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The God Portal
ASIN B009BEGNM0 moved to the most recent edition here
It began as a vacation out west for Jim Wagner and his family…until Jim discovers his brother, particle physicist Dr. Warren Wagner, is missing from his Nevada home.
The mystery leads to the desert laboratory of corporate giant Forsythe-Hammond. There Jim discovers the truth behind Warren’s disappearance and its connection to the company’s deepest secrets, a technology where faith and science collide. It’s the beginning of a thrilling and dangerous adventure to rescue his brother.
Jim is joined by the affable Lyle Bumgardner, particle physicist and atheist at heart; and by Dr. Lawrence Macklin, devout Christian and Biblical scholar. Their odyssey becomes destiny, a struggle for survival and a quest for truth, leading them to a place where Christian faith and secular atheism alike will be put to the test. Their journey puts them on the trail of the historical Jesus…
It began as a vacation out west for Jim Wagner and his family…until Jim discovers his brother, particle physicist Dr. Warren Wagner, is missing from his Nevada home.
The mystery leads to the desert laboratory of corporate giant Forsythe-Hammond. There Jim discovers the truth behind Warren’s disappearance and its connection to the company’s deepest secrets, a technology where faith and science collide. It’s the beginning of a thrilling and dangerous adventure to rescue his brother.
Jim is joined by the affable Lyle Bumgardner, particle physicist and atheist at heart; and by Dr. Lawrence Macklin, devout Christian and Biblical scholar. Their odyssey becomes destiny, a struggle for survival and a quest for truth, leading them to a place where Christian faith and secular atheism alike will be put to the test. Their journey puts them on the trail of the historical Jesus…
404 pages, ebook
First published September 14, 2012
71 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Tim Ferguson
4 books7 followershttps://www.amazon.com/Tim-Ferguson/e...
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 20, 2017
Fantastic book!
I wish I could give ten stars for this book. It was really one of the best books I've ever read! It was a nail biter, a tear jerker, and a joy as well as a blessing. It really spoke to my heart and I recommend it to anyone who is even thinking about reading it. Thank you Mr. Ferguson!
I wish I could give ten stars for this book. It was really one of the best books I've ever read! It was a nail biter, a tear jerker, and a joy as well as a blessing. It really spoke to my heart and I recommend it to anyone who is even thinking about reading it. Thank you Mr. Ferguson!
September 20, 2017
Read it for a lot of reasons
The story was SciFi but the message was faith. Tim did a great job personalizing the four main characters experience with the trip to the past. I enjoyed the description of Palestine and the time travelers individual experiences. The real story was how each man saw Jesus. Such a good reminder of who our savior is.
The story was SciFi but the message was faith. Tim did a great job personalizing the four main characters experience with the trip to the past. I enjoyed the description of Palestine and the time travelers individual experiences. The real story was how each man saw Jesus. Such a good reminder of who our savior is.
October 1, 2017
Highly recommend. This book was awesome. For those who like uplifting stories, no language, no sex, this one kept me up late reading until I finished. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the situations and what I might do. True to the scriptures with a sci-fi twist. Characters were believable, plot twists i didn't expect, setting was described in a way that you could see it, without overdoing it.
September 18, 2017
Excellent combination of Science Fiction and Christian Fiction
I particularly enjoy Christian Fiction when matters of faith are central to the plot and not just "icing on the cake." The characters experienced real struggles and had hard decisions to make.
The kind of Science Fiction that I like is when the author makes it sound like he really did some research into the science and it sounds at least possible. I think this is called "hard Science Fiction," as opposed to the kind that includes or involves magic.
Tim Ferguson scored 100 in both these categories as far as I'm concerned.
I particularly enjoy Christian Fiction when matters of faith are central to the plot and not just "icing on the cake." The characters experienced real struggles and had hard decisions to make.
The kind of Science Fiction that I like is when the author makes it sound like he really did some research into the science and it sounds at least possible. I think this is called "hard Science Fiction," as opposed to the kind that includes or involves magic.
Tim Ferguson scored 100 in both these categories as far as I'm concerned.
November 3, 2017
Beautiful , tender , adventurous , amazing , wondrous , and left me with envy !
