Review: "Death in Ecstasy"

                Most of us have some familiarity with a church and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper – and the drinking from a cup – whatever that means. 

            At the up and coming House of the Sacred Flame, five novitiates gather around the sacrament kneeling to receive the cup.  They drink, and one falls dead.

            Enter Inspector Alleyn who has to figure out who these people are, what there relationship is to the deceased, and why she gave all those bonds.

            Death in Ecstasy by Ngaio Marsh is another enjoyable mystery which adds the facts up to catch the killer.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The 4-Hour Workweek"

                I inhaled The 4-Hour Workweek:  Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss – and I have put his other books on my wish list.

            To look at the title, you might think it pure fancy or illegal, but it’s not.

            Ferriss argues that it is much more important to do what is meaningful to you than to fill a seat from nine to five.  That sounds reasonable to me.

            The sections of the book spell D-E-A-L.

            Definition:  what do you really want to do?  What is meaningful to you?  What would you want to do if you had no restrictions or limitations on you?  (Legal things, of course.)  You must have a solid idea of what you want and how to get there fulfilling the meaning you seek.

            Elimination:  what don’t you need?  What takes you away from is meaningful?  Excess stuff – excess nuances – anything that is not necessary in achieving what is meaningful for you should be eliminated – whether people, clothes, or your current job.

            Automation:  in the long run – and even in the short run – paying someone else to do what you don’t want or need to do will increase your ability to achieve what is meaningful for you.  Spend your time and effort only on what you enjoy doing on the way to your meaningful goal.

            Liberation:  go.  Work from home, from another country, take min-retirements.

            Ferriss includes many examples and websites to check out.  The book concludes with a selection of his best blog posts and testimonials of those who followed through with what he explains.

            Now, you may love your job.  I do.  But there are things you wish you didn’t have to do, right?  I know there are for me.  See if someone else will do them to allow you to fulfill your call.  Set short term goals and get to them now.

            I am also setting long term goals which begin now, certainly, but things I want to achieve.  I love my job, but there are other things I would like to achieve as well.  And, though I don’t have much interest in going to other countries, I would like to take more vacations at different times of the year to be in the place that I find most beneficial to my achieving meaning.

            Even if you don’t follow everything he says – he is not in favor of reading a lot – I disagree – taking time to figure out what is meaningful and what things would be better out of your life or handled by someone else is a worthwhile activity.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Gift"

                Do you like gifts?

                Do you like Christmas presents?

                How do you react to them?

                Glen Scrivener looks at our gift-giving – and especially our Christmas gift-giving, in his book, The Gift:  What if Christmas Gave You What You’ve Always Wanted? – and he walks us through the gift-giving dance of “It’s for you,” “You shouldn’t have,” “I wanted to,” and “Thank you.”

                Scrivener explains that the same dance that we have with our loved ones is a dance that God has with us regarding the gift He has given us in His Son and the salvation He has merited.

                How do we respond?

                Does it make gift-giving all the more meaningful to us?

                Will you refuse this gift?

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Leaving Your Mark Without Losing Your Mind"

            My friend, Tom, gave me a copy of Leaving Your Mark Without Losing Your Mind:  Overcoming Seven Obstacles to the Important Work of Your Life by Mark Brouwer, and it a book that I found helpful and encouraging, especially given my current circumstances.

            The seven obstacles Brouwer addresses are:

1.      Losing touch with what you really care s about and are committed to doing.

2.      Getting overwhelmed by the needs you encounter.

3.      Living with confusion about divine guidance and empowerment.

4.      Struggling with not having enough time.

5.      Getting burned out by high levels of stress and anxiety.

6.      Feeling disheartened by conflicts and difficult people.

7.      Getting discouraged and losing heart.

I am at a point of evaluation and seeking out how best to go forward, so it was very helpful to have Brouwer guide me through thinking about what is really important to me, what I really want to do and accomplish, and seeing that planning, setting markers, and recognizing what is in my control and what is not.

This is not a book to go through once and never look at again.  It is a book to go through, start to move in the direction that you believe is right and desire for yourself, and then refer back to to keep up healthy practices and thinking to get to the end of what you have set before you.

