Ministry Book Review

In Half Moon: Henry Hudson and the Voyage that Redrew the Map of the New World, author Douglas Hunter retells the voyage that launched Henry Hudson into the history books. Running a rebellious expedition, Hudson took his crew across the Atlantic in hopes of discovering a direct route to the Orient. His trip to North America included exploring the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, greater New York area, and an extended trip up the Hudson River, all the way to present day Albany. While he never found a direct route to Asia, Hudson’s observations on the area of present day New York proved a catalyst for European traders to send more expeditions, ultimately leading to a permanent settlement.

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In Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, author James Swanson sheds light on the ending to one of the most important events in our nation’s history: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The book is a fast-paced narrative of the twelve day chase for John Wilkes Booth and his coconspirators in the Lincoln assassination. Featuring great details about Booth’s planning and implementation of the murder, Swanson fully engages the reader in the events, both from Booth’s perspective and those seeking to find him. He also does a fine job of capturing the emotions of the people involved: the fugitives and their sympathizers, War Secretary Stanton – the de facto head of the manhunt, and the nation as a whole. (more…)

In Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to The Passion of the Christ, author Stephen Nichols takes a look at Christology of American Evangelicals throughout the years. Simply put, Nichols explains that how we view Christ today is based on how previous generations of American Evangelicals viewed Christ.

In the first four chapters, Nichols looks at the Christology from several groups influential Americans, groups such as the New England Puritans, the Founding Fathers, and the 20th-century Evangelicals who combated liberalism. (more…)