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.

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief by John Frame. I am not sure if it would be appropriate to call this Frame’s magnum opus, but it is undoubtedly a fitting capstone to his decades of teaching. Everything you would expect from Frame is in this volume: emphasis on God’s lordship, extended sections on epistemology, a warm tone, and, oh yeah, loads of triads. As DeYoung pointed out Frame’s ST gives overwhelming attention to the doctrine of God, doctrine of the knowledge of God, and doctrine of the Word of God. I wish these sections would have been thinned out to give more room to areas of salvation, ecclesiology, and eschatology. After completing the book I felt as thought ST functions like a “John Frame’s Greatest Hits” album. It really is not much more than a smashing of his 4-volume lordship series with Salvation Belongs to the Lord. That being said, it is an outstanding achievement. If I had to recommend a 1,000+ page systematic for a layperson this might be the one.

Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace by John Piper. I loved this little (just over 80 pages) volume. Piper walks through the five points of Calvinism with pronounced pastoral care and warmth. He gives appropriate attention to what Scripture says about each point and is not immune to the common objections. If you wanted to walk through the doctrines of grace with a new believer or wanted to recommend an accessible treatment for skeptical Arminians, this would be the place to start. I particularly appreciated his discussion on how perseverance in the Christian life is a community project. Kudos to Piper for also including a final chapter that surveys how the doctrines of grace impacted men like Augustine, Edwards, Whitefield, Mueller, and Spurgeon.

The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing by CJ Mahaney. I last read this book in December of 2010 and loved it. Three years later I find myself even more appreciative of Mahaney’s pastoral sensitivity. He steers clear of the redundancy and reductionism that can mark contemporary gospel-centered parlance. On a side note, should this book have been published any time after 2008 (it was originally published in 2002) I bet it would be titled The Gospel Centered Life. Mahaney would have been wise to have some reflection on Christ’s resurrection and ascension, yet the focus on Calvary is warranted and it comes with great warmth. The gospel clearly affects CJ Mahaney and its inflaming power permeates everything in this little book. Although you can read it in less than an hour, its influence on your life will likely be measured by months and years.

Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation by Henry Virkler. Virkler’s work is one of the more definitive hermeneutical handbooks of the last twenty-five years. The bulk of the book is spent walking through the following four areas of analysis: 1) historical-cultural and contextual analysis, 2) lexical-syntactical analysis, 3) special literary analysis, and 4) transcultural application analysis. Hermeneutics would be a good introduction for prospective or current seminary students. If you want a hermeneutics book to recommend to lay teachers or church members I’d suggest this one.

The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly. This is latest volume in Connelly’s bestselling Lincoln Lawyer series. The series left off with Haller planning to run for District Attorney of LA County and I was eager to find out what came of the race. Evidently the Lincoln Lawyer is not D.A. material. The Gods of Guilt finds Haller in his familiar role of defense attorney, having somewhat stupendously flamed out of the D.A. race. Although this entry doesn’t have the twist ending that has marked recent books in the series, it is still a “grippingly” fun read. Connelly has long been a master crime writer, but the LL series is proving him to be also be a master of courtroom banter and strategy.

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.

Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative by Sam Storms. This surely is now the “go to” resource for amillennialism. Storms was trained in classic dispensationalism and the book represents a few decades worth of study, so he is uniquely equipped to deal with the pertinent content. In over 500 pages he covers everything from escatological hermeneutics to systematic strengths/weaknesses of the various positions to exegesis of the disputed texts. Storms writes winsomely and clearly, thus the book steers clear of the dry, academic treatment one usually finds in this debate. If Kingdome Come doesn’t convince you of the amillinnial position it will at least give you the best representative study you can find. Of particular help are his chapters “Problems with Premillinnalism” and “A Cumulative Case Argument for Amillennialism.”

