Contemporary Christian Books

The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture for Fans & Bands

Henry Owings, Patton Oswalt

Amazon Price: $14.35 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Quirk Books Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $8.58

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Rock
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not a Bible--it's a rock n' roll comedy book. 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

When not working as a concert promoter, indie record producer or label owner, Henry Owings is the editor of Chunklet, a particularly snarky music zine from Georgia that does things like dismantle VH1 "100 Greatest"-type shows with nasty--but hilariously true--comments about each choice. Owings' new book, The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture for Fans & Bands (Quirk Books), focuses that wit with jokes--and occasionally good advice--in the form of hundreds of commandments for acts, roadies, studio mavens, fans and anyone else who comes into Owings' crosshairs.

Some sample commandments:

* No L.A. tour managers who wear their hair in a ponytail, unless you plan on scalping them.
* If your amp has more than six knobs, you are one of them.
* If you don't laugh at the studio engineer's jokes, he will ruin your album.
* A Stax Records T-shirt can only be worn if you can name five artists that didn't have huge hits.
* If you say "My friend Neil is in that band; I've always wanted to see them," Neil is not actually your friend.
* The worst toilet paper in America is always better than the best toilet paper in Europe. It's best to bring your own, especially to Germany.
* All drummers wearing headset microphones should be required to take a food order.
* The only excuse for using a megaphone on stage is if you're a fire marshal.
* Your amps should never stack up to be taller than anybody in the band. If you can't lift that tube head on your own, you don't deserve it.
* Lo-Fi means "couldn't afford to record in a real studio."
* If you're one of those drummers who sets up at the front of the stage, back the hell up. You are the goalies of rock; play your position.

...and so forth. Interspersed throughout are sidebars like Recommended Phrases To Say To A Not-So-Great Band As They Come Off Stage ("It's nice to hear a drummer who really knows how to put some step into the kick drum"), and there's additional essays by comedian Patton Oswalt and others. A particular highlight is Bryan Teasley's "Genesis," a goofy, but surprisingly thorough Cliff Notes of Rock History, presented as the world's longest run-on sentence.

It's not for everyone--folks who accidentally pick this "bible" up expecting to learn more about CCM may walk away offended if they read the section about Groupies, for instance. For many road dogs or studio rats, however, Owings' jokes and sensibilities will ring true, and thanks to the paperback's extra-tough cover, it'll survive living in your road case or being kicked around the studio indefinitely. In all, The Rock Bible is a fun, simple way to pass the time while waiting for that guitar to finally get tuned.

Editorial Review:

"The Rock Bible" is the word on rock music from an insider's perspective - a sassy, f*ck-you guide to the rules of the rock and roll life, featuring chapters on: Genesis, The Gospel According to the Drummer, The Gospel According to he Guitar Players, The Gospel According to The Singer, and more. The bulk of the book is a collection of rock rules and witty observations collected from the folks who know rock best-musicians, tour managers, tour promoters, the fans of Chunklet, and the magazine's editor, Henry Owings.

No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green

Melody Green, David Hazard

List Price: $12.99 By: Harvest House Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $1.98

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 50 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Like his life, it ended too soon. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I grew up listening to the Music of Keith Green. My parents were big fans, and to them, Keith was more then just a singer.
I slowly stopped listening to his music when I got older, and thought that the new music I listened to had a better sound and a more meaningful message, simply because it was newer music. But then I started listening to Keith Green again, and saw that his music is timeless, and can still change lives.

I picked up this book, and started reading it right away. The tone read very much like a novel, with pictures every now and then to show you how Keith and those around him had changed over time. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about there being pictures so much, but then I saw the effect they had on me.

I got to know Keith as if he were a friend of mine. I got to see his struggles, his fears, his likes, his dislikes; I got to shake hands with Keith. His story of how he came to know Jesus is one that can touch anyone.

Ultimately, when the book started to end, I knew how he was going to die. I knew it was coming. I even looked ahead to see what chapter it happens in. Even though I knew it was coming, I still started to cry.
I spent my time reading this book, and getting to know Keith, his children, and his friends, that I he died all over again. I missed him again.

Still, with that said, I think my favorite part in the book is the story of how they had a cow die, and they couldn't get a butcher out to the farm (because the butcher has to kill the animal he'll be butchering), so they did it themselves.

With all that said, this is an amazing story that every Christian should read. Even if you weren't a fan of his music, it is still an amazing story.

Editorial Review:

Longtime fans and new listeners can experience the impact of Keith’s character, courage, and commitment in this revised and expanded testimony of his extraordinary life.

Who better to tell Keith Green’s story than the woman who shared his life and mission—his wife, Melody. At the time Keith and two of their children were killed in a tragic plane crash, Melody was pregnant and had a one–year–old child at home. She inherited Keith’s musical legacy of published and unpublished songs and his private journals, which she has put together in this extremely personal biography of Keith.

