The Third Secret: A Novel of Suspense

Amazon.com

For Steve Berry, it's a fortuitous coincidence that his third novel, a Vatican-centered conspiracy thriller titled The Third Secret, was published in the immediate aftermath of Pope Benedict XVI's anointment in Rome. While this exuberantly contrived yarn would likely have drawn an audience at any time, it benefits from coming before readers just after they've been primed with news reports about papal succession, the relative influence and legacy of pontiffs, and the increasing tug-of-war between Roman Catholic progressives and conservative traditionalists.

Set in the near future, Secret introduces Jakob Volkner--Pope Clement XV--a German "caretaker pope" who, nearing the age of 80, was elected as John Paul II's successor. But three years into his papacy, the thoughtful Clement has begun to quietly express skepticism about papal infallibility and the Church's restrictive dogma, and to make odd requests of his longtime secretary, Monsignor Colin Michener, an Irish-born but American-reared priest whose vows of celibacy have been tested--and found wanting. Clement has also made repeated visits to a guarded sanctum within the Vatican archives, where sacred and historic documents are stored. And he's dispatched Michener to Romania to locate an elderly cleric who, in the 1950s, translated three cryptic prophecies, purportedly offered by the Virgin Mary in 1917 to a trio of children in Fatima, Portugal. Those secrets have since been fully disclosed to the world. Or have they? That's the question facing Michener in the wake of Clement's shocking suicide, as he pursues a twisted trail of clues, crimes, and religious forecasts from Rome to Bosnia to Germany, accompanied by his former lover, journalist Katerina Lew. But making any additional secrets known to the world will put Michener in confrontation with doctrinal reactionaries, led by Cardinal Alberto Valendrea, the Vatican's Italian secretary of state, who's determined to follow Clement as the Vicar of Christ--even if that requires inventing a few new sins and flouting a 900-year-old prediction of doom for the next pope.

Attorney-author Berry, praised previously for The Amber Room and The Romanov Prophecy, enriches The Third Secret with glimpses behind the locked doors of a papal selection process and knowledge of centuries-old Catholic prognostications that, while employed judiciously in these pages, nonetheless suggest a prodigious amount of research. He's less successful with his casting. Valendrea is a wincingly unnuanced scoundrel, and Ms. Lew achieves scarce definition beyond being a raven-tressed temptress to powerful prelates. Thankfully, Berry does better by Michener, who finds himself at a crossroads, carrying on in Clement's name even as he searches for confirmation that his own life of devotion and service has been meaningful. Although the secrets "revealed" in this tale seem more controversial than plausible, and a potentially intriguing subplot about the excommunication of a maverick priest ends up as a throwaway device, The Third Secret builds to a conclusion that is as suspenseful and stunning as it is inevitable. Have faith. --J. Kingston Pierce

Book Description

Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, The Third Secret is a remarkable international thriller. Bestselling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion.

Fatima, Portugal, 1917: The Virgin Mary appears to three peasant children, sharing with them three secrets, two of which are soon revealed to the world. The third secret is sealed away in the Vatican, read only by popes, and not disclosed until the year 2000. When revealed, its quizzical tone and anticlimactic nature leave many faithful wondering if the Church has truly unveiled all of the Virgin Mary’s words–or if a message far more important has been left in the shadows.

Vatican City, present day: Papal secretary Father Colin Michener is concerned for the Pope. Night after restless night, Pope Clement XV enters the Vatican’s Riserva, the special archive open only to popes, where the Church’s most clandestine and controversial documents are stored. Though unsure of the details, Michener knows that the Pope’s distress stems from the revelations of Fatima.

Equally concerned, but not out of any sense of compassion, is Alberto Cardinal Valendrea, the Vatican’s Secretary of State,. Valendrea desperately covets the papacy, having narrowly lost out to Clement at the last conclave. Now the Pope’s interest in Fatima threatens to uncover a shocking ancient truth that Valendrea has kept to himself for many years.

When Pope Clement sends Michener to the Romanian highlands, then to a Bosnian holy site, in search of a priest–possibly one of the last people on Earth who knows Mary’s true message–a perilous set of events unfolds. Michener finds himself embroiled in murder, suspicion, suicide, deceit, and his forbidden passion for a beloved woman. In a desperate search for answers, he travels to Pope Clement’s birthplace in Germany, where he learns that the third secret of Fatima may dictate the very fate of the Church–a fate now lying in Michener’s own hands.

Download Description

Praise for Steve Berry

The Third Secret

“Controversial, shocking, explosive . . . rich in a wealth of Vatican insider knowledge and two thousand years of Virgin Mary visitations. The Third Secret will change our view of the relation between religion and wisdom.”
–KATHERINE NEVILLE, author of The Eight

The Romanov Prophecy

“Perfect for thriller fans and history buffs alike. Fabulous plot twists.”
–DAVID MORRELL, author of The Protector

“Compelling . . . adventure-filled . . . a fast-moving, globe-hopping tale of long-lost treasure and shadowy bad guys.”
–San Francisco Chronicle

The Amber Room

“Sexy, illuminating . . . my kind of thriller.”
–DAN BROWN, author of The Da Vinci Code

“Magnificently engrossing, with wonderful characters and a plot that speeds, twists, and turns. Pure intrigue, pure fun.”
–CLIVE CUSSLER, author of Sacred Stone

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Not Anti-Catholic, but Anti-Corruption.......2007-09-20

This book took me a long time to read, simply because I wanted to savor every sentence and exist in the world Steve Berry created for as long as possible.

