Review: Marriage: Whose Dream?

Paul David Tripp. Marriage: Whose Dream?.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, September 1st 1999. 17 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This biblical counseling booklet addresses the issue of marriage and people’s hopes and dreams of marriage. It is a part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. I highly recommend this booklet and also others booklet in the series since I have found them very beneficial for my own personal spiritual growth and also as a counseling and discipleship resource in pastoral ministry. For this particular title I read this along with others in our church small group. I think this booklet is ideal as part of pre-marital counseling, biblical counseling for those going through difficulties in marriage and even for those who are single who are not yet married but as something to work through concerning one’s dream and expectation of marriage.

Advertisements

Read Full Post »

Review: Leading Today’s Funerals

Dan S. Lloyd. Leading Today’s Funerals: A Pastoral Guide for Improving Bereavement Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, October 1st 1997. 126 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

I read the kindle version of this book in preparation for my first funeral that I will be doing as a pastor.  I had to read this pretty quick given the situation.  I am glad I did as it was helpful.  I read this work and took lots of notes from it.  This was a book that I wished I read in seminary.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman Volume 6: Bride or Burglar

A weekend comic book review, because sometimes even Pastors need a break from heavy theological reading.

Tom King.  Batman Volume 6: Bride or Burglar. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, December 19th 2017. 168 pp.

3 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is the sixth trade paperback volume in the DC Comics’ Rebirth reboot series on Batman.  The book collects issues #38-43.  This particular volume gives us three stories that feature Batman but also Catwoman by his side, whether in a small role or a larger role.

Read Full Post »

Review: A Tale of Two Sons by John F. MacArthur Jr.

I’m posting this review after my discussion with Lee Duigon in his post ‘Behold the Power’ (2016) in which we were talking about John MacArthur’s insight into the Parables in the Gospels.  As a result of that discussion I was looking for my review of MacArthur’s book A Tale of Two Sons and realized that though I read the book in 2011 I didn’t post it here before!  So here it is, with an updated and expanded review!

John MacArthur. A Tale of Two Sons by John F. MacArthur Jr..  Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing Company, April 1st 2008.  221 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is an excellent book by Pastor and Teacher John MacArthur.  Here in this book MacArthur gives meticulous care to the details in Jesus’ famous parable of what is often called the Prodigal Son.  MacArthur’s exposition brings out insights from the text, the context and cultural background, this is par excellence of what expository preaching should look like though this is in book form.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles

A late post, but here’s a weekend reading review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!

Gary Krist. The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles.  New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group, May 15th 2018. 416 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a fascinating book on the history of how Los Angeles became the city that it has become.  I have seen previously other titles by Gary Krist on other big and famous cities and their history but this is the first time I have read his book.  I gave this book a try because it focuses on Los Angeles and I have some roots and sentiments with this city.  This book impressed me enough that I am considering reading other titles by Krist.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman: Blink

This is my fun read while on Vacation.  Because sometimes Pastors also need a break from heavy reading…

Dwayne McDuffie.  Batman: Blink. New York, NY: DC Comics, February 24th 2015. 168 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This volume is a reprint of some older Batman issues (the original work was not in 2015).  This book collecting Legends of the Dark Knight issues 156-158 and Action Comics 847 and presents two story concerning a blind character name Lee Hyland.  Originally I wasn’t going to read this book since it looks like “90s stuff” but it turned out to be better than I anticipated.

Read Full Post »

Review: 1917: Lenin, Wilson, and the Birth of the New World Disorder

As I mentioned earlier I’m on vacation.  Here’s a work I finished!

Arthur Herman. 1917: Lenin, Wilson, and the Birth of the New World Disorder.  New York, NY: Harper, November 28th 2017. 448 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This book is on both Woodrow Wilson and Vladimir Lenin.  At first one might think these men are diametrically different from one another but the author Arthur Herman successfully show reader how much the two of them are alike and how both men shaped what the twentieth century would be like.  A fascinating historical book even for those who know about both men since this work is still profitable for readers to see the comparison and contrast of the two men and also the timeline of both their lives.  I agree with the author’s thesis that these two men shaped much of the Twentieth Century.  I learned a lot from this book.

Read Full Post »