Review: True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia

Note: I have been posting a lot of apologetics this week.  Here’s something more practical!

Jerry Bridges.  True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia.  Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, October 9, 2018. 192 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

I love Jerry Bridges who have written many wonderful books on Christian holy living.  Like other books by Bridges this title was edifying and helpful.  Here in this work Jerry Bridges focuses on Christian relationship with other believers and also relationship to the church.  In our individualistic day and age this book is very relevant.

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Review: Black Wind, White Snow: The Rise of Russia’s New Nationalism

A timely weekend non-fiction book review, in light of everything going on in the World…

Charles Clover. Black Wind, White Snow.  New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, October 27, 2015. 384 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Do you want to understand what drives the thinking of Putin’s foreign policy outlook especially in light of the consequences of what’s going on in Ukraine?  This book would be an important work you don’t want to miss.  The reason I read this book was to better understand what’s going on in Russia that shapes their foreign policy especially with the war that happened in 2022 with Ukraine after I saw it was quoted frequently from a master’s thesis on Alexander Dugin, Putin’s so called Rasputin.  The subtitle of the book is “The Rise of Russia’s New Nationalism.”  The book traces the origin and development of an idea call Euroasianism and while the subtitle is “Nationalism” Eurasianism is Russia’s political outlook that is a hybrid of Russian supremacy blended with a call for the people of the Steppes and former Soviet republics in Russia’s orbit to be one civilization.  Eurasianists would see the heartland of Russia and other Eursasians are in a clash of civilization with Atlantists and coastal and Island base people.

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Review: Batman: The Adventures Continue Season One

Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  Haven’t done one of these for months, so here’s a Batman comic book review!  I actually read this back in January but forgot to write a review! 

 

Paul Dini and Alan Burnett.  Batman: The Adventures Continue Season One. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, June 1, 2021. 208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Do you like the Batman Animated Series from the 90s?  If so this comic might be for you!  One of the screen writers for the Animated Series is one of the writers for this “Batman: The Adventures Continue” series and there’s a feel of the 90s Animated Batman: Its gritty but also not over the top or gory, it has stories that are interesting and other characters are explored including villains.  This trade paperback collects issues 1 through 8.   

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Free PDF and Review: Greatest Prophecy Ever Fulfilled

L.R. Shelton Jr.. The Greatest Prophecy Ever Fulfilled.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, April 26, 2015. 44 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

Want to read a work that looks into the amazing prophecy of Daniel 9:20-27 concerning the prediction of the coming of Christ? You might be interested in this work!  The prophecy found in Daniel 9 with the exact timing of the coming of the Messiah is so amazing that I wanted to read this to see another Christian take on this glorious passage.  The author L.R. Shelton Jr. is the founder of Chapel Library that preserve and spread good sound Christian classic literature cheaply and for free and here he gives take on the prophecy as a Baptist minister.

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Free PDF and Review: The Holy Spirit Glorifying Christ

Note: For fans of Spurgeon have you checked out my Review: Charles Spurgeon Framed Art Print?

Charles Spurgeon. The Holy Spirit Glorifying Christ.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, May 26, 2020. 24 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus, yet what implications does this have for the Christian life?  In this booklet published by Chapel Library my favorite Victorian era English preacher Charles Spurgeon answers that question.  This is based upon a sermon that Spurgeon delivered on August 17^th, 1862 yet is relevant for today.  I was blown away thinking that Spurgeon was twenty eight years old when he preached this sermon at London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle.  It made me appreciate what God has done through this man to bless God’s people than and also now with his writings.

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The Christian Tupac Apologist: Greg Bahnsen

A light humor post.

If you know know the reference to the rapper rapper name Tupac he has a lot of his songs released after his death.

My favorite apologist Greg Bahnsen is like Tupac as most of his books and audios were published and released after his death.

Bahnsen is like Tupac. Short life. Wrote a lot. Taught nonstop. Like a productive robot. More stuff came out after he got shot. Ok maybe not shot. But after his death, his content were still hot. New contents are still released and bought.

Here’s some of the books I recommend:

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Free PDF and Review: The Blood of Sprinkling and the Children

Note: For fans of Spurgeon have you checked out my Review: Charles Spurgeon Framed Art Print?

Charles Spurgeon. The Blood of Sprinkling and the Children.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, September 14, 2014. 24 pp.

3 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

Want to read a short but edifying devotional on the Passover in Exodus and how it points to Christ while also challenging parents to teach children the Gospel?  This devotional booklet might be for you!  This is based upon a sermon by the famous Victorian era English preacher Charles Spurgeon that he preached for a Lord’s Day church service based upon the text of Exodus 12:21-27.  While the book doesn’t say when this message was delivered, I looked it up online and found out that the sermon was originally preached on October 23, 1887.  It is amazing to think that 135 years later readers in a different century in a different Continent can find it not only relevant but refreshing.  This speaks to the testimony of how Bible based teaching that’s focus on the Gospel has staying power.

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Review: Nahum (ZECOT)

Daniel Timmer.  Nahum.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, August 4, 2020. 208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for an exegetical commentary on the book of Nahum in the Minor Prophet?  This is a very good technical commentary on the book of Nahum I would recommend.  By technical I mean it’s a commentary that examine the Hebrew text of Nahum and also employ discourse analysis to point out exegetical insight of the book of Nahum.  The commentary has good grammatical and syntactical observations along with the exploration of a passage’s intertextuality.  I have previously enjoyed other volumes in the Zondervan Old Testament Exegetical Commentary Series and I consider this as another fine example in this series of how commentaries should be like.

