Non-Fiction
These books are a result of two of my main interests -- the world of the first century AD and America in the 1950s. Exploring the New Testament World is designed for people who want to know more about the background of the New Testament. Perfect Game, Imperfect Lives grew out of my memories of my own life in the 1950s and my love of baseball.
Exploring the New Testament World:
An Illustrated Guide To The World Of Jesus And The First Christians
The timeless message of the New Testament applies to people of every culture and generation. But there is great value in understanding the world in which that message was first revealed - its social manners, politics and religious customs. Exploring the New Testament World illuminates the living context of the New Testament and immerses its readers in the intriguing world of Jesus and the early church.
The book is written in a readable style that is accessible and enjoyable for any reader, whether lay person, student, or scholar. It surveys Jewish factions of the era, the social and political structure of the Roman Empire, and the philosophies and religions that surrounded the early church. Comprehensive Scripture and Subject Indexes make this volume even more useful as a "manners and customs" Bible companion. It has been called a "must-have" reference for readers of all backgrounds.
Perfect Game, Imperfect Lives:
A Memoir Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Don Larsen's Perfect Game
1956 -- what a year! "Ozzie and Harriet" and Lawrence Welk on TV. The Cold War and Civil Rights movement in the news. And Elvis everywhere. In the midst of it all, an 11-year-old boy, an avid New York Yankees, finds himself uprooted from the security of a close-knit family in South Carolina and moved to Cincinnati. His new best friend proves to be a transplanted Brooklynite, a rabid Dodger fan. Their lives center around baseball -- playing it, talking about it, and collecting baseball cards and autographs. On October i, a Monday, they skip school to watch the fifth game of the World Series on TV. As amazed as the rest of the country, they see a journeyman pitcher named Don Larsen hurl his way into the record books with the only perfect game ever pitched in the Series. 27 up, 27 down.