I hope to pick up my pen next month. I have some reviews to publish and maybe a political post, even.
My silence is due to family concerns. Our youngest is back in the hospital for several weeks now. We expect she’ll be home again soon.
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Thankful for 10 Years
Things have been quiet around here. We’ve welcomed our eighth child, who has us busy as she was 7 weeks early. (We hope to bring her home from the hospital soon.)
I didn’t want the month to end without marking this blog’s special anniversary. It was ten years ago that Fundamentally Reformed began.
I’m thankful for the personal growth and the friends I’ve made over these years. I’ve been blessed to interact with hundreds of books and really develop my theology at the feet of conservative and Reformed evangelical authors. Along the way I’ve tried to inspire others to question some of their assumptions and study Scripture anew. We’ve had some dropdown, drag-em-out comment fights. And we’ve covered some truly tragic stories.
I feel like I’ve matured in my outlook and no longer need to crusade for my point of view, at all costs. Reading, thinking and studying are part of my life and I plan to keep this blog going as long as people find it helpful. I should start posting reviews and other content with the new year. Till then, consider exploring the archives, and thanks for ten great years!
Bob’s Best Books of 2014
Another year has passed and that means it is time to post my “Bob’s best books” list! This will be my sixth annual post of listing the top books I read or reviewed in the past year.
The following titles represent the very best of the books I read or reviewed in 2014. If you are looking for some books worth reading this year, I hope you’ll give these titles some serious consideration.
Bob’s 10 Best:
Best “Theology” book — God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth by G.K. Beale and Mitchell Kim (IVP). This was the book I was most eager to read. G.K. Beale’s larger work, The Temple and the Church’s Mission (IVP) is perhaps the best biblical theology title ever written. It certainly is a paradigm-shifting, transformative work that unpacks the significance of the temple theme from Genesis all the way to Revelation. The one draw-back of that title is its headiness. It is scholarly to the extreme and requires a firm mind and lots of effort to wade through the work and unearth its many treasures. Mitchell Kim has done us all a favor in taking Beale’s excellent work and bringing it down to the bottom shelf where everyone can enjoy it. With Beale as co-author, the work is not only simplified and clarified, it is also updated. The result is the best takeaway that biblical theology can offer – a pastoral application of the temple theme for Christians here and now. This is now my go-to book to recommend and encourage anyone interested in biblical theology to read. It is accessible and truly life-changing. I hope this book receives as eager a reception as its predecessor did, and I trust it may make an even more lasting impact. Read my full review for more on this book.
Best “Commentary & Reference” book — Judges for You by Tim Keller (The Good Book Company). Any book by Tim Keller is worth reading. This commentary is no exception. He has a gift for knowing where people struggle with something, and where it is that careful explanation will especially help. Judges is a book that is easily “out-of-touch” for modern Christians. And more, it provides some jarring contrasts with our modern sensibilities and the acts of genocide that are found there. Keller masterfully handles all this while emphasizing the Gospel message found in Judges. He applies the text and explains it, and provides helpful discussion and study questions. The book would be great for a small group study. Read my full review for more on this great commentary.
Best “General Christian Interest” book — The Pastor’s Kid by Barnabus Piper (David C. Cook /ChristianAudio). I was interested in this book for two reasons. First, I, myself, and a pastor’s kid. My dad was an assistant pastor, a pastor, then an assistant pastor again, and finally a missionary. Don’t know what kind of acronym that gives me! Second, I was a member at John Piper’s church for a few years, and Barnabus is one of his sons. The book did not disappoint. Piper had helpful advice for both the PK trying to recover from his experience, and the pastor in the midst of rearing a PK. Piper interviewed several pastors kids for his book, and is honest about the fact that some have jettisoned the faith altogether. Piper has not, but he opens up about the struggles unique to a pastor’s kid. What I found most helpful was his grace-centered thoughts on the dangers of legalism. My review of this title will be forthcoming.
Honorable Mention — The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (Crown and Covenant / ChristianAudio). I had heard a lot about this book, and was eager to listen to the author read her own story on the ChristianAudio production of this work. It did not disappoint. The author’s story of conversion of a lesbian chair of women’s studies at Syracuse University into an evangelical Christian who went on to marry a Reformed pastor. Personal testimonies are always encouraging but this tale has a caution as well. She challenges the church to be more loving and welcoming to homosexuals, and to recognize where we needlessly offend. Read my review for more on this fascinating book.
