Friday, April 29, 2016

Review: Distinctly You: Trading Comparison and Competition for Freedom and Fulfillment

Distinctly You: Trading Comparison and Competition for Freedom and Fulfillment Distinctly You: Trading Comparison and Competition for Freedom and Fulfillment by Cheryl Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Martin delivered a far better book than I had anticipated, because as I guy, I was skeptical about the cursive font on the front and back page. As a bible school student, theological errors would be sniffed out by almost subconsciously. I'm extremely pleased to find that even the reformed scholar in me did not sound any alarm bells even as Martin cited from many many bible texts and covered a wide base of topics.

I throughly enjoyed the book and somehow wished that book would be less girly so that guys would also get the chance to be blessed by Martin's rich sharing. Her background as a journalist and news anchor shone through the text - at no point did I feel that she used more words that she needed or struggling to keep me interested. Perhaps the book is a the product of countless rewrites and faultless editing? This is definitely a book that I would keep in mind as a possible gift to my gal friends. There is after all, not too many books that I would give a 5 star rating to!

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

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Thursday, April 28, 2016

Review: The Cross before Constantine: The Early Life of a Christian Symbol

The Cross before Constantine: The Early Life of a Christian Symbol The Cross before Constantine: The Early Life of a Christian Symbol by Bruce W. Longenecker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An extremely technical book that bible scholars would find useful for research purposes. The generous amount of pictures complements the thorough research and referencing of modern bible commentators, ancient bible historians and non-canonical books. The amount of background study and seamless arrangement into an extremely easy-to-read format is astounding and commendable. The book most definitely was a labour of love.

Longenecker puts forth a simple proposition, that the cross was recognised and used as a Christian symbol even before used it for his political ends. I'll stop here in case I spoil your enjoyment of being taken through the journey in the unfolding chapters. if you have read the book, it would go a long way into prompting you to reconsider the plausibility of a widely retold Christian myth.

A side observation is that the book is printed on very good quality paper with excellent crisp and solid ink.

I received this book from Augsburg Fortress Press for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Monday, April 25, 2016

Review: 20 Things We'd Tell Our Twentysomething Selves

20 Things We'd Tell Our Twentysomething Selves 20 Things We'd Tell Our Twentysomething Selves by Kelli Worrall
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Maybe the book would appeal to their students, or to those people who are under their ministry, but I as a person who have not heard of who the authors were, found their illustrations and anecdotes from their lives not too captivating or engaging. After the 10th or so "thing," it took great amounts of determination to continue reading. Most books I rate at 5 stars would either be breathtakingly theological or passionately practical. This book suffers from not focusing on either.

This book was a challenge to read. I felt that the two authors could put in more effort into co-writing, rather than trying to mesh two separate scripts together. Because the book is based on the superstructure or foundation of their personal lives, many stories were repeated and after a while I was irritated as to how did the authors and the editors kept harping on those same illustrations. Well, I guess perhaps issues like these are bound to occur in a book's first edition, and could be weeded out in subsequent revisions. For an example of a book that had content woven seamlessly by two authors, check out Longman III and Allender's Breaking the Idols of Your Heart (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...)

One good idea that I took away from the book was the extra reading suggestion feature at the end of every chapter, where the authors suggest other books or bible passages for further reading.

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

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Sunday, April 17, 2016

Review: Jesus Called – He Wants His Church Back: What Christians and the American Church are Missing

Jesus Called – He Wants His Church Back: What Christians and the American Church are Missing Jesus Called – He Wants His Church Back: What Christians and the American Church are Missing by Ray Johnston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Johnson's book came with an intimidating, seemingly endless list of endorsements in the first few pages. The book provided an enjoyable and easy read. There was not too deep or complicated theological concepts being discussed, but rather, he takes us through a journey where I found myself agreeing with many diagnostics of the health of the church. Although primarily written to an Amercian Christian audience, it should be highly applicable to believers in other Western liberal democracies. Johnson's strength lies in his lively citations of other authors and great Christians who have lived before us. The anecdotes were almost always spot on in helping to draw a parallel to a principle he was attempting to illustrate.

If you are looking for an author who bashes the church and find yet another reason to live an anti-church Christianity, this is not the book for you. Johnston affirms his love for the church repeatedly throughout the book, and yet longs for the day the church lives up to the standard to which all believers are called to (but yet give ourselves much reason to ignore or justify a half-hearted surrender of one's will to Christ). I don't think it is possible to read this book and not engage in some serious reflection of our Christian walk thereafter...

I received this book from the Harpercollins’ Booklook Bloggers Program in exchange for this review.

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Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Review: Old Testament Essentials: Creation, Conquest, Exile and Return

Old Testament Essentials: Creation, Conquest, Exile and Return Old Testament Essentials: Creation, Conquest, Exile and Return by Tremper Longman III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a brilliant resource for a small group leader, elder or a pastoral staff member in charge of teaching! Longman III's book is tailored to the relatively more bible literate audience, as the lengthy but so very theologically rich commentaries (and the very many questions in each segment) would hint at. Sadly, because my target recipients are extremely bible illiterate (having eisegetical sermons as sunday main service fare for decades), I am unable to use the material without significant summary and omissions. Which of course is a great pity! But that is not the reason why I gave 4 out of 5 stars. As a final year seminary student, my hunch is that most lay people would find it difficult to find the answers to some of the questions without formal theological education (and therefore the knowledge of how to search bible encyclopedias or commentaries for help). I guess if the group is fine with not knowing the answer to some of the questions, or if they have access to a pastor who is willing to answer their queries, then the resource would be 5/5 stars. Would love for Longman III to release a companion teacher's resource with basic guidelines to explore and provide methods on how to respond to (especially the more difficult) questions.

