A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness

Book Description

Those facing the pain and brokenness that result from unfair treatment by other believers will be encouraged by this powerful story of David, Saul, and Absalom.

Customer Reviews:

A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness.......2007-09-05

After living life for many years this book even makes more sense about the necessity of self being broken in order to be the obedient instrument God uses to accomplish His will. We pray "in Jesus name". If we believe this is proper, then the pecking order about all things belonging to the Father show we are only renters here which can easily be recognized from the attitudes of God's anointed that Edwards describes. A valuable plus by growing this insight can impact your own life with a deeper understanding of the acceptable approach to God. After reading this study it can make you more cognizant how to be a better follower of Christ, releasing us of perceived obligations that actually belongs to God alone. Our only job is to love God and do His will, anything else is vanity.

Been thorugh at lot a church.......2007-08-05

This book is an excellent book for any one that has ever been hurt through a church experience. If you have been involved in a church break up, youth pastor or asst pastor leaving, or have set under a "spear throwing " Pastor ( if you read the book you will understand). Get this book. If you work closely, to the Pastor get the book. if you will ever become a Pastor get the book. I read the entire book in one day. It is a real easy read.

Must-read for anyone who wants to understand leadership and authority better.......2007-07-26

This book is a revelation: very insightful and challenging, but incredibly easy to read. You'll be amazed at how easily Edwards can rock your world. I particularly recommend it to anyone who aspires to Christian leadership and, even more so, to anyone who has been burned by Christian leaders before. I first read this book coming out of a difficult situation on the mission field and this book really helped me to understand God's perspective on spiritual authority, service, humility and his own will. Actually, I wish every Christian would read it. It'll take you a few hours at most I'd guess.

very healing and touching book.......2007-07-05

I read this book when a friend gave it to me as a gift. The insight through the three kings' lives was very new for me. And every page takes you step by step to the healing process, helps you see the healing throughout the scars of Biblical characters... If you know someone hurt, offer this book to that person...

Elucidating truths about King David's life.......2007-04-08

A Tale of Three Kings contains helpful information about how we can thrive in spite of being under the leadership of someone who abuses authority. Succinct and easy to read. Powerful.

Average customer rating:

An easy read that could change your life immensely!
Get those monkeys off your back!
Simple Lessons Concisely Presented
Promotion Material
The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey

The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey
Kenneth H. Blanchard , William Oncken , and Hal Burrows
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Time Management | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0688103804

Book Description

Get that monkey off your back!

Start with a monkey. It comes from your subordinates shifting their responsibility to you -- until you're working for them! How does the successful manager keep monkeys off his back? In this lively, provocative seminar, two of today's foremost consultants show you:

* How to recognize monkeys before they land on your back
* How to stop your subordinates from imposing unnecessary time demands on you
* Why "an honest day's work for a fair day's pay" does not apply to managers
* The real answer to the Manager's Lament: "where does all the time go?"
* Why you should be on the golf course on Saturday instead of at the office

Be a smarter, tougher and better manager!

Together and separately Kenneth Blanchard and William Oncken have trained and consulted with America's largest corporations. Now they bring their unique style and hard-hitting program to audio -- to help you take charge of your job and your life.

Customer Reviews:

An easy read that could change your life immensely!.......2007-07-23

I would read another 100 books in this series!

There are so many business books out there that offer complex theories and require a PHD to read.

Kenneth Blanchard created yet another easy to read classic that will help me not only grow my business and help my clients, it gave me some great lessons to share with my grandchildren too.

Full of practical, simple advice and stories that can help you identify the monkey business in your life, and get the monkeys off your back!

AA++ mate! Looking forward to more! See you in Austin!

20/20 Ex Hostage - Professional Visionary
Formerly known as John Wingert

Get those monkeys off your back!.......2007-06-10

If your a mid-level manager and you need some basic supervisory skills training, this is the book for you. Excellent overview--it helped my work productivity from day 1, and a good entree into the rest of the One Minute Manager series.

Simple Lessons Concisely Presented.......2007-06-04

This book is a very quick read that describes some simple rules for managing better by not taking on other people's work. The authors explain that by doing things for your people you are not only making life harder on yourself, but also not actually doing an important part of your job, which is helping people develop. Anyone who manages (or who has a manager and needs to manage up) will benefit from the simple lessons, concisely presented. There are even lessons you can apply to the informal leadership roles many of us have such as parent, or someone involved in a community activity.

Promotion Material.......2007-05-07

Since my first purchase of this book last year, I have recommended it to half a dozen people and received a promotion myself. It's so clear after reading and applying the teachings from this book, that so often as managers, we tend to do a lot of things well but unfortunately we are doing the wrong things at the wrong time. Being free to delegate and ensure that what we let go of is completed with the same level of expectation as we would put on it, is liberating to say the least. A must read if you are feeling too busy to do the things that are important to you outside your work a day world. Best management book I have read.

The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey.......2007-01-04

This is a great coaching tool to create a conversational strategy for learning to effectively delegate and build trust and empower indiviudals. It is an easy read and when used with graphics and other creative tools it has a dramatic impact on individuals behaviors.

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony

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Good Defense and Solid Refutation
Doubtful
Scholarly Yet Accessible
That...which we have seen with our own eyes...concerning the word of life
Bauckham Blast Bultmann, Beelzebub

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony
Richard Bauckham
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0802831621

Book Description

This new book argues that the four Gospels are closely based on eyewitness testimony of those who knew Jesus. Noted New Testament scholar Richard Bauckham challenges the prevailing assumption that the accounts of Jesus circulated as "anonymous community traditions," asserting instead that they were transmitted in the name of the original eyewitnesses. To drive home this controversial point, Bauckham draws on internal literary evidence, study of personal names in the first century, and recent developments in the understanding of oral traditions.

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses also taps into the rich resources of modern study of memory and cognitive psychology, refuting the conclusions of the form critics and calling New Testament scholarship to make a clean break with this long-dominant tradition. Finally, Bauckham challenges readers to end the classic division between the "historical Jesus" and the "Christ of faith," proposing instead the "Jesus of testimony." Sure to ignite heated debate on the precise character of the testimony about Jesus, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses will be valued by scholars, students, and all who seek to understand the origins of the Gospels.

