New Book Reviews

When Did You Die? –A Book Review with Observations

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Here is a volume for when you seriously want to consider your spiritual life. The careless or unconcerned will not be able to stand reading it. As you might imagine by the title, the book addresses the concept of “dying to self.”

Crown Publications has brought this fine volume back in print. Its claim to fame is that it is the book that changed Lee Roberson’s life. As one of the prominent leaders of the Twentieth Century for Independent Baptists, many are fascinated by this practically lost volume. I actually had one the old copies that was more like a pamphlet. I read it several years ago, but was challenged in reading it again. In this lovely reprint, you actually get a bonus volume entitled “How To Die Daily”, also by B. McCall Barbour. An introductory chapter on Lee Roberson along with the volume’s appealing look makes this a fine addition to any library.

There has been some debate in recent years over the theology of these type writings. Particularly the phrase “let go and let God” has been under scrutiny (The phrase was mentioned in this volume). Some have thought to say “let God” implies giving God permission! But in this context it is about what you and I are going to do, not what the Lord may do.

Half way through my reading of this book, I did an online search and came across R. C. Sproul’s website that had an article on this phrase and theology. He raised a few points worthy of consideration. Some taught it as the “second blessing” and that is actually more than the Bible teaches. To make it all about one exact point in time rather than an ongoing process of sanctification is a mistake. If you remember that it is still a process, though with possible great breakthroughs, this volume will enrich your spiritual life. I see Mr. Sproul’s point to some degree (he seemed most concerned, sadly, only about adherence to confessional reformed theology), but no doubt there are special seasons of God’s dealings too. When that happens your self life is going to take some blows! Don’t be lulled into thinking you have crossed a threshold and now are safe, or beyond certain things. You could hardly be in a more dangerous place. Be cautious about thinking you are in the advanced Christian group–that is not the point of dying to self.

This is not a short cut to spirituality, but the real business of the Christian life. The idea of reckoning what Christ has done has sure helped me in some problem areas in my life. You will be helped by this volume’s discussion of that subject. No matter what anyone wants to criticize theologically, the subject of the self life fills many pages in the New Testament. It is worthy of our attention and revolutionary to our spiritual lives.

You can find this volume here.

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Rose Then and Now Bible Map Atlas–A Review

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Would you like a fine Bible Atlas written by someone who has been immersed in the lands of the Bible? Then the Rose Then and Now Bible Atlas is a great option for you. Substantial at 272 pages, yet accessible even for newer Bible students, we have a real asset here.

Perhaps you saw the earlier Rose Then and Now Bible Maps. I always felt it was more of a Sunday School item than one for the serious Bible student, though the modern overlays are a brilliant idea. Frankly, there were just too few of them and I would have preferred a different scale at times. There are about the same number of overlays, but we have a fine atlas too. Really, the overlays are just a nice addition to the atlas itself.

What we have now is Rose Publishing joining the big boys in the atlas world. What is unique to this volume among the atlases out there is the historical detail given. Paul Wright does a great job of relating the biblical narrative as he progresses incorporating well the geographic details. The history begins with the Patriarchs. There is no mention of Adam or Genesis 1-11, pro or con. My guess is that there is little real geographic knowledge of those times.

Still, Scripture pervades the volume. In the chapter on Jesus, He is described as God in human form. The entire atlas takes a historical approach. There are no sections on parts of the Bible like, say, the Minor Prophets. Their time period is covered in the historical flow, just not the books themselves. Most atlases take the other approach, but I am glad to have one from this distinct vantage point.

The maps themselves are from Carta, which is the gold standard of Bible maps. The pictures are satisfactory and the maps plentiful enough to go along with a rich text. Most people just try to get one quality Bible Atlas. This volume is a contender for the Bible Student.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Check it out here.

