Posted in Book Review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, christian apologetics, Christianity, presuppositional apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology on July 13, 2020| 21 Comments »
Don’t Waste Your Corona Virus Summer. Read Good Christian Books!
It would be a great opportunity to grow deeper in the things of God. But you might say you are too busy. Check out our How to Read More Books When Life Gets Busy (Improved).
Below are two books for each category I recommend. Reviews are also linked for those who are interested to find out more!
Posted in Book Review, Christianity, Reformed, Theology, Uncategorized, tagged book review, christian parenting, Christianity, God, Parenting, Reformed, Theology on June 29, 2020| 15 Comments »
Joel James. Help! I Can’t Handle All These Trials. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, September 26, 2014. 64 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you looking for a book concerning how to handle the trials of life? This counseling “mini-books” is immensely helpful with this issue. I have previously read four booklets from this series and this title is also another good one from this series. I highly recommend this volume.
Posted in Book Review, Children's book, Christianity, Crossway, God, Jesus Christ, parables, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, Children's book, Christianity, Crossway, God, Jesus Christ, parables, Reformed, Theology on May 28, 2020| 14 Comments »
These Christian children’s books are yet to be published and will be coming out this Summer. Thanks to the publishers for advance review copy!
Tim Ladwig. Stories Jesus Told: Looking for the Lost Sheep. Grand Rapids, MI: Our Daily Bread Publishing, August 4th 2020. 32 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Want a children’s picture story book that you can read concerning Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep? Tim Ladwig has done another excellent children’s book on Jesus’ parables. I was actually excited seeing he has another volume out. Previously I have enjoyed his book on Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan. In this present volume he continues the trend of making good quality children’s book.
Posted in Book Review, Christianity, faith, God, Gospel, Jesus, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, Christianity, faith, God, Gospel, Jesus, Reformed, Theology on May 26, 2020| 26 Comments »
RC Sproul. Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, January 17th 2017. 262 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Evangelical Christians would say sinners can be saved by placing their faith in Christ apart from their own works yet is this doctrine biblical and also important? The late Christian theologian and apologist RC Sproul answered these two questions and other related to it in his book Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification. I received a copy of this book from Shepherd’s Conference for pastors, and then I saw a blogger friend shared a review of this book which prompted me to dig it up and read it. I wasn’t disappointed; I was blessed to have read it! What stood out to me is Sproul’s ability to handle with care what is Rome’s actual position and then accurately respond to its doctrines both biblically and theologically. It is a good example of scholarship and also handling the opposition well.
Posted in Book Review, Calvinism, Christianity, free, free book, God, Gospel, John Piper, Prayer, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, Calvinism, Christianity, free, Free Book, God, Gospel, Jesus, John Piper, prayer, Reformed, Salvation, Theology on May 19, 2020| 16 Comments »
John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, April 28th 2020. 112 pp.
5 out of 5
Free: PDF and other format at Desiring God
Purchase: Amazon
According to the Bible what are the possible things God is doing with the Coronavirus? In this book by pastor and theologian John Piper the author looks at the issue from a Gospel driven perspective. Piper is nuanced in the beginning to say that no doubt readers will know more about what will happen with the virus situation than the book is able to capture at the moment he wrote this book; instead Piper is going to focus on God’s work in crisis and also look at the issue of death and suffering from an eternal perspective. I am grateful that Piper wrote this book.
Posted in Book Review, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon, Christianity, free, free book, God, Gospel, Jesus, Prayer, Reformed, Salvation, Theology, tagged book review, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon, Christianity, free, Free Book, God, Gospel, Jesus, prayer, Reformed, Salvation, Theology on May 13, 2020| 18 Comments »
A late post today since after my lectures last night I just couldn’t type up a post! Ever have one of those days?
Charles H. Spurgeon. Free Will a Slave. Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, December 3rd 2018. 18 pp.
