Don't Worry... Beep, beep, beep...

The BB still has a pulse...

But, did I hear someone say Shelfari?

Eron

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

This post as been on hold for quite awhile...but I finally finished it up!! See below for more information. :)

Well I have finally finished this book and I can honestly say it was a great read! At first the book is pretty heavy with a lot of scientific and case study talk, but if you can manage to get through all of that to the point that Pollan is making you will learn a lot. On a personal note, this book has changed my view on a lot of things. This may be a lengthy review of the book as I hope to talk about some of the subject matter in depth and more than just typing up a quote or two. I hope that this review will be helpful and will encourage you to think hard about what you eat and maybe pick up a book on the subject and do some learning too!

To start, the title of this book really sets up what you will find on the 200 or so pages contained within. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto (more on the other subtitle later- Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants). The majority of this book is spent defending food, as the title claims. At it's core it is a "A public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions" (definition of the word "manifesto" from dictionary.com) from the eater to the eater. Now one would think that defending food and spending pages upon pages even defining the word "food" seems kind of silly, but Pollan pretty clearly makes the point that food is in fact in great need of such defense. To explain it in his own words:

"...'eat food,' which is not quite as simple as it sounds. For while it used to be that food was all you could eat, today there are thousands of other edible foodlike substances in the supermarket. These novel products of food science often come in packages elaborately festooned with health claims..." (pg. 2)

Pollan sets up in the very first pages of the book his reasoning for why such a defense of food is needed. The book is divided up into three main sections each with numerous subsections or chapters within it.

I. The Age of Nutritionism
II. The Western Diet and the Diseases of Civilization
III. Getting Over Nutritionism

The Age of Nutritionism
The first section unfolds the idea that in the last few decades we have seen an emphasis on the nutrient parts of food over the actual value of the food itself. Vitamins, fiber, saturated fats, etc. The food is no more or no greater than the sum of its nutrient parts. Like I said you have to "weed through" a lot of scientific talk, even some history talk too, to get to the point.

"In the case of nutritionism, the widely shared but unexamined assumption is that the key to understanding food is indeed in the nutrient. Put another way: Foods are essentially the sum of their nutrient parts. From this basic premise flow several others." (pg. 18)

"Indeed, nutrionism supplies the ultimate justification for processing food by implying that with a judicious application of food science, fake foods can be made even more nutritious than the real thing." (pg. 32)

In this section he continues to explain how certain laws passed by the FDA have now, as he puts it, thrown the regulatory door wide open to all sorts of processed and fake foods. He gives examples of margarine, low-fat this and fat-free that, bacon bits, etc. The sky is now the limit to what food scientists can come up with. The ultimate problem being what you have to put in that sour cream to make it low-fat. Take the fat out, put the hydrogenated oils and guar gum in!

This first section also defends real food by talking about the marketing behind the aisles and aisles of processed foods that you will find in a typical grocery store.

"Yet as a general rule it's a whole lot easier to slap a health claim on a box of sugary cereal than on a raw potato or a carrot, with the perverse result that the most healthful foods in the supermarket sit their quietly in the produce section, silent as stroke victims, while a few aisles over in Cereal the Cocoa Puffs and Lucky Charms are screaming their newfound "whole-grain goodness" to the rafters." (pg. 39)

"As I write, the FDA has just signed off on a new health claim for Frito-Lay chips on the grounds that eating chips fried in polyunsaturated fats can help you reduce your consumption of saturated fats...So can a notorious junk food pass through the needle eye of nutrionist logic and come out the other side looking like a health food." (pg. 52)

Now as a lover of all things carbohydrate and low-fat and fat-free some of these sections were hard for me to swallow. But the truth hurts sometimes, right? Tracing our current obesity epedimic back Pollan points out that as certain fats (as food is simply reduced to its nutrient parts) were deemed as evil, new guidelines were put in place.

"...giving us low-fat pork, low-fat Snackwell's, and all the low-fat pasta and high-fructose (yet low fat!) corn syrup we could consume. Which turned out to be quite a lot. Oddly, Americans got really fat on their new low-fat diet--indeed, many date the current epidemic of obesity and diabetes to the late 1970s, when Americans began bingeing on carbohydrates, ostensibly as a way to avoid the evils of fat." (pg. 50)

The Western Diet and the Diseases of Civilization

This section closely examines the western diet. The quote mentioned above is really what he delves into in this section. That the abundant amount of refined carbohydrates in the western diet is by no mistake at its peak the same time that heart disease and other problems linked to obesity are rising. All it takes is a day of people watching at the mall and hearing the statistic that 1 in 3 Americans is obese to realize something must be wrong with our diet!

