Product Description
The Christian fiction genre has been around since the late sixties, but the Left Behind series made it explode. This book walks you through the genre—what it is and isn’t, how plot integrates with a Christian message, how to approach edgy subjects, how to navigate Christian and mainstream publishers, and more. Coverage includes discussion of everything from mystery and romance, to historical and young adult.
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Customer Reviews (16)

Just what I needed to read
All my writing life I have wanted to write a christian fiction novella, this book is really going to make that so much easier. I had no idea how to start off and what to right about. This book is great for those who are just starting to write and want to make a living as a christian writer. It's well written, easy to read and offers information on just about any christian fiction subject you can think of! Buy it.. you won't be sorry!

Excellent
"Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction" is an excellent book. Ron Benrey supplies the question posed by the book's title, too, and he gets to the point while doing it. Every word tells the reader how to write Christian fiction without the addition of useless information.

"Guide to Writing Christian Fiction" is also a valuable source for learning what will and/or won't work in Christian fiction, i.e., the rules.

Good Overview of the Christuan Market
I have read numerous books on Fiction Writing, and a few on Christian Fiction in particular, and this one is excellent. I would give it four-and-a-half stars if I could.

The author does not try to cover everything there is to know about writing fiction (which would be impossible in one book) but he does a good job of covering the full scope of topics. Though the book does not go into each topic in depth, I did learn new information in several. The section on four act story structure was well done, and handled more concisely than other treatments I have seen.

The author lays out the prospects for success in sobering terms. Such honesty is refreshing. And his dealing with pride, neglect of other responsibilities, confusion over calling, impatience, and other problems that plague Christians who desire to write is well done and much needed.

Excellent, but the field is intimidating
Ron Benrey includes everything you need to know and more, which is why I was a bit depressed after I read halfway through TCIGTWCF.

He's realistic, and that's great. This field is not only overcrowded, but it's extremely hard to break into.Now Benrey levels about that, which is what we want, but after reading this book I decided NOT to pursue writing Christian fiction.He saved me a lot of time and frustration, so I thank him for that.

Writing for publication is bucking the odds, and it's getting harder, not easier.If you're bound and determined, I say all God's best to you, but go into it expecting disappointment and frustration.We all think we're capable of writing the next bestseller, but talent alone isn't enough.

As far as this book goes, it thoroughly covers the subject matter in a clear, understandable style.If you want to learn about this field, you can't go wrong with this book.

A good guide for non-fiction writers as well as fiction writers.
I aquired the book,"The Complete Guide to Writing Christian Fiction," in a group of several otherbooks I wanted to buy to help me learn how to write non-fiction books. What I didn't see was that it was for fiction writers, and I am a non-fiction writer. I decided that I really had wasted my time and money. But I decided to check it out anyway, because I didn't want to send it back.

I was very pleasantly suprised to find out that many of the principles that Ron Benery was directing toward fiction writers also worked well for me.

To tell you the truth, I got more out of his book than I did from some of the other so called non-fiction guidline books.

So if your are not sure if you want to stick with one genre, this book would be a great choice for you to have no matter what direction you go.

BTW.. I met Ron Benrey at a writer's conference, and you know what? He breathes the same air I do. He is a very friendly, caring, concerned, guy, and it shows in his work. ... Read more

Product Description
Featuring vibrant full color throughout, this new edition of Bart Ehrman's highly successful introduction approaches the New Testament from a consistently historical and comparative perspective, emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Rather than shying away from the critical problems presented by these books, Ehrman addresses the historical and literary challenges they pose, showing why scholars continue to argue over such significant issues as how the books of the New Testament came into being, when they were written (and by whom), what they mean, how they relate to contemporary Christian and non-Christian literature, and how they came to be collected into the canon of scripture that we now call the New Testament. Distinctive to this study is its unique focus on the historical, literary, and religious milieux of the Greco-Roman world, including early Judaism. As part of its historical orientation, the book also discusses works by other Christian writers who were roughly contemporary with the New Testament, such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the letters of Ignatius. The text is enhanced by maps, timelines, an extensive text box program, and more than one hundred photos. An accompanying Instructor's Manual contains chapter summaries, discussion questions, and a test bank. An updated Website Study Guide provides chapter summaries, glossary terms, and self-quizzes for students.

New to this edition:
* Coverage of new discoveries--including the Gospel of Judas Iscariot--and of recent advances in scholarship
* A revised discussion of the history of Palestine and Judaism, which now appears much earlier in the book (Chapter 3), thereby providing students with more background on the development of early Christianity at the outset of their studies
* A new photo essay on important Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, ten new text boxes, a revised epilogue, and updated suggestions for further reading
* An expanded glossary featuring more than 200 key terms, which are also listed at the end of each chapter in which they appear
* Key terms appear in boldface type the first time they are used in each chapter
* Vivid full color throughout
* A FREE 6-month subscription to Oxford Biblical Studies Online (www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com)--a $180 value--with the purchase of every new copy of this text!

Ideal for undergraduate and seminary classes in the New Testament, Biblical Studies, and Christian Origins, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Fourth Edition, encourages students to carefully consider the historical issues surrounding these writings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

An author with a biased agenda
I am afraid that Ehrman is not an objective scholar. His self publication in the media, as a reactionary sceptic, in reaction to his former protestant (sola scriptura) fundamentalism means his work is suspect at best.

Ehrman's origins as a naive fundamentalist were exploded at university and this embittered him to the point that he became a biblical iconoclast. This is not the foundation for sound scholarship. Ehrman's academic blood is poisoned. Any academic work Ehrman produces has a sceptical agenda which is either explicit or, in this case, implicit. My advice, leave well alone and use the work of the more balanced and objective.

Interesting and Challenging Text
If you read this text and join a study group using the"Introduction to the New Testament" DVDs you cannot belp but learn something.Easy read but intense information for me.
Purchased used book which was spotless inside.I'm using a highlighter because I'm not giving tbis book up.

Oxford slipping?
Am I the only one who is bothered by the title "A Historical..."? When did OXFORD start publishing titles like this?

One of the Best Indroductory Texts on the Market
Bart D. Ehrman, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is well known for his popular texts on Biblical Textual Criticism (ie 'Misquoting Jesus'). In this volume, a textbook, we see his work in a more scholarly light. This work, as indicated by its title, its 'A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings.' This work analyses several canonical and non-canonical early Christian writings (ie Matthew, Mark, Thomas, etc) in light of their literary genres, the socio-political context in which they were written, and by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors which give the reader a great base from which to start studying the New Testament.

Several Pros of this brief introduction are:
- each chapter of the book is followed by several (typically 4 - 8) suggested further readings which allow the curious reader to further delve into the topics discussed. This alone makes it an ideal introduction.
- A very honest attempt is made to set the socio-political setting in which these texts were written which establishes a strong base against which to examine the New Testament and other early Christian texts.
-The author, while himself not a believer, does a very good job of approaching the texts from a more or less objective stance: being critical but still maintaining a scholarly predisposition.

Several Cons include:
- Ehrman only examines certain theories over the course of his text (It is only an introduction afterall). For example, when discussing the sources used by the authors of the canonical gospels he only really makes mention of the 'Four Source Hypothesis' and leaves out any mention of lesser theories.

