For an OUP title, I was expecting more. Adams is well versed and well read in the subject, which is to be expected. But to praise something like profaFor an OUP title, I was expecting more. Adams is well versed and well read in the subject, which is to be expected. But to praise something like profanity without any defined norms or standards is an exercise in futility, the secularist's real f-word....more
This book is a real eye-opener. It shows how the debacle of Watergate led to the formation of what we might call Big Ethics. And when you emphasize thThis book is a real eye-opener. It shows how the debacle of Watergate led to the formation of what we might call Big Ethics. And when you emphasize this matter of appearances to such an extent in a nation that does not have true godliness, the results (thundering hypocrisy) are about what you might expect....more
Despite my decided preference for the AV, White does a great job here demolishing the cargo cult approach to the AV demonstrated by some of her more aDespite my decided preference for the AV, White does a great job here demolishing the cargo cult approach to the AV demonstrated by some of her more ardent defenders. I happened to read this book because I am in the middle of an online debate with White on this very subject. I will let everyone know when it goes public....more
I enjoyed reading this, although to be frank, some of his poems I thought were pretty lame. I have hated, for example, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"I enjoyed reading this, although to be frank, some of his poems I thought were pretty lame. I have hated, for example, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" since I first read it, probably in high school. On the other hand, there were a number of poems that were magisterial, really striking....more
Okay, so the title is completely misleading, and I feel I have to explain myself. This book appears to have been compiled by a very helpful crank, I tOkay, so the title is completely misleading, and I feel I have to explain myself. This book appears to have been compiled by a very helpful crank, I think both an evolutionist and spiritualist. I don't remember exactly how I got it, although I think it was a gift from a friend, and there it was sitting on my shelf. I was on the phone one day, and my eye fell upon it. Getting off the phone, I pulled it off and opened it at random. There was a news clipping from The New York Times in 1924, describing how some road workers dug up the skeleton of a woman over eight feet tall, south of Lewiston, Idaho. That's right here in my neighborhood, so I decided to read the whole thing. The book is largely a compilation of news stories, letters, and reports from all over the United States, dating from the late 19th century to early 20th century, including newspapers like the Washington Post and the NYT, chronicling how various people had dug up gigantic skeletons, eight feet or more in stature. Lots and lots of reports of lots and lots of big bones. So I think a crank assembled all these accounts, but all the accounts themselves were written by regular folks, of the kind who would then write the Smithsonian.
Of course, for Christians, the issue is not the existence of giants, but rather the question of whether any of them made their way here. So, there you are....more
So some of this has to be taken seriously, in that it is quoted seriously in the New Testament. But other parts of it are seriously weird. Anyway, itSo some of this has to be taken seriously, in that it is quoted seriously in the New Testament. But other parts of it are seriously weird. Anyway, it was time I read it....more
The author really is to be commended for making the attempt. The topic of "swearing," really is a complex one, and while he did well in taking the queThe author really is to be commended for making the attempt. The topic of "swearing," really is a complex one, and while he did well in taking the question down to the level of intent, about the only intent he attacked -- for all forms of bad language -- was the intent to be demeaning or condescending. But there were some good observations here and there....more
This month’s pick is The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson. That title is intriguing, but the subtitle—depending on who you are—isReally informative.
This month’s pick is The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson. That title is intriguing, but the subtitle—depending on who you are—is even more intriguing. It is Legalism, Antinomianism & Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters.
The Marrow controversy was an uproar in the early part of the 18th century in Scotland, and it was occasioned by the republication of a book written by one E.F. (probably a man named Edward Fisher) in the middle of the previous century. The reason it was controversial is the same reason these perennial themes will always be controversial on this side of the Jordan. The relationship between grace and law is certainly a theological problem, but it is far more than that. It is a practical pastoral problem. It is a challenge to the sanctification of every Christian. One side or the other wants control of the spiritual thermostat in your church,
To pick up on a distinction that Ferguson makes in this book, there is far more involved in the grace/law discussion than overt doctrinal commitments. Both sides of the Marrow controversy subscribed to the Westminster Confession. An open legalist avows that the law is the way to salvation. A lesser legalist avows that the law empowers us to live holy lives in the pursuit of sanctification (which it does not, any more than speed limit signs are hooked to your accelerator). But we need to go a step further. There is something that Ferguson describes as the legal temperament.
The human heart is deceitfully wicked, and can turn absolutely anything into a rope (of sand) to climb up to Heaven with. Consider the famous story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to the Temple to pray. The one beat his breast and cried for mercy. The other thanked God (soli Deo gloria) that he was not like other men, and that his superiority was all of grace. And so it was that he went home unjustified. But here is the hook.
And so how many of us have gone home and thanked God that we are not like that Pharisee?
John Newton touched the thing with a needle, when he wrote this:
“Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines—as well as upon works! A man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature, and the riches of free grace!”
I want to commend this book to pastors, and to do it with a sense of urgency. Use this book as a diagnostic test, not of your doctrine, but of your doctrinal temperament. And that is because the distance between the adjective and the noun here is sometimes an enormous one. In some cases it is the distance between Heaven and Hell....more
So my selection for this month (April 2017) is Deeper Magic by Donald T. Williams. The subtitle brings everything into focus—The Theology Behind the WSo my selection for this month (April 2017) is Deeper Magic by Donald T. Williams. The subtitle brings everything into focus—The Theology Behind the Writings of C.S. Lewis.
