The On The Bookshelf Podcast

interview--David Leaf on Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys

A Classic look from 1985 at the "Myth of California" made popular by the youthful Beach Boys is updated through the re-emergence of Brian Wilson as a live performer and the appreciation of his musical vision (and genius). It also broadens the contributions of all of the members of The Beach Boys through the years, including Carl and Dennis Wilson, cousin Mike Love, and dear friend Al Jardine. Their vision kept the band on the road for half a century!

interview--Fresh new look at NT Book of Revelation

Evangelical Christians tend to read Revelation as a blueprint for the End Times, along the lines of the "Left Behind" series. But Dr. Dean Flemming poses the question: what if we read Revelation through missional eyes? What if we remember that this book was written to send to the seven churches of Asia Minor to correct their failings and encourage them during a time of persecution, to look forward to the worship of Heaven, to get a wider view of God's mission to Earth, the significance of the Lamb as evidence of God's determination to make all of Creation new again?

interview--Child Trafficking in America and how

The author was moved by his research for a previous book about police officers to write and self-publish this shocking expose of the terrible reality of childhood sex trafficking 

This is not a “feel-good” book. Pretty Woman, it ain’t. Indeed, that Cinderella-with- fish-net is a fairy tale. For children under the age of 18, it is a cruel hoax. They don’t become “sex workers” because they love sex. It’s because they get trapped by greedy and cruel people, who have no compunction to feed or clothe or shelter these trafficked children any more than is necessary to keep them alive and working to make the pimps more money.

The stories in this book are true, and heart-breaking. You’ll hear them from several credible sources. The first is Jenelle, a Christian counselor who discovered the reality of a troubled girl’s horror-filled life. That counselor discarded her career plans and started a ministry to trafficked children. Another account is from a veteran law enforcement officer named Ronald. The third is from Angela, a former victim who was recruited by a family member at age 3 for a sick sex-with-toddler club. The fourth is from Jessica, who was raped, which began her downward spiral into prostitution and eventual becoming a madame. Some stories have happy endings of hope and restoration, while one offers justice for a murdered pair.

 

interview-Renowned music journalist on ”Anthem We Love”

Steve Baltin looks at 29 iconic songs and shares the stories of how they came to be written, how they were received and why they became anthems. Steve explains that anthem have two characteristics: they are "timelessness" and "universality". We talk about two examples: Barry Manila's "Could It Be Magic", Earth Wing & Fire's "September", Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Save the World", and Linda Ronstadt's "Skylark". The book also features Don McLean's "American Pie", "God only knows" by the Beach Boys, Toto's "Africa", Janis Ian's "At Seventeen", Th eTemptations' "My Girl", CSN&Y "Our House", The 5th Dimension's "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In' and more!

interview--Publisher and author AJ Rice shares political columns

"The WOKing Dead" takes a look at political correctness-gone-amuck- & "woke" attitudes and the current state of political chaos in America. Who's really running the show? Just how big a threat is Red China? Can the government solve all problems, or is it time for individual Americans to step up to restore balance and reality?