Other notes:
- This could either be considered a pro or a con depending on how you are, but this book is truly an 'introductory' text. No subject is explored in great detail and only a smattering of theories are addressed. As a beginning text, however, you'd be hard pressed to find one (in this price range) that's better.

The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings
Ideal for anyone who is interested in the latest scholarhip on the New Testament and early Christian writings. Erhman's view is more liberal than other scholars but he also notes the more conservative views of other scholars. Overall his prose is easy to read and spiked with humor. Especially helpful are the numerous "boxes" or sidebars which provide interesting snapshots on various notable characters and incidents. Also helpful is the glossary at the end of the book.
... Read more

Product Description
This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from the vast corpus of Christian mystical literature by the renowned theologian and historian Bernard McGinn, presents nearly one hundred selections, from the writings of Origen of Alexandria in the third century to the work of twentieth-century mystics such as Thomas Merton.

Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism explores how human life is transformed through the search for direct contact with God. Part one examines the preparation for encountering God through biblical interpretation and prayer; the second part focuses on the mystics’ actual encounters with God; and part three addresses the implications of the mystical life, showing how mystics have been received over time, and how they practice their faith through private contemplation and public actions.

In addition to his illuminating Introduction, Bernard McGinn provides accessible headnotes for each section, as well as numerous biographical sketches and a selected bibliography.

Praise for The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism
“No one is better equipped than Bernard McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature….This is an anthology which deserves to be read not only by those who study Christian history and theology, but by believers who long to deepen their own lives of prayer and service.” -- Anglican Theological Review

“Bernard McGinn, a preeminent historian and interpreter of the Christian mystical tradition, has edited this fine collection of mystical writings, organizing them thematically....McGinn offers helpful introductions to each thematic section, author and entry, as well as a brief critical bibliography on mysticism. Published in the Modern Library Classic series, this is a great value.” – Christian Century

"No-one is better equipped than Professor McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature. A first-class selection, by a first-class scholar." -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury


“This accessible anthology by the scholarly world’s leading historian of the Western Christian mystical tradition easily outstrips all others in its comprehensiveness, the aptness of its selection of texts, and in the intelligent manner of its organization.” -- Denys Turner, Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale Divinity School


"An immensely rich anthology, assembled and introduced by our foremost student of mysticism. Both the scholar and the disciple will find God’s plenty here." -- Barbara Newman, Professor of English, Religion, and Classics, John Evans Professor of Latin, Northwestern University


"An unusually clear and insightful exposition of major texts selected by one of the greatest scholars in the field of Christian mysticism, based on his vast erudition and uniquely sensitive interpretation. Like his other books, this one too is destined to become a classic.” -- Professor Moshe Idel, Hebrew University, Jerusalem ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

True spiritality
As christians we struggle with the do's and dont's of Christanity and lose what true christianity is and was meant to be. This book helps to ignite a passion for christ. To serve out of love, To become one with christ in a world that draws you farther away each day.It helps to show that no two lives are the same and there are no blueprints for our christian walk. It teaches that our relationship with GOD is the most important relationship we will ever have, and our only joy is in him.

Impressive topical arrangement
McGinnn presents a topically arranged selection of 17 hundred years of writing about Christian Mysticism.The broad topics start with Foundation of Mystical practice with highlights including Bernard of Clairvaux's sermon of the Song of Songs ("I feel that the Kind has not one bedroom only, but many", an Life of Mary of Oignies by James of Vitry ("at times she would rest sweetly with the Lord in a pleasant and blessed salience for thirty-five days, during this time taking no bodily food, and being unable to say anything but "I want the Body of Lord Jesus Christ".".Throughout are introduced strong prayer elements as the Way of the Pilgrim ("Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner") and negative ("stripping away') dimensions as John of the Cross "Upon a Dark night.

The longest section is on aspects of mystical consciousness. Some remarkable sections there include Mechthild of Magdeburg on the Trinity ("I am an overflowing spring that no one can block"), and Julian of Norwich's love (`he also showed a little thing, the size of a hazel-nut in the palm on my hand. ... it is all that is made. ... It lasts and will last for ever because God loves it".The anonymous 14th century "beat upon that thick cloud of unknowing with the dart of your loving desire". There are some remarkable manifestations of the mystic life as St. Francis's stigmata, or Benedict seeing the bishop of Capua carried to heaven in a fiery sphere on angels.Perhaps my favorite quite is Meister Eckhart "The eye in which I see God is the same eye in which God sees me." Perhaps the chapter on distress and dereliction may be the most puzzling, but consoling.

The final section on implications of mysticism discusses the "dialectical relationship between the mystical and institution", between the orthodox and the edge of heresy, even Meister Eckhart was condemned. A result of contact with God, is a transformed life, and the final chapter discusses relation of contemplation and action. If your enemy is hungry. feed him Romans 12:20. The final election is Thomas Merton who in his last decade became involved in many public debates

Throughout the book, McGinn's concise writing introduces both the concepts as well as brief biographical material about the author.McGinn provides a wide selection of text, and picks the best English translation available, and if not is available, translates it himself. He does not stick to accepted Roman Catholic texts, and there are examples of Quietism, the Lutheran Johann Arndnt, Hesychast tradition in the Christian East, the poet William Blake ("to see the world in a grain of sand"),and the Quaker George Fox. Although writing about mystics is difficult, what we cannot know we can grasp, this book provides a good introduction.

Absolutely GREAT!
One of the very best compendiums of Christian mystical writers.Perfect for the beginning student to provide a broad spectrum of insight, as well as for the advanced/matured scholar who wants either a reference or exposure to the great authors.

I have found it an invaluable resource, authoritative and easy to use.

I will be buying ther books from Bernard McGinn!!!

Spiritual Journey
For anyone on a spiritual journey, this book is fantastic. I have been carrying it around for over a year and read it through twice. From the teachings of Christian Mystics and Saints, you will understand how to be totally honest with yourself and permit the Holy Trinity to reign in your life. This book can become your "how-to" if you desire to achieve union with God.

Paperback has 559 pages. Includes: Contents of 3 Parts and 15 Sections, Preface, Introduction with a note on the translations, Bibliography with earliest citation "Studies of English Mystics" 1906, and a page About The Editor. The three Parts are entitled: Foundations of Mystical Practice (Origen of Alexandria c.180 to Madame Guyon c.1648), Aspects of Mystical Consciousness, Implications of the Mystical Life.

A Very Good Anthology
Very well put together, this book is unique because it arranges the texts by theme rather than chronologically as in most anthologies of Christian mysticism.The depth of the book will really help to reader to become familiar with both the themes and authors of the Christian mystical tradition.
I must add that the notion that Christian mystics teach a unity of all religions and that Christ and the Trinity are just symbols of a deeper reality is an interpretive paradigm of modern scholars that is not reflected in the writings the Christian mystics themselves.They were simply devote Christians who experienced God in a deep and meaningful way. ... Read more

Product Description
Writing the Christian Romance provides readers with detailed instruction for creating a storyline that is reflective of Christian values with authentic well constructed principled characters. This comprehensive book shows writers how to develop an engaging, passionate, conflict-driven romantic storyline without the use profanity, gratuitous violence, or sexually explicit content. Writers will learn to construct stories using the three threads around which Christian romance is centered: the characters' personal growth, the growth of the romance, and the characters' spiritual growth, which is as irrevocably tied to the storyline as the first two threads. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Review of informative book
Writing the Christian Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin has been a god-send to me. The book is thorough and comprehensive. As a beginning writer, I have found the book to contain just the right information at the right time.

