Thursday, March 13, 2025
Book Review: Beyond Salvation Wars by Matthew Bates
be our guide. I had the opportunity to pre-read this book and would love to share it with others. You can purchase it at all places books are sold, and of course it's on Amazon, you can get it at this link here: https://a.co/d/3zuGw5k
Tuesday, June 06, 2023
Book Review: Being God's Image by Carmen Joy Imes
Carmen once again brings meaning and mission together in new light from texts and concepts that we thought we all had figured out. Turns out, there is still a lot to learn about who we are as humans. And that's a good thing, because as we learn more about who we are and whose we are, we are ushered forward in practical, kingdom glorifying ways. And that is one of the things I loved most about this book, in that while it packs an incredible scholarly-biblical-theology-punch, it also doesn't just leave you at the end thinking "oh that was really nice, I learned something" but rather helps you have meaningful conversations and engage with people in a more godly way and provides vision and hope for the purpose of it all. Scholars should read this, pastors should read this, but so should everyone. I loved this closing line "the Bible invites us into a dramatically different quality of life, a beloved community in which we can know God and one another as we are truly known."
<https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/117414563-blake-widmer
Monday, May 15, 2023
Book Review: "Why the Gospel?" by Matthew Bates
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5552652530
For a number of years our community has been searching for and utilizing Biblical theology frameworks for knowing who we are as humans, what God wants of us and to what purpose it all points. Bates' previous work has been helpful material sewn into our community's tapestry of understanding and now with his latest work, "Why the Gospel?" another thread has been woven in that brings additional clarity and telos. You know when you're making up the bed sheets (ok, I'm not the best husband so I admit I do this rarely) or folding the sheets, its always super helpful for the top sheet to find the little embroidered end that says "hey, put me at the head of the bed". It helps you orient the sheet so you aren't putting it on the bed with the head at the foot, or upside down, etc. "Why the Gospel" helps us orient everything. We might still have a few wrinkles to work out as his and others' scholarship trickles through the academy and the pews, but I truly believe this "why" angle on the Gospel will have lasting positive orientation for the church. It was a new way of asking gospel questions, and a helpful guide to get us around typical snags. Some of Bates' earlier books might be seen as more contentious and piercing of long-held paradigms, which in my opinion was necessary and good. This book however has a different feel to it and might just be more comfortable for a wider audience to snuggle up with, read, re-think and appreciate. My analogy is breaking down, it might be time for a nap. I couldn't put this book down until I'd finished it!
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Book Review: Deep Peace by Todd Hunter
While being an accessible, easy-reading book and often feeling like a journal, Deep Peace still managed to hit on some solid theological underpinnings for finding, receiving and walking the gift of Peace. Overall, it was worth reading and although I'd recommend it for a new believer, a teenager and college small groups, it has some nuggets for all readers. I especially appreciated chapter 7 "an apprentice to Jesus in Peace" -- because it truly is discipleship. Jesus was always walking in peace and He taught us to pick up our cross and follow him. It's counter-cultural and it takes a lot of work. Yes it is as simple as receiving the gift of Peace and so it is not by our own might or works, but that process of us receiving His peace is via the road to calvary, it is cruciform. I would buy this book just for chapter 7 and you should too! My second favorite chapter was 15, "loving the other", which shows us that the way to peace is the way of inclusion.
Monday, August 16, 2021
Book Review: The Gospel Precisely by Matthew Bates (perfect for small group)
Gospel Precisely met and exceeded my hopes and I am confident it will be a very relevant and practical tool for getting more people thinking biblically about a royal and cosmic gospel. Being able to read it in an hour is important for engaging those who might not get through a longer book, it is small and think and will not intimidate. It is very readable as well. I really appreciated the structure utilizing "5 key questions and answers", this provides an excellent framework for breaking the down into pre-organized teaching segments. The "response to the Gospel" section was very concise and clear, because everlasting resurrection life really comes down to response and this keeps it simple and focused!! Also I resonated a lot with the closing section entitled "tips for testifying to the Gospel today" and sensed tremendous wisdom in what "to say" and what "not to say or at least be more careful if you say it"....this advice is timely for me as I think about these conversations in my own circles. Reclaiming a first century apostolic proclamation of the full gospel good-news is paramount for the church today, and this simple, concise and easy to follow book will be an effective tool for all of us to synthesize, embed and share.
Get your copy for less than $10 here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Book Review: 7 Things I wish Christians Knew about their Bible by Michael Bird.
Book Description:
- how the Bible was put together;
- what "inspiration" means;
- how the Bible is true;
- why the Bible needs to be rooted in history;
- why literal interpretation is not always the best interpretation;
- how the Bible gives us knowledge, faith, love, and hope; and
- how Jesus Christ is the center of the Bible.
Wednesday, May 05, 2021
Book Review: Liberty For All by Andrew T. Walker
In this thought-provoking and circumspect thesis, Andrew ties together many strands of theological, historical and philosophical thought to making a compelling case that Religious Liberty must truly be for all, because it is the design in which God has created this world and the freedom He has given to humanity to seek His face and know Him, even as we are known. I really appreciated the eschatological basis, the already and not yet, as it tied in both our assurance and our future hope into the importance of religious liberty. We lament at the brokenness around us, yes, but for the joy set before us we utilize every moment to share the good news that there is a King reigning from on high, and He is reconciling all things to Himself.
Perhaps due to book length and the main thesis, this topic was not able to be addressed in fulness, however the main issue I had was the glancing affirmation and approval of Christ-followers pursuing public office and seats of political power. Personally I think there is strong biblical and theological grounds for abstaining from taking office or "running" for office. The author seems to endorse and support Christians taking office, but in my opinion does not seriously ask the questions of "should this even be so, and if not, why not?" However, the overall theme of the book did not detract from but even gave further ground to a claim of not being involved in politics, so perhaps it was simply wisdom (whether Andrew's or the publisher) to not open the can of worms too much.
Overall a great read and I highly recommend to any one who is concerned about the so-called "erosion" of religious liberty in the west. As my previous post mentioned, we often think of America as "the land of the free and defenders of religious liberty" and while that claim certainly has grounds to stand on, the government of Iowa just 100 years ago made it illegal for our brethren to worship God in their own churches, and during covid19 we have all seen how God works even in the midst of the government closing access to buildings. So....let's not be so quick to arbitrarily think America has always had it all together, or to think it is all bad and sinister. Don't throw the baby out with the bathe water, but don't think the tub is the essential thing either. You can get clean a lot of ways.