Customer Reviews:

Good Defense and Solid Refutation.......2007-09-25

I found this book on Bauckham to be slightly boorish. Why?

Because the form criticism, reduction critics have let on that they know so much more!

Bauckham solidly refutes and consistently refers to 'home base' - the Apostles and their close associates as valid and non-contradictory eyewitness, and therefore being the original and only sources of the NT.

A necessary defense in the light of the plethora of 'Matthew's community' this and the 'Johannine community' that.

Most re-assuring in light of the fact that the textual-critical scholars of the Bible do not believe in half of the words belonging to Jesus!

*Dr Kostenberger does rightly oppose Bauckam's suggestion that the Gospel of John was not written by the beloved disciple, but the 'Elder' John.

Doubtful.......2007-09-22

This is a wishful intent, aimed to prove a certain hypothesis.
The hypothesis is controversial at best.
Undoubtedly there were thousands of eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus, but no texts, if any, of their writings survived, unless one is to accept the fragments of the so-called Gospel of Mary Magdalen as being one such. The latter are more Buddhist in nature.
One wonders, also, why Jesus did not write his own gospel. Possibly he wrote down some of his teachings, but they have not been found.

The book is a noble academic treatise. However I think it is clear that the Gospels were written many decades indeed life-spans after Jesus...with all that this time lag must imply.

Scholarly Yet Accessible.......2007-09-04

Richard Bauckham has written an informative book in answer to those who would question the historicity and veracity of the synoptic gospels. The details of his points are technical but easy to follow even if one hasn't had a formal theological education. His reasoning is sound and he regularly summarizes each point of the argument. One review I read compared it to a mystery and I would have to agree that this book reads like a great novel.

That...which we have seen with our own eyes...concerning the word of life.......2007-08-08

This is a wonderfully fresh, challenging new look at the connection between eye-witness testimony and the Jesus tradition. As it argues for a fairly orthodox interpretation of the origin and transmission of the Jesus tradition, it is bound to stir up a skeptical backlash such as the lengthy (and often distorted or inaccurate) 'critical' review by Neil Godfrey. Nevertheless, it is a genuine work of scholarship, distinguishable from works by more skeptical historians and NT scholars only by the conclusions it reaches. The standard of argument and the use of primary and secondary literature are impeccable, as the knowledgeable reader will discern immediately.

Bauckham's case can be (all too briefly) summarized as follows: the Jesus traditions recorded in the canonical Gospels are not two or three generations removed from the eyewitness observers of the ministry and death of Jesus, but at most at one remove. Furthermore these traditions did not pass through a long, anonymous process of modification and expansion, but rather reflect the testimony of specific named tradents who continued to be authoritative sources of the traditions they passed on until they died. He bases this case on several pieces of evidence: 1)the remarks of Papias (and other early Church fathers) on the origins of the Gospels, 2)the named persons in the Gospels most likely reflect eyewitness sources for the Gospel narratives in which they feature, 3)the evangelists use an ancient rhetorical device known as the inclusio (used, for example, by Lucian and Porphyry) to indicate their main eyewitness sources, 4)remarks by Paul indicate the presence of a formal, controlled method of transmitting the Jesus tradition, as well as an official eyewitness collegiate in the form of the Twelve who ensured that the traditions passed on reflected actual contact with Jesus, 5)the pattern of agreement and disagreement among the Synoptic traditions about Jesus is best explained by the agreements and disagreements often observed among eyewitnesses to the same event(s). He devotes several chapters to the Gospel of John as a special case of eyewitness testimony and closes with a philosophical discussion of the role of testimony in the practice of historiography.

This thesis is of course open to challenge at several points. One might argue that the ancient sources (NT, Church Fathers) are simply too scanty to make definitive statements about who wrote what and when. One might examine the pattern of agreements and disagreements and conclude that the variations indicate a more informal, less controlled method of transmission of the Jesus tradition, or that the variations are best explained by theological differences among the evangelists. One might not be convinced by the presence of the inclusio in the Gospels, less still by its supposed function (to indicate eye-witness sources). The crux of the matter is that these are legitimate scholarly objections to a legitimate scholarly argument. Given the controversial nature of our sources, it is inevitable that people will disagree with Bauckham, and doubtless some of his arguments are more plausible than others (as he himself admits). But that is no reason to accuse him of producing "pro-medieval, anti-Enlightenment scholarship" (actually, Godfrey would be hard-pressed to come anywhere near the scholarly achievement of some of the medieval scholars, like Aquinas or Grotius or Scotus).

Whatever one thinks of Bauckham's overall thesis (I am inclined to think that it is broadly convincing, with some qualifications), he surely points the way forward to a fresh examination of the canonical Jesus traditions. Historical-critical NT scholarship began already loaded with theological presuppositions and primitive, un-scientific understanding of how oral tradition works or how corporate memory is preserved. What is called for is a model of the origin and transmission of the Jesus traditions that account for the pattern of agreement and disagreement we actually find in the Gospels, as well as the presence of non-canonical traditions and the references we find in the Church Fathers. James Dunn in his monumental work Jesus Remembered (Christianity in the Making, Vol. 1) and in the smaller A New Perspective on Jesus: What the Quest for the Historical Jesus Missed (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology) has already taken important steps in this direction, while Gregory Boyd and Paul Rhodes Eddy in The Jesus Legend: A Case for the Historical Reliability of the Synoptic Jesus Tradition apply the most up-to-date anthropological and psychological data to testing the plausibility of the models of Dunn and Bauckham. One can only hope that this trend will continue, and that we will gain a much more historically plausible understanding of Jesus and the Gospels, as well as one more congenial to theological concerns (NOT illegitimate, contrary to Godfrey's rants).

By all means read Neil Godfrey's review, but bear in mind that he is just as biased (if not more so) as Bauckham, and often misrepresents Bauckham's arguments and intentions, with an appalling lack of intellectual generosity and scholarly acumen. Anyone reading this book with an open mind and a nuanced understanding of what "Enlightenment" really means will greatly profit from it.

Bauckham Blast Bultmann, Beelzebub.......2007-08-07

Basic point obvious: Jesus had eyewitnesses . In the sense of people qualified and competent to report what they saw; and the Gospels are based on their testimony as such. 'Eyewitnesses' were and are a well recognized metaphor from jurisprudence, and a facet of Hellenistic historiography.

