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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Bible Contradiction? How did Peter find out that Jesus was the Messiah?

 

Today’s post will tackle another question that the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: “How did Peter find out that Jesus was the Messiah?”

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

God revealed it to him; no human told him.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.. (Matthew 16:16-17)

His brother Andrew told him.

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first *found his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). (John 1:40-41)

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

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Free PDF and Review: Thoughts for Young Men by John Charles Ryle

John Charles Ryle. Thoughts for Young Men.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, August 17, 2015. 44 pp.

5 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)

What is a book a young person can read to grow spiritually and maturity?  This is a classic by John Charles Ryle that is a timeless classic.  I think given our time this is also edifying for people in their 20s to also read.  John Charles Ryle who is best known by his pen name J.C. Ryle wrote this filled with godly and biblical exhortations that isn’t just applicable to his time period.  In fact in reading this the second time and also in conjunction with the youths in our church (pre-teens and teens) I felt it is more relevant and edifying than when I first read it ten years ago in my 20s.

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Bible Contradiction? Who carried Jesus’ cross?

 

Today’s post will tackle another question that the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: “Who carried Jesus’s cross?”

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

Jesus carried his own cross.

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, carrying His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called, Golgotha. (John 19:17)

Simon the Cyrenian carried Jesus’s cross.

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they compelled to carry His ^[cross. (Matthew 27:32)

And they *compelled a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross. (Mark 15:21)

And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

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

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Review: World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech

A weekend non-fiction fun read as a break from heavy theological reading: Because Pastors need a break also!

Franklin Foer.  World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech. New York, NY: The Penguin Press, September 12th 2017. 272 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

When people talk about the danger of Big Tech what exactly do they mean and how serious is it?  With a book that has the subtitle “The Existential Threat of Big Tech” author, journalist and newspaper editor Franklin Foer wrote this book to talk this specific issues.  Having finished reading this in early 2021 in which some of the national conversations include concerns about Big Tech and social media this book is quite relevant though it is written in 2017 and also the fact that Foer who is entrenched in the media establishment brought up the same concerns that I hear from political conservatives shows that the issues and problems with Big Tech really should transcend partisan party politics.

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Review: Stories Jesus Told: The Story of the Two Builders

Need to start up again our Weekend Reading Review!  To kick it off this year’s Reading Weekend Review this week we look at a Christian Children’s book for your family!

Tim Ladwig. Stories Jesus Told: The Story of the Two Builders. Grand Rapids, MI: Our Daily Bread Publishing, March 2^nd, 2021. 32 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Want a children’s picture story book that you can read that capture Jesus’ teaching about the wise and foolish builder?  Tim Ladwig has illustrated another excellent children’s book on Jesus’ parables for the ages of four through seven.  I was delighted to see Ladwig has another volume out as part of his “Stories Jesus Told” series.  Previously I have enjoyed three of the books he illustrated: The Lost Son Comes Home, Who Is My Neighbor? and  Looking for the Lost Sheep.  So when I saw he has a new book out titled The Story of the Two Builders I realized I need to read this to my kids!  What’s amazing is my kids can identify his illustration style as the same as the previous books from him we read before!

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Free PDF and Review: Postmodernism by Erroll Hulse

Erroll Hulse. Postmodernism.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, April 19, 2017. 27 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)

What the general attack against Christianity like in today’s culture and society?  There is quite the postmodern feel with much of the rejection and animosity to Christianity today.  This short booklet describe this threat and also calls believers to be faithful to the truth of the Biblical faith.  This is written by Erroll Hulse who is a Reformed Baptist pastor in England who have authored many books and articles including Reformation Today magazine although this is the first time I have heard of him and read any of his writing.

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