The Pastor’s Family: Shepherding Your Family through the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry by Brian & Cara Croft. Croft is the curator of the popular practicalshepherding.com and I was pleased to see his wisdom make its way into print with The Pastor’s Family. The strength of this book is the written interplay between Brian and Cara. At appropriate points in Brian’s chapters Cara will offer up a paragraph or two on perspective from a pastor’s wife (and vice versa on Cara’s chapters). For me, Part Two –  “The Pastor’s Wife: ‘I Don’t Recall Saying ‘I Do’ To This!” – is the strongest part of the book. Few available resources today specifically address the impact of ministry on the pastor’s wife, and this one does it wonderfully. The book would serve any family involved in pastoral ministry, but I can see it being uniquely helpful to younger couples just about to start in ministry. Well done!

The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick. I have been hooked on Philbrick ever since reading Mayflower, so I was eager to read his latest on Custer’s last stand. In all my history reading I have never studied much related to the 1870s, the decade with which this book is preoccupied. Although he does dip into military strategy and requisite battle speculation, Philbrick concentrates on Little Bighorn’s principal characters: Custer and Sitting Bull. And what fascinating characters these men were! Philbrick builds their stories to a point that when the battle begins the reader has a deep understanding of the opposing generals. Woven into this work is sober reflection on the decline of life for Native Americans and the government that precipitated it. An excellent introduction to such a small, yet significant battle in our nation’s history.

Still Life & A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny. I came across Louise Penny when I saw her latest publication debut at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. She is famous for her Inspector Gamache series and quite critically acclaimed. The series sounded like something right up my alley, so I dove in and read the first two Gamache books. Still Life introduces the reader to life in Three Pines, a quaint Canadian village two hours from Montreal. When a well known citizen is murdered Gamache arrives to investigate, for Three Pines falls under his jurisdiction. After some extended character development Still Life eventually gets the tension going and captures the interest. It was a solid read.

When I started A Fatal Grace, book two in the Gamache series, I thought to myself, “Surely this book will be set outside of Three Pines.” But lo and behold, one year after A Still Life ends, someone has moved into the tiny town only to find herself the victim of a intricate killing scheme. Three Pines sure seems to be a cursed little village, albeit unbelievably so. A Fatal Grace was interesting, yet I found the conclusion to be a reach. The jury is still out on whether or not I will proceed to book three (one intriguing plot line was unresolved) as the emotive and delicate prose may keep me away.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Living by Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon  by Tom Nettles. When this book arrived I was initially taken aback by its format. The size is something like 9 inches by 7.5 inches and the text is laid out in double-column. In other words, this is a textbook on Prince of Preachers. Don’t go into it thinking it will be a biography along this lines of Marsden’s Jonathan Edwards or Gordon’s Calvin, instead approach it more as a treasure trove of research on Spurgeon. Nettles isn’t interested in a flowing narrative, as he opts instead to insert Spurgeon’s pastoral theology at various points along the way. For example, after recounting Spurgeon’s baptism at Isleham Ferry the book proceeds to discuss his theology and practice of baptism before returning to Spurgeon’s burgeoning ministry. Some will think this method stilts the story, but I think it’s appropriate for what this book is trying to accomplish. All in all, this would be an incredible addition to any Spurgeon aficionado’s library.

A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers by DA Carson. Few books on prayer have influenced my life as much as this one, so I try to read it every year or so. Carson’s aim is to get ordinary Christians to know God in such a way that they become devoted to “spiritual, persistent, biblically minded prayer” (16). To do this the great Canadian exegetes eight different Pauline prayers to show what they tell us about God and how such knowledge should overflow into our prayer lives. The book displays Carson’s profound wisdom as he challenges and comforts in all the right places. I am not sure how someone can read it and not find their practice of prayer transformed according to Scripture. Tolle lege!

Heaven and Hell by John Jakes. This is the final installment of Jakes’ sweeping historical fiction trilogy on the Civil War. I found this volume to be the weakest in the trilogy, probably because the era of Reconstruction just can’t compete with the tension and gravity of the antebellum and Civil War years. Like the previous two volumes, this one simultaneously weaves multiple story lines together, but unlike the first two some of these story lines aren’t terribly compelling. I actually almost gave up on the book halfway through because it seemed like Jakes was going to make the postbellum period more devastating than the Civil War for the trilogy’s protagonists. Nevertheless, I persevered and am glad I did so. Jakes is especially strong in capturing the darker realities of our country’s dealings with Native Americans in the 1870s, as well as the terrible rise of the Ku Klux Klan. This was an entertaining and informative series.

