NON-FICTION
What folks are saying:
“An entirely fresh approach to the best selling book of all time!” Author, Speaker & Bible Professor Richard Haynes on Big Buts of the Bible: Gospel of Matthew
“Darin Michael Shaw demystifies the Bible with warmth, humor and unwavering faith. The genius of this book is that it is equally relevant for longtime Bible readers and curious newcomers.” Ariel Gore, author of The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show
“You mean a but with one ‘t’, right?” Timothy F. 13, Merrimack, NH.
(The following is an excerpt from the Introduction to Big Buts of the Bible: Gospel of Matthew, a new book which traces each of the 182 appearances of the word but through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament’s first book.)
For many people, the thought of reading or studying the Bible is imposing. As a Pastor and Bible teacher, I’ve often heard people say “I don’t know where to start” or “I don’t understand what I’ve read.” Many have voiced their frustrations, “I am confused how one passage relates to another” or “there were too many words I didn’t understand.” Sadly, many set their Bibles aside saying, “I didn’t get anything out of it. I tried, but I gave up.”
Consider the word but for a moment. Not very imposing, is it? It’s a little three letter conjunction we use every day in virtually every conversation. “Thank you, but” is the polite rejection of an offer. “I’m sorry, but” may cause you to question the authenticity of an apology. Even in traffic court, a Judge is likely to give you three options: a plea of guilty, not guilty, or guilty but with an explanation. Yes, I’ve been to traffic court—what can I say? Sometimes when you work for the Lord you have to go very fast! I briefly considered the ‘guilty but’ option, but I thought better of it. The point is, the word but functions as a great clarifier. It lends to our understanding of what’s being communicated every day. The same is true where the written word is concerned; the same is true of your Bible.