To which a churlish reader such as this one might reply, Duh!

It is perfectly obvious the Gospels were based on witness reports. In some cases (e.g. John, and epistle of Peter) the author formally declared themselves to be witnesses, and gave a kind of oath-sounding affirmation. Luke begins his gospel by telling us he he carefully assembled good witness a la a kind of investigatory reporter, making sure he got his facts from good sources.

Again, Duh.

But the real point at issue here concerns not the normal common-sense readers of the Gospels like ourselves, but those in the cult-like intellectual fringe of yesteryear, who were somehow bewitched in the 1920s and by the ravings of German liberal self styled `high critics' like Rudolph Butltmann. It was he who overlooked the obvious and dredged up anarcane alternative, the better to diminish Scripture and become all the rave of the anti-Christian mainstream media and adultery-addicted Art Deco salon set of his day. This happened in an age when intellectuals we all ga-ga over naturalistic reductionism and swallowed anything attacking the Faith; we had Clarence Darrow and the Scopes monkey trial, we had racial theorists with calipers measuring skulls; John b Watson and B.F. Skinner prototypes declaring there is no mind; we had colonials running around in pith helmets and butterfly nets in Papua, etc etc, all intoxicated with the notion that the verities of the God of old were 'outdated' and could be easily rendered correctly with modern science. And somehow, Bultmanns theories became horribly entrenched until repeated by thousands and millions of dupes readers. Bultmann basically said that the Scripture came not from witnesses but from oral traditions in disparate, disconnected communities. Sayings derived from purposes served, such as liturgical or evangelistic or pseudo-historical. And so the sayings and pericopes 'about' Christ, say Bultmannians, really tell us more about communities and agendas than Jesus.

Belatedly the pericopes were committed to writing. Evidence to the contrary, whether in the texts or from Papias, must simply be lies or inventions.

Bultmann is a scandal not only of higher criticism but of the entire scholarly enterprise itself, which was consciously constructed on the singular theme that God doesn't exist, and that the only allowable dscourse will be naturalistic.

Bauckham uses chap. 10 to lay out the scandal. Bultmann was debunked, point by point, some time ago. There's an unfortunate disconnect between the scholarly journals and these icons of popular science. And the world still rejects the Resurrection, or an afterlife judgment, and simply will grab at any half-plausible pseudo-theory to reassure themselves that there's no consequence of their wicked lives.

Now, with that in view, Bauckham's book begins to make sense. And it has real value in fact. He is primarily addressing a learned audience who have been infected with Bultmann and with the intensive anti-Christian virus. Ordinary, conscientious readers are already way ahead of him.

But other victims of `Jesus' Seminar' et al. claptrap that is so pervasive in antichristian mainstream publishing, who have soaked up the fraudulence about late dating of Gospels and the unreliability or oral transmission, will benefit.

Bauckham meticulously explains the significance of literary inclusio devices; the good credibility of Papias, and how his statements harmonize with Matthew and especially Petrine Mark; Johanine writings as real eyewitness testimony; the significance of many named persons in the Gospels (and others kept anonymous); assorted construction element emphasizing a witnessing purpose;the obviously likelihood that oral traditions were scrupulously memorized and were written in private notebooks; etc

What's missing in my view:

Most glaring and annoying is no mention of the Book of Revelation--which, after all, purports to be the testament and eyewitness experience of John, who is the same who was Christ's biographical witness. And John is ordered to `write down' the prophecy. And there is a solemn curse against anyone who would change it. And there are allusions to false apostles already corrupting the msg. All of these elements really bear direclty on Bauckham's thesis, and Revelation is rife with 'witness' themes, yet Bauckham gives it nary a mention.

Another weakness is his brief treatment of Paul's witness claim in which Paul asserts that he received the words of the sacramental liturgy from the Lord. Bauckham simply replies, `Paul couldn't have meant this,' without enough discussion on this monumentally important (and dubious) assertion.

Conversely, Bauckham gives us WAY too much about Greco-Roman literary forms and parallels that only tangentially bear on his thesis. This happens several times, totaling scores of pages. It fulfills the scholarly job of comparative literature, but is mind-numbing. Bauckham could have put the cites in footnotes or moved this material to an appendix.

If Baukham does a paperback edition, he should follow Tom Wright's example in his 900 page Resurrection, and give us a 250 page abridgment for popular reading.

There's no reflection, either, on the possibility that God may have constructed the Gospel with intentional ambiguity and opacity (as Jesus says) precisely in order to hide things from the 'smart guys' and reveal them only to the poor or humble or those in need. Part of the arrogance of the ruling intelligentsia is their naive assumption that reality is objective, under their symbolic control, and analyzable without acknowledging God. Scientists are only chasing their own tails.

From a scholarly standpoint, this book is a masterpiece that will certainly drive a stake thru Bultmann's heart. It should soften some of the bizarrely anti-Christianized heavily politicized and weirdly speculative maundering drivel we've been getting from HarperSanFrancisco, of Jesus Seminar genre, which is really converging on the Da Vinci Code agenda, and other septic spill from Beelzebub.

Parenting Your Out-of-Control Teenager: 7 Steps to Reestablish Authority and Reclaim Love

Average customer rating:

Horrid !
A great Buy!
This book is a must have
Fabulous!!!!!
Tools for Your Parenting Tool Kit

Parenting Your Out-of-Control Teenager: 7 Steps to Reestablish Authority and Reclaim Love
Scott P. Sells
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Teenagers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0312303017

Book Description

he U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 11 million households contain teenagers who engage in acts of violence, truancy, promiscuity, and substance abuse.Dr. Sells gives parents the power to make lasting changes with seven proven, practical steps:1. Learn the real reasons for teen misbehavior2. Make an ironclad contract to stop that behavior3. Troubleshoot future problems4. End button-pushing5. Stop the seven acesfrom disrespect to threats of violence6. Mobilize outside help7. Reclaim lost love within the family.Dr. Sellss compassionate guide offers a lifeline to parents who want to help their children but dont know how.