Void Moon by Michael Connelly. Sooner or later I was bound to read a Connelly book I didn’t like and Void Moon was it. The narrative focuses on fresh-out-of-prison Cassie Black, who attempts one final heist so she can get out of Dodge. The plot line is promising, but it eventually gets mired in verbose descriptions and narrow perspectives. Make no mistake, the book is entertaining, just in a James Patterson kind of way. And Connelly is better than that.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Theology by Michael Bird. Bird set out to write a “gospel-centered theology for Christians who seek to define themselves principally by the gospel” (21). Whereas Calvin united his theology under the glory of God, Luther under justification by faith, and Barth under the self-disclosure of the Triune God, Bird believes the gospel is the integrating point of Christian theology. “The gospel comprises the beginning point, boundary, and unifying theme for all theology” (45). The book’s strengths and weaknesses flow from the gospel being the penultimate boundary for Christian theology and fellowship. The method is undeniably helpful as no loci of theology is ever far from the gospel announcement. Yet, such a center-bounded approach predictably flattens common areas of divergence as exemplified in Bird’s discussion of God’s fatherhood, eschatology, the extent of Christ’s atonement, church polity, and sacraments. That I felt the center-bounded work falls short of the ideal probably reveals my own convictions on our centered-bounded age.

The Lord’s Supper by Thomas Watson. This little book represents a prototypical Puritan view of Matthew 26:26-28. Although neither Watson’s dedication nor the publisher’s preface say so, I bet the book is consists of a couple sermons on Matthew’s recounting of the Supper’s institution. The first three chapters unfold five particulars about the gospel-banquet from Matthew 26: 1) the Author, 2) the Time, 3) the Manner, 4) the Guests, and 5) the Benefits. In time Watson quickly dispatches of the two extremes to be avoided, transubstantiation and memorialism. For those familiar with the various views, Watson advocates for and elaborates on the teachings of Calvin. I found his discussion of the kind of heart necessary to partake of the Supper to be most helpful.

Fit to Burst: Abundance, Mayhem, and the Joys of Motherhood by Rachel Jankovic. Some might think it strange to read a book written by a woman for other women, but my wife resonates deeply with Jankovic’s perspective on motherhood, so I read in order to better understand and serve her work as a mom. Jankovic is a fabulous writer, which makes perfect sense when you discover she is Doug Wilson’s daughter and Nate Wilson’s sister. Her uncommon wisdom and wit are preeminently displayed in meditations on misplaced “grace” in discipline, the relationship between faithfulness and stress, and the value of cultivating a lively sense of humor in parenting. Fit to Burst is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year.

Bloody Crimes: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Chase for Jefferson Davis by James Swanson. A few years ago Swanson published Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer and that story of John Wilkes Booth’s demise was a smashing success. Bloody Crimes functions as something like a sequal to Manhunt, answering the question, “What happened next?” The funeral procession for Lincoln is fascinating and the pictures included paint a vivid portrait of a nation in spectacular mourning. Swanson weaves the death pageant alongside the chase for and capture of America’s “lost man,” Confederate President Jefferson David. Although not as suspenseful as Manhunt, the sequel proves Swanson to be a master of narrative fiction.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Preaching: A Biblical Theology by Jason Meyer. Many contemporary books on preaching can be quite selective, as some narrowly rely on word studies of “preaching” words, while others largely neglect the Old Testament. Jason Meyer believes his new book fills a void, for he writes, “This book is unique in that I think the whole Bible alone can give a holistic answer to what preaching is” (14). I would affirm the book’s uniqueness. He defines preaching as “stewarding and heralding God’s word in such a way that people encounter God through his word.” Men who preach in this way will be men who preach faithfully, fearlessly, and reverently. I originally planned to do an extended review of the book, but I found myself having nothing to offer but effusive praise. So if you preach regularly or hope to preach regularly, tolle lege!

