Teenagers often feel left out, like a nobody with no future. For that reason, the story of Jabez (whose mother named him "pain") should be relevant and appealing. From this unpleasant beginning, Jabez came to receive many blessings from God. In this book, Dr. Wilkinson makes the case that if God is there for unpopular nobodies like Jabez, He must be there for all of us!

Dr. Wilkinson has a nice manner for speaking to teenagers. He recalls his own thoughts and hopes during the teenage years. He also relates stories of how teenagers have made an enormous difference for God in assisting adults and other teens. Suddenly, you will feel like someone is talking to you who cares about you, as God does.

"This little book starts with everything we put in the original, bestselling The Prayer of Jabez . . . ." " . . . [T]hen we ask the question: If God wanted to change the world with a teenager like you, how would He want you to pray?"

The challenge also goes out in this form: "Are you ready to do one thing that could change the rest of your life?"

As much as the Bible teaches me, I find that I learn even more by hearing about the interpretations that others make of the Bible. Those interpretations are most beneficial when they include witnessing one's own experiences. Dr. Wilkinson has provided us with many soulful insights from 30 years of reciting a little-noticed Old Testament prayer in this inspiring book.

One reason that it is nice to hear what others say about the Bible is that some of them read Hebrew, which I do not. Knowing what the original text said should provide more clues to its precise meaning. Dr. Wilkinson has provided insights from the Hebrew texts to help us understand what the translations mean.

The Prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10 following a brief introduction of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9. This text is in the middle of a long list of about 500 Hebrew names beginning with Adam in providing a geneology. The casual Bible reader might never notice this material.

Since there is so little text, the plain meaning of what is found here can certainly be confusing. "Jabez" means "pain" in Hebrew. Jabez was named this by his mother "Because I bore him in pain." Since almost all babies bring pain to their mothers, it is hard to know exactly what was different about Jabez, if anything.

In this book, there is a nice emphasis on the special problems a teenager would have if his name was Pain.

Jabez is remembered for having his prayer answered. The prayer was: "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"

Dr. Wilkinson provides several perspectives on this prayer that added much to my understanding of the Scripture. First, Mr. Wilkinson interprets this as meaning that the person praying is asking to play a bigger role in achieving God's purposes. That was a new thought for me. I tend to feel that each of us is kept pretty busy trying to do God's will in whatever roles we already have. How can we do more? Obviously, only with God's help. By taking on even larger roles, we probably move closer to a state of humility by knowing that we cannot possibly succeed without Divine guidance and assistance. So what seems like a prideful thing actually turns out to be the opposite. What is your reaction to that?

Second, I was startled a few years ago to hear a group of rabbis and ministers talk about how the traditional concept of the moral life was to never be tempted. I feel tempted all of the time, and overcome temptations only after sincere struggles. Dr. Wilkinson points out that the best way to avoid evil is not to be tempted in the first place. "Without temptation, we will not sin." So this text encouraged me to ask even more for being kept away from evil. Naturally, the Lord's Prayer does that, but this important point had been partially lost on me until I read this book.

Beyond those Biblical insights, I also learned from Mr. Wilkinson's experiences. He takes on big tasks, uses the Jabez prayer, and keeps track of how things work out. I, too, believe in the power of prayer. It had never occurred to me to keep a journal about my experiences with prayer. I am sure that there is much to be learned.

My own interpretation of the book and the prayer is that it is just another example of God's listening to and answering our prayers. So I felt encouraged to pray, rather than to use only this specific prayer. I did find myself revising some prayers that I am fond of to incorporate elements of the Jabez prayer.

There is a good section that points out that today we can also call on Jesus and the Holy Spirit, which were not available to Jabez.

Dr. Wilkinson also sets a good example that I intend to follow. He walks up to strangers and says, "How can I help you?" Now, I do that with people who call me on the telephone and people I work with. It had never occurred to me to do so with strangers, but it is probably more helpful with strangers. I look forward to the experiences I will have as a result.

If you are like me, it will be hard to tell where Biblical interpretation ends and witnessing begins in this book. I'm not sure it's all that important to draw a line between them. The key thing is to feel closer to God and God's wisdom and love. I certainly did after reading The Prayer of Jabez for Teens.

The book ends with a fine study guide that contains the big ideas of each chapter and some questions for bringing the lessons home to each reader.

I pray that you and your family will too! What else can you pray for that may serve God's purposes in more ways that you have not considered before?