There are so many words that I want to try and put them all down that can describe this book . Having a deep emotional love for the Lord prior to reading this book left me feeling envy joy and I found myself giggling and crying and filled with joy . It's just a book right ? Or would you go back in time to see the Lord?
On another note , before I download the book I read some comments that people had left one or two stars to trying get an idea what was what maybe they didn't like . Some of the comments were about spelling and other minor details that somebody find annoying and I understand that . But what I ran into is that just because they have these on there saying what's wrong doesn't mean that the author didn't go back and change it so I was surprise that I didn't run into some of the complaints that I had expected to run into an open my eyes to not judge a book by other people's comments when it comes to how the book is set up in regards to spelling punctuation maybe some other things to .
To sum up this was a wonderful book ! You understand the characters , each of them have their own idiosyncrasies , the dialogue was spot on . It was well worth the read and well worth the purchase.
There are so many words that I want to try and put them all down that can describe this book . Having a deep emotional love for the Lord prior to reading this book left me feeling envy joy and I found myself giggling and crying and filled with joy . It's just a book right ? Or would you go back in time to see the Lord?
On another note , before I download the book I read some comments that people had left one or two stars to trying get an idea what was what maybe they didn't like . Some of the comments were about spelling and other minor details that somebody find annoying and I understand that . But what I ran into is that just because they have these on there saying what's wrong doesn't mean that the author didn't go back and change it so I was surprise that I didn't run into some of the complaints that I had expected to run into an open my eyes to not judge a book by other people's comments when it comes to how the book is set up in regards to spelling punctuation maybe some other things to .
To sum up this was a wonderful book ! You understand the characters , each of them have their own idiosyncrasies , the dialogue was spot on . It was well worth the read and well worth the purchase.
January 16, 2018
Unique twist in a story
I enjoyed this book in the beginning not so much at the end. The realism of the story started to take a drastic turn for the worst when the characters, who were very intelligent and knowledgeable couldn't figure out that hiking boots and pre wrapped supplies from Wal-Mart , such as sunglasses and soap, might stand out during Jesus time period. And even though they had a boyscout leader with them they never made a fire to cook with, preferring to use modern day equipment. If this had been meant to be a humorous book it wouldn't have mattered. I did however find many of the ways the author explained Jesus and his teaching to the other characters to be very insightful and is probably the only reason I finished this book. I would be very interested to find out if the author has any non fiction books on the subject of Jesus
I enjoyed this book in the beginning not so much at the end. The realism of the story started to take a drastic turn for the worst when the characters, who were very intelligent and knowledgeable couldn't figure out that hiking boots and pre wrapped supplies from Wal-Mart , such as sunglasses and soap, might stand out during Jesus time period. And even though they had a boyscout leader with them they never made a fire to cook with, preferring to use modern day equipment. If this had been meant to be a humorous book it wouldn't have mattered. I did however find many of the ways the author explained Jesus and his teaching to the other characters to be very insightful and is probably the only reason I finished this book. I would be very interested to find out if the author has any non fiction books on the subject of Jesus
October 21, 2017
An amazing Christian adventure!
This book, which encompasses both 21st Century technology and 1st Century Galilee will pull you into outs uplifting story quickly. I couldn't put it down! I thrilled with the Wagners, Jim and Nicole, a loving couple living their faith daily, along with their children, Kim and Craig. Warren, Jim's brother, is a particle physicist who is living with cancer and a secret plan. Lyle and Professor Macklin are Warren's good friends. Together, they embark on a voyage of faith, enlightenment and danger.
You will really enjoy this read! Get it Tipperary!
This book, which encompasses both 21st Century technology and 1st Century Galilee will pull you into outs uplifting story quickly. I couldn't put it down! I thrilled with the Wagners, Jim and Nicole, a loving couple living their faith daily, along with their children, Kim and Craig. Warren, Jim's brother, is a particle physicist who is living with cancer and a secret plan. Lyle and Professor Macklin are Warren's good friends. Together, they embark on a voyage of faith, enlightenment and danger.
You will really enjoy this read! Get it Tipperary!
August 28, 2019
This was an engaging, fun adventure Sci-fi yarn in which through time travel Jim and Company set out to rescue his brother Warren who had gone ahead of them to seek a cure for his cancer. The only thing that I'll give away is that it was largely predictable, but it was still an enjoyable read. I think that it was because I liked the characters, and the writing, although simple, was effective in invoking not only the suspension of unbelief but also in being able to place myself in the scene. It was not perfectly written and there was some inconsistencies. That was why I gave it four stars instead of five, but I liked it very much, over all.
