New Books – September 2006

New Books – September 2006

John Wyclif: Myth and Reality, by G.R. Evans. Wyclif (1329-1384) and his associates were the first to translate the entire Bible from Latin into English, and he has been called the “Morning Star of the Reformation”. Yet his legacy has long been clouded by myth and controversies. J.I. Packer says that “though Wyclif was hardly the hero Protestant hagiology has made him to be, his opposition to papal autocracy and transubstantiation, followed by his rejection from the Oxford establishment, started something, and this fine, full biography enables us to discern just what that was”.

A Biblical Case for an Old Earth, by David Snoke. The author, a PhD and associate professor of physics and astronomy, believes the Bible does tell us about the scientific history of our world, but it does not teach that the world was created recently. He offers a biblical case that the young-earth position is theologically flawed. Drawing out the deeper themes of Scripture often lost in modern discussion, he shows how the biblical texts as well as modern scientific discoveries are better explained by a day-age model.

A Taste of Heaven: Worship in the Light of Eternity, by R.C. Sproul. We need a biblical reason for doing what we do when we worship God, and Sproul searches the Scriptures to find timeless principles from the worship practices of the Old Testament to guide worship today.

History of the English Calvinistic Baptists, 1771-1892: From John Gill to C.H. Spurgeon, by Robert W. Oliver. John Gill was the pastor of the Baptist Church that met in Carter Lane Chapel, Southwark. Several years after Gill’s death in 1771, that congregation moved to New Park Street Chapel in 1833. That same church called C.H. Spurgeon to be its pastor in 1854, before moving into the Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1861 where Spurgeon had the glory years of his ministry. This book aims to trace the story of the English Calvinistic Baptists from the death of Gill in 1771 to the death of Spurgeon in 1892, a time of theological giants and serious controversies.

The Secret Key to Heaven, by Thomas Brooks, 1608-1680 (Puritan Paperbacks). In this classic Puritan book on the vital importance of private prayer, Brooks said that “the power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies as closet prayer lives, thrives or dies”. Regarding Brooks, Charles Spurgeon said that “the mere marginal notes of Brooks are more valuable than pages of ordinary writers…of all the Puritans, he is the most readable”.

Majesty in Misery, Vol 2: The Judgement Hall, and Majesty in Misery, Vol 3: Calvary’s Mournful Mountain, by C.H. Spurgeon. With these two volumes, the three-volume work of Spurgeon’s sermons on the passion and death of our Lord is now complete (Vol 1 was Dark Gethesemane). In Vol 2, we see the Man of Sorrows despised and rejected by men—first by Annas and Caiaphas, the Jewish religious leaders; then by Herod Antipas, the puppet prince of Galilee; and finally by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. In Vol 3, we view afresh the last moments of Christ’s earthly life, as Spurgeon fixes our eyes upon the amazing grace and dying love of our glorious Saviour.

Everlasting Dominion: A Theology of the Old Testament, by Eugene H. Merrill. The magnum opus of the greatly esteemed distinguished professor of OT studies at DTS and distinguished professor of OT interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Merrill is considered among the most outstanding OT scholars in the US today.

Corner Conversations: Engaging Dialogues About God and Life, by Randy Newman. Turnerville is an imaginary place where people take time to think about and discuss real issues. Readers are invited to learn new conversational skills by eavesdropping on important dialogues that grapple with such issues as the reliability of the Bible, Jesus as the only way to salvation, and others.

Singing and Making Music: Issues in Church Music Today, by Paul S. Jones. Among 32 thought-provoking essays on church music are Criteria for Good Church Music, Instruments in Worship, What Happened to Hymns?, J.S. Bach and Musical Hermeneutics, Sacred Music as Prayer, Luther and Bar Song, and Biblical Hymns of James Montgomery Boice. The author is Organist and Music Director at the late James Montgomery Boice’s church, the historic Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia.

The Complete Book of Hymns, by William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen. Inspiring stories about 600 hymns and praise songs, including background on the composers, stories and verses that inspired the lyrics, scriptural references, and a sampling of the lyrics.

The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do, by Mark Atteberry. Every day Christians make the Devil laugh, as we make foolish mistakes and costly blunders that hinder the kingdom, such as winning people to the church rather than to the Lord, living below the level of our beliefs, speaking above the level of our knowledge, church hopping, allowing wolves to live among the sheep, etc. This book hopes to help us move beyond the blunders.

Damsels in Distress: Biblical Solutions for Problems Women Face, by Martha Peace. New from the author of The Excellent Wife. Deals with such problems as gossip and slander, idolatrous emotional attachments, manipulation, vanity, hurt feelings, and legalism.

Building Belief: Constructing Faith from the Ground Up, by Chad V. Meister. Helping others move past relativism to a place where Christian belief makes sense, by use of the Apologetics Pyramid.

Foundations of Christian Thought: Faith, Learning, and the Christian Worldview, by Mark P. Cosgrove. A fresh approach to exploring and engaging the inescapable commingling of faith, learning, and worldview.

Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, by Paul David Tripp. Tremper Longman III says this book “opens the door to hope for parents and teens alike by showing us how God can transform the hearts of whole families”.

How to Get Ready for Short-Term Missions, by Anne-Geri’ Fann. More than one million people will go into the entire world on short-term missions trips this year, and this book is a guide for sponsors, parents, and those who go. It deals with such issues as packing your suitcase and preparing your heart, building genuine relationships with the locals, understanding cultural differences, and dealing with physical fatigue and stretched emotions.

COMMENTARIES: 1 and 2 Corinthians and Revelation, by H.A. Ironside (An Ironside Expository Commentary); Proverbs, by Tremper Longman III (Baker Commentary on the OT Wisdom and Psalms); Jeremiah, Lamentations, by Fred M. Wood and Ross McLaren (Holman OT Commentary).

CHOSEN DAUGHTERS SERIES: This new historical fiction series is aimed at young women, as it looks at the lives of ordinary women who by God’s grace accomplish extraordinary things. Wings Like a Dove: The Courage of Queen Jeanne D’Albert, by Christine Farenhorst. Jeanne grew from a mischievous child to become Queen of Navarre in 16th century France, and supported the Protestant Huguenots who were reforming the faith despite persecution by her cousin, the king of France, and other European rulers. Dr. Oma: The Healing Wisdom of Countess Juliana Von Stolberg, by Ethel Herr. The Countess (1506-1580) was the Queen Mother of the Netherlands who was cherished by the Dutch people as a wise and gifted herbalist, mender of hearts, and champion of freedom.

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH SERIES (Juvenile Fiction, ages 8-12), by Wendy Lawton: The Tinker’s Daughter: a Story Based on the Life of Mary Bunyan; Shadow of His Hand: a Story Based on the Life of Holocaust Survivor Anita Dittman; Ransom’s Mark: a Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman; The Hallelujah Lass: a Story Based on the Life of Salvation Army Pioneer Eliza Shirley.

MORE ADULT FICTION: The Bishop’s Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter (#3 Daughters of Lancaster County); Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, and A Light to My Path by Lynn Austin (#1-3 Refiner’s Fire); Blind Trust and Broken Wings by Terri Blackstock (#3-4 Second Chances); Christmas Every Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren; The Secret Road Home by Robert L. Wise; The Copper Scroll by Joel C. Rosenberg.

CHILDREN’S AUDIOS: Drive Time (CD from Adventures in Odyssey). 12 episodes with 5 hours of entertainment.

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