My Best Books Read in 2021

This is the last day of the year.  I been racing to finish my New Years’ resolution of 52 books in a year; this is my first year since college where I failed my goal though I will come close (and I hope to still finish something before midnight!).  I digress…

So now here’s my best books I read in 2021.  It’s not easy to narrow it down from the many books I read but overall this is the best ones.  I hope to read more good books next year!

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Review: Who Am I? Identity in Christ

Note: Posting this later than normal since I had to wake up early and teach a Bible study online for a church overseas and was reviewing things for that last night than working on the blog.  I realized it is going to be the end of the year!  There’s some books I finished for 2020 that I will post review of them next year; didn’t get them rolling out in time!

Jerry Bridges. Who Am I? Identity in Christ.  Adelphi, Maryland: Cruciform Press, February 28, 2012.  95 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What does trusting in Jesus Christ means for your new identity as a Christian?  In this book author Jerry Bridges explores the Christian’s new identity biblically.  He does this by applying what in systematic theology is called the Order of Salvation to the question of who a believer is.  By Order of Salvation I mean what God has done to save believers from their sins and the penalty and power of sin.

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Bible Contradiction? Should you answer a fool according to his folly?

Note: The reason why I’m refuting this particular contradiction today is because a few days ago some troll said I was “lying” for not having an answer to this alleged Bible contradiction because I didn’t get back to him right away (and his second comment made me not wiling to respond).  I personally think this is not the unanswerable alleged contradiction as the troll think it is!  It is actually an incredibly low-grade example for an online troll to pick as a challenge for Christians to answer.

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Should you answer a fool according to his folly?

Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Yes.

“5 Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be wise in his own eyes.” (Proverbs 26:5)

No.

“Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him.” (Proverbs 26:4)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

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Audio Book Review: Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans

Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves. Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans.  Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, April 27, 2020. 4 hours and 47 minutes.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Who are the Puritans, what did they believe as Christians and what are lessons for Christians for us today from their lives and teaching?  In this audiobook two capable authors present to us an introduction to the Puritans.  I have benefited from previous books written by Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves, two Reformed authors who are pastors that write theologically and yet still practically and the content of this audiobook fits the bill of how they write.  It was really edifying to listen to this.  Please don’t think that because it is about a historical Christian movement that it is going to be dry!  I was encouraged, worshipped God, thankful and challenged and in all things I was blessed as I read this book!  It is fascinating to see that the audiobook is out before the hardcover copy is published (going to come out in 2022).  This seems like it would be great to read as an actual book!  But I’m glad this is also in audiobook form for my edification while I drive!

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A Son of A Refugee’s Appreciative Letter to a Church in Middle America

The year 2021 is coming to a close.  I’m beginning to reflect back this year.  Having a blog helps.  Soon I’ll write my post of the top posts of the year.  But as any writer knows, there’s some posts that one might think should have done better but didn’t make the top 10, etc.  

Earlier in August I wrote “A Son of A Refugee’s Gratitude for Christians in America’s Mid-West.”  Some of you regular readers of the blog who followed the site for years have said it was probably one of the best posts I wrote.  I think I agree.  If you remember August was the fall of Afghanistan.  The comparison of Vietnam to Afghanistan made me think about my own family history.  

It turns out the next day after I wrote that post we got a letter from the church that sponsored my mom’s family to the US.  It was very emotional for my sisters and I reading it.  I also saw the timing was providential. 

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Review: Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology

Jeffrey Jay Niehaus. Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, March 13, 2008. 208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Have you ever wonder how the Ancient Near East contribute towards our understanding of the Bible?  There’s of course books out there that have used Ancient Near East primary sources to question the veracity of the Bible and biblical doctrines so I understand when Christians are cautious with books on this topic.  This book not only still hold a high view of the Bible but I think this book makes a unique contribution in bringing the fruit of Ancient Near East research and unified it as one coherent Biblical theology rather than various assorted unrelated fact.  This book impressed me beyond my expectation and I’m glad a fellow blogger and friend Mandy Sweigart recommended me to read this!

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This Sunday at Church: Discuss with someone about God’s Faithfulness in 2021

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Discuss with someone about God’s Faithfulness in 2021.

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Resolving Eleven Christmas Bible Contradictions

Merry Christmas!  Since this is Christmas I thought I gather in one post what contradictions I dealt with surrounding the account of the Birth of Jesus from the bigger lists of Bible Contradictions we have refuted.  The following are from the last few years.  Lord willing I plan to add more posts to the list for next Christmas!

