I love to read. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Patrick of Ireland: His Life and Impact by Michael Haykin. More than just being the patron saint of a holiday in March, St. Patrick of Ireland was a man of fierce orthodoxy and evangelistic zeal. In this little book Haykin gives an overview of Patrick’s life and ministry. It reads somewhat like an academic paper, but don’t let that deter you from picking up a copy. What I found most interesting was Patrick’s eschatology; in taking the gospel to Ireland he believed he was evangelizing the last people group on earth and so ushering in the coming of Christ. Other interesting historical and theological tidbits abound, which is typical of Haykin’s work—he is indeed a master scholar.

Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor. Lord willing, tomorrow night I will preach a biographical sermon at IDC on Hudson Taylor, so this famous work on his life was required reading for the week. Six years ago when I first read the book I found it stirring and challenging. This time around I found myself a bit disappointed at its hagiographical nature (Taylor’s son wrote the book and emphasized on the good about his father’s ministry). I wanted more critical interaction with his ministry in China and various decision he made along the way. Nevertheless, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret is an edifying and informative read.

After Heaven: Spirituality in America Since the 1950s by Robert Wuthnow. What a fascinating book! In After Heaven Wuthnow analyzes the development of spirituality in America since the 1950s. He argues that American spirituality has moved from “a traditional spirituality of inhabiting sacred places has given way to a new spirituality of seeking.” I found his thesis convincing and his cultural analysis piercing. He walks through each decade from the 1950s-1990s and shows how American spirituality changed from and reacted against what came before. For Wuthnow the proper approach to spirituality is a “practice-oriented” one, which sounds to me like an ordinary-means-shaped piety. It’s a solution I can heartily agree with.

Spirituality of Liberation: Toward Political Holiness by Jon Sobrino. Oh my, what a turgid read this one was. In the 1970s Liberation Theology grabbed a hold of Roman Catholic practice in Latin American countries and Sobrino was one of the movement’s major thinkers. Liberation Theology believed that because God is most revealed in the poor and that Christ is liberator of the poor, true spirituality is practiced among the poor. It’s practiced among the poor so that the poor might find liberation in “reign of God,” which is not much more than the poor escaping their socioeconomic captivity. Thus, liberation theology inevitably became concerned with social and political structures required for liberation (hence the emphasis on “political holiness”). Sobrino captures all of this in Spirituality of Liberation and if this movement sounds stimulating—dive on in. If not, just move along.

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Sometime late in his life Nouwen, a Catholic priest, became enamored with Rembrandt’s painting The Return of the Prodigal Son. The truths he discovered in meditating on the painting changed his spiritual life and are recounted in this book. All in all, the book is a wonderful meditation on the parable of the prodigal son as Rembrandt depicted it. There are few points where Nouwen goes astray theologically, but on the whole this book will feed the soul. Nouwen helpfully shows how we all struggle to run away from God (like the prodigal) and let our complaints rob us of joy (like the elder brother). What we need, Nouwen concludes, is a fresh awareness of how God’s overflowing love leads to everlasting joy. The Return of the Prodigal Son is a masterful representation of how long meditation on a familiar story can bring out fresh truth for the heart.

The Bone Tree by Greg Iles. I loved Iles’ Natchez Burning so much that I named it my favorite fiction book of 2014. Natchez was the first book in a trilogy and ever since reading it I’ve tried to temper my expectations for its sequel, The Bone Tree. I am delighted to say there was no need for such tempering, The Bone Tree is excellent! Iles picks up right where the narrative left off and for 800 pages, with unrelenting force, he never lets the reader go. The pages fly as Penn Cage tries to save his father, uncover the truth about Kennedy’s assassination, and take justice into his own hands when he loses a loved one. I was shocked to see just how many loose ends Iles tied up from Natchez, while simultaneously opening up new ones that will make any reader ravenous to read the trilogy’s final entry. Tolle lege!

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Hearing God’s Words by Peter Adam. I had high expectations for Adam’s entry in the fabulous New Testament Studies in Biblical Theology series. A book that seeks to ground our understanding and practice of spirituality in the Bible itself? Yes please. However, when I closed the book after reading I found myself disappointed. Adam wanders about for the bulk of the book, with not much discernible trajectory or unity in argument. I must mention that he does have some very helpful sections on how a spirituality of the Word should overflow into ordinary Christian life. If you are already convinced about the centrality of Scripture for piety, then you probably only need to read the first and last chapters—for, in my mind at least, that’s where Adam’s best instruction lies.