Cinderella: The Love of a Daddy and His Princess

Steven Curtis Chapman

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Thomas Nelson Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $1.96

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Cinderella: The Love of a Daddy & His Princess 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonder book & CD. I would recommend it to anyone.
It is great for that busy Dad.

Cinderlla: The love of a daddy and his princess 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

In light of the recent tragedy of this family I felt compelled to purchase this book. It's a beautifully written and illustrated book that would be an awesome gift from "Daddy" to his "Princess" on her wedding day or even when her engagement is announced. I would recommend this book to everyone who is a daddy.

Purchased after the mid-May accident. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I had everything Steven ever put out - but Maria's death prompted this purchase.

It's lovely. I'm glad it joins the other stuff in my SCC collection.

Editorial Review:

As the clock strikes midnight, remember . . .

Each moment we have to spend with our children is a blessing from above. But as we cherish this chapter of life, we realize the pages of time will keep turning. Alternating between the voices of a father and his daughter, Cinderella celebrates the blessings of childhood, family, love and life. You will be enchanted by this modern fairytale that teaches us how to hand our own Cinderella her glass slippers and let her go.

Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven

James Bryan Smith

List Price: $24.99 By: Broadman & Holman Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $5.58

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 55 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Arrow Pointing to Heaven certainly does. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Book Arrow Pointing to Heaven is the most inspiring book I have ever read. I could not help but write "Amen," "Praise the Lord," "I need to read this again" or some other comment in the margins as I read the book. Having known Rich Mullins briefly early in his musical career, I knew he was someone different, someone closer to God than I could imagine, yet I had no idea just how close to the Awesome God he really was. This book, so well written by Smith, is a must for anyone that believes in God. It will take you to really knowing God in much the same way as Rich Mullins knew HIM - intimately. Perfect gift for graduation presents. I have given several with notes made in the margins of the gift books. Thank you for having such an all-inspiring-book! It is a MUST for persons seeking a better relationship with God.

Editorial Review:

During his life, Rich Mullins challenged the sensibilities of what it means to follow Jesus in today's world, and now in his death, he challenges all to build upon his legacy of joy, compassion, brokenness, unblinking honesty, and wonder of an Awesome God. Rich Mullins rose to fame and fortune in the music industry and then gave it all away to live in obscurity among Native Americans on a reservation in New Mexico, teaching children the joy of music and the hope of the gospel. Then his life, so full of promise, came to a tragic end in an auto accident. Author James Bryan Smith describes this book as a "devotional biography," giving readers an insight into Rich's life, but more importantly, allowing the readers to learn what was most important to Rich-urging people to draw near to God. The book focuses on the key themes of Rich's life including Family, Creation, Suffering, Simplicity, and the Love of God. This is the only biography authorized by the Mullins family.

The Prodigal Comes Home: My Story of Failure and God's Story of Redemption

Michael English

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Thomas Nelson Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $1.40

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Awesome book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was awesome! Michael tells about the amazing grace of god in his life. I truly believe he is redeemed. I have saw him in concert this year and just saw him on TBN yesterday (Aug. 14, 2008). I saw him pray and even cry while giving his testimony. I'm a huge Michael English fan, but have never seen him so sincere. I'm so proud of him that he is back to singing. He has such a great talent. His book gives you great detail of everything he went through. Very easy book to read in two days.

Editorial Review:

Eleven years ago, amidst scandal, sin, and shattered lives, Michael English fell from the pinnacle of the Christian music world. In 1994, newspapers around the world blared the headline, "Gospel Singer Named Artist of the Year Turns in His Awards After Confirming He Had an Affair with a Fellow Married Singer." From 1994 to 2002 Michael English's life went from bad to worse. Public shame, divorce, broken relationships, drug addiction, even homelessness. But in 2002, God reached out and rescued Michael from himself. Today Michael is whole again,and in this book he tells his story of redemption.

Contemporary Disney: E-Z Play Today #3 (E-Z Play Today)

Amazon Price: $13.56 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hal Leonard Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $9.96

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Contemporary Christian
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Popular

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful.

This book has a very accurate selection of disney songs arranged to be played by an intermediate level piano student (includes vocals and chords as well). At first, some songs seemed difficult for me because of the amount of hand stretching, but I managed to master them quite quickly, in about 2-3 weeks, and I definitely feel the improvement in my playing. The good thing about playing disney songs is that as we might already know how they'll sound, it will be easier for us to play them. I would definitely recomend this book to anyone who likes disney songs and who has been playing the piano for at least 3 years to be able to enjoy it completely. Enjoy!

