Review: The Law of the Offering
The Law of the Offering by Andrew John Jukes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jukes goes through the Levitical offerings centering everything around Christ. Jukes can have a very vivid imagination in some of his other works dealing with types, but here he richly describes the offerings and explains their meanings. This was one of those books that I did not want to put down and was sad that it was over. I recommend it.
Review: Stop Stealing Dreams
Stop Stealing Dreams by Seth Godin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Seth Godin is a stimulating thinker and writer. He writes with the view that his book isn’t the end, rather it is the start of a conversation. He doesn’t write to give the “final answer,” but rather to make sure you don’t think you have asked the “final question” on the subject.
His latest manifesto centers around education. He raises necessary questions about the system of education while looking back to see how we got here. Godin doesn’t try to answer all the questions or solve all the problems. He recognizes that changing the system would take at least one generation. So, he pushes all of us to pick ourselves and change our education now.
I certainly don’t agree with all the solutions he points toward and some of the ideas are raw and need a lot of work. Godin doesn’t really address the spiritual and moral dynamics to the education question. His treatment of the history of schooling also neglects these aspects. As a Christian, I am concerned about faith in all aspects of life. Nevertheless, I am glad somebody is raising the questions in the public arena.
I highly recommend this ebook. It will provoke you to thought and hopefully even some action.
Review: The Jerusalem Sinner Saved
The Jerusalem Sinner Saved by John Bunyan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great work from Bunyan, the immortal dreamer. His argument here is from the greater to the lesser. He characterizes the Jerusalem sinner as the greatest sinner. He shews the mercy of God extended to him. Then he reasons that if God’s mercy is extended to the greatest sinner, it will surely reach the least sinner.
This is an encouraging book to read. Bunyan does a good job at the end in raising and answering objections. I highly recommend it.
Review: The Words and Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ
The Words and Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ by J. Dwight Pentecost
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is laid out as a harmony of the Gospels, but it is more than that. Pentecost adds commentary to the different sections plus quotes and footnotes from various scholars to the pertinent sections. He deals with harmonization difficulties by sometimes presenting different views and considering their merit. This is a valuable resource for studying the Gospels and the life of Jesus. I highly recommend it for your study library.
Review: Fifty Years in China; An Eventful Memoir of Tarleton Perry Crawford, D.D.
Fifty Years in China; An Eventful Memoir of Tarleton Perry Crawford, D.D. by Lovelace Savidge Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
T. P. Crawford was a baptist missionary in China from 1852 to 1902. He was committed to Scripture and following the simple biblical pattern, regardless of the cost. He was a passionate evangelist and seemingly tireless worker for the Gospel. He was selfless in his labors and sets a solid example with his life.
This book takes the good with the bad and it renewed my disgust with church politics. Missionaries face much pressure, friction, and even opposition on the field, but nearly all their stories reveal that they face the same from the churches back home. Men sit by warm fires in comfortable arm-chairs scrutinizing and second guessing the missionary’s every step, all while he has his life on the line everyday at the frontlines of the great commission.
I recommend this book. It ought to be required reading for every Baptist.
