Posted in Batman, Book Review, Comic book, Comics, Comics and Worldview, DC Comics, tagged Batman, book review, Comic book, Comics, Comics and Worldview, DC Comics on March 24, 2023| 9 Comments »
Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading! So here’s a Batman comic book review!
Ty Templeton and Kelley Puckett. The Batman Adventures Volume 1. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, June 2, 2015. 240 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Did you ever watched the Batman Animated Series from the 90s? If so this comic might be for you! This gave me nostalgia reading this volume; fortunately there’s four total volumes and this present volume is 240 pages of fun reading!
Posted in Agatha Christie, audiobook, Book Review, historical fiction, tagged Agatha Christie, audiobook, book review, historical fiction on March 6, 2023| 19 Comments »
I have internet again! This is a fiction audio book review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy reading!
Ann Aschauer. Counselor. Newark, NJ: Audible, January 31, 2023. 4 hours and 49 minutes.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
I have never been much of a fiction novel reader so an audiobook fiction is definitely something different for me. I thought I try something new especially since this is a Christian audiobook and being a Christian that gathered my interests. It was a pleasant experience with this audiobook and it was the first one I purchased from Audible and I enjoyed it!
Posted in Apologetics, apologetics methodology, Book Review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, Greg Bahnsen, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til, tagged Apologetics, apologetics methodology, book review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, God, Greg Bahnsen, Presupositionalism, presuppositional apologetics, Reformed, Theology, Van Til on February 27, 2023| 20 Comments »
Readers of this blog over the years will realize Greg Bahnsen has shaped my apologetics method more than others.
I appreciated his lectures and his books.
Of the many books he’s written there’s three that people have called Greg Bahnsen’s trilogy.
Posted in Biblical Meditation, Book Review, Christianity, Devotional, Joel Beeke, Puritans, Scripture Meditation, Theology, tagged Bible, book review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Septuagint, Theology on February 6, 2023| 34 Comments »
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Gregory Lanier and William Ross. https://amzn.to/3DOcmVFThe Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, November 2, 2021. 216 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Does the Greek translation of the Old Testament fascinate you, and you want to learn more about it? The two authors for this book, Gregory Lanier and William Ross, does an excellent job giving readers an accessible introduction to the Greek Old Testament. Often the term Septuagint is used to say Greek Old Testament and the book goes over what is the Septuagint, if it is even proper to say “the Septuagint says…” and why the Greek translation of the Old Testament is important. The two authors are both capable specialists in writing on this subject, both having their PhD from Cambridge and both being professors who are professors at Reformed Theological Seminary who hold a high view of the Bible and write academic papers and books. I am so glad they wrote this book and so glad the publisher was willing to have a book on this subject be published since some can think this is an obscure subject, though I don’t think it should be an obscure topic! I wished this book was available when I was taking an Old Testament textual Criticism class during my second master’s program. It was so good that I wish the publisher can published books using the same format and structure as this book but for other ancient translations of the Bible such as the Latin Vulgate, Aramaic Targum, Syriac Peshitta, etc.
Posted in Batman, Book Review, Comic book, Comics, Comics and Worldview, DC Comics, tagged Batman, book review, Comic book, Comics, Comics and Worldview, DC Comics on January 20, 2023| 20 Comments »
Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading! So here’s a Batman comic book review!
Tom Taylor. Batman: The Detective. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, February 15th 2022. 160 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
I have not read much of Batman comics from DC Comics that was published since 2020 since like many things with post 2020 things have gotten weird but I made an exception with this comic book and I’m glad I did read this one on Batman the detective with the story by Tom Taylor. I enjoyed it since many Batman comics is heavily about fighting action rather than a “mystery” story, which is interesting since Batman is supposed to be a detective of sorts. But this story here is a detective story where Batman is trying to solve a mystery of whose behind a certain rampage of crime and murder.
