Meistad carefully and fairly thoroughly picks through first Luther's interpretations and sermons based upon Matthew's "Sermon on the Mount", and then contrasts it with John Wesley's several sermons from the "Sermon on the Mount". I found it extremely helpful for my studies, although I got tired of turning pages from Luther's section to Wesley's section instead of having a side-by-side comparison of their interpretations. I would recommend reading it with "The Cost of Discipleship" (Bonhoeffer). Roughly one third to one half of it is also based on the "Sermon on the Mount" and offers a third insight, closer to Wesley's view than Luther's.

I was writing a paper for theatre history on women's entrance onto the stage, this book provided great info. for the start of my paper. It cited obscure performances by women in medival religious dramas and remained as interesting as a medival history book could remain while one is researching a paper.

We all once was, now are, or in the future will be, a newcomer of organizations. It has been less speculated, however, the meaning of entry into organization, socialization to it, and HRM policies to lessen voluntary turnover after newcomers' entry both in academia and management practices. In 1992, I had so much difficulty in writing up my dissertation on organizational socialization in terms of effective strategies to make newcomers socialized to company's culture. This book was a breakthrough; the sections of past process models of socialization and the review of Realistic Job Preview study were really helpful. After vigorous library-work afterward, I came to believe this book was perhaps the best summary on organizational entry (anticipatory socialization) and socialization. Only one that lacks may be the explanation about variety of socialization tasks (thus I rate 4-star). A handy but helpful guidebook both for academics and practitioners. Highly recommended.

This book is the best primer on Wesleyan sacramental theology that I've read. Dr. Staples presents Infant Baptism, The Lord's Supper, written Liturgical Prayers, etc. in compelling arguments based upon Biblical and Church historical research. Definately written on a post-graduate vocabulary level.

"In this valuable resource for African students and indigenous preachers and missionaries, the author explains the importance of preaching in Africa by using African historical, cultural and traditional imagery in order to communicate the gospel more effectively. This book provides insight into the value of indigenous preaching, imagery, and concepts (rather than missionary-given Western forms) and offers a vision for preaching in Africa for the next millennium." This book was the book of the week pick for CMDNet (August 12, 2001)

This book is very good, expecially for those who want to learn some queueing theory for enginerring and research in Networks. The content is comprehensive, but maybe a little difficult.

John Kent is best known for his study of nineteenth-century British revivalism, HOLDING THE FORT. In this elegant, concise study, he takes on the historiography of the late eighteenth century's so-called evangelical awakening. Kent's argument, put simply, is, first, that if the Methodists hadn't seized the day, some other group would; and second, that most of the awakening's effects have been greatly exaggerated. For Kent, Methodism represents an attempt to generate an immediate and emotional spiritual experience, the desire for which lies at the heart of all religions. Methodism's success lay in its ability to produce exactly the kind of experience desired, and not in its theological details. Indeed, Kent is sympathetic to those Anglicans who critiqued Methodism, suggesting that far from being conservative bigots, they often had a point. Kent's attitude to Wesley himself is respectful but hardly hagiographical. Other historians of English religion and politics don't always fare so well; most notably, Kent delivers several brisk slaps to Jonathan Clark, as well as to an unnamed Eamon Duffy, with the strangely cheerful acidity so unique to English academic prose.

The argument's brevity will no doubt raise more questions than it purports to answer. The proofreading could, perhaps, have used a bit more work; I suspect that the historian G. J. Barker-Benfield will be somewhat startled to discover his transformation from male to female. Overall, however, this is an engagingly pugnacious historical outing, of interest to all specialists in the history of evangelicalism, Methodism, and the Church of England.