I am finding this a helpful book for me as I consider what is next and how to get there, and you may as well.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "John's Letters"

            John’s Letters:  An Exegetical Guide for Preaching and Teaching (Big Greek Idea Series) by Herbert W. Bateman IV and Aaron C. Peer is an interesting new volume – and beginning of a series – in the interpretation of the New Testament.

            The series was created with the concern that most people don’t have a solid, working, understanding of biblical Greek.  This series will be a help to the pastor who has some knowledge of biblical Greek, as well as “the overloaded professor,” and the seminarian (14).  Although the authors provide their own translation of the text at the rear of the text, the book is designed to highlight “the big Greek idea” of each section of text and put the tools out there for these persons to use to interpret, explain, and preach the text.  It is not for the average lay person – some knowledge of biblical Greek is necessary.

            The text opens with a table of contents, charts and sidebars index, list of abbreviations used, and then a length introduction which explains how to read the text and the authors’ basing it on the use of the clausal outline of the text.

            Then the text begins in earnest with an introduction to each letter before it, followed by the big Greek idea, structural overview, outline, and clausal outline for each section of text.  Interspersed are syntactical, lexical, semantical, theological, text-critical and grammatical “nuggets” to help in understanding the translation and interpretation of the text.

            The volume ends with a bibliography and a “nugget” index.

            If you are looking for a commentary that gives your denominational interpretation, this is not it.  If you are looking for a commentary that helps you work through the Greek to understand the bid ideas and, thereby, the text, you will find this very useful.

            I am interested to see future volumes.

            I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Surplus"

            I like to give.  I especially like to give to the church and the people of the church.  I especially look for good books to give to others.  As Richard Baxter commends, “There is nothing better a minister can do than to give good books to his people.”

            On the other hand, I wonder how God wants us to prepare for the future and eventualities of not being able to do the work we once did – especially in a world where not even the church folk are as close and supportive as they once were – as we ought to be.

            I read Surplus:  Fearless Generosity in 2 Corinthians 8-9, by Bryan Elliff, in two sittings on the same day.  It is short, convicting, joyful, and very readable.

            As the title suggests, Elliff explains the context and meaning of 2 Corinthians 8-9 and applies it to the modern Christian.

            As the reader might know – this section of 2 Corinthians is Paul asking the Corinthians to be prepared for his arrival and his taking of the collection of an offering for the church in Jerusalem which is suffering – and Paul relates some of the giving that has been done thus far.

            Elliff explains that God gives us all that we need, plus a surplus to give to others.  He shows that what we have is a grace from God and we give as a grace to others (Ch. 2).

            What is most important – as we tend to highlight in this passage while ripping it out of context – is that we are to give with the right heart attitude – and God has gifted us – graced us – with a surplus another needs that we may share that grace and meet that need.  “Paul’s big idea is that theses churches should pursue equality in times of acute need by using their surplus to remedy the deficits of others” (31).

            He is not suggesting socialism.  He is suggesting that everyone’s needs ought to be met through the gifts and grace God gives.  God gives the surplus that we may have joy is filling a need.

            Elliff tells of John Wesley and George Mueller who did not believe we are to save for ourselves or future generations but are to fill our needs and give the rest away.  Elliff admits that he is still wrestling with whether this is a biblical norm or a gift of certain people (37).

            Chapter four looks at the integrity needed in giving.

            Chapter five looks at what it means to not give begrudgingly or under compulsion.

            In chapter six, Elliff argues that the text tells us that if we are as generous as God has been with us, “we will never lack supply, both for our needs and for continuing acts of liberality” (68).

            “But now comes the truly remarkable reality.  Not only will you be provided with enough seed for planting, your seed planting will be multiplied.  For every one bag of seed you go out to plant, there will be more bags waiting to be planted.  In other words, the more you give, the more you will have to give” (69, emphasis his).

            Don’t misunderstand:  the multiplying is not for us to store up, save, or hoard.  The multiplying is only for giving to others.

            Chapter seven looks at how gifts communicate something – how they can build fellowship.

            The book ends with a chapter considering the indescribable gift all Christians have received in Jesus.

