At 22 Words, Abraham Piper asked readers to recommend books that we might not have heard about.
I enjoyed reading the comments (and, I often don’t when reading blogs!)
Click here and read the suggestions.
Archive for the 'Recommended Reading' Category
IT security expert, Dan Lohrmann, has written a book, Virtual Integrity. If you use the Internet, then think seriously about reading this book.
In addition to the reasons Dan gives if you watch the below video clip, I’ll give you several other reasons you should read it.
- Dan’s wife, Priscilla, is one of the sharpest theologians I know. Seriously. My theory is that everything Dan wrote had to first pass muster with Priscilla. (I remember the first time I was in their home; I was excited to see all 4 volumes of John Murray’s collected works on their shelves). To use a favorite phrase of Priscilla’s, the theology of this book will be “sound as a pound.”
- Dan is a former state champion quarterback and college QB (Valpo). He grew up in Baltimore during the Jim Palmer / Earl Weaver / Brooks Robinson era. There is bound to be a couple of good sports illustrations.
- Together, Dan and Priscilla have an extended family the size of many small countries. It will probably outsell The Shack just because of family purchases.
- Dan has sat under some really quality preaching over the years . . . This should also come through. . . (smile)
- Dan will graciously blend together the best of Lutheran Missouri Synod, PCA, Sovereign Grace, and Baptist theology.
- Dan’s daughter, Grace, used to stump me with Bible trivia. Again, I am sure Grace had an influence on the manuscript. She once got me to say that Jesus had only been on the continent of Asia - - then nailed me by reminding her pastor that Jesus was in Africa.
Seriously: I am confident this is a book where Truth and integrity have been brought to bear on an area that is very important to our lives. Watch Dan explain what his book is all about.
Earlier I said that I think the ESV Study Bible is the most significant study Bible of my lifetime. I continue to hold that position. The number of Study Bibles written in my lifetime is relatively small. Within that group, many were written by one individual. Whereas, the ESV Study Bible was written by an all-star team.
This team approach shows up in that the notes do not take a firm position on controversial areas. You can read Tim Challies initial review here. Challies notices that the ESV Study Bible does not definite itself narrowly theologically.
Controversial Theology
One concern people are likely to have when considering a new study Bible concerns the theological perspective offered in the notes. Does this particular study Bible take a Reformed or Arminian position on salvation? A complementarian or egalitarian perspective on gender roles? An amillennial or premillennial position on the end times? I looked through many of the notes seeking what this Bible says on some of the more common controversies: end times, spiritual gifts and soteriology. I found this an interesting comparison with the Reformation Study Bible. It seems to me that the Reformation Study Bible came from a much more narrowly-defined theological position; it was Reformed, it was cessationist, it was amillennial. The ESV Study Bible, on the other hand, offers a wider or less-defined perspective. Where the doctrine is clear and undisputed among Evangelicals, so too are the notes. But where doctrines are controversial and within the area of Christian freedom or disputable matters, the notes tend not to take a firm position, even when the author or editor is firmly in one camp or the other. Whether this is positive or negative may well depend on the individual reader.
Click here to read the whole thing.
If you have not read:
Smith, Christian, and Michael O. Emerson. Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money. New York: Oxford Univeristy Press, 2008.
At least read this alarming summary. . .Here are 6 facts about American giving (based on their thorough research):
Fact #1: At least one out of five American Christians - 20 percent of all U.S. Christians -give literally nothing to church, para-church, or nonreligious charities.
Fact #2: The vast majority of American Christians give very little to church, para-church, or nonreligious charities.
Fact #3: American Christians do not give their dollars evenly among themselves, but, rather a small minority of generous givers among them contributes most of the total Christian dollars given.
Fact #4: Higher income earning Christians-like Americans generally -give little to no more money as a percentage of household income than lower income earning Christians.
Fact #5: Despite a massive growth of real per capita income over the twentieth century, the average percentage share of income given by American Christians not only did not grow in proportion but actually declined slightly during this time period.
