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Book reviews for "Stevens,_Paul" sorted by average review score:

Five Views on Apologetics
Published in Paperback by Zondervan (01 February, 2000)
Authors: Steven B. Cowan, Stanley N. Gundry, William Lane Craig, Paul D. Feinberg, Kelly James Clark, John Frame, and Gary Habermas
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Can't we all just NOT get along?
This book is one in Zondervan's Counterpoints Series, which presents the view of various (mostly) Evangelical writers on theological subjects. This book is sorely needed because Evangelical apologists have had a history of writing critically and polemically of one another (one thinks of the Clark/Van Til debate), with the result of the layman having a difficult time deciding among the various positions.

The problem with this book is either that the writers are too timid or are more irenic than their label would indicate. There are three authors who present variations on the traditional approach: the classical method (Craig), the evidential method (Habermas), and the cumulative case method (Feinberg). These approaches are quite similar, although some differences do arise. When the reader gets to John Frame's presuppositional method, he expects to get a starkly different approach. After all, Van Til was notorious for attacking "traditional" apologetics as "Roman Catholic" or "Arminian." Well, Frame tells us that he agrees with most of what Craig writes. The final writer, Kelly James Clark (who represents the "Reformed epistemological method"), says the same thing.

Perhaps the editor could have selected a follower of Gordon Clark (a rationalist who denied the proofs of God's existence) or a fideist to present a contrasting apologetic method.

A good overview of the options for apologetics specialists
Few books have seriously tackled apologetic method, or how Christianity should be defended rationally. The last book I know of that surveyed options in this regard was Gordon Lewis, "Testing Christianity's Truth Claims" (Moody Press, 1976; republished by University Press of America).

This book presents five different approaches, each represented by one of its exponents: Classical Apologetics (William Lane Craig), Evidentialism (Gary Habermas), Culumulative Case Method (Paul Feinberg), Presuppositionalism (John Frame), and Reformed Epistemology (Kelly James Clark).

Much ground is covered concerning the Bible's approach to apologetics, where apologetic arguments should begin, how certain arguments for Christianity are, and so on. I will simply make a few comments.

The presentations by Craig and Habermas are the most worthwhile because they are the most intellectual rigorous and well-documented. They also tend to agree with each on most things and reinforce each others views. While I tend to favor a cumulative case method (influenced by E.J. Carnell and Francis Schaeffer, but with more appreciation for natural theology), Feinberg's comments are the weakest by far. He never mentions the leading exponent of this view in our generation (Carnell) nor Carnell's apt and well-published student (and my esteemed colleague), Dr. Gordon Lewis. Not one word about either one! His comments are brief, his documentation is thin, and he fails to advance anything very creative or helpful, I'm afraid. A better person should have been chosen, such as Gordon Lewis. Frame gives his "kinder, gentler" version of Cornelius Van Til, which still suffers from the same kinds of problems--most notably the fallacy of begging the question in favor of Christianity. Nevertheless, the notion of a "transcendental argument" for theism is a good one, but it should not carry all the weight of apologetics. Clark's material is philosophically well-informed (one would expect this of a student of Alvin Plantinga!), but apologetically timid. Clark almost sounds like a skeptic at times.

A few bones more bones to pick. The editor refers to Francis Schaeffer as a presuppositionalist. This is false; he was a verificationist with more in common with Carnell than with Van Til. Gordon Lewis's fine essay on Schaeffer's apologetic method in "Reflections on Francis Schaeffer" makes this very clear. None of the writers address the great apologetic resources found in Blaise Pascal. I also found at least two grammatical errors.

Nevertheless, as a professor of philosophy at a theological seminary who teaches apologetics, I found this volume very helpful and useful. But let's not get so involved in methodological concerns that we fail to go out in the world and defend our Christian faith as objectively true, existentially vital, and rationally compelling (Jude 3)!