Praying the Bible by Don Whitney. Short, concise, and practical, I could see Whitney’s latest book offering wisdom many church members—and church leaders—are looking for. In Praying the Bible Whitney says, “If . . . mind-wandering boredom describes your experience in prayer, I would argue that if you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit—if you are born again—then the problem is not you; it is your method.” I think he’s right, especially when you understand the method he has in mind. The is method is praying through Scripture, particularly the Psalms. He’s spot on to say that such a method of prayer gives structure, purpose, and longevity. Whitney’s book is brief, just under 100 pages, so when it comes out you’ll want to buy some copies for your church. This one could transform your people’s prayer life.

The Apostolic Fathers edited by Michael Holmes. Here is a treasure trove of primary source material from the church fathers. The first edition came out way back in 1891 and Baker Publishing is to be commended for keeping this volume, under a new editor, in print. The Apostolic Fathers includes many texts integral to our understanding of the period from men like Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, as well as The Didache. If you aren’t interested in patristic studies, which you probably aren’t, don’t shy away from this gem. You’ll likely be surprised how instructive and encouraging the fathers are—I know I was.

Pseudo-Macarius: The Fifty Spiritual Homilies and the Great Letter. Macarius was a Syrian monk in the fourth century who has generated no small amount of scholarly interest of the years due to his interpretation of Scripture and articulation of the Christian life. Even John Wesley was smitten with his work! The book’s homilies are quite catechetical in nature and full of metaphors. Some his interpretations won’t find widespread agreement today, but I appreciate his emphasis on the Christian life as one of fighting, struggle, and perseverance. His focus on the pursuit of purity and devotion to prayer is also commendable.

Light from Dark Ages? An Evangelical Critique of Celtic Spirituality by Marian Raikes. Only recently have I been made aware that Celtic spirituality is making a comeback in some arenas of evangelicalism. As it is appropriated today, Celtic spirituality seems to have much to offer for contemporary culture: the Celts are said to be about tolerance, ecumenism, environmentalism, and holistic ministry. Raikes effectively demolishes this modern adaptation, proving it to be unfaithful to the real tradition. Celtic spirituality does indeed have much to offer to us today, just for different and more ordinary reasons. The strengths of Celtic spirituality lie in earnest discipleship, love of the scriptures, commitment to prayer, costly evangelism and the pursuit of holiness. Will such interests set our modern culture on spiritual fire? I hope so.

The Earliest Christian Hymnbook: Odes of Solomon. For those of you who love history and reading old hymns this book is for you. These odes, or hymns, were probably written around 100 A.D. and thus contain some wonderful insights into the spirituality of the church during the closing of the apostolic age. A couple of the odes are a bit strange, but, on the whole, the project bursts forth with joy. If you happen to know someone gifted in crafting congregational melody, give him or her this book. Maybe they’ll be inspired to put the odes to music and today’s church can sing some of the earliest Christian songs.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Bonhoeffer’s Seminary Vision: A Case for Costly Discipleship and Life Together by Paul House. It’s easy to forget that Bonhoeffer’s best known works—The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together—both originated as lectures to seminary students. There is thus much to learn about Bonhoeffer’s seminary vision in each book. Paul House has done us all a favor by analyzing and applying Bonhoeffer’s thoughts on seminary life to our current academic culture. Although I think House is prone to a more romantic view of Bonhoeffer’s teaching than is necessary, he nonetheless makes a compelling case for embodied, communal, and spiritual seminary education. This is a valuable read for any seminary administrator or faculty member wrestling with how to best train ministers in our 21st century context of online education and just-check-it-off-the-list coursework.

Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, For the World by Stephen Nichols. As part of my final prep for leading some discussion over Bonhoeffer at an upcoming doctoral seminar I managed to squeeze in Nichol’s entry on the German giant in Crossway’s Theologians on the Christian Life series. I love Steve Nichols and have profited from many of his books, so I expected great things from this volume. Yet, in the end I was quite disappointed. As so often seems to happen, Bonhoeffer is made to fit into an American evangelical vision of who we want Bonhoeffer to be more than who he really was. Nichols is right to hang Bonhoeffer’s thoughts about spirituality on Christ and community, but organizing the remainder of the work spiritual disciplines misses out on the complexity and heart of Bonhoeffer’s thought and practice.

The Compelling Community: Where God’s Power Makes a Church Attractive by Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop. Dever’s book The Deliberate Church is the resource, outside of Scripture, we value most when training future officers at IDC. It offers an astonishing amount of biblical truth and practical wisdom on matters of pastoral ministry, church polity, corporate worship, and even gets down to things like hiring church staff and running elders’ meetings. Whereas The Deliberate Church aims to set a foundation for healthy church, The Compelling Community is something like a sequel that tries to let us know—as difficult as it can be to capture in print—what a healthy church feels like. And what a fantastic sequel this is! The Compelling Community offers a vision for healthy church life from which any pastor or church leader can profit. I found the discussion of a church being a place of either “Gospel Plus Community” or “Gospel Revealing Community” worth its weight in gold. I’ll cast aside all other superlatives that come to my mind and simply say, “Get this book!”

