New Books–June 2011

Complete New Book List

June 2011

Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? Who They Were and Why You Should Care, by C. John Collins. Throughout history, most Christians have believed Adam and Eve were real persons, of whom we are their descendents. But some Christians today have dismissed that historical consensus. Collins is an old-earth creationist, who has degrees from MIT and a doctorate in Hebrew linguistics.

John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock, by Iain H. Murray. Brand new biography of John MacArthur.

John Knox and the Reformation, by D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Iain H. Murray. Focuses on the stalwart leader of the Reformation in Scotland.

Josiah’s Reformation, by Richard Sibbes (Puritan Paperbacks). First published in 1629. True reformation must begin in the heart, and Sibbes looks at the reformation in Judah led by King Josiah and recorded in 2 Chronicles 34.

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. The difference between law and gospel in raising your kids.

A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission Around the Table, by Tim Chester. Brings to light God’s purposes in the seemingly ordinary act of sharing a meal, with special reference to Gospel of Luke.

Christ Alone: An Evangelical Response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins, by Michael E. Wittmer. Rob Bell’s book questioning traditional Christian teaching on hell ignited a firestorm of debate on the internet, involving Justin Taylor, John Piper, and Al Mohler among others. Bell’s book eventually landed on the cover of Time Magazine during the week of Easter. This is the first book-length evangelical response to the issues Bell raised.

If You Bite and Devour One Another, by Alexander Strauch. Biblical principles for handling conflict.

Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself, by Joe Thorn, with foreword by Sam Storms. Learning to preach to yourself on issues related to God, others and yourself.

Red Like Blood: Confrontations with Grace, by Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington. Justin Taylor says “be forewarned: this is not a typical ‘Christian book’, where the authors wear sanitized masks and explain how to live the good life. It’s an exercise in earth honesty and gritty grace”.

Now I Walk on Death Row: A Wall Street Finance Lawyer Stumbles into the Arms of a Loving God, by Dale S. Recinella. A man who succeeded beyond expectations in the American dream, decided to sell everything he owned and follow Jesus, even to the stark floors of death row.

A People of One Book: The Bible and the Victorians, by Timothy Larsen. The scripture-saturated culture of 19^th century England is displayed in lively case studies of representative figures. Across the cultural and religious spectrum, from evangelicals to liberals and atheists, all were preoccupied with the Bible, as they habitually read the Bible, quoted it, used its phraseology, and thought in its categories.

Understanding the Times: New Testament Studies in the 21^st Century: Essays in Honor of D.A. Carson on the Occasion of his 65^th Birthday, edited by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Robert W. Yarbrough.

Hitler in the Crosshairs, by John Woodbridge and Maurice Possley. Late in WWII, Ira “Teen” Palm, a young GI, is given the assignment of a lifetime: he and his men are sent into Munich ahead of advancing Allied forces to capture or kill Adolph Hitler. In a Munich apartment, Palm finds a golden gun. This is the true story of the exemplary faith of a young American solder, Hitler’s golden gun, and the greatest manhunt in history.

Feminine Threads: Women in the Tapestry of Church History, by Diana Lynn Severance. From commoner to queen, the women in this book embraced the freedom and the power of the Gospel in making their unique contributions to the unfolding of history.

As If An Enemy’s Country: The British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution, by Richard Archer. A fresh examination of the British occupation of Boston in the years before the Revolution, which deeply radicalized the town’s citizens. One reviewer said that the narrative allows us to “almost see, hear, and feel the tension that grew for seventeen months” before the climactic Boston Massacre. The book allows us to understand why it was Boston that led the colonies into independence.

Practicing Affirmation, by Sam Crabtree. Learning to celebrate the simple

beauties of imperfect virtue in others. In the foreword, John Piper says “when our mouths are empty of praise for others, it is probably because our hearts are full of love for self…Sam’s book is a healing balm for cranks”.

The Reliability of the New Testament: Bart D. Ehrman and Daniel B. Wallace in Dialogue, edited by Robert B. Stewart. Highlights points of agreement and disagreement between two leading intellectuals on the subject of the textual reliability of the New Testament. Wallace is a Professor at DTS and Executive Director of the Center for the Study of NT Manuscripts; Ehrman is a liberal critic who teaches at UNC Chapel Hill, and is author of Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why.

Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God, by David Platt. The sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Radical

The Greener Grass Conspiracy: Finding Contentment on Your Side of the Fence, by Stephen Altrogge.

Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God: A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope, by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan.

Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, by Rob Bell. Controversial book which questions traditional Christian teaching on hell and eternal punishment. Available from librarian upon request only.

COMMENTARIES/BIBLICAL STUDIES: Isaiah’s New Exodus in Mark, by Rikki E. Watts; 1 & 2 Thessalonians: The Hope of Salvation, by James H. Grant, Jr. (Preaching the Word); 1 Kings, by Philip Graham Ryken (Reformed Expository Commentary).

ADULT FICTION: Indelible, by Kristen Heitzmann; Shattered Justice and What Lies Within, by Karen Ball (Family Honor #1,3)); Deep Trouble, by Mary Connealy.

ADULT/FAMILY DVDs: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia), from Walden Media; Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes (a young woman struggles with autism at a time when it was still quite unknown).