Rating: 
Summary: Sly New Age Book
Review: After reading this book it is apparent that a New Age Philosophy is being proposed for the salvation of mankind. The book states that we are all basically good and we will achieve a future utopia through our good works. As far as absolute truth goes, we will have to choose between Girzone's imagination or what the Bible clearly teaches. As for me, I will trust Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible.
Rating: 
Summary: I hoped this would follow in Joshua's prior footsteps...
Review: but it just didn't.While Girzone's earlier "Joshua" books left no doubt as to whom Joshua really was, neither were they the forward, subtle-as-a-ton-of-bricks parables this one is. Perhaps that was Girzone's intent: to make this millennial Joshua more of a "Gospel of John" character [who boldly asserts his identity], rather than a "Gospel of Mark" character [who guards his true identity, only to be revealed upon his resurrection]. It's hard to reconcile the two Joshuas, but, again, maybe that's the point. I was not so much offended as distracted by the very topical themes of the book. Earlier books in the series stayed away from using references to specific religious or cultural figures; this one names names (Pope John Paul II and the Church of God in Christ, for example). I found this unfortunate, as it seemed more a negative statement about them than a positive statement about the work of Jesus in the world. Prior books were fun to read over and over; I barely made it through this one the first time through. Though I appreciated the messages offered, this was not a pleasant read (as the prior books were) for me. If this is the first of the "Joshua" series you read, I would encourage you to immediately read any of the earlier ones. They are a cut above this offering, both in reading enjoyment and in the message presented.
Rating:
Summary: unfortunate turn of events for an otherwise inspiring series
Review: I have loved all the previous Joshua books. But I barely could bring myself to finish this one. Clearly it was nothing more than a justification for the catachism of the Catholic church and its blatant disregard for the Word. I understand many of origins of the Catholic churches doctrines but must object to Father Girzone's long-winded attempts to justify them in the context of this story. His insistance that this is what Jesus would say were he walking among us today approaches insulting. Previous stories uplifted and inspired, this one offended. If there were ever another Joshua book, I'd give it a try because I loved the others. But this was a total miss. If you are a dedicated Catholic who has no qualms with the doctrine, you'll love the story. Protestants who don't have opinions on the Bible will also enjoy this book. Those who believe that the Bible is a literal source of knowledge and prophecy, steer clear of this one.
Rating:
Summary: Joshua No More.
Review: I have read all the books in the Joshua series and a couple other books Joseph Girzone has written. My favorites are JOSHUA and JOSHUA AND THE CHILDREN. JOSHUA AND THE CHILDREN really moved me and affected me deeply, giving me a deeper appreciation for the finer things in life. I was really looking forward to reading JOSHUA THE HOMECOMING, the latest book in the series. What a huge disappointment! The Joshua of JOSHUA THE HOMECOMING is not the same Joshua who appears in the other books in the series. The author says he is, but he's not really. No, the Joshua in this book is really just a puppet that the author uses to express his own beliefs and philosophies, some of which are not even Biblical. Now, there's nothing wrong with an author using a character he has created to spew forth the author's beliefs. However, Joshua isn't just some character. Joshua is supposed to be Jesus. Jesus isn't just a character and he shouldn't be treated as such.What made the first few Joshua books so enjoyable, memorable, and meaningful is that Joshua was Jesus. Girzone seems to have forgotten that. Instead, Joshua has become a mouthpiece of Joseph Girzone. No longer does Joshua hide the identity of who he is, but now he lets people in on the "messianic secret" sometimes even telling them point blank who he really is. Not only that, but this Joshua claims that the Bible really isn't God-breathed but is an embellishment made by men. According to this Joshua: the claims of Christ about when the world would end aren't true and a prophecy might never reach it's fulfillment; macro-evolution is a fact of life; and we should all be blindly listening to scientists because they are the new prophets. This is just a sample of the teachings from the new Joshua. I enjoyed reading all the other Joshua books, but JOSHUA THE HOMECOMING was a struggle to get through. The book isn't very long and the language is simple, yet it drags. Instead of caring what was going on with the story, I found myself wondering how long the book was going to drag. What a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: joshua the homecoming
Review: I have read all the other Joshua books and love them. If you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of GOD then DO NOT buy this book. This book will not be kept, it will not be sold, it will be destroyed. Girzone is leading young christians on a path to question the Bible as the word of GOD.
