What I'm Reading -- How About You?

[student ad x]

As of today, I am taking a break from the "heavy reading". After an excellent and edifying afternoon of getting to know my new Senior Pastor (a great discussion of the things of God!), brother Matt hands me Christless Christianity by Michael Horton. So......... since I've been wanting to read this for quite a while, I'll be buried in it for a bit


Soli Deo gloria,
Jireh

 

[JM]

Harmonica tabs! I'm doing some harp playing along with banjo.

 

[kenrapoza]

Hey brother, it took a bit to get to the point where I could type up some kind of a "review", although it will become painfully obvious I'm not the best reviewer...... maybe in time with some more growth.

That said, I really like the way the material is worked. Each contributor is slightly different in style, as anyone can imagine..... Blomberg, Silva, Guthrie, Carson, Beale, Kostenberger et all but the scholarship is written in a clear and understandable way that really brings out some things to think about. The references have been very enlightening for me (including the reference material from the apocrypha).

Ultimately, I decided the best thing is to give you a taste of the thing by quoting a section from D.A. Carson on 2 Peter 3. My interest in this section vs 12-13 is "hastening the coming of the day of God" vs 12 ESV in relation to "I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it." Isa 60:22 ESV.

My apologies ahead of time for any typo's.
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament - D.A. Carson: 2 Peter pg.1059-1061

Thank you for this quote! Have you finished the book yet? This one is definitely on my list.

 

[student ad x]

Thank you for this quote! Have you finished the book yet? This one is definitely on my list.

Your most welcome brother No, I'm not finished..... I skipped around quite a bit then settled in at the beginning w/ Matthew. I'm reading through chapters along with my scriptural reading. There's so much food for thought that I'm taking my time and thinking. The pace I'm at right now, I'm pretty sure that it may take me to the end of the year, at least, to finish up.


BTW, on my Pastors shelf in his office....... this very Commentary

 

[cygnusx1]

two books ;

English Hypothetical Universalism: John Preston and the Softening of Reformed Theology Jonathan D. Moore

absolutely fascinating , and right at the heart of some intense doctrinal debates amongst Calvinists , it fits right in between N . Tyacke , P.White , R.T Kendal v P.Helm , Rainbow and A Clifford etc ....


also ,

Predestination: The American Career of a Contentious Doctrine Peter J. Thuesen

 

[Phileoeklogos]

Hey brother, it took a bit to get to the point where I could type up some kind of a "review", although it will become painfully obvious I'm not the best reviewer...... maybe in time with some more growth.

That said, I really like the way the material is worked. Each contributor is slightly different in style, as anyone can imagine..... Blomberg, Silva, Guthrie, Carson, Beale, Kostenberger et all but the scholarship is written in a clear and understandable way that really brings out some things to think about. The references have been very enlightening for me (including the reference material from the apocrypha).

Ultimately, I decided the best thing is to give you a taste of the thing by quoting a section from D.A. Carson on 2 Peter 3. My interest in this section vs 12-13 is "hastening the coming of the day of God" vs 12 ESV in relation to "I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it." Isa 60:22 ESV.

My apologies ahead of time for any typo's.
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament - D.A. Carson: 2 Peter pg.1059-1061

I've had my copy for about 2 months, have read Acts, Galatians, 1Peter, I'm midway or so into 2Peter, saving the beefier stuff for after the snow flies.

For those not aware, there has been a price drop on this commentary,


I'm giving it

 

[HereIStand]

two books ;

...

Predestination: The American Career of a Contentious Doctrine Peter J. Thuesen

I read Thuesen's book and thought it covered predestination well, both from an historical and current perspective. Particularly helpful was his broad coverage of Baptist, Lutheran, and Reformed views.

I recently finished the sci-fi novel Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke, and I posted this review on Amazon:


There are similarities between "Childhood's End" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." Both books advance Clarke's view of a human evolution ending in humanity evolving into a completely non-physical, mental existence. Although this end of humanity according to Clarke is probably more transparent in "Childhood's End" and easier to grasp than how it's presented in "2001: A Space Odyssey." Also, as Clarke notes in the prologue, there are similarities to (and perhaps borrowings from) "Childhood's End" and the T.V. series "V."