October 23, 2019
Truly enjoyed this book by Tim Ferguson. An ordinary vacation turns into an extraordinary journey for Jim Wagner when he travels back in time to find his brother Warren who has traveled through time to the first century. The journey will test Jim’s faith as well as that of his fellow travelers Dr. Lawrence Macklin and Warren Wagner. It will cause Lyle Bumgarner to question his loyalty to atheism. There were a few things that bugged me about the time travel aspect but this is fiction so really you just have to go with it because it is fiction and does not always have to be totally believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2021
Thought-provoking
The premise was absolutely fascinating! Can you imagine? I could not, until I read this book. Now I keep imagining. What would I do in their shoes? I don't know that I would be able to even stand let alone speak. I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. The detail was so amazing and the imagery so vivid that I could picture it all. I truly felt like I was there with these guys experiencing all of this; the sights, the sounds, the smells. Definitely a must-read!
The premise was absolutely fascinating! Can you imagine? I could not, until I read this book. Now I keep imagining. What would I do in their shoes? I don't know that I would be able to even stand let alone speak. I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. The detail was so amazing and the imagery so vivid that I could picture it all. I truly felt like I was there with these guys experiencing all of this; the sights, the sounds, the smells. Definitely a must-read!
September 17, 2017
Great.
This book has caused me to write my first ever Kindle review. Just finished it. This one is for the edification of believers. Found my go-to Christmas present this year. About to go see if it is in print.
This book has caused me to write my first ever Kindle review. Just finished it. This one is for the edification of believers. Found my go-to Christmas present this year. About to go see if it is in print.
October 1, 2017
My faith has been skyrocketed! ...Thank you Tim Ferguson!!!..I look forward to reading more of your words!!
I Loved this book!...It brought me to tears!..I can't wait to read more of Tim Ferguson! Thank You so much!
I Loved this book!...It brought me to tears!..I can't wait to read more of Tim Ferguson! Thank You so much!
October 9, 2017
If you are searching
This book seems to be well researched. I am definitely not a scientist, but the details of time travel were plausible. The author made me feel like I was back in first century Israel.
This book seems to be well researched. I am definitely not a scientist, but the details of time travel were plausible. The author made me feel like I was back in first century Israel.
December 10, 2017
Very imaginative. There were parts that very gritty. It painted a picture of how hard core life was like during the time of Jesus; much as it is today. The only negative is that the book seemed to go a few pages too long. Otherwise, it was a fantastic read.
January 14, 2018
Wow. I loved every moment reading this book.
Found this book both encouraging&inspired. I will definitely read his other book(s) as well. Blessings to you Tim for such a wonderful read! What an Awesome God we serve!
Found this book both encouraging&inspired. I will definitely read his other book(s) as well. Blessings to you Tim for such a wonderful read! What an Awesome God we serve!
January 20, 2018
The God Portal
This was an awesome book. I makes you want to go back on time to meet Jesus .what an amazing journey. I hope the author will write another book on Dr Macklins stay in first century .
This was an awesome book. I makes you want to go back on time to meet Jesus .what an amazing journey. I hope the author will write another book on Dr Macklins stay in first century .
February 18, 2018
Intriguing Adventure Novel
Thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Could hardly put it down toward the end. I would recommend this book to anyone. I guess you could say it is a very timely novel.
Thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Could hardly put it down toward the end. I would recommend this book to anyone. I guess you could say it is a very timely novel.
January 1, 2019
I️ just read this book for the second time. I️ really love it, although this time I️ felt a bit frustrated by how much the author dragged things out. Of course, my favorite parts were when they were finally in the first century—the things they saw, the people they met and Jesus.
Read
June 9, 2019Fascinating
Intriguing concept. Surprises along the way. Kept my interest throughout. I couldn't put it down. One of those books that makes you think for days after you've finished it.
Intriguing concept. Surprises along the way. Kept my interest throughout. I couldn't put it down. One of those books that makes you think for days after you've finished it.
November 14, 2020
Excellent read
I didn’t think that I would like this book as much as I did. I felt like I was in the land Jesus walked in. I love the characters in the descriptions. It was extremely moving, I cried several times. Highly recommended.
