Review: Back on Murder
Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m not a big fan of crime fiction and reading this book reminded me of why. I’m not saying it’s a bad book at all. It’s a good book. Bertrand is a good writer and the story was suspenseful and rewarding, just as a mystery book should be. It’s just not my shelf. I know, why read it? I have my reasons.
I first encountered J. Mark Bertrand on his Bible Design Blog. I also recently discovered I had his 2007, Crossway-published “Rethinking Worldview” on my shelf. I have also read a couple of his essays on Christians and art. In one particular essay, Bertrand applied theological thinking to the noir genre and put up some defense. That essay is what brought me to this book. I wanted to see how he practiced what he preached. I think he did it well.
If you like murder mysteries, then I would recommend this book to you. If you like mysteries but want some a little less grim, then read Sherlock Holmes.
Review: Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today
Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today by David R. Helm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Very good book. One of the best books on expository preaching written in recent times. Helm is concise, to the point, and understandable. His section on impressionistic preaching is the most adept assessment of modern preaching I have ever heard.
He doesn’t just exhort and encourage preachers to do exposition, he also instructs how to do it. It’s a lot easier, and more popular, to be immediately practical. So we go to 1 Samuel 17 and alliterate three points to tell people how to face their giants. Their giants might be an overbearing boss at work, an unfriendly neighbor, a sickness, grief, or a myriad other personal problems and difficulties. Almost as an afterthought, we tack the Gospel on at the end, because, after all, it has to go somewhere. We do so with all the skill and agility of an eight-year-old overdosed on cake and ice cream, blindfolded, spun around in a circle, and groping for the south end of the donkey on which to affix the tail.
Do we really think God orchestrated David’s victory over Goliath so we can out of our comfort zones and ask our boss for that raise? Do we really think that? In our modern pursuit for relevance, we seem to never stop and ask some of the most fundamental questions. What is this passage of Scripture actually about? What does it mean historically? How does it fit within the meta-narrative of redemption? How does it fit within the theological constraints of the faith? How is it connected to Christ? How does the cross affect our understanding of it? Why is this in the Bible? What does the Spirit mean by it?
Preachers are men God calls, equips, and charges to preach His word. God’s word is powerful and effective. God’s word never returns void but accomplishes what He sent it to do. Expository preaching is the best way to ensure you are preaching God’s word and not your own ideas loosely based on God’s word. I highly recommend this book. It’s certainly not all we need, but it will go a long way to set on the right path in this important duty.
Review: What Do You think of Me? Why Do I Care? Answers to the Big Questions of Life
What Do You think of Me? Why Do I Care? Answers to the Big Questions of Life by Edward T. Welch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Decent book, though brief. It is written to the high school/college demographic, so adult readers may find it light in spots. Everyone has some measure of care for what others think about them, even the pretenders. Welch puts his finger on the heart of the problem and identifies it well in its different manifestations.
The problem is within and the solution is without. The solution side is what left me really wanting more, more development of thought. I appreciated his treatment of the fear of God, what it is and how it is misplaced. I just wanted a lot more of it.
With all that, it’s a good book and it could help to gain some perspective.
Review: The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is s sermon by Thomas Chalmers and a little wordy for modern readers. The main premise is how to fulfill the command to love not the world. Chalmers rightly asserts that we cannot simply expel love for the world but rather it must be replaced by a new and greater love.
The point is sound and one every Christian should consider.
Review: Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow
Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow by R.C. Sproul
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Overall good treatment of the basic disciplines of the Christian life. The chapter on prayer was the strongest and the question-and-answer chapter was the weakest.
