New Books–December 2010

Complete New Book List

December, 2010

Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just, by Timothy Keller. Against stereotypes, Keller presents the Bible as a fundamental source for promoting justice and compassion for those in need, and explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace.

Decision Points, by George W. Bush. The former president describes the decisions that shaped his presidency and his personal life.

Things We Couldn’t Say: A Dramatic Account of Christian Resistance in Holland During World War II, by Diet Eman with James Schaap. True story of Diet Eman, a young Christian woman who with her fiancé joined the Christian resistance movement in the Netherlands during WWII, risking their lives to save the lives of Jews.

Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Redemption, by Shane E. Kastler. Forrest was a controversial Confederate general, a racist and slave trader, and early member of the Ku Klux Klan. Yet in 1875, his conversion to Christianity led him to dedicate his life to God and become a staunch advocate for African Americans.

Discovering Jesus: Why Four Gospels to Portray One Person? By T. Desmond Alexander. A solid introduction to the key themes of the Gospels.

Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News, by Darrell L. Bock. While some scholars seek so-called “lost gospels”, Bock suggests that the real lost gospel is the one already found in the Bible, and he reminds everyone of what it means: good news.

Seeds of Turmoil: The Biblical Roots of the Inevitable Crisis in the Middle East, by Bryant Wright. Goes back to Genesis to see how a decision that Abraham made formed the basis of today’s Middle East conflict. Tells the stories of Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob, and how despite appearances, the world are not spinning out of control, but is slowly realizing God’s plan.

Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters, by Richard D. Winters with Col. Cole C. Kingseed. The story of Easy Company and its commander, and their heroic exploits beginning with D Day. Their story was immortalized by Stephen Ambrose’s book, Band of Brothers, which was made into a 10-part television miniseries.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand. New from the author of the best seller, Seabiscuit, this is the story of Louis Zamperini—from teenage delinquent to participant in the Berlin Olympics, and from survivor of the crash of a bomber in the Pacific to Japanese POW. After the war, he battled alcohol, but then came to faith during a Billy Graham crusade. Years later, he traveled to Japan to extend forgiveness to the Japanese guards who had victimized him.

Investigating Jesus: An Historian’s Quest, by John Dickson. Scrutinizes the Gospels, ancient pagan and Jewish writings, and near contemporary Christian sources to demonstrate the historical basis for Christianity. Includes full color photographs, maps,

and sidebars.

God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity, by Kelly M. Kapic with Justin Borger. Timothy Keller says “this book shows why anyone who grasps the nature of God and of His gospel will live a life poured out in acts of generosity”.

Handel’s Messiah: Comfort for God’s People, by Calvin R. Stapert. The historical background to the Messiah and its reception and impact from Handel’s day to our own, with a musical and theological commentary on the entire score.

Hitler: A Biography, by Ian Kershaw. The one-volume edition of the definitive and masterful biography of Adolph Hitler, from his origins as a failed artist in Vienna to the last days in his Berlin bunker. A mesmerizing portrait of how he attained, exercised, and retained power.

Small Faith—Great God: Biblical Faith for Today’s Christians, by N.T. Wright. In the midst of life’s challenges, so often our faith seems small and weak. But Wright reminds us that what matters is not so much our faith, as Who our faith is in.

Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy: Engaging with Early and Medieval Theologians, edited by Bradley G. Green. Essays on Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, the three Cappodocians, Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas.

The Doctrine of the Word of God, by John M. Frame (A Theology of Lordship vol 4). Final volume in the Lordship series by the distinguished Reformed theologian who teaches at Westminster. John Piper says “I thank God for raising up John Frame in our day. We are the wiser and the more biblical because of it”. In this volume, Frame talks of how God’s word comes to us in as his controlling power, meaningful authority, and personal presence.

While the Bridegroom Tarries, by R. B. Kuiper. Living in the light of Christ’s return. Sermons originally preached just after the first World War.

Wayfaring: Essays Pleasant and Unpleasant, by Alan Jacobs. Eighteen “beautifully written pieces reflecting on the Christian journey” and providing a “rich feast of intellectual pleasure and ethical nourishment”. Jacobs is a professor of English at WheatonCollege.

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory, by Lisa Stilwell.A spectacular view of creation through the lens of the Hubble telescope.

Operation World, 7^th Edition, by Jason Mandryk. Completely revised 2010 edition of the definitive prayer guide to every nation.

Entrusted with the Gospel: Pastoral Expositions of 2 Timothy, edited by D.A. Carson. Six expositions of Paul’s last charge to his suffering protégé, Timothy. Contributors include, John Piper, Philip Ryken, Mark Driscoll, K. Edward Copeland, Bryan Chapell, and J. Ligon Duncan.

The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible, by John H. Walton and Kim E. Walton. John is professor of OT at Wheaton and his wife Kim has been teaching Sunday School and developing curriculum for 25 years. In each Bible story they examine seven elements: focus, theme, application, place in the Bible, interpretational issues, historical and cultural background, and mistakes to avoid.

Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life, by Barry Danylak, with foreword by John Piper.

God and Evolution: Protestants, Catholics and Jews Explore Darwin’s Challenge to Faith, edited by Jay Richards, from the Discovery Institute.

The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with Answers), by Mark Mittelberg.

The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty First Century, by Mark F. Rooker (NAC Studies in Bible and Theology). Discusses each commandment and its meaning in the ancient context, how it reverberates throughout the OT, and how it surfaces again in the NT.

COMMENTARIES: The First Letter to the Corinthians, by Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner (Pillar NT Commentary).

ADULT FICTION: The Twelfth Imam, by Joel C. Rosenberg; In the Company of Others, by Jan Karon (A Father Tim Novel); The Frontiersman’s Daughter, by Laura Frantz; Exposure, by Brandilyn Collins; A Tendering in the Storm and A Mending at the Edge, by Jane Kirkpatrick (Change and Cherish Historical Series).

ADULT/FAMILY DVDs: Mormonism: Christian or Cult? by Dr. Ron Carlson; Evolution vs Creation/Dinosaurs, Fossils, and the Age of the Earth, by Dr. Ron Carlson; The Scarlet and the Black, starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer (true story of a Catholic priest in the Vatican who hid Jews and Allied POWs from the Nazis during WWII); Revelation and The End Times: Unraveling God’s Message of Hope, by Ben Witherington III (a non-dispensational approach); Heartstrings (Siblings series) and The Widow’s Might, movie dramas from Heumoore Productions.

CHILDRENS BOOKS: Get Me to the Ark on Time, by Cuyler Black.