Review: Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption: A Developing and Diverse Tradition

Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption: A Developing and Diverse Tradition by D. Jeffrey Bingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As I compare this book to my immense Theology Journal Bundle on logos bible software, I appreciated so much more the immense effort put in to consolidate the essays of the various theologians (and the subsequent editing and arranging into an easy-to-follow sequence). Having completed a position paper for a Systematic Theology 3 module on a millennial view, I did not eventually subscribe to the dispensational view. And yet I thoroughly appreciate the systematic and comprehensible flow of the content in this book. I had a terrible time trying to search and then organise the various essays sifting through decades of journal articles. But the editors have done all the hard work for me here!

Often I felt that the essay writers were on the defensive, (perhaps very much aware of the various criticisms on the dispensational view in modern theological scholarship) but eventually it seemed that the positive matter (substantives) were provided as much as the negative matter (rebuttals). Sections of the book I enjoyed were the introductory essay (Chapter 1), the history of dispensationalism (Chapter 3). Students and lecturers of the Eschatological topics in Systematic Theology would find "Dispensationalism and views of redemption history" (Chapter 9) especially useful; although the findings slant toward one millennial view, the broad overview of the others provide a quick and handy introduction.

Finally, no matter which millennial view you hold, Eugene Merrill's "God's Plan for History Prior to Christ" (Chapter 5) and Darrel Bock's "God's plan for history: the first coming of Christ" (Chapter 6) are excellent essays that teachers and preachers would find extremely useful in equipping their flocks in various topics - Biblical Theology, Covenant Theology and perhaps even Old Testament Introduction. Scholars too should enjoy the refreshingly light read of these two chapters, especially after having attempted to read through scholarly works with overly technical and complex treatises of such-and-such millenial views.

I received this book from the Moody Publishers Newsroom program for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Review: They Were Christians: The Inspiring Faith of Men and Women Who Changed the World

They Were Christians: The Inspiring Faith of Men and Women Who Changed the World by Crist Krusen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After having read the book, I was compelled to rethink how I have been and want to live this short fleeting life of mine. Not merely for others to remember me after my death, but rather do I desire as much as the 8 Christians in the book, to live a life as meaningful and fulfilling as them. I've never heard of most of their names before, and was highly encouraged by the love put into these short biographies. Krusen does a fine job of providing an interesting introduction of each character from how they influenced his own life or how he had known of them. And after the biographical entry, he pens his reflection, which were often helpful in my own consolidation of thoughts. The editing work is top notch and I found the content thoroughly engaging and inspiring. Krusen writes intelligibly and yet with fine brevity. I heartily recommend this book to both laymen and scholars alike.

I received this book from the Baker Publishing Group's Blogger Review Program for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Review: Liberating King: Breaking Free from the Tyranny of Sin

Liberating King: Breaking Free from the Tyranny of Sin by Stephen Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Miller mixes up stories from movies, the bible, the lives of his friends, accounts of famous missionaries/christians and his own struggles in this little book. Miller is often straight to the point, and utilises accessible (jargon free) language. I enjoyed the journey Miller took me on the book and was heartened by the reminder in the last chapter to look beyond the immensely difficult times of this life and instead to the worship in time eternal. I had read, studied and heard the book of Revelation intensely and yet somehow my heart had forgotten how to worship.

While I look forward to a more thorough and theologically beefier revised version, I recognise that the target audience is one that the average Christian theologian could reach. Weighing in at a slim 121 pages, it is ideal for people who do not usually go to their local church library or christian bookstore to pick up books to read. Its brevity thus makes it an ideal gift to other believers.

I received this book from the Baker Publishing Group's Blogger Review Program for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Review: Finding God in the Hard Times: Choosing to Trust and Hope When You Can't See the Way

Finding God in the Hard Times: Choosing to Trust and Hope When You Can't See the Way by Matt Redman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Matt and Beth Redman's mix in personal struggles, stories of close friends and historical Christian figures with Scripture as they walk through the various stanzas of the song they composed titled "Blessed be your name." It was only when I was through two thirds of the book that I recognised that the content was very similar - I had actually read the previous edition (titled Blessed be your name by Regal Books). The Redmans write simply and authentically; you can be rest assured there are no mighty theological terms that would require you to look up a dictionary. As suffering and difficult times is no discriminator of persons, this tiny little book therefore is an ideal gift for people who do not usually pick up books to read.

I received this book from the Baker Publishing Group's Bethany House Division Blogger Review Program for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Review: Renovate: Changing Who You Are by Loving Where You Are

Renovate: Changing Who You Are by Loving Where You Are by Léonce B. Crump Jr.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Just last night I was discussing about the increasingly expensive price of homes in Singapore and how I desired to buy 2 room flats (the second smallest type of public housing available) but they were only reserved for those about aged 55. My friend was cautioning me about whether my wife would feel safe coming home (given the demographics of the neighbours) and if I would be at ease letting her return alone.

Using the case study of his own city of Atlanta, he proposes that we should find out the history of our cities. Like Greenfield (in Subversive Jesus), Crump Jr. intentionally uprooted his family to live in an area that was unsafe for his family, and how they persevered in spite of seemingly bleak situations. He candidly shares about his mother's accounts of racial discrimination, and his struggles with encountering such treatment today.

Growing up as the majority race in Singapore, where the entire city-state underwent concurrent third-to-first world development, Crump Jr. helped me gentrification in a whole new light, not just as a theory from my human geography syllabus, but the real-life impact to the people undergoing it. While I especially appreciate the efforts to ground the book in Scripture, I was not persuaded that the author is truly zealous about the cause he is writing about. At least it did seem to be conveyed through the pages of the book; I did not sense that the primary was one of his consuming passions. Hence I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book from the Crown Publishing Group's Blogging for Books program for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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