Editorial Review:

Features 30 songs from contemporary Disney blockbusters, all arranged in our famous notation. Includes: Be Our Guest * Beauty and the Beast * Beyond the Sea * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Circle of Life * Colors of the Wind * Find Yourself * Friend like Me * Kiss the Girl * See You Again * True Love's Kiss * We're All in This Together * When She Loved Me * You Are the Music in Me * You've Got a Friend in Me * and more!

Broken on the Back Row: A Journey Through Grace and Forgiveness

Sandi Patty

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

SHE MARRIED THE MAN SHE HAD THE AFFAIR WITH! 3 out of 5 stars.
13 of 28 people found this review helpful.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound judgmental but Sandy Patty admits to making poor choices (very admirable)and after seeking restoration and finding peace from God, she married the man she had the affair with and lives happily ever after! Am I missing something here, because I just don't get it?? One thing I do get though, is that her career never recovered. But I do give her credit for one thing, though. She has never compromised in her music.

Editorial Review:

The heart of a mom is wrapped up in the people she loves -- her children, her husband, her co-workers, her friends. She wants to give them the very best of herself, but sometimes her busy schedule gets in the way of the most precious gift she can give them -- her prayers.

With this unique tried-and-proven prayer system, even the busiest moms can have a rich prayer life that impacts the people she loves the most. Author Lisa Whelchel offers seven categories of prayer that can be used as they are or modified to fit each mom's special needs. By investing just ten minutes a day, in one month, a mom can bring nearly one hundred and fifty matters before her heavenly Father. From requests for her childrens' protection to wisdom in her personal life to praise for God's constant faithfulness, this simple plan brings order and purpose to prayer.

The Faith We Sing: Pew - Cross & Flame (Faith We Sing)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Well done 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I do think this little book picks up some of the contemporary songs and adds a quality to some of the old ones that make it worthwhile to purchase. I bought it cheaper here that through the Cokesbury sale!

Melody but no Chord Symbols 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I play for a local Methodist Church and we use this and the Hymnal. The Pew Edition has words and melody, but no chord symbols - but the songs take less pages than in the Accompianment Edition. The songs, like in the UMC hymnal, are organized by topic - they seem a good selection of 80's-90's praise music, with some older hymns and such thrown in.

Instrumentalists might want to check out the Simplified Version - it's spiral bound with vocals, chords and accompianment for keyboard players...the Accompianment Edition is too big to fit inside the piano bench.

The Faith We Sing: Simplified (Faith We Sing)

Worship Feast: Taize Songbook (Worship Feast)

Jennifer A. Youngman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Peaceful services 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

Taize style music is very popular among college-age worshippers today, and our Centre for University Ministry regularly offers Taize services. The hallmarks of Taize services are simplicity, peaceful spirituality, and music based upon the chant styles of the Taize monastery in France. Founded in the aftermath of the second World War, Taize is dedicated to peace and ecumenical action.

Taize music is both simple and sophisticated. Brother Roger, founder of Taize, seeks to add a prayerful element to music, and a musical element to prayer, believing firmly in the old dictum, 'those who sing, pray twice'.

The songs in this collection include melody lines for singers and chords for guitar or keyboard accompaniment. There is a CD that is available separately that will enhance the experience for groups, as well as serve as a guide for those who want to practice or sing on their own.

While many Taize chant tunes are adaptable to be sung in multiple parts, this book only has the primary melody line, without harmonic parts included. What is included, however, is alternate translations for many of the tunes. Some are presented in French, some in Spanish, and some in Latin. The Latin is not due to Catholic influence as much as it a shared language among many people's linguistic heritage while no longer being anyone's first language.

This small book is a rich expression, wonderfully presented.

Facedown

Amazon Price: $12.95 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $8.28

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Challenging! Inspiring! Biblically-Solid! 5 out of 5 stars.
29 of 29 people found this review helpful.

Facedown is a companion volume to Matt Redman's album of the same name. But don't think it's just a fluffy little book meant to make some money off the popularity of the CD. Facedown is a well-researched, well-written, moving treatise on worship as a response to God's majesty and glory. Redman, an extraordinary songwriter, is also a fine prose-writer. He makes his points clearly and elegantly.

Every worship leader and worship songwriter should read this book. But it's not just for worship insiders. It will help every reader to worship God more fully and humbly.

I highly recommend this book.

For a more in-depth review, see my website: www.markdroberts.com.

Editorial Review:

God wants us to be more than aware of His presence. He implores us to be awestruck by it-literally consumed with passion and adoration! How do we reach this state? By totally surrendering to God through worship. Facedown shows why we need to go deeper into the wonder, awe and mystery of God's presence. Only then will we find ourselves lying prostrate before the Lord-facedown in worship. The premise of Matt Redman's newest book is grounded in three biblical examples-Ezekiel 1, Daniel 10 and Revelation 7-which all reveal that the worship going on before the heavenly throne is facedown. All believers will be exhilarated by this heaven-sent beacon as it lights their way to being undone by God's eternal glory.