Leather Books

This is a wonderful addition I recommend it for newbies and old timers a like..

Sent to a friend in distress, she said it helped her through some rough days.

The New International Version is excellent for readability and overall quality. However, because it is only 52% consistent with the original language (Old Testament comparison only) you cannot do serious bible study without using a concordance. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Strongest Strong's)

I love this Bible...unfortunately it's the second one I have now. I loved it so much I wanted to find something similiar but didn't realize I was buying the same Bible with a different cover. Please note that the compact NIV Bible with a pink cover and the number "1" on the front is the EXACT same text. For some reason this one typically sells for less.

This is a wonderful Bible. Full of small interesting stories. Love this Bible.

There are some that believe Catholics worship the Virgin Mother. There are some they believe this book is filled with blasphemy, yet reading this book I found none. I found a book that taught that Mary helps us build a deeper and meaningful relation with Jesus. This book is about how Mary is part of God's will.

The book may be a little hard for some to read, but do not be worried. It is filled with so much rich and beautiful text, that will have you want to know anything and everything about Our Lady.

This book gave me a phrase that I will hold close to my heart:

Maria Numquam Satis " Of Mary, there is never enough!"

This is the best book written about Mary. How simple! Easy to follow and great inspiration for my life and devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. If you love her, your love will grow deeper. You most buy this book and certainly feel more attached to her. Seller is excellent. Buy at ease from them. GOOD PRICES!!!

I have spent the past four years discovering my Catholic faith after spending decades chasing professional goals of far less importance.

I have found this book to be the most important "writing of the saints" book I've read while on this four-year journey.

I highly recommend reading it slowly and prayerfully, and making the formal personal consecration. For me, this has been a life-changing discovery for which I am very grateful.

This is an important book. I am a recent convert to the Catholic Church. I grew up in a protestant denomination and Mary was someone who appeared for a couple of weeks at Christmas and then faded back into the dust of first century christianity. She was just one of many players in the drama of God. This book blows that shallow understanding to bits. Over the past year I have been getting to know my Mother. This book came to my attention only recently and I can not put it down! I will say this, one must read this book with faith. This is a very deep book, yet beautifully simple. It is a love story of devotion and courage. This book is a high calling to know Jesus in a way one may have never imagined possible.

Peace,
Keith

This is, in my opinion, the greatest single book ever written on the Blessed Virgin. It is, in reality, like a compendium of all that the Holy Catholic Church had taught on devotion to the Blessed Virgin up to that moment, although nothing has really been added since then. In 215 pages it explains everything you need to know about TRUE devotion to the Blessed Virgin - it even explains false devotions, such as hypocritical devotees etc - and the crucial importance, by the will of God, of Mary in salvation history. You can clearly get the impression when reading this magnificent book that the author was not really the one who physically wrote down the words, St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, but in reality the Holy Ghost himself acting through this servant of God. This book is an absolute must for anyone who wishes to better his/her spiritual life. Needless to say, I think everyone should read this book - sinners and saints alike. For sinners, as a way to escape from spiritual ruin, and for saints, as a way to reach perfection which otherwise is very difficult to reach without a deep devotion to Our Lady. This book definitely has the power to change the life of the one who reads it. As St Alphonsus de Liguori stated, "Only God knows the good that can be done on a soul by reading a good book" and this book certainly falls in this category.

I like the thoroughness of this devotional it really gives you the meal you crave when you seek to know gods word and develop a deeper understanding of his word.

This is an excellent book. Our Life Group of 12 people are going through the Bible in a year using this Bible. We are all enjoying reading it and discussing it. Thank you.

It is an awesome way to read the bible entirely through. My problem is you do not have any in stock and the backorder will not be available until the end of September. Everywhere I have checked does not have any available so it must be a good bible.

