Reading in 2008

I made it a goal to do more reading in 2008 and I believe that I was, for the most part, successful. I managed to read 24 Christian books and 2 works of fiction (based on popular movies that came out this year - which is about the only way you can get me to read fiction).

I compiled a list of all that I read and rated them based on a 5-star system. What will follow is this list of books and some commentary by yours truly. I hope you'll find something interesting enough to buy and make it a part of your 2009!

Keep in mind I'm not a professional reviewer and therefor don't get free copies of things to review. I have to spend my own money which means I deliberately choose those books which I feel are worthy to be read and also fill holes in my Christian walk and education. So, in short, most of these books will be rated on the higher end; there won't be any 1 or 2 star entries here.

Fiction Books

"Fireproof" by Eric Wilson
Almost better than the movie. I read the book before the movie (because I just couldn't stand it) and, for me, it was a page turner. I think I finished it in three nights of reading just before passing out for the night. There's a bit of stuff that didn't make it into the movie which makes it even more enjoyable. And, of course, it's a great present to friends because it does approach marriage from the proper viewpoint (and that would be God's) and, just like the movie, presents a clear Gospel presentation; something everyone in America needs to hear

"The Dark Knight"by Dennis O'Neil
I love analyzing the characters and themes in certain movies. That's why I was so attracted to Batman Begins which tried to reset this famous comic book and film character. So when this movie was to come out, I just had to read the book that went along with it to help me in my analysis. Like most fiction these days, it isn't terribly involved making it an easy read (so that, I'm sure, it can appeal to the broadest possible audience from 8 year-old boys up to grown men like me)

3-star Books

"A Journey Worth Taking: Find Your Purpose In This World" by Charles D. Drew
This one was recommend by Tim Challies, I believe, back in 2007 and is one of the few books, I think, he said that he felt strongly enough about to read twice. I would probably benefit from reading this one again. I personally found the first half of the book to be a bit tedious and drawn out. But I am glad that I stuck it out as the second half is some good reading. The basis of the book is helping God's people to find purpose in their life using sound theology in the process. For this reason, the author takes us through creation, the fall, redemption and consummation as it relates to how we are to make sense of this world, our life and how to best live for God's glory. Be warned, the very first page may "turn you off" as it did me when reading the acknowledgements. It is in the very first few sentences of the book that you'll find how the author thanks his parents for teaching him how to love creation and all that is in it, including himself. I'm sorry, sir, but no one needs to teach you how to do that. Perhaps the author just didn't know how to express himself but it's certainly a good way to get people like me to simply close the cover and put this one back on the shelf.

"Culture Shift" by Dr. Albert Mohler
Dr Mohler is one of my modern-day heroes. I follow his blog on an almost daily basis and love his writing. Straight theology applied directly to the pertinent issues of our life and culture. I listen to his daily radio program on a fairly regular basis. So why only 3 stars? Because this work represent largely what has already been on his blog and radio program. So it's kind of old news to me. But if you aren't familiar with Mohler, stop sinning and introduce yourself ASAP ;-) For those wanting clear biblical answers to today's problems, read this small book of short commentaries and you will be edified and better prepared to defend your faith

"Fireproof Your Life" by Michael Catt
Based around the concept of the movie, you can't control your life but you can be prepared for those events in life that everyone has to struggle through. In other words, be prepared. This is a good, solid book with a lot of useful info but it is the type of thing that's been done before by any number of authors. I have read this and can recommend for new believers who haven't seen it all before.