Beyond greatful
I have been wanting to write a Christian romance for at least 2 years. And this book was just want I need to get my foot in the door. It says all the no no's in this writing and offers great examples. The only draw back is that it only takes of being published and not self publish which is what I plan on doing. Even without that tiny section the book is filled with great information and comes at a really great price. Buy it.. you won't be sorry. If God blessed you to write then write you should.

Really helpful, but would have like to see more of a variety of authors discussed in text
I found this book to be really well written and helpful. The book is practical and straight to the point. I also enjoyed the helpful writing excercises that are offered as well. The only thing I would have changed about this book is that I would have included more authors to draw from. Otherwise, this book is an excellent resource.

My opinion on ' Writing the Christian Romance'
This book is absolutely fantastic. My first Christian Novel is currently in the hands of an editor in N.Y. Just before I sent it over, I thought it was ready to approach the people concerned. However, after reading this book, I learnt SO MUCH! Even little things like'said tags,' explaining how to bring in the feelings of each character, making sure it was 'feelings' not sight by the main character, which is impossible. It has enabled me to produce a far better Manuscript. I have been able to bring so much more emphasis on the emotions and senses of both my Hero and Heroine after reading Gail's explanations. By the time I sent my M.S. over, it was a much better novel.I thoroughly encourage any aspiring writer of this genre to grab this book!Many many thanks, Gail.

A Writer's Bible
This was on my wish list for a long time and I'm so impressed with it, I think I might need an extra copy.I keep referring to the book and the great chapter ending exercises that the book looks used and beaten.

Ms. Martin gives a comprehensive look at writing the Christian Romance, using examples from her own work, as well as other respected authors.From plot to character to the spiritual emphasis of the book, no stone is left unturned.

What makes me love this book even more is that in the Christian romance genre, perhaps several names could have written it.But Gail Martin did, giving up secrets and tips in order to help others.It'sgenerous gift, this book, and I feel blessed to have it in my hands. ... Read more

Product Description
The writings in this volume cast a glimmer of light upon the emerging traditions and organization of the infant church, during an otherwise little-known period of its development. A selection of letters and small-scale theological treatises from a group known as the Apostolic Fathers, several of whom were probably disciples of the Apostles, they provide a first-hand account of the early Church and outline a form of early Christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion, Judaism. Included here are the first "Epistle of Bishop Clement of Rome", an impassioned plea for harmony; "The Epistle of Polycarp"; "The Epistle of Barnabas"; "The Didache"; and, the Seven Epistles written by Ignatius of Antioch - among them his moving appeal to the Romans that they grant him a martyr's death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Very Nice Little Book
I was very happy to find that not only are the translations in this little book easy to understand, in many ways they are better than the majority of of the same books a person can find translated online for free.The only negative thing I have to say is that it is too bad that there weren't more books in this book.I'm keeping this on my desk for reference material now.

Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks!
1 Peter 3:15 states "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

This book is a valuable resource on two fronts for the Christian that wants to learn more and defend the faith.

First, these writings give great insight to the issues and challenges confronting the nascent church. To me, the most entertaining and eye-opening of all the writings is the letter from Polycarp to the Phillipians. According to many sources, Polycarp was a student of the John the Apostle and is unwavering in defending the faith and the importance of the church maintaining its adherence to Biblical teachings....as true today as it was two thousand years ago.

Second, these writings are important for refuting the spurious claims of those that would attack the validity of the Bible. I come in contact with a number of atheists and agnostics and often hear from them that "the New Testament wasn't even written until 200-300 CE" (or AD for us traditionalists!). I can't BELIEVE how often I hear that particular piece of misinformed garbage! This book is just one of many ways to refute that claim.

Specifically, both the writings of Polycarp and Barnabas quote from the New Testament - not refer, but quote...as in word-for-word...verbatim. This is especially true for Polycarp - heck, he quotes from both the Gospels and the Epistles so much that I bet if there was a "fair-use doctrine" back in the early 100's he would have pushed the limits!

Of course, I'm exaggerating a bit but in Polycarp's letter to the Philippians there are 14 quotes from the New Testament...books that some claim were not written until 150 years after Polycarp's death!

The fact of the matter is that I just don't have enough faith to look beyond the overwhelming evidence of the validity of the New Testament..and this book is a well-organized and informative collection of a small piece of that body of evidence.

Needed and Useful
This book contains not only the words of the Early Church Fathers but their words are put in a modern translation that is easy to read and just better than previous English translations. You will learn a lot about what the Early Church believed and how they lived. A must read for anyone who wants to learn more about the Early Christians, Early Church.

Affordable Yet Priceless Heritage
It is debatable whether we can truly know our faith without having considered what those who have gone before us discovered. C. S. Lewis warned about generational amnesia - that is, forgetting by ignoring what previous generations have learned. The early church understanding of who Jesus was and is gives us a better sense of why we believe as we do. And it stands in stark contrast against the accusations that the church has become something far different from what it once was. The doctrines of today are developments of the seeds planted in that early church.

The Staniforth translation is crisp and readable. The Penguin Classic price is right. There is no excuse for neglecting this priceless heritage.

WOW! We have writings of early trusted church pastors!
Why isn't this book on every evangelical seminary's guidebook to help us avoid many of the false teachings of the modern cults and churches? After studying in seminary and being mostly influenced by Dallas Seminary's Lewis Sperry Chafer and majority of trusted pastors of the last 150-200 years (Charles Spurgeon, Charles Swindoll, Graham, Kenneth Wuest, D.L. Moody, Matthew Henry, G.Campbell Morgan, J. Vernon Mcgee, and host of other popular writers), this is the first time I have known that we have actual writings of the early church pastors in such an easy to read guide format.

How the faithful looked at their impending martyrdom is beautifully seen in "the letter of Ignatius to the Church in Rome" and in Pastor Polycarp's martyrdom written down by the faithful for our edification. It is amazing how their view of faith included trust in Christ all the way to the end, just like John Wesley taught.

It is awesome to know that the early Church always baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity as I read in the last pages of this book, in "teachings (didache/gk) of the apostles".

It is awesome to read that worshipping Christ as God was a normal practice of faith among early Christians from the beginning and how much these trusted pastors exalted our LORD's words and life, death and resurection as the foundation for all Christians.

Surprisingly, our early church also saw great significance in the life of Christ as they saw our imitation of Christ's Perfect life to be a holy goal of every Christian every day of our lives. They did not interpret "be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is" allegorically or as pre-Grace-dispensational in any way. To them, good works of Love motivated by Faith in Christ's Perfect Life and passionate suffering at the Cross, with His victory over satan through death and Resurrection, was a much stronger emphasis of the basis for our Salvation than simply saying a "magical" 4 laws or sinner's prayer to welcome Jesus in our hearts. The early Church's view of God's Grace is clear: "By Grace you are saved, not by your own doing, but by the will of God in Christ Jesus" spoken by Polycarp, the trusted disciple of John called and appointed to lead the Church in Smyrna. However, it is also true that they took Paul's words in Galations 5 as Holy Scripture and took all of Christ's words inline with James' letter, rather than show an adverserial relationship between Christian good works and our faith in Christ. To them, Christ's calling to holiness, His perfect obedience through the pains of the cross, revealed faithful calling of the Christian to live holy lives as part of our salvation, rather than as a separate past/present/future salvation message that I have heard by majority of our teachers in the past 200 years.

