this review of my undertaking, I was not asked for this review nor given this book for review. I also own the original NavPress edition instead of the B&H edition pictured above.

Summer Reading, updated order

This is my planned reading list, I hope to read most of these this summer, but know that probably won't happen. These books are also in an approximate order that I plan to read them. However, this order is subject to change. I will also give at least a short review of most. Also know if I sign up to review any books for Book Sneeze (Thomas Nelson) or Tyndale those will fall in wherever as I receive them.


1.     The Bride Collector – Dekker read beginning of May
2.     Lunatic – Dekker and Hill read beginning of May
3.     Eylon – Dekker and Hill read beginning of May
4.     Immanuel’s Veins – Dekker read June 3 and 4
5.     Jesus Manifesto - Sweet and Viola (Blogger Review for Thomas Nelson) read June 5
6.     Demon - Lee (To prepare for her and Dekker’s Forbidden) finished June 8
7.     Brisingr – Paolini (read the first two might as well keep going) finished June 11
8.     The Witness - McDowell (Blogger Review) (Order may change for this one depending when I receive it from Tyndale)
9.     Tea with Hezbollah - Dekker (Dekker need I say more) (I will read this upon receipt [unless currently reading another book])
10.  A Million Miles in a Thousand Years - Miller (liked his other books)
11.  She Who Watches – Rushford and Harrison (read the first three in the series)
12.  Crazy Love - Chan (been recommended)
13.  Dream House Kings Series - Liparulo (wanted to be my friend on FB, and now is)
14.  The Strain – del Toro and Hogan (liked Pan’s Labyrinth)
15.  This Beautiful Mess - Mckinley (picked it up, should probably read it)
16.  Germ - Liparulo (wanted to be my friend on FB, and now is)
17.  Havah – Lee (if I liked Demon and still to prepare for Forbidden)
18.  A Grief Observed – C. S. Lewis (I like his fiction)
19.  The Lazarus Trap- Bunn (bought for cheap)
20.  The Best of Evil - Wilson (bought for cheap)
21.  Plan B - Wilson (Shelby read)
22.  The Broker - Grisham (like most of his books)
23.  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Austen and Grahame-Smith (I should probably read more classics)
24.  Prayer & Art of VW Maintenance - Miller (again like his other books)
25.  Miracles- C. S. Lewis (like his fiction at least)
26.  The Princess Bride - Goldman (great movie)
27.  The Stand - King (a classic and watched and liked the mini-series)
28.  Change Your Church for Good - Powell (Shelby read)
29.  Imposter - Bunn (bought for cheap)
30.  Forsaken – Arterburn and Moscoe (bought for cheap)
31.  The Problem of Pain – C. S. Lewis
32.  Last Juror - Grisham (like most of his books)
33.  Paradise War - Lawhead (liked his King Raven series)
34.  Pilgrim’s Progress - Bunyan (a classic)
35.  The Abolition of Man – C. S. Lewis

Jesus Manifesto, a review

The Jesus Manifesto by Sweet and Viola can be summed up in one sentence: Christianity is not a religion but a Christ-centered relationship.

This book unfortunately is just a another drop in the ocean of books that “inspire” the reader to remember it is all about Jesus. I find most of their information to be sound just not new. They tend to over-generalize about the condition of Christianity and then want people to still do all the over-generalized things but with Christ as their center. The novel thing about it is how the book displays this fact. The book mentions both Facebook and Twitter. It seems this book is written for the Social Media crowd, many pages have multiple font types, boxed quotes, and side quotes. For me this was page overload (I am 24 yrs old). I was glad these authors were against a literal one meaning view of the Bible (they note this is a new development, which is true). I recommend this book for new and young Christians. For mature Christians this book will seem redundant, the same old same old.


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.”