Review: Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God

William R. Osborne. Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 20th 2020.  160 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Do you have a biblical view of God’s blessing?  There are those today who get caught up with prosperity Gospel.  That’s one error.  But another error can arise that is born from over-reaction to the Prosperity Gospel in which God’s blessings are denies, downplayed or the subject is diverted.   A biblical theology of blessing is much needed and I believe this book makes a unique contribution since most works against prosperity Gospel engages the topic more in a fashion of “systematic theology” but here with this book the author uses biblical theology in his methodology in tackling the blessing of God.  This I think helps readers to see verses about blessing in its context and also in light of how God’s progressive revelation unfolded.  The author is William R. Osborne , a Professor of biblical and theological studies at College of the Ozarks and he is more than qualified to write a biblical theology of God’s blessing from Genesis to Revelation.

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Review: Batman: Gates of Gotham

A Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  So here’s a Batman comic book review!

Scott Snyder.  Batman: Gates of Gotham. New York, NY: DC Comics, February 7th 2012. 144 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

There is a rather different feel to this Batman story, in a refreshing kind of way!  Its part-mystery, part-Gothic, part-Steampunk and part-Noir.  And yet it does all that in a way that didn’t feel it was forced or trying to do everything but failing in doing anything.  I appreciate these dimensions to the story of this Batman graphic novel and felt the uniqueness kept me going in reading this (and I haven’t read much comics so far in 2021!).

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Free PDF and Review: Family Duty by John Bunyan

John Bunyan. Family Duty.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, July 12th 2016. 35 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Want a booklet on a biblical view of family?  Specifically would you want to have something to read concerning the roles of a husband, wife, father, mother, and children?  This is one that I would recommend.  I read this in one sitting and pulled nearly an all-night reading since it was spiritually edifying.  This booklet is by the famous preacher and Christian author John Bunyan.  It is amazing to think that he died in 1688 but his work is relevant for the 21^st Century; that is a testimony of how when writers focus on being biblical it always is timely.

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Audio Review: 36 Books That Changed the World

A weekend audio lectures review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!

36 Books That Changed the World. Chantilly, VA: The Teaching Company, January 1st 2014. 18 hours, 59 minutes, 50 seconds.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What are the important books in history that has changed the world?  In these lectures produced The Teaching Company various experts of various literatures presents to us important literary works that literally changed the world.  A total of 36 books are surveyed and these individual lectures comes from other lecture series produced by the The Teaching Company.  For instance the lecture on Sun Tzu’s Art of War is from The Masters at War: History’s greatest Strategic Thinkers series delivered by a professor of Strategy and Policy at US Naval War college.  The Republic by Plato is lectured by a political science professor for the series Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition.  I admit listening to these lectures on 36 books that changed the world makes me want to listen to more amazing lecture series produced by The Teaching Company.

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Review: Pulp by Ed Brubaker

A weekend leisure reading review…because sometimes Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  I can’t believe this is actually the first comic book I read this year and its already May! Such has been the state of ministry these days.

Ed Brubaker. Pulp. Portland, OR: Image Comics, August 4th 2020. 72 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a fascinating type of comic.   It is a historical period piece, but it is not just one era but two (Wild West and the late 1930s Pre-World War Two America with the rise of the Nazis during a time when there were Americans with sympathies for Hitler).  It is not necessarily a traditional mystery but there is a mystery of who is the “robber” if you will.  It is also at the same time a story about urban crime but also rural Wild West shooting.  It is also about getting old, people dying and also surviving life.  If you love a good story you will love this comic book!

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Review: Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace

Iain M. Duguid. Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, Mar 24, 2015. 192 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you reading the Genesis narrative about the life of Isaac and Jacob in the Bible (Genesis 25:19-Genesis 35)?  Are you looking for a good devotional commentary that focused on the literary details on these passages that also having an awareness of the unfolding of redemptive history?  This would be a great resource for both pastors, teachers and general Christian Bible readers.

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Review: Who Ate the First Oyster?

A weekend non-fiction fun read as a break from heavy theological reading: Because Pastors need a break also!  Haven’t done one of these in a while!

Cody Cassidy.  Who Ate the First Oyster?. New York, NY: Penguin Books, May 5th 2020. 240 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Who ate the first oyster?  Who discovered Hawaii?  (And how?) And who painted the world’s first masterpiece?  These questions and others are answered in this book.  Written in an accessible manner the answers that author Cody Cassidy gave are informative, fascinating and interesting with the reasoning he gives of why scientists, historians and other experts come to the conclusion they arrived at.  If you like asking questions and learning people’s attempt to answer those questions then this book is for you.

