Reviews
“Next To The Bible, The Book I Value Most”
On one side of John Bunyan’s tomb in London, there is a portrayal of the pilgrim Christian, struggling with his burden. The other side of the tomb shows Christian kneeling at the cross, with the burden rolled away. That scene captures (for me) the most memorable part of Pilgrim’s Progress, where Christian finds salvation from [...]
Broken Minds
Last week I blogged about the significance of mental illness for Christian counsellors. Perhaps some of you were interested in more information about this topic. Let me recommend a book that may be a real help to you. Steve and Robyn Bloem wrote a book called Broken Minds that tells their story of battling with [...]
Good Books
I once read a survey which listed top books recommended by evangelical leaders. It was fascinating to discover which books had influenced the minds of great pastors and leaders. Theological titles comprised most of the list, while some were biographical or fictional. Have you ever considered what books have impacted you? I browsed the bookshelves [...]
Influential Books
What books have influenced you? Most smart Christians would first answer, “The Bible.” But I’ve rarely heard Christians go on to explain why the Bible is their most influential book. Rather than assume the Bible is our most influential book (and move on to “more interesting” titles), we should stop and consider what parts of [...]
Have You Heard Of These?
If you lead or help in a church ministry, here are four Australian resources which can assist and encourage you. Matthias Media is a local evangelical publisher with a distinct focus: “We’re not the slightest bit interested in adding to the already monumental pile of Christian books churned out each year by the Christian publishing [...]
Thinking about Bible Software?
The most common mistake people make when choosing Bible software is choosing based on the quantity of resources available. If you talk about your Bible software in terms of “how many books you own” – you really have missed the point (but we won’t hold it against you). First and foremost, you are investing in a [...]
A Brief Review of BeDuhn’s “Truth in Translation”
I recently read Jason David BeDuhn’s Truth in Translation and found it deeply intriguing and at times disturbing. I’ll give some positive points and then I’ll list my concerns. 1. Truth in Translation is a carefully crafted and scholarly work. BeDuhn brings a wealth of research and knowledge to the table. 2. The subtitle is [...]
What Do I Know About My God?
When I was a teenager I attended a Christian camp and was challenged by Mrs. Mardi Collier to start reading in the Psalms and write down in a notebook all the verses I found that talked about God. This project has been a huge help to me throughout the years. In my notebook at the [...]
Learning Our Christian Heritage
Australian Christian Life Since 1788: An Introduction And Anthology. Iain Murray. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1988. 357 pages. With this book, Iain Murray has provided a great resource for Australian churches and their leaders. Murray wanted to retell the stories of Australian Christians, as he believed that these stories have been “virtually erased” from the [...]
Australia: A New History of the Great Southern Land
Why do we celebrate Australia Day? Based on a 2006 federal survey of 10,000 Year 10 students and 10,000 Year 6 students, more than three-quarters of Australian teens did not know that Australia Day commemorates the First Fleet’s arrival and British settlement. (but YOU knew that, right?) If you have only a basic or faded knowledge [...]
Why Men Hate Going To Church
Why Men Hate Going To Church. David Murrow. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005. 248pp. I was required to read this book and I opened it with curiosity, as I often interact with guys who have no interest in church. The short answer is that the book was frustrating but did provide a handful of practical suggestions [...]
Learn From A Swan
(I am traveling in the US until mid-February, so my initial posts will be based on books I’ve read recently.) The Legacy of Sovereign Joy is one of Piper’s biographical series, The Swans Are Not Silent. The series title comes from Augustine’s successor, Eraclius. Augustine was an excellent teacher, and Eraclius felt small and inadequate [...]