Life of Constantine by Eusebius. Next week I’m out in Louisville for a doctoral seminar on “Pastrisic & Celtic Spirituality” and am slated to give a presentation on the piety of Eusebius as shown in his panegyric (think “gushing oration put to paper”) written in honor Emperor Constantine. Eusebius is out to show, in hagiographical form, that Constantine was among the most pious of men. In the course of his appreciation I think we get a decent sense of the kind of piety Eusebius thought worthy of emulation. Life provides patristic scholars with no small amount of fodder for historical and theological debate, but my aim in analysis is simple: what we see encouraged is a moral, prayerful, political, and eschatological piety. If you aren’t a PhD student, I’d be hard pressed to see why you’d need to read this one . . . so you’ll probably want to just move along.

The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation by Michael Reeves. Good ol’ Mike Reeves has written my favorite intro on the Trinity, my favorite intro on life in Christ, so it shouldn’t surprise you to find out he’s also written my favorite introduction to the Reformation. Reeves has an envious amount of winsome and witty wisdom on Scripture and history, characteristics that live in full color on every page of The Unquenchable Flame. I reread this book with the staff at our church and Reeves managed to win over one of our staffers predisposed to loathe history (I know, we are working on such silliness). If you are looking to get a brief, but substantial sense of what the Reformation was all about, this is the book for you.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Strange Glory: The Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Charles Marsh. At an upcoming doctoral seminar on “20th Century Spirituality” I get to lead the discussion on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s spirituality. In order to help sharpen my understanding of his life’s finer points I picked up Marsh’s recent biography of the German giant. Strange Glory is the best—and most provocative—volume on Bonhoeffer I’ve yet to read. Its greatest strength lies in Marsh’s grasp of Bonhoeffer’s theological and philosophical development throughout his career, which makes sense when you discover Marsh did his PhD on Bonhoeffer’s philosophical thought. The chapter on Bonhoeffer’s first sojourn in America is alone worth the price of the book. Marsh has ignited much furor over his assertion in the book that Bonhoeffer was romantically attracted to his best friend Eberhard Bethge. While Marsh lets this fascination overshadow too many parts of his narrative I think, on the whole, Marsh is on to something worth deeper reflection.

Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer & Life in Christ by Todd Billings. We need more books like this one: theologically rich, biblically insightful, and pastorally wise treatment of a sensitive subject. I read Rejoicing in Lament with a church member who just lost a child and Billings’ has been a wonderful companion through the pain. He rightly wants to restore a biblical place for lament in the Christian life and eloquently models faithful lamentation. Quite possibly—for me at least—the greatest parts of the the book are when Billings reflects on how to best care for those going through cancer and facing immanent death. Rejoicing in Lament is a brave book that I’d love to see everyone read.

Dallas, 1963 by Bill Minutaglio and Steven Davis. I seem to increasingly have an armchair historian’s interest in the 1960s. The Cold War drama, Camelot-Court-like White House, Civil Rights movement, and general sociological upheaval is quite engrossing. Dallas, 1963 analyzes all of these things as they came to a boiling point in my backyard. The book starts well by promising to recount the political atmosphere of the city where Kennedy would be assassinated. The authors’ initial return on their promise is fascinating, but soon it devolves into some strange liberal fascination with General Edwin Walker—as if Walker was the typological Texan.

Don Graham, professor of history at the University of Texas, is spot on when he says, “Minutaglio and Davis are like a team of U.N. inspectors visiting a country where buried canisters of noxious verbal gas have been left behind for a new generation to discover and, if they’re of a sufficiently liberal mind, to savor how bad those days were, how much hatred there was in Dallas. But the streets of the city that day in November were packed with thousands of people — estimates run to more than 100,000 — who didn’t hate at all, who were excited to see the president and his beautiful wife and who lived in that other Dallas that [the authors are not] much interested in.”

Natchez Burning by Greg Iles. Natchez Burning was my favorite fiction book of 2014. I recently read it again in preparation for the trilogy’s second installment, which landed last week. And it was as good as ever on a second read. Full of tension, historical interest, Civil Rights drama, and page-turner mystery, this book is a fantastic summer read. I can only hope the second volume keeps this trilogy’s literary train flying down the tracks . . . bring on The Bone Tree.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Lord willing, tomorrow night at IDC we will finish our spring sermon series on the book of 1 John. Here are some brief thoughts on the 1 John commentaries I finished this week.

Epistles of John (NICNT) by I. Howard Marshall. If you’re familiar with the NICNT series you know it tends to be a bit more technical in nature, but Howard Marshall’s work on 1 John is full of pastoral warmth. That’s probably because the epistle on which he comments is full of pastoral sensibility and exhortation. Marshall strikes the appropriate balance in the apostle’s teaching between truth and grace/ word and spirit. Highly recommended.

