Veritas et Lux

Matthew McCullough, Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2018), 185 pp.

The subject of death is off limits in our culture. Sadly, many churches say very little about death. For this reason, Matthew McCullough’s book, Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope is a much-need tonic.

McCullough guides readers down the pathway to hope by first acknowledging the reality of death. He establishes this trajectory early in the book:

Before you long for a life that is imperishable, you must accept that you are perishing along with everyone you care about. You must recognize. that anything you might accomplish or acquire in this world is already fading away. Only then will you crave the unfading glory of what Jesus has accomplished and acquired for you. And you need to recognize you are going to lose everything you love in this world before you will hope in an inheritance kept in heaven for you.

One of the great strengths of Remember Death is facing the subject without equivocation. McCullough writes, “Death is an intrusion into the perfect world of the Creator designed by that same Creator to make a point. Death is a punishment for human pride. It exposes our foolish confidence in our freedom to be whoever we want to be.” But the reader is never left dangling. At every juncture, hope is offered and the vista of heaven is on the horizon.

Ultimately, death reveals what awaits each one of God’s elect, a heavenly home, where sin is extinguished forever. The author returns to this theme throughout the book by directing the reader’s attention to the Word of God, his promises, and the triumphant gospel of Jesus Christ.

Remember Death is a much-needed antidote to the pragmatism and man-centeredness that pervades the church. I commend it without reservation.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

 ME:“Doc, I cycle 100 miles a week, burn at least 10,000 calories a week, take fish oil, and I’m eating better.  I even take advantage of “nature’s broom” by eating oatmeal almost every day.  However, my cholesterol just won’t drop.

DOCTOR: “Because of family history and genetics, you simply won’t be able to lower your cholesterol without a statin.”

So for the several years, I’ve taken a well-known statin and the results have been favorable.  However, Drs. Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra disagree with the notion that lowering cholesterol prevents heart disease.  Their book, The Great Cholesterol Myth contains an argument that pumps feverishly through the arteries of this book: The real causes of heart disease include four key factors, namely – inflammation, oxidation, sugar, and stress.  The authors contend the real tragedy is the fixation with cholesterol which has produced an industry that boasts over $30 billion a year in the statin market.  In a shocking statement, both authors maintain, “Cholesterol does not cause heart disease.”

Bowden and Sinatra point out that cholesterol is vital for healthy living: “Cholesterol is an essential molecule without which there would be no life, so important that virtually every cell in the body is capable of synthesizing it.”  For over fifty years, the so-called lipid hypothesis has dominated the medical community which essentially states that “saturated fat runs up cholesterol levels, and elevated cholesterol leads to heart disease.”  The hypothesis has never been proved but continues to rule in the hearts and minds of most Americans.

One of the most helpful aspects of The Great Cholesterol Myth is the discussion about the importance of coenzeme Q10 (better known as CoQ10) which serves an important nutrient, a sort of fuel source for the heart.  Statins deplete CoQ10 which may lead to muscle pain, weakness, and fatigue.  Yet none of the doctors that have prescribed a stain in my case have ever mentioned that importance of supplementing with CoQ10.  The authors plead with readers who take statins to immediately begin supplementing their cholesterol lowering drug with  CoQ10 – a minimum of 200 mg daily.

Dr. Sinatra admits that he still prescribes statins on occasion but “almost exclusively to middle-aged men who’ve already had a first heart attack, coronary intervention, or coronary artery disease.”  He argues, “Statin drugs are anti-inflammatory, and their power to reduce inflammation is more much important than their ability to lower cholesterol.  But [and here’s the clincher] we can lower inflammation (and the risk for heart disease) with natural supplements, a better diet, and lifestyle changes such as managing stress.”

The authors reveal a fascinating study that includes five factors that significantly lowered the risk for heart disease:

1. Don’t smoke.

2. Drink alcohol in moderation.

3. Engage in moderate-to-vigorous exercise for at least half an hour a day on average.

4. Maintain a healthy weight (BMI under 25).

5. Eat a wholesome, low-glycemic (low-sugar) diet with plenty of omega-3 fats and fiber.

Notice that lowering cholesterol is painfully absent from the list.  Perhaps this is why, as the authors note, “Cholesterol is a relatively minor player in heart disease and a poor predictor of heart attacks.  More than half of all people who are hospitalized with heart attacks have perfectly normal cholesterol levels.”