Related Post:
Bible Atlas-Finding the Right One

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I Am A Church Member–A Book Review

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Church membership is suffering in our day. The selfishness of our times has been a corrupting influence. We see church as something that should meet our needs rather than a place to serve Christ and others. Now church, in so many cases, falls below the model presented in the New Testament.

Enter the tonic of I Am A Church Member by Thom S. Rainer and published by B&H Books. In 6 short, really helpful chapters, he brings us back to reality on the matter of what it really means to be a church member. He shows us New Testament reality versus country club mentality. We want to get something out of our church membership, but we can only get it in serving and functioning as a real member. It is not getting taken care of, but taking care of others.

He hits on the critically important issue of actively pursuing unity in the church. Can you imagine the benefits of unity if we all made this our job? He explains how we degenerate into making church just be about my preferences and desires. How many churches have died this very way?

I would love to see this book in the hands of every church member. ( Look for $5 deals). It is good, yet short enough that those who don’t particularly enjoy reading can get through it easily. There is a pledge to sign at the end of each chapter that makes you wrestle with these issues. We had better do something as church membership is in such decline.

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Thought in the Absence of Certainty–A Review

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We have here a book that purports to “lay the groundwork for perspectives…that raise important questions concerning religion, Scripture and even our Creator.” The book no doubt raises several questions, though I am not satisfied with all the answers. It seems the author, Mr. Gordon Dye, felt he could help make God plausible from a philosophic point of view. Perhaps he did that much, but the human heart needs more.

On the plus side, he explained many terms of philosophy and rhetoric well as he tried to stick to principles of logic. On that level he succeeded. It had a textbook feel to it, but it could serve as either an introduction or as a refresher.

On the negative side, the writing was dull. Mr. Dye is obviously a brilliant man, but his style of writing did not match that of his understanding of complex issues. He lacked passion as he worked so hard to explain. He too often filled pages with meta discourse as he spent too much time telling us what he was going to write about instead of just writing about it. He also tried to harmonize God and science where believers like some of us need no harmonization. In fact, for a sincere believer he would seem to be raising doubts. Perhaps he would be help to an agnostic, but his conclusions are too weak to really draw someone to God.

His case never gets beyond a theistic conclusion. He can only get us to god, whomever He or She may be. The book, then, would be of no more value to a Christian than, say, a Muslim. He says he was raised by ordained Evangelical Christians and that he got beyond their thought system without “rejecting his faith.” I will not propose to speak for him, but his faith made no mention of Christ. He did not preclude Christ necessarily, but He was at best lumped with all the options for God in this world. The Christian faith says you cannot reach God other than through Jesus Christ! So the book has, in my, perhaps, biased opinion, a fatal flaw.

You could argue that this is a work of philosophy, not Christian apologetics. In truth philosophy has often been an esoteric pursuit that could only raise brilliant questions that it could never quite answer. It found its readers among those with enough leisure to think long and slow. I mean slow because we could never get where we were going. The common people found little time for it because their lives throbbed with emptiness that needed filling and their hearts craved real answers. That is why apologetic works are so superior to philosophic ones, and Christ so superior to all those other gods Mr. Dye gave credence to. For example, if his logic proves the verbal inspiration for other religious books as much as the Bible (chapter 6), then it proves nothing at all.

Again, Mr. Dye is intelligent, but I can’t really recommend this book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Christian Faith in the Old Testament: The Bible of the Apostles–A Review

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When the Apostles turned to their Bible, what was it for them? In clear, accessible style, Gareth Lee Cockerill shows us that it is what we call the Old Testament. More than that, he rescues the Old Testament from the oblivion that some would banish it to. He discusses it with gusto because he believes it is critical for Christians today. Unlike many scholars, he follows what the New Testament told Christians to do with the Old Testament–1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.“–that is, mine its pages for great spiritual treasure! Thank you Mr. Cockerill.