"Still Growing" by Kirk Cameron
Cameron is my bud! Being a self-professed rabid Way of the Master fanatic, I just had to read this book. It is a biography of his entire life. It does make for a good read but having not really known about Cameron's TV career, I wasn't too terribly interested in his early years of fame. It was interesting to note that God's hand did appear to be on him, protecting him and keeping him from the many evils that our society tempts young people with who have that kind of money and fame. Where it really turned interesting for me is when he begins to confront the issue of God and finally gets saved. It details how he hooked up with Ray Comfort and the early years of the Way of the Master ministry. Read this book and be amazed at what God can do when He firmly gets a hold of someone

"The Cross He Bore" by Frederick S. Leahy
This is a small devotional-type book that covers the passion week. It's a bit more on the harder to read scale as it does make you think about many things that probably never entered your noggin before. There are a few areas where the author stated things which seemed weird or just plain confusing. But, otherwise, it is another glimpse into the final days of what our Lord and Savior had to go through in redeeming His people. And that's always worth reading about.

"How Should I Live In This World?" by R.C. Sproul
Previously released back in the 80's as "Ethics and The Christian", this 100+ page booklet covers the basics for ethics as they relate to materialism, capital punishment, war, abortion, etc. A good introduction and as usual, just good old-fashioned Sproul at his teaching forte

4-star Books

"The Deliberate Church" by Mark Dever/Paul Alexander
With recommendations by Mohler, Duncan, Mahaney, Ryken Hughes, Carson, and Rainer how could you go wrong? How should you "do" church" Read this book and find out how to have a vibrant church which does not compromise, takes the Bible at face value, lives in a community of love and proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in all that it does.

"The Reason For God" by Tim Keller
One of the year's best sellers and rightly so. Another book written in defense of the faith and in answer to the renewed assault by the new atheists (Hitchens, Harris, etc.)

"How To Care For Your Pastor: A Guide for Small Churches" by Kent Philpott
I wrote a blog review of this earlier this year

"The Faith" by Chuck Colson
This is Colson's latest book and, in a way, it's a response much like Keller's work. Colson boils down the Christian life to the bare essentials of what is necessary to have a true faith in the God of the Bible. And it also serves as a beginning apologetic for why the Christian faith matters in today's world for without it, we are doomed as a nation to live any other way

"Holmann QuickSource Guide To Christian Apologetics"
A product of Broadman-Holmann, the publishing arm of SBC, this is a very good introduction to apologetics and can supply the average Christian with a lot of basic answers to questions and thought provoking questions for when witnessing

"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan
An easy reading book directed at the lukewarm church in America. Chan is a great pastor and his love of and passion for Christ is evident throughout. Read it and be motivated to live passionately for Him.

"Do Hard Things" by Alex & Brett Harris
An easy read and a bit simplistic, the two Harris boys give a powerful message for people of ALL ages to get off their backsides and live large for Christ. It's a scathing indictment against our culture which treats teenagers as a form of privileged class of whom nothing more is expected buy sleeping and spending (their parent's) money. A must-read for all teens and youth workers.

"The Blue Book On Evangelism" by Ray Comfort
This is kind of a FAQ in book form for all of those who feel compelled to witness to strangers but are afraid of the technique, how to answer tough subject matter, etc. This is one of those books that needs to be reread each year to brush up and fire up for the year ahead

"Knowing Scripture" by R.C. Sproul
This goes along with MacArthur's book on the Bible mentioned here. Sproul gives a great introduction on how to personally study the Bible as well as providing insights to proper interpretation and application of God's word to our lives and then finished up with a nice listing of practical tools for Bible study

"Born Again" by Chuck Colson
The autobiography of Chuch Colson, one of my modern-day heroes. A powerful read and celebration of how Christ can change people's lives ... and powerfully!

"Prepare For Rain" by Michael Catt
With an endorsement by Warren Wiersbe, what else needs to be said? This is the story of Pastor Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, which made the movies Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof. He talks about his early struggles, coming to Sherwood and how they grew as a church which crafted a vision for spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

5-star Books

"The Book On Leadership" by John MacArthur
A great read and something that should be read by every ministry leader, lay or professional, in today's church. It's just wonderful to sit back and let MacArthur take you on a journey through the life of the Apostle Paul and the cultures of his day as he made his way through the world, pouring his life out for Christ

"Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney
This is the one book I feel that EVERY Christian should read. You will come away feeling ashamed for how little you live for your God. If every Christian, or even 25% of "true" Christians in the US would read and APPLY the wisdom in this book, we could revolutionize our faith in this country and see God glorified through the gospel of our Lord.

