CC: Center Church by Timothy Keller -tweet review
CC: 5/5 MOAB on ministry philosophy; excellent, helpful, comprehensive; a theological vision for our churches; a serious read (in several ways) #TR
1/13/2013
CC: Center Church by Timothy Keller - tweet review
CC: Center Church by Timothy Keller -tweet review
CC: 5/5 MOAB on ministry philosophy; excellent, helpful, comprehensive; a theological vision for our churches; a serious read (in several ways) #TR
1/12/2013
GCD: Gospel-centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson – tweet review
GCD: Gospel-centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson – tweet review
GCD: 5/5 Ironically (and unfortunately), this is a needed book and Dodson delivers. You should be a disciple and the Gospel must be center. #TR
1/11/2013
GN: Good News for Those Trying Harder by Alan Kraft – tweet review
GN: Good News for Those Trying Harder by Alan Kraft – tweet review
GN: 5/5 Great; Gospel as center for the believer too; not wearing masks and enjoying genuine community with other believers #TR
1/10/2013
Dep: Depression, a Stubborn Darkness by Ed Welch – tweet review
Dep: Depression, a Stubborn Darkness by Ed Welch – tweet review
Dep: 5/5 Awesome, even if you're not dealing with depression; amazing analysis of the soul #TR
People, prayer, and me
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
(Matthew 9:35-38 ESV)
Two big questions that came to mind:
*How do I see people and do I have compassion?
*What do I ask God for?
Yet another passage that isn't centered around my selfish desires...
Dumb things senior leaders do - #LT
Dumb things senior leaders do: TJ Addington - being defensive, complaining, creating us vs them mentality http://bit.ly/SimTOp #LT
1/09/2013
CMC: Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas – tweet review
CMC: Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas – tweet review
CMC: 5/5 Novel; every chapter (all 117) is riveting; forces the question: how do we deal with our enemies? #TR
1/08/2013
Rad: Radical by David Platt – tweet review
Rad: Radical by David Platt – tweet review
Rad: 5/5 Simple but clear indictment on the way many Christians in the US are neglecting our Lord's call to follow in order to pursue lesser dreams. #TR
1/07/2013
Wars: The Wars of the Jews by Flavius Josepheus (William Whitson, translator) – tweet review
Wars: The Wars of the Jews by Flavius Josepheus (William Whitson, translator) – tweet review
Wars: 5/5 A great ancient writer; horrific account, people are awful. Vivid setting to see the Jewish plight under Roman rule. #TR
1/06/2013
CT: Concise Theology by J I Packer – tweet review
CT: Concise Theology by J I Packer – tweet review
CT: 5/5 An excellent, excellent resource. My go to, must read for systematic theology. Short chapters, but thorough. Kindle format was great. #TR
1/05/2013
MM: The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller – tweet review
MM: The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller – tweet review
MM: 5/5 It's not a how-to for those starting out, not purely a theology of marriage; but probably one of the best books on the subject #TR
Reviews, leadership links, and other gems
For those that are interested...
This will be a place to find short reviews of books and articles, some leadership and church culture links, and other gems.
You can also follow me on twitter.
Soli Deo gloria - Todd
1/04/2013
RS: Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges – tweet review
RS: Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges – tweet review
RS: 5/5 Anxiety, discontentment, selfishness, pride, impatience, anger, judgmentalism, envy, worldliness. Great Gospel appl to each #TR
1/03/2013
Times of refreshing
http://bible.us/Acts3.19.ESV Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
1/01/2013
So it begins
http://bible.us/Acts1.8.ESV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
2/04/2010
12/31/2009
The Life of God in the Soul of Man - Review
The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal (1650-1678, bio)
What can someone who barely lived to see his 28th birthday in 1678 have to say? Enough that George Whitefield said he never really understood what true religion was till he had digested Scougal's treatise (from ccef.org).
Found off of a friend's recommended book list, I loved this book. Loved it. I was reading it with other people, and while they didn't like it, I kept enjoying it more and more.
The language is old and the sentences are long, but there is great reward in sorting through this treasure.
In describing the divine life:
What can someone who barely lived to see his 28th birthday in 1678 have to say? Enough that George Whitefield said he never really understood what true religion was till he had digested Scougal's treatise (from ccef.org).
Found off of a friend's recommended book list, I loved this book. Loved it. I was reading it with other people, and while they didn't like it, I kept enjoying it more and more.
The language is old and the sentences are long, but there is great reward in sorting through this treasure.
In describing the divine life:
It is a real participation of his nature, it is a beam of the eternal light, a drop of that infinite ocean of goodness; and they who are endowed with it may be said to have “God dwelling in their souls, and Christ formed within them.”
The Rise of Christianity - review
The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark is a sociologist's look at why Christianity grew in the few centuries following the death and resurrection of Christ.
Stark addresses how Christianity advanced by looking at several factors: class distinction, the mission to the Jews, epidemics, social networks, elevation of the status of women, urban outreach, ancient urban structure and culture, martyrs, and virtues held by the believers.
On the one hand, this is an aggravating book for me. Stark is not looking at the growth of the church as a work of the Sovereign Lord. He sees the growth of the church in purely horizontal (read: human relationships) terms.
On the other hand, this is a profound book. The contrast in the lives, actions, and community of the believers to the pagan culture they lived in was incredible. The Christians stayed during the plagues, they valued women, they had tight community that was deep and thick. Believers gladly went to their deaths in the face of persecution.
Stark's bibliography is long and he frequently references primary sources. His presentation is rather powerful even if there are portions that I disagree with. Given some caveats, this was a great and encouraging read.
12/25/2009
The Jesus Storybook Bible - review
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a children's Bible. But it is more than that. Not only retells certain portions, but it points us to where these portions are heading. It is great book for anyone (any age!) who wants to understand the Bible and how it points to Christ. I can't read certain parts without getting choked up. I thought it was amazing.
For example, take the ending of the story of Abraham after he was about to sacrifice Isaac (p 69):
"One day Someone will be born into your family," God promised them. "And he will bring happiness to the world."
God was getting ready to give the whole world a wonderful present. It would be God's way to tell his people, "I love you."
Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked. He wouldn't struggle or run away.
Who was he? God's Son, his only Son - the Son he loved.
The Lamb of God.
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