Review: Karl Marx by William D. Dennison

William D. Dennison. Karl Marx.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, December 10th 2017. 136 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This is the second book in the Great Thinkers series published by Presbyterian and Reformed. In the introduction to the series the editor Nathan Shannon tells us the threefold goal for each work in the series: First it is intended to be academically informed. Second it seeks to maintain a high standard of biblical and theological faithfulness. Third the series aim is to be accessible for readers without unnecessary difficult jargons and vocabulary. This particular work is written by Christian philosopher and apologist William D. Dennison.  In this work Dennison examines and critiques the thought of Karl Marx the father of Communism.  Reading this book in 2018 I realize that though Marx was born exactly two hundred years ago sadly his ideology has had a harmful impact even today.  While this work is critical of Marx it also aim to be fair in accurately describing his beliefs.

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Review: Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans

A weekend nonfiction history book review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  I read this book as a result of a conversation on WordPress!

Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America’s Destiny.  New York, NY: Sentinel, October 24th 2017. 256 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

I have previously read a book by the two authors titled Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates which I enjoyed immensely.  While I was looking for something on Thomas Jefferson and the battle of New Orleans I was extremely delighted to find that the authors also wrote this book.

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Review: Harpoon: Inside the Covert War Against International Terrorism’s Money Masters

I’m way behind reviewing the books I’ve read this summer so I’m posting this earlier before our usual Leisure Weekend Reading Review…because Pastors need a break sometimes from heavy theological reading!

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner.  Harpoon: Inside the Covert War Against International Terrorism’s Money Masters. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group, November 7th 2017. 304 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a book on Israel’s fight against terror.  The preface opens up with the story of the US war on terror of going after key ISIS figures but then Segway to the fact that the US adopted some of the method of the war on Terror from Israel’s own covert war against international terrorism.  But this book isn’t primarily focused on military operations (though it has that in the book) but the side of the war that focuses on defeating terrorist networks by going after its funding.  This work is a fascinating read!

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Review: Best Bible Books: New Testament Resources

John Glynn. Best Bible Books: New Testament Resources.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, April 24th 2018. 336 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This book is supposed to be the eleventh update of the author John Glynn’s helpful Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources which is a book surveying the various technical and semitechnical written resources on the Bible and the study of the Bible.  However this latest update has significant changes with the most obvious being the work is now divided into two separate books with one on the Old Testament (forthcoming) and one on the New Testament (this present volume).  I thought this major update is needed since the last edition was published eleven years ago.  For serious students of Scripture (with or without the skill of Greek and Hebrew) I highly recommend this book.

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Review: Suffering: Eternity Makes a Difference

A few months ago I wrote Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books.  This is another one that I recommend for everyone for those going through suffering and those counseling those who are suffering…and also for apologists to be more balanced.

Paul David Tripp. Suffering: Eternity Makes a Difference.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2001. 31 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This is a biblical counseling booklet on suffering written by the Biblical counselor Paul Tripp.  It is a part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing that I highly recommend and have found very beneficial for my own personal spiritual growth and also as a resource in pastoral ministry.  I recommend this booklet for those who are going through suffering, those who are ministering to those who are suffering and those who are Christians…because we will all go through suffering in our lives.

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Book Review: How to Be a Perfect Christian by Babylon Bee

Babylon Bee.  How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, May 1^st, 2018. 208 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

If you are a Christian and have been on various social media for any length of time you probably are familiar with the Babylon Bee, a Christian satire website comparable to The Onion.  In fact I think they are better than The Onion.  Apparently they have put out this book titled How to Be a Perfect Christian with the subtitle “Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living.”  Like their website the book itself is straight satire against unbiblical Christianity and also the quirky side of American cultural Christianity.

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Review: New Super-Man, Volume 3: Equilibrium

It’s Friday night!  Here’s a light reading review for the weekend…because Pastors need a break from heavy theological readings too!

Gene Yang. New Super-Man, Volume 3: Equilibrium. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, June 19th 2018. 168 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is the third volume and final volume of a fun series.  I’m not usually a fan of Superman but this “New Superman” has really been a delight to read.  This particular volume collects issues 13 through 19.  I was actually looking forward to this volume to come out; something very rare for me with comics.  I really am a fan of the writer Gene Yang and he does not disappoint in this book.

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