"Unleashing God's Word In Your Life" by John MacArthur
Another must-read for every Christian. MacArthur does an excellent job of providing the basics for understanding the Bible followed by chapters on how to read, study and apply God's word. Another book that could drastically alter the Christian landscape in the US

"The Marketing of Evil" by David Kupelian
This one caught me by surprise and it was one of those books that you just can't put down. This is another must-read on how Satan has done a great job of winning the culture wars and, at the same time, put Christians on the sidelines as ignorant bystanders who have let him take over. Buy it. Read it. See the world anew and adjust your walk accordingly

"The Criminalization Of Christianity" by Janet Folger
This book is in a similar vein to the one above. Folger talks at length about how Christianity has been marginalized in the US in the fight over abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia, stem-cell research, pornography, evolution, etc. She explains how everything is tolerated in our culture except Christ not to mention how "faith" has been relegated to something you do at home or in the church but don't you dare bring it into society. Reading through this book it will amaze you at the amount of persecution that is going on in the US that you are not aware of. Read this book and have your eyes opened. And it only adds to her credit that she hammers home the issue of absolute truth and even gives a clear gospel presentation!

Reading Through 2009

I've already started on my next book, "Christless Christianity" by Horton. With a few chapters already read, it's definitely looking like it may earn a 5-star rating. Other books I plan on reading in 2009:

• "Postmodern Times" by Veith
• "What Is A Healthy Church?" by Dever
• "What Is A Healthy Church Member?" by Anyabwile
• "Christian Apologetics" by Van Til
• "Trusting God" by Bridges
• "Where Do We Stand?" by Blamires
• "Character Counts" by Guinness
• "For The Glory Of God" by Stark
• "The Courage To Be Protestant" by Wells
• "The Most Important 18 Words You Will Ever Know" by Packer
• "Things That Cannot Be Shaken" by Oliphint/Mays
• "The Battle Belongs To The Lord" by Oliphint
• "Spurgeon: A New Biography" by Dallimore
• "Respectable Sins" by Bridges
• "Growing Your Faith" by Bridges

Does anyone have any 5-star titles that they read this past year? Are you making plans for what you'll read in 2009? Remember the old adage: if you fail to make a plan then you've made a plan to fail!

With that in mind, here are a few articles that are sure to help inspire you and give you a plan to do more reading of your own (and hopefully for the glory of God!):

10 Tips to Read More and Read Better by Tim Challies

Some Thoughts on the Reading of Books by Al Mohler

The Twilight of the Books? by Al Mohler

Happy New Year and Soli Deo Gloria!

What Would Your Child Say?

I should have posted this earlier (I posted it on my headlines web site on the 17th) and was reminded of how powerful it was when I saw it posted on another Christian blog:

Mutilated Christian Girl, 10, Forgives Attackers

What a powerful testimony for Jesus Christ! These poor, persecuted people know so much more about Christ and what it means to be poor in spirit and persecuted for righteousness' sake then most Americans ever will (including myself).

So, you're child gets attacked and scarred for their religion. What would they say about their attackers?

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. [Pr 22:6 ESV]

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you [Mt 5:44 ESV]

Want To Be Disgusted?

Then read on:

Just In Time For Holidays, Indiana Planned Parenthood Offers Gift Vouchers
Planned Parenthood offers gift vouchers

UPDATE: Use this link to write Indiana House Majority Leader Russ Stillwell and put an end to this morbid business practice: Family Research Council Action Alert.

I can only wonder how long God's hand of protection can be upon our nation given such brutality and wholesale infanticide. I can only find peace in knowing there will be a day of reckoning when God sets all thing aright.

