Review: Knowing the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament

Christopher J.H. Wright.  Knowing the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, November 5^th, 2006.  159 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This was a good exploration of the topic of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.  It is definitely the most thorough book-length treatment of the Spirit in the Old Testament I have come across.  In the preface the author Christopher Wright mentioned that when he was first approached to speak on a five part series on the Spirit in the Old Testament he wondered at first if there was even enough materials for one talk, let alone five.  But Wright was in for a pleasant surprised when he started his studies to discover “far more than my first impressions” (9).  This book is the result of his 2004 lectures.

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Three New Children’s Books Reviewed: April 2018

Note: I’ve been immensely busy with preparing for my seminary courses I’m teaching overseas this month.  I thank God for those of you who are praying for my preparation to go overseas to teach.  Again thank you again very much.  In the midst of studies and preparation I don’t want to neglect my preschool kids.  Among other things I want to make the time to read to them.  Which means more late nights study in order to make time for my young little ones.  Also since I’ve been posting some heavy stuff concerning Bible contradictions, exegesis and Messianic prophecies last week I thought this post being more lighthearted is appropriate.  I’m reviewing new Children’s books that has been published or will be published early 2018.  They are not spiritual books, just simple kids stories.

Ellen Mayer. Banana for Two. Cambridge, MA: Star Bright Books, January 25, 2018. 20 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a board picture book that the publishers intended for ages 0-2.  A little book to teach young ones about the number 1 and 2 from the everyday experience of being at the groceries.  It follows a mom and a toddler shopping and going home with the purchased food.  I love the illustrations of this book, the illustrator Ying-Hwa Hu has done a good job.  My daughters appreciated it.  Both the author Ellen Mayer and the illustrator have collaborated on other board books that feature everyday teachable experiences that feature characters of different ethnic background which I thought was pretty neat.  This particular book features a Hispanic mother and her toddler; previous works have included an Asian American family and an African American family.  Yet the experience in this book is relatable for everyone of any background.

NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Star Bright Books and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

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Review: The Big Picture Story Bible

I know our blog has been going over some serious heavy stuff concerning Bible difficulties, alleged contradictions and Messianic prophecies the last few days.  Here’s a review of a Children’s book Bible.

David R. Helm. The Big Picture Story Bible.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, September 17th 2004.  456 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This is a children’s picture Bible published by Crossway.  The publisher stated that this book is for ages four and up but my three year old also enjoyed it too when I read it to all my kids.  It is a massive book, coming in at 456 pages but don’t worry as it is still a children’s book and my family went through this and found that the book has a good pace for our evening reading.  So the 456 pages is good if you are looking for something to go over with children ages three to six year old in terms of regular daily read.  I love how there are many pictures in the book.  Also while this book is big coming in with a dimension of 9 x 1.1 x 9 inches and weighing 3.6 pounds nevertheless I enjoyed it size so the kids can enjoy the book more especially if you are reading to multiple kids at once.

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Review: The Soldier Who Killed A King

I want to thank the author David Kits for sending this book as a gift to me during Christmas.  I am very thankful that I got to read this book.  I was much delayed writing a post for today as I was finishing this incredible book which I highly recommend.

David Kitz. The Soldier Who Killed A King.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, July 25th 2017. 288 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

I normally don’t read fiction (besides comics) but I made exception for this book and I’m glad I did.  This is a powerful retelling of the last week of Jesus.  It is narrated in the first person by the centurion who confessed that Jesus is the Son of God at the crucifixion in Matthew 27:54.  The author gave the centurion the fictional name of Marcus Longinus.  This story is shaped by the biblical account of the last week of Jesus.  I have previously enjoyed the author’s prose in his book on the Psalms and here in his story of the last week of Jesus’ life he takes things to the next level.  It is excellent and I’m glad David Kitz wrote this.  During one of the days I was reading this book I was in line to pick up my food to go at a restaurant.  The lady ringing me up at the cashier counter asked what I was reading and I told her what this book was about.  She didn’t feel so comfortable and I told her how I enjoyed it and the incredible work the author has done in terms of its history and how it is written.  She added “But it sounds so deep…”  She is right.  The passion of Christ is deep.  And it is sobering.  Yet it is joyful.  Joyful because we know Christ came to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.  Sinners such as you and I.  David Kitz tells this story in a while that will grab your attention but also in a manner that is reverential and deep…because the subject is deep.  Of course I recommend this book but more than that I want to “recommend” and plead for people reading this review to trust in Jesus as their Savior.

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Review: All Star Batman Volume 3: The First Ally

This work comes out today!  Thanks to DC Comics for the advance review copy!

Scott Snyder. All Star Batman Volume 3: The First Ally. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, March 20th 2018. 176 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is volume three of “All-Star Batman” that is a part of DC Comics’ recent “rebirth” reboot.  I enjoyed the storyline for this present work more than the previous two volumes.  It seems the “All-Star Batman” is more fast-paced than other Batman titles which can have its strength and weaknesses but being bored won’t be one of them.  But in volume three the timing was right in my opinion along with a great reoccurring theme and human interest’s angle.  The artwork is great as well.  I give this a rating of five out of five.

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Review: The City of God and the Goal of Creation

Desmond Alexander. The City of God and the Goal of Creation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, January 31st 2018.  190 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This is the third book I read from the “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” series published by Crossway.  I have immensely enjoyed the other two volumes that I read from this series (see Review: Work and Our Labor in the Lord and Review: Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel) and this work is no different.  This present work explores the theme of “the city of God” in the Bible, namely Jerusalem but it also explores the city of God in light of its antithesis: The City of Man, namely Babylon.  This is an excellent work on a biblical theology that gives us a biblical “tale of two cities” stretching from Genesis to Revelation that is at once exciting, edifying and relevant since these two cities are capitals of two groups of people in this world with one under God and the other in rebellion against God.  If you think you know the Word of God and yet you are unable to see a unifying theme from Genesis to Revelation in the Bible you would find this book very helpful.  Even for readers who have a deeper grasp of biblical theology would enjoy this work.

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Review: Grifter, Volume 2: New Found Power!

It has been a while but here’s a weekend comic book review…because even pastors need a break from heavy theological reading!

Rob Liefeld.  Grifter, Volume 2: New Found Power. New York, NY: DC Comics, May 28th 2013. 208 pp.

3 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is volume two on the superhero known as the “Grifter.”  I have previously read and gave a positive review for volume one.  This second volume was not as good as the first volume; in fact it kind of died down.  The story is a continuation from the previous volume.  This book collects issues #0 and #9-16.

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