I was surprised to read that John Calvin, Martin Luther, and John Wesley, honored many of these early Christian writings and always taught reading them for edification and Biblical understanding as PART of our sola scriptura belief, and they never intended that anyone should read the scriptures and privately interpret it against the writings of all these early church pastor's teachings. No wonder all Christians everywhere agreed for majority of the first 1800 years of our faith on the significance of Baptism, Holy communion and hosts of other early church practices and beliefs and none of them tried to use "saved by Grace unto good works" as beyond what the early church taught, that there are jewish cereminial laws we were freed from unto Christian good works in Love.

The view of humility in Ignatius truly is humbling against majority of our teaching in the western culture, since he would never want any believer to independent of the Apostolic Christian Church to exalt oneself above the honest teachings of the Apostles and trusted pastors of the early church.

I would highly recommend this translation. Easy to read and follow without liberal antiChristian slants from some other early church books. The print material is also easy to read unlike the glaring papers used by Meier's Eusebius edition and there is not much antiChristian antihistorical Christian bias one finds in some of the early church translations. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the book to help you move from beginning writer to professional. This practical text on the fine art of writing is designed to encourage you to develop your God-given talent. Along with the theoretical aspects of writing, the reader is provided in-depth writing assignments to practice their craft. Perfect for classroom or individual study.

Eleven comprehensive chapters and ten appendices discuss nearly every element of the writing process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Useful book
If you're a new Christian writer or a Christian who wants to write, buy this book. Ethel Herr will help you understand how God views success as a writer, how to write for publication, and how to organize your writing life.

An Introduction to Christian Writing
I found this little book to be very helpful. It covered what should and shouldn't be done and the cliche's to avoid like the plague.

A Discouraging Book
I was severly disappointed in 'An Introduction to Christian Writing: An Indepth Companion to the Complete Writing Experience' by Ethel Herr. Oddly enough for someone who is supposed to have a Christian viewpoint, Ms. Herr seems to totally discount inspiration of any kind for a writer. Perhaps that's why I found her writing to be uninspired and uninspiring. She insisted writers use a cycle of endless writing and rewriting. It left me wondering when you get to the part about actually getting published. She had one valid point, in that authors may not make substantial amounts of money from writing (although that is the reason for being published) and should take solace in having done what God asked. Perhaps she hasn't heard about Internet marketing and promotion, although it's possible she wouldn't be inspired by it if she had.
A caveat for those who take a writing course using this as a textbook--you will not find encouraging words here.

An Introductin to Christian Writing
As a novice writer this has been an invaluable resource. For the person that wants to improve technique in a practical way, Ms. Herr has included assignments to complet to use the skills that she discusses. Very worth while the time and effort to read and complete.

A Great Help
I have been struggling with writing something that I believe God called me to write.This book really helped me look at the reasons as to why I am writing from a completely different point of view.I highly recommend this to anyone who believes they have been called to write, but are having hardships or difficulty starting at the beginning or getting to the end.It doesn't tell you how to write - but it inspires you to let poetry drip from your tongues like honey!If you are called to write for Him...you have one heck of a duty on your shoulders. ... Read more

Product Description
The Best Christian Writing 2006 is the latest edition of the critically acclaimed series that offers a collection of the best and brightest Christian writing in one compelling volume. The Best Christian Writing 2006 contains accessible essays that provide an excellent overview of the range and depth of Christian thinking and display the unity in diversity evident in today's leading Christian writers. The contributors distill the riches of belief into lucid explorations of faith that reflect the many dimensions of lived Christianity. Well-crafted and provocative, these essays will inspire and challenge readers who seek to live their faith in a contemporary world. This important resource includes contributions from a diverse group of distinguished writers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent reading
I have not read the entire book. However an interview with Eugene Peterson alone is worth the price of the book.

A Great Set of Essays
A wonderful and personable collection of travel writings from the spiritual journey. I would have given it 5 stars, but I find Richard John Neuhaus a most rigid read and I don't like the patronizing judgments Paul Marshall passed upon Islam. But the rest are fine in every way, especially: Amy Laura Hall on Bioethics, Frederica Mathewes-Green on Crucifixion theology, Bill McKibbon on Church, Lauren Winner on weddings and Daniel Taylor on a most unusual pilgrimage.

A fine selection with some real gems
"The Best Christian Writing 2006" contains twenty selections varying from theology to movie review to travelogue to observation of aged and infirm care to art criticism. My favorites are:

- "Phil's Shadow: The Lessons of Groundhog Day" which casts a discerning eye on the Bill Murray film. Author Michael P. Foley convincingly examines the movie beyond the obvious conclusion that it portrays Eastern religious themes such as karma and rebirth to find it is rife with Christian allusions and foundations. This essay is fascinating and fun.

- "The Meaning of Christ's Suffering," by Eastern Orthodox convert Frederica Mathewes-Green is a prior-to-seeing-it reflection on Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." More accurately, it is a finely reasoned argument that lingering on Christ's pain on the cross (as Gibson's movie does) arose seriously only in later medieval times and that before that Christians (even back to the writers of the Gospels) concentrated more on the salvific intention of the crucifixion: Christ as Savior rather than as Victim. Mathewes-Green distinguishes between ideas of Christ as freely offering his death to the Father vs. Christ as payment demanded by the Father. I found this the most important discussion in the book.

- "Brother John" which takes us briefly into a Trappist Monastery and shares a glimpse of a man who "loves God so much he doesn't know what to do with himself...so he stands outside on a cold Christmas night with an umbrella waiting...to offer us some protection and human comfort...." Brother John is a vivid reminder of loving, selfless devotion to God and he is not soon set aside.

- "Is Art Salvific?" falls more into the category of art criticism than Christian writing, but it manages to consider whether art ought to be completed in the one observing it or in and of itself, as an expression of the numinous or the mundane, and as "the object of engrossed contemplation" or of participation. At one point the author, Nicholas Wolterstorff, writes that a chair in a museum can't "come into its own" because it isn't being used as a chair behind its glass case. But, is it a chair because it is used as one or because we see it as one? And does a hymn "come into its own" because it is sung or because it is heard or only both? Is something "art" when it records the detritus of our lives or when it "puts us in the presence of the Transcendent?" These are questions worth pursuing.

