The Gospel for Muslims

If you wanted to share the gospel with Muslims, could you?

There are over three million Muslims living in the United States today. Soon, if not already, you will have Muslim neighbors and co-workers. Does the thought of reaching out to them with the gospel make you nervous? How can you effectively communicate the good news with such large theological differences? The Gospel for Muslims can help make sharing your faith easier than you think.

Thabiti Anyabwile, himself a convert from Islam to Christianity, instructs you in ways to discuss the good news of Christ with your neighbors and friends. The Gospel for Muslims allows you to focus on the people rather than the religious system. Meant for the average Christian, it is not an exhaustive apologetic or detailed comparative study of Christianity and Islam. Rather, it compellingly stirs confidence in the gospel, equipping the reader with the basics necessary to communicate clearly, boldly, and winsomely.

Thabiti Anyabwile writes a very engaging text that is personal in origins and encouraging in its results.  Anyabwile keeps the reader focus on the fact that the Gospel is the Gospel no matter the person.  He did inform me of some facts about Islam that I was not aware of that I believe makes sharing the Gospel with Muslim friends and neighbors straightforward.  I never knew the Koran states the Torah, the Psalms of David, and the Gospels are divine texts.  Anyabwile cites the Sera for every statement he makes concerning Islam.  Due to this book, I want to renew relationships I have had with Islamic neighbors that have moved.  Great book.

The Elfstones of Shannara

Ancient Evil threatens the Elves. For the Ellerys - the tree created by long-lost Elven magic - is dying, losing the Spell of Forbidding that bars the hordes of vengeful Demons from the Races of Man. Allanon, the legendary guardian of Earth, summons Wil Ohmsford to guard the Elven girl Amberle on a perilous quest as she carries a seed from the Ellerys to the mysterious Bloodfire, there to be quickened into a new Ellerys. Ravening behind them comes the Reaper, most fearsome of all Demons. Against it, Wil has only the Elfstones of Shannara - and he has lost all power to control them. Helplessly, he watches the shadow of the Reaper appear on the trail before him... Here are valiant companions, formidable foes, wonders - and the ancient mystery of how the Elves survived. Once again, Terry Brooks brings us an epic novel of wonder and adventure in this eagerly awaited sequel to his bestselling The Sword of Shannara.

After talking with my brother, this was the first book in the Shannara sires that he read.  It stands alone well.  I do not believe that is dependent upon the beginning of the series, The Sword of Shannara.  This book was Terry Brooks's second entry into the world of myth writing.  It is apparent that he had learned from his first endeavor.

This tale is a great work.  The characters are well developed.  Each has their strengths and weaknesses that are a challenge to the quest.  Brooks makes passing reference to his prior work without relying upon it.  I enjoyed this book immensely.  To me, Brooks became a writer in this work rather than a law student that needed a distraction.  I am looking forward to reading The Wishsong of Shannara.