TOP BOOKS IN 2011

NOTE TO SELF – Joe Thorn

Short and pithy chapters that go straight to the heart.

See my review

HISTORICAL THEOLOGY – Gregg Allison

A sweeping narrative that informs and motivates budding students of historical theology.

See my review

PILLARS OF GRACE – Steve Lawson

The long line of godly men continues …

See my review

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH – Michael Horton

A systematic theology for pilgrims on the way.

See my review

THE PASTOR AS SCHOLAR AND THE SCHOLAR AS PASTOR  – John Piper & D.A. Carson

The sleeper of 2011.  Every pastor should read this book.

See my review

JOHN MACARTHUR: SERVANT OF THE WORD – Iain Murray

A portrait of faithfulness and courage.

See my review

THE MIGHTY WEAKNESS OF JOHN KNOX – Douglas Bond

One of the pillars of church history.

See my review

STEVE JOBS – Walter Isaacson

One of the most influential men of our generation.

See my review

KILLING LINCOLN – Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard

A terrific historical primer – makes me proud to be an American.

See my review

THE NEXT STORY – Tim Challies

Navigating the digital world.

See my review

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH? – Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

Terrific look at the mission of the church.

See my review

RED LIKE BLOOD: Confrontations with Grace – Joe Coffee and Bob Bevington (2011)

I got more than I bargained for when I set out to read Red Like Blood.  And I got less than what I bargained for.  I anticipated atonement themes; cross-centered reflections on the person and work of Christ. I looked forward to warm-hearted, theologically informed writing that gloried in blood of Christ that cleanses people from their sin.

But I was in for a big surprise.  This is not high-brow theology.  This is not a Martyn Lloyd-Jones exposition.  Rather, Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington write in a simple, earthy fashion – perhaps a bit too earthy for some.  But they tell it like it is and they’re quick to reveal the gory details.

Red Like Blood is about real life; life that is painful and filled with disappointment.  Coffey and Bevington write from different perspectives,  however both men are familiar with pain.  Both men understand loss.  Most important, they both understand grace.  Bevington adds, “… We’ve both learned that the brokenness God allows is always merciful and purposeful – because it’s designed to move our soul to a destination where we become more dependent on God alone.”  So God’s grace not only proves to be purposeful – it is powerful and effective.

Red Like Blood is a powerful book that highlights the grace of God in sinful creatures.  It should not be confused with a deep theological treatise – however it is a much-needed reminder to sinners; it is a vivid reminder that sinners are in desperate need of grace.  I guess I got more than I bargained for after all!

4 stars

TEN QUESTIONS TO DIAGNOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH – Don Whitney

Healthy people understand that regular physical checkups are a normal part of life.  A trained physician is able to diagnose physical problems – high blood pressure, cholesterol, various diseases and a host of physical maladies.

Diagnosing one’s spiritual health is also an important part of life.  Don Whitney’s book, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health presents a framework for spiritual health – a check list to gauge spiritual vitality.

The questions include:

1. Do you thirst for God?

2. Are you governed increasingly by God’s Word?

3. Are you more loving?

4. Are you more sensitive to God’s presence?

5. Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?

6. Do you delight in the bride of Christ?

7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?

8. Do you still grieve over sin?

9. Are you a quick forgiver?

10. Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?

These powerful questions provide a basis to determine spiritual health.  With the skill of a physician, Dr. Whitney has uncovered crucial questions that reveal weaknesses and sinful patterns in one’s spiritual life.  Whitney’s work should be celebrated and used in personal discipleship.

SURPRISED BY GRACE: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels -Tullian Tchividjian (2010)

The primary objective of Tullian Tchividjian is clear in his book, Surprised by Grace.  His aim is to celebrate, delight in, and magnify of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some readers might be caught by surprise in this little book that chronicles the story of Jonah but places the lion’s share of attention on Christ.  For this reason, Tchividjian’s work should be applauded for rightly emphasizing the gospel in Jonah – the same way the gospel should be mined in every Old Testament book.