"Childhood's End" affirms the validity of the idea that much of human artistic creativity is grounded in the pain of a world filled with suffering, disease, war, and poverty. And in a utopian world largely free of suffering, human artistic creativity would be stifled.

Ultimately though, the novel does reveal Clarke's rather limited view of religion. If "what the old religions were trying to say" is represented by humanity one day evolving into the star-like beauty of the universal "Overmind" than it seems fair to wonder if we shouldn't all feel a little cheated.

Further, it's valid that not all the world's religions can be true. However, in suggesting that "science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets," Clarke reveals once more the limitations of his religious view -- tenets of faith can be disbelieved, not because they have been examined and found wanting, but because they can be ignored. A counter-argument to this is presented by N.T. Wright in examining the chief tenet of Christianity in his book "The Resurrection of the Son of God."

 

[JM]

two books ;

English Hypothetical Universalism: John Preston and the Softening of Reformed Theology Jonathan D. Moore

absolutely fascinating , and right at the heart of some intense doctrinal debates amongst Calvinists , it fits right in between N . Tyacke , P.White , R.T Kendal v P.Helm , Rainbow and A Clifford etc ....

What are your thoughts so far? From Amazon:

Preston's English Hypothetical Universalism is distinct from other non-particular stances ala Cameron, Amyraut. The origin of Preston's Universalism is in fact Irish via Preston's mentor Bishop James Ussher (pp. 173-186). Moore argues that Amyraldianism is a far more radical and speculative revision of particularism; where hypothetical universalism is in line with the Reformed ordo decretorum (both in either a supralapsarian or infralapsarian form), Amyraldianism breaks with that order and favors placing the "decree to give Christ before the decree of election" (p. 218). This is an order that Preston qua a hypothetical universalist will not countenance (p.158).

 

[JM]

The Great Theologians by McDermott. This is a good intro to the theological thought of a bunch of fellas.

 

[HereIStand]

The Great Theologians by McDermott. This is a good intro to the theological thought of a bunch of fellas.

I have the McDermott book but haven't gotten to it. Maybe over Christmas time off...but I seemed to be saying that about a lot of things.

On an unrelated note...is that Howlin' Wolf in your avatar? I'm a blues fan too.

 

[JM]

Yup, that was Howlin' Wolf, now it's Gus Cannon.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

The Next Front: Southeast Asia and the Road to Global Peace with Islam by Senator Christopher Bond and Lewis M. Simons[/URL]

 

[student ad x]

I've read a couple short ones over the last week that were a bit different: Francis Chan's Crazy Love and Phillip Yancey's Church: Why Bother?

 

[JM]

This morning I got up at 4am to pray, study and read. I finally pulled The Christian in Complete Armour off the shelf and read it for an hour and half. Wonderful read! It's a massive work on spiritual warfare/living a Christian life, somewhere around 1300 pages, packed with of biblical wisdom.

 

[DD2008]

I'm reading the Orc King by RA Salvatore. It's the first book in the transitions series.

I've really been slacking on my bible study and such.

 

[JM]

I'm reading the Orc King by RA Salvatore. It's the first book in the transitions series.

I've really been slacking on my bible study and such.

I had been as well but we've decided as a family to read the Gospels before Dec. 25th....God willing.

j

 

[JSGuitarist]

Finishing off "Thoughts on Religious Experience" by Archibald Alexander. Good read. Making a decision on what to read next.

 

[edie19]

I've read a couple short ones over the last week that were a bit different: Francis Chan's Crazy Love . . . . .

did you like it?

 

[student ad x]

did you like it?

Hey sis

I'm kinda so-so on it. A Christian is defined by love, so I would recommend those who pick it up, know the biblical definition of love beforehand.

 

[theFijian]

This morning I got up at 4am to pray, study and read. I finally pulled The Christian in Complete Armour off the shelf and read it for an hour and half. Wonderful read! It's a massive work on spiritual warfare/living a Christian life, somewhere around 1300 pages, packed with of biblical wisdom.

Have any of you guys got a Kindle or other e-book reader? The only reason I would get one would be so I could get books like this for free and could take a whole bundle of them away wherever I may be going. Does anyone have any recommendations for model of device (maybe even an iPad!) or where's the best place to get e-books from? cheers!