best reading -- part 2

Continuing with the list of twelve best books I read this past year...

The Everlasting Man, G. K. Chesterton (1925). I studied this work with a reading group I attend. In his unique way of thinking and writing, Chesterton deals with how Christianity, and Jesus in particular, is the fulfillment of the religious hopes of philosophers and pagans down through history. It's a very winsome presentation of historic Christianity. This book was instrumental in moving C. S. Lewis from atheism to faith. Lewis wrote, "I read Chesterton's Everlasting Man and for the first time saw the whole Christian outline of history set out in a form that seemed to me to make sense..." Enough said.

The Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-42, by Ian Toll (W. W. Norton & Co., 2012). And I'll add to this the second of his trilogy,
The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-44 (Norton, 2016). These are riveting narratives of the war against Japan in the Pacific from 1941 to 1944. Toll does not get lost in the details, though there are plenty of footnotes for those who want more. He gives excellent background and color to the characters and cultural currents of this period. Excellent, I could not put them down.

A Good Old Age, by Derek Prime (10Publishing, 2017). Getting older is not for the faint of heart! Alistair Begg recommended this book by his mentor at Charlotte Chapel (Edinburgh). Prime, now in his 80s, takes an A-B-C topical approach to issues faced in aging. My wife and I are reading this together when we are able to have morning coffee together. [Note: she is not aging, not at all, that would be me.] This might be considered light reading, but it's biblical, pastoral, and very practical.

Rediscovering Humility: Why the Way Up is Down, by Christopher Hutchinson (New Growth Press, 2018). Disclaimer: I have not finished reading this book, but it is excellent and I am including it in my 2018 reading. I have consistently avoided books on humility for one of two reasons: a) I don't think I need any more humility (as if), or b) I didn't think the person writing the book (often a celebrity pastor) really knows anything about being humble. Well, in fact, I think I do need to know more about humility, and Chris (whom I know) is a qualified person to write on this. (Maybe not, after he reads this.) This is a book of real substance and thought, not to be read quickly. Very helpful: he deals with corporate humility, that is, how we as churches and communities need to live and relate to one another in humility.

Four more to go, stay tuned.

Here's Part 1

Here's Part 3

Howard Hendricks on OT books chronology

When I was in seminary, Howard Hendricks (aka "Prof") gave us a little card with the books of the OT chronologically arranged. The scanned copy I have was a bit blurry and I wanted to make something like this available for our church class in OT theology ("Story of Redemption"). A few minor edits and here it is...

bible reading nov 1-2

Bible reading for weekend Nov 1 -- 2 Nov 1 -- Hosea 7 and Psalms 120-122 Nov 2 -- Hosea 8 and Psalms 123-125 ================ "Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing." (Hosea 8:12) THE RESULTS OF SIN (ch 7-8). Notice the words and metaphors to describe Israel's sinful condition: they are surrounded with, and proud of, their evil (7:1-3); like adulterers in the heat of passion (7:4-5); their anger is like a hot oven (7:6-7); they are like a half-cooked (one side only) cake (7:8); their strength is gone (7:9); they are like silly doves easily trapped (7:11-12); they are undependable like a warped bow (7:16). In spite of all of this they are so proud of themselves! (We might say they have a strong self-esteem.) They have spurned what is good (8:3); they sow to the wind and have no real fruit (8:7); they are a useless vessel (8:8) and a wild donkey wandering alone (8:9); they regard God's law as a strange thing

clement quotes hebrews

Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth around AD 90. This is perhaps the same Clement, companion of Paul, mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Many hold him to be the first bishop / pope in Rome, aka St. Clement I. Clement quotes from the letter to the Hebrews. Origin suggested that Clement was in fact the writer (as transcriber or amanuensis) of Hebrews. Perhaps this letter began as a "word of exhortation" given by Paul at the synagogue (Heb 13:22; cf Acts 13:15) which then became a circular letter for the churches. Other possible authors of Hebrews include Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. The theology is Pauline, but the transcriber is obviously second-generation (Heb. 2:3-4). At any rate, this early church leader in Rome, is already quoting Hebrews in his letter in AD 90: CHAPTER 36 ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and he

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