I didn’t think that I would like this book as much as I did. I felt like I was in the land Jesus walked in. I love the characters in the descriptions. It was extremely moving, I cried several times. Highly recommended.
March 1, 2022
very good read
I love the concept in this book but not being a sci-fi fan, some of the physics was lost on me LOL. The book was easy to read and I enjoyed the characters in the book.
I love the concept in this book but not being a sci-fi fan, some of the physics was lost on me LOL. The book was easy to read and I enjoyed the characters in the book.
October 15, 2017
Engaging read
Recommend for anyone who likes to learn in fiction format. As a child Buck Rogers was an adventurous fantasy, too.
Recommend for anyone who likes to learn in fiction format. As a child Buck Rogers was an adventurous fantasy, too.
November 26, 2017
Very believable!
Fantastic read. Excellent way to bring dusty trails to life! Highly encourage every Christian to read this novel to build faith
Fantastic read. Excellent way to bring dusty trails to life! Highly encourage every Christian to read this novel to build faith
March 25, 2018
Great read. Easy, too. The characters were very well portrayed.
And the description of life in the land of the Bible was as accurate as any nonfiction treatise I have read.
And the description of life in the land of the Bible was as accurate as any nonfiction treatise I have read.
April 6, 2023
Every Christian should read this book!!!
February 10, 2022
Don’t miss this one
A most enjoyable read! Numbers 6: 24-26. I would recommend this book to anyone. A wonderful message to be celebrated with others.
A most enjoyable read! Numbers 6: 24-26. I would recommend this book to anyone. A wonderful message to be celebrated with others.
January 2, 2014
Christian sci fi, via time travel back to the time of Jesus. I have read others that could loosely classify into this genre; a short book during my teens that I can't recall the title of; another by Stephen Lawhead (I think, but not time travel); and CS Lewis' perelandra series which I couldn't penetrate beyond a few chapters and need to try again. I'm not sure this can qualify as being in the same class.
Initially, it moves very slowly, taking the first 41% (who needs pages when kindle tracks progress?) before the new world is encountered. Amidst this there is the ingratiating chore of folksy US evangelicalism on one hand, and the distracting change in perspective from one character to another mid-sequence. There is just enough going on to be tolerable, but the linear passage of events would have been enlivened by some sort of parallel dialogue from the characters who have gone missing and are destined to be introduced again later.
Once the time travel commences, there is a little more intrigue as ancient Israel is explored. Some of the cultural and geographic/infrastructure features mentioned in the gospels are looked at, in a slightly new way (as modern day outsiders immersed into the culture), but there is little that is new or particularly thought provoking. The picture of Jesus is also fairly standard. It's not that I'm against orthodoxy, it's more that even today, modern scholarship is showing that Jesus and the land he lived in, differs subtly but significantly from the Western conception that dominates much of normative Christianity's picture.
I hope others gain more from it than I did, I was looking for something more.
Initially, it moves very slowly, taking the first 41% (who needs pages when kindle tracks progress?) before the new world is encountered. Amidst this there is the ingratiating chore of folksy US evangelicalism on one hand, and the distracting change in perspective from one character to another mid-sequence. There is just enough going on to be tolerable, but the linear passage of events would have been enlivened by some sort of parallel dialogue from the characters who have gone missing and are destined to be introduced again later.
Once the time travel commences, there is a little more intrigue as ancient Israel is explored. Some of the cultural and geographic/infrastructure features mentioned in the gospels are looked at, in a slightly new way (as modern day outsiders immersed into the culture), but there is little that is new or particularly thought provoking. The picture of Jesus is also fairly standard. It's not that I'm against orthodoxy, it's more that even today, modern scholarship is showing that Jesus and the land he lived in, differs subtly but significantly from the Western conception that dominates much of normative Christianity's picture.
I hope others gain more from it than I did, I was looking for something more.
October 27, 2013
I often do not give out 5 starts, but I really enjoyed this book. Unlike many Christian books, this one did not seem to have an agenda other than to entertain the reader. The character development was very good and the conversations were very realistic. The dynamic of the characters interacting with the storyline kept it interesting throughout the book. The book is not an epic that will become a classic, but is very well done. Most good books I find go a bit dry in the middle. This book was entertaining all the way through, making it hard to want to put down. At times the plot felt predictable, but then things would not necessarily work out as you thought they might.