            Each chapter ends with study and/or group questions.

            The book ends with the text of 2 Corinthians 8-9 for review and meditation.

            This book reinvigorated me and my desire to give more.  Though, I admit, I still struggle with knowing what is biblically right with regards to saving.  For now, I will pray and be and wise and liberal in my giving to the glory of God and in thanks for His grace.

            You need to read this book.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 2 volumes"

            D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a rising star in the surgical field of medicine, when he received a call to the ministry – the larger part which was to be at Westminster Chapel, London.

            The massive two-volume biography of Dr. Lloyd-Jones by Iain H. Murray began as Murray’s notes for Lloyd-Jones for the eventual writing of Lloyd-Jones’ autobiography – which was never to be written.

            Volume 1: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: the First Forty Years: 1899-1938.

            Volume 2: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: the Fight of Faith: 1939-1981.

            Murray served alongside of Lloyd-Jones at Westminster for some years and they collaborated on the Banner of Truth Trust, so he is someone with a great knowledge of the man of which he writes.

            Though the two-volume biography scales some 1,300 pages, it is very readable and extraordinarily engaging.  Murray includes primary documents and pictures will greatly add to the work.

            Had a never read Lloyd-Jones or heard Murray speak before reading these volumes, I would still have picked them up knowing that Lloyd-Jones defines preaching as “logic on fire” – that is, preaching – good preaching – examines the text as a surgeon diagnosing with medical skills and with a passion given by God the Holy Spirit.

            Other than saying you will have missed out on a great preacher, a great biographer, and what the Holy Spirit might do with you through this book, I will keep this brief – you have much to read.

            Highly recommended.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Small Church Essentials"

           What are the essentials of a small church?  Well, to become larger and to have more money, right?

            Not necessarily, Karl Vaters argues in his book, Small Church Essentials:  Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of Under 250.

            I can’t tell you how much I hate it when someone asks what our average attendance is and I say, “25,” and they respond, “Oh, I’m sorry” or “Have you thought about an open house?”  Or a revival?  Or a sermon series on giving?  Or focusing your ministry on doing whatever you have to do to change to get people in the doors?

            Vaters has been to all the church growth seminars – as he shows with quotations and endnotes.  Yet, he states the average Protestant church in the US has 80 congregants (18) and that is not necessarily wrong or indicative that a church is broken; it may be perfectly healthy and obedient – and there’s the rub – the Church is to “equip the saints, reach the lost, and glorify God” (41) and there is no numerical equivalent to that mandate.

            In Part Two of his book, Vaters presents the differences between big and small church and argues that the differences merely make them different, not wrong.

            In Part Three, he asks if your church is small because there is a problem or because it is strategically small by virtue of its context – in which case, there is nothing to be fixed.

            If there is a problem, the problem must be understood and addressed (though the problem’s resolution does not mean the church will grow financially or monetarily).

            Vaters begins by arguing that all churches should “fill up” and “empty out” in being who God calls them to be – there is a receiving part in the church and a giving out in the church (116).  The problem could be that the church focuses on one and not the other, rather than having a balance.

            Functional churches are not cluttered (120).  (And he helps the reader understand what clutter is and how best to remove it.)

            In chapter ten, he argues that each church has something(s) that it does well, and that is what it should focus on – that is what it’s purpose/way/method it brings the Gospel and grows as a church (135ff).

            In part four, he argues that being a “great” small church is found in recognizing that small churches are much more about relationships than large churches, so maximize relationship-building (191ff).

            Vaters book is very readable – great for church boards to read through and plan with, as well as for senior/solo ministers to read and bring forth to the church.  It is extremely important that we disabuse ourselves of the notion that all churches must be large or that small churches are being punished.  A faithful, Gospel-preaching, obedient church can be perfect with 25 people in it.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Outsider"

            A pre-teen boy is savagely murdered and left in the woods.  His coach’s DNA is on him.  His coach’s fingerprints are on him.  His coach is seen with him by several people in the hours before his body is found.  The case seems like a slam dunk.

            But as several law enforcement agencies work together, they find that not everything is as it seems – not everything adds up.  There is conflicting evidence – hours away conflicting evidence – and someone else’s fingerprints.

            It’s said that everyone has a double.  But maybe it’s not as simple as that.  Maybe some can become your double.

            Stephen King leads his readers on a high-speed chase to answer the question of whether the person you saw has to be the person you saw in, The Outsider – an engrossing and disturbing read that leaves the reader wanting to believe – and not wanting to believe.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Economics in One Lesson"

            I had to take an Intro to Economics course when I was in college.  I remember the professor drawing a graph showing the rate of people who wanted to buy butter versus those who want to buy guns…and then I passes the course somehow…I don’t remember what else happened in that class.

I heard Ben Shapiro recommend Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson:  The Shortest & Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics, and I thought – “one lesson, how bad could it be?” 

The lesson is:  “The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy, it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups” (17, italics his).

The rest of the book is a compilation of various situations applying the lesson.

For example: chapter two concerns someone breaking a window.  To understand the economics of a broken window, one needs to consider the cost to the person who now has to purchase a new window, but the cost to all of the various people the person with the broken window would have spent that money on that he is now forced to use to repair the window.

The makes sense. 

So, if you are looking for a book on economics, I join in recommending this book.  There is even a chapter in this book looking at tariffs and how they do not benefit the country placing them, Mr. President.

Oh, well.  This book widened my thinking about how economics works.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Finding Quiet"

            J. P. Moreland is one of the most influential philosophers in the world today.  When I saw that he had written a book on coping with anxiety (and depression), I had to pick up, Finding Quiet:  My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace (as I struggle with anxiety and depression).

            As you might expect, the book chronicles his sudden and unexpected anxiety (and depression).  Moreland explains how well his life was going making the appearance of anxiety so much more of an issue for him.  There was no “ah-hah” moment of “this is what caused this.”

            In the first chapter, Moreland looks – from his perspective as a Christian and philosopher – at the human self and how it is made up of soul, spirit, and body – concluding that the “human body in an ensouled biological structure” (35).

            From this, he talks about self-talk and self-compassion.  The parts of our self can become disjointed – especially by stress – and this is what (often) leads to anxiety and depression.  It is through self-talk and self-compassion that you can realign the self in a real and holistic manner.

            In the third chapter, he explains the habits he has adopted to help him control his anxiety/depression – first looking at the neuroplasticity of the brain – that repeatedly doing something over a few months will cut or realign “grooves” in the brain such that the habits become second nature.

            Moreland then explains “the four-step solution,” “the HeartMath solution,” contemplative prayer, daily expressions of gratitude, medications, and “EMDR.” I will leave the details of these habits/practices for the reader to read.  Suffice it to say, I have tried a few of these habits and found them helpful – and I am thankful that the author shows that it is no sinful to take medications to help with psychological/mental health problems.  Too many Christians believe that medication is sinful, and one ought to be able to read Scripture, pray, and have them disappear.  In some cases that may happen, but in others, medication is a good option.

            In chapter six, Moreland looks at biblical and miraculous healing, as well as the lamentations of the Bible when it seems God is not listening, much less responding, to one’s prayers.

            Each chapter ends with “bullet points” – the main points of the chapter – and all the bullet points are found at the end of the book for quick review.

            The appendices contain a list of encouraging Scriptures one might memorize and repeat along with the habits, two prayers one can pray written by the author’s mentor, Dallas Willard, and a lengthy, annotated bibliography for further reader, concluding with chapter endnotes.

            I am thankful for Moreland’s candor and honesty in written about his struggle – as I said, mental illness still remains something only talked about in hushed voices in many churches, and I have started to incorporate the habits he explains in my own life – that I would be healthier and more able to serve my God and Savior.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff"

            Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff:  A Libertarian Manifesto, by Matt Kibbe, is an excellent introduction to Libertarian philosophy and politics.

            The back cover of Kibbe’s book gives his “six rules of liberty” which he expands on in his book.

1.      Don’t hurt people.  Free people just want to be left alone, not hassled or harmed by someone else’s agenda or designs on their life and property.

2.      Don’t take people’s stuff.  America’s founders fought to ensure property rights and our individual right to the fruits of our labors.

3.      Take responsibility.  Liberty means responsibility.  Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to solve your problems.

4.      Work for it.  For every action there is and equal reaction.  Work hard and you’ll be rewarded.

5.      Mind your own business.  Free people live and let live.

6.      Fight the power.  Take a stand against corrupt authority.

Kibbe flushes out these “rules” showing that that United STATES of America ought

have a very small federal government – the state government should also be small but larger than the federal.  Here, I would put for that, biblically, government exists for two reasons – to protect her citizens and to punish evil.  Of course, there can be massive difference in what that all includes based on the person and philosophy that is being employed.

            The limited government system that he describes sounds in line with our founding documents and with biblical understandings.  However, the desire for power and more power is enticing, so I doubt the massive Republican and Democratic machines will ever subside to levels that show true care for all people.

            There is also something of a naiveite about the goodness of human nature which makes Libertarianism even less likely to supplant “the two parties.”  Humans, in my understanding, are basically evil – basically self-centered.

            That being said, I would continue to argue for a “secular” state which does not interfere with the practice of my religion.  Thus, I can accept that the state allows for the marriage of practicing homosexuals, for example, while, by virtue of my religion (not to mention, philosophical integrity), I cannot approve of practicing homosexual unions. Still, I take no action to support or thwart them.

            And so, I highly recommend this book to help one understand Libertarianism.  And, I recommend the philosophy of Libertarianism as good.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: Seven Principles of Good Government.

            In 2012 and 2016, Gary Johnson ran for the President of the United States.  His book, Seven Principles of Good Government, explains his form of Libertarianism.

            His seven principles are (6-7):

1.      Become reality-driven.

2.      Tell the truth.

3.      Do what is right and fair.

4.      Develop a plan to reach that goal, and then act.

5.      Make sure that everyone who ought to know knows what you’re doing.

6.      Acknowledge mistakes immediately.

7.      Find a job you love enough to do what it takes.

In the chapters that follow, Johnson explains how these principles have guided him as a

Two-term governor of New Mexico and how they would lead him as President of the United States.

            The book is optimistic with regards to a smaller government that abides by these principles.  Johnson gives an overview of his life and how he has learned and led by them.  Pictures appear amidst the chapters.

            Johnson makes his case for a Libertarian government, and I have come to believe it is a good way to govern.  However, there is a great deal of repetition from chapter to chapter – as if these were talks that he bound in book form.  It is a useful primer and introduces the reader to Johnson in particular, but to learn more of what Libertarianism entails, one needs to pick up addition material.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Nursing Home Murder"

            The Home Secretary of Parliament was having pains in his side that made him nauseous, but he needed to work, and didn’t think it was any big thing.  His sister-in-law urged him to try her homeopathic remedy, but his good friend and surgeon, suggested it might be a burst appendix.  After the Home Secretary passed out, he had not recourse but to accept the surgery.  Shortly after, he died.

            Ngaio Marsh takes us to the hospital in The Nursing Home Murder, and we wonder, was it the sister-in-law with the quack prescription?  Was it the good surgeon?  Was it one of the nurses who had their issues with the Home Secretary?  I guessed wrong.

            I enjoy working the little grey cells.  You might, too.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend"

            Mark Meynell’s When Darkness Seems My Closet Friend:  Reflections on life and ministry with depression is a very good resource for ministers who suffer with depression.

            Meynell tell his story of depression in ministry as a help for other ministers to learn to cope with and, even, arise through periods of depression and not be conquered by it.  A major scriptural passage – from which the title of the book comes – is Psalm 88, written by the sons of Korah.

            In the first chapter, Meynell explains the mask the minister often find himself needing to wear he ministers to his congregation (1ff).  When someone is hurting or rejoicing, the pastor may need to mask his own depression to help the parishioner.  Some parishioners would be turned away from coming to a pastor who is too open with his mental illness.

            Chapter two focuses in depression bubbling up and how music – such as Psalm 88 can be a salve.

            Meyer then talks about the cave ministers can find themselves in – setting themselves away from all others who can hurt to help.  He talks about one of his favorite poets and hymnwriters, William Cowper, and his depression, and the need to find someone who can understand.