This book succeeds on every level. It accomplishes its goal of reigniting passion for the Old Testament. In reading it you get a good overview or even an Old Testament survey. Even better, you get it without the dryness that some scholars are ever handicapped to write with. As a substantial bonus, and what separates this book from many competitors, there is real application for the Bible student or pastor scattered all along the way. The Charts added real value as well. They actually taught something. I was particularly blessed as seeing the parts and the whole in a better way.

The Appendix on “Why are these books in our Old Testament?” was exceptional. With all the critical questions on the Canon being thrown around today, I can hardly think of a more succinct presentation. He lands where many of us believe. In a small compass you really got the help you need.

I enjoyed reading this volume straight through, now it will find its way onto my shelves for reference when I begin study of a new book. Such books have always proven a great boon to me.

I read this book thinking I wish more scholars wrote this way. On every page I felt that Mr. Cockerill believes– he really believes! That is more of a problem in the scholarly world than some realize. I know he is a respected scholar because he has recently released a major commentary on Hebrews (that makes sense) in the prestigious NICNT series. I want to get that book now too.

A+ all the way here. I recommend it for Bible teachers and pastors, but studious layman can handle it too. Master this volume’s contents and a better Bible understanding you will have.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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A Godward Heart by John Piper

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This book is different than the typical Piper books that I have read. It has the same thought-provoking qualities, but not a united theme. Piper will make you think; you may agree or disagree, but you will think. In this case it is 50 meditations on a variety of subjects. They are an eclectic bunch, but that just means you can sit and read whenever you like or where you like. Some chapters will move you more than others, and it will likely be different for each of us. He has a few books of this type, but this one is the first I have read.

Consider these topics. Several are meditations on interesting Scriptures like Psalm 105:4, Galatians 4:18, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, John 1:7, and Matthew 10:16. He tackles tough life questions like “if God wills disease, why should we try to eradicate it?” Or imagine this question: does anyone standing by the Lake of Fire jump in? He has several on home issues including marriage and children. He has entries on our personal Christian life like fighting covetousness and making resolutions.

Some of the more unusual topics include an article on what he learned from a book by Chesterton, the meaning of clothing, Lincoln learning of divine providence, and most interesting to me, “The Sorrows of Fathers and Sons~Thoughts from the lives of C.S. Lewis and Robert Louis Stevenson.”

The volume is an attractive, hardback volume small enough to easily transport and keep handy. You will find quality devotional reading here.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Epic Grace: Chronicles Of A Recovering Idiot by Kurt Bubna

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This book is different. It reaches its destination by a distinct path. Instead of the theological pathway, Mr. Bubna travels the curvy lanes of his own life. While that often doesn’t work, in this case since the subject is grace and he is blatantly transparent, it works. We see the depths of what God’s grace can pull us up from.

This book succeeds from two directions. First, you may not have been as big an idiot (his term) as he has, but the Lord’s grace has truly been epic. It overcame and reversed so much in his case–marital mistakes, financial mistakes, career mistakes, and a host of big, clear sins. You read and think, wow, God’s grace was big enough to handle it. Second, in that you and I have quite a bit of idiocy too if we are honest in our tabulations, we see His grace is big enough for us as well! Every believer urgently needs to see that glorious truth!

He went beyond his idiocy as well. Life handed him some other blows. Hard times, a Dad who failed him, his parent’s divorce, sexual abuse, health crisis for loved ones, and finally for himself all crossed his plate. He even traced grace from little dumb decisions that really weren’t sin, but were really dumb. You know, he is right– grace is epic.

I might not agree with every word he said, but the book is helpful. He writes in an engaging style and I found myself wanting to read on and so read the book pretty quickly. God’s grace is all it is said to be and more!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Sounding The Depths by Michael Milton

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“When Jesus prays for His people” reads the subtitle of this volume published by EP Books that in six sermons covers the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17. In that some call that Scripture the Holy of Holies of the New Testament, it is valuable to have some additional help especially for it. Mr. Milton is a seasoned pastor who likely preached these sermons to his own people first.

