Category: Fun

Bob’s Best Books of 2010

~ Bob Hayton ~ 6 Comments

2010 marked the second full year that I’ve focused on reading and reviewing good Christian books. I thought I could take the time (like I did last year), to look back and assess the books I’ve reviewed in 2010.

By the Numbers:

Total Reviews: 30 (including 1 DVD)
Grand total of Book Reviews: 71
2010 Publishers Reveiwed: 13
Total Publishers Reviewed: 18 (+5 small publishers)
Pages Read: over 6600
Book/DVD Giveaways Hosted: 3 (down 1 from last year)
Blog Posts Written: 168
Total Blog Posts Written: 278 (includes 3 other blogs I contribute to)
Average Monthly Page Views: 12,408 (per WordPress stats, for this blog only)
Highest Traffic Day: 901 (Dec. 10)
Total Page Views for 2010: 148,899

I want to thank my readers for finding my blog helpful (or at the least interesting). I also want to thank the publishers for the opportunity to review their books. I look forward to some of the titles I have planned already for this year, and to the challenge of doing even more reviews in 2011.

Without further ado, here are Bob’s Best Books of 2010. I tried to pick fairly big categories, but it’s always hard to choose. I threw in a couple honorable mentions with the result that we have here my 10 favorite books reviewed in 2010.

Bob’s 10 Best:

Best “Theology” book — The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition and Interpretation by John H. Sailhamer (InterVarsity Press). I can’t stress how much I enjoyed this book. I know some of you are going to think I’m a bit strange here, but this 600 page theology book was hands down my favorite book of the year. Sailhamer’s insights into Scripture and the Hebrew arrangement of the OT Canon continue to thrill me. Some of the material was over my head, for sure. But working through it proved enormously rewarding. This is a book I’ll refer to, for a long time. It’s truly been paradigm shifting for me. You’ll have to read my review for more on the book.

Best “Christian Living” book — A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper (Crossway). This is a beautiful book both for the story of Ruth from the Bible contained in it, as well as for the artwork and the commentary by John Piper. Piper masterfully applies the themes of Ruth to some life’s ups and downs. He unlocks the book to let God and His beauty shine through. Read my review for more.

Honorable Mention — CrossTalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet by Michael Emlet (New Growth Press). It’s hard to categorize this immensely helpful book. It’s equal parts Bible interpretation handbook, counseling manual, and applying the Gospel to life “how to”. It will help you to see all the parts of the Bible in light of the big picture, and equip you to take any part of Scripture and apply it to real life people and their problems. Read my review for more.

Best “Childrens & Family” book — My First Book of Questions and Answers by Carine MacKenzie (Christian Focus). This is certainly the smallest book I reviewed this year. Yet even though it is quite small, it is extraordinarily useful. We’ve applied it in family Bible time, in my family. The easy questions and answers are fun for goods, and instructive even for the parents. It is a tool for bringing the lost art of catechism back into the contemporary Christian home. Read my review for more.

Best “Church History & Biography” book — Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings by James Payton Jr. (InterVarsity Press). I wasn’t sure what to expect, given this book’s title. I was pleasantly surprised. The book moved along at a good pace and brought me back into the world of the Reformation. Many of the concerns the author had, are for us to not misunderstand the true nature of the Reformation. Sola fide and Sola Scriptura in particular are concepts stretched quite far from their historical past. You may not agree with all his conclusions, but you’ll be challenged and will surely learn something new about that important period of church history. Read my review for more.

Best “Commentary & Reference” book — Ryken’s Bible Handbook: A Guide to Reading and Studying the Bible by Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken & James Wilhoit (Tyndale House). I wasn’t prepared for how enormously helpful this Bible handbook proved to be. The overviews of each book of the Bible, the helps for reading the Bible with sensitivity for genre, and the many charts and graphics combine to make this quite useful for any Bible reader — from the concerned parent to the Sunday School teacher on up to the pastor. Read my review for more.

Honorable Mention — Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Thomas R. Schreiner (Zondervan). This commentary couldn’t help but receive some notice. Not only is it written by a pastor-scholar I highly respect, the commentary may be the most useful one I’ve found yet, for the would be expository teacher. The layout and approach brings the teacher into the book giving him the tools and help he or she needs, without making them feel inadequate for the task. This commentary series should prove a true gift to the church. Read my review for more.

Best “Fiction” book — Beyond the Summerland (The Binding of the Blade Series, Book 1) by L.B. Graham (P & R Publishing). I love good fiction, particularly fantasy. This book was superbly written and drew me in to a beautiful world that in many ways was analogous to the real situation here on Earth. I honestly didn’t expect such a well written fantasy tale from such a conservative publisher. It’s a testament to the fact that Christian authors can write excellently and create truly moving art. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Read my review for more.

