I recently read So What's the Difference? by Fritz Ridenour. The subtitle of the book does a great job of describing what this book is:

A LOOK AT 20 WORLDVIEWS, FAITHS AND RELIGIONS AND HOW THEY COMPARE TO CHRISTIANITY

It should be made clear, and Ridenour does early in the book, that by "Christianity" he means a Bible based, Evangelical Protestant form of Christianity. The author and I have the same understanding of what it correctly means to be a true Christian.

What this book does well is give a cursory overview of various religions while comparing and contrasting them with Biblical Christianity. None of his overviews were enough to quench curiosity about any views, but the book makes a great starting point for futher study. It also does a good job of making the reader aware that there are so many different ways of looking at the world.

A good book to read along with So What's the Difference? would be James Sire's The Universe Next Door .

When I finished this book, I found myself want to read what Ridenour would say in a book about the differences between the Protestant denominations. Unfortunately, it appears he has not written such a book. I would alo like to read a book on the similarities or points of agreement between Biblical Christianity as defined by Ridenour and Roman Catholicism.

Little Faith: The Child of the Toy Stall (Classic Fiction)

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

I read this book to my younger children at bedtime. They are seven and nine years old. They both enjoyed this simple book that encouraged them to think about faith in Jesus. Is Jesus really capable of answering prayers? Does he really care about little children? Steeped in Biblical Christianity, this book gives a clear "yes." The author's intent cannot be misunderstood. Don't worry. Give it to the Lord in prayer and leave it up to him.

Some negatives in this book:

• There is also a clear message that any consumption of alcohol will lead a person down a spiral of addiction. Clearly this isn't Biblical but rather reflects the personal or denominational views of the author.
• The book is predictable. This makes it boring for the parent. On the other hand, I think young children find that comforting.
• Some of the language is from 19th century Great Britain so it can be a bit unclear at times. Not enough so to interfere with the story, though.

If you have young children and want an easy book to read to them with Biblical values, this one is recommended.

The Lightlings
by R.C. Sproul

As I read The Lightlings by R.C. Sproul to two of my children, I felt myself critically thinking that it was uninspired and predictable. I thought of comparisons with some of Max Lucado's writings and that The Lightlings didn't hold up. My opinion of the book changed when I asked my kids what they though. They answered, "It was great!"

I was reading the book through the critical eyes of a man, not the wonderous eyes of a child. That was my mistake, not Sproul's. The Lightlings is a simple, clear telling of the story of creation, sin, and redemption. In a few brief, wonderfully illustrated pages Sproul clearly states the central themes of orthodox Christian thought.

A great addition to the story is the set of discussion questions at the end. Sproul quotes key Bible passages to read to children for checking their answers! This book facilitated a theological discussion with my seven and nine year olds. Any book that makes it this easy to check their understanding is an invaluable resource.

If your children are 5-10 years old, this is a book that I recommend.

Eternity in Their Hearts
by Don Richardson

In Eternity in the Hearts, Don Richardson brings to life several examples of people or cultures who before any contact with the Bible or missionaries had traditions, visions, or dreams that prepared them to recieve the Gospel of Jesus Christ eagerly when it was finally presented to them. Richardson wrote this to encouage Christians to respond to the Great Commision and shows that it wasn't an afterthought by Jesus in his last moments with his apostles. Rather, it is a key thread throughout both the Old and New Testament.

Unfortunately, at times Richardson writes presumptiously. He ascribes thoughts to people that he can't know but rather is assuming.

This is an easy book to read and mostly enjoyable. The last few chapters began to sound redundant as did Richardson's frequent plugs for an "upcoming volume." Never the less, this is a worthwhile book.