My husband has this same bible in a different version and purchased the NIV for me. Now I know why he loves it so much! It explains to you what you're going to read in big-picture views, then gives a devotional on how to relate it to your life, then gives you insight into one thing, then has a couple chapters to read. I was afraid it would be too much to read in one day but it's very easy to read and especially helpful with the big picture and devotional at the beginning -- really makes it more understandable. I had read the two-year bible which had you read a little old testament, a little new testament, a little psalms and proverbs each day. I found myself confused following so many different story lines. This one goes through the bible front to back which is much easier to follow. I highly recommend it.

I was given this book as a Christmas gift back in 1987. Somewhere down the line I lost it while traveling. I have been trying for years to obtain another copy and finally, because of Amazon, I have. This book is what really got me diligently studying the bible and sparked my growth in my walk with Christ. I like the structure of the book and the small commentaries before each day's lesson. The publisher should really consider publishing this book again.

Since I was given this book I have brought several one year bibles for people, they are great gifts. The value of such a gift is beyond measure.

I purchased this Bible before taking the youth from my church to camp this summer. I've really enjoyed the way the daily reading section helps me with my devotions. I also purchased an inexpensive cover to help protect my new investment. My wife also likes thumbing through the indexed pages to find her favorite passages.

This is a wonderful bible and being leather bound makes it very comfortable to hold.

Great Bible - good references, very comprehensive

I was disappointed - this is the 2nd bible I have ordered from
Amazon that in the title says "indexed". Neither Bible arrived
with the indexes.

I tell you what - the indexed is well worth the extra cost. It makes it so much easier to look up passages. ISBN: 0310919940 is bonded leather cover, gold (I am sure there is a more 'technical' term)coloring on the outside of the pages. Some others have claimed the text is small and the paper is thin. However, this is typical Bible print and pages. If you're looking for something larger, you may want to get the Large Text version. The great part about this Bible is that it has references, maps, cross references and other added informational material throughout the bottom of the Bible. This really ads to the whole experience and the consistency between all the books. I thought that Jesus' words being in red would be distracting but it really ads emphasis.

This study bible contains a wealth of resources to assist in understanding scripture. The study notes explain, in detail, the context and possible interpretations of the verses. They also provide discussions on how each verse relates to other parts of the Bible (particularly linking Old Testament prophecies to New Testament events). In many study bibles, these links would be limited to no more than a book, chapter, and verse number and the discussion would be omitted.

The study notes also identify and discuss areas of the Bible that may be troubling to readers such as the discrepancy between the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Matthew as to whether Jesus visited Bethany before or after Palm Sunday. These discussions have added significantly to my understanding.

An additional resource is that throughout the text, footnotes are used to identify other areas of Scripture that use similar wording or address the same topic. This has lead to a richer reading experience for me.

Some reviewers have commented on difficulty in reading the text. While I have noticed that the pages are a bit thin and I can see shadows of the text from other pages, this did not hinder my reading. I was worried that it would lead to eye strain. I should note that I am in my early 30s. This may be more of a problem for older readers.

I am extremely happy with this study bible. I recommend it highly. It will be a valuable addition to your library.

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I posted the above review in 2004. In 2008, older, and hopefully wiser, I am editing it. I would no longer give this book 5 stars. I have found that it contains subtle heterodox teaching (false teaching mixed in with the truth). For example, in the commentary on Colossians (page 2163), in a section titled "salvation through faith" the editors contrast "religion by self effort" with "salvation by faith." In the very first sentence under salvation by faith, they say the goal is to "Trust in Christ and then live to please God." This is astonishing. They don't make it a full sentence into describing the gospel before they have laid the yoke of the law back on our necks. Christ lived the perfect life and met the law's demands on our behalf. The gospel is the good news that we are forgiven and our debt has been paid. The additional requirement that we live to please God is false teaching.

Had they said that "it is God who works in you, both to will and work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13), I would have agreed wholeheartedly. Sanctification and good works are a necessary result of salvation. But they remain primarily God's work and the result of the Holy Spirit working within us. But the notes repeatedly point us back to what we are doing rather than the finished work of Christ.