Every part of the story worked, including the relationship--something I can usually do without. The central 'good guy' characters were courageous and principled. It was shocking, inspiring, and philosophical all in one.

Most impressive is that it highlights the beauty and importance of faith, while condemning corruption. The emphasis on truth, on challenging the rules created the heirarchy of the church to increase its own power and wealth, and asking instead what God really wants, was unlike anything I'd read in a fiction book before.

This is the best book I've read so far this year, and I've read a lot.

Good, enjoyable read.......2007-09-16

This is the first Steve Berry book I have read and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has everything I want in a story - action, decent backstory but not so much that it slowed down the story. There were a couple of nice (if not predictable) twists and the story wrapped-up pretty well.

My only knock against this book was that some of the action/situations/occurances were WAY beyond the realm of Deus Ex Machina. However, excluding that, this was a fun read. Enjoy!

Sigh.......2007-09-11

I wish the Catholic bashing would stop; perhaps a way to do so would be a real 3rd secret. I finished this book just because I took it as total fantasy. If you put aside all the preconceptions about doctrine, Catholic history, etc., and are willing to just go for a ride without expecting the thing to make "Catholic sense," the book can actually be rather enjoying in its plot. Of course, the actual 3rd secret (which has been revealed by everyone reviewing the book here) is ludicrous, but entertaining if you can set aside everything else. So it's what you expect; a Steve Berry novel, which has its own universe. You should expect to get what you know you are buying from this author, nothing more.

Nice Read.......2007-09-01

This is the second Steve Berry novel I have read, and this was certainly better than the Amber Room. The plot is intriguing and the story held my interest through the end of the novel.

The downside to this novel is that the Third Secret isn't all that shocking, and for the second straight novel, there's a five letter word to describe the personality of the lead female character. Is Berry a misogynist or was he going through a divorce while drafting these novels?

Also, the antagonists are almost cartoonish. How or why did these individuals become priests in the first place?

Our Lady, the Progressivist.......2007-08-30

Who knew?

Who knew that what the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, really wanted to reveal to those simple shepherd children of Fatima, of La Salette, of Medjugorje, is that abortion is perfectly OK?--after all, she CHOSE to bear the son of God, thereby proving that the choice to abort or carry conceived children to term is what God really desires for women. Or, who knew that Our Lady really looks with favor on homosexual acts? These are some of the loopy revelations disclosed in this tawdry excuse for a religious thriller.

Apparently the silly season--as Fr. Richard John Neuhaus characterized that period following Vatican II which featured personages such as Matthew Fox, clown Masses, and balloon-festooned vestments--is yet with us. Despite the rout of the progressivist agenda with the pontificate of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI, some folks persist in acting as if the Catholic Church will any day now morph into a mirror image of liberal Episcopalianism.

If that's your wet dream, this is the book for you. Others will find its earnest iconoclasm initially mildly amusing but oddly anachronistic and, in the end, stupefying.

The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-from-Behind Ball Club Won the World Series--and America's Heart--During the Great Depression

Average customer rating:

Baseball lover's only!
The Gashouse Gang Personalities
Me 'n' Paul
Great Father's Day gift
RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "73 YEARS AFTER WINNING THE WORLD SERIES "THE GASHOUSE GANG" ST LOUIS CARDINALS HAVE A BOOK!"

The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-from-Behind Ball Club Won the World Series--and America's Heart--During the Great Depression
John Heidenry
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

History | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1586484192

Book Description

The definitive and rollicking story of one of the best, and one of the wackiest, teams of all time, during one of the most vital eras in baseball.

With The Gashouse Gang, John Heidenry delivers the definitive account of one the greatest and most colorful baseball teams of all times, the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals, filled with larger-than-life baseball personalities like Branch Rickey, Leo Durocher, Pepper Martin, Casey Stengel, Satchel Paige, Frankie Frisch, and--especially--the eccentric good ol' boy and great pitcher Dizzy Dean and his brother Paul.

The year 1934 marked the lowest point of the Great Depression, when the U.S. went off the gold standard, banks collapsed by the score, and millions of Americans were out of work. Epic baseball feats offered welcome relief from the hardships of daily life. The Gashouse Gang, the brilliant culmination of a dream by its general manager, Branch Rickey, the first to envision a farm system that would acquire and "educate" young players in the art of baseball, was adored by the nation, who saw itself--scruffy, proud, and unbeatable--in the Gang.

Based on original research and told in entertaining narrative style, The Gashouse Gang brings a bygone era and a cast full of vivid personalities to life and unearths a treasure trove of baseball lore that will delight any fan of the great American pastime.

Customer Reviews:

Baseball lover's only!.......2007-09-23

Baseball in times long passed was a very different game, but like today there were some really wild characters to mke the game all the more interesting. The 1934 Cardinals, "The Gashouse Gang" were an exciting, odd collection of great ball payers who played for the love of the game in a way we wish today's players did.

If you love baseball you won't be able to put this down, and even if you don't it will be too intriquing to stop reading once you start. Well written, well researched and as entertaining as anything I've read this season. Highly reccommended!

The Gashouse Gang Personalities.......2007-09-15

This book climbs to the top wrung of my baseball ladder. Rather than a statistical or play-by-play book so common in baseball pages, this features personality development of some of the wackiest players of all time. Learn that Ducky Joe should have been Mean Joe, that Leo the Lip couldn't handle relationships, or that Dizzy Dean was really Jerome or Jay or Hanna or Herman, maybe that he was from Arkansas or Oklahoma or Texas -- well, you get it.