There were a few cheesy moments, but they were short and did not take away from the story at all. The story was not "deep" in that it really did not introduce new insights, but gives the reader an interesting perspective.
It is hard to describe without spoiling the plot, but reading the material in a fictional story manner allows one to appreciate the content in a new way by experiencing it through the story telling of the author.
While I think that this book was written in a way to appeal more to a Christian reader, I think that it would be enjoyable by a wider audience. I would recommend this book to any of my friends.
There were a few cheesy moments, but they were short and did not take away from the story at all. The story was not "deep" in that it really did not introduce new insights, but gives the reader an interesting perspective.
It is hard to describe without spoiling the plot, but reading the material in a fictional story manner allows one to appreciate the content in a new way by experiencing it through the story telling of the author.
While I think that this book was written in a way to appeal more to a Christian reader, I think that it would be enjoyable by a wider audience. I would recommend this book to any of my friends.
May 26, 2013
Particle physics meets scripture. Two of the workers on a top secret particle physics project decide to do an experimental run of the machine by themselves, the evening before the real test is due. One of them, Warren, is suffering from terminal cancer. He has chosen his co-ordinates carefully and covered his tracks as he doesn't want anyone to follow. His intention is to meet the Son of God. There is a clash of ideas between Christians and atheists here - Warren and his brother Jim, who sets off to find him, are Christians but Warren's colleague and friend Lyle, is an atheist. Their adventure brings them to face up to the roots of the Christian faith.
The idea behind this book is an intriguing one. It's a long book and I felt that it could have been edited down without losing the impetus of the story. Some of the discussion on faith versus atheism seemed repetitive and a good deal of the desert ramblings emphasised life in biblical times without progressing the story very much. The book is overtly Christian which could deter some potential readers. I also found the outcome rather predictable. If you're after a meaty story though, something a bit different with some bible history as background, it's a jolly good read.
The idea behind this book is an intriguing one. It's a long book and I felt that it could have been edited down without losing the impetus of the story. Some of the discussion on faith versus atheism seemed repetitive and a good deal of the desert ramblings emphasised life in biblical times without progressing the story very much. The book is overtly Christian which could deter some potential readers. I also found the outcome rather predictable. If you're after a meaty story though, something a bit different with some bible history as background, it's a jolly good read.
December 3, 2013
I enjoyed this story. I received it on a free promotion and I'm glad I chose it. I appreciate how the author laid out Biblical Truths without overwhelming the reader or being too preachy.
I'm always up for a good time travel adventure! It's a well developed story, with real characters and logical scientific explanations. Not sure if the science is accurate, but Mr Ferguson made me believe it is, and isn't that the mark of a good writer?
I was just a bit disappointed (Spoiler Alert)when we got to travel back in time. These men, mostly scientists and scholars, took no measures to guard against violating the Prime Directive. Yes, I'm borrowing the term from Star Trek, but it fits. In my opinion, one can't simply go traipsing through time and interfere with the natural development of the species, even if it is your own past. Bringing into a past century items which haven't been invented yet sets up dangerous scenarios and the possibility of changes that could alter the time line.
Even so, that did not detract from a great story. The author's desciptions of the culture and customs of Biblical times was dead-on, as was his portrayal of Jesus; made me wish I'd made the trip with Jim and the others.
I'm always up for a good time travel adventure! It's a well developed story, with real characters and logical scientific explanations. Not sure if the science is accurate, but Mr Ferguson made me believe it is, and isn't that the mark of a good writer?
I was just a bit disappointed (Spoiler Alert)when we got to travel back in time. These men, mostly scientists and scholars, took no measures to guard against violating the Prime Directive. Yes, I'm borrowing the term from Star Trek, but it fits. In my opinion, one can't simply go traipsing through time and interfere with the natural development of the species, even if it is your own past. Bringing into a past century items which haven't been invented yet sets up dangerous scenarios and the possibility of changes that could alter the time line.
Even so, that did not detract from a great story. The author's desciptions of the culture and customs of Biblical times was dead-on, as was his portrayal of Jesus; made me wish I'd made the trip with Jim and the others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews