Archives For Books

Canyon Road: A Book of Prayer, an exquisitely designed treasury of over 300 spirit-provoking prayers, encourages you to attend to God’s presence, helping you exercise your voice in prayer and grow in your ability to hear God’s voice. The prayers, which are spoken in diverse genres, styles and languages, demonstrate how to deal with universal struggles such as healing, forgiveness, temptation, and betrayal. Written by Kari Kristina Reeves, a member of St. Andrew’s, Canyon Road recently won first place at the New York Book Show in the General Trade-Poetry category.

St. Andrew’s Rector Steve Wood notes, “Kari’s insight, reflections, and prayers give shape to the contours of our soul and words for the longings of our heart.” As the founder and principal of ATLAS Spiritual Design, Inc., Kari leads an international team that creates intuitive materials and interactive spaces to help people experience God through the power of Beauty.

Visit www.exploreatlas.org/canyonroad to learn more about ATLAS, read excerpts and endorsements, or to purchase Canyon Road: A Book of Prayer.

A nice article from The Gospel Coalition:

Editors’ Note: ”When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue,” novelist Christopher Morley said, “you sell him a whole new life.” During the past 50 years more books have been sold than in any other time in history. So what type of life—or, as Abraham Kuyper would say, world-and-life view—are we buying?

As a partial answer to that question, we’ve asked several Christian thinkers to examine the worldviews presented in the top 10 most-read books.

Read the rest.

old booksI spoke last night at Year Team.  I always enjoy my time with them.  I especially enjoy the Q & A at the end my my teaching time.  Our conversation drifted to my reading preferences for “old dead guys” rather than contemporary authors (though, of course, I still read contemporary authors).  The rationale I offered was multifaceted and includes (but is not limited to) the following:

      • Their works have stood the test of time.
      • Their cultural blindspots have been revealed while ours our still shrouded.
      • Their presuppostions were different than ours.
      • They expand our vocabulary and force us to think deeply.

They asked me what I’d recommend.  Where does one start?  Seriously, looking at 2000 years of Christian literature, where do you start?  Any list is woefully inadequate.  However, I had to start somewhere – some guideposts, some books that could form a theological framework and develop a theological vocabulary.  Many of the authors below were/are prolific writers.  I tried to select those books that would give a good introduction to author’s overall theology.  This list is by no means exhaustive.  And, I’ve left off a good many books, both old and new, that have been very influential in my reading.  Below are my suggestions.  You’ll note that contemporary authors receive short shrift.  I’d be curious to know your thoughts.

Happy reading.

Catechisms
Martin Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms
39 Articles of Religion (in the back of the Book of Common Prayer)
The Heidelberg Catechism
The Westminster Catechism

Old Dead Guys
Augustine: Confessions; The City of God
Athanasius: On the Incarnation
Martin Luther: Table Talk
John Calvin: The Institutes of Christian Religion
John Owen: The Death of Death in the Death of Christ
Richard Baxter: The Reformed Pastor
Richard Sibbes: Bruised Reed (free download with reflection questions: http://www.wearestandrews.com/userfiles/files/SAMP%20PDF%20Files/Resources/The-Bruised-Reed.pdf)
Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
George Herbert: Poems by George Herbert
John Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress
John Milton: Paradise Lost
Jonathan Edwards: The Freedom of the Will; The Religious Affections
J.C. Ryle: Knots Untied
Charles Spurgeon: Lectures to My Students
G.K Chesterton: Orthodoxy
C.S. Lewis: God in the Dock; Mere Christianity
John Murray: Principles of Conduct
Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Joy Unspeakable:Power and Renewal in the Holy Spirit; Puritans: Their Origins and Successors
Francis Schaeffer: The God Who Is There; How Should We Then Live?
George Eldon Ladd: The Gospel of the Kingdom; The Presence of the Future
Lesslie Newbigin: The Household of God
John Stott: Basic Christianity; The Cross of Christ

Contemporary Authors
J.I. Packer: Knowing God, A Quest for Godliness
Tim Keller:  The Reason for God
Michael Horton: Christless Christianity; The Gospel Driven Life
Gordon Fee: The Disease of Health and Wealth Gospels; God’s Empowering Presence; How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth
Alister McGrath: Christianity’s Dangerous Idea
John Piper: Desiring God
RC Sproul: The Holiness of God
Ravi Zacharias: Can Man Live Without God?; Beyond Opinion; Deliver Us From Evil; Jesus Among Other Gods
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology, edited by Burk Parsons

 

Our staff just finished a summer study of the Rev. Dr. Richard Sibbes’ most famous work, The Bruised Reed. Dr. Sibbes was an Anglican priest and remained one for his entire life. Though his collected works fill seven volumes, The Bruised Reed is undoubtedly his most recognized book. The Bruised Reed has influenced such notable preachers and theologians as John Owen, J.C. Ryle, Charles Spurgeon, and more recently John Stott, Martin Lloyd-Jones and J.I. Packer. Tim Keller cites The Bruised Reed as foundational for ministry and requires minsters in training at Redeemer to study the book.

