New Books – July 2007

New Books – July 2007

Misquoting Truth: A Guide to the Fallacies of Bart Ehrman’s Misquoting Jesus, by Timothy Paul Jones. A spirited response to Bart Ehrman, a former evangelical but now radical New Testament critic and author of several best-selling books, such as Misquoting Jesus and Lost Christianities.

The Dawkins Delusion: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine, by Alister McGrath and Joanna Collicutt McGrath. In his book, The God Delusion, world-renowned scientist Richard Dawkins writes: “If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down”. Alister McGrath, along with his wife Joanna, is ideal to evaluate Dawkins’ ideas, as he was once an atheist himself and gained a doctorate in molecular biophysics before going on to become a leading Christian theologian.

The Apocalypse Code: What the Bible Really Says About the End Times and Why It Matters Today, by Hank Hanegraaff. A critique of apocalyptic enthusiasts such as Tim LaHaye and the best-selling Left Behind series. The author argues that the key to understanding the last book of the Bible is the other 65 books of the Bible—not current events or recent history.

Jesus Himself: The Story of the Resurrection, by Marcus L. Loane (Banner of Truth). Devotional reflections on the resurrection and the appearances of Jesus, from the Garden Tomb to the Mount of Olives.

Jim and Casper Go to Church: Frank Conversations About Faith, Churches, and Well-Meaning Christians, by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper. The authors, one of whom is a Christian writer and the other an atheist, visited twelve of America’s best and least-known churches, including Rick Warren’s Saddleback and Joel Osteen’s Lakewood, and documented their experiences at and reactions to each one.

Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, Theological Commentary, by C. John Collins. The author teaches at a Reformed seminary, and has a background in science, text-linguistics, and the languages and literature of the Bible, as well as long-standing involvement with the early chapters of Genesis. J.I Packer says that “from every standpoint—methodological and theological, linguistic and literary, apologetic and worldview—this a model of ‘good reading’ of the text”.

Foundations of Grace, by Steven J. Lawson (A Long Line of Godly Men, Vol. 1: 1400 BC-AD100). From the lawgiver Moses to the apostle John, and from the early church fathers to modern defenders of the faith, there have marched onto the stage of human history a long line of godly men who have upheld the doctrines of grace. In this first of a five volume series, Steven Lawson takes readers on a journey through the Scriptures to show that the Bible in its entirety teaches the doctrines of grace.

The Expository Genius of John Calvin, by Steven J. Lawson (A Long Line of Godly Men Profile Series). An intimate portrait of Calvin the preacher, including his core beliefs and the techniques he used in handling the Word of God, interpreting it, and applying it to the congregation.

Reading the Bible with the Dead: What You Can Learn from the History of Exegesis That You Can’t Learn from Exegesis Alone, by John L. Thompson. It is a modern conceit that we are the first to recognize the presence of puzzling texts in the Bible. The author gives a survey of the diverse ways that premodern interpreters struggled with some of the same “hard sayings” and difficult texts that trouble us today.

The Edge of Evolution: The Search for the Limits of Darwinism, by Michael J. Behe, bestselling author of Darwin’s Black Box. The author shreds the central dogma of atheistic science, the doctrine of the random universe, and shows how such a mindless force could not have built the sophisticated molecular devices found throughout nature. The only common-sense explanation is intelligent design.

Invincible Spirits: A Thousand Years of Women’s Spiritual Writings, compiled by Felicity Leng. Many silent and forgotten voices throughout history come back to life in this collection of spiritual writings.

Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit’s Power, by J.P. Moreland. Western culture is dominated by scientific naturalism and postmodernism, and Christians have not been free from these influences, to the detriment of transformed and transforming Christian discipleship. Moreland offers a three-pronged approach forward for Christians and the church to recover a biblical worldview and the potency of Kingdom living—renewing the mind, replenishing the soul, and releasing the Spirit.

In the Shadow of Grace: The Life and Meditations of G. Campbell Morgan, compiled and edited by Richard Morgan, Howard Morgan, and John Morgan. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945), who accepted the call to Westminster Chapel in London in 1904, was one of the greatest Bible teachers of his generation. During the last five years of his ministry there, he shared the pulpit with D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who became his successor upon his retirement. This book, which was compiled by his three grandsons, brings together some of his unpublished writings on facing difficulties in life based on real events from his own life such as the deaths of friends and family, old age, illness, rejection, and facing the end of life.

Spirituality Old and New: Recovering Authentic Spiritual Life, by Donald G. Bloesch. The author analyzes the dangers lurking everywhere in spiritualities old and new, and offers a robust biblical, evangelical alternative. His goal is not our “feeling it” but about God “receiving it”—the praise and devotion that is His due.

Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and the Teachings of Jesus, by Brad H. Young. Despite the common values and scriptures shared by Judaism and Christianity, most Christians have little knowledge of the great Jewish rabbis who wrote from the time of Jesus and the writing of the New Testament in the first century to the completion of the Talmud in the seventh century. Young shows how a familiarity with rabbinic thought improves our understanding of the New Testament documents and elucidates the historical Jesus. Here he provides an introduction to rabbinic thought, literature and the lives of the most influential rabbis. He also shows how Jewish thought clarifies the theology of the Sermon on the Mount.

Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision, by Bill Hybels. Turning your frustration at the way things are, into a “holy discontent” that can catalyze a fierce determination to set things right.

Charts on the Book of Revelation: Literary, Historical, and Theological Perspectives, by Mark Wilson. As noted commentator Grant Osborne says, “more than any book in the Bible, Revelation needs to be visualized to be understood”, and this book “is a major step forward in doing just that”. Avoiding end-times debates, this is a unique approach that draws from the most recent scholarship and includes 79 charts, timelines, and maps that analyze a broad range of topics. This work promises to help all Bible readers, regardless of their theological background or persuasion.

God In My Corner, by George Foreman with Ken Abraham. An autobiography and spiritual memoir by Foreman, former two-time heavyweight boxing champion, who shares his life-changing encounter with God which resulted in his present faith journey and ordination to the ministry.

Pocket History of Evangelical Theology, by Roger E. Olson. Finding the antecedents of evangelical theology in early pietism of the late 17th century, Olson traces its development through the revivalism in Great Britain and in America in the 18th century from its roots within Puritanism, Wesleyanism and the Great Awakening. He then considers evangelicalism in its connection with the Old Princeton theology, Holiness-Pentecostalism and fundamentalism, and follows its course into our contemporary context.

PRO AND CON ON RICK WARREN AND THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE:

Rick Warren and the Purpose That Drives Him: An Insider Looks at the Phenomenal Bestseller, by Richard Abanes; Redefining Christianity: Understanding the Purpose Driven Movement, by Bob DeWaay; More Than a Purpose: AnEvangelical Response to Rick Warren and the Megachurch Movement, by Marshall Davis.

COMMENTARIES:

Isaiah 1-39, by Gary V. Smith (New American Commentary); The Gospel of John/1-3 John, by Grant R. Osborne, Philip W. Comfort, and Wendell C. Hawley (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary); The Revelation of John: A Commentary on the Greek Text of the Apocalypse, by Stephen S. Smalley.

ADULT FICTION:

Secrets and its sequel Unforgotten, by Kristen Heitzmann.

AUDIOS:

Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce, by John Piper, read by Wayne Shepherd (audio book on one CD).

FAMILY/ADULT DVDs:

Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit, by Beth Moore.

CHILDRENS BOOKS:

The Lightlings, by R.C. Sproul.

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