Best “Christian Living” book — Isaiah by the Day by Alec Motyer (Christian Focus). I may be stretching this category a bit, but this devotional from Alec Motyer is perfect for anyone. The book includes helpful devotional readings from the book of Isaiah. The text is a fresh translation by the author, complete with textual footnotes that help clarify the meaning of the original Hebrew. Each reading is situated within the scope and flow of the book as a whole, and it is this outline and care for context that I found so helpful. With such a large book as Isaiah, it is easy to get lost, as it were. Motyer has lived and breathed Isaiah for a good portion of his teaching ministry. And this is no stale study, the devotional comments that conclude each reading apply the text to our contemporary situation. Over and again I was blessed, first by Isaiah and then by the insights Motyer pulled from the text. Don’t look for a critical breaking-apart of this magisterial book, Motyer’s portrayal illustrates why we can view the entire book as written by a single Isaiah. In all, this scholarly book would make for a very helpful devotional for anyone. My full review will be forthcoming, but for now enjoy a sample reading in this post.
Best “Missions & Church Life” book — Can We Still Believe the Bible? by Craig Blomberg (Brazos Press). I wasn’t sure what to expect from this title. The full title made me interested in it, Can We Still Believe the Bible?: An Evangelical Engagement with Contemporary Questions. Today there are certainly a lot of “contemporary questions” and no shortage of critics who malign the uniqueness and validity of Scripture. Additionally, not a few evangelical scholars are quick to throw bones to today’s critics as more and more they move further from historic biblical orthodoxy. Blomberg’s interaction with common objections to Christianity is refreshing. He writes from a clear stance of faith. And while at times he does add nuance and demur from a typical enangelical position, for the most part he brings the best of evangelical scholarship to bear on the thorniest problems, defending the canonicity of the NT, the authenticity of the biblical text, a conservative position on inerrancy and more. There will be areas where not everyone will agree with him, but the end product is incredibly helpful by almost any measure. My review is forthcoming. For more on this title, check out Michael Kruger’s helpful review.
Best “Church History & Biography” book — Basil of Ceasarea by Marvin Jones (Christian Focus). I enjoy learning about church history and this book introduced me to Basil. He lived and ministered when the biblical doctrine of the trinity was under attack from all sides. Basil’s writings helped solidify the orthodox position. He also critiqued the practice of how monks kept their order in his day. Over time his views changed as he read and studied more, and in time his ministry and writings ended up impacting the church in significant ways. Chances are you don’t know much about him, and my brief summary here only scratches the surface. Pick up this title to learn more of the man, Basil, and read my review for more on this book.
Best “Childrens & Family” book — Jonathan Edwards by Simonetta Carr (Reformation Heritage). Almost every year I have a book by Simonetta Carr on my list. She has a gift for bringing the lives of significant figures from church history to life for children. Her Christian Biographies for Young Readers series is a beautiful set to own, thanks to the brilliant illustrations. It is also perhaps the best series for teaching children to respect and learn from church history. Jonathan Edwards is a favorite of mine, and this account of his life brings out many details that adults may be quick to overlook, such as Edwards’ careful description of the flying spider and his allowing his ten year old son to travel in the Indian territory as a junior missionary. Like other titles in this series, intriguing facts, maps, pictures and other sidebars abound in this book, all the more to help engage and educate the readers. Read my review for more on this book.
Best “Fiction” book — A Draw of Kings by Patrick Carr (Bethany House). I enjoy well-written fiction. Clean fantasy is my favorite genre. So I was elated to find this magnificent series by Patrick Carr. This book is the thrilling conclusion of his “The Staff and The Sword” trilogy. The world created in this series includes a kingdom, a magesterial church, and a heresy which turns out to be more orthodox than it seemed. Oh, and it includes another sector of society, those gifted with the ability to cast lots. An unlikely hero and an impossible confontation come together in the culmination of this epic tale. I compare Carr with Stephen Lawhead or Terry Brooks. I was truly impressed and caught up in the tales until I finished all three. If you’re looking for a great new series to try this year, look no further than this set. Read my review for more.
Honorable Mention — The Advocate by Randy Singer (Tyndale House / ChristianAudio). This was a very long book but a fascinating piece of historical fiction. The life of Theophilus is imagined and his 1st Century world described in a masterful way. Theophilus is an advocate, and studied under Seneca, but found himself in the service of Pontius Pilate. The book spends a lot of time developing the main character and pushing forward a romance, and at first Christianity is only a tangential concern. But as the character’s life progresses, in time he is called to put faith in Jesus Christ. The tale is much more complicated than that, there is a complicated love triangle, gladiators and conspircies, and two maniacal emperors. The tale becomes engrossing the longer it goes and by the end you are loathe to leave Theophilus behind. I was completely impressed by this story and hope to sample other works from this author. My review is forthcoming.