For our study we broke the book down into bite-sized pieces and added reflection questions for each segment of reading.  You can find a .pdf of the book, reading plan and questions on our website for your personal or staff or small group use.  Following is a final thought from Sibbes addressing the hope of the church.

If we look to the present state of the church of Christ, it is as Daniel in the midst of lions, as a lily amongst the thorns, as a ship not only tossed but almost covered with waves. It is so low that the enemies think they have buried Christ, with respect to his gospel, in the grave, and there they think to keep him from rising. But as Christ rose in his person, so he will roll away all the stones and rise again in his church. How little support has the church and cause of Christ at this day! How strong a conspiracy is against it! The spirit of antichrist is now lifted up and marches furiously. Things seem to hang on a small and invisible thread. But our comfort is that Christ lives and reigns, and stands on Mount Zion in defense of those who stand for him (Rev. 14:1); and when states and kingdoms shall dash one against another Christ will have care of his own children and cause, seeing there is nothing else in the world that he much esteems. At this very time the delivery of his church and the ruin of his enemies are in progress. We see nothing in motion till Christ has done his work, and then we shall see that the Lord reigns.

Common Prayer, Uncommon Beauty

February 23, 2012

A very nice article from Jonathan Aitken over at American Spectator celebrating the 350th ‘birthday’ of the BCP:

Last year, this column and the world celebrated the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. This year brings the 350th birthday of another magnificent monument of early modern English—the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP). All who savor the riches of our common linguistic heritage should rejoice in its commemoration. For the BCP’s combination of spiritual wisdom and literary beauty gives it a following far beyond the ecclesiastical frontiers of Anglicanism, Episcopalianism, and the Church of England that originally commissioned it.

The BCP was the creation of Thomas Cranmer, a Tudor statesman blessed with a genius for the writing of prose bordering on poetry. A court favorite of King Henry VIII, who made him Archbishop of Canterbury, Cranmer compiled the various prayers, collects, and orders of worship that eventually emerged as the 1662 prayer book. However, before it could be published in its final form its principal author was burned at the stake for his Reformist sympathies during a period of Catholic repression.

Although these power struggles have long since been forgotten, Cranmer’s majestic command of the English language lives on. In the words of his leading biographer, Diarmaid MacCulloch: “Millions who have never heard of Cranmer or of the muddled heroism of his death have echoes of his words in their minds.”

These echoes of Cranmer’s gift for language ring down the centuries because he had a perfect ear for cadences that are both beautiful and eternal. He wanted “a mere ploughboy” to be able to remember the BCP’s most powerful phrases. He did not hesitate to borrow from the finest spiritual writers of his time such as Miles Coverdale, an early translator of the Psalms, and Archbishop Reynolds, who authored the prayer of General Thanksgiving. Yet the most sparkling gems of the BCP were Cranmer’s own compositions such as:

Read the rest.

kevin deyoung rob bellFound this thorough critique this morning. Well worth the time to work you way through it. In particular you will note how DeYoung restates the author’s stated premise(s) (demonstrating respect for Bell and his ideas as well as good “listening” skills – both necessary in a discussion), evaluates the author’s evidence (in Bell’s case DeYoung notes the dearth of citations – biblical and historical), challenges the author’s arguments and throughout presents – and supports – an alternative theological point of view. DeYoung, not Bell, demonstrates the proper way to “do” theology.

Love Wins, by megachurch pastor Rob Bell, is, as the subtitle suggests, “a book about heaven, hell, and the fate of every person who ever lived.” Here’s the gist: Hell is what we create for ourselves when we reject God’s love. Hell is both a present reality for those who resist God and a future reality for those who die unready for God’s love. Hell is what we make of heaven when we cannot accept the good news of God’s forgiveness and mercy. But hell is not forever. God will have his way. How can his good purposes fail? Every sinner will turn to God and realize he has already been reconciled to God, in this life or in the next. There will be no eternal conscious torment. God says no to injustice in the age to come, but he does not pour out wrath (we bring the temporary suffering upon ourselves), and he certainly does not punish for eternity. In the end, love wins.

Bell correctly notes (many times) that God is love. He also observes that Jesus is Jewish, the resurrection is important, and the phrase “personal relationship with God” is not in the Bible. He usually makes his argument by referencing Scripture. He is easy to read and obviously feels very deeply for those who have been wronged or seem to be on the outside looking in.

Unfortunately, beyond this, there are dozens of problems with Love Wins. The theology is heterodox. The history is inaccurate. The impact on souls is devastating. And the use of Scripture is indefensible. Worst of all, Love Wins demeans the cross and misrepresents God’s character.

Read the rest.

