Rating: 
Summary: Finally, the whole story of the First Century begins!
Review: Do you ever notice how Paul's letters never seem to make sense or have no flow to them? That is because they are out of order. Those letters are written by a church-planter to churches. There is a story behind each one. We have missed that story completely with the order in which we read the New Testament.In the Silas Diary, Edwards, begins to construct the story of the First Century. This book is written from the perspective of Silas and it covers Paul's first missionary journey. Edwards, has used the New Testament (in order), every other book he could find on the time, and a little imagination to construct the full story of Paul's first missionary journey. What happened when Paul went to Galatia? What was the relationship like between Paul and Barnabas? Why did John Mark go home? What were the churches like? How did they meet? Why did Paul write that outrageous letter called Galatians (the first piece of Christian literature ever penned)? Those questions and many more are answered here in this incredible book. After you read this book, you will never be able to read Galatians the same way. One should keep in mind that there is some fiction in this book. Edwards has filled in the holes where we have no idea what could have happened. He does it in a way that does not harm the history at all. This is an extremely incredible book.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, the whole story of the First Century begins!
Review: Do you ever notice how Paul's letters never seem to make sense or have no flow to them? That is because they are out of order. Those letters are written by a church-planter to churches. There is a story behind each one. We have missed that story completely with the order in which we read the New Testament. In the Silas Diary, Edwards, begins to construct the story of the First Century. This book is written from the perspective of Silas and it covers Paul's first missionary journey. Edwards, has used the New Testament (in order), every other book he could find on the time, and a little imagination to construct the full story of Paul's first missionary journey. What happened when Paul went to Galatia? What was the relationship like between Paul and Barnabas? Why did John Mark go home? What were the churches like? How did they meet? Why did Paul write that outrageous letter called Galatians (the first piece of Christian literature ever penned)? Those questions and many more are answered here in this incredible book. After you read this book, you will never be able to read Galatians the same way. One should keep in mind that there is some fiction in this book. Edwards has filled in the holes where we have no idea what could have happened. He does it in a way that does not harm the history at all. This is an extremely incredible book.
Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT PRIMER ON WHY THE OPEN CHURCH CONCEPT IS VITAL
Review: I truly relished this book when first I read it. It answered a lot of questions as to why the local churches often languished in either boredom or lack of growth...or often both! Jim Rutz has done a service to the Body of Christ in writing this informative and entertaining book. But and yet it is much more than this: It is a call for early New Testament Christian community as participatory and informal family-love relationships. If you want to get back to the roots and the "nuts and bolts" of REAL Community-Life in Christianity, read this book. It will challenge you perhaps like few others you will ever read. LenBenHear. - Seeker and teacher.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding re-look at the NT church
Review: If you are always confused why the various books of the NT particulary the Pauline epistles are written and put together, this is an excellent book to start. Reading the book is like meeting Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Timothy face to face. The biblicial characters come alive as Gene re-traced the missionary journeys of Paul. There is never a dull moment with the book. You may have read the NT many times but the book will present to you the story from the different perspective. It is so well written that surprises are in store at every (well, almost!) turn of the page. The First Century Diaries are the latest series that Gene has embarked on. Let me warn you; if you start reading this book, there are four more waiting for you. Want to know the heartbeat of a first century missionary and the blossoming of the NT churches? Read this book; you will never regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding re-look at the NT church
Review: If you are always confused why the various books of the NT particulary the Pauline epistles are written and put together, this is an excellent book to start. Reading the book is like meeting Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Timothy face to face. The biblicial characters come alive as Gene re-traced the missionary journeys of Paul. There is never a dull moment with the book. You may have read the NT many times but the book will present to you the story from the different perspective. It is so well written that surprises are in store at every (well, almost!) turn of the page. The First Century Diaries are the latest series that Gene has embarked on. Let me warn you; if you start reading this book, there are four more waiting for you. Want to know the heartbeat of a first century missionary and the blossoming of the NT churches? Read this book; you will never regret it.
