Oct
31
2009
Book Log: October 2009
1. Chris A. Castaldo. Holy Ground: Walking With Jesus as a Former Catholic – An irenic look at the differences between Evangelicals and Catholics and how the former can relate in truth and grace to the latter.
2. Matthew Latimer. Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor – A funny, interesting, vain and unnecessarily mean-spirited look at our political leaders in Washington D.C.
3. Francis Chan. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit – A readable, faithful, often convicting exploration at what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit and how we’ve missed some things we shouldn’t have.
4. David F. Wright (ed). Baptism: Three Views – The best book of its kind I can remember. The three views: believer’s only baptism (Bruce Ware), infant baptism (Sinclair Ferguson), dual practice (Anthony Lane) are laid out with skill and verve. This book will help many people understand their own position better, and may help others make up their mind (just remember, Sinclair Ferguson is right!).
5. Bryan Chapell. Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice – Makes a compelling historical and biblically-thematic case for a more purposeful and gospel-ordered worship service. This book is a wonderful resource for pastors and worship planners.
6. Dallas Willard. Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge – Started out strong, got dicey in the middle, and took a wrong turn at the end.
7. James K. A. Smith. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation – Often provocative, sometimes wise, frequently over-the-top and off-track.
8. Christopher J. H. Wright. The God I Don’t Understand: Reflections on Tough Question of Faith – Answers four questions: What about evil and suffering? What about the Canaanites? What about the cross? What about the end of the world? The answers to the second and third questions are the strongest.
9. Dambisa Moyo. Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and how There is a Better Way for Africa – Short, readable, and very needed. Anyone concerned about actually helping the poor in Africa (and not just having good intentions) should read this book.
8 Comments
I’m curious about some of the things you thought were over the top and off-track about Smith’s book. I read it and thought it was quite good.
I hope to do a fuller review of Smith’s book in the next few weeks.
I am also curious about your thought on Willard’s book.
would you recommend the Moyo work for those thinking of doing non profit/ aid work in other locations; is the book able to be applied to other culture or is it too particular to the African context to be of help elsewhere?
Not to delay answering all the questions (but I guess I am), I hope to do a review of the Willard book and Dead Aid in the near future. Yes, I think Dead Aid would be helpful for anyone considering non-profit work, though the book is specifically about Africa.
I enjoyed your “Why We’re Not Emergent Book”, and I have become a daily reader of your blog. I was a little surprised at how positive your comment was about the Francis Chan book. From the things I have read and seen about him, I always thought of him as Emergent. Am I wrong in that thinking, and if so, what makes not fall into that category. Thanks.
Len,
Francis Chan is not apart of the Emergent Church. In fact, his book Crazy Love is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Forgotten God is excellent also. He preaches Truth and does not waver. He is far from the Emergent movement. Read his book Crazy Love. You will not regret it.
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