LAND OF HOPE (LATEST INTERVIEW)
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Category Archives: Book Review
IN SEARCH OF THE COMMON GOOD
REFORESTING FAITH
I can’t think of many books that all Christians can read. Thankfully there are some. Typically, some are too technical for people used to popular books, and some are too basic to be of much help to a more mature Christian.
However, Sleeth’s new book is one I can enthusiastically recommend to all Christians no matter where they are in their own walk with God.
Reforesting Faith helps us see what is hiding in plain sight. No matter where you are in your understanding of the Bible and Christian faith, I can guarantee you will find thrilling insights that make your heart leap for joy.
BEAUTY, ORDER, AND MYSTERY: A CHRISTIAN VISION OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
If you are looking for a thoughtful and accessible introduction to the various issues swirling around human sexuality, I highly recommend this book.
Each chapter is done by a scholar who is intimately involved in their local church. In other words, they are not merely addressing theoretical matters, but things they have seen up close.
As with all controversial subjects, the authors don’t agree with one another on every point, but there is much they do find common ground on.
One area that I appreciated very much is the emphasis not only on showing the truthfulness of God’s will for sexuality, but the beauty of it. Aesthetics is an important area of doing good theology!
A terrific resource for our cultural moment!
I’M LEARNING A LOT ABOUT TREES AND THE BIBLE
KNOWN BY GOD
My latest interview:
DIGITAL MINIMALISM
Digital Minimalism is Cal Newport’s latest book. I interviewed him on his previous book, Deep Work (see link below). Both are absolutely terrific.
I am gladly not on Twitter or Facebook, though some have tried to convince me otherwise. I am on LinkedIn and obviously have some blogs. These fit what I do.
I’ve read several books and essays on the perils of social media. All have been great, but Cal’s latest book and probably Neil Postman’s, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology are now my favorites.
Newport is hardly a Luddite, but he is a wise guide in helping us to think intentionally about how we spend our time. If you look at Newport’s prodigious output of both popular and scholarly work, you know that he is practicing what he preaches.
Highly recommended!
THE PEOPLE OF CONCORD
I have a keen interest in Ralph Waldo Emerson and those in his orbit, so it was natural to pick this book up. I read it on a recent trip. It is better than I imagined. Wonderfully written and peppered throughout with fascinating details about Concord, Massachusetts during the 1840s.
If you have any interest in Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott, et al. this is a terrific read.
CAESAR AND THE SACRAMENT
My latest interview:
GREAT ANTIDOTE TO SPIRITUAL APATHY
Backhouse has written a terrific book.
This study of Soren Kierkegaard is eminently relevant to us today. Kierkegaard wanted to reintroduce Christianity to those who thought they knew all about it already. Our pews are full (though American pews are emptying) of folks who are bored and self-satisfied in their spiritual apathy.
Kierkegaard is a great antidote to apathy. Read Backhouse’s wonderful book and see why!