Of Temptation by John Owen. Few books have impacted my view of the Christian life with such simplicity and clarity as this one. It is short, relatively easy (at least for an Owen book), and packs a punch. Owen takes the words of Christ in Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation” – and offers a two-part scheme for resisting temptation, “Watch and pray.” Housing all kinds of pithiness and profundity that one can expect from the Prince of Puritans, this book might just be the handiest guide to slaying temptation you can find outside of sacred Scripture. Chapter seven’s discussion of heart-watchfulness is particularly helpful.

A Guide to Prayer by Isaac Watts. Many know Watts as a hymn writer (“When I Survey,” “Joy to the World,” etc.), but he was also a great theologian and logician. This book on prayer is a treasure trove of wise application on how to pray in light of Scripture. While the book is somewhat short, Watts leaves no stone unturned as he manages to provide enough principles and directions to fill an encyclopedia. One of the most lasting takeaways from the book – for me – will be the relationship between prayer and spiritual conversation throughout the day. Watts writes, “The reason we lack words for prayer is because we speak so little of Christ throughout the day.” A great book on that most difficult of devotions.

The Poet by Michael Connelly. This was the first Connelly book I’ve read that didn’t focus on Harry Bosch or Mickey Haller, and Connelly shines as usual. The Poet follows crime-beat reporter Jack McEvoy as he responds to his brother’s apparent suicide in the only way he knows how: investigative journalism. McEvoy’s investigation uncovers a serial killer of unprecedented cunning who target homicide cops, each one haunted by a case he could never crack. About a third of the way into the book I thought I had identified the killer and was well on my way to accusing Connelly of being predictable, but shame on me! In typical Connelly fashion the books ends with a surprise twist; thus the only thing predictable about his books seems to be their very unpredictability. The Poet was originally published in 1997, thus the reader gets an idea for what journalism was like before internet dominance. For example, one character is amazed that one picture can be downloaded on the internet in just four minutes. This of course comes after a detective’s amazement at the strange device called a “digital camera.” A fun and gripping read.

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly. This is the second Jack McEvoy book, but Connelly published it twelve years after The Poet. By reading the two volumes back to back I got a clear sense at how technology and the internet revolutionized journalism in just over a decade. Whereas the first volume revels in the novelty of dial-up connections and digital cameras, this second book is stocked with server farms, complex computer hacking, and cutting edge security software. The Scarecrow finds McEvoy forced out of the Los Angeles Times due to budget cuts (thanks to the rise of internet journalism) and once again stumbling into the discovery of a notorious infidel. Page-turning suspense at its finest.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Doctrine of God by John Frame. I started this book back in April with a few men in our church and finally wrapped it up this week, thus completing eighteen months of learning at the feet of the good perspectivalist. DG is the second volume in his “Theology of Lordship” series, but for a variety of different reasons I read the other three first. Frame’s extended discussion on the lordship attributes of control, authority, and presence are illuminating and helpful, and I anticipate returning to his discussion on “some problem areas” (Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty, The Problem of Evil) for quite some time. Frame flips the script on the traditional ordering of theology proper choosing to deal with the acts of God before the attributes of God. I prefer the traditional ordering and Frame’s order seems to be novel for the sake of being novel. Nevertheless, the book is quintessential Frame – winsome, clear, and abounding with triads. Andy Nasselli is right to say, “If John Frame were a basketball player, he would shoot only 3s.”

Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus’ Name by Bryan Chapell. “Actually saying the words “in Jesus’ name” at the beginning of our prayer is not really the point. The message of this book is to put first in our hearts what those words are supposed to mean: ‘I offer this prayer for Jesus’ sake'” (15-16). Chapell succeeds in challenging Christians to be less self-oriented in prayer and more concerned with Christ’s priorities. Like his other popular books, the book is taken up with too much illustration for my taste. But this is a valuable contribution nonetheless.

Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons by Thabiti Anyabwile. I reread this book yesterday in preparation for our church’s monthly men’s gathering and, my my, this book is good! Anyabwile writes, “This book does not delve into a lot of detailed argumentation, hoping instead to make application easily and quickly” (15).  He takes each qualification for office-bearers and then shows how that requirement will manifest itself in a man’s life. I’ve always felt that Thabiti has uncommon wisdom and he pours it out in abundance in this book. Few books get the “Required Reading” stamp, but this is one of them.

The Civil War by Bruce Catton. For years I have heard of Catton’s legendary status as a Civil War historian, but I’ve never got around to reading any of his work. That was until I raced through his somewhat brief overview (400 pages) of the war. What a feast! Catton is endlessly readable and clearly informed on the nuances at play throughout the War of Rebellion. This would be an excellent introduction for anyone unfamiliar with that most unfortunate period on our nation’s history.

The Civil War Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote. Where Catton is brief, Foote is exhaustive – but not exhausting.  This is careful historical narrative at its finest. Foote manages to provide all the necessary details – mini-biographies of key characters, political intrigues, battle plans/results, etc. – and still retain a pace that serves the overall story. I originally planned to move immediately on to Volume 2 in the series, but I think I need a break from the “Brother Against Brother” war. Reading military history is often an emotional endeavor, at least for me, and The Civil War is downright dispiriting. Yet, fascinatingly dispiriting . . . so I shall return.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Thought on Public Prayer by Samuel Miller. First published in 1849, Miller’s work goes unnoticed today because I have a suspicion that public prayer is absent from most churches today. This book won’t convince a pastor of public prayer’s necessity as much as it will, Lord willing, increase his ability in public prayer. The first three chapters are somewhat dated as Miller interacts with the contemporary issues of his time, but chapters 4-6 will search the heart. Miller unfolds eighteen “frequent faults” in public prayer and no pastor is outside his scope of criticism. After such bruising Miller offers fourteen “characteristics of a good public prayer” and five “means of attaining excellence in conducting public prayer” to heal the heart. This book has been in print for over 160 years for good reason; if you regularly lead in public prayer it will be of great benefit.

Family Ministry Field Guide: How Your Church Can Equip Parents to Make Disciples by Timothy Paul Jones. Jones wants to see churches move toward his vision of family ministry: “Intentionally and persistently coordinating a church’s proclamation and practices so that parents are acknowledge, trained, and held accountable as primary disciple-makers in the children’s lives” (33). The book will be most useful for churches wanting to transition from a more programmatic, activity-driven approach to the family ministry approach Jones advocates. Since I came into the book with similar convictions already in place, I didn’t find much that was challenging or new.

Trained in the Fear of God: Family Ministry in Theological, Historical, and Practical Perspective edited by Randy Stinson and Timothy Paul Jones. I usually stay away from edited volumes because the quality of content can deviate so much from chapter to chapter. Not so with this volume. It’s strength lies in the three fold evaluation of family ministry; containing chapters from a theological, historical, and practical perspective. I found the historical section to be particular helpful in understanding the various factors contributing to the evolution of family ministry throughout the centuries. David Prince’s chapter on “The Pastor’s Home as Paradigm for the Church’s Family Ministry” was illuminating and challenging. A valuable resource for the pastor’s study.

Love and War (North and South Trilogy #2) by John Jakes. I loved the first installment of Jakes’ North and South as he quickly captured my attention and ably painted a picture of various American lifestyles found in the 1840-1850s. Thus, I had high expectations for volume two – the longest in the series – as it it completely occupied with The Civil War. Jakes surpassed my expectations in a most surprising way as he chose the lesser known byways of the War of Rebellion. Characters find themselves at the bottom of Charleston harbor inventing a dramatic change in naval warfare; in engineer battalions and military rail crews; inside the horrors of a Confederate prison; across the pond in London as the South builds its ships. The dramatic tension of the first novel is successfully replicated in the second, even if it requires the death of a major character (and my personal favorite). Insightful, harrowing, and real . . . I am eager to read the final volume.