As one of the best Old Testament scholars, Longman III brilliantly provides a framework to embark on an exciting and fulfilling journey of Old Testament basics, or as the title puts it, "essentials." It would be immensely helpful for any small group or leadership core to have their major OT themes grasped, for that is where Holy Scripture begins and builds upon. Of course, no good OT resource would be complete without reference to the typological pointing forward to Christ as the perfect and coming Priest, Judge (better understood today as Chieftain), King, Prophet etc.

I received this book from IVP in exchange for this review.

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Monday, April 11, 2016

Review: After the Boxes Are Unpacked

After the Boxes Are Unpacked After the Boxes Are Unpacked by Susan Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Miller's labour of love reveals that she is most passionate about ministering to women who have moved home. If Ravi Zacharias' heart beats for defending the gospel and Reinhard Bonnke's for crusades, Susan Miller's beats for women having through moving their families multiple times. The content provides for extremely light reading; a stressed out person would find the book a breeze to go through.

What this book lacks in theological and exegetical accuracy, it makes up for the abundance of case studies/real life accounts and practical advice! I'd imagine a Pentecostal woman would be thoroughly blessed and encouraged (a more reformed woman however may feel quite uncomfortable about the numerous bible verses quoted in isolation and bible characters cited as examples with no typological foreshadowing of Christ mentioned). But I guess Miller's target audience would probably not require deep theological expositions of the majesty of God and his infinite power etc. What they need would be practical steps to manage the stress and loss of having moved home!

After reading some books you'd probably wonder to yourself, "what did I just waste my time on?" I assure you, this is not one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed the content even though as a single unmarried male who has not moved even once in my 28 years of life! I highly recommend it, regardless of whether you are buying it for yourself or a person who is preparing to, in the process of, or had recently moved home! (The theology student in me still wishes that Miller would partner with a bible scholar to make the Scripture quotations more hermeneutically accurate - that's where I'd put in the last star!)

I received this book from the Tyndale House Publishers Blog Network Program in exchange for this review.

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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Marshall on the perseverance of the saints

This is something that I have been pondering about lately (very much in fact). There are probably no easy answers, with both the Calvinists and Arminians viewpoints varying so very much. On one hand I guess salvation at the point of conversion is a gift that we freely receive. Yes we cannot do anything to earn our salvation.. But I really wonder is a person truly saved if he behaves in a manner contrary to the standards that God has set in his holy Word? If I fall so short of the indicative markers of what a Christian is, then does that mean I really have not yet come to the point of being regenerated.

The desire to sin is still a very existent daily reality. I trust not in my own determination but I guess I can go to sleep every night, having repented, to know that his grace and mercy is more than sufficient to keep me from falling into apostasy the next day? It seems that my limited understanding of the reformed position seems to help my heart be in a better state of rest. Well lets see how the book shapes my understanding!

Here's the excerpt from the book where Marshall defines or comments on the perseverance of the saints.

From Page 22 of Btcl/Kept by the Power of God

On the one hand, the Christian life is a life which is continually sustained by the power of God. It does not merely depend upon a once-for-all gift of God received in the moment of conversion, but is a continual relationship to God in which His gracious gifts are received by faith. On the other hand, the believer is continually faced by temptations which jeopardize his faith. He is thus in a state of tension as he receives the gift of life from God and at the same time faces the forces of temptation which threaten to deprive him of that life. Positively, his duty is to grow in the Christian life towards the goal of sinlessness, i.e. of victory by the power of God over the temptations which assail him. This is the process known as sanctification. Negatively, the believer faces the danger of succumbing to temptation through failure to trust in God. He may be said to fall away from his faith in God, and the limit to this process would be apostasy, i.e. complete abandonment of faith and surrender to temptation; in such a case the divine life would cease to exist in the man.

Review: The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth and Love

The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth and Love The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth and Love by Josh McDowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had the perception (after reading his New evidence that demands a verdict) that Josh McDowell is not really a world class bible scholar; he appeals more to a popular audience who does not crave for the more meaty theology. The title of the book attracted me and managed to keep my initial skepticism at bay while I ploughed through the material. I sincerely did not expect to find out that not only did I throughly enjoy the book, I wrestled with the hardness of my heart to apply the Scriptural truths in my life.

The fictional case studies between modern parents and postmodern teens/young adults were relatable and very believable. I could imagine myself being part of such conversations. While I am not a parent, I relate to my postmodern roots as an intervarsity debater and my present worldview that I seek to be shaped by the Gospel. As I read through the chapters, I recognise my tendency toward legalism and harsh standpoints toward the postmoderns close to my heart. Indeed seeking to truly love a person whose worldview is opposite from yours is something that in our own flesh, we would find impossible. It is far easier to swing to either one extreme of being "tolerant" (a concept addressed at length and wonderfully explored) and accepting, or the other extreme of being completely "intolerant" and disconnect emotionally with a disagreeing party.

I heartily recommend this book!

I received this ebook from Barbour Publishing through Netgalley.com in exchange for this review.

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