This book captures the thrill of a season and the joy of a team effort. It really makes you think of the Oakland Athletics of the Catfish days.

Just one observation: John Heidenry missed the point of the moniker, "Gashouse Gang." He can't figure out where it came from. He even ponders how "Gas Tank" became "Gashouse." During that day, electricity was provided by manufactured gas plants, sometimes called "witch's brew." The main structure was known as the "gashouse." The working class fellows who toiled away in those dirty gashouses were known as "the gashouse gangs." They cursed, they played dirty and hilarious tricks on each other, they had great and sour dispositions -- necessary to get through the tough days, and yes, their clothes were always filthy. Sound like the beloved Gashouse Gang?

Snag this book, and you will enjoy several hours of quiet time, if you can block out your own laughter.

Me 'n' Paul.......2007-09-02

In baseball, 1934 was a year to remember, a year in which the Saint Louis Cardinals, a scruffy team of misfits and malcontents, came from almost the graveyard to win the National League pennant, and then the World Series. While we learn a tremendous amount about the Cardinals, and especially the Dean brothers, Dizzy and Paul, there are others about whom we receive thumbnail biographies. Most importantly, Branch Rickey is focused upon for much of the early part of the book, and just reading about this remarkable man is sufficient reason to study this book. Other famous players make cameo appearances: Babe Ruth, Mel Otto, Mickey Cochrane, Leo Durocher, and Pie Traynor, with whom I was once priviledged to have an extensive conversation about baseball when I was in college. I also remember listening to Dizzy on the television announcing(?) games and talking about all kinds of extraneous subjects other than the game he was supposed to be calling. Of course, Dizzy is the centerpiece of this book, and he strides through it like a colossus. He did things then that would not be tolerated by a basseball organization today, and perhaps we are the pooorer for not having men such as him (and Curt Flood)to challenge what is considered the "right" way to act as a porfessional ball player. He's gone, and so are all of those famous old-timers, and the world misses them!

Great Father's Day gift.......2007-07-12

I gave this book to my 60 year old father for Father's Day. He hasn't read a book in years but is a huge baseball fan. He loved the book and stayed up late into the night reading it. Great for a Cardinals or baseball fan!

RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "73 YEARS AFTER WINNING THE WORLD SERIES "THE GASHOUSE GANG" ST LOUIS CARDINALS HAVE A BOOK!".......2007-06-13

Before I give you the details of this book, let me save some people their valuable time, by telling you who this book would appeal to! Old School Baseball fanatics, "Baseball Historians", Saint Louis Cardinal fans. If you think the designated hitter rule is good for baseball this book isn't for you.

73 years after the famous (To the above listed people.) Saint Louis Cardinals, hereafter known as "The Gashouse Gang", won the World Series, they have had an excellent book released on their exploits and accomplishments. As a self-acclaimed baseball fanatic, some of the statistics, and idiosyncrasies, I discovered in this book about famous old time players that I already knew about, were both interesting and amusing. The author's writing style is not anything you'll remember as out of the ordinary, since so much of the meat of the book, you can tell is repeated from old newspaper articles. But the detailed, meticulous, research should be applauded. As I've mentioned in my earlier reviews, I've read literally hundreds of baseball books, and memorized half the "Encyclopedia Of Baseball" when I was 10 years old, yet I learned even more details and amusing personality "quirks" of some of the old-time stars. I of course already knew that Dizzy Dean was a great pitcher, in the Hall Of Fame, and the last National League pitcher to win 30 games. What I didn't know, but learned here, was the absolute bottom of the barrel poverty he came from in the historically famous "dust bowl"! I knew he was a "wacky" character, but I didn't know, it went to the extent of him literally being the Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, of the baseball world in the 1930's, before there was an Ali. I didn't know that Dizzy held out and boycotted games, in a demand for an increased contract, in the middle of the season. I also got to learn much more about the great Ducky Medwick, (The last National League Player to win the Triple Crown 70 years ago.) who was one of my dear departed Mother's favorite players, when he later played on the Brooklyn Dodgers. I never knew he was such a New Jersey, street fighting, chip on the shoulder, ready to fight anyone, including his own teammates, type of guy! I learned more than I ever had known about what led up to one of the biggest name trades in baseball history, Rogers Hornsby for Frankie Frisch. The detailed background on Branch Rickey, before his famous relationship with Jackie Robinson, was also expertly detailed. The almost blow by blow reporting on the 1934 World Series between the Gashouse Gang and the star studded Detroit Tigers makes you feel like you were there. I could go on and on, but like I said in my opening sentences, these facts, that are exciting and educational to me, would only be exciting to the type of people I described in my opening.

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

Average customer rating:

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

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

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.

Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam

Average customer rating:

So There ARE Europeans That Don't Despise Us!
Manifesto against Cultural Relativism
The Pope Knows
Phenomenal Reflection for a Culture on the Edge of Death
Christianity in Europe

Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger , Marcello Pera , Michael F. Moore , and Benedict
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Philosophy | Nonfiction | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

Islam | Religion & Spirituality | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

ASIN: B000MKYKIQ

Book Description

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger-now Pope Benedict XVI-joins Marcello Pera, President of the Italian Senate, to offer a provocative critique of the spiritual, cultural, and political crisis afflicting the West.