Best “General Christian Interest” book — Once an Arafat Man by Tass Saada (Tyndale House). This tale is both fascinating and inspiring. A one-time Hamas fighter immigrates to America to find success, and then meets Jesus. His life changes by the power of the Gospel and he goes on to have the privilege of sharing the Gospel with his childhood hero, Yasir Arafat. The story of Tass Saada’s life and his ministry for Christ to the poor in Gaza gives hope that God is at work in the Muslim world. Read my review for more.

Best “Missions & Church Life” book — Which None Can Shut: Remarkable True Stories of God’s Miraculous Work in the Muslim World by Reema Goode (Tyndale House). This book may be my 2nd favorite of the year. This is the tale of an American missionary wife, and her family’s experiences in an undisclosed location in Arabia. Here is a window into what missions looks like in a closed country. The stories told are nothing short of amazing, as we get to share a bird’s eye view in what Jesus is doing to reach Muslims. The questions and opportunities to share the gospel are plentiful, as are the dangers. I trust and pray that this book will help motivate more Western Christians to take risks in sharing the Gospel abroad, and to their increasingly multicultural neighbors as well. Read my review for more.

All the Rest:

Click here for the complete list of all 71 reviews (so far). Also, if you’re into books and reviews, check out my book themed site: CrossFocusedReviews.com.

“The Lightlings” by R.C. Sproul

~ Bob Hayton ~ 5 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stories have such power to move us? Why children sit mesmerized when they hear a fairy tale, and why people inevitably share their own personal stories when they get together?

Stories move us because we are part of a bigger story, “The Story”. As Christians, we know the beginning and the end of that story, and all its major plot twists and turns. We don’t know exactly how our life story will fit into it, but we have faith that it will.

R.C. Sproul has the gift of storytelling, and has written several stories for children. In The Lightlings, Sproul tells “The Story” by means of an allegory. He casts the world as peopled by lightlings, children of the King of Light. He depicts the fall, and their flight into darkness. He then paints a beautiful picture of a baby full of light, who is to be the Light of the World. This allegory is applied to children well by Sproul’s setting it as a story told to a child wondering why he is afraid of the dark. The answer is a tale told by his grandfather, and then applied to the child’s own circumstances at the end of the book.

The story is beautiful and has numerous points of contact with the true Biblical story of creation, fall and redemption. At the end of the book, several discussion questions are listed with Biblical verses in a “For Parents” section. These points don’t exhaust the allegory but open it up to those who may be more unfamiliar with the Biblical meta-narrative depicted in the tale.

The illustrations by Justin Gerard are stunning. He captures light well, which is necessary in illustrating this particular story. The pictures are attractive to kids of all ages, and depicting the lightlings as fairies helps the story compete with other children’s tales that remain ever popular.

Christian parents must seek to get as many Christian resources as possible into the hands of our children. This book will provide opportunities to discuss the Gospel with children of all ages, particularly those in preschool and elementary school. And if you like this story, Sproul has other allegorical children’s books available as well.

I wish more children’s books today were like The Lightlings. The power of the story is not as often used as it should in capturing the hearts of our children. I cannot recommend this book more highly. If you have children, it is definitely a must have tool for the Christian parent.

Pick up a copy of this book at Amazon.com, Westminster Bookstore or directly from Reformation Trust.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Reformation Trust Publishing for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

“The Narnia Code: C.S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens” by Michael Ward

~ Bob Hayton ~ 2 Comments

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414339658?ie=UTF8&tag=fundamerefo0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1414339658Do you remember when you first read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis? Many people, like me, trace their love of fantasy fiction back to that moment. As I gobbled up each of the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia series, I entered a world of knights, chivalry, valor, magic and wonder — that awakened in me a fresh wonder at the divine influence in all of life.

As I went on to other fantasy tales, largely by Christian authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Stephen Lawhead, I encountered more intricate worlds and elaborate tales than what I found in Narnia. But the overt symbolism in the first Narnian tale, hinted at so much more beneath the surface of the Narnia tales. Reading Lewis’ space trilogy I once again encountered symbolism that I couldn’t quite grasp, but that was alluring and powerful nonetheless.

So a few years ago, when I learned of a new book by Michael Ward entitled Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis, I was captivated and just had to get it. That scholarly tome, whose hardback edition boasted 347 pages and almost 60 pages of endnotes, was a delight to work through. Bit by bit, Ward shared the thrill of his discovery — the long sought after, unifying key to the Narnia stories. It was a bit of a chore to go through all the scholarly citations, but along the way I learned a great deal about all of Lewis’ works, not just the Narnian chronicles.

Now, however, the fruit of Ward’s scholarly research is available for a wider, general market audience. Based on an earlier documentary/DVD, Tyndale House has published an accessible paperback entitled The Narnia Code: C. S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens.