The heart of the book explores the real culprit behind heart disease.  The authors dogmatically claim “the true cause of heart disease is inflammation” or as they put it, “acute inflammation hurts, but chronic inflammation kills.”  Second, oxidation is one of the sure signs of inflammation, which leads to a fascinating conclusion, namely – the only time cholesterol becomes troubling is if it’s oxidized (or damaged).  Third, the authors note that “sugar is a far greater danger to your heart than fat ever was.”  They go on to demonstrate that “the number one dietary contributor to heart disease is sugar.”  Finally, stress is included as a major cause of heart disease.

Bowden and Sinatra wonder out loud if statins will become the next medical tragedy – quite comforting to anyone who has relied on statins for years on end!  Side-effects are explored, which is well documented, and side-effects which I have personally experienced.  But the alarming news is that some researchers are warning that statins may contribute to Alzheimers, thinking skills, and memory.  One researcher comments, “Cholesterol changes the shape of the protein to stimulate thinking and memory.”  But the fact that is most often repeated is ability of statins to deplete the body of CoQ10.  “The depletion of CoQ10 is one of the most important negative effects of statins, and the one that is pretty much responsible for a host of common side effects involving muscle pain, weakness, and loss of energy.” To summarize, the authors maintain the risk of using statins outweighs the rewards.

Finally, Bowden and Sinatra explore how supplements can lead to heart health such as vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fats included in wild salmon.  Additionally, they recommend that stain users immediately begin to supplement their diet with CoQ10.  “Just as a gasoline engine can’t work without spark plugs, the human body can’t work without CoQ10.”

I am not ready to pitch my statin until my doctor recommends doing so.  But The Great Cholesterol Myth has got me thinking.  And it has led to some concrete action steps such as implementing CoQ10 into my daily diet.  I’m actually looking forward to my next doctor visit – where my list of questions will be long.  Let’s just say, I’ll be getting my money’s worth that day!

Kevin DeYoung, The Nicene Creed (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2025), 93 pp.

“After the Bible, the Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian text ever written.” So writes Kevin DeYoung in his book, The Nicene Creed. The author sets the stage by supplying the historical background behind this ancient document. A dispute arose in Alexandria, Egypt in AD 318 when Arius began to fan the heretical flame which eventually led to the Council of Nicaea.

The beauty of DeYoung’s book is that he walks through the Nicene Creed, line by line, giving readers ample time to digest the statements and compare them with Scripture. The statements from the Nicene Creed may also be set in contrast to the heretical musings of Arius, not to mention modern day cults like the Watch Tower Society and The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.

The Nicene Creed is the perfect place to begin for anyone who is seeking a greater knowledge of church history and the importance of orthodoxy. The combination of clear writing and passion for biblical truth make this book an essential tool in every Christian’s library.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Anyone familiar with John Owen will recognize that he is without a doubt the titan of the Puritans. This seventeenth British theologian was a prolific author who always directed his attention Godward.

The Complete Works of John Owen, volume 19 is the most recent edition from Crossway Books. This elegant work is packed with sermons from the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1650 – 1659). Owen is a man of his times. His writing may be cumbersome for the contemporary reader. He writes at a level that most American readers are not accustomed to. Yet, his arguments are worth tracing out and studying.

Volume 19 contains nine sermons that focus on themes concerning providence, the advance of the kingdom, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the glory of God. Readers will be captivated by Owen’s knowledge of Scripture and love for the Savior.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock, George Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2025), 207 pp.

One of the most pivotal figures of the 18th century was the British evangelist, George Whitefield. Born in 1714, this man faithfully preached the gospel and evangelized nations. He preached over 18,000 sermons during his short life and impacted countless people for the sake of the kingdom.

Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God by Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock is a riveting read. The authors introduce Whitefield in clear terms and engaging prose. Whitefield is portrayed as a man who valued both the head and the heart.

Schwann and Maddock do not leave any “stone unturned.” They not only focus on the noteworthy aspects of Whitefield’s life and ministry; they also wrestle with some of the more controversial themes, especially his perspective on slavery, which held a death grip on colonial America.

Whitefield is rightly portrayed as a man who refused to compromise the truth. He delivered the truth with power and passion. Another biographer, Arnold Dallimore, writes about the God-centered stature of George Whitefield: “And what manner of men will they be? Men mighty in the Scriptures, their lives dominated by a sense of the greatness, the majesty and holiness of God, and their minds and hearts aglow with the great truths of the doctrines of grace.” Oh, that Christians in this age would model the Whitefield approach. May their hearts be consumed with nothing but the greatness of God. May the sovereign Savior draw people from every tribe and nation.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.