Miracles, Messages & Metaphors: Unlocking the Wisdom of the Bible

Norm Carroll

Review by Molly

This 370 page work features a foreword, preface, acknowledgments, introduction, with 30 segments, Transitions having 39 segments, an epilogue, follow up point/counterpoint and notes.   That is a lot to pack into 370 pages.

Realizing that of the 2 billion or so professing Christians world wide; only an abysmal 10% have actually read the Bible through, and of those fewer still have continued to read and re read, is demoralizing.

On the pages of Norm Carroll's Miracles, Messages & Metaphors: Unlocking the Wisdom of the Bible the writer sets out to help readers develop an awareness for the importance of scripture, and aid readers toward developing an enjoyment for reading the Bible as not only the Christian guide, but as a true work of art.

I particularly enjoyed reading the writer’s explanation for the difference between religion and spirituality.  For many the line seems blurred, Dr. Carroll helps to clear up the blur.

Each of the segments is a short, quick read designed for busy folk, while the book is a tad thick at 300 plus pages it is still small enough to tuck into brief case to be taken out for a quick segment read over lunch or waiting for the train to pass.

I like that writer Carroll includes specific scripture verses for locating the source for his various segments.  Segment topics follow Biblical order to introduce readers to well recognized characters including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Moses, and figures whose names may be recognized as coming from the Bible, but who they were and how they are important to history as a whole and Christian history in particular may be a little more murky.  Joshua, Samuel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah all come to life, clearly.

I found Carroll’s explanation for why the four evangelical books seem to be at odds at times, for why sisters Mary and Martha found different important tasks while visiting with Christ and How Walking on Water can be achieved.

Norm Carroll's Miracles, Messages & Metaphors: Unlocking the Wisdom of the Bible is presented in clear, lucid manner, writing is interesting, filled with the culmination of the writer’s understanding, study and belief.  I did not feel preached at, rather, felt as I did as a child while sitting and chatting with my preacher uncle as he shared his love of the Bible with me.

On the pages of Miracles, Messages and Metaphors, writer Carroll moves past the obvious, exact verbiage to formulate an analysis of the Bible based on how this writer understands the meaning intended by the sacred author.

Carroll investigates biblical characters, times, and thesis to help reader’s gain an understanding of spiritual implication from chronological framework of historical fact. I have long been a Bible reader, and while I may not always see each segment precisely as does Dr. Carroll, I am not at all diminished in my enjoyment of the work as a whole.  This is one of the books I will be keeping and using again and again in future as I continue my own search into Biblical context.

Do not need to be spiritual, religious or even Christian to find much to ponder and enjoy on the pages of Dr Carroll’s well written work.

Happy to recommend Norm Carroll's Miracles, Messages & Metaphors: Unlocking the Wisdom of the Bible for readers who enjoy context, and seek more understanding of what it is that motivates the human psyche.  Biblical students will likely enjoy the work as well.