The author notes, “Only the gospel can truly save you.  The gospel doesn’t make bad people good; it makes dead people alive (emphasis mine).  That’s the difference between the gospel of Jesus Christ and every other world religion.  All the others exhort their followers to save themselves by being good, by conforming their lives to whatever their worshiped deity is.  But the gospel is God’s acceptance of us based on what Christ has done, not on what we can do.”

Surprised by Grace is a remarkable book that stands out and exalts Christ and is a vivid reminder that God is on mission purposed to send Christ to rescue sinners and shower his mercy upon everyone who believes.

3.5 stars

KILLING LINCOLN – Bill O’Reilly (2011)

Many Americans recognize the name Bill O’Reilly who faithfully engages both the sympathetic and the skeptical on his weekday television show, The O’Reilly Factor.

O’Reilly teams up with historian, Martin Dugard in a work of historical fiction – Killing Lincoln.  The authors succeed in presenting readers with an account of the events leading up to the assassination of Americas beloved 16th president.

O’Reilly and Dugard set the context by alerting readers to the events that surround the civil war.  They introduce the key players and pay close attention to General Ulysses Grant and his close friendship with Lincoln.  The grizzly portrait of John Wilkes Booth is carefully painted and the monsters who conspired with Booth are introduced.

The most compelling feature of Killing Lincoln is the man himself.  One gets a sense of his love for liberty, passion for civil rights, and his natural propensity to lead.  Killing Lincoln is a stark reminder of the freedom that Americans enjoy – a freedom that is eroding by the day. 

A JOURNEY TO HIGH PLACES – Larry Ikenberry (2011)

A Journey to High Places by Larry D. Ikenberry is a fascinating  inside look at the life of a man who lives coram Deo, before the face of God.  This stunning account of Ikenberry’s adventures confronts danger in the African bush, soars over majestic peaks, faces the mighty force of a volcano, and in short presents an up close version of God’s majestic creation.  This writer is clearly consumed with the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

Reading Ikenberry’s work brings to mind the words of Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch statesman and theologian who famously remarked, “Oh, no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'”  Oh, that each person would embrace such a Christ-honoring worldview.  This book promotes such a view!

A Journey to High Places not only makes for interesting reading.  It captures the attention and imagination with breathtaking photography.  But most of all, it reminds the creature to magnify and exalt the Creator – the Lord Jesus Christ.  “For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory, forever.  Amen” (Rom. 11:36).

RESCUING AMBITION – Dave Harvey (2010)

Rescuing Ambition by Dave Harvey is a book about discipleship.  It is a book about sanctification.  Specifically it is about the sanctification of ambition – the transformation of ambition.

Harvey adds, “The Bible teaches that people are created by God to desire – and to go after those desires with single-minded determination.  It’s this capacity to desire and strive that can generate remarkable good or stupefying evil.  Whether it’s to conquer nations or control the remote, we’re hardwired to be ambition for what we want.”  The general tenor of the book explores these themes are subjects this ambition to the scrutiny of Scripture.

In one of the more poignant moments in the book, Harvey writes, “Don’t focus on what you’re to do; focus on what God has done for you.  He is faithful, and he’ll show his faithfulness to you.”  Sounds like ambition has been rescued!  This kind of ambition has been stripped of carnality and selfishness (i.e. selfish ambition) and is consumed with honoring and glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ!

Dave Harvey writes with the typical God-centered, gospel-rejoicing, Holy Spirit infused zest that we have grown to love over the years from the Sovereign Grace family.  Rescuing Ambition is a welcome addition to the growing number of resources that will only serve to strengthen and edify the church.

