Dec
01
2009
Book Log: November
1. John Goldingay, Old Testament Theology, Volume Three: Israel’s Life – You can learn a lot from this big book, but the approach to Scripture, not to mention its handling of gender issues and sexual ethics, make it impossible for me to recommend this to a general audience.
2. Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mindset That Changes Everything – A plea for focusing on disciplemaking instead of program maintaining. The book is provocative without being reckless. There are lots of good reminders about what really matters in ministry. I think I’ll take our staff through this one.
3. Max McLean and Warren Bird, Unleashing the Word: Rediscovering the Public Reading of Scripture – This is a terrific book. It challenged me to make the reading of Scripture more prominent and more practiced in our worship services. You don’t have to do everything McLean and Bird suggest or do everything just like they would to really benefit from this book.
4. Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters – A wise, insightful, and convicting (painfully so at times) look at the deceitfulness and destructiveness of sin. Keller’s writing is penetrating, yet easy to read. We need more Christian books like this one.
5 Comments
Hi Kevin,
firstly thanks for the Blog, be sure it’s impact is felt all the way over here in Scotland.
Can I just ask, when you said above that you will take your staff through that book, can you explain what that means practically? Do you guys have a set book a month or something? And do you meet up to discuss. I know this is not the most pressing issue in the world but would be helpful to know in my situation at the moment.
God Bless.
Hey Kevin,
I had to read Goldingays frist two books (monstrous!) for an OT THeo Class. He is very well read, and a great scholar, but he will definitely irk some reformed folks. Especially in his view of God’s knowlegde and dealins with people. I think sometimes he emphasiszed God’s nearness over his transcendence. I’m glad I had John Frame’s Doctrine of God to steer me through.
Can you specify only briefly what you mean by his approach to scripture? I’m not looking to debate you, I’m just curious what you mean…
Kevin,
I gotta know, do you mean you read those in the month of November? I have to admit, I don’t think I could manage that (and retain much of anything), and I read pretty swiftly. Got a secret?
-Evan
I guess I read pretty quickly. I also read whenever I get a spare moment (at night, waiting for an appointment, on my day off, while I’m watching football, etc.). It’s also true that I don’t read every book in the same way. If a book is more of a reference book or something I’m not going to digest right away I may read it more quickly. I get the big idea, pick up a few nuggets, and know that I can come back to the book later if I need to get all the details.