Customer Reviews:

Horrid !.......2007-09-04

This book was recommended by a therapist while we were struggling with our soon to be 15 year old at the time. It was devasting. The concepts and suggestions are embarressing, insulting and degrading to teenagers and show no respect for their individualism, personal struggles or pain. Neither does it truly take into account how many of these teenagers have special needs that need to be considered with patience, humility and self restraint on the part of Authoritarian parents. It is rough having an out of control child. It hurts the entire family and many tears are shed but to further alienate these children is offensive. I know. I did it. I read the book and threw it out. After too much money spent on therapy and programs and taking advice from too many school counselors I found
"Positive Discipline For Teenagers" by Jane Nelson and Lynn Lott. What a concept! Respect these Teenagers! A year ago I was worried my son might end up in jail. Today I'm worried if he is getting enough protein! He is a conscientious cheerfull young man who respects life, is a Vegan and spends time on his own learning to control his anger and disabilities and discusses openly with his Father and I.Thanks to Jane and Lynn for their wonderful book.
Get "Positive Discipline for Teenagers" before your child hits puberty and stay clear of "Parenting Your Out of Control Teenager". Learn to respect and love each other now.

A great Buy!.......2007-08-09

A must buy for beneficial strategic parenting info! Good information to help recognize various behavioral patterns.

This book is a must have.......2007-05-31

I would recommend this book to any parent having trouble with their teenager or even preteen. I had bought a couple of other books that were recommended by my son's couselor, but I saw this one and it is by far the best book out there.

Fabulous!!!!!.......2007-05-08

I have learned so much from this book! I would recomend it to any one with kids. (they will be teens one day!) Kids don't have to be out of control before you look for advice. We all could use a little know how before we get to the out of control point. Thank you Scott P. Sells!!!!

Tools for Your Parenting Tool Kit.......2007-04-18

My suggestion to all parents I work with is always to read as wide a variety of books as possible - and this is one I reccommend. Scott Sells works from the premise that teens are happier when they know the boundaries. This is true however I would like to suggest that this is balanced with a parenting approach based on unconditional love Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reasonand that when this is the basis you are working from your teen is less likely to become uncontrollable.
One of the most important details relating to Sells' book is that it generally relates to teens that have no underlying causes to their behaviors.
Most Teens I work with have suffered abondonment, neglect, adverse effects of broken families, a lack of responsible adult role models of both sexes. When an adolescent is suffering in some way or has experienced trauma the way the tend to communicate is via acting out. It is important at these times to distinguish this behavior as a plea for help! It is often preferable to involve a professional as you are not just dealing with behaviors but underlying problems which must be resolved.
Remember your teen is not their behavior. Love them unconditionally and use the whole range of resources: books, family, counsellors, doctors, community to assist them to grow up to be happy, healthy, responsible adults!

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today

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A Must Have
Very impressive evidence
enlightening!
good, but not without problems
An outstanding reference for Christians!

The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today
Josh McDowell
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785242198

Amazon.com

Bestselling author and Christian apologist Josh McDowell hopes The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict will further document historical evidence of the Christian faith. As such, it is a straightforward compilation of notes prepared for his lecture series, "Christianity: Hoax or History?" The entire book (over 750 pages) is laid out in outline form, which makes it easier for researchers, scholars, and students to access. As a result, this is not reflective fireside reading. Rather, it is a tool for locating supporting "evidence" whenever the need arises. Part I addresses the trustworthiness of the Bible; Part II offers historical evidence and supporting attestations for Jesus' claim to God; Part III addresses "radical Christian criticism" of the Bible; Part IV is devoted to quelling the voice of numerous skeptics, including "a defense for the existence of miracles" and "answers to divergent worldview."

Book Description

Evidence I & II-The classic defense of the faith: Now fully updated to answer the questions challenging evangelical faith today.

The New Evidence maintains its classic defense of the faith yet addresses new issues.

The New Evidence is destined to equip believers with a ready defense for the next decade and beyond

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have.......2007-08-31

This is a Must Have book for any Christian. It helps explain many, many questions that non-Christians and Christians alike come up with. This book will not only strengthen your belief but also help "back up" that belief! As for "Faith", well, we all know where that comes from....

Very impressive evidence.......2007-06-21

This is a very unique book for one reason: you will not find any "faith-based" arguments used to prove claims made about the bible. Only documented facts are used.

McDowell employs an interesting technique to prove many of the Christian beliefs about Jesus: namely he uses the actions and arguments made by the groups that hate Jesus to prove the point. For example, he uses the heavily guarded tomb to prove that the jews were willing to do whatever they could to prevent the resurrection thus destorys their argument that the Christian's may have taken the body. Also, if Jesus' body wasn't resurrected the jews could have easily squashed the religion by simply offering Jesus' dead body up to the Christians.

Also, the author argues that the jewish priests BELIEVED in the miracles he was performing. The jews accused him of using sorcery to accomplish his miracles instead of just calling him a fake (although they call Jesus a fake with impunity 2000 years later!). When he restored the sight of a blind man they stated that he was using the devils power to restore sight instead of asking the man whether or not he was really cured of blindness.

By looking at what the antagonists say about Jesus he has a perfect source of proof. By Crucifying Jesus for Blasphemy (something even the anti-Christ authors of today admit) McDowell proves that Jesus' followers didn't merely invent his claimed divinity (what else would they Crucify him for?).

Beyond these methods the author explorers many "friendly" evidences to support the bible as well, such as scientific evidence for the locations, peoples, events, etc in the bible. He uses historical evidence, as well as the testimony of those who witnessed the events of the new testament and recorded the events in their lifetime.

Before I read this book, I had doubts that you could seriously PROVE the events in the bible and that Jesus was the son of God. But now, if this case was brought before a true court of law, I have no doubt that a jury would find for the defendant: Jesus.

enlightening!.......2007-05-08

written by someone who set out to prove that christianity was a crock, josh mcdowell convincingly shows all who read the overwhelming evidence supporting a risen jesus christ. a must have!

good, but not without problems.......2007-04-26

I have read this book several times and I use it as both a reference and an anchor when the world tries to spread lies about Jesus. I will say that although this book is unparalelled in its excellent persuit of the truth of Jesus and the Bible, etc., it relies a bit too much on emotion, personal experience and the author's hope that the grey areas will be resolved somehow. I think that the author should have spoken only where there were facts and not conjecture, because anything presented as apologetics and which has within it emotion and poetic liscence, however brief and cursory, opens us (Christians) to ridicule and taunting by the left and their scientists/archaeologists etc. All in all a good effort, but perhaps Mr. Mc Dowell would be better off writing a novel about his personal experiences, and a book strictly about the facts and allow the readers to harmonize the two in their own minds.

