All You Want To Know About The Bible In Pop Culture by Kevin Harvey

Synopsis: Somehow, it's hard to picture pop culture and Christianity going hand-in-hand, but maybe we simply aren't looking at things the right way. "All You Want to Know About the Bible in Pop Culture" reveals places where readers may be surprised to find redeeming values and gospel messages in today's movies, music, popular TV shows, and much more!

When you look closely, past the outrageous outfits and the antics of teen pop-sensations, it's easy to see that from the big screen to the small screen and right down to the radio waves, God and His stories are still prevalent in pop culture today. There are movies and television shows that speak eternal truth, reality show families who represent believers well, even fictional Christians portrayed in a positive light. And if you listen closely, musicians are still conversing with God as the original songwriters of the Bible did. For the reader searching for meaning in media today, "All You Want to Know About the Bible in Pop Culture "is the perfect choice.

Features include:
Fun Bible-based facts and trivia questions

Examples of biblical messages from current TV shows, films, and pop songs

A casual and engaging resource 

Review: I was fascinated by the premise of this book. Finding God in pop culture might make it easier to spread the message to non-believers, after all.  Unfortunately, most of the book was just too far-fetched for me to get behind.  Comparing Superman to Jesus? Give me a break!!!

By the time I finished, I felt as though the author were writing in an attempt to "Christianize" television shows and movies which he enjoys, rather than showing actual ways they relate to the Bible or our faith.

The fact is, we can enjoy some pop culture just for BEING pop culture, without it needing to have religious connotations.

I received a copy of this book from BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Rating: Four stars

The Church Of Mercy: A Vision For Church, Pope Francis

Synopsis: In the year since he was elected, Pope Francis simple message of mercy, service, and renewal has spread to every corner of the world. Through his gentle demeanor, selfless actions, and welcoming call for service to others, he has captured the attention of a world longing for an authentic message of hope we want to hear what he has to say.

Collected from Pope Francis speeches, homilies, and papers presented during the first year of his papacy, "The Church of Mercy" is the first Vatican-authorized book detailing his vision for the Catholic Church. From how to be citizens of the world to answering God s call for evangelization, Pope Francis deep wisdom reminds us that the Church must move beyond its own walls and joyfully take God s mercy wherever suffering, division, or injustice exists.

Named "Time" magazine s 2013 Person of the Year, Pope Francis is helping the Church continue toward an authentic Christianity that is faithful to the Gospel and resonant with the world s greatest needs. "The Church of Mercy" encourages each of us to ignite the flame within to help share the light of Christ and revitalize the Church."

Thoughts: An inspirational collection of homilies and speeches from the first year of the papacy of Francis. It was fascinating for me to listen to his vision of mercy, and how Christians should be spreading it around the world. 

Helping the poor and downtrodden is a huge service that the Pope pushes (for lack of a better word). Not getting caught up in money or things. I appreciated the sections about trying to get the hypocrisy out of the church so people respect the Catholic church again (which could also apply to "the church" in general, not just Catholics). Getting rid of gossip among the parishioners. These are all things everyone can work on to improve everyone's lives.

My Rating:  Four Stars

Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story Of His Trip To Heaven And Back, by Todd Burpo, Sonja Burpo, and Colton Burpo

Synopsis: A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to Heaven.

Heaven Is For Real is the true story of the four-year-old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters Heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each other. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and His chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from Heaven to help us.

Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is Heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Thoughts: This is actually a re-read for me. I read this a while ago, but wanted to have it fresher in my head before I see the movie. There are so many emotionally touching movies in this book, and so much that is thought-provoking. I can hardly wait to see the movie!!!