31 December 2010

Book Notes-December 2010

1. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (Book 3 in the Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis (1952).  I suppose that the inevitable release of the third movie in the Narnia series led me to read this classic.  I have read most of the books in the series and I have enjoyed them.  This one is no different.  I particularly enjoyed the image of Aslan reclothing Eustance.  3 stars.

2. What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp (2010).  I picked up this book at a recent marriage counseling conference at the recommendation of one of the Crossway employees.  He described it as the "best book on marriage that he has ever read."  Tripp's book is indeed good.  It follows a recent trend of certain Christian living books that are grace saturated rather than filled with a list of rules.  In truth, he does provide numerous suggestions for marital enrichment and protection, but always in view of the cross of Christ.  This book would be a wonderful gift for newly married couples.  It would also be a wonderful gift for those married 30 years.  4 stars.

3. Comforts from the Cross: Celebrating the Gospel One Day at a Time by Elyse Fitzpatrick (2009).  I picked up this 31 day devotional because I was quite impressed with her book Counsel from the Cross.  I liked this one less, though the themes were still deeply grace saturated.  The author's purpose seemed to be to help her readers get outside of themselves, realize their brokenness and find their hope in the cross of Christ.  3.5 stars.

4. The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World by Michael Horton (2010). This book is Horton's Follow up to Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, which I think was the stronger book.  In this book, he employs the concept of a newspaper in describing how we Christians are called to share the Good News.  Although this was a good book, it wasn't his strongest.  I look forward to the expected third in the series focusing on the Great Commission.  4 stars.

5. Romans (St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary) by RC Sproul (2009).  I looked forward to reading this book for a long time.  This is an "expositional" commentary where the author works his way through the book of Romans interpreting, or expositing, the Word.  I was not disappointed and this book helped me in my understanding of Romans.  I look forward to working my way through other commentaries in this series as well as commentaries by different authors.  4 stars.

6. Hello, I Love You: Adventures in Adoptive Fatherhood by Ted Kluck (2010). I received this book for Christmas.  I had seen the title around the Christian adoption world as particularly appropriate for adoptive fathers.  Kluck presents his observations and experiences as an adoptive father of two young boys from the Ukraine.  He chronicles their journey, the good and the bad.  It is laugh out loud funny in many places.  Somewhat uniquely, we read this book aloud as a family, a tradition I hope to continue.   4.5 stars.

7.  What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham Jr (2009).  After reading Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God, an earlier book by Baucham, I was quite intrigued by this title.  If that book was hard-hitting, this one was more so.  Baucham has a high calling for fathers in their daughters courtships, marriages, and lives.  He has very high expectations for the men who may eventually marry his daughters.  As I look around the church, I see very few men who would meet this standard (including some of those who are married), which made me wonder if it is realistic.  With that said, simply because there are few worthwhile candidates, it does not mean compromise is acceptable.  The only reason for the 4 rating here was the somewhat out of place conclusion that did not seem to fit the rest of the book.  4 stars.

2010 Book List

In 2010, I had the goal of reading 50 books. Although there was some variety, most of the books were non-fiction, Christian books.  I have highlighted my top 10:

Here is the complete list:

1. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney
2. The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World by Richard Stearns
3. Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions (Relit Theology) by Mark Driscoll
4. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan
5. Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way by Bruce Bugbee
6. The No S Diet: The Strikingly Simple Weight-Loss Strategy That Has Dieters Raving--and Dropping Pounds by Reinhold Engels
7. An Uninvited Guest by Jeana Floyd
8. Chosen by God by RC Sproul
9. The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
10. The Great Divorce by CS Lewis
11. Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal by Eric Johnson
12. Word From the Fire by Albert Mohler
13. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
14. The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
15. Who is Jesus? by RC Sproul
16. Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People with the Love of Christ by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson
17. Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
18. Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
19. CrossTalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet by Michael Emlet
20. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
21. What's so Great About the Doctrines of Grace by Richard Phillips
22. Seeing with New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition through the Lens of Scripture by David Powlison
23. Ashamed of the Gospel by John MacArthur
24. Polishing God's Monuments by Jim Andrews
25. Can I Trust the Bible? by RC Sproul
26. The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven Scott
27. Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain by William Struthers
28. Be Still My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering by Nancy Guthrie
29. 100 Cupboards by ND Wilson
30. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever
31. Tactics: A Gameplan for Discussing your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
32. Does Prayer Change Things? by RC Sproul
33. Jonathan Edwards: Lover of God by Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney
34. Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns
35. Blame it on the Brain by Ed Welch
36. Jesus the Evangelist: Learning to Share the Gospel from the Book of John by Richard Phillips
37. The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism by Craig Brown
38. Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
39. Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity by Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney
40. Can I know God's Will by RC Sproul
41. The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
42. Parenting is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths by Leslie Leyland Fields
43. Love Not the World: A Prophetic Call to Holy Living by Watchman Nee
44. Dig Deeper: Tools for Understanding God's Word by Nigel Benyon & Andrew Sach
45. Healing Life's Deepest Hurts by Ed Smith
46. God Under Fire by Douglas Huffman and Eric Johnson
47. The Best of E.M. Bounds on Prayer by E.M. Bounds
48. Speaking Truth in Love by David Powlison
49. Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchividjian
50. Refuting Compromise by Johnathan Sarfati
51. Ambassador Basic Curriculum by Greg Koukl
52. Bariatric Surgery: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals by James Mitchell and Martina de Zwaan
53. Confessions of St. Augustine, The: Modern English Version by Augustine of Hippo
54. Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion: Illusions, Delusions, and Realities about Human Nature by Malcom Jeeves and Warren S Brown
55. A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life by JI Packer
56. Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self (The Terry Lectures Series) by Marilynne Robinson
57. God Who Is There, The: Finding Your Place in God's Story by DA Carson
58. On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig
59. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt

60. The Gospel According to Jesus: What Is Authentic Faith? by John MacArthur
61. The Pursuit of Holiness [PURSUIT OF HOLINESS] by Jerry Bridges 
62. Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe (RE: Lit) by Mark Driscoll
63. Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ by John Piper
64. Job by John Piper
65. Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? by Ligon Duncan and J. Nicholas Reid
66. If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn 
67. Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church by Michael Horton 
68. What Is the Gospel? (9Marks) by Greg Gilbert
69. The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer
70. Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper
71. Helping Children Understand the Gospel by Sally Michael, Jill Nelson, and Bud Burk
72. Why Johnny Can't Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers by T David Gordon
73. Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World by ND Wilson
74. Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with Godby Voddie Baucham Jr.  
75. Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus (Re:Lit) by DA Carson
76. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (Book 3 in the Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis
77. What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp
78. Comforts from the Cross: Celebrating the Gospel One Day at a Time by Elyse Fitzpatrick
79. The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World by Michael Horton
80. Romans (St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary) by RC Sproul
81. Hello, I Love You: Adventures in Adoptive Fatherhood by Ted Kluck
82.  What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham Jr.
83. (last but not least) ESV Study Bible