I will be discarding this study Bible in favor of Concordia Self-Study Bible: Niv which contains a much better understanding of the free gift of forgiveness we receive by grace, through faith, on account of Christ.

Provides great supplemental information to better understand the scriptures in the times in which the many books of the bible were written. It contains interesting biblical trivia.

Right now my daughter is in that inquisitive state of mind and it seems to be feeding her interest. It plays right into the fact that the old testament is a foreshadow of the new testament. So, therefore, it helps open the scriptures to us for a deeper understanging. Good investment!

Im am very pleased with this product. The apperance quality is great. In addition, it provides valuable insight and great historical information. It provides an historical context to go along with the word.

This study bible focuses on history and culture in the bible. I recommend this as a reference tool rather than as your main study bible - partly because the notes focus on archaeology rather than theology and partly because it's very thick (not portable). Fun stuff though and sheds new light on scripture. Moderate & comprehensive.

Monumental! Awesome! Clear and concise for studying the historical surroundings of the Bible. HIGHLY reccomended!

I ORDERED THIS FOR A FRIEND STRUGGLING WITH BREAST CANCER, I HAVE ONE OF MY OWN.

Anyone would enjoy the wisdom in this book...it makes you look at life and yourself in a totally different way...I bought some to give as birthday gifts...I cannot tell you how much this book has helped me..There is power in God's Word, and this book will help you find it...

A great book for Christians or just someone who loves God and wants to know how mighty He is. I really enjoy this book.

This collection of three mini-books by Charles Capps is a great addition to anyone who believes in the power of words and positive thinking. His work reminds me of Norman Vincent Peale's approach to positive thinking, but more expressly teaches right-speaking and offers Biblically inspired confessions. I use the book almost daily to help train my mind and mouth to think and speak according to Biblical principles regarding family, finances, health, and all things that pertain to life. I have purchased at least 12 copies and have distributed it to family and friends because I believe the teaching is thought-provoking and when applied, life-changing. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. This book challenges those thoughts and consequently makes one examine what type of words are used in response to life's varied circumstances. It is an overall practical application of the word of God.

GOD'S CREATIVE POWER by Charles Capps is a powerhouse. It contains three works by Capps: God's Creative Power Will Work for You, God's Creative Power for Healing, and God's Creative Power for Finances. There is teaching here for healing, finances, and knowing and obtaining the will of God for our lives.

Capps believes that God's is true, that He means what He says. Further, if believers will speak the Word in faith and stand on God's promises, they, too, will have what they say. The scriptures support this teaching in Mark 11:23-24 and John 14:13, John 16:23-24.

Capps believes that healing, prosperity, miracles and all the gifts of faith are available to every believer who will "Only believe." There is power in the promises of God. They belong to every believer. God's answer to His promises is "Yes." (1 Cor 1-2)

This book is one of several excellent Capps books (The Tongue - A Creative Force, Your Spiritual Authoprity, Faith and Confession) and is in the same family of teaching as Smith Wigglesworth, Kenneth Hagin Sr., Keith Moore, and Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho.

This is the BHS Text without the Textual Apparatus or Masora Magna/Parva. It has all verbs occuring less than 50x defined (great if your Hebrew isn't fluent) and makes reading much easier! Don't trust all the definitions (they're not flawless), but it's a beautiful Hebrew Bible that makes reading much easier!

Purchased this as a gift for my husband and found it to be a beautiful bible and very closly accurate to the original hebrew. He Loves It !

Esta edición de la Biblia hebrea es fabulosamente hermosa: el tipo de letra es claro y suficientemente grande, la encuadernación inmejorable, por lo que puedo ver. - Tengo casi 50 años leyendo la Biblia en hebreo; pero nunca sabe uno de memoria todo el vocabulario. Por eso, el tener el significado de las palabra al pie de la página es una gran ayuda.
¡Muchas gracias!

