Month: June 2014

Book Reviews1 Comment

Review of ‘Christ in Conflict’ by John Stott

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 John Stott, Christ in Conflict: Lessons from Jesus and His Controversies, rev. ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2013). Paperback / Kindle  What is evangelical Christianity? Ask the average American, and they will probably answer with some variation on politicized religion of the right-wing variety. There is an element of truth to this. White evangelical Christians in America tend to be politically conservative, after all, voting for Republicans in large majorities. Then again, African American and Hispanic evangelicals, by contrast, tend to be economically liberal but socially conservative, voting for Democrats to a similar or greater extent. Worldwide, the politics … Continue reading Review of ‘Christ in Conflict’ by John Stott

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Review of ‘The Good News about Marriage’ by Shaunti Feldhahn with Tally Whitehead

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 Shaunti Feldhahn with Tally Whitehead, The Good News about Marriage: Debunking Discouraging Myths about Marriage and Divorce (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2014). Hardcover / Kindle Marriage survives by hope. If a husband and wife believe that their relationship can get better, chances are that it will. They may have to tread a difficult path for a time, but eventually, the road becomes smoother and they arrive at their destination: a fulfilling life together. Unfortunately, many of the statistics about marriage and divorce that are prevalent in our culture destroy hope. Fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, we’re … Continue reading Review of ‘The Good News about Marriage’ by Shaunti Feldhahn with Tally Whitehead

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Review of ‘Socrates Meets Marx’ by Peter Kreeft

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 Peter Kreeft, Socrates Meets Marx: The Father of Philosophy Cross-examines the Founder of Communism (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2003). Paperback / Kindle The setting for all the books in Peter Kreeft’s Socrates Meets _____ series is Purgatory, where Socrates engages a famous philosopher in dialogue about one of the latter’s best-known books. Inspired by both Plato’s dialogues and Dante’s Divine Comedy, this setting gives Kreeft the opportunity to unpack—and even unwind—a philosopher’s arguments by use of close, but often humorous reasoning. Philosophers examined in this series include Descartes, Hume, Kant, Machiavelli, and Sartre. This volume examines Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. … Continue reading Review of ‘Socrates Meets Marx’ by Peter Kreeft

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Review of ‘The Quotable Wesley’ by Dave Armstrong

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 Dave Armstrong, ed., The Quotable Wesley (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 2014). Paperback The past decade have witnessed a remarkable resurgence of Calvinism among evangelicals. Collin Hansen famously described this movement as “young, restless, Reformed” in his book of that title. The book’s cover included a young man wearing a T-shirt with Jonathan Edward’s visage on it, surrounded by the legend, “JONATHAN EDWARDS IS MY HOMEBOY.” Those of us who are not Calvinists—I’m Pentecostal—could use our own homeboy, and I’d like to suggest that it be John Wesley. There are several reasons for this: (1) Wesley worked alongside Calvinists … Continue reading Review of ‘The Quotable Wesley’ by Dave Armstrong

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Review of ‘Jabotinsky: A Life’ by Hillel Halkin

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 Hillel Halkin, Jabotinsky: A Life (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2014). Hardcover / Kindle One day, while I was waiting for my chai latte at the café, a friend noticed Hillel Halkin’s book in my hand and asked, “Who is Jabotinsky?” I should note that my friend is given to reading obscure books by obscurer theologians. But he joked that I had “out-obscured” him this time with my choice of reading. So, who is Jabotinsky? Why is he worth reading about, especially if you, like me, are a Gentile Christian reader? The answer to both questions is straightforward: Vladimir … Continue reading Review of ‘Jabotinsky: A Life’ by Hillel Halkin

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Review of ‘Earth and Sky: A Beautiful Collision of Grace and Grief’ by Guy Delcambre

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 Guy Delcambre, Earth and Sky: A Beautiful Collision of Grace and Grief (Springfield, MO: Influence Resources, 2014). Paperback / Kindle By nature, I am a worst-case scenario thinker. Put me in any situation, and I’ll think of all the bad things that might happen. The scenario that worries me most—the situation that gives me nightmares—is the death of my wife or son. Guy Delcambre lived my worst-case scenario. His wife Marianne died after a five-day hospitalization in the ICU, leaving him without a partner and their daughters without a parent. Earth and Sky is a memoir of his grief and … Continue reading Review of ‘Earth and Sky: A Beautiful Collision of Grace and Grief’ by Guy Delcambre