Book Reviews

Alone in the Universe ?
by David Wilkinson
Monarch Publications ISBN 1-85424-373-X

This book will appeal to all trekkies, boffins, and just about anyone who’s ever wondered if “the truth is out there”.

David Wilkinson, the author, looks at the evidence for extra-terrestrial intelligence, and at some of the unexplained UFO encounters to see if it really is likely that the universe is teeming with life, just trying to make contact with us.

He then asks whether the existence of little green men would discredit Christianity, as some scientists claim. This book does not really address the debate about the origins of life on earth, although in dealing with the probabilities of life developing on other planets, it uses some of the evolutionary assumptions made by modern scientists, which of course some Christian scientists disagree with.

It’s not always an easy read, but an interesting one. You’ll have to check it out to see if you think he’s right!!! 

Jesus Freaks
by DCTalk and The Voice of the Martyrs
Eagle Publishing ISBN 0-86347-388-1

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot, missionary in Ecuador and martyr. Died 1956.

Did you know that there are more Christian martyrs today, then there were in the days of the Roman Empire? About 164,000 people were martyred for their faith in 1999. In many countries around the world, it is a crime to be a Christian, often punished by torture or death.

This book contains the amazing testimonies of many Christians, from recent events in communist China, all the way back to the first century AD, who were so convinced about the truth of the gospel that they were prepared to suffer anything for it.

It also has a prayer guide, to give you all the info on the difficult situations Christians face worldwide.

 The book is challenging to read - asking constantly if you are prepared for the ultimate commitment. One warning - if you an exceptionally delicate little soul (which I don’t suppose you are - most teenagers are used to violence on TV), you may find some things in this book disturbing. There is obviously a lot about death and suffering in it!!

Home But Not Alone
by David Lawrence
Marshall Pickering ISBN 0-551-02890-4

This book is by the popular author of “The Chocolate Teapot” and “The Superglue Sandwich”.

 The subtitle is “A Guide To Surviving Hassles At Home”, and I guess we all recognise the familiar situations he describes - embarrassing families, annoying little brothers, and parents that want you to be the household slave.

 There’s lots of humour, as we’ve come to expect from David Lawrence, and lots of good advice as well, though some of it not easy to swallow (but then, who said Christianity is easy ? Fun, yes; easy, no!).

Undrugged and still dancing
by Debbie Goddard
Scripture Union ISBN 1-85999-177-7

This book is a very good way to scare yourself off drugs for a lifetime (that’s assuming you’ve got enough braincells to be scared).

It has some seriously grim testimonies of young people who have wreaked their lives with legal or illegal drugs, as well as details of all the brain-and- body-pickling effects of these drugs.

Thankfully, it doesn’t stop there, and many of the addicts also testify to the difference that God has made in their lives. This book also contains a lot of useful info about what makes people become drug addicts, how to avoid getting into drugs without looking like a total saddo, and how to help someone who has an addiction.

She Said Yes
by Misty Bernall
Plough Publishing House ISBN 0-87486-987-0

If you were at CCYC 2000, will remember this one well, because we had it serialised every morning after breakfast.

It is the challenging and inspirational story of an ordinary teenage girl, just trying to live for God, cope with schoolwork, and not get too much hassle from her parents, who ended up dead with a gunshot wound at Columbine High School, because she said she believed in God.

The book isn’t trite - it doesn’t make her out to be a hero, and it tries to be honest about Cassie’s life, and her parents emotions after her death. Cassie did not see death as a tragedy - she said: “Mom, I’m not afraid to die, because I’ll be in heaven....you’d know I was in a better place. Wouldn’t you be happy for me?”

 I think it is true to say that no-one goes away the same after reading this book !!!