Great translation and a great essay afterwards analyzing the implications of Luther’s work for us today. So refreshing to hear a succinct and convicteGreat translation and a great essay afterwards analyzing the implications of Luther’s work for us today. So refreshing to hear a succinct and convicted explanation of the Gospel like this one! It is crazy to think how foundational his message is to so many today when it was so revolutionary to many of its first hearers. ...more
Timothy Gombis flexing on them by writing a whole book about the triumph of Christ being in weakness, humility, and love and warning against the dangeTimothy Gombis flexing on them by writing a whole book about the triumph of Christ being in weakness, humility, and love and warning against the dangers of Christian culture wars and Christian nationalism in 2010!
One of those “oh gosh he saw it coming and told us to embody Christ and we failed miserably” type of books…
Excellent writing and an uplifting call for the church to actually be the church! I’m a sucker for the “acting out a script but also learning to improvise” metaphor that he uses throughout. Trying to read it as a hopeful admonition for the future rather than a depressing relic of what could have been but I admit it’s hard…...more
This is another one of those “so glad this exists but this barely scratches the surface” types of books. I’m so grateful for Schaeffer’s advocacy of CThis is another one of those “so glad this exists but this barely scratches the surface” types of books. I’m so grateful for Schaeffer’s advocacy of Christians in the arts. I just wish the book itself came across with more wonder and mystery rather than serving as a rigid thumbs up to Christian art. ...more
It is quite eerie how this 2008 book about dispensational premillennialism could be tweaked slightly and actually be about evangelical embrace of consIt is quite eerie how this 2008 book about dispensational premillennialism could be tweaked slightly and actually be about evangelical embrace of conspiracy and Q anon... I’m kind of convinced now there is a direct line between “Left Behind” theology and the Jericho March. This book is pretty harsh towards an unbiblical, extremist doctrine and theological-political approach but honestly probably isn’t harsh enough given what has happened to church in the decade since it was written. ...more
An incredibly encouraging and instructive look at the gift of singleness. This answered some of the questions I’ve been having recently. Not with answAn incredibly encouraging and instructive look at the gift of singleness. This answered some of the questions I’ve been having recently. Not with answers I wanted to hear but with answers I needed to hear. The chapter on the myth of “singleness wastes your sexuality” was particularly meaningful, painful, and hopeful to read. ...more
The royal consciousness that thrives today needs disruption. Jesus was and is and will be the disrupter we need to bring newness from the nothingness.The royal consciousness that thrives today needs disruption. Jesus was and is and will be the disrupter we need to bring newness from the nothingness. Optimism and despair don’t work. The disruptive grief and hope of YHWH does!
This is a powerful read that challenges all the things that we just assume won’t end, but definitely will. ...more
John Mark Comer is a bold incisive communicator who speaks the truth about who our wonderful God is. The first parts of the book blew my mind and the John Mark Comer is a bold incisive communicator who speaks the truth about who our wonderful God is. The first parts of the book blew my mind and the second part challenged me to accept and live from God’s covenantal love. This book translates the thoughts of biblical scholars to a regular church audience very well. ...more
Reading this the same weekend Soul came out was a fascinating juxtaposition! Both are meditations on flourishing. This one’s better than the film becaReading this the same weekend Soul came out was a fascinating juxtaposition! Both are meditations on flourishing. This one’s better than the film because it acknowledges our Creator directly, but they’re both fantastic. Comer never disappoints and never fails to leave me convicted and deeply encouraged after I read his books. ...more
This book is so important. I have wrestled a lot with how to love my "enemy" whether that be the family member I'm angry at or the fellow citizen who This book is so important. I have wrestled a lot with how to love my "enemy" whether that be the family member I'm angry at or the fellow citizen who is my political opposite. This book provides a powerful challenge to those who so quickly write off "the other." Volf compellingly argues that justice goes hand in hand with a desire to embrace our enemy, no matter how despicable their actions. We must also truly strive to see the justice and truth in their positions, even if from our position it seems like they have absolutely none. This is not easy pie-in-the-sky empathy. It's brutally difficult empathy. But as Christians who look to take up their crosses and obey Jesus, there is no other way. Read this book! The text itself is pretty dense but its message is nothing short of radical. ...more
Incredible convicting insight into American church issues. It just didn’t provide enough hopeful practical steps towards change for me. It felt like aIncredible convicting insight into American church issues. It just didn’t provide enough hopeful practical steps towards change for me. It felt like a diagnosis without a clear prescription. But maybe that’s Chan’s point. God is the doctor not him, so return to Scripture and be nourished. ...more
This book is short and snappy, yet filled with a soul-nourishing truth. I love Tim Keller and this short book does not disappoint. I’d recommend it asThis book is short and snappy, yet filled with a soul-nourishing truth. I love Tim Keller and this short book does not disappoint. I’d recommend it as a good book to give to people who don’t get what Christianity is really about and wonder how in the world it can change people. I think this book describes the Gospel’s power to change our identities very well....more
Never before have I been so convicted and excited about the theology and practice of Sabbath. This book is wonderful! Sabbath is a gift from God that Never before have I been so convicted and excited about the theology and practice of Sabbath. This book is wonderful! Sabbath is a gift from God that I have neglected for far too long. I encourage any Christian who does not yet practice a weekly rest day with God to read this book. It will certainly challenge you, but it will leave you more aware of God's love for you and more excited to accept his good gifts. ...more
It was pretty naïve and arrogant of me to think I knew what this books was going to say before I read it but there ya go. I was dead wrong. I’m very gIt was pretty naïve and arrogant of me to think I knew what this books was going to say before I read it but there ya go. I was dead wrong. I’m very grateful for the way this book graciously and firmly strikes at cultural blinders. The writers do a great job of giving examples and stories that really illustrate their arguments. The last couple chapters courageously hit at the core of some fundamental assumptions of Western Christians and will certainly make an impact on how I preach and teach. ...more