Bringing together their unique vantage points as leaders of Church and State, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Marcello Pera challenge us to imagine what can be the future of a civilization that has abandoned its moral and cultural history. They call on the West to embrace a spiritual rather than political renewal -and to accept the moral values that alone can help us to make sense of changes in technology, economics, and society.

Customer Reviews:

So There ARE Europeans That Don't Despise Us!.......2007-08-22

I didn't know much about Ratzinger before I picked this up so I was suprised to see him giving praise to the United States and not doing things like, you know, calling the fight against anti-Semitism, Islamic psychopaths and Pan-Arab Authoritarianism a "great loss for humanity." I couldn't agree more. The future of the world and the West in particular looks pretty bleak at times in my view. Who's going to do it if not us? We defeated Fascism and Communism by ourselves. Once more we have to swoop to rescue our European friends from the latest threat while they cower in fear.

Why is the United States so willing to fight these battles both figurative and literal while Europeans seem to care less? Ratzinger argues the reason for this is that Americans aren't completely consumed with self-hatred the way Europeans are although we're about halfway there. As he put it, we Americans "aren't afraid to love ourselves."

Important point to make because Europeans like to kid themselves into thinking they hate Americans because of the War in Iraq when in actuality they hate us because we're religous, because of our success, and because they'd all be speaking German or living on communes if it weren't for us. Since those threats have been defeated Europe is starting to reconsider its friendship with America now that the relationship doesn't seem as important as it used to.

This self-love, our religiousity, our belief in ourselves, our belief in liberty for all humanity, our relationship with Israel; all of this gives America a unique position in the world today and should, as Ratzinger argues, bring us to recognize the important role we have in preserving the West and bettering all of humanity.

As the Islamic World continues to invade the West, terrorize the citizens of Europe and ghoulishly obsess about the annihilation of world Jewry the United States is and will be the only one to confront these great problems. If we don't stand up then who knows what will happen to liberty and human rights in another century or two especially with the rise of China. If these problems aren't snuffed out then all of humanity could be facing a darkness that makes relativism look like a Sunday morning walk in the park.

Manifesto against Cultural Relativism .......2007-08-17

This short book is definitely worth the price. It can be read in one day and has the usual brilliant analysis of relativism & the decline of Christianity in Europe by Benedict XVI, but what made the book even more special was Marcello Pera's contribution .It was interesting to hear a secular non-Christian view of post-modernism and cultural relativism. Every Christian regardless of denomination and non-Christian interested in preserving an "open society" would benefit from reading this book.

The Pope Knows.......2007-04-11

This is an excellent book that puts the European situation vis a vis Islam in perspective. Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XII has a deep knowledge of the great divide between Christianity and Islam and realizes that Islam is slowly taking over in Europe. This is a very serious problem to the future of the world.

It is of great concern to us because it could spill over to the U.S. and would be very detrimental to our country.

This is an excellent book that should be read by all so they understand what Western civilization is up against.

Phenomenal Reflection for a Culture on the Edge of Death.......2007-01-22

This collection of essays stands as a testimony on behalf of the West as it drills itself into the ground of Relativism and apathy. Marcello Pera's lecture stands for me as a refreshing breeze coming from the heart of a Europe which has nearly completely bought into the destructive force of Philosophical Relativism. The very dangers of this school of thought are laid out well, as Pera reflects upon how it is freezing the West and is giving it atrophy as conviction dies. Surprisingly, the philosopher-senator also answers the problem of Islamic extremism and the need for response against it. However, Pera's primary focus is the refutation of relativism and the exposition of the ossifying dangers inherent therein.

The speech given by Pope Benedict (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) focuses more on the cultural heritage of the West and its roots in the Mediterranean. In the face of the decline of the West, the Pope offers a positive assessment of the hopes for development by means of "energetic minorities," a topic which is fleshed out in somewhat greater detail in the correspondence included as an appendix to the essays. This idea remains as a hopeful focus against the semi-biologicistic view of culture as a birth-growth-death process which has no hope of breaking out of a death spiral. The continuity of Ratzinger's understanding of the West through history, a continuity which historically has braved storms of philosophical uncertainty by means of energetic groups (be they monastic, academic, or familial).

In view of the grim realities reflected on by both Ratzinger and Pera as they speak of the West's Fall, they both build a staunchly Christian-underpinning for Europe, an under-pinning which is necessary to have roots for the survival. This discussion is all-the-more convincing in light of Pera's atheism which still acknowledges the philosophical necessity of Christianity to combat relativism and restore the roots of the West.

This strong, sober, yet hopeful vision for the West which is a necessary read for us living in a crucial period of history for not only the Church, Europe, and the Extended West but for the entire world.

Christianity in Europe.......2007-01-18

The first 30 pages were hard to get through but after that it was great. There is mention that not only does Christianity offer happiness in the next life, as does Islam, but it offers a better life in this world. I recommend it for all who are wondering if any religion is better than any other. Not light reading but worth the effort.

Average customer rating:

Beware
Half of this series is great...
Into the dark places
O Canada
Can't wait for the next one!