Posted in Biblical Meditation, Book Review, Christianity, Devotional, Joel Beeke, Puritans, Scripture Meditation, Theology, tagged book review, Christianity, God, Joel Beeke, Reformed, Theology on January 12, 2023| 30 Comments »
Joel Beeke and Brian Hedges. Thriving in Grace: Twelve Ways the Puritans Fuel Spiritual Growth. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, May 29th 2020. 220 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Want to grow in your Christian life with deliberate meditation on God as He has revealed Himself in a way that is practical and worshipful? This book is a must read. It is a practical and spiritual introduction to the Puritans, but it isn’t done in a way that makes readers feel it is an academic historical theology lecture; rather it is quite devotional and made me want to yearn to read more of the Puritans to minister to my soul, to search my own heart and to grow in Christ with greater holiness and sanctification.
Posted in Book Review, Comics, Comics and Worldview, DC Comics, tagged book review, Comics, Comics and Worldview, DC Comics on December 31, 2022| 20 Comments »
Here are the last two comic books I read for 2022. Why Comics for this blog? Because sometimes Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading.
Doug Moench, Byron Preiss, etc. Elseworlds: Batman Volume One. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, April 26th 2016. 523 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
If you are a Batman fan, you might be interested in reading Batman in different time period both the historical past and far future. And if this describes you then this volume would be something you might want to get since it collects various stories from DC Comic’s Elseworlds which presents various stories that takes place in alternative worlds. I really think this is such a cool idea and allows writers and illustrators to exercise more creativity artistically and with story-telling.
Posted in 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Bible, Bible Commentary, biblical theology, Book Review, Christianity, God, irony, people, Reformed, Resurrection, Theology, tagged 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Bible, Bible Commentary, book review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Theology on December 26, 2022| 15 Comments »
David Schreiner. 1 & 2 Kings: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, August 16th 2022. 320 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Is there a part of the Bible you wished you had a better grasp on? The last few years I realized I need to give better study to 1-2 Kings and I imagine many Christians might feel the same way about this part of the Bible. Fortunately there’s a resource that can help Christians go through 1-2 Kings and filled with insights and observation from the biblical text itself while also giving the occasional background information and original language observation. This commentary not only has exegetical observations but also sections that are geared towards preaching and teaching. This dual feature is the key characteristic of this Bible commentary series called “Kerux Commentaries” which is published by Kregel Publications. The book actually has two authors, with the exegetical portions by Old Testament professor David Schreiner and the homiletical portion by a pastor name Lee Compson.
Posted in American History, Book Review, History, History Books, tagged American History, book review, History, History Books on December 23, 2022| 22 Comments »
I’m reviewing two history books…because Pastors also need a break!
George T. Peers. Recollections and Reminiscences of Old Appomattox County and its People. Lynchburg, Virginia: Schroeder Publications, March 24th, 2015. 40 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Most people have heard of Appomattox in the context of the American Civil War since this is where the surrender of General Robert E. Lee was signed. But what other information do we have about this town before and during the Civil War? This is a first person account by George T. Peers, one of the town’s oldest citizen who have served the community as a sheriff duty and as a long time County clerk for over forty years. He lived from 1830 to 1908, covering a relevant time period and while he wrote this when he was older I was surprised at how sharp his memory was with reference to names and dates given in this work.
Posted in Book Review, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon, Christianity, free, free book, God, Gospel, Jesus, Reformed, sin, Theology, tagged book review, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon, Christianity, free, Free Book, God, Gospel, Jesus, Peace, Reformed, Sin, Theology on December 19, 2022| 20 Comments »
Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The Birth of Christ. Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, September 22nd 2016. 28 pp.
5 out of 5
Free: Chapel Library
Purchase: Amazon
Are you looking for spiritually edifying reading on the birth of Christ that is also biblically faithful and accurate? This work is from Charles Spurgeon, the famous Victorian era Baptist Preacher. Based upon a sermon he delivered at his church at New Park Street Chapel on Christmas Eve 1854, it blew my mind that these words was from Spurgeon when he was twenty years old. The message in based upon Isaiah 7:14-15 and the truth Spurgeon delivered is timeless, Christ-centered and Gospel driven.
Posted in Apologetics, Bible, Book Review, Christianity, God, Gregory K Beale, irony, Paul Washer, people, Reformed, Theology, tagged Apologetics, Bible, book review, Christianity, God, Paul Washer, Reformed, Theology on December 14, 2022| 18 Comments »
Paul Washer. Narrow Gate Narrow Way. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, April 27, 2020. 53 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Do you need a book that will preach the Gospel to someone who maybe grew up in the Church and need to be awaken with the seriousness of sin and the importance of trusting in Christ? Usually for evangelistic purposes I like something that is short, to the point and yet brings conviction of sin while preaching the Gospel and turning readers attention to Christ. This book by Paul Washer fits the bill. It is a call to repentance; it is a call to trust in the living God and believe in the Gospel of grace!