4 out of 5
Free: Chapel Library
Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)
In 2016 I read quite a number of works by the famous English preacher Charles Spurgeon and since then I have desired to read more of his work though sadly I haven’t been able to read any of his works until now in 2020. This booklet is Spurgeon’s defense of Calvinism by responding to John 5:40 which some Arminians in his day thought it was “one of the great guns of the Arminians” which I’m quoting from Spurgeon in the opening sentences in his booklet. What Spurgeon aim to show in this booklet is how John 5:40 is actually a support for Calvinism instead.
Posted in Book Review, Children, Children's book, Geronimo Stilton, tagged book review, Children, Children's book, Geronimo Stilton on April 29, 2020| 15 Comments »
I haven’t done our blog’s “wee-kids Wednesdays” lately but here’s this week’s review of Children’s books. While this week’s review of children’s books aren’t Christian works they are still something homeschool kids and parents would appreciate!
Geronimo Stilton. Geronimo Stilton Reporter #5: Barry the Moustache. New York, NY: Papercutz, June 9th 2020. 64 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Looking for more fun with the mouse reporter Geronimo Stilton and his family and friends? Here’s another adventure! I love Geronimo Stilton’s stories and characters, they are a lot of clean fun for my daughters who look forward to every new title and want me to read it again and again. This is volume five of the Geronimo Stilton Reporter” series and while earlier I said volume four was my favorite one of the “Geronimo Stilton Reporter” series published by Papercutz volume five now takes first place!
Posted in Book Review, Christianity, God, Gospel, holiness, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, Christianity, God, Gospel, Holiness, Reformed, Theology on April 27, 2020| 19 Comments »
R. Kent Hughes. Disciplines of a Godly Man. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, January 10th 2006. 304 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster |Amazon
Are you looking for a book on biblical manhood? By biblical manhood I want to emphasize “biblical,” and not something weird that’s all about beating one’s chest and following after some kind of cultural stereotype of what a man should be. If so this book is one you should consider picking up and reading; or purchasing for someone as a gift. This is a Christian classic that many in my church have read through and used extensively by previous pastors before me. My most recent reading of this book was in the last two years as I slowly went over it with some of the high school young men in my church.
Posted in Agatha Christie, audiobook, Book Review, historical fiction, tagged Agatha Christie, audiobook, book review, historical fiction on April 24, 2020| 14 Comments »
A weekend fiction audio book review…because Pastors also need a break from reading and also for you staying at home in light of the Corona Virus…
Agatha Christie. They Came to Baghdad. New York, NY: HarperAudio, July 03, 2012. 7 hours, 35 minutes, 26 seconds.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
This is my first audiobook listening to famous mystery writer Agatha Christie! I’ve been wanting to read her books but my busy work schedule of reading and reviewing other subject areas doesn’t leave much time to read fiction at the moment. The audiobook is over seven hours long for a novel that’s over three hundred pages and I thought that was reasonable audio length. It is narrated and performed by Emilia Fox and she does a good job of vocally portraying the various characters while also acting as the narrator describing each individual.
Posted in Baker Academic, birth, Book Review, Christianity, Reformed, Theology, tagged Baker Academic, birth, book review, Christianity, Reformed, Theology on April 23, 2020| 28 Comments »
James C. Howell. Birth: The Mystery of Being Born. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, April 21st 2020. 208 pp.
2 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
This book kind was kind of disappointing. According to the publisher Baker Academic the series in which this book is a part of “provides pastors and pastors-in-training with rich theological reflection on the various seasons that make up a human life, helping them minister with greater wisdom and joy.” The theological reflection wasn’t as biblical nor as rigorous or practical as I expected. What’s even more disappointing is the bad theology that is in this book. In this review I want to talk first about the way the book is organized followed by its strength and then its weakness.
Posted in Albert Martin, Book Review, Christianity, free, free book, Gospel, Reformed, Theology, tagged Albert Martin, book review, Christianity, free, Free Book, Gospel, Reformed, Theology on April 20, 2020| 20 Comments »
Albert Martin. What Is a Biblical Christian? Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, March 28th 2014. 22 pp.