By the Time You Read This: A Novel
Giles Blunt
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0805080619
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

Detective John Cardinal is on the hunt for an ingenious killer even as he mourns his own wife’s tragic death in this thriller of heart-stopping suspense

Autumn has arrived in Algonquin Bay, and with it an unusual spate of suicides. The most shocking victim yet is Detective John Cardinal’s wife, who has finally succumbed to her battle with manic depression. As Cardinal takes time to grieve, his partner, Lise Delorme, handles an unsavory assignment: a young girl appears in a series of unspeakable photos being traded online, and background elements indicate she lives in Algonquin Bay. Delorme is desperate to find the girl before she suffers more abuse.

When Cardinal receives a string of hateful anonymous notes about his wife’s death, he begins to suspect homicide. His colleagues believe he is too distraught to think clearly, and he’s forced to investigate alone. In doing so, he comes up against a brand of killer neither he—nor the reader—has ever seen before.

In his most masterful and thrilling novel yet, Giles Blunt confirms his reputation as a rising international star in crime fiction, and positions Detective John Cardinal among the finest characters in the genre.

Customer Reviews:

Beware.......2007-09-22

This is a well written murder mystery. Despite undisputable evidence, detective John Cardinal has a nagging suspicion that a shocking suicide isn't what it seems. But beware, there is plenty of grief and depression described in vivid detail in this story as the killer is revealed. It's not for everyone.

Half of this series is great..........2007-08-08

...but it's not two of the books, it's half of each book.

I've read the 4 books in this series over the past month and they all have the same problem in my opinion. The chapters which involve the cops Cardinal and Delorme are terrific, but the books contain many chapters which instead follow the criminals involved and I found them uniformly dull and unbelievable. I plodded through them just wanting them to be over.

I wish I could give the series a higher rating because I love the northern setting and the exploration of mental illness in a relationship. I was sorry to read the event of the first chapter of this one despite the lack of surprise due to the foreshadowing of another relationship throughout the series. I was also sorry to see Cardinal's past criminal act swept under the rug as the series progressed. If another book appears in the series I'll read it, but I wish the author would change his formula and keep his main characters involved throughout the book.

Into the dark places.......2007-06-17

John Cardinal, a small-town policeman, seems pretty run-of-the mill, like his community. Algonquin Bay sits on a lake, surrounded by Northern Ontario rocky forests. There are the usual little crimes and petty injustices to deal with. One night, however, while on the discomforting task of exposing an adultery situation, John is called to an accident scene. A woman has fallen from a new high rise. Or was she pushed? Or did she jump? This is of particular importance to John, because it turns out the woman is his wife, Catherine.

A photographer who often went out on solitary picture excursions - even in an Ontario winter - Catherine is also a depressive. She's been in the dark places. She's been hospitalised several times, returning to a warm homecoming and declaring "How lucky I am!" to have a family which can deal with her problems. That luck seems to have run out, or is it eroded? The last option, suicide, appears to be the cause of her death. There's even a note: "By the time you read this . . .". That should close the case and John Cardinal should take some time to work through his grief. His own dark time is just beginning.

John and Catherine were together too long and they knew each other too well for this copper to rest on easy answers. The note is an enigma, not clarified by some disturbing mail John receives. Little bits of information, imparted willingly or inadvertently, build suspicions in his mind, and he must follow them through. To get to the resolution, John encounters some disturbing elements. A child pornography "ring" on the Internet has reached his town. In fact, it might be centred in Algonquin Bay as Cardinal's colleague Lise Delorme is undertaking to determine. How dark is that news to a town where vulnerable children are supposed to be a rarity? A psychiatrist, Dr Frederick Bell, the doctor counselling Catherine, has a checkered background. What relevance do all these things have to the death of his wife?

A good mystery should command your attention, and Giles Blunt gets you up and running from the opening pages. He weaves an intricate tale, populated by some fascinating characters. He portrays them skillfully - none are seriously overdrawn, and all are plausible. The plot shifts are carefully handled, but Blunt isn't a mystery "mechanic". Events are under the control of the people involved and it's their reactions to changing circumstances that keep this book interesting. If you're a mystery buff, this should make a welcome addition to your collection. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

O Canada.......2007-06-14

Don't often read mysterys set in Canada and written by a Canadian. Blunt has created a special place with his Algonquin Bay CID unit. Great read, easy to digest and remember the story line. The characters are fleshed out. I recommend his entire series.

Can't wait for the next one!.......2007-05-28

Having recently read all of Giles Blunt's previous books featuring Cardinal and Delorme, I devoured this one in a single day. It's his best yet, with less of the overt evil and grisly detail of some of the earlier books, but even more of the superb character study and psychological insight. The evil in this book is subtler, and it's completely believable.

Simply put, Blunt is a terrific writer. His prose is crisp and unfussy, yet still evocative and moving. He knows his setting thoroughly and recreates it so effectively that even if you've never been to his small Ontario city, you feel that you know it well too. His characters are vividly drawn and very real; I find myself thinking about Cardinal and Delorme after I've finished of the books, which is as much as you can ask from any writer.

Introduction To Christianity (Communio Books)

Average customer rating:

A little difficult to read...
IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS
Brings back memories of theology class ...
A Journey into Your Faith
Introductory its not

Introduction To Christianity (Communio Books)
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger , Pope Benedict XVI , and Benedict
Manufacturer: Ignatius Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1586170295

Book Description

(Revised Edition) One of Cardinal Ratzinger's most important and widely read books, this volume is a newly revised second edition with an improved translation and an in-depth 20 page preface by the Cardinal. As he states in the preface, since this book was first published over 30 years ago, many changes and significant events have occurred in the world, and in the Church. But even so, he says he is firmly convinced that his fundamental approach in this book is still very timely and crucial for the spiritual needs of modern man. That approach puts the question of God and the question about Christ in the very center, which leads to a "narrative Christology" and demonstrates that the place for faith is in the Church.