            He continues, “The great weight of our sin makes us groan, and yet God’s high standards and our people’s expectations make us reluctant to acknowledge that weight” (51).

            From this follows the problem of shame.  “In contrast to guilt, which provokes a fear of the discovery of what I have done, shame generates a fear of the discovery of who I am” (75).  Deliverance comes in finding God’s “extravagant love” in the cross over and over (90).

In the sixth chapter, he writes about thoughts of suicide and how the must be dealt with by addressing the health of the whole person – body, soul, mind, and spirit (104).

Next, he has an “interlude” featuring a poem by Andrew Peterson (113).

In the next chapter, he urges, “I live by faith, not sight” (140).

 In the eighth chapter, he argues for the importance of having at least one other person that can be there when the pastor is descending into darkness, even if that person can do not more that be there.

In the final chapter, he shows how his depression and understanding it has made him a better pastor and how it can be a gift if handled rightly.

In the first appendix (186), he looks at different types of treatment that may be useful for the pastor going through depression.

In the second (193), he listed an extensive set of print and digital resources.

Finally, he includes some of his poetry regarding his struggles.

This is followed by chapter endnotes.

Meynell’s book is well worth the read for its honesty and for making it clear that if one is experiencing depression – or any type of mental illness, one ought not go it alone – seek help.

Meynell writes from his experience of sin and shame leading to depression, and here, in a sense, I find the book’s one weakness:  it does not address depression caused by biochemical disease or accident.  Of course, that is not what caused his depression, so one would to expect it.  I only mention it to say that though his book is very good and certainly helpful, it does not cover everything, and the reader should be aware of that as one suffers and seek to help those who are suffering.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Throne of Caesar"

            Steven Saylor explains in the afterward to his novel, The Throne of Caesar, that he wrote his prequels to the “Sub Rosa” series, featuring Gordian’s the Finder, that he was unsure of how to make the murder of Julius Caesar into a mystery since everyone knows who killed Julius Caesar, if not also why.

            The answer came in paralleling Caesar’s history with that of Cinna’s – perhaps the greatest Roman poet to live.  I won’t say any more so as not to spoil the mystery, but it is based on history, shocking, and up to the standards of Saylor’s books.

            Saylor writes real Roman history and adds his famed dectective to figure out what the things – murders in particular – happened in Roman history.  So, if you like solid historical Roman history and/or mysteries, Saylor is highly recommended.  One aspect of his novels that I have found highly rewarding is that he includes an afterward to each book in which he names the books he has found of most value in writing his novel.  So, if there is any aspect of the history covered that you find of interest and want to follow up on, Saylor gives you a place to start.

            I love his novels and look forward to the next one.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Santa Clawed"

            Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown make a great team as they write their series of mysteries starring Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen and her cat, Mrs. Murphy.  Their books are relaxing, challenging and fun.

            In Santa Clawed, it is Christmastime – when all should be peace with the world.  So, Harry and her family go to pick out a Christmas tree, only to find a monk from the local monastery under the tree they want with his throat slit in a nasty smile.  But he’s not the last monk to die.  Who could have anything against a monastery?

            The Brown’s take us into danger as they put the pieces together.

            Very enjoyable.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Hiss of Death"

            Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown make a great team as they write their series of mysteries starring Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen and her cat, Mrs. Murphy.  Their books are relaxing, challenging and fun.

            In Hiss of Death, Harry and her animal menagerie are off to solve a mystery again:  when Harry needs medical attention, she finds a dead nurse without a mark on her indicating what might have happened.  And she is not the only one who will die on the hospital staff.

            The Brown’s take us into danger as they put the pieces together.

            Very enjoyable.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Right Side of History"

            I enjoy listening to Ben Shapiro – even when I don’t wholly buy what he is saying.

When he announced his latest book:  The Right Side of History:  How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great, I knew I had to read it.

Shapiro argues that the foundation of the existence of the United States is Judeo-Christian ethics and Greek reason – American happiness is founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and Greek reason. And, in order to be happy, we need four things: “individual moral purpose, individual capacity to pursue that purpose, communal moral purpose, and communal capacity to pursue that purpose” (9).

