Category: Book Reviews
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The Top 25 Books I’ve Read in 2017
From time to time, I like to read a book or two. Earlier in the year, I tracked my progress by posting monthly updates. Those fell by the wayside, but if you’re interested (and even if you aren’t), they can be found here: January February March April May June July The reason the posting went…
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Whatever Happened to Book Reviewing?
As Thanksgiving break approached, I had made mental plans to start the update process. After several years post-seminary of aggressive book reviewing, I needed a break. But, over time, the break became the new normal, while the reading habits stayed pretty much the same. In all likelihood, I won’t completely catch up on reviewing books…
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Reformation Theology: A Systematic Summary
Last week we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Also, some of us sort of celebrated Halloween on the same night. I dressed up as an Astros fan and that proved providential the following evening. Anyway, as with most parties, there is a sort of after party that could go on for who…
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Why We’re Studying Ruth This Summer
Over the course of this summer, I’m leading a Bible study on Ruth with college students. SHIFT hasn’t historically done things over the summer, but since we were just stepping into being more involved, I wanted to do at least something during June and July. For a variety of reasons, I thought Ruth would be…
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New Books of Note
On Pastoring by H. B. Charles Jr. is exactly what the subtitle implies: a short guide to living, leading, and ministering as a pastor. It is 30 short chapters divided into three parts: The Pastor’s Heart The Pastor’s Leadership The Pastor’s Ministry While I think most of the insight is fairly basic (or should be),…
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The Well-Educated Mind: Histories
First it was novels. Then it was autobiographies. Now, it’s history’s turn. As with previous sections in The Well-Educated Mind, Susan Wise Bauer begins with an overview of the genre. Here, she distinguishes between several periods in the history of history: Ancient History Medieval History Renaissance History The “Enlightened,” or “Rational,” Approach Positivism to “Progress-ism” to…
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3 New Books on Evangelism
Last Friday, a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses came to our door. Unlike an ambush on Christmas morning a few years back, I saw them coming. I answered the door and the guy introduced himself and his wife, and then starting talking about comfort and read me 2 Cor. 1:3-4. I mentioned that Ali has these…
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3 Books by Andy Crouch You Should Read
One of the most helpful books I read last month was Andy Crouch’s The Tech-Wise Family. It’s a short read, but offers valuable insights into the role technology plays in your life. I found much the same to be true of Crouch’s previous book, Strong and Weak, but as it pertains to leadership. At a…
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2017 Reading Challenge: May Update
Well, school’s out for summer, so I’m gonna start blogging again. About the only thing I consistently did through the spring was update you on reading, so let’s pick back up with that. I read 17 books in May, which brings the year up to 67. Because of a line I read in a book…
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The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation
If you’ve never heard of The Benedict Option, you’re probably not alone. You may have heard of Benedict of Nursia (modern day Norcia in Italy), but didn’t know he offered an option for living in a post-Christian nation. Well, Rod Dreher thinks he does, and after numerous articles, finally published a book on it. In…