To those who pick up a book for ideas, "The Best Christian Writing 2006" doesn't disappoint. But the anthology is wide-ranging enough that readers interested in sociological, ministerial and emotional aspects of Christianity will also be satisfied. Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
A guide to writing and selling a Christian novel which covers plot development, editing, the nature of the Christian literary market, and gives tips on submitting effective book proposals.Amazon.com Review
Writing for the Christian-fiction market has its benefits. Onegenerally doesn't need an agent to get one's manuscriptconsidered. Though the quality of Christian fiction has improvedgreatly in the past decade or so, publishers are still willing to takea chance on a newcomer. And most Christian publishing houses aresmall, making the publishing process a warmer, more personalexperience. But be forewarned. Christian, or evangelical, fictionisn't just about characters who "pray, preach and sing gospel songs,"says Penelope J. Stokes. It's about "living, breathing spiritualbeings who grapple with the hard questions of life and find ... hopein the reality of God's presence in the world." Stokes has edited (andwritten) Christian fiction for 15 years; her Complete Guide toWriting & Selling the Christian Novel is a fantastic resource forthe writer of Christian fiction.

In addition to providing advice from which any fiction writer wouldbenefit, Stokes does a fine job of defining Christian fiction. It is,she says, first and foremost fiction. It is not sermonizing. It is notabout saving lost souls ("Rarely," she says, "does a religious novelfind an audience among the unconverted"). It best not be full ofreligious jargon or Bible-quoting zealots. Still, it must have "adistinctly religious viewpoint, usually marked by the personalconversion of one or more characters." And just because, as abeliever, you see your writing as a gift and a calling, don't thinkfor a minute that your work is beyond revision. "Creation is not theend of the process," says Stokes. "It's the beginning. In the image ofour Creator, we continue the work of ongoing re-creation. We revise,refine, reorganize and rewrite. And at the end of the day we, too, canrest and say, 'It is good.'" --Jane Steinberg ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A good guide to writing
This book to me was a must to help with the advancement of my Christian and inspiration writing. It portrays several aspects and spiritual truths, which was a great help to keep me encouraged. Inspirational writing is a wonderful way to tell the world of God's love and help for all of us, no matter where we stand on religion. Thank you for this book.Sincerely yours, Shirley Kalpin-Olson Author of inspirational books, "The Truth Shall Set You Free", "Train Wreck in the Sierras" and new book to come out soon under Shirley Olson, "Life After Death"

Solid Teaching from a Novelist and Long-time Christian Editor
It seems like almost everyone I meet is trying to write a novel these days. Maybe that's because I acquire fiction for a Christian publishing house and end up rejecting hundreds of submissions. Each of those would-be fiction writers should get a copy of this book, devour it, read and re-read it. Then these writers can recraft their submissions and get them on track.

Penelope J. Stokes writes with authority. She's a best-selling novelist yet also a long-time editor of many Christian novels. She writes with clear understandable instruction. From start to finish, this book helps writers develop a clear plan for creating excellent prose for the Christian marketplace.

Weak Christian vs. Strong Christian
I am an aspiring AA Christian fiction writer.However, I believe some of the things in this book, but for the most part, many Christian fiction that contains sexual explicit language and profanity are popular moreso than literary and have proven to be successful, such as, "Casting The First Stone" and the sequel, "Too Much of a Good Thing," and "Promises Beyond Jordan."I recognize that this type of Christian fiction is geared towards getting the weaker Christians to see themselves and turn from their wicked ways before it's too late.I've recently been turned on to a novel called, "Lust of the Flesh," another Christian fiction with has a very strong and critical message to the weak Christians.I highly recommend this read.These types of Christian books are written for a different type of Christian group. It is to get them to look in a mirror at their lives and to show them the error of their ways.Once they reach this level, they will graduate to a higher degree of Christianity.

This higher degree of Christianity is directed to a diffent Christian group which are the stronger Christians to encourage their walk.These types of books are:"Temptation," "No Regrets," and "That Faith, That Love, That Trust."

We must keep in mind which Christian group we are writing for.Are we writing to encourage the strong Christian to remain stedfast and unmovable?Or are we writing to mirror the weak Christian to turn from his/her wicked ways and seek the face of God so that he/she can move on to perfection as a strong Christian?

Christian fiction that contacts sex and profanity will turn off a strong Christian because he/she has moved on to perfection from that lifestyle.However, sexual language and profanity will appeal to a weak Christian because he/she has not graduated yet.We must use wisdom.

I think this about sums it up between which Christian audiencean author is attempting to reach.

Helpful for Hopeful Writers of Christian Fiction
Ms. Stokes offers honest, helpful advice and instruction for aspiring writers of Christian fiction.She cites statistics and knowledge regarding the Christian fiction market that writers need to know.She seems to have a good grasp on what the publishers and booksellers are also wanting, and this is what it comes down to knowing when trying to sell a Christian novel to a publisher.

In addition to sharing her knowledge of the industry, Ms. Stokes writes about some of the common errors Christian fiction writers make.She provides solid instruction about several things the writer needs to check before submitting a book for review.

Overall, I found this to be a wise, general teaching tool for me.It also gave me some other resources to read.

I agree with a previous reviewer that there are peculiarities in the Christian fiction market that are frustrating, such as what I would consider the lack of realistic stories.Ms. Stokes discusses the type of Christian novel that is published and it is a conservative, evangelical book for the most part.Christian publishers may avoid a book that presents a different view of Christians from what they think is congruent with readers' values.Essentially, Ms. Stokes lets us know that there is a precise type of Christian fiction that most of the Christian publishers are looking for.

If you are trying to write and publish Christian fiction, this is a good learning tool for you. It was for me.

Good advice, but beware
Loads of wise advice fills this book, but on page eight, I found the definition of the Christian novel I feared: "a work of fiction that derives from a conservative evangelical perspective." It is responsible of Stokes to acknowledge this immediately, and she adds that several great otherwise Christian novels of the 20th century would not be included in this definition.This is sad and frightening, but it is the reality.I wonder if Jesus himself could publish his stories within the narrow confines of the Christian publishing perspective. ... Read more

Product Description
Artist and CraftsmanAs a Christian novelist, you're both. You know the soaringcreativity of the Creator and the serious discipline of theartisan. And you feel the impulse to excel in each.So grab a steaming mug of your favorite hot drink and comelearn the art and craft of Christian fiction from one of itsmaster teachers. You'll learn:»» How to find your story amidst all your ideas»» How to bring your characters onstage the first time»» How to convert your telling into showing»» How to handle profane characters in Christian fiction»» How to use the dumb puppet trick»» How to write for the (approving) audience of OneThe Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction is the complete schoolof fiction from Jeff Gerke, popular writer's conference teacher,professional book doctor, and Christian novelist. It includesand expands upon his influential Fiction Writing Tip of theWeek column at WhereTheMapEnds.com.** Christy Award-winning editor Jeff Gerke entered theChristian fiction publishing industry as a novelist. Under thepen name Jefferson Scott, Jeff has had six of his Christian novelspublished. He has served on the editorial staff of Multnomah,Strang Communications, and NavPress. Novels that Jeff has editedor acquired have won multiple Book of the Year awards. Heis the founder and publisher of Marcher Lord Press. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Most Comprehensive and Applicable Writing Book I've Read

I love writing books. I collect them. But this is the new favorite!

Short applicable chapters. Amusing and sincere writing style. So much amazing information.

A MUST READ!

Helpful, well-written, and amusing
Jeff Gerke has created a brillant overview of the craft of writing fiction.Gerke's humor makes this such an enjoyable read, I forgot I was learning all kinds of new, profound things. :) There are helpful examples of what to do (and what NOT to do), as well as crystal-clear instruction on how to improve one's work.After reading this book, I knew the areas into which I needed to study a little deeper to further improve my fiction.I would highly recommend this resource to anyone looking to take their writing to the next level!