A Reader's Hebrew Bible is produced by A. Philip Brown II (PhD, Bob Jones University) and Bryan W. Smith (PhD, Bob Jones University) with Zondervan. Its designed purpose is "to facilitate the regular reading of the Scriptures in Hebrew and Aramaic." The reader assists students of the Bible by lessening invested time browsing through a lexicon, while improving and maximizing students' previous acquired skills in the target languages .RHB also "allows students to focus on learning Hebrew and Aramaic vocabulary in its literary context rather than in isolated word lists." The reader is also useful for teachers of Hebrew and Aramaic intending to "remove the necessity of creating new gloss lists when one wants to have students read different sections of the OT" (xiii). RHB provides necessary help to students to become more familiar with the Hebrew and Aramaic Texts; as well as improving (their) reading proficiency respectively.

The Book includes the authors' prefaces, a quick user's guide on how to access the Text. An informative introduction recounting the genesis of this edition is included. A section summarizing the Hebrew and Aramaic Verb Stem Abbreviations (e.g. hif = hifil, nif = nifal, pal = palal; af = afel, hishtaf= hishtafel, itpa= itpael, shaf=shafel) & Sigla (`marks words where WLC and RHB read L differently than BHS) substantiates the usefulness of RHB.

The Quick User's Guide aims to provide a quick reference to readers on how to navigate through the texts of the Jewish Bible both in its original tongues (Hebrew and Aramaic respectively). The A Reader's Hebrew Bible uses the Westminster Leningrad Codex 4.4. All words, excluding proper nouns occurring less than 100 times, are footnoted. The Glossary includes all Hebrew words, excluding proper nouns, occurring 100 times or more; whereas Aramaic words, excluding proper nouns, and those that occur less than 25 times are also footnoted. An Aramaic glossary is not preserved.

The reader contains significant glosses which are taken primarily from HALOT (Koehler, Baumgartner and Stamm's The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament) and BDB (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon) . For example, Appendix A includes a glossary of all Hebrew words occurring 100 times or more; and all Aramaic vocabulary occurring less than 25 times.

RHB is similar to the text of Biblia Hebraicai Stuttgartensia (BHS) and Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ) with minor changes. Textual criticism decision is not a priority of RHB.

What A Reader's Greek New Testament (Zondervan, 2007) does for students of NT and Greek is what A Reader's Hebrew Bible will do for students of the OT and Hebrew and Aramaic. Together students of the Bible have two enduring "twin resources" to study the Word of God in its original written texts.

A Reader's Hebrew Bible is a tool that will not disappoint you." Bible students and pastors cannot afford not to own a copy of A Reader's Hebrew Bible. RHB is user friendly, elegant, leather bound, convenient, and eye-catching.

Summary: A Reader's Hebrew Bible is an indispensable tool for learning to read biblical Hebrew. Seminarians and ministers will love this attractive and handy reader for use in the classroom and in personal study. There is no better Hebrew tool on the market for growing the beginner's skill in reading and meditating upon God's Torah.

Why A Hebrew Reader?

Seminary is not designed to teach you all you need to know about biblical Hebrew. Rather, seminary equips you with the tools necessary to begin the long journey of reading right to left, thinking in parallelisms, observing inclusio's, and following word plays throughout the three quarters of the Holy Scriptures known as the Old Testament. Seminary, then, is simply the beginning of a lifetime of reading and meditating upon the Tanakh "day and night" (Psa. 1).

Once you have begun the arduous journey you are then confronted at every point with a stiff either/or: Either regularly use and grow your Hebrew, or lose it. Inductive study (i.e. reading) is the only possible path for maintaining and growing your Hebrew. Learning a language means using a language. There are no shortcuts.

How, then, can the seminarian or minister navigate this either/or fork in the road? You guessed it ... by reading the Hebrew Bible!