Fact #6: The vast majority of the money that American Christians do give to religion is spent in and for their own local communities of faith - - little is spent on missions, development, and poverty relief outside of local congregations, particularly outside the United States, in ways that benefit people other than the givers themselves.
I was trying to think of a reason to post about the football games my sons played yesterday. . . and then Steve Altrogge stepped up and threw a touchdown pass right where I needed it. In his new book, Game Day for the Glory of God, Altrogge describes one of the things I love most about my sons’ football games (or my daughter’s volleyball):
Isn’t God kind to give us the gift of sports? They allow us to focus our minds on a reality that’s completely outside ourselves. When I play basketball, I’m temporarily transported out of the swirling mass of subjective thoughts and emotions that would normally occupy my mind and into a rock-solid world of layups, rebounds and crossover dribbles. This is a very good thing indeed. Self-centeredness only leads to unhappiness and misery. Sports are gifts from God that allow us to temporarily forget about self.
If you click here, you can find more information on Crossway’s new blog, and even read a sample chapter.
The picture illustrates another of sports’ most important lessons, and greatest sources of joy. My son is not the guy running through the hole. (Nor is my son the opposing linebacker (#44) coming up to greet the running back). Chris is the guy helping make the hole by blocking number #78 - - notice #78 has a good football name.
I love that football teaches the value of working in the trenches, out of the limelight. While one guy (Tristan in this case) has the ball, 10 others are working in the pews to throw blocks.
Knowing that you made a hole where it counts, when you weren’t the guy carrying the ball, is one of the greatest joys in life. Throw a block this week.
Vitamin Z (my new favorite blog) posts a really interesting link to Driscoll’s new book. You really should watch it. Click here. I have not read Driscoll’s book.
In the first place, I can’t get the Amazon connections to link correctly . . .That said . . .
One of my summer reading projects has been John M. Frame’s magisterial, The Doctrine of the Christian Life.
Frame writes from a Reformed perspective and focuses on ethics including a voluminous section on the Ten Commandments. He deals with many ethical issues including divorce, to gambling, to birth control.
So, I was thinking, I really should blog something about this book since it has been such a blessing to me. But, then I started thinking. Most of my readers don’t spend a lot of time reading large theological books. Someone might unsuspectingly order the book only to have it show up and discover that it is literally over 1000 pages. Further, they might discover that it is a bit academic for their tastes.
Let me stop right here: you know I don’t discourage anyone from reading theology and I don’t think “academic” is bad - - not at all. But, I don’t want to surprise anyone with a book that makes War and Peace look like a dime novel.
Which led me in turn to consider what book on doctrine I would recommend as a first book. And, not surprising to the people in our church, that brings me to the abridged version of Grudem’s book which we are studying in our church doctrinal class. If you don’t have a basic book in doctrine, then this is a good place to begin.
I have already recommended the ESV Study Bible. I will no doubt bring it up this Fall at church.
In the mean time, here is an interview with David Reimer about his process for writing the notes on Ezekiel. If you take the time to read this, then you will know something about how a study Bible is produced, but also you will get a quick introduction to Ezekiel.
People often ask me for study Bible recommendations. (A study Bible is essentially a Bible that includes helpful commentary and notes). In the past, I’ve given a mixed recommendation to several different resources. But, I’ve had reservations. It is my impression that the most significant study Bible in decades will hit the shelves this October.
You can read all about it here. For instance, you can read the introduction to the Psalms.
I’ve already ordered a copy and recommend that you do the same.
It would make a great Christmas present. Just think - - you could get some Christmas shopping done this early!
One of my points of focus this summer has been to ramp up my reading. Mr. Jolly explains why reading is so important here.
Among other books, this summer I’ve spent significant time reading:
The Doctrine of the Christian Life by John M. Frame
A Christology of Solidarity by William Kynes
A Biography of D.L. Moody also one on Tozer and another on Billy Sunday, all by Dorsett
John Adams by McCullough (I’ve read in this previously, but like returning)
Rereading The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
