Julia L. Roller (editor), “25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics”

This is a very interesting selection (made by “Renovare,” by the way).  First there is commentary and then there are excerpts from each.   Some notes: Calvin is much more accessible than I would have thought.  He also interprets Scripture with an eye on what is implicit as well as explicit in it; it’s very … [Read more…]

Roberta L. Harris, “The World of the Bible”

It’s reassuring how much archaeological evidence there is supporting the Bible’s history. Fun fact to know and tell:  There were seven key crops in Bible times, namely wheat and barley; grapes and figs; and olives, pomegranates, and dates.

Dwight Longenecker & David Gustafson (with forewords by Richard John Neuhaus & J.I. Packer), “Mary: A Catholic-Evangelical Debate”

This book illuminates very well the Catholic-versus-Protestant approach to Biblical interpretation — and my proclivities are indeed Protestant (my notes say there’s a good example on page 81).  I found the book very engaging — both the specific subject matter (do Catholics focus too much on Mary?) and the window it provides on the theological … [Read more…]

D. James Kennedy, “Skeptics Answered”

Some good nuggets:  The ancient critics of Christianity did not deny that Jesus existed; only recent critics have done that (75-78).  John Stuart Mill argued that that a bunch of fishermen could not have made up Jesus’ wisdom (92); but that at least confirms Christianity’s wisdom, does it not?  And Herbert Hoover said man needs more … [Read more…]

Douglas Gresham, “Jack’s Life”

This biography of C.S. Lewis by one of his stepsons is a short and enjoyable read.  It doesn’t really offer any insight into his work, but it does make clear what a selfless man he was (and not just with Joy, but also with Janie More, Warnie, and others).  Not very well edited; sometimes it … [Read more…]

Frank Morrison, “Who Moved the Stone?”

A really good book, an intelligent and close reading of the texts surrounding the Resurrection.  I wonder if C.S. Lewis ever said anything about it; he and the author were both Brits writing about the same time and on similar journeys. How could the motley crew of disciples — poor, persecuted, not well-connected, in leaderless … [Read more…]