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy Denver Seminary

Best Book Comparing the Various Methods Available
I got my copy from Amazon a few weeks ago and the day I received it I could not put it down. This is a wonderful text. The book covers five various apologetic methods from five well known scholars who promulgate and defend each of their own views. Moreover, once each of these five scholars have written why they use a particular method, the other four have an opportunity to respond. The responses are by far the best part of the book. However, the actual essays that cover the five methods give the reader a better grasp on that particular method. This book is helpful in several ways. First, it provides the reader a fairly exhaustive treatment of each of the various apologetic methods. Second, it allows the reader to actually see what proponents of the each of the various methods are saying about each of the other methods. Third, it includes some of the best, if not the best, scholars in each of the various methodologies covered. The contributors include, William Lane Craig (Classical Method), Gary R. Habermas (Evidential Method), Kelly James Clark (Reformed Epistemological Method), Paul D. Feinberg (Cumulative Method), and John M. Frame (Presuppositional Method). The only downside to the book that I can see is the idea that some may think that their particular method was not accurately covered by the scholar at hand. In other words, the Presuppositionalists may wonder why John Frame was used instead of someone else, etc. However, I believe that each method was given a fair assessment and the initial essays with the responses will make the book a wonderful reference for many years to come.


Chemical Principles
Published in Hardcover by Houghton Mifflin Company (1995)
Authors: Steven S. Zumdahl and Paul B. Kelter
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Good and bad
The main strength of the book is its large amount of interesting and largely error-free problems. Unfortunately, some of the more advanced material isn't really well explained. A good example is the book's coverage of particle-in-a-box: it's covered well enough for a beginning student to solve some problems, but without the more thorough follow up you get in a quantum class, you're just pushing symbols. The same goes for many of the other, somewhat more advanced topics in the book - MO theory, gas dynamics, etc.

It may have made pchem and inorganic a little easier, but it made for frustrating reading at the time.

good book for review
this is a good basic book if you forgot about your chemistry. it provides good examples to guide you.

Information
This book is the current book for Chemistry 107 at the University of Illinois, taught by none other than Professor Zumdahl. Tthe book is very good for a college accelerated class. Clear examples.


Nightkill
Published in Mass Market Paperback by St. Martin's Press (1999)
Authors: F. Paul Wilson, Steven Spruill, and Steve Lyon
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Same old story
NIGHTKILL is a novel about a sniper for the Mob, who gets set-up, paralyzed and recovers through a "new" surgery, and enacts revenge against one of the players of the Mob. It is marketed as a medical thriller, but believe me, it's a thriller with an emphasis on some horrible outcomes. Jake Nacht is a sniper for the Mob. After 17 successive kills, he is set-up, shot and paralyzed by a crooked cop, who is in on the set-up. While recovering, Jake meets Angel, a beautiful nurse whos uncle just happens to be on the verge of a successful new surgery to fix paralysis. After the surgery Jake goes on a revenge mission to get who set him up. In the process Jake falls in love with Angel, who is now being held hostage by the bad guy. As you can tell by my synopsis, its kind of a paint-by-numbers scenario. Everything is familiar and done by rote. This is not to say that the book is unenjoyable. Far from it. It's full of action sequences but the main problem is there are no surprises...everything IS as it seems and we are just awaiting the final shoot of so we can move on to the next book on the shelves. Not a very distinguishing book. Not recommended.

An Excellent Read
A very fast paced book, Jake is a character with whom i expect to see several sequals, I`d rate the character to have the ability to compete with a Dirk Pitt,Lucas Davenport,and a John Becker......Need i say More...

REAL FAST-PACE BOOK AS FAST AS AN ACCELLERATED HEARTBEAT
BROS., THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY WORTH YOUR TIME. JAKE NACHT IS THE BEST HIT MAN IN THE WORLD OF FICTION AND DESERVES TO BE READ. YOU SHOULD ALL SEE THE STRUGGLING FIGHT FOR LIFE AND DEATH BY JAKE NACHT. A REAL FAST-PACED BOOK THAT'S SURE TO KEEP YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEATS. HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS FOLKS THIS IS A BOOK THAT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY.


The Best Test Preparation for the Ftce: Florida Teacher Certification Examination-Professional Education Test
Published in Paperback by Research & Education Assn (1999)
Authors: Julienne H. Empric, Erin Spanier-Evers, Christine Hudak, Paul Linnehan, Judy Downs-Lombardi, Donald E. Orlosky, Gail M. Platt, Gail Rae, Sally Stevens, and Christine Zardecki
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You'll need this book...
This book is a valuable tool for those taking the FTCE.It reviews every competency you'll need to know for this exam, including a neat summary of the basic psychological theories at the beginning of the book. I took this exam in 1998 without any prep book like this available and I did pass the exam.This book tells you the pass score needed. At the outset I was thrown by the questions, but the strategy I adapted apparently payed off.Going in, all I had to prepare me was the skimpy test booklet provided by the State of Florida certification division. But if you're really serious about getting through this exam at the first go, then this book is a must. I am now using this book as a tutoring aid when I coach others for this rather quirky exam.One quick hint for test-takers: this particular exam's questions are best answered by the process of elimination.Good luck!


