Review: Founding Martyr: The Life and Death of Dr. Joseph Warren, the American Revolution’s Lost Hero

I am reviewing this book for this weekend’s leisure reading review (because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!) which I also recommend if you are looking for a gift to purchase for someone who loves history.

 

Christian Di Spigna. Founding Martyr: The Life and Death of Dr. Joseph Warren, the American Revolution’s Lost Hero.  New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group, August 14th 2018. 336 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This book exceeded my expectation.  At first I wasn’t sure who Joseph Warren was and why should I even read this book.  As the book stated many times it’s unfortunate that people haven’t understood the contribution of Joseph Warren with the independence of America.  His legacy has been overshadowed by other founding fathers such as George Washington, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin largely because of Joseph Warren’s early and untimely death at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  Yet Warren was an important figure with the American independence more than most people today realized, even among those who are interested in things with the War of Independence since those that know something about Warren often know him only as a soldier who died in Bunker Hill (others who are even more knowledgeable will know he was the one who worked with Paul Revere during that famous “The Redcoats are coming!” event).  This book is rather overdue in narrating the contribution of Joseph Warren to America’s independence.  The author should be commended for doing a good job of maximizing the limited primary resources and also for using new primary sources to give us a better picture of the man Joseph Warren.  The challenges of finding primary sources is very real since Warren as a spy master destroyed many of his writings and also because when he passed away many of his belongings were broken or stolen.  So kudos to the author Christian Di Spigna for his research!

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Review: Thankfulness: Even When It Hurts

Susan Lutz. Thankfulness: Even When It Hurts.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2002. 22 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This biblical counseling booklet addresses the issue of being thankful.  Specifically it addresses the need to be thankful to God even when there is life difficulties.  The booklet is part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing and this was one of the earlier volumes.  Like other booklets in this series this was helpful.  Personally I have used this particular title for own edification, for counseling as a Pastor, for a devotional with my wife and also I’m planning on reading it together with one of our church’s small group.

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Review: Not Yet Married by Marshall Segal

Marshall Segal. Not Yet Married.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, June 30th 2017.  208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Do I recommend this book?  I do (pun intended).  This is hands down the best book on singleness and relationship that I read this year.  In fact it is up there among the Christian books on singleness, courtship and marriage.  The book is titled Not Yet Married since the author believe the term “Not Yet Married” is a better term than the word “single” since most people who are single desire marriage.  The author Marshall Segal is the managing editor for Desiring God ministries’ website.  He is a good writer, clear communicator and more importantly biblical in what he has to say.  I highly recommend this book for those who are single and those who are courting someone towards marriage as well.

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Historical Fiction Comics: Read in Fall 2018

Here are weekend reviews of comic book readings, because sometimes Pastors needs a break from heavy theological reading!

The following are comics that are historical fictions, nonfictions or comics that takes place of a certain specific historical era.

Ethan Young. Nanjing: The Burning City.  Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Comics, September 1st 2015. 216 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This graphic novel is a historical fiction and tells the story of those Chinese abandoned by their government during the Japanese war against China in 1937.  The story takes place in the former capital of the Republic in Nanjing.  While this is an historical fiction the theme and characters could have easily been real life ordinary soldiers and people trying to survive.  The author and illustrator Ethan Young is to be commended for his illustration, his storytelling ability and also his focus on an era that is very hard to think about and which some today downplay or are ignorant of concerning the Japanese atrocities during World War Two.  This graphic novel was so good that it won the 2016 Reuben Award for Best Graphic Novel.

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Review: No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy

A weekend non-fiction book review!  Because sometimes even Pastors need a break from heavy theological reading!

Jim Proser. No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy.  New York, NY: HarperLuxe, August 7th 2018. 416 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is the first book on James Mattis.  Mattis is probably our generation’s best combat general.  A career Marine who served in uniform for forty four years he also went on to become the Secretary of Defense and one who received nearly unanimous bipartisan support for his nomination which is quite impressive in a day and age of much political division and partisanship in the United States.  For years I have been amazed at how low profile General Mattis have been compared to how much public attention the US media has given other Army generals.  It seem overnight a few years ago Mattis started to finally receive a lot of attention and praise and usually through the medium of social media making jokes about his exploits and strength. Yet people’s hunger to know more about this tough talking and private general has only increased when news broke that Trump wanted him to be Secretary of Defense.  Personally as a Marine who served under General Mattis’ 1^st Marine Division in Iraq I am glad that the author wrote this book.  I actually think it has been long overdue.

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Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2018

This is our blog’s ninth 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 listing from 2014 which we highlighted in bold:

• Christmas wish list in Presuppositional Christian Apologetics (2010)
• Christmas Gift Book Lists on Christian Worldview and Apologetics Discipleship 2011 (2011)
• More Christmas Gift Book Lists on Christian Worldview and Apologetics Discipleship (2012)
• More Christmas wish list in Presuppositional Christian Apologetics (2013) (2013)
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2014
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2015
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2016
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2017

This year list’s of recommended books on Presuppositional apologetics is divided into introductory and intermediate level. 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:

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Review: The Ultimate Proof of Creation: Resolving the Origins Debate

Finally a review of this book!

Jason Lisle. The Ultimate Proof of Creation: Resolving the Origins Debate.  Green Forest, AK: Master Books, September 15th 2009. 254 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This book was very helpful in terms of learning Presuppositional apologetics.  The author Jason Lisle is an astrophysicist who have over the years written and taught a lot on Christian apologetics and creation.  He has done the church a great service writing this book.  How good is this book?  Before when people ask me for a recommended book on Presuppositional apologetics I recommended Greg Bahnsen’s book Always Ready.  I still recommend Greg Bahnsen’s work but now I feel I want to recommend this book by Dr. Lisle first since the author has done a good job breaking it down as simple and organized as possible.

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