1-3 John (BECNT) by Robert W. Yarbrough. Every sermon series I’ve ever preached found me purchasing—unknowingly—at least one commentary that was, quite frankly, turgid. For me, Yarbrough’s was that one for 1 John. The simplest of truths get untold paragraphs of focus and so it’s no surprise to find yourself drowingin the detailed analysis of John’s more difficult sections. Now, I’m not against detailed attention in biblical commentary. Yet, Yarbrough’s volume in the BECNT—a series I love—is an example of losing the forest for the trees. Preacher, don’t do the same in your exposition of 1 John.

The Letters of John (TNTC) by John Stott. To read a John Stott commentary is a dangerous endeavor for preachers. If you don’t have your own outline of the passage before reading Stott’s commentary, chances are you’ll always be taking his–he’s just that good. This brisk volume in the Tyndale series has the two hallmarks of Stott on full display: precision and concision. If you are thus a preacher who tends to be wordy in your explanation, Stott will be a valuable addition to your study.

The Letters of John (PNC) by Colin Kruse. I always knew it would happen. At some point I was bound to find a volume in the Pillar New Testament series and offer a summary sigh of, “Meh.” I didn’t find the pastoral care in Kruse I so love in many of the other Pillar volumes. Also, the flow of his commentary is too frequently stilted by an “excursus” I think would have been better left woven into the verse-by-verse exposition. I’m sure some will disagree and find the theological rabbit trails useful. Looking back through its pages, this book has few underlined sentences after a first read. Somewhat disappointing.

The Message of John’s Letters: Living in the Love of God (BST) by David Jackman. You can always expect a BST volume to have devotional tenderness and Jackman didn’t disappoint in his commentary on 1 John. Although I did find his commentary somewhat losing steam by the end and thought some of his expositional divisions were odd, his word is worth the money for a preacher. I regularly found Jackman providing an unusual depth of illumination into the text with winsome turns of phrase and thought-provoking outlines. Good work!

The Epistles of John (Boice Expositional Commentary) by James Montgomery Boice. I love the ministry of James Montgomery Boice and have long thought him to be a model of a pastor-theologian. Unfortunately, his expositional volume reminded me of Yarbrough’s a bit as Boice frequently divides the text into such minute sections he misses John’s larger argument. However, Boice must be commended here for characteristic clarity in instruction and moments—albeit more sporadic than you’d expect—of homiletical brilliance.

Letters of John (NIVAC) by Gary Burge. I’m sure every preacher has affinity for a particular format in the commentaries he reads (I mean, does anyone like the format of the “Word Biblical Commentary?”). I’ve long found the NIVAC’s formatting to be a bit frustrating as it moves from ancient text, to bridging context, and finally to contemporary application. I was thus somewhat astonished to find Burge’s volume on 1John the most homiletically helpful of the whole bunch I read! He offers numerous exegetical insights, yet doesn’t complicate the simplicity of John. Burge also manages to squeeze out inordinate amounts of heart-searching application from each passage. I generally judge the commentaries I use for exposition by the “Preaching Factor”; i.e., “Does this book fan into flame a desire to preach the text at hand?” The best commentaries are sermonic fire-builders and Burge’s volume ignited a flame each week.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Meditation and Communion with God: Contemplating Scripture in an Age of Distraction by John Jefferson Davis. Davis’ aim in Meditation and Communion with God is laudable: restore biblical meditation to a healthy place in the Christian life. To do that he sets out to prove how meditation on God’s word—in faith—is nothing less than real communion with the triune God. His theological proof rests on the nature of our God as Trinity, the reality of inaugurated eschatology, and the vitality of our union with Christ. I find his arguments winsome and unassailable in their biblical foundation. Readers looking for a rich theological meditation for contemplating Scripture would be wise to turn to Davis’ book. Beware, however; this is not breezy reed. It’s full of philosophical and scientific discourses and has, somewhat surprisingly, only one chapter on the actual practice of meditating on God’s word.

George Müller of Bristol and His Witness to a Prayer-Hearing God by Arthur Pierson. A prominent pulpiteer in the 19th century, a trailblazer in the Scofield Bible, and successor to Spurgeon at The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Arthur Pierson was also a friend of George Müller. Published in 1899 this book recounts the life of Müller, with particular attention to his life of prayer. And what a life it was! Müller is rightly remembered as a giant of prayer. Prayer consumed his life and was his delight. Pierson says, “If a consecrated human life is an example used by God to teach us the philosophy of holy living, then this man was meant to show us how prayer, offered in simple faith, has power with God.” It’s always challenging to one’s own prayer life to read about Müller’s, and this book stirred me afresh. There were also some fascinating vignettes Pierson offered, such as how Müller turned him from postmillenialism to dispensational premillenialism.

Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating. An influential tome in the realm of “contemplative prayer,” Open Mind, Open Heart is Father Keating’s most popular and accessible book on Centering Prayer. What is “centering prayer?” Keating answers, “Centering prayer is awakening to the gift of contemplation.” Essentially, it is a technique of letting go of one’s thoughts, emotions, and inhibitions in order to experience “interior transformation” and “divine union” with God. It’s all very mystical and spiritual, but in the end it sure seems like little more than a Catholic version of transcendental meditation. Unless you have to read this book for a doctoral seminar on “20th Century Spirituality” you really ought not bother with this one.

Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke. When I see a publisher announce a story “connecting a fateful encounter with Bonnie and Clyde to heroic acts at the Battle of the Bulge and finally to the high-stakes gambles and cutthroat players who ushered in the dawn of the American oil industry,” I’m immediately hooked. Especially when the great James Lee Burke is the one doing the telling. The narrative is moving, the tension is tight, the history is fascinating, and the setting is grand. Burke’s sense of place is masterful and his prose often majestic. This is a Novel as Big as Texas—and I loved every bit of it.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Every so often I hear about some debut work of fiction storming up the best-seller lists, generating much conversation, and can’t resist putting my literary feet into the water. The Girl on the Train is smash hit strikingly familiar in style to Flynn’s Gone Girl, but one that still manages to stand on its own merits. The plot line is quite dour on the whole, but oh my! does Hawkins grip and enthrall. She grabs your attention from the start and relentlessly advances her tale with surprises at every turn. Like many immediate hits, some will loathe The Girl on the Train and others will devour it. I found myself absorbed for two late night readings; does that qualify as devouring?

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Rejoicing in Christ by Michael Reeves. If there is a contemporary author I love more than Mike Reeves, I’m hard pressed to think who it could be. He’s written my favorite introduction to the Reformation, my favorite introduction to the Trinity, and with Rejoicing in Christ he’s written my favorite intro to Christology. I’m not sure, however, if this book appropriately falls into the category of “Christology.” Whenever I think of Christology I think of textbook-ish works on the hypostatic union, eternal generation, and the like. Those volumes are vital indeed; we also need books that simply show us how to stare at Jesus—and do so with joy and hope! Rejoicing in Christ models exultational Christology at its finest. Grab this book!

Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson. Earlier this year Baker repackaged Carson’s A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers into a second edition. The new edition is really only new in the title, cover, and typesetting. Even though precious little content is new in this one, reading through it wasn’t without profit. I still think Carson’s book on prayer is about as good a book on the topic you can find. Biblical sensitivity, practical counsel, and sound instruction burst forth from every page. Praying with Paul is a must read for every pastor and would be a fantastic book for small groups.

A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. Buoyed by the high praise upon its initial publication I picked up A Praying Life back in 2009 and remember being a bit disappointed. My second read through the book brought greater fruit. Although I still think Miller’s adaptation of certain passages is questionable and his approach to God in prayer can feel quite casual, he nonetheless offers expert diagnoses on the various heart conditions causing prayerlessness in so many Christians. I still find myself meditating on this quote, “If you try to seize the day, the day will eventually break you. Seize the corner of his garment and don’t let go until he blesses you. He will reshape the day.” May God give me a heart of prayer that clings to Christ and submits every action to His shaping.

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper. I’ve often said in this space, “The best preaching books are the ones that make you want to put down the book and go preach.” Without fail, The Supremacy of God has been such a book in my life. This revised edition includes four chapters offering Piper’s reflections on preaching after thirty-three years of ministry at Bethlehem Baptist Church. This book is no manual on the technique of preaching, but it is a manual on heartfelt, biblical convictions on the nature of preaching. And we all need more of those.

John Knox: Fearless Faith by Steve Lawson. “The Long Line of Godly Men Series” Lawson edits for Reformation Trust is fantastic. Douglas Bond already laid claim to the Knox volume in that series, so it seems Lawson had to print his own with Christian Focus. While I found his work on Knox lacking in the verve often found in the Long Line series, it’s still a useful introduction to “The Trumpet of the Scottish Reformation.” Knox is a man of legendary courage and faith, if you don’t know anything about him Lawson’s biography is a good place to start.

Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough and What That Means for You and Me by Kevin DeYoung. Every Thursday I have lunch with the staff of IDC and the guy who ably leads us in song each week (he’s a faithful member of our church). After shooting the proverbial breeze and discussing the coming weekend’s order of worship we like to spend time working through a book together. We just finished DeYoung’s excellent introduction to the doctrine of Scripture. If there is a better one available for church members, I’m unaware of it. With typical clarity, freshness, and wit DeYoung equips Christians to stand on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture in an age aiming to topple those twin towers of truth.