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Review: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self

Carl R. Trueman. The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, November 24th 2020.  432 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Does it seem that too many things that is trending in our post-2020 world seems rather crazy?  This book is an important work that explore how some of the pathologies we are currently seeing in society and culture today is the result of the modern view of the self.  Christian historian Carl Trueman authored this important and phenomenal work that have the attention of others as well in regards to its significance, with this book having received The Gospel Coalition Book Award for 2020 and as of today in April 27^th, 2021 it remains the number one Best Seller in Religion & Philosophy on Amazon, which is incredible given that this is six months after the book was published.  I felt this book is similar to Francis Schaeffer’s How Then Shall We Live? with how the book present readers a penetrating analysis of cultural development of how we got to where we are now from the past although it is with much more academic rigor and footnotes to make the case for the book’s thesis than Schaeffer’s classic.  I felt this book is probably Trueman’s best work thus far.

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Free PDF and Review: Spiritual Peace by Charles Spurgeon

Note: For fans of Spurgeon have you checked out my Review: Charles Spurgeon Framed Art Print?

Charles H. Spurgeon. Spiritual Peace.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, May 13th 2016. 23 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)

This was another booklet by Charles Spurgeon that I picked out to go through with our church youth (pre-teens and teens) concerning the topic of having peace that I thought was a relevant topic as our kids and many like them are going through a time of not being physically attending school, isolated at home and at times going though things in 2020-2021 with the Covid situation.  This booklet was published by Chapel Library.  Spurgeon is among my favorite past preachers to read and while I have appreciated other booklets and sermons from him, this specific work wasn’t bad but it didn’t stand out as much as some of the other works I enjoyed from Spurgeon.  Still Spurgeon still presents biblical truths and it is edifying for believers and evangelistic towards non-Christians.

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Free PDF and Review: The Gospel in a Single Verse by Charles Spurgeon

Note: For fans of Spurgeon have you checked out my Review: Charles Spurgeon Framed Art Print?

 

 

Charles H. Spurgeon. The Gospel in a Single Verse.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, May 12, 2020. 23 pp.

5 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)

I was looking for something that is a short read for our church youth (pre-teens and teens) that preaches the Gospel that is short and readable in one sitting that also introduce them to the heritage of sound Bible teachers from Church history and I thought this booklet published by Chapel Library might fit the bill.  I wasn’t disappointed with The Gospel in a Single Verse.  Spurgeon is among my favorite past preachers to read.

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Humor: Stimulus Check to Purchase Books by Apologist Cornelius Van Til and John Frame

Just a fun meme above.  Here in the US a stimulus check of $1,400 was passed.  How many of you bought Christian books?

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Review: All that is in God

James Dolezal. All that is in God.  Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, July 13, 2017. 176 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you looking for a book that looks at the doctrines of God in regards to the absoluteness of His being?  This book is helpful and the author James Dolezal has done a great service writing this for the church today, especially since some of the attributes of God that have been denied, downplayed and dangerously modified.  Dolezal also managed to present a biblical and historical view on God and answers contemporary objections of some of the hardest attributes of God, within the short space of 176 pages!    Yet thin as it was this book took me three months to finish as I was slowly working through it carefully and reflectively.

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Review: Jonah: God’s Love for All People

A wee-kid Wednesday book review, this afternoon we look at a Christian Children’s book we recommend for your family!

 

David Pat. Jonah: God’s Love for All People.  Coppell, TX: Kindle Direct Publishing, January 21, 2021. 30 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Do you love the story of Jonah in the Minor Prophet in the Bible and want to share it to your child and let him or her learn about the lesson of Jonah?  This illustrated children’s book might be for you.

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Review: Deity and Decree

 

Samuel Reinhan. Deity and Decree.  Coppell, TX: Kindle Direct Publishing, December 1, 2020. 161 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for a book that goes pretty deep with the difficult doctrines of God while also within the range of under two hundred pages?  This book would be suitable for you.  Originally a class syllabus for his lectures in a Spanish seminary this book is by Reformed Baptist (1689) Samuel Reinhan.  I felt I grew a lot reading this book in terms of my theology proper and though it was 161 pages I read this very slowly and took notes to really understand it.  Immensely rewarding and edifying!

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Review: Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality

Gregory D. Cook. Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality: The Gospel According to Abraham.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, January 16, 2015. 208 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you reading the narratives in Genesis about the life of Abraham?  Also are you looking for a good devotional commentary that also have a redemptive historical awareness and also conscious of biblical theology?  This would be a resource in understanding the portion of the book of Genesis.

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