I read this book only 2 days ago. I can ALREADY start to see changes in my life.
You can too!
If you want to grow closer with God, and experience more miracles, read this book!
5 simple words: This book is awesome!

A friend of mine gave me "The Prayer of Jabez" and told me it is one of the best books she ever read. So I read the book expecting big things, and big things I got! This book told me that God wants to give us what we want and if we ask we will get it. I loved how the book made me forget that asking for what we truly desire is not selfish. This book made me pray harder for my greatest desire: to be a Christian singer and show people the light in the dark when there appears to be no way out. That is what I want to do for God. So read this book and be greatly inspired by a little man with the right idea!

In Being Real, Bruce Scott reminds me of the magic of living. Unlike many books that leave me awed but somehow discouraged by the gap to my own life, Being Real is inspiring because it feels so close, so encouraging for my own experiences and perceptions. Bruce Scott's story is personal--he speaks from his heart, from inside his own struggles and confusion...and the fire of awareness that comes from there. Through his own journey, he takes the not-so-fantastic stuff of everyday life--relationships, odd encounters, dreams and the environment--and reveals its absolutely fantastic nature. Out of sleep-walking comes the magic of daring to follow yourself, your body, curiously discovering what that humble wisdom is all about. This book is a radical living practice, touching me deeply. In fact, Bruce's book is a star on the map for me, saving my life by saying through the "crazy" is the magic is the real. Thank you.

I wondered, as I contemplated what to write, how much if any I should reveal about my personal relationship to the author of Being Real, Bruce Scott. I quickly realized it is not important. What is important is that reading his book affirmed many of my own most sacred beliefs. I live in the body of a "minority" person and have had numerous experiences that lie outside the perihery of the mainstream. I have sought through many channels ways to affirm and support my existence in the world. The words and experiences contained within the pages of Being Real: An Ongoing Decision often had the effect of bringing me home to a place I know in my most sacred self. There were many times I felt relieved to have words put to some of my innermost thoughts about myself and the world I live in. Bruce has a deft way of uncovering the myriad ways in which we indidually and collectively limit and repress that force in us which wants to live and and do so fully. This book is a must if you believe that we have yet to tap our collective potential. That potential can only be realized as we individually risk, as often as we are capable, being real. Real with our intuitions, body sensations and that still small voice knocking at the door of our hearts to bring us more compassion for ourselves and others. Bruce Scott's book is a signpost on that path. Do yourself a favor. Read it and share it with others.

"A commitment to Being Real will allow the unraveling of all influences that limit our own creative life forces." So begins the author, Bruce Scott, as he takes us along on his journey in Being Real: An Ongoing Decision. From the first page to the last, rich insights abound revealing essential truths about what it is to be aware, to be present in the moment, to be real, to be at home within yourself.

Being Real: An Ongoing Decision is one of those rare books that is both an amazing adventure to read beginning to end, and is an ongoing resource of insight and inspiration. You can turn to any page and find genuine guidance. What begins as an adventure into Bruce Scotts experience, perception and authority, becomes a touchstone to our own journey, our own authority.

I read this book in wonderment of the wisdom of Bruce Scott. I write this review in gratitude for being shown that I, that we all, possess our own inner wisdom, and how we can access it through our awareness and willingness... to be real.

In the past it seems companies have built crisis plans around tangible assets of the company and how to deal with the media while failing to tend to the very heart of the company- its employees. Bruce Blythe's book carefully prepares managers how to deal with their employees when the unthinkable happens. Blindsided also serves as an excellect reference to guide managers through the stages necessary to prepare for crisis situations. Every manager owes it to thier employees to read this book and be able to respond when a crisis strikes.

Mr. Blythe has taken a complex subject and provided managers with a practical, cutting edge guide for the management of a crisis. He takes the reader through a process that addresses crisis management from a planning & preparedness stage through the use of response services. This book is a "must read" for all managers - new or experienced with the topic.

In our current times of economic, social and political uncertainty, being prepared to respond to the "human side" of a crisis can only be a win-win solution for a business as well as its employees. Mr. Blythe's book is a excellent resource for executing a crisis response in the workplace as well as a guide to developing a crisis preparedness plan. The book isn't cluttered with theory that needs to be "wadded through" in order to get to practical information. The manner in which the book is organized provides managers with a step-by-step process for both crisis response and crisis preparedness. The insights he provides from his experiences in the corporate world were very helpful. Many other books only examine crisis response, in Blindsided, Mr. Blythe not only gives the nuances of how to respond after a crisis, but provides useful information and challenging questions in designing a preparedness plan. His message of being proactive rather than reactive rings true for any business that truly doesn't want to be blindsided.