I was able to pick up this smaller book from Tyndale. It’s only 191 pages with an easy to read font. To be sure, some of the finer points from Planet Narnia don’t find their way into the condensed edition. Still, one will find all the joy (and significance) of Ward’s discovery, a fascinating explanation of the pre-Copernican planetary model, and a detailed exposition of each Narnian chronicle according to the new insights gained from Ward’s study. The interested reader could certainly move on from The Narnia Code to Planet Narnia if he or she so chose, but most will be satisfied by the tale as told in the smaller work.

I don’t want to ruin the book by explaining in detail all of Ward’s discoveries. I will just note that he finds a planetary connection between Lewis the scholar’s appreciation for the pre-Copernican view of the planets as influencing mankind in various ways, and Lewis the author’s intricate method of creating a unique atmosphere that permeates each of his seven Narnian tales.

I can say this, however, you will be convinced by Ward’s discovery. And it will give new life to the Chronicles of Narnia. You’ll never read them the same way again. And Christ’s glory will be seen anew in all its wonder, illuminated in many small yet wonderful ways by Lewis’ intricate crafting of these wildly popular stories.

Before I close, let me recommend you see a short video clip of Michael Ward explaining his vision for The Narnia Code. I highly recommend the work. You can pick up a copy at Amazon with any Christmas money you’re itching to spend.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Dating Christ’s Birth: November 18 or December 25?

~ Bob Hayton ~ 11 Comments

I just finished reading an essay by Paul Maier on the date of the birth of Jesus Christ. The essay is entitled “The Date of the Nativity and the Chronology of Jesus’ Life” and was a chapter in the book Chronos, Kairos, Christos:
Nativity and Chronological Studies Presented to Jack Finegan edited by E. Jerry Vardaman and Edwin M. Yamauchi (Eisenbrauns, 1989), now out of print. [HT: Justin Taylor]

Maier has written many popular level books bringing various Biblical stories to life. Click on the image above to see his book on the first Christmas which details many historical and archaeological details you may be unfamiliar with. Be sure to search inside the book, to explore it more fully. It promises to be a fascinating book.

Anyway, Maier writes as a scholar who also isn’t too keen on defending Luke’s Quirinius mention and some other historical details in the New Testament. Nevertheless, he reviews the data and concludes that November/December 5 B.C. is the most likely date for Christ’s birth. At the end of the essay he brings to bear the earliest and most specific reckoning of Christ’s birth in the church fathers. Clement of Alexandria pegs the month and day of Jesus’ birth to our November 18. Given some of the evidence Maier marshals, that date may well be preferred to December 25, which came about later. Still, one month and 7 days is not far from the mark!

The essay is an interesting read, but no matter what day you celebrate Christ’s birth on (the Orthodox still celebrate January 6th as his birth), be sure to spend some time celebrating and worshiping our Lord this Christmas.

The Real Saint Nick

~ Bob Hayton ~ 2 Comments

We’re one week away from Christmas, and the Santa questions will start coming thick and heavy for Christian parents. For those of us who love Jesus, what are we to do with Santa?

Well, Mark Driscoll recently wrote an article for The Washington Post’s “On Faith” column about Santa, and he offers some practical advice.

‘Tis the season . . . for parents to decide if they will tell the truth about Santa.

When it comes to cultural issues like Santa, Christians have three options: (1) we can reject it, (2) we can receive it, or (3) we can redeem it.

Since Santa is so pervasive in our culture, it is nearly impossible to simply reject Santa as part of our annual cultural landscape. Still, as parents we don’t feel we can simply receive the entire story of Santa because there is a lot of myth built on top of a true story.

So, as the parents of five children, Grace and I have taken the third position to redeem Santa. We tell our kids that he was a real person who did live a long time ago. We also explain how people dress up as Santa and pretend to be him for fun, kind of like how young children like to dress up as pirates, princesses, superheroes, and a host of other people, real and imaginary. We explain how, in addition to the actual story of Santa, a lot of other stories have been added (e.g., flying reindeer, living in the North Pole, delivering presents to every child in one night) so that Santa is a combination of true and make-believe stories.

We do not, however, demonize Santa. Dressing up, having fun, and using the imagination God gave can be an act of holy worship and is something that, frankly, a lot of adults need to learn from children….

[Read the entire article]

Driscoll goes on to give the history of the true Santa Claus. Did you know that he was an actual bishop who at one time was imprisoned for his faith in Christ and may have even defended Christ’s Deity in the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325? I encourage you to read the entire article and consider giving your children a history lesson on the real Saint Nick this Christmas.

The following articles may assist in providing a biographical sketch of ol’ Kris Kringle.

[HT: Shaun Tabatt]