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

Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers by T. David Gordon. Gordon wrote this book while completing “fairly severe” treatment for stage III cancer. He thought, “Before I die, I must express my opinion on this subject.” The subject is what Gordon calls “an ordinarily impoverished pulpit.” He believes “the average Christian family in the average pew in the average church on the average Sunday” suffers from less than mediocre preaching. The book’s polemical tone will be off-putting to some, but Gordon’s arguments are unique and merit attention. As a media ecologist, Gordon believes the pulpit’s decline is linked to our society’s evolution from being a language dominated culture to an image dominated culture. Fewer and fewer pastors read carefully and write critically, and are therefore ill-equipped to adequately deal with linguistic realities of preaching. Not every reader will agree with Gordon’s prognosis of modern preaching, but his argument needs to be heard.

Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Rewrote the Hymnal by T. David Gordon. Gordon followed his book on preaching with one on worship music. The main thesis of this work is that contemporaneity has become the primary criteria for deciding what song is sung in an average worship service. I think Gordon largely succeeds in showing how contemporaneity, alongside the ubiquity of pop music, has rendered many contemporary liturgies inert and transcendent-less. This book is intentionally more descriptive than prescriptive, which is helpful as it reduces the bite of Gordon’s often polemical tone. Chapter 12 on “Strategic Issues” is worth every pastor’s consideration. Much like my final thought on Why Johnny Can’t Preach, not every reader will agree with the thesis of Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns (contemporaneity being detrimental to biblical liturgy), but the argument is sufficiently cogent to merit attention.

The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Rick Phillips. I reread this book in preparation for a monthly men’s meeting we have at our church and I was reminded afresh why TMM is my favorite book on biblical masculinity. Phillips sees Genesis 2:15 as paradigmatic for godly masculinity; “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” These two verbs (work and keep) are subsequently expounded and applied to virtually every area of a man’s life. Phillips’ past career in the military ensures the book is sufficiently strong in tone, and he successfully corrects the errors of John Eldridge’s Wild at Heart in a mere two pages. His chapters on marriage and parenting are the best, filled with lifelong wisdom.

Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler. For several years a friend has told me to read Cussler and it wasn’t until last week that I actually got around to it. Spartan Gold,  the first volume in Cussler’s “Fargot Adventure” series, is a breezy collision of Indiana Jones and National Treasure. The plot is predictable, but the pages still turn quickly. If formulaic fiction is your cup of tea, Cussler is right up your alley.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages by Haddon Robinson. This is a book eminently worthy of consideration. Preachers looking for a theological defense of expository preaching will have to turn to Peter Adam or John Stott. Yet, the lack of substantive theological meat does not mean that a feast cannot still be had. There is undoubtedly a place for extended rumination on the practice of preaching; it’s development and delivery. Robinson’s work is indeed a landmark contribution to this field. His emphasis on clarity in exposition is a timely and timeless concentration. It was the apostle himself who asked the Colossians to pray that he would make clear the mystery of the gospel, for that “is how I ought to speak” (Col. 4:4). Young preachers and old preachers alike need to be consistently confronted with the imperative of clarity in preaching, and this book will challenge and encourage unto that end.

Worship by the Book edited by DA Carson. I am not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but I glad I finally did. The book largely consists of three chapters articulating worship practices from the viewpoints of an Anglican (Mark Ashton), Baptist (Kent Hughes), and Presbyterian (Tim Keller). These chapters follow Carson’s mammoth first chapter on the construction of a theology of worship. It’s is complex and clunky – he acknowledges as much on page 26 – but careful reading will be immensely rewarded as he leaves few stones unturned in defining worship according to the good book. Being a Baptist I appreciated Hughes chapter, particularly for its simplicity and historical sensibility. I find, overwhelmingly, the most common ground with Keller’s adaptation of Calvin’s liturgy as a via media between “Contemporary Worship” and “Historic Worship.” The inclusion of numerous appendices showing various resources and liturgies each tradition employs only increases the book’s value.