A fantastic reference for writers!
I just read the most wonderful book, The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, by Jeff Gerke. It had been on my shelf for a while, because I'd beenbusy with deadlines and such, but while recovering from surgery this past week I finally read it.And now, I'm kicking myself for not reading it months ago, because it is absolutely packed with excellent advice.Reading it was like sitting down with the author and receiving an in-depth workshop in my own home.

I'd recommend it whether you're an aspiring author, or have dozens of books under your belt.I've sold twenty-eight books or so now, and in addition to the great nuts-and bolts information (which I loved) he gave me so many new insights on the art of writing Christian fiction.I would recommend this book to any Christian writer, at whatever place they might be along the spectrum from beginner to advanced.

I'm going to order another copy to give to a critique friend, who is hoping to break into the Christian market. What a perfect Christmas present!

Roxanne Rustand

Good enough to give as a gift.
I teach workshops on writing and am glad to add Jeff's book to my list of recommendations. I liked it so much that I bought several to give as gifts to my writing friends. Now what better praise is there than that!

Well written, fun resource for new writers
I don't know if Jeff's book was the most helpful book I've ever read on writing. I do know it was the most entertaining. It was also the most well-organized. Each area is broken down into manageable chunks that make it easy to go back to a section you want to look up later. I will remember sections and look them up again too--if just for the fun of it. I loved the way he explained things with creative language, references to popular movies and excerpts from his own writing... I felt as if I were talking to someone who was coaching me through the process in a fun, approachable way.

Make no mistake, there is plenty of good information wedged between those softcovers. Each time he added a mistake new writers make, or some horrible manuscript that had crossed his desk, I shuddered to think how he would respond to my manuscript.

Perhaps that and keeping his book placed prominently on my desk will be enough for me to avoid making some of those errors. Maybe I should read it again--just to make sure I've crafted my lightsaber properly.
... Read more

Product Description
Many Christians have a desire to communicate the gospel through the medium of writing but do not understand the basics of writing for publication. This helpful volume of 22 brief chapters provides encouragement for budding Christian writers to continue in their work, instruction in the craft of writing, and instruction in the basics of the Christian writing business.Contributors include Jerry B. Jenkins, Jerry Brecheisen, Liz Curtis Higgs, James Scott Bell, James L. Garlow, Sally Stuart, Stan Toler, and Karen Ball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Learn from the Pros
Whatever aspect of Christian writing you're interested in, this book can help you realize your dream. This is not so much a how-to book as it is a book of insights into what it takes to get published in the discipline you choose to pursue. Highly recommended.

Good stuff!
Writers on Writing is full of tibits on how to write both fiction and nonfiction and how to get published. No matter if you are just beginning your writing career, or have been published--you can learn more about the craft of writing through reading this book.

Sound Advice from Seasoned Writers
Here's a terrific smorgasbord about different aspects of the writing business. Whether you want to write magazine articles, devotionals, fiction or nonfiction, humor or screenplays, you will gain a taste of what it takes from someone who practices this particular discipline.

The information is organized into three parts: The Writer, The Craft and The Business. Each contributor includes critical information for their subject. For me, the value of this entire book is captured in the excellent chapter from long-time fiction editor and best-selling author Karen Ball. She covers the seven editing checkpoints to ensure your story is a well-crafted as possible. While the emphasis is fiction, many nonfiction writers can also profit from the different points.

Writers at various stages in their career--beginning, intermediate or experienced--can learn from these chapters. I recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This critical look at the practice of writing church history challenges historians of Christianity to be self-consciously ecumenical in the practice of their craft. The book introduces principles defined by a community of scholars working under the auspices of he Faith and Order Working Group of the National Council of Churches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointment
My experience with Amazon on this purchase is what I have come to expect.Every step was in the orderingand receiving the product was exceptional.The product however was not really what I was looking for.Its informative but not quite what I expected.Educational ... Read more

Product Description
The twenty-seven books of the New Testament were not the only writings produced by early Christians. Nor were they the only ones to be accepted, at one time or another, as sacred Scripture. Unfortunately, nearly all the other early Christian writings have been lost or destroyed. But approximately twenty-five books written at about the same time as the New Testament have survived--books that reveal the rich diversity of early Christian views about God, Jesus, the world, salvation, ethics, and ritual practice.
This reader presents, for the first time in one volume, every Christian writing known to have been produced during the first hundred years of the church (30-130 C.E.). In addition to the New Testament itself, it includes other, noncanonical Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypses, as well as additional important writings, such as those of the Apostolic Fathers. Each text is provided in an up-to-date and readable translation (including the NRSV for the New Testament), and introduced with a succinct and incisive discussion of its author, date of composition, and overarching themes. This second edition adds The Martyrdom of Polycarp, an important text that will enhance the collection's utility in the classroom. It also features Ehrman's new, accessible translations of many of the noncanonical works and provides updated introductions that incorporate the most recent scholarship.
With an opening overview that shows how the canon of the New Testament came to be formulated--the process by which some Christian books came to be regarded as sacred Scripture whereas others came to be excluded--this accessible reader will meet the needs of students, scholars, and general readers alike. An ideal primary text for courses in the New Testament, Christian Origins, and Early Church History, it can be used in conjunction with its companion volume, the author's The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 3/e (OUP, 2003). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Resource
For me, the most interesting part are the non-NT texts.It would be nice if there was a bit more commentary and explanation, but Ehrman has a lot of other great books that fill this void.

A helpful guide but more explanatory notes would be useful
I bought this book to learn more about the events and issues of early Christianity from the actual texts that have survived from that period. The book includes up to date translations of the 27 books of the New Testament and of 26 other non canonical books which are believed to have been written within a hundred years of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There is a brief 6 page introduction on the development of early Christianty, followed by the translations themselves. These are divided into sections which are consistent with the order of the books in the New Testament itself. That is:
*Early Christian Gospels - the 4 New Testament books followed by eight others
* Early Christian Acts - Acts of the Apostles followed by two other writings
* Early Christian Letters attributed to Paul - the 13 canonical epistles plus one other epistle
* General Epistles & Other early Christian writings - the 8 canonical epistles plus 13 others
* Early Christian Apcalypses - Revelations plus 2 other much loved apocalpytic books of the early period

Each book is provided with a brief introduction describing the content and purpose of the book, and identifying the purported author and probable date of its writing. The 27 books of the New Testament are from the New Revised Standard version Bible of 1989, while 17 of the 26 non canonical books are translations by the author himself. 8 books are from the Apocryphal New Testament translated by J K Elliott and published in 1993, and one, the Gospel of Thomas, is from the Nag Hammadi Library translated by Thomas Lambdin and published in 1988.

My reactions in reading this book are decidedly mixed. On the one hand, I wanted something which was readable, which it certainly is, and I certainly wanted to read the texts which were unfamiliar to me and to gain some understanding of the context of the times in which they were written. But on the other hand, I also wanted some explanation of what it was that I was reading. This book was certainly successful in illuminating my mind on the first goal, but much less so on the second. Perhaps I should have chosen one of the other books by Professor Ehrman - either "The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings" or perhaps "Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into the New Testament".