The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity: An A-To-Z Guide to Following Christ in Every Aspect of Life
Published in Paperback by Intervarsity Press (1998)
Authors: Robert J. Banks and R. Paul Stevens
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A remarkable work of incredible scope
I have heard Paul Stevens speak and was impressed by his incredible wealth of knowledge. I am pleased to see that he and Robert Banks have got together to share this knowledge with believers in the massive compendium of interesting articles.

More than just a series of issues the authors want to speak on, they have brought many well known Christians together to write on everything from politics to masturbation, technology to rest, and celebration to even chocolate! Some of the topics are done somewhat tongue in cheek, but they help a Christian understand that the Christian life is to be lived in everything around them, that it applies to all aspects of life.

This is a great reference book for those who are leading Bible studies, asked to comment on something or who have their own questions about certain issues. It is helpful to get a person's though processes going.

Of course, the problem with this is that, though huge, it cannot hope to be exhaustive. Moreover, in doing as much as it has, it rarely explores an issue in depth. Its intent, though, I think was met: it helps the Christian to see that Christ is truly Lord of ALL.


German-Jewish History in Modern Times
Published in Hardcover by Columbia University Press (15 April, 1998)
Authors: Deutsch-Judische Geschichte in Der Neuzeit. English, Steven Lowenstein, Paul R. Mendes-Flohr, and Monika Richarz
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Informative
An informative collection of articles about the place of Jews in German society during a period of rapid social and economic change. Excellent chapters by Monika Richarz on demographics, occupational distribution and social structure illuminate distinctively Jewish patterns and contributions within the economy while her chapter on Jewish women detail the extraordinary involvement of Jewish women in medicine and social welfare. Peter Pulzer's chapter on the role of Jews in drafting many of Germany's legal codes is interesting, as is Steven Lowenstein's chapter on Jewish participation in German culture. Personally, however, I believe Lowenstein's attribution of Jewish intellectual and cultural efflorescence during this period to their marginal status in German society, while valid, underrates the important strands of continuity between religious and secular forms of socialization among Jews.


Item Response Theory for Psychologists (Multivariate Applications Book Series.)
Published in Hardcover by Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc (15 August, 2000)
Authors: Susan E. Embretson, Steven Paul Reise, and Steve Reise
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Good intro
The book does a good job of introducing IRT. The best chapters are the explainations of parameter estimation (i.e., maximization methods). The only bad part is that they do not adequetly discuss DIF of CAT.


The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work, and Ministry in Biblical Perspective
Published in Paperback by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (2000)
Author: R. Paul Stevens
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The book that will underpin the marketplace movement!
I bought this book on the recommendation from a friend. I have been looking for a book that would give a theological framework to what is now called the "marketplace movement". I was also looking for a book to encourage bussiness people and university students that their "work" is of real significance to God. I have not been dissapointed.

What is significant about "The Other Six days" is it's approach. This is not a popular critque of the seperation between work and worship, mission and ministry, clergy and laity. Instead it reconstructs a unifying theology welling up out of scripture, flowing out of the Trininty providing a paradigm of vocation, work, ministry and mission as an intergrated whole. The outcome is all the people of God participate in the Trinities work, mission and ministry.

The book is broken into three parts. Part 1 A people without "Laity and Clergy" Part 2 Summoned and equipped by God and Part 3 For the life of the world.

Each part traces ideas down through the church`s history which now discolour our thinking and practice on the issues addressed. Secondly the contemporary context is explored. The author then gets under the skin of these issues through sound biblical exgesis and an applied theology of the Trinity.

What resulted for me is a dynamic new way of understanding "calling" , work, ministry and mission. It has revitalised my understanding of the church and its work in society.

I found the discussion questions at the end of each chapter to be excellent. There are readings to examine, contemporary case studies to explore, situations to evaluate and examples to analyse. These are excellent for group or individual study, reflection and interaction.

If you are wanting to explore further the issues the book has raised the author provides a fantastic selected bibliograhy, index of authors, biblical references and subjects. The footnotes also provde a rich source for further research.