FF Bruce does a great job of explaining how the books of the Bible were canonized. I was surprised to learn how many people had different opinions on which books should be canonized. Many people had mized feelings about the book of Revelation because of it being a difficult book to understand. Others felt that James should not be included because it only mentions the name of Jesus twice. Similarly, the books of esther and Song of Songs in the Old Testament barely made it in.

And right up to the present day, there are those who feel that the Apocrypha should be included in the canon of Scripture, and the Roman Catholic church regards them as such today.

Bruce takes the time to discuss individual theologians such as Jerome, Origen, Tertullian, Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, Athanasius, and many others and whenever possible, he furnishes their choices for books whoch were deemed fit for the canon of Scripture. Apparently, Athansius' trip to Rome in 350 AD was decisive for helping the western church decide on the 27 books of the New Testament that we now have today. Before this, they were hedging on Hebrews, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Revelation, James and 2 and 3 John.

The book concludes with a couple of the author's lectures on the subect of the secret gospel of Mark (which he rejects) and the difference between the plenary meaning of scripture and the meaning in context.

Bruce is a great biblical scholar, and The Canon of Scripture is an excellent book. He deals with the historicity/veracity of both the Old and New Testament documents and why our Bible can be trusted today. Not a book to be skimmed, Bruce concentrates on early church history, showing the background of how our Bible came to be, all the way through the age of printing. His conclusion and 2 appendices are also very valuable. I might suggest "From God to Us" by Geisler/Nix as well as Bruce's "Are the New Testament Documents Reliable?" as additional sources. I am glad to have read this book and have a better understanding of textual criticism.

How did the books of the Bible come to be recognized as Holy Scripture? Who decided what the shape of the canon should be? What were the criteria that influenced these decisions? If you don't know the answers to these important questions, you can! And there is no better book to read than this scholarly classic by F.F. Bruce.

Bruce Ellig has earned the reputation as one of the best corporate executive compensation practicioners and innovators in America. This book will be a valuable reference for compensation professionals and those inerested in the hows and whys of U.S. executive compensation practices.

This volume provides comprehensive information for understanding the issues involved in developing a sound executive compensation package that blends all elements, while taking into account government regulations, tax law, organization and executive needs, and the rewarding of performance. The author provides a framework for the subject and chapters devoted to: performance measurement and standards; current versus deferred compensation; the stakeholders; salary; benefits and perquisites; short-term and long-term incentives; design and communication considerations; and board of directors. Appendices cover selected: laws; internal revenue code sections; revenue rulings; SEC actions; and accounting interpretations. This is an exceptionally rich and accessible work. A list of about one-hundred definitions and formulas of financial measurements is just one feature that reveals the depth and quality of this book. Very highly recommended.

Bruce Ellig has done it again. This is an outstanding reference source for those interested in executive compensation issues.

We're just glad this book is back in print for all to enjoy! With first editions now selling for over $200, it's great to see the 2nd edition just in time for Disneyland's 45th Anniversary. The story of Walt Disney and Disneyland is told through the history of Disneyland souvenir postcards from 1955 thru the present. Bruce Gordon and David Mumford are to be commended for this true labor of love. The book is jam packed with hundreds of color and black & white photos (as well as images of the original Disneyland postcards); and the accompanying text accurately tells the story of Walt Disney's creative vision for a new form of family entertainment. Beautifully bound and printed with quality materials. A fascinating read from cover to cover! Bravo!

The Nickel Tour is ostensibly a pictorial tour of Disneyland's history through a presentation of every postcard the Park has ever offered. However it is so much more. Written by Walt Disney Imagineers Bruce Gordon and David Mumford, the books gives fans a glimpse behind the scenes of both Disneyland and its development wing- Imagineering. Want to know when an attraction opened? It's in there. Want to know the history of that attraction? It's in there. How about "what might have been"? Yup, it's in there too. If you are fan of Disneyland, or just Disney, you will love this book. The writing is fantastic, the images wonderful, and the inside info is priceless.

If you're a fan of Disneyland and it's history, then this book is a must! I was astounded by the scope of this work, and the attention to detail. It covers Disneyland from it's beginnings in the early 50's to the present day with individual "stories" about the different aspects of the park. Accompaning these "stories" are hundreds of rare photos and artwork along with the postcards the book is named after. This is a definite must have book for fans of the California park.

