cover image Gum, Geckos, and God: A Family's Adventure in Space, Time, and Faith

Gum, Geckos, and God: A Family's Adventure in Space, Time, and Faith

James S. Spiegel, . . Zondervan, $12.99 (248pp) ISBN 978-0-310-28353-9

Spiegel, philosophy professor at Indiana's Taylor University, takes deep issues of the Christian faith and dumps them smack into real life with a little help from his children. Their questions—“Dad, where does God live?” “Dad, does God speak English?” and “What does God know?”—open the door to discussions about God that solicit satisfying answers from Dad. Spiegel's responses and ensuing comments will satisfy adults as well, especially those looking for beginning and intermediate study on topics such as God's omniscience, the Golden Rule, God's presence and human origin and destiny. Spiegel ponders the great issues of the faith with a light touch, thanks to the innate comedy of kids, but also to his own brand of humor. No doubt some readers will wish for more depth when it comes to doctrinal fundamentals, but rather than exhaustive study, the point is that God touches human hearts through geckos, hide-and-seek tag and the occasional possum. Spiegel shares his own wonder as he fields FAQs from the fertile, imaginative, earthy minds of his children. (May)