All the Rest:
This year was busier than most, and I only managed to read 35 books and review 20. My total of book and media reviews is now 187 from more than 35 different publishers. You can see all my reviews listed here. If you’re interested in seeing all of the other books I read this year, you can check out that list at Goodreads.
For my previous “Bob’s Best Books” lists, see below.
Additionally, if you are an avid reader, you may want to follow my reviews or friend me on Goodreads or LibraryThing.
Bob’s Best Books of 2013
I’m very late this year in compiling my list of the top books I read or reviewed this past year. We are expecting another baby very soon and I’m busy preparing for our soon arrival. Still I want to post this list of the best books I read or reviewed in 2013, as it will be the fifth year in a row I produce such a post. Better late than never!
The following titles represent the very best of the books I read or reviewed in 2013, with one exception: Greg Beale’s A New Testament Biblical Theology (Baker Academic). Even though I published my review of that title in 2013, I had already put it on last year’s list (as I read the majority of its 1100 pages in 2012). With that important caveat, I want to put forth the following books for your consideration.
Bob’s 10 Best:
Best “Theology” book — Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants by Peter J. Gentry, Stephen J. Wellum (Crossway). This book was a joy to read. Any work that seriously aims to present a middle road between covenant theology and dispensationalism is intriguing; and this work actually does offer a way through the impasse, in my opinion. While new covenant theology, (or “progressive covenantalism” as the authors prefer) doesn’t answer every question for me, it is a viable alternative in light of what to me are clear deficiencies of both major opposing views. The sweep of this book is grand, and I appreciated the attempt to sketch out the contours of a whole-Bible biblical theology. The exegetical work provided by Peter Gentry is excellent. No matter where you stand on the question of competing theologies, this book will help in thinking through how your system compares to opposing views. This work will truly advance the conversation and promises to be a must-have volume for years to come. For more on this book, see this excerpt or read Jason DeRouchie’s excellent review of the book. My review is forthcoming.
Honorable Mention — The Doctrine of Scripture: As It Relates to the Transmission and Preservation of the Text by Jason Harris (InFocus Ministries). This book has a special place in my heart for a variety of reasons. I was privileged to write the foreword, but the most significant reason that I like this book is its careful treatment of a thorny issue: KJV Onlyism. I spent many years confused by the claims of KJV Onlyism and this book takes us carefully through Scripture’s own statements about inspiration and preservation to show just how wrong-headed the KJV Only movement is. Unlike many books in this vein, this work is irenic and charitable, and manages to disarm the reader by the attention to significant distinctions in KJV Onlyism, not always appreciated by those outside the movement. This book focuses on Scripture’s own doctrine of Scripture, and that focus will be appreciated by those on all sides of the issue. Read my review for more on this book. Check out my page of resources on the KJV-only debate, as well as my team blog at KJVOnlyDebate.com.
Best “Commentary & Reference” book — What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible edited by Jason DeRouchie (Kregel Academic). This reference work is dear to my heart. I spent several years under the teaching of Jason DeRouchie — not as a college or seminary student, but as a member of his SS class in Bethlehem Baptist Church. The passion Jason has for the things of God is and his love for the Old Testament is contagious. In this work, he brings together other conservative evangelical scholars who share a high regard for the Old Testament and its gospel message. Each chapter gives an overview of one of the books of the Hebrew Bible, in the order of the Hebrew canon. The Christ-centered focus of the book and its aim to be practical and informative for the laymen, make it an attractive resource for churches, small groups, and Sunday Schools. Read my review for more on this book.
Best “General Christian Interest” book — Discovering the Lost City of Sodom by Steven Collins and Latayne Scott (Howard Books). This was a fascinating account of an archaeological discovery that may set the record straight on the biblical city of Sodom. Dr. Collins recounts how his study of the Bible’s account of Sodom, coupled with his intimate acquaintance with the features of the Levant (the archaeological term for Palestine), led him to investigate the north shore of the Dead Sea as the possible location of “the cities of the plain,” chief of which was Sodom. Collins’ discoveries and research paint a compelling picture. What makes it all the more compelling is how it resists fitting neatly into a predetermined chronology, and Collins takes pains to wrestle with the question of the dating of the accounts in Genesis. This was my first audio-book review, and I thoroughly enjoyed the christianaudio production of this book. Read my review for more on this book.