Thus, this remarkable elucidation of the Apostle's Creed gives an excellent, modern interpretation of the foundations of Christianity. Ratzinger's profound treatment of Christianity's basic truths combines a spiritual outlook with a deep knowledge of Scripture and the history of theology.

Customer Reviews:

A little difficult to read..........2007-07-14

Okay, maybe this isn't such a good way to review a book but it may be of assistance to another reader or two.

I started reading this book 3 years ago...I haven't made it past page 15 yet. Why? Well, I think I'm in need of a more focused brain - I have a touch of A.D.D. and a book this focused is very hard for me to digest.

On the funny side of all this I want to share a conversation between two priests about this book. Both priests had bought the book to read and one of them said "I just can't seem to get past chapter 1" the other said "Oh good. I couldn't make it past the 3rd paragraph"

This book was written very early in Joseph Ratzinger's vocation and was more a part of his proving his qualifications to teach Theology (I guess the equivalent would be a Doctorate thesis).

So if you're anything like me, this book may be over your head. I'll get back to it one day but it is highly recommended by many, many people I trust. Therefore I recomment this book.

If you are intellectually superior, you may not find this review helpful. However, if you more on the average level I hope this review is of some assistance to you.

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS.......2007-05-31

Reading this amazing book is like being wrapped in a warm blanket reading the writings of a beloved friend who is sharing his heart with you alone. Not only is the scholarship amazing but the heart of a man who is in love with Jesus comes through clearly and loudly. Don't miss this book.

Brings back memories of theology class ..........2007-04-01

This is an excellent introduction to the basics of Christian thought and its relationship to modernity at the start of the 21st century. Ratzinger is clear, precise, and profound. While his perspective is obviously that of a Catholic, the basics he covers are at the core of all the religions that identify themselves as Christian. Highly recommended.

A Journey into Your Faith.......2007-02-06

Although I found myself searching the web for various references and opening the dictionary often -- my classical Catholic training is sorely lacking -- I found the book a fast read. The feeling of fellowship and the the joy of Jesus permeate from the text.

One of the most profound books I have ever read.

While C.S. Lewis' comparable text is enthralling, this book is soaked with historical relevance for teh modern age.

Introductory its not.......2007-01-09

For a layman, this is a difficult but fascinating "introduction" to serious reflection on the Catholic faith.

Average customer rating:

great book
A Great Baseball Book
A basic book on baseball
Into the Mind of Tony LaRussa
Great Book for any Cardinals Fan

Three Nights in August
Buzz Bissinger
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

History | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0618405445

Book Description

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author captures baseball's strategic and emotional essences through a point-blank account of one three-game series viewed through the keen eyes of legendary manager Tony La Russa. Drawing on unprecedented access to a manager and his team, Bissinger brings the same revelatory intimacy to major-league baseball that he did to high school football in his classic besteller, Friday Night Lights. Three Nights in August shows thrillingly that human nature -- not statistics -- can often dictate the outcome of a ballgame. We watch from the dugout as the St. Louis Cardinals battle their archrival Chicago Cubs for first place, and we uncover delicious surprises about the psychology of the clutch, the eccentricities of pitchers, the rise of video, and the complex art of retaliation when a batter is hit by a pitch. Through the lens of these games, Bissinger examines the dramatic changes that have overtaken baseball: from the decline of base stealing to the difficulty of motivating players to the rise of steroid use. More tellingly, he distills from these twenty-seven innings baseball's constants -- its tactical nuances, its emotional pull. During his twenty-six years of managing, La Russa won more games than any other current manager and ranks sixth all-time. He has been named Manager of the Year a record five times and is considered by many to be the shrewdest mind in the game today. For all his intellectual attainments, he's also an antidote to the number-crunching mentality that has become so modish in baseball. As this book proves, he's built his success on the conviction that ballgames are won not only by the numbers but also by the hearts and minds of those who play.

Customer Reviews:

great book.......2007-08-07

I will never see Tony the same again. It is so well written that I never got bored reading it and I cannot say that for all sports related books I have read.

A Great Baseball Book.......2007-05-07

This is one of the best baseball books out there. Bissinger takes the reader to many levels of the game, and gives a lot of insite to Tony LaRussa as a manager and tactician. I strongly recommend this book for any baseball fan. It is a really great read.

A basic book on baseball.......2007-04-13

A well written book that provided some insight into the game, particularly the thought process of a manager. For that I give it three stars.

But '3 Nights' was neither as enlightening nor thought provoking as a 5-star sports book - such as 'The Game' by Ken Dryden, 'Beyond the Sixth Game' by Gammons, or Lewis' 'Moneyball'. At times, Bissigner's work came across more as a hero worship of La Russa than a study of the game, which detracted from the author's credibility to accurately assess what he witnessed and learned from the dugout.

Into the Mind of Tony LaRussa.......2007-04-10

This book provides an in-depth look at a critical three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and their archrivals, the Chicago Cubs.

Great Book for any Cardinals Fan.......2007-01-21

Buzz Bissinger is an absolutly fantastic writer. This book combines an indepth behind the scenes look at Larussa and others, but also gives a lot of inside info on players like JD Drew, Pujols, and others. I love hearing about the managerial strategy, what happens after the game, in the club house etc. I'm not a big reader, but once I started this book, I couldn't put it down.