Before going further remember the Author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible has a Self-Defeating Worldview that makes his endeavor to attack the Bible be meaningless and unintelligible.

Here’s the listing:

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Bible Contradiction? When was Jesus born?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: When was Jesus born?

Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Before 4 BCE.

Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BCE.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying” (Matthew 2:1)

“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in years. 8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” 21 And meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he repeatedly made signs to them, and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his priestly service were concluded, he went back home. 24 Now after these days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among people.” 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” (Luke 1:5-31)

After 6 CE.

Quirinius (Cyrenius) became governer of Syria in 6 CE, nine years after king Herod’s death.

“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,” (Luke 2:1-4)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

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“Christmas” Expectations in Genesis

Establish the need:  The coming of God to be born to save us from our sins, when was this first predicted or anticipated?  Can it be that this “Christmas” hope, of God coming to be born to save us from our sins, be predicted as far back as the book of Genesis?

Purpose:  Today we will see four points concerning the expectation of the Messiah

• Young or old should know the Old Testament expectation of the Messiah (Luke 1:46-55)
• The expectation of the coming of the Messiah with Adam and Eve
• The expectation of the coming of the Messiah with Lamech
• The expectation of the coming of the Messiah with Noah

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Presuppositional Apologetics Links: Third Week of December 2021

Here are the links related to Presuppositional apologetics gathered between December 15th-21st, 2021.

In light of the Holidays here’s our 12th Annual Presuppositional Apologetics’ Christmas Books Recommendations: Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2021

1.) Cave to the Cross Episode: God Is Transcendent – Ep. 155 – What About Evil? – The Transcendent Author Of History – Part 1

2.) Bible Contradiction? Who was Uzziah’s father?

3.) Bible Contradiction? Where did Joseph and Mary live before the birth of Jesus?

4.) God and the Problem of Individuation

5.) Free E-Book: Christianity And Idealism by Cornelius Van Til

6.) Micah 4-5 Fulfilled In Jesus

7.) Veritas Domain’s Facebook page meme

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend

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Review: Know How We Got Our Bible

Ryan M. Reeves and Charles E. Hill. Know How We Got Our Bible.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, August 7, 2018. 208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

How did we get our Bible and what is the history of the transmission of the Christian Bible?  Christians who love God and the Bible should care about this question!  So here is a great resource for general readers by two authors that are qualified to teach us about this matter.  The first author is Ryan Reeves, an Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the second author is Charles E. Hill Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity.  Charles Hill has also written and edited books related to text of Scripture and manuscripts.  Yet they wrote in a way that was accessible for the general Christian audience to understand all the while being informative and narrating the history and contexts of Bible editions.

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Review: Batman: Gothic

Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  So here’s a Batman comic book review!  After a long weekend of teaching youth group, teaching systematic theology on Saturday night and sermon prep, I need a break! I haven’t posted one of these once in a while!

 

Grant Morrison.  Batman: Gothic. New York, NY: DC Comics, January 1, 1986. 128 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Want to read a fun 1980s Batman adventure? If so this story might be for you.  I have to take a break from some of the newer Batman especially with DC Comics trying to bring in political agendas here and there mixed in with some issues that seems to be more fillers than anything worthwhile when all I wanted is just some good old fashion good story of a hero taking on a bad guy as a break from everything political around me.  So while I haven’t read as much comics this year nevertheless I’m glad there’s 80s Batman to enjoy. 

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This Sunday at Church: Explain to someone about the Incarnation

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Explain to someone about the Incarnation.

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Free E-Book: Christianity And Idealism by Cornelius Van Til

 

For some reason the last few weeks I’ve been seeing people bring up objection to the apologetics of Cornelius Van Til, the Father of Presuppositional Apologetics, as someone who was caught up with the philosophy of Idealism than Christianity.  I don’t think that is accurate.  Most people even among Presuppositionalists know that Van Til has actually written against Idealism in a book titled rather unsurprisingly Christianity and Idealism.  The title Christianity and Idealism is a play on the title of the book Christianity and Liberalism, a classic work by J. Greshem Machen’s refuting theological liberalism and distinguishing it as being not compatible with orthodox Christianity.  Even the title of Van Til’s book is meant to communicate Van Til was going against Idealism.

I hope in the future to comment some more about the objection that Van Til’s apologetics is nothing more than Idealism.  For now in this post I want to share how you can get the PDF of this book free. 

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