The love of typology drew me to this book. It is hard to find a balanced book on the subject. This one was just right. Hamilton takes us through an overview of the major themes of the Bible using symbols and types. It is a fascinating subject that builds faith.
To see the same symbols throughout the Bible, which was written over thousands of years, shows us it is truly inspired by God.
The author breaks his book into three parts:
1. The Bible's Big Story
2. The Bible's Symbolic Universe
3. The Bible's Love Story
This was a very fascinating read. At only 128 pages, it leaves you wanting more, but that is a good thing.
This short book is a great introduction to Biblical Theology. Most books of this nature are 800 to 1000 pages. Books that size make the subject almost impossible for the average person to catch a glimpse of the subject. Here Hamilton gives us enough of an overview that we want to push forward into deeper study. He gives a list of books at the end to take us farther in that study.
I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from Crossway and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even though I have always enjoyed MacArthur's ministry, I take some things he says with a grain of salt. I believe he is one of the best verse by verse expositors of scripture today. Over the years he has written some books I consider classics. "The Gospel according to Jesus Christ" was a game changer. But I believe this book, "Strange Fire" proves that even a teacher as gifted as him, can say things that make you go...hummh!?!
First off, I am a Charismatic Calvinist. But that is not the biggest reason why I have reservations about this book. I am of the same stripe as John Piper, Wayne Grudem, and Sam Storm. These men are Godly examples of what true Christianity is all about. Many have been in conferences right along side of MacArthur.
To be totally honest, I agree with 90 percent of what MacArthur says in this book. Many, if not most, in Charismatic circles are a few fries short of a happy meal. Everything from barking like dogs and slapping people across the mouth are things that are way over the top. The health and wealth Gospel has destroyed the faith of many. I believe John is right to expose these things.
Where I think he loses it, is when he thinks all people who believe that gifts are present today are no different that these hucksters. He added a last chapter as an open letter to people like Piper and Grudem warning them that they will fall to the same fate as Benny Hinn and Kenneth Hagan if they do not change their beliefs. That is what is so strange about this book. He paints with such large strokes that everyone in his path becomes a heretic.
If he would have just thrown in one or two disclaimers that there are a few guys out there who are the real deal, I believe the book could be useful. But the way it sets, it feels like he used a hammer when a screw driver was needed.
Some of the arguments could be turned back on himself. John is a Dispensational Calvinist . He argues that the gifts are not for today because we have not seen them through church history until the last 100 years. But the same could be said of his Dispensationalism. A woman named Margret MacDonald was the first person to "prophesy the pretrib rapture" in 1830. No one had ever heard of a pretrib rapture before then. If gifts are not true because they were not seen at one time in history, what about a doctrine that had never been seen until the 1800s?
I am not saying that it is not true. I am just saying that John is blind to his own weaknesses. A majority of other Dispensationalists believe in easy believism or the belief that you can be saved but never have a single work to show it and you will still go to heaven. Some even believe you can become an athiest and still go to heaven. If we painted with as broad a brush as John, we could say he needed to leave the dispensational camp or he will get sucked into the same heresy. He hasn't. In fact he has written against this error. If we can give him the benefit of the doubt, why can't he do the same with Reformed Charismatics?
In the end I believe this book is a good read. He exposes a lot of people who are just trying to make a buck. Where it falls short is he never brings a balance. He should have at least pointed these men and women to those in the Charismatic movement who are sound in doctrine. Instead he alienates himself from the very men who could teach them the truth.
I recommend this book with some reservations. Use the watermelon method... Eat the melon and spit out the seeds. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Political books tend to raise my blood pressure and this one is no exception. We have seen such degradation of our country's politicians that it is no longer funny.
Most are set for life because of special favors from lobbyist, company kickbacks and free government money. They destroy their country for a life of luxury.
Crony Capitalism shows that our country is not a society of Capitalism but of a joint venture between government and Wall Street to take as much from the tax payer as they can.
It is a Win-Win for big government politicians and big companies alike. The companies give campaign money to politicians who then in turn pass laws that help that company while hurting their competition. It is a Lose-Lose for taxpayers and small business. We get left with high taxes and bankruptcy.
The middle and lower classes are exploited and left holding the bag as politicians and businesses steal from those who can least afford it.
You got to love Washington! I told you it would raise your blood pressure! The sad thing is, in election after election, the people keep voting them in.
Lewis has written a must read book. If you like living with your head in the sand and want a soft and fuzzy book that gives you a warm feeling, this book is not for you. If you want the cold truth about what is going on right under your nose, grab a copy today. Buy a couple extra for your friends and family.
Like it's companion book "Free Prices Now!" I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from AC2 Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Today, it is almost heartbreaking to turn on the news. It seems that everything I was taught as a child is flipped upside down. To be a Christian is labeled as bigoted and hateful. Much of what was taught as evil has now been trumpeted as virtuous. To believe in one God is considered intolerant and arrogant. we are told every belief has the same validity.
Everything from marriage to murder of unborn children has now become a hot button issue that can get you fired from your job, sued, or in some cases even arrested.
In this book Olasky and Smith give us an overview of the situation in today's society. They start with a history of news media and how it was originally dominated by Christians. It was slowly taken over by those who do not just take an approach between Christianity and secularism, but are actually hostel to Christianity.
Even though this is a book about the takeover of the media by unbelievers, the authors do not leave us in despair. Here we have details on how Christians can not only work in the news media, but make an impact.