"Mr. Lincoln's Army" is the first volume in Bruce Catton's celebrated trilogy chronicling the history of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, one of the most exciting war narratives in literature. Catton had grown up in Michigan around men who had served in that Army and these books were his attempt "to find out about the things which the veterans never discussed." Catton relies on a host of source material to weave his tales, from autobiographies of Generals McClellan and Howard, to the correspondence of Generals Sedgwick and Meade, to dozens of soldiers' reminiscences and regimental histories, to military histories relating to specific battles, campaign, military tactics and weapons. As you read these books you are always feel that you are dealing with living literature rather than dead history. This is because Catton privileges "The Diary of an Enlisted Man" by Lawrence Van Alstyne and the history of "The 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion" more than he does "McClellan's Own Story."

"Mr. Lincoln's Army" covers the Army of the Potomac from its creation to the Battle of Antietam. Despite the title the central figure in the book is General George B. McClellan, the war's most paradoxical figure who gave this Army the training it needed to become a first rate military unit and who then refused to use the great army he had created. There are 6 sections to the book: (1) "Picture-Book War" actually covers the events in 1862 that led to McClellan being placed back in charge of the Army of the Potomac, setting up a rather ironic perspective for what happens both before and after that decision; (2) "The Young General" provides the background on McClellan and details his formation of the Army; (3) "The Era of Suspicion" covers the ill-fated Peninsula Campaign; (4) "An Army on the March" centers on the Second Battle of Manassas/Bull Run when the Army was under John Pope; (5) "Opportunity Knocks Three Times" begins with the great intelligence coup of the Civil War, the discovery of Lee's Special Order No. 191 and establishes how the upcoming battle was handed to McClellan on a silver plate; (6) "Never Call Retreat" tells the story of how McClellan snatched defeat--or at least a bloody tie--from the jaws of victory.

Bruce Catton's books on the Civil War are eminently readable, and with his History of the Army of the Potomac he finds his perfect level, writing about the men who were the common soldiers as much if not more than he does about the generals and politicians. You certainly get the feeling his heart was in these volumes more than it was in his larger histories of the Civil War. For those who are well versed in the grand details of the war, these books provide a more intimate perspective on those great battles.

As other reviewers have mentioned, Bruce Catton is considered to be one of the best authors to read if you are interested in the Civil War. Despite many recommendations from others I had not read any of Catton's books until now. Having just finished Mr. Lincoln's Army, I can finally understand why Mr. Catton has received so many accolades (to include the Pulitzer prize). This book is an outstanding introduction to General McClellan, and the Army he commanded.

I truly enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the writing style is excellent. This book is not boring history (facts, figures, hyposthesis, conclusion). Instead, Catton tells the interesting story of what happened to the Federal Army from the beginning of the war up until the battle of Antietam. The book reads more like a good novel, than a history text book. Having read many Civil War authors, I would put Catton in the top category.

Secondly, Catton includes many observations and stories from the everyday soldier which add vivid details to events as they unfold. His description of the Battle of Antietam comes alive when he includes descriptions of what the men who fought actually saw and experienced. I learned a lot and gained new insight into many events which speaks volumes to the quality of this book, considering it was written back in the 1950s.

Lastly, Catton stays focused on his topic and does not try to cover too much material. The book is about the Union Army, so he does not waste time getting into too many details about what was happening on the Confederate side. I enjoyed this perspective because Catton succesfully answers the question of why the Union Army could not defeat the Confederates early in the war, despite the great advantage of resources that it possessed.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil War. Whether you are a "Civil War Buff", or just trying to find out more about this pivotal event in American history, you will enjoy this book.