If you want to read more about depravity and the "innate goodness of man," read the next two stories.

Police: Security inadequate at Wal-Mart where worker died
Video: 'Groupthink' Store Trampling?

And while this is nothing compared to the above, I point it out simply because stupid is as stupid does...

Some Parents Rethink Toy-buying

An American Thanksgiving

Every year as the holidays approach, I am struck by God's goodness and am reminded of how much I am thankful for all year (and I am also struck how much I take for granted and therefor am ungrateful for). I'm talking in general about Thanksgiving but I am especially grateful for what the upcoming Christmas will celebrate, the birth of our our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Is 9:6 ESV]).

And then I have to go and read something like this: The true focus of Thanksgiving. Just amazing isn't it? What lengths man will go to to deny the one, true God. Given the above quote by the author regarding this proclamation for a day of Thanksgiving in 1777, I decided to look it up myself in our recently purchased copy of The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the U.S. (which I would recommend for any family interested in our true Christian heritage). I found the reference with a bit more detail that I thought you might be interested in reading:

Saturday, November 1, 1777

The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several States to set apart a day of public thanksgiving, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration and agreed to, as follows—Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God, to acknowledge with gratitude their obligations to him for benefits received, and to implore such further blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also to smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war for the defence and establishment of our inalienable rights and liberties, particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success: it is, therefore, recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor, and that together with their sincere acknowledgments of kind offerings they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public councils of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue, and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. And it is further recommended that servile labors and such, recreations as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion.

Friday, November 7, 1777

Ordered, That a duplicate of the recommendation to the several States to set apart a day of thanksgiving, signed by the President, be sent to the several States and to General Washington
and General Gates.

The proceedings of Congress were sent to all the States by Henry Laurens, President in Congress, with an official request that each Governor would be pleased to take the necessary measures for carrying the resolve into effect in the State over which he presided. Washington, when the above proclamation reached him, was on his march to Valley Forge, and halted his whole army during the day, and the chaplains held religious services with their several corps and brigades, upon which the commander-in-chief exhorted all officers and soldiers to “attend with reverence the solemnities of the day.”

I wonder if, after reading the above, most Americans would be humbled at all? I wonder how such a proclamation from our nation's founders would be received by the public today? By the ACLU? By the Freedom from Religion Foundation? By Americans United for Separation of Church and State?

A proclamation which makes it very clear whom we should be worshipping and giving thanks to. And what about that mention of Jesus Christ! Surely our founding fathers were not fit to govern our new nation as they clearly had no respect for the "separation of church and state." Clearly they were laying a foundation which would crumble as quickly as it was laid.

How far we have fallen. God's patience and longsuffering are miracles in and of themselves. Why He has not obliterated mankind, let alone our depraved nation which was founded upon a foundation in Jesus Christ and the Bible as its highest authority, is unfathomable.

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" [2Ch 7:14 ESV]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, it is time to pray. It is time to live like true disciples of Christ (and, with all due respect, that means more than just lip service, we need to walk the talk) and not like those of the world. We need God. We have always needed Him but unfortunately we do not live like it. How much farther do we need to fall before His church decides radical action is needed? Hopefully we will not wait too long.

Soli Deo Gloria! And Happy Thanksgiving (as our founding fathers intended it!)

Time For Change (And I Ain't Talkin' Obama)

Today's story out of WORLD magazine has an article by Cal Thomas titled, "The other deficit" which challenged me. I think it confirms what I have come to know not only about life today in the United States of America but with the Christian roots of our nation. The more and more Lydia and I dig into American history (that which has real truth in it and has not been significantly revised by the liberal educational establishment), the more we realize what has been hidden from us.

Here are some quotes from Cal's article:

"For the third straight year, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) has found that a large number of Americans cannot pass a basic 33-question civic literacy test on their country's history and institutions."

