The biggest book I've ever read...

Recently a friend of mine has been challenging me through his own searching to really have a defence for what I believe. It is not enough nowadays to just believe in something, especially if that's the way you were brought up. Our generation is about individualism and rebellion and tolerance of every belief, idea, etc. A few years ago I attended a "Sunday school" class on apologetics. It wasn't long before I dropped out. I'm not sure why, it was genuinelly interesting, but my tolerance for the information obviously wasn't high enough. I've always had trouble with my attention span in any type of class - just ask all my highschool and college teachers that I fell asleep on! :) Anyway this friend of mine is searching for whether he believes in God, and if God, Jesus and the Christianity he was brought up with. He's not my only friend who's had these questions, but probably the only one that I've ever had the "privilege" of watching the journey first hand. Anyway I found myself seaking out books that touch on this subject. I went to CBD and not to my surprise there are SO MANY books out there. I really didn't want to waste my time reading 5 books that only lightly delve into the topics I'm looking for, so I found the biggest book out there. Josh McDowel's "A New Evidence that Demands a Verdict". This is the 2nd (or 3rd not sure) version of this book he's published. It is SEVEN HUNDRED pages long. The biggest book I've read to date was about 350. Not only is it 700 pages, but that doesn't include the introduction, and these are big pages, with small font. Maybe that doesn't phase a lot of you, but for me, the one with the attention span of a fish, it's slightly daunting. Well, so far I've gotten through about 60 pages. No, I've not read the chapters in order, or started from the beginning, that would be a rediculous thing to ask of me. I've read the whole 2nd chapter, half of the 1st, the 38th, and half of the introduction. Something about skipping around helps me not be overwhelmed with the shear amount of information I'm asking myself to absorb. I will say that so far it's REALLY interesting. The book is probably one of the best apologetics resources out there, and reads more like a text book than anything else. Another reason I like it is because McDowel started his investigation setting to prove out that God didn't exist. Therefore the information is not presented from someone who is only giving you the information they want you to have.

The majority of the information I've read thus far is about historical evidence for the Bible. Fascinating stuff!! I didn't realize there is such a MOUNTAIN of information proving the validity of the New Testament as a historical document (haven't read the part about the OT yet). Already, after just a few days of reading, I can now have a defense of Bible and be able to share partly of why I believe it is the ultimate truth, etc. Yes I know, it's a world of difference between defending a belief of the Bible as a solid historical document, and defending it is the inspired word of God - however I will get there in time. Please note - I already know my point of view and what I believe, I don't expect this book to change that. What I do expect and hope it will do is give me more solid, intellectual ground to discuss and or/defend my faith and why it will not be shaken.

Peace!! :)