October 08

 Manga Bible                                                                        BS197 TYN M

by Tyndale House Publishers

Reviewed by: Gan Kam Yuin

‘Manga’ is a Japanese word referring to comics and print cartoons.  Many of us would have seen or read manga at some point, as manga has spread quickly around the world, particularly in the last two decades.

If you are entertaining visions of a ‘manga-mangled’ Bible, do not worry.  This Manga Bible is actually a ‘normal’ New Living Translation of the Bible.  The New Living Translation was first published in 1996.

The ‘manga-ness’ of the Manga Bible comes in the three discrete sections of manga inserted in the Manga Bible.  The first section tells of creation, the fall of Man, Noah, the Tower of Babel and Abraham.  The second section starts with Moses and the exodus from Egypt, ending with the fall of Jerusalem.  The third section is about the birth of Jesus, his work and life on earth, and ends of course with the crucifixion, the resurrection and the Great Commission.

Naturally, the manga sections are visually arresting and very entertaining.  I think the Manga Bible could be a good way to catch the attention of someone who might be reluctant to read the Bible but is too old for an illustrated children's Bible.

THE BAIT OF SATAN                                                               BV4647 FOR.B 

Your response determines your future

John Bevere                                                               

Reviewed by Mr Philip Poh Heo Hock

                                                   

“The issue of offense is often the most difficult obstacle an individual must face and overcome…it is not a question of opportunity to be offended, but what your response will be.  It is an unfortunate fact that not some but many are offended and help captive…often those who are offended do not even realize they are trapped.  They are oblivious to their condition because they are so focused on the wrong that was done to them.  They are in denial. ,” so declares the author in the opening pages of his book.  “God has spoken to my heart…,many will be set free, healed, and restored as they read this book and obey the Spirit’s prompting to them…this revealed word will bring a great liberty to your life and ministry.”

 

John’s writing style is “in your face”.  Picture if you can, a man bellowing into the microphone and thumping the rostrum as he speaks.  He quotes chapter and verse from the Bible and hurls them at you relentlessly. He sharpens his points with the Biblical accounts of several “heroes”: Joseph, the one who should have a grudge against God and his brothers as he found himself in slavery and in the dungeons of the Pharaoh; David, the one anointed to be king of Israel, but found himself being chased from wilderness to wilderness, cave to cave, a man without a country; and Simon Peter, the one disciple who declares that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” and then found himself sifted as wheat. 

 

Over all this, John paints an eschatological backdrop.  To be offended is a feature of the season of Christ’s Second Coming.  The offended build walls to safeguard their hearts and prevent future wounds.  They live in fear of more hurt.  They open their lives only to those they believe are on their side.  This prison of offence sets patterns of reasoning and the love of God in humanity erodes.  It is gradually replaced with a “selfish love that is easily disappointed when our expectations are not met”. In the end, even God is filtered out.

 

The book ends with John setting out the foundation of how to break out from that prison: forgiveness, growing in the knowledge of God’s love, and reconciliation.  The latest edition of the book, which is the 10^th anniversary edition, carries a set of 30 daily devotions to help the reader “discover God’s plan for handling offences”. 

 

I may not agree the way John approached the issue in this book.  But the issue of “being offended” is real and I will recommend this book as a means to understand what it is.  No one is immune from it.  I have experienced it.  I have felt its impact on relationships, in society, through generations.  It is true that “we often judge ourselves by our intentions and everyone else by their actions”.  I have experienced the power and release of forgiveness, and I have struggled with the objective of reconciliation – especially when the offence is not my fault. Meanwhile, it is still so easy for me to be offended again, finding myself at the start of another cycle of coming to terms with it, and deciding to break away from being stunted in my growth in God’s love for others.