Be that it may, I certainly got many benefits from reading the book. In order to understand what I was reading, I really had to read the books from a different perspective. For example, I had never noted the many similarities and differences in the Gospels and in the Epistles before, with respect to the events as well as the issues which the Apostles had to address in establishing the new faith in the cities of the Middle East, Asia Minor, and other parts of the Roman Empire, and I had never really properly absorbed the content of Revelations. I found it absolutely necessary to have my own Bible close at hand, and to develop a workfile on my PC to summarize the content of each book, to list the people mentioned in these books, and to check the text of biblical quotations against the actual text in the books to which they were supposed to refer. In this last item, I was surprised at the extent to which many quotations differed from the original.

My motivation for this approach was that I wanted to understand the development of early Christianity in the context of what had gone before, particularly with respect to Mosaic Law, and the messages of the Prophets. I also wanted to understand more on how the early church interpreted the actual sayings of Jesus Christ, and how these were further developed by the later institutions of Christianity, since it seems to me that His message of love and forgiveness is rather different from the preaching (and actions in the name of Christ) of the historical and modern institutions of Christianity, be they Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, or Protestant denominations.

I would have liked to have read something more about the provenance of these books, particularly the non-canonical ones, but the introductions did not cover that particular topic. I would have liked to see some titles and headings for the chapters and various sections within the chapters - but the book did not provide that either. I would have also liked to have seen notes on some of the hidden meanings of the more obscure statements within the texts. So for this information I had to go to my Jerusalem Bible for the canonical books, and to various Internet websites containing the late 19th century translations of texts of the books by the Ante-Nicene Fathers.

That turned out to be very helpful, but it did mean that I spent rather more time on reading and rereading this book than I expected. Nevertheless, I am happy I bought the book, and the translations were certainly easy to read. For those people wishing to study the surviving texts of Early Christianity, they should first decide what is the important information they wish to learn about. If it is mainly for the texts themselves, then this book certainly provides that.

New Testament Plus
Why buy a book of readings when you can buy the New Testament and get the selections there? Reason # 1 Bart Ehrman. Ehrman is an exceptional scholar, so the inclusion of his commentaries and translations is well worth the price of the book. Reason # 2. This book has more than the 27 chapters of the NT, and includes some heretofore neglected manuscripts that are not easily obtainable elsewhere (e.g., Epistle of Barnabas, Infancy Gospel of Thomas).

The Other Ehrman Anthology is Preferable
Let's suppose you already own a satisfactory copy of the canonical New Testament in English, and that you're considering this book for its ADDITIONAL material.In that case, Ehrman's "Lost Scriptures," at two-thirds the price or less, contains the same texts (plus a couple dozen extra texts), with the exception only of Ignatius, Polycarp, and the fragments of Papias.

If Ignatius and Polycarp are too sore a loss for you to bear, use the money you save to grab Ehrman's "The Apostolic Fathers: Volume I" (Loeb Classical Library, bilingual Greek-English edition).If you want a COMPLETE text of the Shepherd of Hermas, you'll need Volume II of the Loeb as well, since BOTH of Ehrman's English anthologies present only "extracts...representative of the whole."

ther Early Christian Writings : A Reader
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of The New Testament and Other Early Christian Writings : A Reader by Bart D. Ehrman ... Read more

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From Christianity's earliest days, seekers have looked for "theosis", or unity with God.This volume contains three of the classic texts of medieval Christian mysticism, Jacob Boehme's "The Signature of All Things", Meister Eckhart's "Sermons", and the anonymous "The Cloud of Unknowing". Introduction gives a brief history of Christian Mysticism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Exceptional Introduction to 120 Christian Classics
This is an outstanding reference book which combines the work of more than 20 religious scholars who have contributed concise review-type summaries of 120 classics of Christian spirituality.2000 years are covered, from Clement of Alexandria's The Instructor and Miscellanies (c. 190 - 200) to Gustavo Gutierrez's We Drink from Our Own Wells (1983).In between are classics from Origen, Augustine, Cassian, (Pseudo-)Dionysius, John Climacus, Hugh & Richard of St. Victor, Eckhart, Suso, Rolle, Ruysbroeck, Tauler, Catherine of Siena, Hilton, Thomas a Kempis, Luther, Ignatius Loyola, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Francis of Sales,Boehme, Baxter, Taylor, Pascal, Bunyan, Guyon, Brother Lawrence, Fox, Fenelon, Law, Edwards, Wesley, Kierkegaard, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Tereseof Lisieux, von Hugel, Underhill, G.K. Chesterton, Bonhoeffer, Thomas Kelly, A.W. Tozer, Merton, Hammarskjold, C.S. Lewis, Morton Kelsey, Richard Foster, and many, many more!This book is an invaluable introduction to the spiritual masters of Christianity and covers the classics of the three major divisions: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant.For those who cherish their reading time, a book like this helps one to discover and select books of lasting spiritual value.

Frank Magill and Ian McGreal are known for their editing of distinguished literary and religious reference works which include Masterpieces of World Literature, Masterpieces of World Philosophy, and Great Thinkers of the Eastern World (and Western World), among others. ... Read more

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Product Description
Ancient peoples regarded names as indicative of character and destiny. The Jews were no exception. All Jews descended from Jacob, who was given the name Israel. The Bible seemed to explain this name as having to do with struggle. But generations following the Bible found in Israel references to seeing God, singing, ruling, being upright, angelic qualities, and much more besides. This book examines those explanations, and attempts to show how they came to be adopted and why. ... Read more

Product Description
The Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing and Publishing provides a fresh understanding and distinctively Christian examination of style and language. It covers all the basic rules of grammar, style, and editing and will be of immediate interest to Christian writers and editors. The Little Style Guide will be cross-referenced with the Chicago Manual of Style, Fifteenth Edition and will be a welcome companion to the CMS in handling concerns that are unique to Christian writing and editing.

The burgeoning field of electronic publishing has greatly increased the number of Christian writers. In the U.S. alone, there are over 500 Christian writers conferences and guilds each year. The Little Style Guide will serve the needs of the largest publishing houses and their authors and editors along with the smallest churches who weekly publish a newsletter and communicate through a Web site. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Writing Resource
It is a simple book that gives some insight on christian writing and publishing. I felt it covered more on the writing aspects than publishing. Editing resource too.

Keep this Solid Reference Book Nearby
If you want to be prepared for the unexpected while working on your Christian writing, then pick up this well-done reference book and keep it close at hand. It's true what they say about any type of printed work--the devil is in the details. This book provides you with the details for excellence.

Len and Carolyn Goss have spent years inside different publishing companies and write with authority about the details of publishing. Whether you are wondering how a book is produced or questioning some tricky spellings of words, this reference book is easy to use.

Recommended for every Christian writer and editor--whether you are working on your church newsletter or writing your next best-selling book or editing a regional church magazine. I believe the work in this book will stand the test of time--provided the public reads it and uses it.

