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

bible reading dec 3-5

Bible reading for weekend December 3 -- 5 Dec 3 -- Nahum 1 and Luke 17 Dec 4 -- Nahum 2 and Luke 18 Dec 5 -- Nahum 3 and Luke 19 ================ "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness." (Nahum 1:7-8) TIME'S UP FOR NINEVEH (Nah 1-3). The prophecy of Nahum is God's word to the people of Nineveh, part two. Jonah was part one, chronicling a city-wide repentance of Assyrians in the capital about a hundred years earlier. The closing bookend is Nahum, and the Assyrian empire is big, powerful, and aggressive. Notice the references to chariots (2:3-4, 13; 3:2). The Assyrians were a militarily advanced culture, and cruel in their warfare. Whatever spiritual receptivity they had at the time of Jonah was gone by the time of Nahum. Nahum may not have actually visited Nineveh, for it seems the book was w

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

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...

my burg

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