Monday, September 13, 2010

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews

The message of this book is that “every little thing YOU do matters”, that “God made your life so important that every move you make, every action you take
matters. . . . Everything you do matters for everyone and for all time!” This book tells the story of Norman Borlaug, who “developed . . . special seeds that grew into super plants,” having been given that opportunity by Henry Wallace, who had been taught by George Washington Carver, who was adopted by Moses and Susan Carver. The book tells the story of how one life was affected by another in a chain of events resulting in Borlaug’s discoveries.

This book did a good job of narrating the impact of one life upon another. It made a very good point, until the last page, where hyperbole is used to say every single thing we do matters, which is not true. Not even every single thing in George Washington Carver’s life mattered. Some things did, certainly. It grossly exaggerates man’s importance to say every single thing we do matters.

I do not believe this book’s premise that “God made your life so important that every move you make . . . matters . . . to the people around you . . . for everyone and for all time” is biblical. I am hard pressed to think of a passage that supports this belief. Everything about us is important to God because we are precious to Him, but that does not translate into our importance to others.

The danger of this book is that it encourages one to be self-focused and self-centered, believing in one’s importance in an overblown way. It says nothing about needing God, relying on His power, or our responsibility to obey Him. I would not recommend this book.

The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

The message of this book is that “every single thing you do matters”, built on the premise that when a butterfly flaps its wings, it moves air, which moves more air, which moves more air and can eventually start a hurricane. Examples of the effects of one man’s actions include a Union commander’s victory at Gettysburg that turned the tide of the Civil War and a man who developed hardy corn and wheat. The author states, “Everything you do matters. Every move you make, every action you
take . . . matters. Not just to you of your family, or your business, or hometown. Everything you do matters to all of us forever.”

This book is meant to be challenging and inspiring. I found it overblown and hyperbolic. Not every single thing people do matters, any more than every flap of every butterfly’s wings results in a hurricane. Some things people do matter greatly, but many things matter not at all, especially to others. It grossly exaggerates man’s importance to say every single thing we do matters; it would be realistic to say some things we do can matter. It would be accurate to say that, as far as we can tell, everything God does matters, but we are not God.

If you’re looking for biblical truth, turn from this book. It makes no mention of God, His will or His ways. I would not recommend it to anyone.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory by Lisa Stilwell

This book combines photos from the Hubble telescope with Scripture and inspiring quotations, with a goal of focusing you on “worshiping the God who created it all”. This book meets its goal. The photographs are incredible; you just wish you could see them in 3-D. The Scripture passages and quotations are very reflective and thought provoking, a perfect commentary on the breathtaking photos at the turn of every page.

This was a very interesting book, an exploration of an area of creation heretofore unseen by man. How privileged we are to live in a time when our eyes can show us the wonder and creativity of God’s handiwork. It has only been about 150 years that photographs have been available to the masses, and in that time the earth and the sea have been unveiled to us.

For those who are old enough to remember the awe inspired by the first published pictures of infants in the womb, this book will be experienced on that scale.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It will strengthen your faith in the God who has all power.