Jeffrey J HamiltonThe purpose of most biographies is for the author to enumerate their many qualifications and accomplishments in order to entice the reader to purchase their book. They may say something like, "I've been to seminary at such and such a college and havea Ph.D. in Theology." Personally, I've never been to seminary. I have a master's degree, but it's in Christian Counseling and Temperament Therapy. They may also say, "I've pastored a church of twenty-five thousand for the past 30 years." I've never pastored a church of more than seventy-five people. As a matter of fact, it was only for five years and the people kept leaving. They may even say, "I know Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic like the back of my hand." I don't! I have a Strong's Concordance, a handful of Greek lexicons, and several versions of the Bible. I don't have what many Christian authors claim to have, but what I do have is a desire for truth.Over the past thirty-five years, I've discovered that many within the church are woefully ignorant concerning the Word of God. But at a time when propaganda seems to be more and more prevalent, knowing the truth of Scripture is vital. Other than being able to quote a handful of verses and recite some of the more familiar biblical "stories," the majority of believers have no idea as to the thrust or intent of the Bible. As a result, much of what comes from the pulpit today is preached simply because it's comfortable. In other words, since most churchgoers are unfamiliar with the text of Scripture, no one gets their feathers ruffled. This book, as well as the two to follow, will challenge the reader to take a good, hard look at why they believe what they believe. Please, don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting that I have all the answers or that I've unearthed something that no one else has discovered. Far from it. I've spent the majority of my Christian life reading not only those with whom I agree, but those with whom I disagree as well. In many cases, it has strengthened and affirmed what I already believed. At other times, however, it has caused me to rethink what I previously believed. As a result, I experienced a paradigm shift. So, if you want to continue to believe what you've always believed, this book isn't for you. But if you're tired of hearing one thing from the pulpit and reading the exact opposite in the Scriptures with no reasonable explanation as to the interpretation, then maybe you should read the first book in this series. Read More Read Less
