Eighty-two unusual features of the Bible are used to launch a discussion of important truths about the Word of God.

The Old Testament can seem strange and disturbing to contemporary readers. What should Christians make of Genesis 1-3, seemingly at odds with modern scientific accounts? Why does the Old Testament contain so much violence? How should Christians handle texts that give women a second-class status? Does the Old Testament contradict itself? Why are so many Psalms filled with anger and sorrow? What should we make of texts that portray God as filled with wrath? Combining pastoral insight, biblical scholarship, and a healthy dose of humility, gifted teacher and communicator Matthew Schlimm explores perennial theological questions raised by the Old Testament. He provides strategies for reading and appropriating these sacred texts, showing how the Old Testament can shape the lives of Christians today and helping them appreciate the Old Testament as a friend in faith.

Bible Oddities gives readers a plethora of unusual gems about persons, places, and events-all of which are found between the covers of the world's greatest best seller. And it does it in quiz form. It is a rich compilation of out-of-the-ordinary facts gleaned from the pages of this inspired work. For example, do you know the apostles were once accused of being drunk? Look in Acts 2:13. It happened at Pentecost! "Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine." Do you know about the man who diligently worked for seven long years in order to earn a wife? Look in Genesis 29:20. It was Jacob. "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days..." Bible Oddities will expand your knowledge of the Bible. Yet it is a fun book, as well as an educational volume. It asks questions about unusual and out of the ordinary scriptural subjects, and gives answers to them from the Bible. And for each question and answer the appropriate book, chapter and verse of Bible is provided. Thus, you can reader further in the Bible and learn even more about the person, place, thing or event associated with any question and answer in Bible Oddities.

The Bible Dilemma is a compilation of Bible verses that shows the following: 1. Historical contradictions, inconsistencies and discrepancies within the Bible and with recorded history 2. Failed promises and prophecies 3. Misquoted statements within the Bible 4. Borrowed and alluded statements within the Bible 5. Borrowed and alluded statements from non-biblical sources 6. Stories and legends similar to the Bible 7. Who are the gods mentioned in the Bible 8. The 72 names of God derived from the book of Exodus 9. The nature and character of God as depicted in the Bible 10. Scientific errors and arguments 11. Conflicting arguments within the Bible about Jesus Christ being the Messiah 12. Non-existing books or books that may have been lost through time that are mentioned in the Bible 13. What the Bible says about salvation 14. Doctrines and belief systems concerning Jesus Christ 15. Catholic dogmas about Mary 16. What the Bible says about some social issues such as divorce, incest, racism, slavery and homosexuality 17. Other topics such as the trial of Galileo, the conviction of Joan of Arc, the Liberty Bell, the Wandering Jew and the Spear of Destiny

What do you get when you mix a Bible encyclopedia with Ripley's Believe It or Not? Find out here, with dozens of intriguing readings on the strange and obscure people and events of scripture, as well as a fresh and fascinating take on some of the more familiar passages.

Proceeding from Voltaire's conclusion that "God is a comedian playing to an audience that's afraid to laugh," this book seeks to uncover some of the many instances in which biblical texts offer readers grace and insight through the divine gifts of humor, wit, and laughter. Readers are invited to take a strikingly unusual, if not unique, approach to the texts, imagining not only the voice inflections but also the body language of their narrators to capture the humorous nuances and ripples of laughter that likely attended the first telling of many biblical stories.

"In these meditations upon Scripture, the author quickly, lightly opens up the sacred text to us in a way that--to my knowledge--has never been attempted in the entire history of the Christian faith. Through irony, pun, parody, spoof, and joke he reads Scripture with tongue in cheek, a rhyme in his pen, and a smile on his face. If you ever wondered what the Bible would sound like if it were written by Ogden Nash (and who hasn't?), here it is, Charlie Barrett's religious rhymes."--William H. Willimon, acclaimed author and Dean of the Chapel emeritus, Duke University

In Estranged: Finding Hope When Your Family Falls Apart, Julie Plagens shares about her life as a child of well-known parents in full-time ministry and the hardships it puts on families to maintain an image of perfection. After many years of anger and unforgiveness, Julie and her husband walked away from the family to find healing after a life-altering health diagnosis. This is the amazing story of how God knitted a Christian family back together through a series of miracles that can only be explained by divine intervention after seven years of estrangement. This book is written for families who are struggling to get along in a healthy manner all the way to those who are experiencing a full-blown family estrangement. Julie gives her story from the perspective of an estranged adult child but also gives tips for parents and adult children who are struggling to find a connection between the two generations. Julie's mother, Joanne Ventura, wrote the afterword to help parents who are struggling with the rejection of their adult children. Estranged is unique in that it not only gives personal stories from both sides of the estrangement (which is rare), but it also gives tips to help families move towards hope and healing, even if there is never reconciliation. This is a must read for anyone dealing with shame, anger, rejection, and unforgiveness. You can find hope when your family falls apart.

“Hilarious. . . . It’s Cliff Notes for Scripture—screenplay by Plotz, story by God. . . . In the end, though, the book is made by the spirit of the writer.” — The New York Times Book Review “Like the Bible itself, Good Book contains multitudes—it is by turns thought-provoking, funny, enlightening and moving.” — A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically “Plotz is a genius writer.” — Franklin Foer, author of How Soccer Explains the World A whip-smart, laugh-out-loud tour through the most important book in the world, a book most people have never read: the Bible.