A month ago we moved house. It’s not really the most enjoyable of experiences but is something that has to be done when the time comes. The process of moving house meant that i had to move all the books that i have. I’m an avid reader and aim to read a book each fortnight (on average over the course of a year). The “industry” i’m in also lends itself to be around books. Ministry requires reading, preaching requires reading, studying requires reading. This means i have a growing collecting of around 700 books on the shelves and when the library reaches this point it’s probably time to get it sorted out.
I did toy with the idea of working the Dewey system or using the Library of Congress numbers but decided that might be a bit extreme. In the end the best advice came from Andy Naselli’s post on “Why you should organise your theological library and a way how”. I’ve adjusted some of what he’s suggested but used the main categories to organise mine. My library is obviously not as big as his so it probably doesn’t need as much detail as what he has laid out. But here it is:
1. Biblical Theology
Languages (NT Greek)
Hermenuetics (how to interpret the Bible etc.)
Commentaries (on each book of the Bible)
OT & NT introductions, theologies, and overviews
2. Historical Theology
Biographies
Church & Christian History
“Works” by old dead guys
3. Systematic Theology
Bible doctrine (the sort of topics in a general systematic theology book)
Apologetics
Philosophy
4. Practical Theology
Christian Living (all those great books people pick up at the front of Christian bookstores )
Preaching
Leadership
Youth Ministry
Church
Pastoral Ministry
Missions
At this stage all sub-categories are mixed in together in the broad categories. I’m not convinced this works for the Practical Theology section at this stage but it’ll take too much time sorting it out at the moment.
J. Graham Miller looks like he was a significant player down here in Melbourne, perhaps at the college i go to now as well. A biography has just been published by Banner of Truth, might be worth getting. Here is a blog post on Ref21 giving a bit more detail.
I like reading biographies, they usually inspire like no other books do. I’ve just finished the first volume of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ biography authored by Iain Murray and am now onto the second. I’m not sure what it is about them but they always encourage praise and inspire me on to better things. It helps one appreciate the past and give good insight into areas where I’m lacking (which is quite a lot!).
In any case, here is a few random thoughts about what struck me as i read about Lloyd-Jones:
- He was obviously anointed by the Lord for a great work. It seems his preaching bought 100s and 1000s of people together to hear the Word of God. God seemed to especially pour out his Spirit upon Lloyd-Jones and used him powerfully to speak to others.
- The importance of biblical preaching. It wasn’t what programs he ran or the activities that he got involved in that bought people to Christ, it was his preaching. Preaching was again made clear to me as being the way in which God brings people to himself.
- The importance of the bible. He was always studying, learning, growing, leaning upon, teaching from the bible. It was his main source of guidance throughout. It seems he was also willing to follow “inner senses” or conviction in regards to choosing where to preach and minister.
- He lead firmly and decisively. In this day and age of leadership programs and techniques Lloyd-Jones just lead according to what he believed were biblical principles and instruction. This was refreshing to read and perhaps a good reminder that if one is following the Lord closely and anointed to lead then “no scheme of man” matters.
- He was willing to against the grain and thought of his day. His preaching and “ministry philosophy ” were in complete contrast to that of his fellow ministers. In his preaching and ministry he was going against what others thought was best practice in that age.
- Lloyd-Jones was obviously very intelligent, coming from being a doctor to a minister, and never took any formal theological training.
I like Max Lucado. I’ve now read a few books of his and always find them full of good illustrations, biblical truth, and words worth pondering. Out Live Your Life is no different.
Lucado’s latest centres around encouraging people to start thinking big and taking risks in their life. He wants his readers to be shaken out of the possible rut that they are currently in and start looking at doing things that will be of benefit to others.
What Lucado isn’t pushing his readers to do is simply join some cause and begin promoting it. He would prefer us to have a look at what the early church did and follow their example in meeting together, focussing on Jesus and serving others. From beginning to end Lucado takes the reader on a journey through the first eleven chapters of the book of Acts and brings to life some of the stories and teaching within.