Bruce Catton is, in my opinion, the most readable author of American Civil War history. Whenever I've labored through some book I wanted to read but have struggled with, I reward myself with something he has written. This trilogy is, as all his work is, thoroughly researched and very balanced. It would be hard to detect any bias in this native Michiganer of the first half of the 20th century, though I vaguely suspect he had more sympathy for the South, if only for the "pluck" (he likes that word in fact) of their "David vs. Goliath" undertaking. In any case, this first volume delivers a very important message in a very complete way, and it's a message I had never before considered: The Army of the Potomac's loyalty to the government was never compromised, but it was fretted about in some pretty high places, perhaps not the least important of which was in the White House. So completely was this Grand Army made in the image of its creator, McClellan, that his removal gave cause for many to hold their collective breath and pray that it would remain intact and loyal to the Union once stripped of its beloved leader. That it did, and the rest, as they say, is history. McClellan is thoroughly understood by the reader of this work. He is a man of some complexity and some sympathy, diminished by his ego perhaps. Despite many lost opportunities that would have made the war much shorter and correspondingly less bloody, he was a good soldier caught between military logic and political caution. In fact, Catton points out to us that never before had there been a general of a great army of a democracy, and that that arrangement itself is tenuous at best. In the end, we understand that the Army of the Potomac was Lincoln's Army for just as long as he remained the Commander-in-Chief, and despite their love for McClellan, they always stood ready to do what was asked of them.

If F. Scott Fitzgerald had been a satirical cartoonist, half of this book would be the result. The real author used to be an automobile advertisement illustrator in the '50s, which accounts for the other half of the book. See, what the other reviewers were laughing too hard to explain, is that this is a book of spoof illustrations, taken from various publications. Blueblood nostalgia for the Jazz Age is sent up in gags on conspicuous consumption like "Indoor Golf", "Autogiro Jousting" and such. The clever, name-dropping text of those pieces is very funny, also. The auto ad gags feature parodies of 1950s layouts, featuring vehicles that look like they came off the proverbial wedding cake, and double-talking sales copy, like "...with twin-lock dual-fade brakes!" Anyone who's read old copies of Popular Science will scream at the parody of the articles (the automatic nose-blowing device) and the ads (I quit, boss! There's plenty more money in ACCORDION REPAIR these days!) included here. It's hard to believe that the author of this, well, zany book is the same as the author of the painful memoir _Thin Ice: Coming of Age in Canada._ Get this book by hook or by crook!

I've had this book since 1978 and still take a look at it now and then. It's a happy pill for folks who might be feeling low. I always show zany to friends who might be depressed. Usually works. If you really look at it, you could believe that some of the things in this book were fantastic,failed inventions! Has Bruce McCall written more books like this? A few people I know want to get a copy of "Zany" "Humour makes the world go round" I think my favorite from this book is " the desiel typewriter" but there's many greats in here.

If you are visiting this item in the Amazon.com online catalogue, then something special brought you here. You already know of the book, perhaps already own it, and you want to see what other say about it -- or you know nothing about it. If the latter is the case, something lucky and/or magic brought you here, and you owe it to yourself to BUY THIS BOOK NOW. Maybe you heard some snippet about it, or glanced at a copy while visiting a friend. Whatever the case, SOMETHING in your psyche drew you to this fantastic volume of fantasy and art, and you absolutely need to have a copy in your home. People drawn to Zany Afternoons, regardless of the reason, have bigger, funnier, more open and creative minds than everyone else in the world, and the common bond we all share is the book itself. Detachable pants cuffs, five-in-one food paste, tank polo -- these are the creative/artistic concepts embraced by those of us who have been chosen by nature to live on Earth and put the "life" in "lifetime." If you're here, buy it now. You'll know why, after it arrives.

A gorgeous book that's as interesting and informative as it is beautiful. While reading Caribbean Elegance, I found myself transported back in time to an era when sugar was king and great fortunes in the Caribbean facilitated a style both elegant and sensual. This is a fascinating account of a pivotal period in history as reflected through the style of the furniture.

Caribbean Elegance, how the title is only the tip of what lies between the cover as it is such a wonderful book to always have at hands reach for small mind vacations after a long day of work! The author has done a fantastic job of educating one about the Caribbean islands' history as well as the furniture. It is the only book that lives on my coffee table, and every person that visits is sure to pick it up and become mesmerized by the writing and captivated by the photographs! It is impossible to not fall madly in love with this amazing find of a book! It is so easy to read be it that the author is obviously passionate about his work, as he leaves the reader feeling the island warmth from his detailed writings of Caribbean history. The photographs are so well placed, and beautiful! What a tasteful, well written, and charming book! Well done!! One must be careful though, as you will be sure to want your house filled with Caribbean antiques as I am now doing!

As a writer, I was impressed by the quality of the prose, and as a researcher, I appreciated the wealth of information Connors has managed to succinctly convey to give readers a good understanding of the history and other forces shaping this stunning style of furniture. To top off the intellectual feast, we get delicious and evocative photographs which make us feel we are actually there in these beautiful homes on the gorgeous islands of the Caribbean.