Concise and thorough
As a psych undergrad I was taught the APA style of writing and citation. Law school exposed me to the Harvard BlueBook, a high standard for formats and citations that only added to the nervousness of the school experience. Recently a Christian publisher accepted a manuscript I submitted. The publisher's criteria for submission stated that the manuscript must conform to Goss' style guide. Although Goss' guide is not as extensive as either the APA format or the Harvard BlueBook, I find it a very useful tool. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to submit articles or manuscripts to pulishers of Christian materials.

Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing Hits the Mark
This little guide for Christian writers is quickly becoming my new best friend. Packed full of useful information, I keep it handy whenever I'm writing. As a quick resource for proper punctuation, it's the tops. And, what I find most beneficial is the section "Writing for Religious Publishers" -- great detailed information to help me succeed.
Brenda Berry-Rucker ... Read more

Product Description
Good writing "doesn't just happen," say the authors. It takes work and a basic understanding of rhetorical situations. "Whatever our goals, we want readers to be affected by our writing," they assert. "The work of writing clarifies who we are in relation to both God and the world about us."In the World equips readers to become better writers. It also introduces quality writing with over forty classic and contemporary selections from numerous writers, including Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, John Donne, Henri Nouwen, Walter Wangerin Jr., and Charles Darwin. This second edition contains a completely updated and revised rhetoric section and added contemporary essays that represent a broad range of ethnicity, gender, and point of view. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

The Other Book is better for Christian Writing
This book gave some insight and examples of other christian writing. It only had great information and insight in the beginning chapter (introduction). The rest was a waste of buying and only could have gotten their other book on christian writing and publishing.

Helpful Tool
This is a very helpful little tool to help aspiring writers cut through the underbrush that clogs the way to publishers and actually seeing your manuscript in print! I found it an important guide.

A good, illuminating read
This book is so good that I read all 250 pages in two sittings.It is for beginners and gives information aimed at them which includes the common mistakes to avoid your first time.

If you want to know how to contact publishers, buy "Christian Writers Market Guide" which has about 600 pages of information aboutpublishers and how to reach them.It also has a CD so that you can do searches of the book.

A "little" handbook indeed
I bought this book and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Christian Writing" at the same time and read this one first.Good thing I did, because I'd have been horribly disappointed if I had first read "Complete Idiot's Guide" -- which is jam-packed with details, how-to's, checklists, suggestions, personal stories, and reminders about keeping God at the center.Compared to the other book, this one seems thin, even in its advice on how to connect successfully with publishers.Not that it's horrible; it's not bad at all.But if you can only afford one book on Christian writing/getting published, this isn't the one.

Superb resource
If you are a writer--Christian or otherwise--you will find something you need in this book.It is stuffed with ideas, encouragement, and know-how.I wish I'd had it ten years ago! ... Read more

Product Description

This year's volume brings together an elegant and engaging array of essays by Christian luminaries tackling relevant issues. These writers distill the riches of belief into lucid explorations of faith and truth, reflecting the many dimensions of Christianity in the new millennium.

The big-name writers in the collection include Jean Bethke Elshtain writing on "Abraham Lincoln and the Last Best Hope," Harvey Cox's essay "The Market As God" (originally published in The Atlantic Monthly), and Eugene Peterson on "Wise Teachers, Sound Teaching." Unfortunately, this anthology leans toward the theological, with only a few essays sustaining a hearty personal narrative. As a result, some readers may find the overall package a little dry. However, connoisseurs of Christian writing will recognize the merits of these well-crafted and provocative essays. In fact, the anthology's strength lies in a very satisfying and familiar formula--one that has always worked for successful sermon writing--linking biblical stories with a smattering of personal anecdotes and then applying them to our collective modern dilemmas. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

mixed bunch
There is no real surprise that this is a mixed bag of pieces. There are some really good ones, some really, really good ones, but there are also a lot of dull or pointless pieces. A lot of it comes across as dry,but hey, it is still worth the price. And it is a debut collection, and these always get better as time goes and the editor and others become more experienced.

Outstanding Writings by Various Christians
I took this book with me on a spiritual retreat hoping for fresh perspectives, inspiring insights and good, to great, writing. I was not disappointed. The book delivered essays that I would not have otherwise read. Many essays gave me pensive perspectives and prompted me to consider worlds that hithertofore did not exist.

Some of the selections are provocative; they shun being "politically correct" (Read Gilbert Meilaender's essay: After Sept. 11th.). John Wilson's, the editor, selections are broad and cover subjects that probably would have escaped your attention (Paul Elie's 'The Last Catholic Writer in America' for example).

The title of this book pressed me to ask two provocative questions: "What constitutes 'BEST' , and what constitutes 'CHRISTIAN'?.

Editors strive, one would think, for clarity among multiplicity. However, John Wilson says nothing about his criteria for selecting the 'Best' 'Christian' essays. He chooses, and the reader is to accept, in a "fundamentalist" way (without questioning) his discernment.

I wanted to know how Wilson determines what is 'best'? The very word, 'best', by itself, implies a critical comparative judgement. Did Wilson, in his selections, hold these writers to the stellar scale of such 'Christian' writers as: Origin, Augustine, Luther, Bunyan, Kierkegarrd, Schweitzer, Bart, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien or Brueggemann (to name just a few)? Nothing is said.

Then there is the significance of the heavy laden word 'Christian'. I consider myself one (though others would contest this assertion). The word 'Christian' has substantial implications. To most in North America, 'Christian' implies, at the very least, a moral and spiritual value system. However, every 'Christian' tradition has a different take on this. Which tradition does Wilson tap for his guiding standards? Maybe Greek Orthodox? Catholic? Primitive Baptist? Pentecostal? Presbyterian? Lutheran? Episcopalian? Congregational? Unitarian Universalist? Or the Metropolitan Church? Nothing is said.

Also you read the various essays with no specific destination in focus. Normally, "Christian" writing exists to cause one to reflect, or consider, moral or spiritual issues. Most "Christian" writing has an agenda and often presses the question, "How shall we live" as 'Christian'? In this book, with its diverse subjects, you finish the book as you would a good bowl of vegetable soup, satisfied but without a sense of any distinct flavor.

Maybe a more accurate title for this book, maybe: 'Outstanding Writings by Various Christians 2002' I strongly recommend the twenty two essays in this for those who want a devotional that will take them outside of their norm. 4.5 stars

A mixed bag, as expected
It's difficult to review an anthology-type book like this because the quality (or, more precisely, the usefulness) of the articles vary greatly. The great majority of the essays included, although interesting, cannot be considered life-changing. But one essay, in my opinion, is worth the price of the book. "Jesus the Logician" by Dallas Willard could change (and enhance) the way one looks at the central figure of Christianity. Expounding on a theme introduced in his brilliant book "The Divine Conspiracy", namely, that Jesus is the most intelligent person who ever lived, Willard explores Jesus' use of rigorous logic, especially when answering the queries of his opponents. Indeed, a logical analysis of Jesus' sayings can be the key to their proper interpretation. To me, this article stands head and shoulders above the others.

Other worthwhile essays by other authors include "Wise Teachers, Sound Teaching", "Surprised by Death" and "The Market as God". Other entries, of which "The Recovery of Moral Agency?" is a good example, seem dry and difficult. Everyone will have their favorites in this collection, and normally such a mixed bag would earn this book three stars. But the Dallas Willard article gives this anthology a boost to the next level. ... Read more