Overall I'm deeply impacted by the thought, devotion and reflection which has gone into this book. I fully recommend it to anyone wanting to grapple with the intergration of faith and daily life.


Quirky Tails
Published in Paperback by Chivers Audio Books (2000)
Authors: Paul Jennings and Steven Pacey
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The great book
This is a great book to read for you children or the children read it themselves.I love this book its a a couple of Paul Jennings great stoies and i have realy enjoyed it and i hope you enjoy it aswell.

1 Sneeze 'coffin 2 Santa claws 3 A dozon bloomin' roses 4 Tonsil eye 'Tis and 5 more great stores


The Attorney
Published in Audio CD by John Curley & Assoc (2000)
Authors: Steven Paul Martini, Willian Dufris, Steve Martini, and William Dufris
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A little too long, with big plot holes at the end.
Martini was wise to go back to his "bread and butter" protagonist, Paul Madriani. I always enjoyed this character and I was dismayed at such books as Martini's "Critical Mass," in which Martini discarded both Madriani and the legal thriller genre. Much of "The Attorney" is exciting and compelling. Paul Madriani, the hero of the title, tries to help Jonah Hale, an older man who has made a great deal of money in a lottery. Hale's granddaughter is missing, along with her drug-addicted mother. Along the way, Madriani encounters complications relating to his lover, Susan, who works with abused children, and Paul is nearly killed by a Mexican drug lord. Eventually, a key characters is murdered and Paul is the defendant's attorney at trial. As always, Martini is very good at writing courtroom sequences. As compelling as some of these courtroom scenes are, the book drags on for over 400 pages. The most problematic element of the book, however, is the tacked-on ending. Martini loves surprise endings. He delivers the surprise at the very end of the book and it simply does not hold water. There are plot holes at the end that are enormous and the author never plugs up the holes. I still enjoyed much of the book, but Martini should be more careful in making the plot more coherent. Surprise endings work only when they make sense.

Welcome return of Paul Madriani
Steve Martini has finally returned to his Paul Madriani series and not a moment too soon. Paul, and his law partner, Harry Hinds, are two of the most endearing characters in any legal thriller. While "The Attorney" does not measure up to previous Martini books like "Undue Influence", it is still a worthwhile read.

Paul and his daughter move to southern California to be closer to Paul's new girlfriend, and Harry follows to set up a new practice there. Paul is soon retained by Jonah Hale to help find Jonah's granddaughter who was snatched from his custody by Jonah's daughter. What seems to be a clear-cut, if not easily resolved case soon escalates to murder and Paul decides to represent Jonah in court.

There are excellent descriptions of Paul's southern California locale, right down to certain street names. This tediousness detracts from the action somewhat. But like some of the other reviews noted, the killer is quite obvious less than halfway through the book. It is a mystery (excuse the pun) why a writer as skilled as Martini would give a clue as to the killer's identity that all but reaches out and slaps the reader across the face. This aside, "The Attorney" is tightly paced thriller that is suspenseful despite knowing who the killer is early on in the book. Martini is a writer that is among the ranks of Scott Turow and Richard North Patterson, and it is good to finally see him returning to the legal thriller genre where he writes best.

A suspenseful legal thriller.
Attorney Paul Madriani has recently moved to San Diego and set up his law practice with his partner Harry. He moved to San Diego to be closer to the woman in his life, Susan, but little does he know the trouble Susan will cause. One of his first clients in San Diego is Jonah Hale, an elderly man who won millions in the state lottery. He is the grandfather of Amanda, the 8-year-old who Jonah and his wife have been raising. Jonah's absent daughter Jessica suddenly becomes interested in parenting Amanda after Jonah wins the lottery. Jonah refuses to discuss shared custody, so Jessica resorts to Zo Suade, a militant anti-men activist who helps women abduct their children from the custodian. With Suade's help, Jessica abducts Amanda from Jonah. Jonah hires Madriani to help find his granddaughter. Suddenly there is a dead body to contend with, and Jonah is the prime suspect. Madriani must race against time to save Amanda from the drug lords who are hunting down her mother, and keep Jonah out of jail before he succumbs to an illness. This book is full of suspense, and a fun read. However, the climax comes very late in the book, and the last four or five chapters are a fast-paced attempt at tying up the loose ends and solving the mystery. I would have preferred if Martini had spread the last few chapters out more, but the "who done it" finale is superb - you may guess who did it, but not why and how.


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