best reading -- part 3

Since the snow is still coming down outside, I'll continue the reviews of the 12 best books I read (or am still reading) in 2018.

Not a Chance: God, Science, and the Revolt against Reason, by R. C. Sproul and Keith Matheson (Baker Books, 2014). Excellent interaction with
issues related to chance, design, and causality, especially as put forward by proponents of the new physics. Many years ago in seminary I had an
interest in this field and so did graduate research under Norman Geisler on "Reason, Rationality, and the New Physics." I muddled through that
research and so, it's a great joy to find R. C.'s acumen put to this topic. His classical training (and influence from John Gerstner, I would suppose) is so helpful in making sense of the quantum world. Or rather, making sense of those who are making nonsense of the quantum world. Excellent apologetic work on the value of logic, causality, and the scientific method.

Solar Queen (1956) and Time Traders (1958) series, by Andre (Alice) Norton. When I get tired of reading, I don't stop reading, I just read another genre. This year I read some of the early science-fiction writings of Alice Norton (pen name: Andre). Wonderful escapist reading. She wrote gripping stories of imaginative worlds and real human nature.

The Greatest Fight in the World: Spurgeon's Final Manifesto, Charles H. Spurgeon (1891; republished by Banner of Truth Trust, 2018). Charles Haddon (C. H.) Spurgeon (1834-1892) was an influential Baptist preacher in England. He's been called "the Prince of Preachers." In 1891, shortly before his death, he gave the annual address to the students at the Pastor's College. He calls for commitment to the Word of God, the local church, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit in the advance of the gospel. Jonathan Stephen of Wales Evangelical School of theology says this is "...perhaps the most rousing call to gospel arms you will ever encounter." I would agree. This book is very timely.

The Wages of Spin: Critical Writings on Historical and Contemporary Evangelicalism, Carl R. Trueman (Christian Focus, 2004). Carl Trueman is a church historian with a discerning eye for evaluating present-day evangelicalism. His topics are wide-ranging in this book, from the role of experience and testimonies ("the gospel is a message with content and not simply a case of one person communicating an experience to a group of others") to Warfield's view of Scripture, to the place of creeds, and the proper use of biblical theology in preaching. A snippet: "Has the gospel of our own personal ambition not upstaged the gospel of sacrificial service? It is faithfulness, not happiness or worldly reputation, which is the criterion of Christian success." He can be a bit acerbic, but I like his books and read as many as I can.

There you go. Twelve (or so) good books in my opinion. Happy reading in 2019!

Here's Part 1

Here's Part 2

clement quotes hebrews

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