I have read a few books on the bias of the press, but this one was a little different. The authors have not only shown media bias but they take us through the history of how that bias came about.
They not only delve into the message of the media but also the medium that is used to relay that message. This sets the book apart from others. How has new technology changed the way we understand the world? What difference has the Internet, smart phones, and television made on the news? These are things we rarely think about, but are relevant in how we see the world.
I enjoyed this read. It is interesting and full of information that you would be hard-pressed to find in other Christian books. I felt like I learned a great deal of info. My suggestion is to leave your comfort zone and read this book!
I recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from P&R Publishing Company and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
We often hear the phrase: "Jesus is the reason for the season", but do we know the reason that Jesus came in the first place. Christmas has become a romanticized time that people think of a baby in a manger and wise men bringing gifts, but do we truly think about what He came to accomplish?
I have read a few books by Beeke and they have never been disappointing. Beeke is a theologian who can take complicated theology and explain it in layman’s terms, giving anyone the ability to understand.
Here, Beeke takes the theme of the birth of Christ and shows that it is much more than what we think of at Christmas. He gives 31 reasons Christ came to earth. Each of the 31 chapters is filled with scripture and quotes from Church leaders from past and present.
Taking a look at the Table of Contents shows the diversity of chapters:
Preface
1. To Do the Will of the Father
2. To Save Sinners
3. To Bring Light to a Dark World
4. To Be Made Like His People
5. To Bear Witness to the Truth
6. To Destroy the Works of the Devil
7. To Give Eternal Life
8. To Receive Worship
9. To Bring Great Joy
10. To Demonstrate True Humility
11. To Preach the Gospel
12. To Bring Judgment
13. To Give His Life a Ransom for Many
14. To Fulfill the Law and Prophets
15. To Reveal God's Love for Sinners
16. To Call Sinners to Repentance
17. To Die
18. To Seek and Save the Lost
19. To Serve
20. To Bring Peace
21. To Bring a Sword
22. To Bind Up Broken Hearts
23. To Give Us the Spirit of Adoption
24. To Make Us Partakers of the Divine Nature
25. To Reign as King
26. To Restore Human Nature to Holiness
27. To Be a Faithful and Merciful High Priest
28. To Be the Second and Greater Adam
29. To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst
30. To Be Loved by God's Children
31. To Reveal God's Glory
The incarnation is as important as the cross. Without Jesus coming to earth as a man, we could not have been redeemed. He did not come to do a few miracles and tell people to live good lives. He came to release mankind from the bonds of their sin and bring them into reconciliation with the God of the universe.
This book would be a wonderful gift to friends and family members during this Christmas season. It was a tremendous read. Buy a dozen and hand them out to everyone you know.
I recommend it and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from Reformation Heritage Books and Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
One thing that you can say about Mark Driscoll is he is never controversial!
That is one sentence you will never hear, unless like me, someone is being sarcastic.
Driscoll's writings and sermons always have a boldness that melts one person’s heart while angering another. This book is no exception.
In, "A Call to Resurgence", Mark calls the church out and gives us a well deserved kick in the pants. For too many years we have allowed the world to march off a cliff, as we stand on the side lines and complain about it. Yes, Jesus said we will be persecuted, but that does not give us an excuse to let the world go to hell because we got our feelings hurt.
My favorite section was concerning tribes. He lists the many tribes we are associated with. Even if you do not like using labels, each one of us fits into one or more categories. Because of this, we are like clubs that do not allow others in or we never try to reach out.
Whether we wear a three-piece suit and use Greek words every other sentence or we have a soul patch and use the word “Dude” way to often, Mark has something to say to you.
Mark shows us that our belief systems are understandable, but we should not use them to stop us from sharing the Gospel with the world. We do have a set of doctrines that we must believe to be Christian, but the secondary doctrines should not deter us from working with others to bring people to the knowledge of the savior.
This book was a great read. Never boring, Mark shows us our cultural weakness, but follows it up with instructions on how to overcome them.
The narration was great. I have heard Mike Chamberlain read a couple of fiction books before but never a Christian book. As usual he never disappoints.
I recommend this audiobook to everyone, believer or not, and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I enjoyed this book courtesy of the Christian Audio review program at http://christianaudio.com and received the audio book, free of charge, from ChristianAudio.com and Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
This book was one of two samples I have read lately. I received the first 103 pages of the book and it was enough to see that it would be a good read.
Here Lillback and Gaffin have assembled articles and sermons from hundreds of years of Church History concerning the Word of God. The sample I read had pieces from Martin Luther, Zwingli and Henry Bullinger, but the table of contents shows they take the reader all the way up to modern day. At over 1000 pages, you can see it is a gold mind of information. In the future I would like to read the whole thing. I enjoyed the read and see that it will have much to offer the Church.
So many in modern times have tried to dismiss the Bible as a man-made book that contains errors. Today, we need more defenders of inerrancy. It seems we have given ground to the skeptic not because there is no defense, but because we have become lazy or are scared of ridicule.
This book shows us that throughout the history of the Church, great men have stood up and proclaimed the truth about God's word. Each selection fits well with the theme of the book. There is just enough in each article to give you a good taste of the theology of each theologian or preacher.
I recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars. For some, it may be a little tough to read because of the technical nature, but it is well worth the effort.
I received this book, free of charge, from P&R Publishing Company and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The love of typology drew me to this book. It is hard to find a balanced book on the subject. This one was just right. Hamilton takes us through an overview of the major themes of the Bible using symbols and types. It is a fascinating subject that builds faith.