Wesley's "Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists" is easily one of the greatest hymn books of all time. Along with the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, it is one of the glories of the English-speaking church. A simple glance at the table of contents shows the sensitivity which went into the hymn book, as the section titles present a virtual spiritual biography: it begins with hymns "Exhorting Sinners to Return to God", then describes the "Pleasantness of Religion", and its corollary, the four last things (death, judgment, hell heaven), then hymns of repentence and "for mourners convinced of sin", as well as hymns for backsliders. Finally, we come to hymns for believers, in their various struggles and joys: fighting, praying, watching, working, suffering, seeking full redemption, saved, and at last, interceding for the world. Although not included in the first edition, modern editions carry an additional "supplement" of psalms and hymns of praise. The hymns themselves include some of the best-loved hymns of the church, from hymn 1, "O for a thousand tongues to sing / My great redeemer's praise" to "Hark the herald angels sing", "Love divine, all loves excelling", and "When I survey the wondrous cross". But it also includes a number of gems that haven't made it into many modern hymn books. A few random examples: "Extended on a cursed tree / Besmeared with dust and sweat and blood / See there, the king of glory see / Sinks and expires the Son of God" (hymn 23), "Shepherd of souls, with pitying eyes / The thousands of our Israel see / To Thee in their behalf we cry / Ourselves but newly found in thee" (hymn 82), "O that I could revere / My much-offended God! / O that I could but stand in fear / Of thy afflicting rod! / If mercy cannot draw, / Thou by thy threatenings move, / And keep an abject soul in awe, / That will not yield to love" (hymn 103). Nearly every one of the 1026 hymns in the collection has something to offer, and taken in their order, they form a full body of practical divinity. The only problem I have with the book is its sometimes militant Arminianism, but Calvinists have never had problems using most of the hymns (sometimes with minor changes). Franz Hildebrandt's edition is a scholarly edition, not suited for the pew, but a valuable work for anyone wishing to study these hymns. It includes sidenotes indicating scriptural, patristic, and literary allusions in the hymns, and has an illuminating introduction. Unfortunately, the book is text-only, and doesn't include any of the great tunes in the Handel tradition which complement these hymns so well.

War Dragons was a good try from a group of writers who usually hit the mark with their novels, but this one isn't up to their usual standards. For one thing, I agree with the other reviewers that Kirk and Sulu should have had separate books. I also don't think that Sulu is really popular enough to merit his own book, but that's another topic. It took me a while to finish this book. Definitely easy to put down. I've read the first five books in the Captain's Table series, and this one is my least favorite. It's worth reading, but only if you're a real Star Trek fan. And here's a thought: Since Uhura played such a large role in this novel, why not tell the story in her voice?

The first "Star Trek" novel to be told from the first person perspective through the eyes of captains James T. Kirk and Hikaru Sulu is a treat to read. Each character takes turns telling his story and it works rather well. Graf has captured both captains well and getting to hear their takes on things is a real treat. The best part is the first half of Kirk's story that deals with his first days as captain of the Enterprise and the building of the legendary crew as a unit, working together. After that story ends, it's a rather pedestrian affair to stop insterstellar war in the movie era. However, based on the strength of Kirk's narrative in the first half of the novel, I highly recommend it.

At first, I was not sure how readable this book would be with two captains telling a story from two different perspectives. They take turns alternating between the "distant past"; the beginning of Kirk's five year mission and the "recent past"; Sulu taking command of his own ship. However, the method worked very well. The book was not only readable, but exciting and action packed. Its returns to the "present", the bar where the captains sit and tell their story, were not overused and made good transitions from one part of the story to another.The story never became disjointed. I always like when the books tie up loose ends that the series left open, and this book answered many questions about Kirk's first days of command. This is a must read for all Trek fans and especially the fans of the original series.

Nixon will always take the blame for the dishonorable acts of Dean. Read silent Coupe for the most likely truth here.

This story is quite interesting. When I first read it, during the 1970s, I bought Mr. Dean's version of events hook, line and sinker -- and boy did he suck me in. He postured himself as someone involved way over his head who ended up being, in effect, a victim. I have concluded that some of the presented details are true, and some are not. The presentation, however, is uniformly riveting.

Read additional Watergate material for a broader view and better picture. The lesson here is that you can't always believe the story which appears, at first glance, to be the most convincing.

I've never learned so much about the unseen world of politics as I have in this one book. George Stephanopolous' book pales in comparison to the amount of insight this book reveals. It's something we've known all along about government - just put into straightforward terms that everyone can understand. None of that NewSpeak politics that we hear about in the mainstream press, that limit our range of thought.

Anyone who gives this book a bad ranking is a government operative, seeking to hide information from the populace.

*A*