The whole book is positive, which in many cases is nice to hear. It is primarily hitting the good works band-wagon of justice and helping others – this of course is not a bad thing and i think Lucado deals with this well. He doesn’t want the Christian witness within these good works to be forgotten or neglected, therefore he forces the reader to be reminded of Jesus and the cross. Rather than making this some abstract theory he grounds these two things nicely together in the sermon’s of Peter and John at the beginning of Acts.
I found the book a good read. I would say it’s a 7/10. For what i expected it to be i thought it hit the mark. I think that it has a simple yet profound message of “do something good for others”.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This has got to be the worst book i have read…ever.
Wright attempts to ground the current Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations on to one man – Abraham. Through the use of the book of Genesis (and other prophetic passages) Wright makes the case that ever since Abraham slept with Hagar to produce Ishmael the MIddle Eastern conflict was inevitable.
At times Wright makes some good points about the character of God and his rule over the world. Other times he makes some outrageous conclusions about the people in that region and the reason for the current day conflict.
I must confess i am reticent to engage in such negative writing and disturbing generalisations. I think what stirred me the most was the way in which OT scripture was used as justification for Christian’s to blindly support the current state of affairs in the Middle East.
While Wright did stick to the text, which is at least a positive (i suppose), he neglected to remind his readers that the fulfilment of promises made to Abraham have now been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Rather than recognise the covenants Wright proceeded to simply read Genesis in a manner that seemed to apply directly to today, there was no acknowledgement of Jesus now being the embodiment of these promises. Due to this reading of the text it seemed to me that we might as well go back and worship at the Temple, obey all laws in the Pentateuch literally, and look to reclaim all land in the name of the Lord. Yet, seeing that Jesus has come and rules today, the Messiah who has come and who has given us the Spirit, then we no longer need to worry about where we worship, but we worship our God in spirit and in truth.
There is much more to be said about this book but i don’t think it is worth my time. I don’t even think it is worth giving it a score out of 10.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I find great pleasure in looking through bookstores – call me odd, but that’s what i like to do sometimes. Other people have their hobbies and various traits, well, mine is bookstore perusing, which most likely leads to book buying.
As i walked out of my local Christian bookstore this morning it struck me that one really needs to be discerning in what they pick up. (I must admit that i went to the store b/c it had a 20% off sale and i knew i could find some bargains somewhere in there) I feel that when i walk into this said bookstore that i know where to go to find the quality Christian books – emphasis quality. To some that will seem like an oxymoron – a Christian bookstore actually selling ‘quality’ Christian book, are there such things!? Well, in fact there are but one has to be discerning in looking for them and know what ‘quality’ means.
I find myself sometimes wondering whether other people in the store are aware of what is quality or not. I don’t mean to judge, but i suppose i do. When i see someone with a book by Joel Osteen i want to talk to them about what they’re really buying. When i see someone looking at the commentary section i want to point them to the commentaries i have found most useful and which are clearly evangelical (Tip: Go to Best Commentaries to find how they rate). When i walk into the shop and see a few people looking over the latest books, the ones right at the front i want to tell them that there are better ones down the back. While people are trying to choose a bible for their grandchild i want to let them know that it’d be better for them to have an ESV over a KJV, and if they’re a teenager then don’t get them those silly “teen” bibles, get them the real thing and help them learn for themselves what the bible says about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.
Having said all this i realise that it is hard. Going into an unfamiliar bookstore where there are a whole range of books that are deemed ‘Christian’ makes everything seem like its OK. I mean if the Christian bookstore has for sale “The Jesus Diet” then it must an OK book, mustn’t it?
The fact is, no. Just like everything one reads, watches, listens to, and does, care and discernment needs to be there. My encouragement would be to talk to your pastor or a Christian friend that you know reads a bit and ask them what they recommend and what they think you should stay away from. After all, it’s a dangerous world out there in “Christian bookstore land”.
A month ago we moved house. It’s not really the most enjoyable of experiences but is something that has to be done when the time comes. The process of moving house meant that i had to move all the books that i have. I’m an avid reader and aim to read a book each fortnight (on average over the course of a year). The “industry” i’m in also lends itself to be around books. Ministry requires reading, preaching requires reading, studying requires reading. This means i have a growing collecting of around 700 books on the shelves and when the library reaches this point it’s probably time to get it sorted out.
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