Honorable Mention — The Christian World of the Hobbit by Devin Brown (Abingdon Press). I’ve always loved J.R.R. Tolkien, and like many, my introduction to the land of Middle-earth was The Hobbit. In this book, Devin Brown highlights the Christian underpinnings of Tolkien’s work. He finds clues in the text itself that reveal the world-view of Tolkien. The work has a feel almost of a mystery, as Brown includes you in the search for textual clues. And the result is a devotional enjoyment of the true Christian view that Tolkien’s work embodies. Read my review for more on this book.
Best “Christian Living” book — Stop Asking Jesus into your Heart by J.D. Greear (B&H Publishing). This is one of the most important books I read last year. I really need to review this title, as it is so helpful. While the title is provocative, the book explores the very real problem of a lack of assurance in young Christians. Part of the problem stems from an overuse of the “ask Jesus into your heart” metaphor, and a less than full understanding of the nature of conversion. Greear has a needed balance on this point, as he doesn’t blast people who still make much of this metaphor. He instead labors to carefully teach and nuance our understanding of the Bible’s teaching on conversion and assurance of salvation. He has an eye out for those harmed by legalism in all its forms, and his book encourages a renewed focus on the gospel and its impact on all of life. For more on this book, see Trevin Wax’s interview of the author. My review is forthcoming.
Best “Missions & Church Life” book — The Great Evangelical Recession by John S. Dickerson (Baker). This was one of the more engaging reads. Dickerson takes us on a tour of the future of the church, he explores historical developments and sociological research on the true nature of our problems. He sees a big recession on the horizon, as a shortage of funds and a smaller, marginalized evangelical church combine to present new challenges to churches. While his view of the problem is based in his experience in journalism, his take on the right blueprint for the Church is drawn from his reflection on the Bible, and experience as a lead pastor. The solution is as simple as discipleship and lay-ministry, but it requires church leaders to be brave enough to rethink their time-honored methods of operation to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Read my review for more on this book.
Best “Church History & Biography — The First Thanksgiving by Robert Tracy McKenzie (IVP). I have always loved Thanksgiving, as I am related to John and Priscilla Alden, notable voaygers on The Mayflower. This title provides a fresh look from a Christian historian on the real story of “the first thanksgiving.” His findings are surprising to those who have learned the Sunday School version of the tale. And while the true account may jar those used to the easy version, the author helps us think through how Christians should read and learn from history. The faith of the Pilgrims remains praiseworthy, and our appreciation of the Plymouth colony only grows. I particularly enjoyed learning of other occasions in the colony where God’s hand clearly was at work in a wonderful way. Read my review for more on this book.
Best “Childrens & Family” book — Anselm of Canterbury by Simonetta Carr (Reformation Heritage). This is another beautiful book highlighting the life story of an important figure from church history. I enjoyed learning more of the life and teaching of St. Anselm. His explication of the substitutionary view of the atonement continues to make an important contribution to theology today. This book will encourage your children to appreciate history, and see themselves in a long line of Christians down through the ages. Read my review for more on this book.
Best “Fiction” book — Blood and Bone by Don Hoesel (Bethany House). The Elisha’s Bones series from Don Hoesel came to a thrilling conclusion with this title. In a similar vein as A Skeleton in God’s Closet from Paul Maier, this series follows the adventures of an archaeologist who is running headlong into an encounter with the power of God. This book is fast-paced and wide-ranging. And the finale is satisfying yet unpredictable. If you haven’t picked up any of the books in this trilogy, be sure to carve out enough time in your schedule when you do, as you’ll want to do little else than devour these fantastic stories. Read my review for more on this book.
All the Rest:
In 2013, I reviewed 28 books — bringing the total of my book and media reviews to 167 from more than 35 different publishers. You can see all my reviews listed here. I also finished 52 books, and you can see that list at Goodreads.
For my previous “Bob’s Best Books” lists, see below.
Additionally, if you are an avid reader, you may want to follow my reviews or friend me on Goodreads or LibraryThing.
Reformation Book Giveaway
It has been a while since I hosted a book giveaway! This week I’d like to offer two books to my readers as a special Reformation Book Giveaway. Each of these books is suited for children, but would make a good addition to the reading list of many parents I know, too. I enjoyed reading through each book, especially after my recent “Survey of the Reformation” series I taught for our adult SS class.
The books to be won are: The Glory of Grace: the Story of the Canons of Dort by William Boekestein and Inside the Reformation compiled by Mark Sengele. You can read my reviews of each of these books by clicking on their titles (or pictures) above.
To enter the contest, simply fill out the Google Form below. Be sure to note the ways to earn additional entries to this contest. The contest runs through Monday night, Feb. 4.
Contest is now closed.
Congratulations to Chad S for winning the contest!