"But wait!" You cry. "I've just about lost all my Hebrew skill! It's been years since I was flipping flashcards and parsing qal paradigms!" Or, perhaps you are staring at your next semester's class schedule pondering whether to start this Hebrew journey in the first place. Fret not on either account; The Reader's Hebrew Bible was written just for you. In the words of the editors:

A Reader's Hebrew Bible (RHB) is designed to facilitate the regular reading of the Scriptures in Hebrew and Aramaic. . . . We especially hope that ministers and former seminarians whose ability in Hebrew and Aramaic has deteriorated will find that RHB helps them recover their skill" (xii-xiii).

Whether you are just beginning the Hebrew journey or are seeking to "recover your skill," the RHB is a sure and steady guide for the trek.
Why This Hebrew Reader?

Amidst the slew of Hebrew Bibles on the market, why should you purchase Zondervan's Reader's Hebrew Bible? Consider the following:
A Singular Goal

Zondervan's RHB has one goal: to help you learn Biblical Hebrew by reading Biblical Hebrew. In a word, this is the only reader's Hebrew Bible on the market.

Other more technical, academic Hebrew Bibles (like BHS) have scholarly aims and thus include scholarly materials (i.e. a detailed text-critical apparatus, complicated multi-lingual scholarly introductions, etc.). Such scholarly tools are wonderful and needed. However, if your goal is to read Biblical Hebrew, to meditate upon the text as you prepare sermons, etc., you need a tool designed for reading.

RHB facilitates reading skills by helping readers overcome the most common obstacles, such as wading through lexicons to learn new vocabulary and marking hard-to-recognize proper nouns.

The Medium Matches the Goal

The physical features of the RHB match its design to facilitate reading and meditating upon the text. For example:

* The large font size facilitates easy reading, especially for students newly learning the Hebrew alphabet. (When I was taking my Hebrew classes I found the cheaper versions of BHS to have a very difficult-to-read, small font sizes. So, I ended up purchasing a large, expensive large-print BHS.)
* The relatively small size of the book (a tad slimmer and lighter than an average hardback study Bible) and its attractive Italian Duo-Tone(tm) binding make the RHB suitable to carry with you both to class and to church. (Contrast the somewhat unwieldy, heavy, large-print BHS hardcover. See the photo gallery below for visual comparisons.)
* Further regarding the weight, RHB is light enough that it does not break your wrists while you are holding it. (Again, contrast the weighty large-print BHS hardcover).
* The book medium (vs. a laptop with Bibleworks or Logos software) is more conducive to meditation and extended periods of reading. (And books don't require batteries or produce eye strain.)

Although this novel was published almost 50 years ago, it is amazingly contemporary. The political infighting--both honorable and petty--definitely mirrors the politics of 2007. If anyone thinks today's politics are nasty, this book shows that even in the late '50s, there must have been plenty of vituperation, pettiness, and, fortunately, integrity. Remove the dated technology--special-delivery mail and wire updates--and substitute email and the Internet, and the story could take place right now. Some tighter editing would have made this book even better (some of the accounts of nonpolitical, i.e., domestic, action drag), but the political action is fantastic. Is this 1959 or 2007?

At the age of 18 in 1963 while my husband and I were stationed in Chambley France (USAF) I discovered this wonderful political novel, almost by accident. Later, and with great anticipation, I read the follow ups all the way to The Promise of Joy. Later in life, I managed to obtain all 6 of this series (hardback of course, because I knew that they would be used over and over) for my personal library and as of today have re-read them several times (each time, enjoying them even more). Back in '63 I never thought that America could really become what Mr Duruy was writing about, cause after all we all love our country Right?? Well, as the years have passed, I do see exacally what he meant. There really are a great many Americans that would do harm to her. Although these may be novels, I do believe that there is a lot to lean about the workings of our govenment. Although I have read several reviews of the series, I disagree with most and advise you to read them ALL!! Each one deals with different area of the government and are well worth the read.. As I travel to Washington D.C. for the first time next month, I have a burning desire to see our National history and it great part it stems from reading and enjoying to the fullest these great works of a brilliant mind.

