The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley My rating: 4 of 5 stars Very 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 …
Psalm 88/The Black Psalm
Introduction: In a certain sense, all the psalms are Messianic, all of them point to Jesus. But because this psalm is particularly dark, some might want to argue that perhaps it is less the case here. But I think we should actually go the other way. This psalm is in fact dark, but consider the …
Review: The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship
The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship by A.W. Tozer My rating: 4 of 5 stars Quite good. Tozer is solid over all, and writes with passion and intelligence. Some great word pictures as well. View all my reviews
How Flocks Are Protected
Introduction: Scripture teaches that the flocks of God are precious, and they are precious because of what it took to purchase them. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own …
Book of the Month/March 2017
Our annual Grace Agenda conference is coming up later this month, and our outside guest is Mike Reeves. You can check out more details on the conference here. The fact that we were having him speak for us motivated me to read a couple of his books, Delighting in the Trinity and Rejoicing in Christ, …
Psalm 86/A Token for Good
Introduction: In this world, it is not possible to be a friend of God and not be in trouble with the world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God, James tells us (Jas. 4:4). It goes the other way also. Friendship with God means that you will be constantly and regularly at odds with …
Review: Rejoicing in Christ
Rejoicing in Christ by Michael Reeves My rating: 5 of 5 stars 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 top of that, he has the classic Puritan writers at his fingertips and brings them in frequently …
Review: Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark My rating: 5 of 5 stars 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 but the average reader understands. Rarely used words are not …
Review: The Portable Dante
The Portable Dante by Dante Alighieri My rating: 4 of 5 stars Of course, glorious and wise. Well worth it. But I was struck — and perhaps unfairly — with the Christlessness of his Heaven. View all my reviews
Review: Homiletics and Pastoral Theology
Homiletics and Pastoral Theology by William Greenough Thaye Shedd My rating: 4 of 5 stars The content was really good, but the 19th century stiffness could afford to unbend a little. But still, I read it all the way through. View all my reviews