The Life of Saint Macrina by Gregory of Nyssa. Macrina was the older sister of Gregory of Nyssa and this book is Gregory’s brief biography of one remember in history as full of piety and love. Written sometime between 380-383 A.D., Gregory initially wanted to further a conversation about his sister with a friend and what was supposed to be a letter, grew into a book. And what was supposed to be a book grew into one of the more celebrated lives of early monastic faith. All in all, this is a fascinating peak into the burgeoning asceticism of 4th century Christianity.

Intimacy with God by Thomas Keating. One strain of Catholic spirituality in the 20th century is that of “Centering Prayer.” Intimacy with God is a simple introduction to the practice, which quite frankly seems like a Catholicized version of various Hindu and Buddhist techniques of meditation. Pulling from giants of Catholic mysticism like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, Keating—a Trappist monk—offers instruction on how to center the mind in such a way to prepare the soul for contemplative prayer. An interesting read for academic purposes, but not much by way of practical benefit. Moving along . . .

Brother Roger of Taize edited by Marcello Fidanzio. “Brother Roger Schutz (1915-2005) was the beloved founder of Taizé, an ecumenical monastic community in France.” A year after his death Fidanzio put together this slim volume, which functions like a “Best of Roger” collection. As such, the book lacks in cohesiveness and unity, but it does succeed in providing a glimpse into Brother Roger’s favorite themes: reconciliation, forgiveness, love, and community.

A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly. Originally published in 1941, Kelly’s book has become a classic of Quaker spirituality. A Testament of Devotion consists of five loosely connected essays written in lovely prose. The spirituality of the book is airy and flowery. Rarely will the reader find any tethering to Scripture, even poorly interpreted Scripture. Instead, Kelly calls the reader to a life of simplicity and stillness not unlike what you might find in many Eastern religions. When I finished the book my first thought was, “Why is this a classic?” I’m still wondering.

Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and The Conquest of the American West by Hampton Sides. After reading In the Kingdom of Ice I decided to finally read another Sides book collecting dust in my study: Blood and Thunder. What an interesting and saddening story. Here we are confronted with the majestic spirit of westward expansion in the mid-1800s, expansion embodied in the exploits of the legendary Kit Carson. Yet, that same majestic spirit had a dark side, one Sides doesn’t shy away from—the destruction of the Native American tribes. Carson’s ascension to iconic popularity came through his willing elimination of the Navajo. Sides gives us a human glimpse into how the West was really won.

A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett. After reading most of his various period novels and smashingly successful works of historical fiction, I’ve found Follett has a discernible system in his historical narratives. It goes like this: create Compelling Hero; Compelling Hero proceeds to rise in prominence; insert Heinous Villain; said Villain proceeds to win every battle for 97% of the book; eventually Villain loses out to Hero, but there’s not telling how much emotional carnage for the reader lies in the wake. Tell said story with punchy prose, unnecessary indecency, and fascinating attention to historical detail. A Dangerous Fortune fits that formula to perfection. I’d stop reading such predictability if it wasn’t for the fact Follett still manages to effortlessly—and utterly—capture my attention.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis. I’ve never ventured far from Narnia when it comes to Clive Staples Lewis. A dabble in a Screwtape letter here and a jaunt through Mere Christianity there is about as far as I’ve gone. I can now add The Weight of Glory to my woefully small list of Lewis reads. TWG is a collection of nine sermons Lewis delivered during the World War II years in Britain. I’m sure it will be sacrilege to many for me to say, but in these addresses I find Lewis often dwelling in ho hum banter only occasionally breaking out with a brilliant insight like, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.” If you read only one address I’d stick to “The Inner Ring,” for here sheer brilliance reigns from start to finish.

Look and Live: Behold the Soul-Thrilling, Sin-Destroying Glory of Christ by Matt Papa. To hear Papa sing or speak is to feel something of the earnestness of John the Baptist. At least that’s my experience. Papa is in love with Christ and is passionate in his appeal for others to join in on the glory. These traits, and many more, are available for all to see in Papa’s excellent book Look and Live. He is spot on to say, “We don’t need more willpower. We don’t need to get ourselves together. We need a greater thrill . . . a more captivating beauty. What we need is a vision of God. We need to see glory.” Drawing on many mighty men of old and the modern twin towers of Piper and Keller, Papa shows how a glorious vision of Christ helps us slay sin, preach the gospel, and live courageously in the world. If the book has any downfall it’s that Papa’s thoughts often come out as individual exhortations (i.e. he writes a lot of one line paragraphs), instead of developed arguments and declarations. But that does remind you a bit of the Baptist doesn’t it? Pick up a copy of this fine book and thrill yourself with the greatness of Christ.