I just reread "Advise and Consent" hard upon the recent Senate brouhaha, and even went so far as to purchase the recently-released DVD, which does not do entire justice to the source, although Walter Pidgeon is a better Bob Munson than even Allen Drury wrote. "A and C" is an admirable novel of a literary quality likely far above the other contenders on the NYT Bestseller List in 1959, if likely inferior to contemporary political novelists like Ward Just. Other reviewers have pointed out that Drury later started chewing the scenery at the distant right edges of the set, but "Advise and Consent" remains a splendid portrait of its time. Highly recommended.

This is easily the best novel ever written about American politics. Drury, who began as a Senate reporter, really has the feel of the Senate down pat as he tells the story of the nomination of Robert Leffingwell, a one-time communist sympathizer, to be the Secretary of State at the height of the Cold War.

While Drury's later writing became somewhat stilted and out-of-touch, this book is dead on and creates real and believable characters.

A fun game, for those really in the know, is to try and guess which fictional Senator corresponds to which real-life Senator from the era.

(A freebie- Brigham Anderson of Utah is reportedly based on John F. Kennedy, a surprising development given the... revelations... about Anderson in the book).

This is a classic novel that deals with the nomination by the President of a highly controversial person for the office of Secretary of State. A group of Senators is dead set against the nominee, and others are equivocal and unsure. The nominee has a dark past and this begins to come to light, the question is asked as to whether he has overcome this past and can now serve as a sturdy and reliable public servant.

The novel portrays Washington DC as a snake pit of intrigue and maneuvering, where anything goes in an endless struggle for power and position. It also shows America's capitol as a city which still has a place for idealism and principles. No, these two things are not contradictory, as this novel also shows.

The story moves along at a brisk pace, although it slows down in places. This novel was written in the early 1960s, and thus the story contains certain anachronisms, such as the Soviet Union reaching the Moon before the United States does. The novel also has an intolerant and non-contemporary view of homosexuality, which is unfortunate, but which ultimately does not detract from the story. (The movie is far worse in this respect, incidentally.) No matter. This novel is as relevant today as it was when it was written, at the height of the good old Cold War.

One of the oddities of this novel is that almost all of the conflict occurs within the majority party (although unnamed, it is the Democrats.) The minority party (Republicans) play almost no role whatever, and the novel barely acknowledges that they exist. This is the Democrats of the 1960s, when that party was much more conservative than it is today.

This is an excellent novel that should be required reading for all high school and college students.

I bought this book in the 60's in the Time/Life edtion, but didn't get around to reading it until 1995, when I was in Jalalabad, Afghanistan for a few weeks. Of course, that was the perfect setting, but from any viewpoint in the world "Eastern Approaches" is quite close to the perfect travel book. I left my copy in the library of the American Club in Peshawar, trying to save luggage room for Afghan textiles, and I was very sorry to learn when I got home that it was out of print. Now it's back, and I look forward to reading it again while sitting in my armchair. "Eastern Approaches" is a great read, and never more relevant than today.

This is an exciting autobiography, which I have read and reread over the years. Of particular interest is the author's introduction into the SAS.

This book will become a permanent fixture in your library.

Pre WWII, Maclean finagled trips through parts of the USSR where no westerner had previously been, even crossing into Afghanistan from the north at one point. He spent much of WWI aiding Marshal Tito's effort to drive the Germans out of the Balkans. Fascinating stuff, this, eloquently written and he's a damn good storyteller.

This book is of great historical value. The narration is witty and elegant. I would recomant it to everybody interested in European history.