Rating:
Summary: The men God used to bring the bible to life come to life
Review: It was an obscure book by an author I may have heard of. I just saw him name on a Christian fiction list and figured what the heck. This book, however, should be given to every Christian. Based of the book of Acts and events in the book of Galatians, Edwards has created a book of fiction based on events so real that I was brought to tears to read of Paul's persecution, worried over the churches in Galatia, grinned at the always loveable Peter, but more importantly was inspired to search these books of the Bible more closely and deeper than I ever have before. I am truly amazed at the men God used to spread his gospel so long ago. Edwards did a fantastic job of keeping his story in line with Bible and inspires all readers to search beyond the fiction for the truth!
Rating:
Summary: The men God used to bring the bible to life come to life
Review: It was an obscure book by an author I may have heard of. I just saw him name on a Christian fiction list and figured what the heck. This book, however, should be given to every Christian. Based of the book of Acts and events in the book of Galatians, Edwards has created a book of fiction based on events so real that I was brought to tears to read of Paul's persecution, worried over the churches in Galatia, grinned at the always loveable Peter, but more importantly was inspired to search these books of the Bible more closely and deeper than I ever have before. I am truly amazed at the men God used to spread his gospel so long ago. Edwards did a fantastic job of keeping his story in line with Bible and inspires all readers to search beyond the fiction for the truth!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Literally overnight I have become a HUGE Gene Edwards fan! The Silas Diary, like Edwards' "Revolution", is a great book. The Silas Diary differs from Revolution in that it is historical fiction. However, don't put too much emphasis on the word fiction. Drawing from the book of Acts and Galatians, Gene Edwards puts together a most fascinating account of Paul's first missionary journey. Like other reviewers have said, in reading this book, you will be able to see Paul's unquenchable thirst to see the word of God preached to the Gentiles. At times, I, myself, wonder if the Gospel was ever meant for non-Jews and Edwards revealed (through Scripture in this book) that Paul truly was called to preach the Gospel of God to the Gentiles. I am telling you, get this book!! It will so enrich the way that you understand the way the early church came into being - especially in Galatia. Even though this seems trite, Paul's first missionary journey literally comes alive in the writing style of Gene Edwards! I read this book in one sitting because it gripped me so much. I got it for a present but I would definitely buy it with my own money. Peace. ~ajm
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Literally overnight I have become a HUGE Gene Edwards fan! The Silas Diary, like Edwards' "Revolution", is a great book. The Silas Diary differs from Revolution in that it is historical fiction. However, don't put too much emphasis on the word fiction. Drawing from the book of Acts and Galatians, Gene Edwards puts together a most fascinating account of Paul's first missionary journey. Like other reviewers have said, in reading this book, you will be able to see Paul's unquenchable thirst to see the word of God preached to the Gentiles. At times, I, myself, wonder if the Gospel was ever meant for non-Jews and Edwards revealed (through Scripture in this book) that Paul truly was called to preach the Gospel of God to the Gentiles. I am telling you, get this book!! It will so enrich the way that you understand the way the early church came into being - especially in Galatia. Even though this seems trite, Paul's first missionary journey literally comes alive in the writing style of Gene Edwards! I read this book in one sitting because it gripped me so much. I got it for a present but I would definitely buy it with my own money. Peace. ~ajm
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Literally overnight I have become a HUGE Gene Edwards fan! The Silas Diary, like Edwards' "Revolution", is a great book. The Silas Diary differs from Revolution in that it is historical fiction. However, don't put too much emphasis on the word fiction. Drawing from the book of Acts and Galatians, Gene Edwards puts together a most fascinating account of Paul's first missionary journey. Like other reviewers have said, in reading this book, you will be able to see Paul's unquenchable thirst to see the word of God preached to the Gentiles. At times, I, myself, wonder if the Gospel was ever meant for non-Jews and Edwards revealed (through Scripture in this book) that Paul truly was called to preach the Gospel of God to the Gentiles. I am telling you, get this book!! It will so enrich the way that you understand the way the early church came into being - especially in Galatia. Even though this seems trite, Paul's first missionary journey literally comes alive in the writing style of Gene Edwards! I read this book in one sitting because it gripped me so much. I got it for a present but I would definitely buy it with my own money. Peace. ~ajm
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