CNN reports that Bell’s new book, “Love Wins,” was central to the decision made by Zondervan Publishing to part company with Bell. Mark Tauber, Sr. VP and Publisher at HarperOne (Bell’s new publisher) said,

The break with Zondervan was amicable. In the end the president of Zondervan made the decision. The proposal came in and they said, “this proposal (for “Love Wins”) doesn’t fit with our mission.”

And, what is Zondervan’s mission?

To be the leader in Christian communications meeting the needs of people with resources that glorify Jesus Christ and promote biblical principles.

Quite a statement about the theology of the book, yes?

I applaud Zondervan for taking a principled stand with the full knowlege of the massive financial hit they’d take by parting ways with Rob Bell.

Rob Bell has been in the news quite a bit lately. And for good reason. Bell, who many of you may know through his Nooma videos, has written a new book entitled, “Love Wins.” Nice title. Of course, Bell often has nice titles, “Velvet Elvis” being another. Sadly, though, his theology – suspect from the start – follows the well-worn path of other “emergent” leaders off the reservation. So, what’s the flap about? Well, Bell finally puts his cards on the table: he’s a universalist. And while I can find empathy for his empathy, I just don’t think the story he tells is better than the story Scripture tells.

Here’s a helpful review of the book by Tim Challies:

Questions matter. They can help you to grow deeper in your knowledge of the truth and your love for God—especially when you’re dealing with the harder doctrines of the Christian faith. But questions can also be used to obscure the truth. They can be used to lead away just as easily as they can be used to lead toward. Ask Eve.

Enter Rob Bell, a man who has spent much of the last seven years asking questions in his sometimes thought-provoking and often frustrating fashion. And when he’s done asking, no matter what answers he puts forward, it seems we’re only left with more questions.

Read the rest.

What I’ve Read This Year

December 6, 2010

My goal every year is to read one book a week.  Once in a while I actually hit 52 books, most years, like this one, I don’t.  Actually, I didn’t come close this year checking in at 32 books read, not counting the Bible – which I think ought to be read in its entirety by every Christian, every year.  This was an odd year in that for various reasons I found myself re-reading some books that I’ve read previously.

What did you read this year?  Any surprises?  Any gems?

Bible and Commentaries
The Holy Bible (ESV) – it should go without saying that the Bible is at the top of every Christian’s reading list, but sadly, the American church is in the sad state of shape it’s in because it is often unsaid and, therefore, the Bible is unread. I read through the Bible in its entirety, once.

The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Pillar New Testament Commentary)
By Douglas Moo

The Message of Ephesians
By John Stott

God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul
By Gordon Fee

The Chronological Guide to the Bible
Thomas Nelson Publishing

Sociology/Culture
Solzhenitsyn Nobel Lecture
By Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Hooking Up
By Tom Wolfe

Signposts in a Strange Land: Essays
By Walker Percy

The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior
By Steven Garber

Real Politics: At the Center of Everyday Life
By Jean Bethke Elshtain

The World is Flat [updated and expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century
By Thomas Friedman

History
The Apostolic Fathers
By Ed Mark Galli

The Teaching of The Twelve: Believing & Practicing the Primitive Christianity of the Ancient Didache Community
By Tony Jones

The Calvinistic Methodist Fathers of Wales (Volume 1)
John Morgan Jones & William Morgan, translated by John Aaron

Devotional
All I Want Is You
By Sandy Millar

Biography
Pursued By God: The Amazing Life and Lasting Influence of John Calvin
By Chris Meehan

Wilberforce
By John Pollock

Theology
How to Think Theologically
By Howard Stone

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
By N. T. Wright

Our Heavenly Father: Sermons on the Lord’s Prayer
By Helmut Thielicke

He Shines in All that’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace
By Richard Mouw

Real Christianity
By William Wilberforce

Creed or Chaos? Why Christians Must Choose Ether Dogma or Disaster (or, Why It Really Does Matter What You Believe)
By Dorothy Sayers

The One, the Three and the Many (Bampton Lectures)
By Colin Gunton

Experiences of God
By Jurgen Multmann

Missiology
The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society
By Lesslie Newbigin

Christian Mission in the Modern World
By John Stott

General Interest
Paul and Me: Fifty-Three Years of Adventure and Misadventures with My Pal Paul Newman
By A. E. Hotchner

The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin
By Nigel Williamson

Riders of the Purple Sage
By Zane Grey

Bowdrie
By Louis L’Amour

Bowdrie’s Law
By Louis L’Amour

I ran across a fascinating article on Ray Fowler’s blog.  Seems as if the new Kindle software upgrade allows you to not only view your own highlights within the book you’re reading, but the highlights of others as well.  Using the feature Fowler compiled the most highlighted texts in both the Bible and the Koran.  Can you guess the most highlighted biblical texts?  Themes?

See the top Bible verses.

See the top Koran verses.