In the ensuing chapters, Shapiro makes the case that the United States is based in and could only come from Judeo-Christian ethic and Greek philosophy.  From Moses on Sinai to the present day, Shapiro draws a compelling parallel to his thesis.  And the shows that failures to achieve the goal of happiness – such as the Holocaust – are due to straying from these foundations and the individual and communal purpose and capacity.  He diagnoses the current state of America as “a return to paganism” (183ff).

The book ends with a call to rebuild.  The way to do this is to understand that “your life has purpose,” “you can do it” – achieve your purpose, recognize that “your civilization is unique,” (215) and that “we are all brothers and sisters” (216).

Shapiro writes, “It is our job to carry on the tradition.  It is our job to push the task forward.

“If we do, then we will be truly deserving of God’s blessing, and fit to proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.  We will choose life, so that we and our children may life” (218).

Shapiro presents a compelling case for learning and retaining our founding principles.  It is a sobering book, yet a hopeful one.

I do have some questions about some of his comments about the Reformation (I am a Calvinist), nevertheless, I recommend this book to any concerned about the United States.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Art of Turning"

            Kevin DeYoung’s little book, The Art of Turning:  From Sin to Christ for a Joyfully Clear Conscience, is not little in content.

            DeYoung begins with the history of Luther not being willing to violate his conscience to Paul defense – and boast – of his clear conscience in II Corinthians.

            At this point, DeYoung defines the conscience: “the conscience is the moral faculty within human beings that assesses what is good and what is bad” (16-17).

            Unfortunately, the conscience can “misfire” (19).  This happens when it has been corrupted in a one or more of several ways.  It can be evil – unregenerate (19).  It can be “seared” by our ignoring it (21).  It can be “defiled” – such that we rejoice in evil (23). And we can have a “weak” conscience – one that accuses us when we have not done something wrong (24).

            Finally, a conscience can be made clean if we “turn from sin” (32) and “turn to Christ” (34).

            This is a great primer for those struggling with their conscience and those who ought to be struggling with their science.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Trinity Without Hierarchy"

Paul writes, “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God” (I Corinthians 11:3, ESV).

The collections of essays in Trinity Without Hierarchy:  Reclaiming Nicene Orthodoxy in Evangelical Orthodoxy, edited by Michael F. Bird and Scott Harrower, is largely concerned with how the above verse should be interpreted and how the church universal has interpreted it over the years. 

The essays also largely respond to the work of Wayne Grudem and Bruce Ware who, when exegeting this verse to prove complementarianism between men and women, are forced to argue for the eternal functional submission of the Son to the Father.

Many might respond, “Who cares?”  But it is a critical issue.  If the Son is in any way substantially or essentially less than the Father, then the Son is not God – He is something else.  The reader enters the territory of Arianism here – and it is not the argument that Grudem and Ware are Arians, but that their arguments necessarily lead to this heresy.

Rather, the essays argue that the Father and Son (and Holy Spirit) are one in essence, but distinct in their roles in carrying out His Will.  Likewise, they argue that the submission that is found – especially in the Gospel of John – must be read with the understanding that Jesus is the God-Man.  He is 100% God and 100% human in one person, with two natures and two wills.  So, in His humanity, of course Jesus submits to God the Father.

The first four chapters look at the Scripture and what it has to say about the relationship between the Father and the Son.

Chapters five through nine engage historical theology through the ages, and chapters ten through sixteen engage systematic theology on the question and address Grudem and Ware directly.

Each chapter contains copious footnotes and bibliography, and the book ends with a Scripture and Ancient source index, as well as a name index.

This book is a powerhouse of scholarship which ought to greatly further the debate – and perhaps end it biblically.

I found the biblical chapters most helpful and the strongest.  And some essays were better than others – in my opinion – for a variety of reasons.  For example, as I read the chapter on John Owen, I felt like the author didn’t care for Owen, which distracted from the argument.

The book is well worth purchasing and reading and using in continuing to express the relationships, will and work, of the Trinity.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

            [This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel, and Goodreads.com.]