An outstanding reference for Christians!.......2007-03-17

This is an outstanding reference book for Christians. It provides evidences for the truth of Christianity and the Bible under several different categories. It is organized in a way to make it easy to use to teach a class. Highly recommended!

Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority

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Faith builder
Spritual Poison
Doctrine of Demons
Life Changing
The devil exposed

Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority
John Bevere
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785269916

Book Description

This well loved writer effectively uses his personal mistakes to illustrate riveting truths about repentance and forgiveness. As he focuses on the true authority of God, he is careful to explain by example the important difference between "submission" and "obedience."

The same struggle with divine authority is also represented through the lives of John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, and other biblical figures. An especially helpful book for Christians who want to develop a serious pursuit of God.

Customer Reviews:

Faith builder.......2007-07-16

Respect for authority in and out of church is at a all time low. I'm not saying that I agree with everything word for word, but I do understand and live by the thought that if we (as in all people) can not function under authority we'll never be able to function in it! I try not to forget that just like the roman centurion Jesus is under the father's authority and he never disobeyed.

Spritual Poison.......2007-07-16

This is one of the most abusive and manipulative teachings under the classification "Christian literature" that I have ever read. While the idea and importance of submitting to Gods inherent authority is indisputable, The agendaized, one-sided presentation of it is categorically false. In this book Bevere neglects to teach the full council of God as represented by Christ in his resistance to the religious authority of His day. As is shown in the Gospels, Christ rebukes, resists, confronts, questions, and evades those in authority until His appointed time. Never, through Christ's actions or words, does He suggest mindless submission to errant authority. John the Baptist resisted and rebuked the religious and civil authority; Paul confronted Peter's hypocrisy, he didn't submit to and follow his wrong example; although David didn't take Saul's life, because it wasn't his to take, neither did David utterly submit to Saul's errant authority but withstood Saul until God's appointed time.
This Book promotes "a different Gospel" Throughout this book. It suggests that we must get right first (thru repentance) before God will accept us. Though repentance is an essential component of salvation it doesn't suggest perfection but a change in pursuit; we no longer pursue the things of the world but the things of God. All throughout his book Bevere's statements suggest a works salvation, a salvation that is obtained through correctness and self-effort rather than the work that Christ has done. Bevere suggests that God is not able to have grace (unmerited favor) on anyone unless his personal work is right. Everywhere I turn in Bevere's book I read a gospel of works salvation. Biblically, those who teach or hold this position are categorically, false teachers.

THE GOSPEL IS SIMPLE; Christ died for the sins of the world, not only for eternal life but also for the result of sin in the world today. You don't have to work for God to be able to have mercy on you; God is able regardless of your efforts. It is faith alone in Christ and His atoning work on the cross that saves. No amount of work can be done, in this present life, to improve your condition, Christ has done it all; faith in His work is sufficient for all and that faith in Christ secures your right standing with the Almighty. If you believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins, then you are "in Christ."
So why do we work? Simple, it is an expression of love and appreciation to God for His infinite mercy. When we circumvent Christ's work with our own we are attempting to work for our salvation and this brings us under the requirement of being 100% perfect to be saved.

I plead with anyone considering this book, in the name of our Lord and savior, Christ Jesus, avoid it, IT IS POISON!!!!

Doctrine of Demons.......2007-07-11

There are numerous instances of "proof-texting" in this book. Scriptures are taken out of context in order to create a new doctrine, similar to what Satan attempted with Jesus. Specifically, Acts 26:14, Matthew 21:31, 1 Corinthians 11:31, 2 Peter 2:19, Exodus 9:16, 1 Peter 2:17, and the list goes on. Here are three important examples:

1) Bevere quotes Psalm 91:1-He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. A shadow is a likeness of someone, meaning Christlikeness produces rest. Bevere extrapolates the word shadow to mean covering, but the word "covering" isn't in the Bible the way Bevere teaches.

2) Exodus 9:16 "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." The words "raised you up" in the original Hebrew mean "to stand." In context, this means that God spared Pharaoh from the plagues, thereby granting him mercy. Bevere implies that God put Pharaoh in power, giving him authority. Bevere assigns the work of the enemy to God.

3) Bevere quotes Romans 9:18 and Romans 11:33-34 as if they read together. This totally changes the meaning!

We are told in the 10 Commandments to honor our parents, but to worship only God. We must never idolize pastors or institutions. It is time for reform in the church! Moses' authority was Old Covenant. Jesus is the New Covenant head of the church, and His church is a living organism, not in institution. Never forget, Jesus criticized and was insubordinate towards religious authority/hierarchy, yet all the while, He was submitted to God.

Life Changing.......2007-07-09

This book, along with another of John Bevere's books "How to Respond When You Feel Mistreated" have absolutely changed my life for the better. I have a freedom in my heart that I have never experienced!

The devil exposed .......2007-05-30

What an eye opening book.I thank God for making me purchase this book.Every believer should be aware of the message written herein to help them with their spiritual walk.

The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ

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Grab your shovel were digging into History
Jesus Who?
Very impressive, although not exhaustive
A Must Read for Christology Students!
An apologist I actually like

The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ
Gary R. Habermas
Manufacturer: College Press Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0899007325

Customer Reviews:

Grab your shovel were digging into History.......2007-09-20

I read this to get a broader prospective of the historical evidences for Jesus after reading Case for Christ. Several of the points are repeated, however the depth of analysis from a professionally historic analysis was invaluable. It is not a engaging read as something for entertainment or a casual read. I goes deep into the authentic historical artifacts citing specific evidences that support the existence of Jesus and the character that is described through the Bible. I recommend reading this with a hi lighter or tabs to be able to refer back to material throughout this read, it is definitely something I will come back to for reference.

Jesus Who?.......2007-03-08

Haabermas is the Master when it comes to presenting verifiable evidence for the proof of the Resurrection. Ask yourself, "what if Jesus is real? What if He did come back to life?" This book lays it out definitively--No way you can escape this. Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus is presented in a very detailed and resonable format. The evidence speaks for itself. It's like the phrase "he cast out demons with the Devil's Power". They didn't say he DIDN'T cast out demons, they just attributed Jesus' power to the dark side. They had the evidence right in front of them. Lazarus was alive and could be questioned. Who covered up for the Roman Guards? How was Saul changed into Paul, the completely transformed former killer of christians? What changed his mind? People do not die for a lie or the perception of a lie. The disciples that saw Jesus Resurrected had no mass hallucination, delusion or craziness. Jesus did die and came back to life. Powerful evidence stated in very no nonsense, verifiable words. You really have to ask yourself, "Is Jesus really alive?" Yep.