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Review: The Modern Russian Army 1992–2016

A timely weekend non-fiction book review, in light of everything going on in the World…

Mark Galeotti. The Modern Russian Army 1992–2016.  New York, NY: Osprey Publishing, February 21, 2017. 64 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

How does the modern post-Soviet Russian military operate?  I think after February 25^th, 2022 this question might seem more relevant to many with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  This book for sixty four pages is jam pack with information and the author’s familiarity of the Russian Federation’s army and its history was very helpful for me as I read it, and I imagine many like myself are starving to understand more Russia’s operational capability of its Army.

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Review: The Box: Answering the Faith of Unbelief

Later post today!  First weekend of the month is usually very busy with ministry and I fell asleep on my computer trying to finish this book!

Craig Biehl. The Box: Answering the Faith of Unbelief.  Franklin, TN: Carpenter’s Son Publishing, November 10, 2014. 160 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase:  Amazon

Are you looking for a resource that shows what an evangelistic dialogue with an unbeliever from a Presuppositional apologetics’ perspective looks like, for the purpose of training and being spiritually equipped?  The author Craig Biehl has given us a great resources with his book The Box.  While coming from a Presuppositional Apologetics perspective (the author has a PhD from Westminster Theological Seminary, the school where Cornelius Van Til, the father of Presuppositional Apologetics once taught at) it is written with a pastoral heart for the general audience and with as little technical jargon as possible.  I appreciate that.  I suspect many Christians who pick up this book will too.

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Review: The Battle for the Beginning: The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam

Note: I am posting this review on the eve of #questionevolutionday taking place on February 12th.  This is where Christians using that hashtag share contents on apologetics, Creationism, the problem of evolution, etc, on social media, and I’ve seen it being active on Facebook and Twitter.  It is organized by my dear friend Cowboy Bob Sorensen who blogs here and I encourage you

John MacArthur. The Battle for the Beginning: The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam.  Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing Company, June 4, 2001.  240 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What does the first three chapters of Genesis have to say about the world we live in?  In this book by Pastor and Teacher John MacArthur we have an exposition of Genesis 1-3 covering largely the topic of God’s creation of the world and also how sin entered the world.  This was adapted from MacArthur’s sermon series of these passages.  The topic of creation and creation views are no doubt controversial among Christians today and MacArthur’s main focus in the book is to expound from the text of Scripture and he lands on a young earth creationist view.

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Free PDF and Review: Reforming a Local Church

Ernest Resinger. Reforming a Local Church.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, June 4, 2015. 40 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

This is a famous essay by Pastor Ernest Resinger who is an important leader with the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention.  This essay is about reforming a local church and while his original address was many decades ago for the context of the SBC denomination the applications and principles here applies for those in other denominations as well.  This booklet is both edifying and challenging.

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Review: Who Am I? Identity in Christ

Note: Posting this later than normal since I had to wake up early and teach a Bible study online for a church overseas and was reviewing things for that last night than working on the blog.  I realized it is going to be the end of the year!  There’s some books I finished for 2020 that I will post review of them next year; didn’t get them rolling out in time!

Jerry Bridges. Who Am I? Identity in Christ.  Adelphi, Maryland: Cruciform Press, February 28, 2012.  95 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What does trusting in Jesus Christ means for your new identity as a Christian?  In this book author Jerry Bridges explores the Christian’s new identity biblically.  He does this by applying what in systematic theology is called the Order of Salvation to the question of who a believer is.  By Order of Salvation I mean what God has done to save believers from their sins and the penalty and power of sin.

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Audio Book Review: Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans

Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves. Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans.  Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, April 27, 2020. 4 hours and 47 minutes.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Who are the Puritans, what did they believe as Christians and what are lessons for Christians for us today from their lives and teaching?  In this audiobook two capable authors present to us an introduction to the Puritans.  I have benefited from previous books written by Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves, two Reformed authors who are pastors that write theologically and yet still practically and the content of this audiobook fits the bill of how they write.  It was really edifying to listen to this.  Please don’t think that because it is about a historical Christian movement that it is going to be dry!  I was encouraged, worshipped God, thankful and challenged and in all things I was blessed as I read this book!  It is fascinating to see that the audiobook is out before the hardcover copy is published (going to come out in 2022).  This seems like it would be great to read as an actual book!  But I’m glad this is also in audiobook form for my edification while I drive!

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Review: Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology

Jeffrey Jay Niehaus. Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, March 13, 2008. 208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Have you ever wonder how the Ancient Near East contribute towards our understanding of the Bible?  There’s of course books out there that have used Ancient Near East primary sources to question the veracity of the Bible and biblical doctrines so I understand when Christians are cautious with books on this topic.  This book not only still hold a high view of the Bible but I think this book makes a unique contribution in bringing the fruit of Ancient Near East research and unified it as one coherent Biblical theology rather than various assorted unrelated fact.  This book impressed me beyond my expectation and I’m glad a fellow blogger and friend Mandy Sweigart recommended me to read this!

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