Book Log: October 2009

1. Chris A. Castaldo. Holy Ground: Walking With Jesus as a Former Catholic – An irenic look at the differences between Evangelicals and Catholics and how the former can relate in truth and grace to the latter.

2. Matthew Latimer.  Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor – A funny, interesting, vain and unnecessarily mean-spirited look at our political leaders in Washington D.C.

3. Francis Chan.  Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit – A readable, faithful, often convicting exploration at what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit and how we’ve missed some things we shouldn’t have.

4. David F. Wright (ed). Baptism: Three Views – The best book of its kind I can remember.  The three views: believer’s only baptism (Bruce Ware), infant baptism (Sinclair Ferguson), dual practice (Anthony Lane) are laid out with skill and verve.  This book will help many people understand their own position better, and may help others make up their mind (just remember, Sinclair Ferguson is right!).

5. Bryan Chapell. Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice – Makes a compelling historical and biblically-thematic case for a more purposeful and gospel-ordered worship service.  This book is a wonderful resource for pastors and worship planners.

6. Dallas Willard. Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge – Started out strong, got dicey in the middle, and took a wrong turn at the end.

7. James K. A. Smith. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation – Often provocative, sometimes wise, frequently over-the-top and off-track.

8. Christopher J. H. Wright. The God I Don’t Understand: Reflections on Tough Question of Faith – Answers four questions: What about evil and suffering?  What about the Canaanites?  What about the cross?  What about the end of the world?  The answers to the second and third questions are the strongest.

9. Dambisa Moyo. Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and how There is a Better Way for Africa – Short, readable, and very needed.  Anyone concerned about actually helping the poor in Africa (and not just having good intentions) should read this book.