Very impressive, although not exhaustive.......2006-12-28

Any Christian apologist can ascertain something useful from Gary Habermas's "The Historical Jesus," even if this work is not the most exhaustive search for the life of Christ. The truth is I have not yet discovered the ultimate apologetic resource, one that encompasses everything a Christian convert (or atheistic skeptic) needs to affirm the religion that has drawn wildfire over the last 2,000 years. However, "The Historical Jesus," using impeccable logic and ancient creeds and writings, efficiently refutes the Jesus Seminar, the Gnostic promoters, and the dissenters of the crucifixion and resurrection. Habermas's material and his command of the facts are extremely impressive, but not overly extensive or thorough. Not surprisingly, the whole of Christianity comes to down to a monumental act of faith. A lot of evidence can help lead you in the right direction, but it cannot make a decision for you.

Still, "The Historical Jesus" offers plenty of corroborating evidence for the New Testament as accurate sources gleaned from eyewitness testimony. Despite recent attempts by Bart Ehrman and the members of the Jesus Seminar to rewrite the Gospels as `unreliable' poppycock, Habermas reveals how perfectly `reliable' the Gospel and New Testament accounts really are. "The Historical Jesus" does a much better job at defending the Christian faith than Lee Strobe's "Case for Christ" (which, ironically, was a book that featured Habermas as a guest interviewee).

I was somewhat disappointed at the shortness of the book. I am sure more exhaustive accounts are swirling around out there these days (this book was published in 1996), but "The Historical Jesus" is not it. However, no one can read this book and not pick up a few interesting and worthwhile tidbits regarding the New Testament and Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. It all, ultimately, comes down to faith.

A Must Read for Christology Students!.......2006-11-29

I read this book about a year ago and I've started rereading it because once is not enough. Dr. Habermas' book is an essential work that should be required for those studying the person of Jesus Christ. Habermas does an excellent job presenting opposing view points and providing answers for those who challenge the Biblical Christ. I feel he makes a very strong case for the historicity of Jesus Christ in opposition to the "findings" of the Jesus Seminar and other critics.

One issue needs to be addressed though. Habermas does a good job of using St. James the "Brother of Jesus" in support of the Historicity of Christ, however it must be clarified that St. James was not an actual Brother of Christ. Our Lady was a perpetual virgin. This truth is an ancient Tradition alluded to in Scripture, made explicit in the mid-second century through the non-canonical "Protoevangelium of James," and echoed by St. Athanasius in the fourth century in his "Discourses Against the Arians" where he explicitly gives Mary the title "Ever Virgin." Subsequent Church councils, like the ones that affimed Christ's Divinity and the Canon of Scripture, affirmed Mary's Virginity.

So what about the use of the word Brother, and sister, in reference to Christ? Well, Tradition holds that St. Joseph was a widower who already had children when he became the steward of Mary. So St. James may have been a Step Brother, which makes sense since Christ entrusted Mary to St. John at the foot of the cross rather than his brother. Further, St. Jerome argued in the Fourth Century that St. James and the other mentioned siblings may have been cousins since the word cousin did not exist in Aramaic. Your cousins were refered to as your brothers and sisters. Either way, the use of St, James as a reliable source is not deminished. One just needs to get all the facts as straight as possible.

All in all, this is a very informative book which needs to be read by any educated Christian. Though as Habermas himself admits, supplements in defense of Scripture are absolutely necessary. I highly recommend "The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?" by F.F. Bruce and "The Historical Reliability of the Gospels" by Craig Blomberg. Further, one should also read "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus" by Habermas and newcomer Michael Licona immediately following this book, as well as the recently published "Reinventing Jesus" J. Ed Komoszewski, M. James Sawyer, and Daniel B. Wallace, for a well rounded view of the Historical Jesus.

An apologist I actually like.......2006-11-24

Let me start out with a confession; I do not like Christian apologists. This is not to say that all Christian apologists are bad, but the most popular method in apologetics is either "explaining away" details, or making excuses for the things in Christianity that don't add up or that we don't like.

Ironically however, I discovered Gary Habermas in an apologetic book that I did not like; Lee Strobels "The Case for Christ". In Strobel's book we have typical apologetic excuse makers that take superficial observations and then try to explain them away, for example, the explanation that it was possible for Jesus to go into Galilee, and out of Galilee at the same time (I'm not kidding, this really is an apologetic argument). Apologetics are usually nothing more than starting out with an opinion and then looking for evidence that supports it, or looking at arguments and then manipulating the details to explain them away. In a nut shell, I have never found apologetics to be neither useful, nor helpful to any case Christians may have to make.

My point is this, in the entirety of Strobels "The Case for Christ"; only one interview actually got my attention, the Habermas interview. His argument was so reasoned and so compelling that it inspired me to read this book, and I have been a fan of Habermas ever since. If there is one apologist that all others should look to for guidance, it's Habermas. Unlike most apologists who work with none but superficial details of the bible, Habermas actually conducts a critical analysis of the data contained within. He studies history, works out how it all fits together, and then forms a supportive argument. I have read many books stating many cases for the truth of a historical Jesus, and this is by far the best.

Habermas lays it all out in front of us. The best arguments against a historical Jesus, the naturalistic interpretations of the resurrection, and how all of these theories have failed over the years. There is no "explaining it all away" in this book, it's all based on logic and hard data. If the field of Christian apologetics is going to evolve into something useful, there is no better man to look to than Habermas to make that happen. It is well worth a read, to say the least.

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Comments on Authority of the Believer
Good book learn your authority!
The Authority of the Believer
this is the seminal book on spiritual warfare--

The Authority of the Believer
John A. MacMillan
Manufacturer: WingSpread Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1600660835

Book Description

Author John A. MacMillan draws on the concept of the authority of the believer from Ephesians in this spiritual warfare classic. Originally written in 1932, this classic challenges all believers to "learn the secret of victory through authority." This book has been featured by Kenneth Copeland and Billye Brim Ministries.

