davidsteele1966

JOHN NEWTON: ANGRY SAILOR – Kay Marshall Strom (2012)

Angry Sailor tells the tale of the 18th century British slave trader, John Newton. The story sets sail with Newton, an eleven year old boy aboard his father’s ship. The author traces Newton’s life from a simple sailor to a life of debauchery aboard a slave trading ship. It is well-known that Newton lived a lifeContinue reading “JOHN NEWTON: ANGRY SAILOR – Kay Marshall Strom (2012)”

SEVEN MEN AND THE SECRET OF THEIR GREATNESS – Eric Metaxas (2013)

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxas stands head and shoulders above most biographies. Indeed, it is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The new work by Metaxas, Seven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness is filled with the rich historical detail that readers have grown accustomed to from the author. MetaxasContinue reading “SEVEN MEN AND THE SECRET OF THEIR GREATNESS – Eric Metaxas (2013)”

YOUNG STALIN – Simon Sebag Monteriore (2007)

The Hebrew Scriptures paint a clear portrait in the book of Proverbs that promise wisdom for the prudent and suffering for the foolish: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20, ESV). Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili, the man whom the world recognizes as Joseph Stalin chose theContinue reading “YOUNG STALIN – Simon Sebag Monteriore (2007)”

SIMPLY JESUS – N.T. Wright (2011)

Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters, by N.T. Wright surveys the historical background of Jesus and presents our Savior from a variety of angles. There are a few features that make it worthwhile. The Emphasis on the Kingdom of God Wright’s focus on the kingdom ofContinue reading “SIMPLY JESUS – N.T. Wright (2011)”

GALILEO – Mitch Stokes (2011)

“On February 19, 1616, at the behest of the pope, the Holy Office of the Inquisition asked a panel of eleven theologians to judge the following Copernican theses.” The thesis was stated as follows: The sun is the center of the world and hence immovable of local motion. The earth is not the centerContinue reading “GALILEO – Mitch Stokes (2011)”

THE KIND OF PREACHING GOD BLESSES – Steven J. Lawson (2013)

There is a crisis in the church, a crisis of preaching that is both expository and biblical. Dr. Steven Lawson identifies this crisis in his newest book, The Kind of Preaching God Blesses. And while Lawson takes time to uncover the preaching crisis, the lion’s share of the book is a measured antidote; an antidote thatContinue reading “THE KIND OF PREACHING GOD BLESSES – Steven J. Lawson (2013)”

RECKLESS – Jeremy Camp (2013)

From time to time, a Christian artist will release an album that is special – one the grabs the hearts and inspires. Jeremy Camp’s new release, Reckless is such an album. Anyone that follows Jeremy Camp will confess that he is the real deal. Camp is an authentic man of God with a heart for youngContinue reading “RECKLESS – Jeremy Camp (2013)”

CHURCH ZERO: Raising 1st Century Churches Out of the Ashes of the 21st Century Church – Peyton Jones (2013)

Here’s one I almost missed – and I would have missed out big time! The cover looks emergent – not interested. The promo line reads something like this: “a punk-rock approach to the pressing issue of gaining ground as rapidly as the early church” – not interested. However, a quick scan in the acknowledgments caught my attention.Continue reading “CHURCH ZERO: Raising 1st Century Churches Out of the Ashes of the 21st Century Church – Peyton Jones (2013)”

HOW SHOULD I LIVE IN THIS WORLD? – R.C. Sproul (1983)

How Should I Live in This World by R.C. Sproul is a primer on ethics. The author settles the chief ethical question at the beginning of the book: “There is a right and there is a wrong. The difference between them is the concern of ethics … Ultimately we seek a knowledge of the characterContinue reading “HOW SHOULD I LIVE IN THIS WORLD? – R.C. Sproul (1983)”

SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: Why Christianity Makes Sense – N.T. Wright (2010)

N.T. Wright has generated some controversy over the last several years. That’s putting it mildly. His views concerning the so-called new perspective on Paul have drawn the attention and criticism of well-known authors like John Piper. But his book Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense jettisons that whole debate. I found the book to be thought-provoking andContinue reading “SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: Why Christianity Makes Sense – N.T. Wright (2010)”