With all the press the historical critical people get these days, it is so good to have such as Bruce to offer as a scholarly option.

This learned man writes of the NT Canon, how it came it be, on what basis and by whom.

What Bruce outlines the rest of the way is not the faith in what the NT documents proclaim, but rather the historicity of the documents themselves.

Here is where prejudice plays in for too many of our time. The NT documents themselves are very historically reliable. More so, as Bruce points out, than many every learned person would not fail to believe in, such as Julius Caesar, etc. Using these same historicity standards, Bruce debunks such myths and presupposed opposition.

Believing them as personal truth is one thing; to deny or change their historicity, low down scholarly dishonesty. Nice intro to the subject; serious students will want to go on into the isagogics of each book. Valuable to have in one's library!

This book deals with the question of whether the events recorded in it are historical (i.e. did they actually happen)? As such, the primary focus of the book is on the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and Acts (tells the first 30 or so years of Christianity). This book does not address the existence of God, evolution or other apologetic topics; it deals specifically with the New Testament from the perspective of a historian.

Bruce starts the book with an Introduction, which shows that Christianity depends on certain historical events; it is not an ethical system or a metaphysical system first. It is the Gospel; that Jesus was born, did and said certain things, died and was resurrected.

Often when one reads about the evidence for the New Testament, it is very general. In this book, that is not the case. For example, in the chapter, "The Writings of Luke," Bruce mentions how Luke knew specific titles of Roman officials and why this is significant. Bruce also examines the Gentile (i.e. non-Jewish) evidence regarding early Christianity and Jesus. He cites Tacitus, Suetonius and a letter of Pliny the Younger. In the chapter on Early Jewish Writings, Bruce examines what little the Talmud says about Jesus and then goes into more depth about Flavius Josephus; Bruce investigates the idea that Christians have edited Josephus. The chapter, "More Archaeological Evidence," was probably the most interesting chapter for me in this book. It discusses specific finds that have a bearing on the New Testament and I had not previously encountered most of them in other apologetic works. Bruce does note one of the difficulties of finding New Testament Jerusalem sites. The Romans destroyed the city in 70 A.D. and a pagan city was rebuilt in its place in 135 A.D.; so it is surprising that anything is found.

Bruce also discusses the evidence regarding what happened in Acts 14:12 where the people of Lystra wrongly think that Paul and Barnabus are the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes. Bruce discusses the background to this and puts this curious event in its proper historical context. At the close of the chapter, Bruce very briefly looks at the so-called "Gospel of Thomas" and says it shows Gnostic influence but that the reader should look to other works for a discussion and evaluation.

Bruce, of course, deals with the Gospels at great length. I found this section the most difficult to go through; it just seemed very boring to read about the textual history of the Gospels. He does cover the Synoptic Problem and the Gospel of John as well. I think Bruce also makes a good point with his chapter about the Apostle Paul; several details about Jesus are known from Paul's writings which are independent, earlier and in agreement with the Gospels (e.g. Jesus is a descendent of David, was betrayed, endured the Roman punishment of crucifixion and instituted a memorial meal of bread and wine etc..).

The one drawback with reprinting a book originally published in 1943 is that many of the works that Bruce cites or footnotes are old. There are many works quoted from that were published from 1900-1950 and these books are difficult to look up if you want further information. However, Bruce partially makes up for this with his "Suggestions for Further Reading," at the end of the book which has works published in the 1960's-1970's.

I would recommend this book to someone who has the interest and patience to get into the New Testament and history; I don't think I would call it a popular level work but if you want information about the New Testament, this 12

This is an elightening read. It has allowed me to have more confidence when I read the Christian Bible. I now feel confident that I can explain to interested others the basis for believing that the text we now have is the same message as preached by the first century Christians. Regardless of whether you believe what these people preached, there can be no doubt that we know what they preached after reading this book. Bruce (1910-1990) was for many years prior to his death the Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester in England. Based on the claim that Chrisitanity is an historical revelation, he felt justified to look at the foundation documents from a standpoint of historical criticism. Perhaps it is impossible to prove beyond any doubt the authenticity of these documents. Bruce does show that "the grounds for accepting the New Testament as trustworthy compared favourably with the grounds on which classical students accepted the authenticity and credibility of many ancient documents" If you are interested in fortifying your spiritual relationship by understanding the historical trustworthiness of the Gospel Tradition, this book will be interesting to you.