Customer Reviews:

Comments on Authority of the Believer.......2007-09-07

Great book for all Christians that want to grow in the knowledge of who they are in Christ Jesus.

Good book learn your authority!.......2007-09-01

This book is an indepth reading book on the authority of those who are born again christians.
It has really helped me to understand how to stand in my authority in Christ and recognize where self has been getting in the way.
This book has annointing of God!

The Authority of the Believer.......2007-09-01

This book has opened my eyes to the book of Ephesians and the great position the Lord gives us if we only believe in the authority He has given us. The author uses words that are not ordinary vocabulary so you need a good dictionary and the Word. All in all, you will love this book and it's revelations.

this is the seminal book on spiritual warfare--.......1999-05-15

John A. MacMillan was a missionary of The Christian and Missionary Alliance who served in China and the Philippines. Long an Associate Editor of the Alliance Weekly (Life) and a professor at Nyack College, MacMillan acted on his theology and used the authority of the believer to effect deliverances from demonic power. Essentially, because believers are in Christ and He is seated at the right hand of the Father, all authority is vested in Him, our Saviour and by His indwelling presence we exercise His authority. The Publisher

The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq

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Important read for understanding the reality of Iraq today
WHERE HAVE AL THE QAEDA GONE?
What a wonderful story
An Insightful Account of the Futile Quest for Democracy in Iraq
Upbeat and hopeless about Iraq

The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq
Rory Stewart
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0151012350

Book Description

In August 2003, at the age of thirty, Rory Stewart took a taxi from Jordan to Baghdad. A Farsi-speaking British diplomat who had recently completed an epic walk from Turkey to Bangladesh, he was soon appointed deputy governor of Amarah and then Nasiriyah, provinces in the remote, impoverished marsh regions of southern Iraq. He spent the next eleven months negotiating hostage releases, holding elections, and splicing together some semblance of an infrastructure for a population of millions teetering on the brink of civil war.

The Prince of the Marshes tells the story of Stewart's year. As a participant he takes us inside the occupation and beyond the Green Zone, introducing us to a colorful cast of Iraqis and revealing the complexity and fragility of a society we struggle to understand. By turns funny and harrowing, moving and incisive, it amounts to a unique portrait of heroism and the tragedy that intervention inevitably courts in the modern age.

Customer Reviews:

Important read for understanding the reality of Iraq today.......2007-10-06

If you feel it is important to understand what is happening in Iraq today, this book needs to be added to your reading list. The author's perspective, that of largely unempowered administrator of a province in Iraq, is both valuable and unique. Rather than the purely political or military viewpoint, you are given a look into the reality of the daily challenges being faced by those charged with trying to make things work on the ground... the implementers, not the policy makers or military men. The view is not a very pleasant or hopeful one.

The style of writing is sometimes dry and some may find it rather boring to read often repetitive accounts of setting up and administering programs, and dealing with constant political infighting among the factions. It can also be frustrating and tedious to read about hard working, well-intentioned people trying to accomplish things against great odds, only to see everything go for naught (again and again and again). But for me at least, it was the information and insights that were buried within the mundane details of Mr. Stewart's day to day accounts, and the reasons for the many failures that were the most revealing and added most to my understanding of what we are up against in Iraq.

My conclusion after reading the book was that the quote from Milton, "It is better to rule in hell than serve in Heaven," seems to perfectly sum up the attitude of the leaders of the various factions there. Until that attitude changes, the hope for a functioning democracy in Iraq appears to be mostly wishful thinking at best.

WHERE HAVE AL THE QAEDA GONE?.......2007-08-28

In the absence of an index, I can't easily verify whether Al Qaeda get only one solitary mention (and that as just one of a list of suspects) in all the 400-odd pages of this book. They are conspicuous by their absence throughout, and that strikes me as being one of the most significant aspects of the story. To this day I am hearing about the need to defeat Al Qaeda in Iraq, and to this day I am puzzled as to what makes that so important. If we want to find their local operatives who actually plan the bombings in America and Europe we ought to be searching in Europe; and if we want to find their main leadership we should look in Afghanistan or Pakistan. However if the Al Qaeda presence in Iraq is as insignificant as it might seem from Stewart's narrative then it adds to the sense of confusion regarding the coalition's objectives.

Stewart served for a year as Deputy Governorate Coordinator in two provinces, often being left in effective charge. He was no more than a freelance contractor, but his previous experience ensured that his job-application was gratefully snapped up by HM Foreign Office, doubtless short of volunteers from within its own ranks. He restricts his narrative to what he saw at first-hand. He took up his post in a genuine attempt to make the ostensible coalition objective of a democratic and peaceful Iraq work, and he does not analyse or evaluate that and the other supposed objectives. However his direct involvement included reporting periodically to Bremer in Baghdad, and anyone able to put 2 and 2 together in such a manner as to make 4 and not 22 can easily read between the lines. Imagine the following pronouncement from the colonel in charge of strategic planning, for instance. 'What we are hoping to do is to lay out some philosophical underpinnings of a plan...to begin a journey of discovery for building a more cohesive implementation of plans and policies in the five core areas.' A fine time to be getting round to that in April 2004, Stewart seems to say. Elsewhere he notes Bremer's MBA from Harvard and it's not hard to read into what he says his exasperation at the know-all fatuity of Bremer's 7-point plans for privatisation and such like and at the ghastly gobbledegook ('best practice gaps analysis' etc) in which language seems to function not as a vehicle for thought but as a substitute for thought.

Back at the ranch Stewart was having to confront the realities of the situation. There were, he says and I believe him, some genuine successes before and independent of Gen Petraeus. The trouble was -- few if any Iraqis believed in the successes; or if they did it was not for long. Any seeds of improvement the coalition was sowing had roots too shallow to have much hope of permanence. Stewart's own despairing conclusion comes in his last sentence - however bad the native Iraqi movers and shakers might be, local loyalties always revert to one or other of these, and foreign-imposed improvements, some of them real others just speculative and hopeful, do not stand a chance in this culture. He was trying to make order out of chaos, but they preferred the chaos. He was trying to win hearts and minds, but the minds never stayed with him for long because the various men of power and influence had their own fluid and shifting agendas and alliances, and whether anyone's heart was ever with him is anyone's guess.