Does God Desire All to Be Saved? by John Piper. This is definitely more a booklet than a book, as it comes in at 66 pages. Piper doesn’t pave any new ground in the discussion on how a Reformed view of God’s election of people unto salvation is compatible with His desire that all men come to repentance. Instead, Piper puts his usual – and helpful – flair on the discussion. The crux of his argument is found in the following paragraph,

The difference between the Reformed and the Arminians lies not in whether there are two wills in God, but in what they say this higher commitment is. What does God will more than saving all? The answer the Arminians give is that human self-determination and the possible resulting love relationship with God are more valu- able than saving all people by sovereign, efficacious grace. The answer the Reformed give is that the greater value is the manifestation of the full range of God’s glory in wrath and mercy (Rom. 9:22–23) and the humbling of man so that he enjoys giving all credit to God for his salvation (1 Cor. 1:29).

Piper’s little work would be a useful resource for pastors discipling church members through this timeless discussion. Download a free PDF here.

The English Girl by Daniel Silva. This is the latest volume in Silva’s series on Gabriel Allon, the art-restorer and master Israeli spy. I appreciate Silva for being able to write an intriguing storyline void of the salacious content that often dominates the genre.  The English Girl‘s narrative wanders at times and felt predictable (it may just be that I’ve read too many of these books to be surprised anymore), but I still enjoyed this modern update of classic Cold War espionage.

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 hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book About a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung. DeYoung’s latest book is a exactly what the subtitle claims to be. After identifying three dangers of busyness, DeYoung proceeds to offers seven diagnoses to consider along with “one thing you must do.” I’ve seen a couple prominent reviews express various concerns with the book, but I believe DeYoung succeeds in what he sets out to do: call people to examine their state of busyness in light of Scripture. His diagnoses are wise and he correctly reminds us that “the reason we are busy is because we are supposed to be busy” (101). I do wish the final chapter on “The One Thing You Must Do” had more emphasis on public communion with Christ – he emphasizes private communion through the Word and prayer – but regular communion with Christ indeed is the one thing we must do. If one wants more practical suggestions on fighting foolish busyness, see David Murray’s “Addendum to Crazy Busy.”

The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton. First published in 1645, this book addresses the timeless issue of a Christian’s freedom as it relates to Jesus’ declaration, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). In typical Puritan fashion, Bolton pulls from this verse one overarching doctrine: “That there is a true and real freedom which Christ has purchased, and into which He has brought all those who are true believers “(19). The rest of the work is occupied with answering six questions related to the law and freedom. Bolton reveals himself to be a master of precision and distinction in regards to the thorny issues of law and gospel. He correctly understands how the Christian can be simultaneously free from and bound to the law; freed from it as a covenant, but not as a rule. Chapter 5 on “Performance of Duty” and its articulation of the “nine differences between legal obedience and evangelical obedience” is solid gold.

Preaching with Bold Assurance by Hershael York and Bart Decker. This book feels more focused on communication than preaching, which makes sense seeing that Decker developed the “Bold Assurance” brand as a corporate communication program. “The Decker Grid” (always coupled in the book with an obligatory trademark) has practical wisdom, but isn’t clearly tethered to Scripture. If one goes into this book thinking about it as being more of a guide to broader communication principeles, there is profit to be had. The final four chapters on delivery will challenge any man who stands in a pulpit to think hard about his effectiveness in communicating the Word.

North and South by John Jakes. This is the first volume in Jakes’ historical fiction trilogy on the Civil War. The value of good historical fiction is that it gives the reader a sense of life in the respective period. North and South traces the story of two families – one based in Pennsylvania and the other in South Carolina – from 1842-1861. Jakes’ ably employs a colorful cast of characters to capture the various nuanced worldviews that would lead to secession. One thing I enjoy about historical fiction is watching the author position his characters to be in the heart of key events, and Jakes manages to get characters to The Mexican-American War, Harper’s Ferry, and Fort Sumter. A fun page turner.