This is a truly unique book and comparable only with Churchill's 'My Early Life' as an adventure history. Some people write adventure books, some people have adventures but Fitzroy McLean, like Churchill, or TE Lawrence, is able to do both. A rare treat and very easy to read.

I have found this book to be most helpful in quieting my thoughts and turning to God for a devotional time. The writings are excellent and the way the book is laid out combines daily prayer, Psalm reading, Scripture and excellent writings. It's just the right amount of time for a busy person who longs for a deeper relationship with God.

I have greatly enjoyed using this book both as a personal resource and a group study resource. I anticipate using this book throughout my life both personally and in ministry. A must-have!

This is an excellent guide to prayer. We use it every day for a starting of our daily prayers.

I absolutely love this book. It combines just the right amount of structural guidance and freedom. I love the addition of "Spiritual Readings" to complement the Scripture readings and themes.

Each week focuses on a different theme. The Scripture readings help you discover various aspects of the theme without the authors manipulating the text. The readings are associated with the theme, but are not "devotionals" on the days Scripture readings. The readings are taken from some of the best Christian writers and classics of Christian thought.

Shawchuck and Job structure the daily devotionals as follows:

Invocation (a written prayer to focus you and draw you in for the day's theme)
A Psalm (Chosen to align with the week's theme.)
Reading for Reflection (Chosen from among the best writers in Christian history)
Daily Scripture Readings (Monday-Friday with the weekends consisting of a selection from the Lectionary)
Reflection: Silent and Written (Nothing written, but this give you time to sit quietly or journal)
Prayers: For the Church, for Others, and Myself (Again, not written, but this is the time where you spend time in prayer)
Hymn (Sing or read as poetry; either way you are exposed to some of the great hymns of the church)
Benediction (Provided by the authors to bring closing).

This book has helped me on my spiritual journey. I struggle with ADD and this book provided the right amount of structure to help me stay focused and yet the freedom to experience variety.

This might be the only product on Amazon that I've ever seen with 20 5-star reviews and nothing else. I hate to be the grumpy one, but I'm just not tracking with these other reviewers. I found this to be one of the least helpful devotionals that I've ever used.

I was assigned to use this devotional for a seminary class and was fully prepared to appreciate it. I was excited about the daily Scripture readings, the collected quotations, and the weekly hymns, all tied to the same theme. This seemed like a perfect format. Unfortunately, it turned out to be dreadful.

My one primary complaint was that the Scriptures and the quotes were difficult to connect thematically. Though there was a category for each week like "Forgiveness" or "Wise Stewards," I often found myself completely perplexed as to how a particular Scripture reading was supposed to relate to that topic. I'm not suggesting that reading the Bible should be an inherently intuitive process, but if I'm going to be sent flying across the entire Bible from one day to the next, I would really prefer to understand the relationship between the passages.

I also found the "Readings for Reflection" to be a struggle. Though other reviewers raved about the authors who were represented, I found many of them to be extremely obscure (and for good reason). Many of the readings were very wooden, probably somewhat indicative of the time when they were written. I do enjoy reading the classics, but I did not find these selections to be especially enlightening and more often left me scratching my head.

Finally, I found the organization of each week to be extremely frustrating. I was constantly flipping back and forth from one page to another, and the binding of the book is so tight and its pages so narrow that it would frequently snap shut and leave me hunting to find my place. I realize that many will laugh at my focus on such minor details, but they really affect me. I'm distractible to begin with, and the last thing that I need when spending devotional time with God is one more thing to distract me. I really wished that the Scriptures and readings had been better integrated to allow for a more natural flow when using this book.

Upon rereading my critique, I probably paint myself as some sort of lazy idiot. I am not looking for a mindless devotional book. I am willing to invest in intellectual reflection when I study the Word and read what others have to say. Maybe "A Guide to Prayer" will work for other folks, but this guide left me disappointed and even frustrated. I will keep looking for a devotional guide that flows more naturally and makes more sense to me.