Systematic Theology by Robert Letham In the arena of systematic theology, Dr. Robert Letham is a seasoned traveler and a practitioner who combines vast historical knowledge with a careful sense of how the Bible speaks to all matters of theology. His new Systematic Theology is a lifetime of work that comes in at a whopping 1,074 pages. Rather then being a dry tome of old rehashed terrain, Dr. Letham posits each section around something central to the Doctrine of God, giving us clarity on who the focus is of our inquiry. One of the great reliefs to find in the book was Letham’s insistence that we begin with the Trinity. Although the Trinity is not explicit in the Old Testament, it still is there in its latent form. However, in many instances there is an overwhelming view towards the Trinity in the first testament. Letham writes, “The Spirit of God is mentioned nearly four hundred times in the Old Testament. Generally, the Spirit is seen as th...
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A Reader’s Guide to the Major Writings of Jonathan Edwards Edited by Nathan A. Finn and Jeremy M. Kimble This collection of essays edited by Finn and Kimble draws together some of the finest Edwards scholars around and delves into the deep parameters of Edwards’ thought. From his theology, ethics, and revivalist writings, by reading these chapters one can get a sure grasp on this greater thinker and pastor of the Christian faith. Much like having sturdy handrails as you ascend and descend the heights and depth of a trail, these authors give us literary and theological handholds to understand and guide us as we read the voluminous work of Jonathan Edwards. What can at first light be an immense and daunting task, with help from this team of Edwards experts the believer can navigate the work of Edwards with confidence. I really got to see a vision of the importance of the writing of Jonathan Edwards in the first chapter on how to read Edwar...
The Messiah in the Passover , Edited by Darrell Bock and Mitch Glaser Why should Christians celebrate and remember the Passover? This is a striking question that needs to be understood as well as the historical and theological context of the Passover. However obscure we sometimes view the Old Testament, there is some significant reasons why we should reach back and study the Passover. Mitch Glaser in the Introduction states, “When Christians celebrate the Passover, they grow in their understanding of the Old Testament, affirm the Jewishness of the Gospel, deepen our understanding of the Lord’s Supper, and build community with fellow Christians…” (20). This book is answer to why celebrate the Passover but even more importantly an answer to what the Passover is and what it signifies to us today. The various contributors of this book, Messiah in the Passover, bring a wealth of ministry experience in relating the Jewishness of both Jesus a...
“Since Brother Martin was so troubled by his sin and unworthiness, Staupitz first advised that he seek forgiveness in the sacrament of penance. Going to confession helped Luther, but only to a point. Luther began to confess his sins frequently, often on a daily basis, and sometimes in great detail. He analyzed every sin, every motive, every circumstance, scrupulously. His fellow priests grew tired of hearing his obsessive confessions. Some began to avoid him on purpose. Johann van Staupitz, a very patient man, exploded one day: “Look here”, he said to Luther, “if you expect Christ to forgive you, come in with something to forgive – patricide, blasphemy, adultery – instead of all these small faults.” But this advice was useless to Luther. His anxiety was not over the magnitude of his sins, or their sheer number, but over whether they had been correctly confessed. What about unrecognized sins? Or forgotten sins? ...
Interpreting the Wisdom Books: An Exegetical Handbook by Edward Custis Among the many wonderful books on the OT wisdom literature, this fine new book helps the reader interpret, exegete, and apply God’s Word to his people in succinct and helpful way. The book is laid out nicely with bolded words that emphasize necessary themes in the study of the wisdom books and short chapters that get to the point of the biblical books. This series of exegetical handbooks is a great treasure for students and pastors because it synthesizes much of the academic work on a biblical book into digestable portions helpful for preaching and teaching. The opening chapter on the wisdom books brings out a helpful grid for understanding wisdom literature. Custis writes, “Biblical wisdom, in contrast to Israel’s neighbors, reflects “Yahwistic theology” through its regular use of terms like “fear of the Lord,” its affirmation of God’s providence, and its recognition th...
So Close to Amazing by KariAnne Wood With a humorous bent and an infectiously creative attitude, DIY expert and writer KariAnne Wood comes to her new book, So Close to Amazing , with a keen sense of purpose. The great thing about the book is KariAnne doesn't have it all figured out and yet she is able to laugh at her foibles and mess-ups, with the grace to keep moving on toward another goal. Early on in the book she writes, "I'm the one who brings slice and bake cookies to a potluck. Not baked, of course. Only sliced....That's me - following a dream without much of a plan." Something extraordinary happens in the midst of the ordinary, at least for the Wood family. We find in the book a vision of taking over a small town pharmacy, moving from Texas all the way to small town Kentucky with her children. The picturesque house turns into a swirling place to raise a family, and to engage in DIY projects while seeking to run a business. Remod...
A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman, and the Birth of Modern China, 1949 by Kevin Peraino The rise of modern China is due to many factors, not least of which was a tumult going on in the country itself, with respect to its leaders. Warring factions, two powerful leaders, and the threat of war were all factors that led to the China we see today. Kevin Peraino in his new book, A Force So Swift, draws on the history of China with a sharp focus on Mao and his rise, Truman and his coming to serve as President and the harrowing decisions he had to make in the face of great danger. One of the more fascinating parts of the book for me was the focus on Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. As the wife of Kai-Shek, she was relentless is pursuing the United States as an ally to help the people of China and her husband. Brazen, not afraid of political wrangling and pulling up a seat at the table of men. Kevin writes, "She told Chiang that she had been busily lobbying Americans from "a...