false 31 192 192 true 5697884 read 0 true 4301439 currently-reading 0 true 4301438 to-read 41 false 4599419 pastoral-ministry 40 false 4599449 theology 21 false 4620988 fiction 16 false 4599328 church-and-culture 15 false 4599465 married-with-children 12 false 4640154 evangelism 12 false 4633456 biblical-studies 11 false 4729303 personal-development 10 false 4658844 leadership 9 false 4823851 history 8 false 4599503 apologetics 7 false 4599493 cultural-studies 5 false 4741665 spiritual-disciplines 5 false 4599377 worship 5 false 4599473 education 4 false 5344346 poetry 4 false 4599511 biography 2 false 4658862 science 2 false 4658792 politics 2 false 4621035 mercy-ministry 2 false 4933414 church-planting 2 false 5150991 philosophy 1 false 5567677 humor 1 false 4741703 media 1 false 4741847 music 1 false 6452898 economics 1 false 4729284 culinary 1 false 7110899 reading-and-writing 1 false 4741627 confessions 1 false 4729316 sermons 1 false 5067386 commentary 1 false 4741649 comedy 1 false 4729293 architecture 1 false 4729325 abortion http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78104582 to: Crisis, opportunity, and the Christian future (Unknown Binding) by James B Jordan
bookshelves: biblical-studies, church-and-culture
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78104381 to: What to Do on Thursday: A Layman's Guide to the Practical Use of the Scriptures (Paperback) by Jay Edward Adams
bookshelves: biblical-studies
Good introduction to how to study the Bible. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78103667 to: Bound for Glory: A Practical Handbook For Raising a Victorious Family (Hardcover) by R.C. Sproul Jr.
bookshelves: married-with-children
This brief introduction to the covenant household is very good. RC Sproul Sr delights in it to see his son maturing beyond his father in these matters. Sproul Sr even mentions paedocommunion which will be enough to keep some TRs away from such a helpful resource. Sproul Jr develops the concept of patriarchy, the headship of a not just a nuclear family by a father but of the oldest father in a familial clan. I'm not so comfortable with this. Rather than call it patriarchy I'd rather focus on the important to continually honor old fathers and mothers. No unhealthy applications from Sproul, so just an issue of terms and connotation. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78102839 to: Is Christianity Good for the World? (Hardcover) by Douglas Wilson
bookshelves: apologetics, church-and-culture
This is a rare phenomenon much like the related documentary Collision. In the foreword, Jonah Goldberg points out, as a secular Jew, that rarely do two opponents discuss religious views with joy and gratitude. This presence doesn't take away from the heat of the debate--not a punch was pulled--but it does appear to shed more light. Surely angry or overly serious people have their scopes so narrow that they miss nearly everything else besides what they fret. Wilson and Hitchens can change topic without leaving the subject because they are listening to one another, making connections and therefore having a laugh. I can't pretend to be sympathetic to Hitchen's arguments but, perhaps alone, among the new atheists he deserves the non-sniveling award. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78101539 to: The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin Classics) by Geoffrey of Monmouth
bookshelves: history
It helps that my edition is a beautiful old Folio Society edition that I scored for less than $12 from Hampshire, England (www.anyoldbooks.com). When this sort of thing comes in the mail, it's a really good day. It has a dragon on the leather spine.

Monmouth is a wonderful source for Merlin and Arthur, and this book is bedrock for the history and mythology of Britain. I don't mean at all that most or much of it is untrue like the lame editor indicates. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78100305 to: The End of Secularism (Paperback) by Hunter Baker
bookshelves: church-and-culture, politics
Baker does a fantastic job showing the non-neutrality of secularism, and in fact its dogmatic intolerance. Sadly he fumbles on the goal line when advocating a slightly Christianized pluralism. That is the con the secularists used and use to maintain their position today. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78100205 to: Building the Christian Academy (Paperback) by Arthur F. Holmes
bookshelves: education
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78099437 to: The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Paperback) by Lee Strobel
bookshelves: apologetics, evangelism
This book errs on the evidential side of things a little too much--"Does the Bible meet our standards of evidence and reliability?" The Bible is the standard. Still, Strobel explores a broad scope of evidence (eyewitness, documentary, corroborating, scientific, historical etc) showing the truth of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75157367 to: Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion (Hardcover) by Wayne Cordeiro
bookshelves: leadership
There are a few helpful things in this book, but the view of the pastorate is atrocious: "The constant expectation to come up with yet another inspiring message wears you out. It depletes your emotional system, reducing your ability to stay balanced. Long term stress is not detectable in the beginning...." The devastating thing is that a pastor I sort of respect recommended it. Cordeiro seems to forget that he, like mot of us happy American pastors, are not like Jeremiah who actually lived in a dungeon full of crap in fear for his life. He trivializes the prophets and the work of ministry in these comparisons. Leading a mega-church, I'm sure, isn't easy, but it would be a lot easier if the biblical call was seen for what it is. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75155871 to: God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life (Focal Point Series) by Gene Edward Veith
bookshelves: church-and-culture, spiritual-disciplines
]]>