“Godly ambition is gospel ambition.  We dream because God rescued our corrupted, selfish ambitions and gave us the capacity to desire, dream, and work for his glory.” – Dave Harvey

4.5 stars — Highly recommended

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH? – Kevin DeYoung/Greg Gilbert (2011)

What is the Mission of the Church?  Ever since the establishment of the church in Acts, the question of mission has been on the mind of Christ-followers.  The question of mission is especially pertinent in our day.  Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert address the question within a biblical framework.

DeYoung and Gilbert carefully peel away the necessary layers of data in order to answer the question posed in the book.  The heart of their answer lies in the Great Commission and Great Commandment.  They admit upfront the necessity of helping the poor and engaging in acts that constitute “social justice.”  Their bottom line: “If we improve our schools, get people off welfare clean up the park, and plant trees in the neighborhood, but aren’t seeking to make disciples, we may ‘bless’ our communities, but we’re not accomplishing the church’s mission … Ultimately, if the church does not preach Christ and him crucified, if the church does not plant, nurture, and establish more churches, if the church does not teach the nations to obey Christ, no one else and nothing else will.”

DeYoung and Gilbert have  successfully hit the target.  Their commitment to keep the main thing the “main thing,” namely developing disciples to the glory of God is what that the church needs to hear and put into practice.

4.5 stars

TRUE COURAGE – Steve Farrar (2011)

Ever since Steve Farrar wrote Point Man, he has been churning out books aimed the hearts and minds of men.  Farrar has consistently called men to holiness.  He has called them to lead their families.  He has called them to lead in their churches.  His latest book calls Christian men to demonstrate True Courage.

The author points readers to Daniel (specifically Daniel 1-6) and argues that this man is an example of true courage.  Indeed, “True courage is the result of knowing God.”  The man who displays true courage fears God more than man, trusts God with his future, and realizes that God governs all events.  The simple point: Since God ordains everything that comes to pass, Christian men must bank on this reality and muster true courage in these last days.

Steve Farrar maintains his commitment to the authority of Scripture in this helpful volume.  He cites the great heroes of the Christian faith and stands on the shoulders of the Puritans and Reformers.  His work is encouraging and will serve men well – especially men who seek to be men of true courage.

4 stars

STEVE JOBS – Walter Isaacson (2011)

I have waited patiently for a decent biography on Apple front man, Steve Jobs.  When I learned that Walter Isaacson, one of my favorite biographers took the challenge, I jumped at the chance to read this book.

Two words – “Steve” and “Jobs.”  Ordinary words.  But smash the two words together and two things happen: ordinary vanishes and controversy begins.  It is common knowledge that Jobs rubbed many people the wrong way during his days at Apple.  Isaacson documents numerous stories that confirm this. And while some reviewers resist Isaacson’s willingness to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, this biographer truly seeks to present a balanced portrait of Steve Jobs.  Isaacson writes with a measured, yet realistic respect.  His work is thorough and the research is extensive.

Whatever one thinks about Steve Jobs, it is important to recognize that Apple recently emerged as the most valuable company in America, topping out at $337 billion.  There is no question that Jobs’ ingenuity, creativity, “out-of-the box thinking,” business sense, and vision helped shaped this phenomenal company.  Apple would not be Apple without Steve Jobs.  Rick Warren rightly tweeted on the day of his death, “Steve Jobs, the Thomas Edison of my generation.”

Jobs’ Edison-like influence on contemporary culture is widely known.  This review is hammered out on a MacBook Pro.  Multiple people surround me using Mac devices including iPhones, iPads, and iPods.  It is an indisputable fact that Steve Jobs changed the way people look at and use technology.

I intend to review books from a Christian perspective at Veritas et Lux.  Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is a vivid reminder of God’s common grace – the grace that gives people an ability to produce great art, inspiring music and useful technology.  It is a reminder that all good gifts come from God and God alone.  The takeaway is simple: Will we reflect God’s glory with the common grace he has extended or will we turn the spotlight on ourselves?  “For from him and to him and through him are all things.  To him be the glory forever and ever” (Rom. 11:36, ESV).

3.5 stars