New Books–December 2011

Complete New Book List

December 2011

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, by Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller. Keller says he is tired of listening to sentimental talks on marriage, for while marriage is many things, it is anything but sentimental. It is glorious, but hard. It’s a burning joy and strength, but it is also blood, sweat, and tears, humbling defeats and exhausting victories. Yet there is no relationship between human beings that is greater or more important than marriage.

Salvation Accomplished by the Son: The Work of Christ, by Robert A. Peterson. A substantive, significant, and enduring treatise offering an in-depth look at a key Christian doctrine—the work of Christ. Examines in detail both the deeds and the biblical pictures illustrating them.

The Accidental Revolutionary: George Whitefield and the Creation of America, by Jerome Dean Mahaffey. British evangelist and preacher Whitefield was the best-known person in 18^th century America, but is largely forgotten among Americans today. This book emphasizes the political impact of his sermons, which had a great impact on the American Revolution, so that he might even be considered among America’s revolutionary founders

A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New, by G. K. Beale. 1,000 page tour de force. Marked by focus on the biblical storyline, making connections between the OT and NT, and integration of the Scriptures into the new creation theme.

Indescribable: Encountering the Glory of God n the Beauty of the Universe, by Louie Giglio and Matt Redman. Brings together devotional insight, scientific thought, and magnificent images of the universe. Available in both full color illustrated and text editions.

Stumbling Into Grace: Confessions of a Sometimes Spiritually Clumsy Woman, by Lisa Harper .

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption, by Katie Davis with Beth Clark.A short term mission trip to Uganda after her senior year in high school turned her life inside out. She decided to disappoint her parents and forego college, break up with the love of her life, and to return to Uganda where she established a ministry for orphans. She is presently in the process of adopting 13 children in Uganda.

A Heart for Freedom: The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissident, Her Daring Escape, and Her Quest to Free China’s Daughters, by Chai Ling. More than 20 years ago, she led the protesters at Tiananmen Square, and became China’s most wanted woman. Facing imprisonment and possible death, she went deep underground and escaped to the US. Here she pursued the American dream, completing Ivy League degrees, finding love and business success. She was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. But then she had a spiritual awakening, becoming a Christian, and has since dedicated everything to opposing China’s one-child policy and forced abortion, and giving people in China their chance at a future.

God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China, by Liao Yiwu. Philip Jenkins says, “for anyone with a long view of history, it is very difficult to read Liao Yiwu’s work without being constantly reminded of Christian struggles in the ancient Roman Empire, when a harassed minority was struggling to exist. Parallels with the modern day world are startling”.

Gospel Wakefulness, by Jared C. Wilson. Contends that we must be regularly engaged and engaging others with the good news of the sacrificing, dying, rising, exalted person of Jesus Christ. Wilson reminds us of the death-proof, fail-proof King of kings who is before all things and in all things and holding all things together, so that numbness might be the exception, rather than the norm.

A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations and a Little Girl Named Penny, by Amy Julia Becker. The joys and discoveries of raising a child with Down Syndrome.

Reading Scripture with the Reformers, by Timothy George. Takes readers through the exciting events of the 16^th century, showing how this dynamic period of the Reformation was instigated by a fresh return to the Scriptures.

The Tehran Initiative, by Joel C. Rosenberg (a novel). What if Tehran were to launch a genocidal war against Israel?. A new political thriller

Forever: Why You Can’t Live Without It, by Paul David Tripp. Addresses our crying need for an eternal perspective. Through stories, examples, and biblical teaching, Tripp rehabilitates the notion of an afterlife, not as some vague, ethereal place in which we will someday reside, but as a living, robust reality that Scripture promises.

Finishing Well to the Glory of God: Strategies from a Christian Physician, by John Dunlop, MC. Planning for our final time on earth, and preparing to die well.

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms, by Angie Smith. The author says she believes every single one of us struggles with some type of fear. She blends her own experiences with those of men and women throughout Scripture.

Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith, by Scotty Smith. Each day’s reading consists of a text from Scripture and an original, inspirational prayer. Smith blogs at www.theGospelCoalition.org.

At the Throne of Grace: A Book of Prayers, by John MacArthur. Each reading consists of a Bible text and an original prayer by MacArthur.

Creating Life in the Lab: How New Discoveries in Synthetic Biology Make a Case for the Creator, by Fazale Rana.

Disciple: Getting Your Identity from Jesus, by Bill Clem, with foreword by Mark Driscoll.

Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism, edited by Andrew David Naselli and Collin Hansen. The four views are Fundamentalism (Kevin Bauder), Confessional Evangelicalism (R. Albert Mohler, Jr), Generic Evangelicalism (John Stackhouse), and Postconservative Evangelicalism (Roger Olson).

Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ’s Message to the ModernChurch, by Charles Quarles (NAC Studies in Bible & Theology);

Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles, by Karen H. Jobes. Lavishly illustrated, focusing on backgrounds and themes, with sidebars, maps, charts, etc.

Christ in Exodus, by Stan K. Evers. Seeing Jesus in Exodus without resorting to bizarre allegorical interpretations.

Presence, Power and Promise: The Role of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament, edited by David G. Firth and Paul D. Wegner.

How to Read the Bible in Changing Times: Understanding and Applying God’s Word Today, by Mark L. Strauss.

From Billy Graham to Sarah Palin: Evangelicals and the Betrayal of American Conservatism, by D.G. Hart.

Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reasons for Hope and Guidance for Help, by Lynn M. Hamilton.

Putting Your Past in its Place: Moving Forward in Freedom and Forgiveness, by Stephen Viars.

ADULT FICTION: Race Against Time, by Kimberley and Kayla R. Woodhouse; Attracted to Fire, by Diann Mills; A Lasting Impression, by Tamera Alexander (Belmont Mansion #1).

ADULT/FAMILY DVDs: C.S Lewis: Beyond Narnia (filmed in Oxford); Can We Trust the Text of the New Testament: A Debate Between Daniel B. Wallace and Bart D. Ehrman (the debate was held on the SMU campus, October 1, 2011).

CHILDREN’S BOOKS: So You Have a Dog?, by Eileen Valerio; Heroes and Villains of the Bible, compiled by Tama Fortner (real stories, actual biblical text).