Title: Could it Be? Biblical Gems from the Garbage Dump
Author: Joseph C. Way
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4122-0505-4
Genre: Religion
Pages: 172
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent

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Could it Be? Biblical Gems from the Garbage Dump is an insightful take on many themes in the Bible. Joseph C. Way has written a book that will enlighten readers about certain passages in the Bible.

Way is a chaplain who prides himself on looking at the Bible in a unique way. When he recounts the legendary story of God talking to Moses through a burning bush, Way writes about how extraordinary events can happen to ordinary people. He also writes about how the story of the Exodus of the Israelites across the Red Sea to escape the Egyptian pharaoh can be compared to civil rights activists that fought against the oppression of white supremacy in the 1960’s. Way writes about other stories in the Bible; like Jacob and Esau which illustrate Christians’ struggle to stay true to God’s word and show belief in God is always evolving.

Way’s writing is so relatable, as being a refreshing take on familiar stories in the Bible.  It’s also humanizing for Way to not be an arrogant religious leader and admit many of the Biblical stories and God’s work are mysteries to him which he needs helps understanding as a reverend. His unique interpretations of Biblical stories offer a way to take valuable gems from forgotten stories of the Bible which are often thrown in the “garbage heap” by Christians. He also writes eloquently about how it’s important for Christians to not only pray for selfish material gain, like in “prosperity gospel,” but to pray to be more spiritually in sync with God.

In addition to the text, there is a poem Way wrote at the beginning of the book which illustrates the theme of the book in the poem, God’s Inclusiveness: “We can read old Bible stories / In ways that make them very new / If we are mindful how God acts / And observe the human acts, too.”

Could It Be? would be best for readers who want to learn about a new way to reinterpret new stories of the Bible. Way’s relatable writing would make the book ideal for Christians in reading groups or Bible study. The book would also be good for readers who have questions about the Bible and want to explore spirituality more closely.

Joseph Way has written a book that shows, even though the stories of the Bible are thousands of years old, there are still hidden gems that can still speak to people in modern times.