These sermons don’t wrestle with every phrase as some expository sermons might, but are strong in application. It is not of the depth of say, Lloyd-Jones, but its less than 100 pages might be ideal in many situations. Its emphasis of Jesus deep love for us makes for good devotional reading as well.

He says, “God has allowed you to listen to the words of this prayer. He prays for those who will believe through the testimony of those first disciples.” That is compelling!

I personally thought the last three sermons were even better than the first three. He draws out well how fantastic it is that Jesus prays for us. No matter how bad things are, He prays for us! Then, he traces the humility Jesus showed and the lessons we can gain from it. He says, “In the world of self-actualizing, success-driven athletes and business people, we must return to the Ross. No true greatness, nothing of eternal value can come out of the strength of man. We must rely on the strength of God, and this call for humility.” Sounds right to me.

He ends showing that if Jesus is loving and prays for us, we should trust Him. That is a great application to carry away from John 17.

This volume is short, but solid. For either study or devotions it could be beneficial.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Romans 1-7 For You by Timothy Keller

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Here is a winner! This volume on the first half of Romans, and part of the new God’s Word For You series published by The Good Book Company, offers real help. Don’t let having only 200 pages fool you as the flow of thought in this portion of Scripture is traced with a deft hand. I felt issues were unraveled and explained in a particularly understandable way.

Mr. Keller carefully makes sure that we don’t confuse the Gospel with its masquerading saboteurs. May the Lord help us not to fall for the diabolical would-be gospels of either liberalism or license! I appreciate this volume’s consistency in dismantling equally these two errors. Arising from the ashes is the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ! For the record, that is what Romans 1 through 7 is actually discussing and so this commentary is right on track.

I am impressed too that this volume could help such a wide-ranging audience. Any layman or Bible student could greatly benefit while a pastor trying to unlock a passage for a sermon could as well. I personally love after reading in depth, exegetical commentaries to read some like this one for the grand sweep of the passage. You could hardly find one better than this one on that score. In my library of doubles stacked shelves, this is a front row volume!

This book works great as a reference tool, but was designed to be read straight through too. I read it that way and found it a devotional feast. Many volumes billed for such usage usually fail at one or the other, but where they failed this volume succeeds.

This series has great potential if the other volumes can hold this standard. Even here in Romans, we have to wait for a future volume to travel through the great battleground of Bible students in Romans 9-11. Still, I want to back up and get the two volumes already released in this series. I give this volume 5 stars plus!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Life In Christ by Jeremy Walker

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What is the most essential item in our Christian life? Surely our life in Christ, though neglected in many circles, is the right answer. Christianity, as it has been said, is Christ, and our relationship to Him is vital at every point. To help us think clearly here enter Life In Christ by Jeremy Walker to spur our thoughts in a proper direction. As the subtitle says, we get help on “becoming and being a disciple of The Lord Jesus Christ.”

I suspect this volume began as a series of sermons, but they flow wonderfully to give us more than a mere book of sermons. The first chapter begins with a frank discussion of looking to Jesus as the key to salvation. That is the right starting point. We have nothing to discuss until we are in Christ! I loved Mr. Walker’s description of the glory of the statement : “if anyone is in Christ” (pg. 22). There is no distinction in any of us who are in Christ! From here he goes on to proclaim “the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

There are other great chapters. “The Jewel of Assurance” is especially good. He tries to strike the right balance when he reminds us that we are a “work in progress.” Mr. Walker is a Calvinist, but there really are only a few places where you couldn’t agree as one who isn’t a Calvinist. You will be helped to get your thinking straight and focus on being Christ’s disciple.

Don’t think that this volume could only help a new Christian. The truths here are of the type that we can never be reminded of enough. In addition, this volume covers this key ground with verve. I recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Video Interviews on this volume:
Janet Mefford Show
Confessing Baptist Podcast

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