"The random sample of 2,508 American adults, ranging from those without high school diplomas, to people with advanced degrees, revealed a minimal difference in civic literacy between the uneducated and the highly educated."

"Ignorance of America's history and heritage is a setup for politicians and others who want to manipulate us into a way of thinking that allows them to make decisions that are unconstitutional and unwise. More than repeating phrases and figures, knowledge of the past prepares us for a future based on unchanging principles. That's why knowledge matters and ignorance endangers our government and threatens our way of life even more than terrorism."

"ISI calls on everyone involved in education, including parents, to re-evaluate curricula and standards of accountability and to emphasize to students the fundamentals about our country. It notes Thomas Jefferson's admonition: "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free ... it expects what never was and never will be.""

Do people really understand how far we've fallen? Do you? Probably not; because we have little true history to see where we've came from and why our Founding Fathers created the civil government and educational system in the ways that they did.

I recently scanned through a DVD from WallBuilders which is most excellent (in what I did happen to see) for those who want to understand how our Founding Fathers used the Bible to form the foundation of our government and educational institutions. I hope to have a full review of it sometime in the near future (which will likely consist of nothing more than "Go buy this DVD immediately and watch it ten times within the next month" or something like that).

I've recently started reading a book by Cornelius Plantinga (Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living) in which he starts the book by detailing the original mission statements of our nation's original colleges, including Harvard, Yale, etc. which desired above all else to bring glory to God by providing a biblically-based higher education that taught their students how to live ALL of life using the Bible as a gauge for everything. It's making me quite sick when I compare the founding intent to what they are teaching today. Anyways, I'm only through the introduction and first chapter and I've already highlighted more text than not!

Interesting side note: I just spell-checked the preceding paragraph and "biblically" was marked as being incorrect. I just went to the Merriam-Webster site and they seem to know what this word is. But blogger/Google does not? Should I be suspicious? Nah...

What follows are the links for Cal's article, the ISI report, the civics quiz and DVD info:

The Other Deficit

Our Fading Heritage

Civics quiz

The Influence of the Bible on America

UPDATE: I totally forgot about this FOX News video I posted in yesterday's headlines. Fits in perfectly:

God expelled?

What Are They So Afraid Of?

The latest battleground is down in Texas where scientists, teachers and boards of education are wrestling over the issue of evolution, intelligent design and creationism. Today's post is about a recent article in the Dallas Morning News which is the latest salvo from the scientific community.

Not only are they petrified of Intelligent Design (ID) and Creationism, they don't want children to be provided with any information which might suggest that there are weaknesses in their grand "theory" of evolution (which Charles Darwin himself suggested how his theory could be debunked which has largely come true but the elitist professionals refuse to acknowledge it).

95% Of Professors Back Teaching Only Evolution In Texas Schools

We know what they're afraid of:

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Php 2:9-11 ESV]

And we know why they have no defense in hiding behind their "science" of evolution:

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. [Romans 1:19-23 ESV]

Atheism Outreach Crosses the Pond

What started out as a whim over in the UK:

All aboard the atheist bus campaign

An Unbelievable Challenge -- A Look At Atheist Public Relations

Atheist Posters Are ‘Great Adverts For Christianity’, Says Think Tank

has now made its way onto U.S. soil:

God, Humbug: Humanist Holiday Ads Say Just Be Good

Billboard: "Don't Believe In God? - You Are Not Alone."

What are your thoughts? Would you honestly be able to speak intelligently about how to reasonably argue for the existence of God? Why His existence is crucial for a proper understanding of life? What about crafting the argument to lift up the God of the Bible over the gods of Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism or ...? What about it being an excellent opportunity to transition this spiritual conversation into the area of evangelism to show what man's true problem is and why Jesus Christ is the only answer?

UPDATE: Another article from the Wall Street Journal:

Atheists Reach Out -- Just Don't Call It Proselytizing