In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeanette by Hampton Sides. My wife got me Sides’ latest for Christmas and I went into it with a sense of frigid expectation. Thoughts of arctic expeditions in our modern time are enough to chill the bones, let alone an expedition that set sail in 1879. Furthermore, the book’s subtitle demands the reader steel his gaze from the outset lest he be unduly disappointed. The Jeanette‘s journey to the North Pole captured our nation’s attention in the late 1800s and for good measure: no one really knew what lay up in the cold dome. A lost civilization? An open polar sea? A paradoxically warm climate? Or just loads of ice? The story of Captain De Long’s men is one Sides is perfectly suited to tell and my, my does he tell it well. The pages turn quickly in this one; fascination, elation, and trepidation await. And yes, they come in that order.

The Expats by Chris Pavone. Evidently Pavone made the change from editing cookbooks and garden tomes to writing spy novels with the publication of The Expats. This fun read centers on Kate Moore, a former CIA operative who is relegated to domestic duty at home when her husband takes a new job in Luxembourg. Soon enough Kate’s covert tendencies involuntarily take over when as she begins to doubt the veracity of her husband, her friends, and—well, just about everyone. Pavone’s book, while thoroughly enjoyable, does recede into the ridiculous at times in the elements of espionage Kate employs. But Pavone redeems the silliness by saving his best for the end. The book’s final chapters are mesmerizingly constructed and make one eager for what the author might cook up next.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This work is better known in America as The Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer’s collective ruminations on truly following Christ has been a spiritual classic for decades. I’ve started and stopped this work numerous times, largely because I find myself in such agreement that I think, “Ok, I get the point and I completely agree. Time to move on.” Just this week I finally made it all the way through to the end. Bonhoeffer’s main contribution to our understanding of discipleship is his taxonomy on grace: cheap grace versus costly grace. He says,

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

After a prolonged meditation on discipleship Bonhoeffer proceeds to exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, which is followed by instruction on Matthew 10 and “The Messengers.” Bonhoeffer’s exegesis is questionable at points and his Lutheran convictions ring out in the book’s final section on the church. Nevertheless, this is a valuable work for our age that wonders if radical calls to obedience are necessary.

Life Together & Prayerbook of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. From 1935-1937 the Finkenwalde seminary provided an occasion for Bonhoeffer to construct something he’d always longed for: the construction of a Christian community based on the Sermon on the Mount. As I read the book I couldn’t help but think of the Finkenwalde experiment as something like evangelical monasticism. Bonhoeffer created a routine of Scripture reading, prayers, meditation, work, singing, confession, and communion that would make the old monks proud. This is not to say I disagree with what Bonhoeffer built. I actually am quite sympathetic to his encouragement of systematically partaking of the means of grace. One thing a reader of Life Together can’t miss is Bonhoeffer’s prioritization of the Psalms for ordinary life in Christ. Thus, it only makes sense for this edition of Bonhoeffer’s Works to couple Life Together with The Prayerbook of the Bible, his brief commentary and application of the Psalms.

Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World edited by C.J. Mahaney. Mahaney, in my view, is right to say, “Today, the greatest challenge facing American evangelicalism is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world.” A common topic of discussion in centuries past, the issue of worldliness seems to have receded from the broader evangelical world today. With the big “L Word” (legalism) lurking around every corner few people seem concerned with the danger of loving the world. Yet Scripture unalterably warns against lurking worldliness (1 John 2:15-17). The Sovereign Grace men do a fantastic job in this book offering winsome counsel towards crucifying desires for the world. Resisting the temptation to offer unbiblical prescriptions, each chapter offers sound wisdom on matters of media, modesty, music, and living faithfully in the world. Highly recommended!

A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer by John Piper. One of my endeavors for 2015 is to grow in the practice of fasting. I turned to Piper’s book for counsel and encouragement in my own devotional life and he didn’t disappoint. A Hunger for God is classic Piper: rigorously biblical, deeply thoughtful, and occasionally loquacious. If you don’t want to read the whole book, at least pick up the free PDF here and read the first chapter, “Is Fasting Christian?”

A Serious Call to a Contemplative Lifestyle by Glenn Hinson. What a puzzle this slim volume volume is. For over thirty years Hinson was the professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. But go ahead an throw out any notions of classic Baptist spirituality right now. Hinson advocates process theology, sympathetic to the evolutionary philosophy of Teilhard, and mystical in his orientation. His contemplative model of spirituality says, “God loves you. Love God back through contemplation on His loving essence.” I did enjoy his pleas for simplicity in life and the importance of meditative prayer, yet his almost utter disregard for God’s word as a means of grace makes his “serious call” . . . well, not that serious at all.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. I’d seen Krueger’s latest novel on many “Best of 2014” lists, so I picked it up with high expectations and wasn’t let down. Set in New Bremen, Minnesota in the summer of 1961, Ordinary Grace is told through the eyes of Frank Drum – forty years after he experienced the events of 1961 as a somewhat rebellious thirteen-year-old. Several tragic deaths struck the quaint northern city that summer and we feel it through the emotions of the Drum household. As the death toll increases so does the angst and pain of investigating the loss of those you love. Krueger shows himself to be a master of pacing and well-textured characters. The “surprise” ending was foreseeable, and not totally believable, but don’t let that dissuade you from reading this one. A compelling read from start to finish.