The book is a fantastic resource for those who are interested in the theological underpinnings of Lewis’s writings. What Williams does is take the standard loci of systematic theology, and in each section he brings in all the relevant sections from Lewis’s corpus. For example, chapters address the doctrine of Scripture, theology proper, the person of Christ, the atonement, and so on. In each section you encounter what Lewis taught on that subject, gathered from his fiction and nonfiction alike, and all woven together by the Williams, the sympathetic and intelligent critic.
Williams clearly has Lewis on everything at his fingertips. But he does not simply gather and record—he also engages with Lewis where that is necessary. In his discussion of the famous Trilemma, Williams defends Lewis against the soi disant intellectuals who sneer at anybody who knows how to write on theology as though horse sense were an important commodity, which it is, and which Lewis had. At the same time, although Williams is an amiable critic, he knows how to take Lewis to task where necessary. A couple of examples of that kind of interaction would be Lewis’s view of inspiration, and Lewis’s misunderstanding of the doctrine of total depravity.
This is a good book. It is a useful book. It is an engaging book. It is a resource book. It is a book to read clean through. It is an orange book.
I recommend you get it. Alas, the Amazon page says that it is not currently on their premises, but the publisher’s page says that you can get it from Ingram. So do that....more
Young fans of N.D. Wilson's fantasy fiction, once they find out about the pending release of this book, will be jumping up and down with barely contaiYoung fans of N.D. Wilson's fantasy fiction, once they find out about the pending release of this book, will be jumping up and down with barely contained excitement. In some cases, it won't be barely contained. It will be unbridled glee. In other instances, perhaps, it will be untrammeled joy. Whatever it is, The Door Before is releasing on June 27, 2017.
The Door Before is a prequel to the 100 Cupboards trilogy -- 100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, and The Chestnut King. But wait . . . there is way more than that. It also weaves this Cupboards backstory together with the world of the Ashtown Burials -- The Dragon's Tooth, The Drowned Vault, and Empire of Bones. A fourth installment on that series is still pending, entitled The Silent Bells. Without getting into the Byzantine world of New York publishing house decision-making, those who have been wanting an interim Ashtown fix can get it here -- even though the book is technically a Cupboards prequel. Don't you get what I am saying? This is a Prequel, people.
Hyacinth Smith is the heroine of this story, and she comes from the Smiths of Ashtown fame. She has the gift of summoning growth out of living things, which lands her in the dangerous position of opening up ways between worlds. What with one thing and another, she teams up with Caleb and Mordecai Westmore, who tumbled into our world from Hylfing as part of their fight with Nimiane the witch. Before we are done, we are briefly walked through Henry, Kansas, we meet Rupert Greeves as a young boy, we spend time on an island full of raggants, and once again learn from the heroism of dogs. Whatever it is you think, dogs are more important than we realize.
This book is truly a satisfying read. Lots of little pieces clicking into place. I wouldn't want to bind anyone's conscience on this, but only wicked people haven't preordered it yet....more
Listened to this on Audible and really enjoyed it. For some reason, although I knew bits and pieces from wherever, I had never read the whole. ReallyListened to this on Audible and really enjoyed it. For some reason, although I knew bits and pieces from wherever, I had never read the whole. Really good....more
This is not a Wodehouse novel, but is kind of a quasi-memoir, written together with Guy Bolton, about their time in the early twentieth century writinThis is not a Wodehouse novel, but is kind of a quasi-memoir, written together with Guy Bolton, about their time in the early twentieth century writing musical comedies together. It is pretty funny, and is replete with gossip from that era, including a number of names that are still known today -- W.C. Fields, Ziegfeld, Gershwin, Cole Porter, Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, and even one anecdote of the time Wodehouse met Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame), and managed to get him to glare at him.
This book is the source of Wodehouse's practice (at least for a time) of writing a letter, sealing it in an envelope, addressing it, stamping it, and throwing it out the window of his New York apartment. Kind-hearted strangers would pick it up off the sidewalk, presume it to be lost, and post it for him....more
Very valuable read overall. Apart from the secularism and the evolutionary assumptions, Ridley does a great job of describing things in a way that couVery valuable read overall. Apart from the secularism and the evolutionary assumptions, Ridley does a great job of describing things in a way that counteracts the very common and insistent cultural pessimistic narrative. Postmillenialists need to read this kind of stuff together with their scriptural studies. Eschatology, markets and progress all go together....more
Reeves writes with zest, and is very engaging. He is steeped in Scripture, and his exploration of the basics of Christian living is really good. On toReeves writes with zest, and is very engaging. He is steeped in Scripture, and his exploration of the basics of Christian living is really good. On top of that, he has the classic Puritan writers at his fingertips and brings them in frequently to buttress or make a glorious point. This is a very good book....more
This was a very fine book on writing. Some really shrewd wisdom in this thing. One of my favorites is this: Choose words the average writer avoids butThis was a very fine book on writing. Some really shrewd wisdom in this thing. One of my favorites is this: Choose words the average writer avoids but the average reader understands. Rarely used words are not the same thing as unknown words....more
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