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Rating: 
Summary: Another great book in the Joshua series
Review: Great and I really loved, "Joshua and the Parable." It's a great book well worth reading for all ages. It deserves many many stars.
Rating:
Summary: Another great book in the Joshua series
Review: Great and I really loved, "Joshua and the Parable." It's a great book well worth reading for all ages. It deserves many many stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Not timeless, but thought-provoking
Review: Inside the book jacket of this book it's stated that "Girzone revives the timeless messages behind the original parables by 'dressing them in modern clothes,' presenting them through Joshua in a conversational style that will resonate with a modern audience." However these parables are not timeless. I expected parables that had the same messages as those in the Bible but with contemporary situations. Mr. Girzone goes beyond that to parables about such contemporary issues as gay marriage, the exploitation of the environment, evolution, violence in the media, and the admission of female and married priests to the Catholic church. These parables do not seem as faithful to the Bible nor as universal as the stories he has previously written about Joshua. The parables more clearly reflect Mr. Girzone's distinct political and religious views. While I agree with some of these opinions and disagree with others, I really am uncomfortable reading these as the teachings of Joshua who is supposed to be a modern reflection of Jesus. I am most disturbed by the characterization of the people who will be admitted into heaven. In "The Parable of the Faithful Nonbeliever," a person who has had a good life, but did not have faith in God will, nevertheless, receive a heavenly reward. In "The Parable of the Two Brothers," a man who lived a selfish life that was of little value to God goes to heaven because of his brother's earnest prayers. This theology of going to heaven without faith is not Biblical, contrary to what Jesus taught, and dangerously wrong. We do not go to heaven by our good works or by others' prayers. According to the Bible, Christ died for our sins on the cross. As he rose from the dead to have eternal life, so will those who repent of their sins, accept God's forgiveness, and live faithfully in Christ. Not all of these parables are so erroneous and controversial. Some are true to the teachings of Jesus. For example, "The Parable of the Coal and the Diamond" illustrates how God can transform suffering. In several parables, people who seem unworthy are valued highly by God. It is very unfortunate that all the parables in this book were not written in the spirit of Christ.
Rating:
Summary: Not timeless, but thought-provoking
Review: Inside the book jacket of this book it's stated that "Girzone revives the timeless messages behind the original parables by 'dressing them in modern clothes,' presenting them through Joshua in a conversational style that will resonate with a modern audience." However these parables are not timeless. I expected parables that had the same messages as those in the Bible but with contemporary situations. Mr. Girzone goes beyond that to parables about such contemporary issues as gay marriage, the exploitation of the environment, evolution, violence in the media, and the admission of female and married priests to the Catholic church. These parables do not seem as faithful to the Bible nor as universal as the stories he has previously written about Joshua. The parables more clearly reflect Mr. Girzone's distinct political and religious views. While I agree with some of these opinions and disagree with others, I really am uncomfortable reading these as the teachings of Joshua who is supposed to be a modern reflection of Jesus. I am most disturbed by the characterization of the people who will be admitted into heaven. In "The Parable of the Faithful Nonbeliever," a person who has had a good life, but did not have faith in God will, nevertheless, receive a heavenly reward. In "The Parable of the Two Brothers," a man who lived a selfish life that was of little value to God goes to heaven because of his brother's earnest prayers. This theology of going to heaven without faith is not Biblical, contrary to what Jesus taught, and dangerously wrong. We do not go to heaven by our good works or by others' prayers. According to the Bible, Christ died for our sins on the cross. As he rose from the dead to have eternal life, so will those who repent of their sins, accept God's forgiveness, and live faithfully in Christ. Not all of these parables are so erroneous and controversial. Some are true to the teachings of Jesus. For example, "The Parable of the Coal and the Diamond" illustrates how God can transform suffering. In several parables, people who seem unworthy are valued highly by God. It is very unfortunate that all the parables in this book were not written in the spirit of Christ.
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