Average customer rating:

Island of the Blue Dolphins Audio Book on CD
great for 4th grader!
Review of a book
Review of a Great Book.

Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O'Dell
Manufacturer: Listening Library (Audio)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0307243168
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Book Description

In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound. Once, Indians also lived on the island. And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind.

This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away. But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs. It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Island of the Blue Dolphins Audio Book on CD.......2007-08-09

The book was well read on this CD. The sound effects were good. It made the story come alive as we listened. I would recommed this CD especially for children needing to read this story for school.

great for 4th grader!.......2007-01-10

My son has learning challenges when it comes to reading and comprehension, so I ordered this book on cd for him. It worked wonderfully! Although he followed along in his book, it helped him a lot.

Review of a book.......2006-12-02

In the book indians lived on an the island.Tt was a very nice and happy life for the indians until the Russians came.When the Russians came they looked like they were honest.They that come to hunt otter.When the Russians left they killed a lot of people.The Russians killed Karana's father.Then all the villagers left the island and went to the east.Karana's little brother was left behind and she was on the ship.She knew her brother wouldn't be able to live by himself.So she jumped of the boat and went to save him.Then they both lived on the island alone.Then a ship comes for her.

Review of a Great Book........2006-12-02

On an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself on the sea, there were indaians living on that island many years ago. The villagers are taken by a ship to the east,but a girl was left behind. Her name is Karana and she waits for the ship to come back to her to take her. While waiting, she battles the nature that is on the island. It is not just a book of survival, it is also a book of beauty and battling lonelyness on the island.

Letter & Spirit, Vol. 2: The Authority of Mystery: The Word of God and the People of God (A Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology)

Average customer rating:

A must for all chatolic to read
An astounding compendium of Biblical theology

Letter & Spirit, Vol. 2: The Authority of Mystery: The Word of God and the People of God (A Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology)

Manufacturer: Emmaus Road Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1931018359
Release Date: 2006-10-30

Product Description

Letter & Spirit is a journal of Catholic biblical theology for the new millennium. It seeks to foster deeper understanding of sacred Scripture and the divine liturgy of the Church. This second volume of the journal, The Authority of Mystery: The Word of God and the People of God, is inspired by the scholarship of Pope Benedict XVI especially Benedict s concerns about the relation of the Bible to faith in Christ. The editors write in their introduction: As we write in our introduction: How to read the Bible is, at bottom, a question about the identity of Jesus. Is he Jesus of Nazareth only, or is he also the Christ, the Son of the living God? Did he have a divine mission to reveal the mystery of God, or was he only a man like others? Does he remain among us in sacrament and liturgy? Letter & Spirit is published annually by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a nonprofit research and educational institute founded by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Customer Reviews:

A must for all chatolic to read.......2007-08-23

I are grateful that Catholic scholars re-assume and re-invent a Catholic exegesis. By this I intend an exegesis which is inserted in the whole of the Catholic Tradition, Catholic Magisterium and Catholic sacramental life. Thank you Dr. Scott Hahn for this exegetic review which is a precious instrument for all Bible readers

An astounding compendium of Biblical theology.......2007-02-08

As a director of adult formation in a Catholic parish, one of my primary tasks is to teach the adults in my parish the Faith. Following the lead of the authors of Scripture themselves and the Early Church Fathers, this is done best when we use the inspired and sacred word of God himself as a springboard. Scripture is exciting; it is incredibly rich; and my students are thirsty for a Biblical approach to the Faith... to see the Catholic Faith within the pages of the Bible.

I cannot teach my students what I don't already know, and so it is important for me to continue my ongoing formation in learning the riches of Sacred Scripture. Thanks to the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville Ohio (founded and directed by Dr. Scott Hahn), we are given the Letter and Spirit Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology. In 2005, the first volume was published, and this is the second volume (2006). I have found this journal to be an astounding compendium of Biblical theology, which feeds my ongoing formation in the riches of the Bible. This in turn has helped me explain and teach the inspired Word of God to my adult students, and they are eating it up! One volume a year is perfect for me, because - with my workload and time constraints - that is about all I can consume.

I was blown away by two particular articles in this 2nd volume of Letter and Spirit. The first is titled "The Lord's Prayer and the New Exodus" by Brant Pitre. Dr. Pitre received his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized in the study of the New Testament and ancient Judaism.

In his article, Pitre recounts an insight given by N.T. Wright: that the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 draws upon a profound theme among the O.T. prophets: the New Exodus. Pitre then expounds upon this insight by demonstrating how each of the petitions of this prayer evoke key Old Testament passages - among the prophets - that foretell and promise the restoration and redemption of all 12 Tribes of Israel with the Gentiles. This coming restoration/redemption is specifically framed in terms of the "New Exodus." As Israel was oppressed by Egypt and released from slavery in the first Exodus to enter the Promised Land, so Israel, oppressed by foreign powers in Exile, will be released from Exile and regathered and restored under the Messiah, the Son of David. This is incredibly exciting for a cradle Catholic who has always prayed the Lord's Prayer, yet without an understanding of its implications. Jesus is having us pray for the New Exodus: the restoration of Israel with the Gentiles - which is essentially the Evangelistic mission of the Church. What does this mean? The Lord's Prayer is a prayer of evangelization! It is a prayer that encapsulates a monumental prophetic theme from the Old Testament, and in so doing, demonstrates that this prophetic hope is answered in Jesus the Christ.