Posted in Apologetics, Bible, Book Review, Christianity, God, Gregory K Beale, irony, Leonardo De Chirico, people, Reformed, Theology, tagged Apologetics, Bible, book review, Christianity, God, Leonardo De Chirico, Reformed, Theology on December 12, 2022| 18 Comments »
Note: Thanks Tom for letting me know about this author and book.
Leonardo De Chirico. A Christian’s Pocket Guide to the Papacy: Its Origin and Role in the 21st Century. Ross-Shire, UK: Christian Focus Publications, March 20th 2015. 128 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Are you looking for a book that summarizes a biblical look at the Roman Catholic Pope and also the history of the papacy? I would recommend this book. Written by an author who wrote his doctoral dissertation on Roman Catholicism, the book takes a Protestant perspective and he is balance and fair and more importantly he is biblical and Gospel centered. The author Leonardo De Chirico is a pastor in Rome and the director of the Reformed Initiative which aims to equip Protestants to better understand and engage with Roman Catholicism. I am also glad that Christian Focus published this book since these days it seems new books addressing Roman Catholicism biblically is rare (this book was published 2015).
Posted in Bible, biblical theology, Book Review, Christianity, God, Gregory K Beale, irony, people, Reformed, Resurrection, Theology, tagged Bible, Biblical Theology, book review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Resurrection, Theology on December 6, 2022| 23 Comments »
Mitchell Chase. Resurrection Hope and the Death of Death. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 25th 2022. 163 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
What does the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testment has to teach us about the resurrection and also life after death? This book is a survey of that, giving us a biblical theology of God’s power over death and also the fuller doctrine developed in God’s revelation of a physical resurrection of all humans after death, either to judgment or salvation. The author Mitchell Chase is a professor of biblical studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his doctoral work at Southern Seminary was on the topic of resurrection hope. So it is fitting he authored this book on this topic for the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series which is published by Crossway. Coming in at 163 pages it is a helpful survey of what does the Bible have to say about the resurrection that begins in seed form in the Old Testament but gets more developed as more of God’s Word is revealed in redemptive history.
Posted in Book Review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, Greg Bahnsen, James Anderson, John Frame, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til, tagged book review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, Greg Bahnsen, James Anderson, John Frame, presuppositional apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til on November 25, 2022| 34 Comments »
I’m especially excited to present our annual Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional apologetics and Van Til’s apologetics. That is because this is our blog’s thirteenth year in which we post our recommendations of books as Christmas gifts on the subject of Presuppositional apologetics or the Christian worldview!
Below are links to the recommendations from previous years, and if you are new to the whole thing with Presuppositional apologetics and want something introductory I highly recommend the first two books we recommend this year along with the listing from 2014 which we highlighted in bold:
This year list’s of recommended books on Presuppositional apologetics is listed below. Each work will have a link to my fuller review and also links to where one can purchase the book.
Here’s this year’s recommendations:
The Domain for Truth 
Reviews of Commentaries on Exodus
Posted in Bible Commentary, Book Review, Christianity, Duane Garrett, exegesis, Exodus, Kregel Academic, Kregel Exegetical Library, Theology on February 28, 2023| 30 Comments »
It took a long time but I finally got done with teaching my girls through the entire book of Exodus as part of our home Bible study!
I thought it be a good idea to review the Bible commentaries on Exodus that I found helpful!
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Looking for a devotional commentary on Exodus? I highly recommend this one by Philip Graham Ryken! It is a massive work (1247 pages!) but don’t let the size scare you; general Christian readers and also Bible teachers will benefit from this book by an esteemed pastor. The book is an exceptional expositional commentary that is something in the middle between a devotional and an exegetical technical commentary and yet sometimes some of the insights in this book point out great points from the biblical texts that other technical commentaries might have missed. I recommend this commentary as personal devotional or resources for Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers and preachers and pastors.
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