5 out of 5
Free: Chapel Library
Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)
If you can give a small booklet to someone that explain what is Christianity and how someone can be saved to go to heaven what would it be? For me it is this booklet by preacher Al Martin titled What Is a Biblical Christian? This is published by Chapel Library, a wonderful organization that reprints a lot of Christian historical classics that is doctrinally sound and Gospel centered. The presentation of the Gospel in the book is clear and biblical, something that is very important for the sake of the salvation of any unbeliever that is reading this work. I recommend this not only for nonbelievers as an evangelistic tool but also for seasoned pastors in the ministry to learn from the author’s example of a clear and biblical presentation of the Gospel. Even for everyday Christians who already are saved this is still an edifying read! One can’t be reminded of the Gospel enough!
Posted in America, American History, Book Review, History, History Books, Military, Navy Seals, tagged America, American History, book review, History, History Books, Military, Navy Seals, United States on April 17, 2020| 13 Comments »
A weekend nonfiction audio book review…because Pastors also need a break from reading and also for you staying at home in light of the Corona Virus…
William H. McRaven. Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group, June 21st 2019. 10 hours 18 minutes 39 seconds.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
What is it like being the longest serving Navy SEAL commando and an Admiral of the Navy Seals and other Special Operations Forces? This book is a memoir of Admiral McRaven whom most people probably know for his leadership of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) that pulled off the mission that target Bin Laden. There’s not a lot of SEALs that picked up the rank of admiral and I believe he’s the second SEAL that achieved that rank. This audio book is read by the author himself and looks back not only with his Navy career but also his childhood and a look at the men and women who have served and risked their life and at times died in serving in the military.
Posted in Bible, Book Review, Children, Children's book, Christianity, Easter, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Reformed, Theology, tagged Bible, book review, Children, Children's book, Christianity, Easter, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Reformed, Theology on April 15, 2020| 12 Comments »
For this week’s “Wee-kids” Wednesdays here’s a review of a Christian children’s book.
Elena Pasquali. On That Easter Morning. Oxford, UK: Lion Hudson Limited, January 24, 2020. 32 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you looking for a children’s picture and story book on the Bible’s account of Jesus’ death and resurrection? This is one that’s worth your time and money.
Posted in Book Review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, Evangelism, Mark Farnham, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til, tagged book review, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, Evangelism, Mark Farnham, presuppositional apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til on April 13, 2020| 20 Comments »
Mark J. Farnham. Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Sisters, OR: Deep Rive Books, January 31st 2020. 56 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Looking for a beginner’s introduction to apologetics without the book being too heavily laden with philosophy? This book would be for you. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The author Mark Farnham is a graduate from Westminster Theological Seminary’ doctoral program in apologetics, home of where the father of Presuppositional apologetics taught at. But don’t let that intimidate you, Farnham writes in a style that is aimed for the “ordinary Christian” which I appreciated very much. One thing that stood out to me in this book is the author’s humility even in the beginning of the book. He admit his own struggle in the past with fear and also lack of confidence to evangelize. I appreciate that, since he’s modeling what godliness looks like in apologetics which including admitting your weakness but also trusting in God for help.
Posted in Book Review, Christianity, Crossway, God, Godliness, Gospel, Jesus Christ, loneliness, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, Christianity, Crossway, God, Godliness, Gospel, Jesus Christ, loneliness, lonely, Reformed, Theology on March 30, 2020| 11 Comments »
Lydia Brownback. Finding God in My Loneliness. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, February 28th 2017. 174 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster |Amazon
Do you struggle with loneliness? If so how do you handle loneliness biblically? This book is a great resources for anyone going through the trial of being lonely. I have not heard of the author Lydia Brownback before I read this book so I did not had any expectation in the beginning but when I finished the book I realized I was quite impressed and edified by the content of this book. The work was refreshingly biblical and I am glad that the author is one of the senior editors at Crossway