Rating: 
Summary: Puzzling
Review: I loved the other Joshua books. I read the original about 10 times as I was interested in seeing Jesus life modeled. I was disturbed by the section in the book where doubt is placed on the word of God, claiming that "Jesus didn't tell anyone to write a book". What about where it says in Timothy that all scripture is God breathed and profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction etc. ? Girzone seems to express his beliefs in this fictional work just as LaHaye and Jenkins expressed their beliefs in the fictional works of the Left Behind series. I think it is valuable for Christians to concentrate on sharing the love of Jesus and leading others to Christ as opposed to hiding away in the hills awaiting doomsday. I was surprised that the Church of God In Christ was named in the book in a negative light. I would be interested to read material explaining the author's exact beliefs on various subjects. I also wonder if some of the things in the book were a revelation from God to the author concerning the time of the end, or just his opinion. An enjoyable read. We get to root Go Jesus ! and that's fun to do. I'll stick with the authority of scripture.
Rating: 
Summary: Still great, even if it's not the best!
Review: I too have read all of the Joshua books, and I too received this one as a Christmas present. I was excited to start reading it because of the love I have for the others. I agree with MiChal and Firstjeb that it may not be the best, but I think it was still consistent with the overall Joshua theme. As Michal says, it still stimulates thought, and every one of the Joshua books, including this one, helps me to believe that Christ is real, that He is here with us today, and that everyone of us is meant to represent Him like Joshua does. Something I enjoy about the books is that they feel almost like biographies, and even autobiographies in spots. My biggest problem with this book was that it seemed to start out more like a fictional novel. Nevertheless, it did pull me in just like the others did and had me as engrossed as ever. Worth buying for even the most critical Joshua reader!
Rating:
Summary: Confused.
Review: I was given this book to read by a friend, who loved its content and was uplifted by its story. While I do indeed agree that the path to G-d is a personal relationship, talking to Him as your "Daddy", I have real problems with other sections. The fact that the author states that there will be no "end times", that all that is happenings around us are natural events, and that as a loving father, G-d will not "play tricks on His children" is just one of the areas I cannot swallow. If this is the case then what the author seems to be saying is that the book of Revelation is a lie or fabrication. Also, the statements on pages 196 - 198 which contain references to the "Hebrew Scriptures" are insulting. He states that "most of those (the Hebrew scriptures) accounts were embellished by the storytellers. As stories were passed down from generation to generation, around the campfires, the were expanded on", and "Whenever anything happened in nature to those simple people, it was G-d who did it." I should be so lucky to be one of those "simple people" and live in the actual presence of G-d every day. Excuse me, is the author now saying that the Bible is not the inspired word of G-d? That it is as the atheists have said a fake, a fantasy? Yeshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) himself stated that nothing should be added or subtracted from G-d's word for then it would no longer be G-d's word but the work of man. The author seems to have forgotten that Yeshua himself taught from this "embellished" Hebrew Scripture or the fact that He was one of these "simple" Hebrew people. Perhaps we can gain insight as to why this man is no longer in the priesthood. G-d is indeed in control of everything and nothing is outside of His authority. But He is NOT the Good Humor Man. He is the creator. He will NOT let His creation drift too far from its creator before He steps in and makes His sovereignty known. He WILL step in, and to those who do not call upon His name, it will be frightening indeed. As it was in the time of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah. These times are not a dirty trick on His children, He has warned us in HIS book. Complete and perfect in content and meaning.
Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: I've read all of Girzone's books and this one ranks definitely at the bottom of the list. Although he did stimulate some heavy pondering on my part about the role of the bible, other than the tearjerking opening scene with the little boy this book left me flat. Since he's a retired priest I've come to expect some level of Catholic theology but in my humble albeit Protestant opinion this book went over the line. I was glad when this book was over, a first for this Girzone fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the wait.
Review: I've read all of the Joshua novels and its been some time since Joseph Girzone wrote his last one. But this new one was definitely worth the wait. It's much better than any of the stories since the first Joshua. This is a terrific book.
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