The second article, which I found to be difficult, yet profoundly rewarding is "The Lord Will Accomplish His Word" by Fr. Pablo T. Gadenz who is a priest from the Diocese of Trenton, N.J. and was sent to Rome by his bishop to work towards his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) - which he has since completed (Pontifical Biblical Institute, 2005) - and his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This guy is amazing! Fr. Gadenz is currently completing his doctoral disseration over a veritable standstill (or as Gadenz says, "impasse") in academic circles: Romans 9-11. In this article, he shares with us a significant piece of his doctoral work.

In his article, "The Lord Will Accomplish His Word," Gadenz does the dirty work for us in examining a very difficult passage in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. He examines Paul's use of the Old Testament in Romans 9:24-29 by doing a serious historical-literal investigation of the text at hand. Some have seen Paul contradicting himself in this passage or that he is quoting the Old Testament out of context. However, Gadenz examines Paul's use of 3 compositional models: midrashic, chiastic, and rhetorical. This includes "gezerah shaway," which is a Rabbinic method of merging two similar Old Testament texts together. This serious inquiry into how Paul wrote really illuminates the Letter to the Romans and shows how Paul carefully uses the Old Testament to demonstrate his point.

What is that point? Well, Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. Among the Gentiles are those exiles of the Northern Kingdom (10 Tribes + Levites) who were conquered, deported, exiled, and intermarried among foreign peoples in 722 B.C. by the world power at the time, Assyria. In the Old Testament prophets (e.g. Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.), we find the prophetic expectation time and time again of God restoring all 12 tribes in the covenant to come with the Messiah. Well, in Paul's day, the Jews are mainly Judah-ites (from which they get the name "Jew"), which is only 1 of the 12 Tribes. There are also some Levites such as John the Baptist and some Benjaminites such as Paul himself. But what about the other 10 tribes? Gadenz's study helps demonstrate that Paul saw his mission to the Gentiles as a mission to reach those other 10 tribes, which are now among the Gentiles!

If you are hungry for a serious study of the Bible, I wholly recommend taking the time and effort to acquire every volume of the Letter and Spirit Journal. Above, I only reviewed two articles. There are so many other rich examinations of the Bible in just this one volume, but as you can see, I have already written too much. Get this text. It is well worth the small price!

How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches

Average customer rating:

A Great Read
What a great read!
Game of life
Coaching advise from athletic coaches
Overcome Adversity

How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches
Christian Klemash
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Success | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Coaching | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0740760653

Book Description

What would legendary Boston Celtics coach and 16-time NBA champion Red Auerbach say is the most critical quality for a person to be successful? Would his advice differ from 10-time NCAA championship coach John Wooden's? What would each say to a young person just starting out in pursuit of their dreams? What is the best advice they were ever given?

It took author Christian Klemash more than two years of research, persistence, and original interviews, but now he's ready to pass on the best advice you'll ever get. Only the rare individual has had the opportunity to pick the brain of just one legendary sports coach—let alone thirty-four of the best sports coaches of all time. Klemash gives sports fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn valuable life lessons from the most famous, intelligent, and victorious coaches ever. The legends span the sports world, from gold medal-winning gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and three-time college football championship coach Tom Osborne to four-time World Series-winning baseball manager Joe Torre and hall-of-fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.

These coaches know how to teach top athletes about character and winning, how to manage pressure at crunch time, and how to bring out the best in their players when it matters most. How to Succeed in the Game of Life shares their insights into sports, life, and the most vital keys to sustain success.Featuring Exclusive Interviews with:

Red Auerbach, 16-time NBA World Champion

Bobby Bowden, College Football's All-Time Winningest Coach, 2-time National Champion

Scotty Bowman, 9-time Stanley Cup Champion

Bill Cowher, Super Bowl Champion

Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion

Dan Gable, 15-time NCCA Champion

April Heinrichs, Gold Medal Winning Coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

Bela Karolyi, The World’s Greatest Gymnastics Coach

Bill Parcells, 2-time Super Bowl Champion

Emanuel Steward, Boxing Trainer of 30 World Champions

Joe Torre, 4-time World Series Champion

Bill Walsh, 3-time Super Bowl Champion

Lenny Wilkens, NBA’s All-Time Winningest Coach, NBA Champion

John Wooden, 10-time NCAA Champion

And More!

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read.......2007-08-26

Wow!Could not put it down.An extraordinay self help book.Gave it to my kids they loved it.Don't miss this one

What a great read!.......2007-07-25

I took it on vacation with me and I couldn't put it down. A great book for aspiring athletes and coaches as well as your average Joe who works 9-5. The coaches discuss a variety of topics from their childhood to how they motivate their players. Any easy read for all ages.

Game of life.......2007-07-24

I've read through Game of Life and I enjoyed it very much. There are so many things to take from this book, not just into sports, but also some reflections on life. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Coaching advise from athletic coaches.......2007-06-27

A fun read, especially if yoiu're a sports fan. I read it in search of things that would help my own ability as a coach in my company. Much of it is light stuff but the easy read makes it fun nonetheless and there are few golden nuggets laced throughout the book.

Overcome Adversity.......2007-04-12

Anyone looking for inspiration, either for their own life or to share with others, will find a gold mine of quotes here. This book isn't just for sports fans.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books