"The price of food has fallen, portion sizes have ballooned, and, predictably, we're eating a whole lot more, at least 300 more calories a day than we consumed in 1985. What kind of calories? Nearly a quarter of these additional calories come from added sugars (and most of that in the form of high-fructose corn syrup); roughly another quarter from added fat...46 percent of them from grains (mostly refined); and the few calories left (8 percent) from fruits and vegetables." (pg. 122)

Getting Over Nutritionism

The very first point that Pollan makes in this final section is that we need an escape from the Western diet. This won't be any easy escape, but it's well worth the effort and change that is required.

"In order to eat well we need to invest more time, effort, and resources in providing for our sustenance...A hallmark of the Western diet is food that is fast, cheap, and easy. Americans spend less than 10 percent of their income on food; they also spend less than a half hour a day preparing meals and little more than an hour enjoying them." (pg. 145)

It is in this final section that Pollan explains in more detail the subtitle of the book (Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants). This is his prescription for how to fix the problem that he spends the first two-thirds of the book addressing. And under each of these subsections he gives "commandments" on how to do what he is calling you to do.

Eat Food

• Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food
• Avoid food products containg ingredients that are unfamiliar, unpronounceable, more than five in number, or that include high-fructose corn syrup
• Avoid food products that make health claims
• Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle
• Get out of the supermarket whenever possible (i.e. go to local farmers' markets)

Mostly Plants: What to Eat

• Eat mostly plants, especially leaves
• Regard non-traditional foods with skepticism

(there are many more points under this subsection that would require some explaining, but essentially it can be summed up in this quote)

"There are literally scores of studies demonstrating that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits reduces the risk of dying from all the Western diseases. In countries where people eat a pound or more of fruits and vegetables a day, the rate of cancer is half what is in the United States." (pg. 164)

Not Too Much: How to Eat

• Pay more, eat less
• Eat meals
• Do all your eating at a table
• Try not to eat alone
• Consult your gut
• Eat slowly (this point and the one above it go hand in hand...eat slow and when you feel full--stop!)
• Cook, and if you can, plant a garden

"For the majority of Americans, spending more for better food is less a matter of ability than priority. We spend a smaller percentage of our income on food than any other industrialized society; surely if we decided that the quality of our food mattered, we could afford to spend a few more dollars on it a week--and eat a little less of it. Is it just a coincidence that as the portion of our income spent on food has declined, spending on health care has soared?" (pg. 187)

So, that is essentially the main points of In Defense of Food. This book has really changed my thinking on a lot of things and has changed the food that I buy for our house. There is something to be said about stopping and thinking about what you are putting into your body. And then when you do buy the good stuff to put into it, stopping and enjoying the flavor and savoring each bite. Try it...it will really change the way you view food!

Surprised By Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

Well, a while back I finished N.T. Wright's book on eschatology. You can find a much better review of this book by Tom Schreiner here. But, I will give my thoughts briefly.

N.T. Wright is a brilliant New Testament scholar. The material I have read by him has always presented me with hefty ideas that I enjoy wrestling with. As a historian who has mastered the ancient cultures in which early Christianity was birthed, the product of his studies of the New Testament often reveal the many ways that Western Christians have misread Scripture. Therefore, in many ways Wright is very helpful. He helps me think outside of my 21st century Americanized box. And when it came to reading this book, it was no different.

Here's why:

The thrust of Wright's book is that many contemporary Christians think wrongly about their future heavenly hope. Namely, it is commonplace for believers to promote the idea that our final heavenly destination is an otherworldly, immaterial state that exists away from "this evil earth." Much Christian preaching, songwriting, and literature tends to leave one with the impression that the great hope that Christians await is to be done with this earth and dwell somewhere in the sky in a bodiless, phantom-like existence. Wright argues convincingly that our great hope is finalized not by us leaving the earth and going to heaven, but by heaven coming to us in a renewed heavens and earth. Yes, in the intermediate state we do go to be with the Lord, but this is only a temporary provision until the full consummation occurs. The final hope of believers is resurrection, with Jesus as our great Pioneer who is "the firstborn from among the dead" (Col. 1:18). We will receive new physical bodies that will dwell for eternity on a renewed physical earth. Easter, not Christmas, is clearly the holiday that Christians should put the most effort into.

Wright argues that the theme that colors the entire Bible is creation/recreation. Thus, Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is primarily the inauguration of the new creation. So, we are to make much of Jesus' resurrection (Easter) because of the everyday implications it has for having a renewed life. Wright emphasizes that when Scripture says that when a man is in Christ he is "a new creation" (or, according to Wright's translation, "If a man is in Christ, behold, new creation," p.228), it means that he is and should live as a small glimpse of what is to come in the final resurrection. On the first Easter, Jesus was the first glimpse of the new creation. This is why Jesus' resurrection is the anchor for our hope of salvation--if Jesus has been raised, we can be confident that we will be raised too.