Defending Jacob by William Landay. I once saw a review calling Defending Jacob a near identical twin to Scott Turow’s genre-creating work Presumed Innocent. Such talk demands a personal investigation, so off I went to get my own copy of the latest book to receive “The Next Presumed Innocent” award. Defending Jacob is indeed strikingly similar in tone to Turow’s classic. But don’t call it a copycat. Landay’s book stands on its own merits – which are many – and it draws you in from the prologue. Andy Barber is the assistant district attorney of a New England suburb stunned by the brutal death of a young boy in a leafy city park. For Barber the death is even more shattering: his son Jacob is accused of being the murderer. Two questions consume the reader as Jacob’s arrest and trial unfold: 1) Is Jacob a sociopath in the making? 2) Or is he simply a troubled kid in the wrong place at the wrong time? People Magazine says, “The shocking ending¹ will have readers pulling up their bedcovers to ward off the haunting chill.” Such sentiment is a wee bit strong, but Defending Jacob does stick with you.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.

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I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

The Heart is the Target: Preaching Practical Application from Every Text by Murray Capill. There are relatively few books in the homiletical market exclusively concerned with application in sermons. The one I most often see referenced is Dan Doriani’s Putting Truth to Work, but for a variety of reasons his work feels dated. Bursting into the fray is an Aussie you’ve probably never heard of: Murray Capill. Capill is principal of Reformed Theological College in Geelong, Australia and he’s given us a masterstroke in The Heart is the Target. I generally judge preaching books not merely on their usefulness, but on if they stir fresh desire for the work. At almost every turn Capill made me want to put down his book, take up The Book, and go preach.

Capill, for my mind, gets just about everything right. I can’t see a pastor picking this up without it changing something in his preparation and delivery of God’s word. I hope The Heart is the Target gets the widest audience possible. Grab a copy today and let Capill sharpen your skills with the Spirit’s sword.

The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians by DA Carson. On Sunday I grabbed Carson’s famous book on the gospel ministry off a shelf in my study and was shocked to find I hadn’t read it yet! I guess it was the Spirit’s saying, “Tolle lege.” The work is simply enough: Carson walks through various passages in 1 Corinthians to show how the cross relates to preaching, the Holy Spirit, factionalism, servant-leadership, and forming believers into “world Christians.” The book is more a commentary on 1 Corinthians than 1 Corinthians applied to pastoral ministry. For some that will be a good thing, but for others it may be somewhat disappointing.

A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre. Studying Cold War espionage has long been a favorite hobby of mine. No Cold War spy was more prolific and destructive than Kim Philby, a Soviet mole in MI6 who stole secrets and sabotaged operations for over two decades. Macintyre is the perfect author for this tale; he has perfected the art of narrative espionage-history in recent years. His main contribution to “Philby Cottage Industry” is his recounting the traitor’s life through the lens of friendship. Particularly his friendship with two spy masters and supposed allies: Nicholas Elliot of MI6 and the legendary mystery man of the CIA, James Jesus Angleton. A Spy Among Friends is Macintyre’s best book to date, I simply could not put it down.

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews. Matthews spent thirty-three in the CIA and upon retirement he did what many former intelligence officers have done: write a spy novel. Yet, Matthews is unlike those who’ve come before. He’s actually really good a telling a realistic spy tale. The Company itself said, “The amount of tradecraft, particularly surveillance and countersurveillance, will make the in-house reader wonder how he got all this past the Publications Review Board.” The novel isn’t perfect though. The pacing is unbalanced at several points, the content unnecessarily lascivious (especially early on), and his depiction of Russia one dimensional. Nevertheless, Red Sparrow is a gripping portrait of modern day espionage and I hope Matthews is no one-hit wonder.

The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey. I was completely taken with Sakey’s “The Brilliance Saga,” but do his other works match the magic? To answer that question I picked up The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes, Sakey’s last publication before all the brilliance arrived. Gillian Flynn calls the story of Hayes, “A brainy, twisty, sometimes twisted mystery.” I did find it a bit twisted, but – on the whole – it’s terrifically twisty. At several points the plot line shifts rather dramatically and the turns are mostly believable, if somewhat conventional. The more I read Sakey the more I find him to be some sort of Connelly/Flynn blend. And that mixture will win many a fan.

Click here to find other entries in the Recent Reads series.