It stands to elementary reason that Stewart was in no way opposed to the occupation of Iraq. He went there at all because he believed that some good could come of it. As I read his account, he sees no prospect of success for it now, although he is not explicit about whether a totally different approach might have fared better. He was battling with bureaucracy, incompetence, ignorance, infighting, grandstanding and pretence from Bremer's outfit in Baghdad, opposition to his own role from his own coalition military let alone from the populace he was trying to help, and near-ludicrous ineptitude from the Italian component of such military day in and day out. He was improvising most of the time, and while he has no illusions that his snap decisions were always or even mainly right, the real truth of the matter seems to me to have been that in most cases he didn't rightly know whether he had been right or wrong, because there was no real criterion for judging of that.

The book has been put together from such notes as the author managed to take and retain, but in conditions of such pressure some of the material depends on his memory. I have no reason to suppose that any of these are unreliable, and mental honesty is shiningly apparent throughout, not least in his candour about the minor lies he felt he had better tell from time to time. Whether his own bravery was apparent to him I can't tell, but it's apparent to me. There is much quiet tongue-in-cheek humour, and the tongue comes right out of the cheek in his account of the exploits of the Italians, who were, in the homely Lancashire phrase, as much use as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking competition. His particular angle on the events is one that we don't often see recorded, let alone recorded as well as this. It does not purport to give the wider picture, but he is free of the temptation to blow his own trumpet, and I expect future historians will derive more solid benefit from Stewart than from, say, the memoirs of Gen Franks. He stayed his year's course, he had nothing more to stay for, and he leaves me wondering what the rest of them, even the admirable Gen Petraeus, can possibly hope to achieve. There were successes before and independent of him, they put down no roots, and it looks as if lasting successes will require divine intervention rather than human generalship.

What a wonderful story.......2007-07-06

Rory Stewart is a gifted story teller. I started this book one morning to "check it out" and had a hard time putting it down. His recollections of his year in Iraq, from August 2003 to June 2004 are some of the most non-partisan, honest and heart-wretching stories I've yet to read on this war. His youthful naivete, his non-military outtakes on Iraq in parts make his story all the more readable as it could have been told by any outsider looking in.

He doesn't put the blame on one person, but on everyone, from the US, British, Italian military and the Iraqis themselves. (Although I had a feeling the British forces in Nasiriyah were disgusted with the Italians in their area...) He doesn't boast about his accomplishments like a former military officer would, and he does mention his own faults at not being aggressive enough with some local sheikhs. But it's all obvious that dealing with tribal warfare takes more than blunt negotiations or quick reaction forces. What the Coalition failed to do from the beginning was win the "hearts and minds of the Iraqis."

A civil war was looming already in 2003, with the Sadrists and Badr gang finger-pointed as the big evil doers. Three, four years later nothing much has changed in that respect.

From dealing with corrupt sheikhs, police chiefs and huligans in the streets, Rory had to get reconstruction project started and kept getting held back by dissatisfied locals wanting their share of the corrupt pie. Rory also gave out praise for some people he met then who are big players today: Generals Petraeus and Odierno.

This book is an honest portrayal of life in a war zone. From sudden, incoming mortar rounds to kidnappings and gunshots found on corpses later on. Rory held back his emotions when recalling his story, which makes this so much more interesting than the many other books that want to blame the war's failures on just Bush, the military generals, or the Iraqis. This book is not about who is to blame, but rather why success as westerners see is so hard to come by in this part of the world.

Rory shows that the Iraqi culture is not an easy culture to live with. Its people are friends one minute, and deadly archrivals the next when it comes to tribal mentality and its focus on revenge. His stories make one realize why success in Iraq for the Coalition will come slowly and at a great cost.

The easy-to-follow verbage, the laymen's terms of military tactics and the in-your-face descriptions of daily events make this book a must-read for anyone interested in Today's Iraq. This book should be translated into Arabic so that the Iraqis can read about themselves and how juvenile they come across to all non-Iraqis.

I am definitely going to keep my eyes open for any more works by Rory Stewart.

An Insightful Account of the Futile Quest for Democracy in Iraq.......2007-07-01

Rory Stewart, a 30-year old British diplomat, pulls no punches in this fascinating account of futility in south-eastern Iraq. Despite the best-laid plans of mice and men (Rory is definitely in the later category), the avarice, cunning, deceit, and outright skullduggery of the typical Iraqi leader (at least in Amara) threatens to undo every good thing that Stewart and the Coalition attempt to do in Iraq. Small wonder - a people that have been repressed for over half a century are suddenly encouraged to vote, demonstrate, choose their own police chief, etc. Rory shows quite clearly why democracy is both impossible and alive and well in post-invasion Iraq. Impossible because the CPA envisions "democracy" as a pro-Western government, while Iraqis clearly don't want women to be seen or heard (Sadrists murder a quiet but educated doctor in the streets), nor are they willing to accept the leadership of anyone not from their own tribe or clan. And yet democracy is clearly thriving as long pent-up emotions, leadership, and social norms well to the surface as every group tries to get their leader in power in order to collect the perquisites of office. In the last chapters, Rory makes a nice indictment of the utter incompetence and cowardice of the Italian military contingent that took more than 7 hours to react to Sadr mortaring as well as failure to do anything as snipers closed in on the CPA compond. With friends like these...

Stewart starts out believing in the basic good of all mankind, but after being labeled "Hitler", mortared by politicians that he helped earn a voice at the table, deserted by the same leaders that he helped install, etc. he comes to the realization that the liberal perspective just doesn't work.

Although not necessarily an indictment of the invasion of Iraq, Stewart points out the incredible challenges of putting a broken society back together after war, in particular when one culture (Western) intends to pose its values on another (Iraqi). The real winner in all this - Iran.

Upbeat and hopeless about Iraq.......2007-06-27

I love this book! If there's any book that seductively explains why our adventure in Iraq is mostly doomed, it's this one. Rory Stewart writes so well, with spot-on black, observational humor about his experiences as part of the coalition government's effort in a remote part of Iraq. It's funny, but in that rueful way that nudges the reader to understand that the issues in Iraq have much to do with us and the other outsiders, but even more to do with longstanding cutlrual rifts and rivalries. The problems were tehre before us and will remain long after we are gone. Maybe every american taxpayer could have a copy of this book?

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