In addition, Wright takes issue with a lot of contemporary theology that denigrates the implications to a thorough resurrection/new creation eschatology. He challenges fundamentalists who simplistically view evangelism as a decision-centered effort that reduces the gospel merely to a "go to heaven when you die" message. Wright argues that the gospel is much more global than we often make it out to be, requiring Christians to take involvement in social reform more seriously. (Schreiner (see link above) has some good thoughts about this idea in his review.) Also, he strongly expresses his irritation with rapture theology, mostly arguing that it demeans a Christian's concern for this world. Ultimately, he traces most rapture theology to a cousin of Gnosticism (ultimately a product of Platonic dualism) that promotes a disdain for the physical world. I'll let you read his full arguments that are found throughout his work, but that's the gist of it.

Concerns:

Well, writing a section on my concerns in this book is actually a joy, especially with N.T. Wright. I do disagree with Wright on some issues, and some of his ideas are just straight-up far fetched. But, reading people who are not like minded has a refining effect. Plus, he is usually honest as he writes, and gives the reader a heads up that he is giving a rare, controversial, or altogether new perspective or interpretation on a topic. He is well reasoned and I enjoy wrestling with his ideas; some have helped me to think outside of my box, others have just annoyed me. Either way, there are some things here that you should be on guard for. (I refer you Schreiner's review for a better treatment of these issues.) First, in writing a book on hope, heaven, gospel, and salvation, Wright hardly mentions sin. He does mention it, but he leaves it out of the discussion for the most part. His negligence makes you wonder what role individual salvation from personal sin plays in the gospel. He makes you think that it's too simplistic to go around telling people that they need to be saved from sin. So, head's up. Second, his view of hell is altogether...well, he even admits that he is crafting his own view of hell. Namely, humans were created to fulfill their humanness by imaging God for His glory. Sin, or not imaging God properly, is above all dehumanizing. Thus, the ultimate destination for those who die in unbelief is to experience the full extent of dehumanization. Wright does this by trying to wed annihilationism and universalism--it's bizarre, which he admits, but you'll have to read it to see how it unfolds. Finally, he advocates praying to saints, though not in a mediatorial way. Yeah, he can keep that one. There are other minor things that strike me as "eh?", but those are the main ones.

Quotes:

"[The resurrection] is not an absurd event within the old world, but the symbol and starting point of the new world. The claim advanced in Christianity is of that magnitude: Jesus of Nazareth ushers in not simply a new religious possibility, not simply a new ethic or a new way of salvation, but a new creation" (67).

"Take away the stories of Jesus' birth, and you lose only two chapters of Matthew and two of Luke. Take away the resurrection, and you lose the entire New Testament and most of the second-century fathers as well" (43).

"[With] Easter, God's new creation is launched upon a surprised world, pointing ahead to the renewal, the redemption, the rebirth of the entire creation. Hands up, those who have heard the message that every act of love, every deed done in Christ and by the Spirit, every work of true creativity--doing justice, make peace, healing families, resisting temptation, seeking and winning true freedom--is an earthly event in a long history of things that implement Jesus' own resurrection and anticipate the final new creation and act as a signpost of home, pointing back to the first and on to the second. . . . I thought so. Thank you" (294-95).

Because of Wright's book, I have gained a higher view of baptism, the new creation, the celebration of Easter, a reason to kill sin in my life, and ultimately, my own resurrection in light of Jesus' resurrection. Though discernment is required at times, I benefited from this book. Check it out.

Peace.
Thoughts? Questions?

Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry

"Dear Timothy" (Founders Press, 384 pp) is a collection of letters written by experienced pastors to a young man named Timothy, a 26 year old man who has been pastoring for 6 months, married for 4 years with a 2 year old son and another on the way. There are a total of 20 chapters reflecting the collective wisdom of 480 years of pastoral experience. Here are the contents:

1. Establish Priorities - Tom Ascol

2. Watch Your Life - Conrad Mbewe

3. Love Your Family - Tedd Tripp $$

4. Love Your Flock - Ted Christman

5. Memorize Scripture - Andy Davis $

6. Pray Always - Martin Holdt

7. Cultivate Humility - C. J. Mahaney $

8. Be Courageous - Bill Ascol

9. Do the Work of an Evangelist - Mark Dever $

10. Do Personal Work - Fred Malone

11.Watch Your Doctrine - Raymond Perrons

12. Keep Studying - Ligon Duncan $$

13. Learn from the Puritans I - Joel Beeke $

14. Learn from the Puritans II - Joel Beeke

15. Preach the Word - Roger Ellsworth

16.Worship in Spirit and Truth - Terry Johnson

17. Train Other Men - Steve Martin

18. Care for the Nations - Phil Newton

19. Don't Neglect Revival - Ray Ortlund, Jr.

20. Find a Place to Settle - Geoff Thomas

Recommended Reading

---I highly recommend this book to pastors and especially future or young pastors. It will encourage, challenge, teach, overwhelm, and whet your appetite for pastoral ministry. These men have a high and well-rounded view of the pastorate. I have put a $ by the chapters that were particularly good. This volume is filled with Puritan gems (too many to include). I was also struck by how many of the chapters mentioned D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I need to become more familiar with this man! After each chapter, the older pastor recommends a few important books to Timothy pertaining to the topic his letter addressed, which most who read this blog will appreciate;)

Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists

Chance? Coincidence? Providence. I just happened to pull up this blog tonight, ready to compose a review of the most recent book that I have read, and behold, Eron reviewed a book that deals with somewhat the same topic. While my review may not satisfy your tastes as much as Plev's, I hope I can do the blog justice. 

Since I first saw this book in the "Coming Soon" section of Monergismbooks, I pretty much knew that I wanted to read it. Mainly out of curiosity, I wanted to see what the author had to say about young people "discovering" reformed theology. Since coming to the doctrines of grace, even though I know there are many Christians who believe the same way, it seems as if there are just a small number of people who hold to the same view of scripture.

Collin Hansen, the author of the book, does a great job in traveling across the nation, visiting with young people and seasoned people alike at conferences, in their offices, at Starbucks, etc. Essentially, his purpose is to try and find out why there is such a resurgence among young people yearning for doctrine in the place of easy-believism. 

The Places We Will Go

Hansen hits all of the major hotbeds for reformed theology, both in the present age and in times past. He visits with young people attending a Passion conference in Atlanta. He makes the journey to Louivsille, twice, to attend T4G and NA. He is invited to Piper's personal home for supper. He travels back to Yale to see where Edwards taught and where reformed theology is still preached. He hits up Driscoll in Seattle and Sovereign Grace in Maryland. There aren't many more places that he could go in order to flesh out the reason that youngsters are yearning for some meat. 

The Peope You Will Meet

As the author travels to each destination, he is constantly in conversation (I feel all emergent writing that! =D) with those who have come to the doctrines of grace, and even some who do not agree with them. At each place the author reveals some reason why young people are wanting scriptural teaching. Some he talks to come from a church background, but yet were never taught Scripture. Others come from a drug/criminal background and truly understand what it means to be saved by a sovereign God. And he visits those who were taught liberal doctrine in seminary, but the Lord lead them into a biblical view of Himself.

Why The Resurgence?

Overall, it seems to me that young people are tired of being spoon-fed Christianity. They are tired of having the Gospel presented as a set of rules. The theatrics of "religion" are not as relevant as some leaders would like to believe. A desire to know the transcendent God is bringing people, young and old alike, to a high and right view of God and a low view of man which is really at the root of reformed doctrine.

Who You Won't Meet...Directly

There were only a couple of complaints about this book that I could find. One being Hansen is not able to talk to more conservative leaders of the resurgence. There is no direct interview with MacArthur or Sproul or Dever. I would have liked to see him delve deeper into those who are influenced by their teaching, which leads to my next "complaint": Where are the interviews with those who are drawn to traditional worship?

I know this is knit-picking, but I firmly believe that there are those young people who are drawn to traditional, conservative worship, I being one of them. I love old hymns. I love the deepness and richness of the doctrine found within them. I love their view of God and man. I prefer traditional, and I think that there are a number of people who feel the same way. I felt like the book is missing something because of this. The author leaves you with the impression that a transcendent God can only be found in praise music, which is not the case.

My Thoughts

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. I think it provides important insight into why young people are drawn to "old doctrine" and true study of scripture. Would I like to see more in terms of what I mentioned above? Of course. We all have our preferences. I am just "old fashioned."

Why We're Not Emergent: (By Two Guys Who Should Be)

First of all, you can check the official website here. And, you can read a good review by Phil Johnson at Pyromaniac, here. Phil Johnson has highlighted much of what I wanted to highlight about this book--the same quotes and everything! Nevertheless, I will briefly give my two cents on this helpful work.

What Is This Book For?
Basically, DeYoung and Kluck are young, Reformed, and convinced that you don't have to jump on the emergent bandwagon to save Christianity. I agree. There is so much in this book that it would be difficult to summarize it briefly. I will just say that they cover all the bases. From the vague notion of spiritual "journeying" to the disdain for dogmatic propositions, I think this work puts its finger square on the defining issues that characterize the EC. If you've ever tried to have an opinion about what the EC does, you've realized that it's hard and frustrating. Interacting with those who are full-blown emergent can get opinionated and emotional very quickly. One usually winds up chasing provocative wording rather than actually grasping the substance of what the EC is about. Yet, for a movement that is known for its ambiguity and anti-dogmatism, Kluck and DeYoung do an exceptional job hitting the nail on the head.

Quotes
Check out quotes from Pyromaniac (link above). But, I will say that these guys bring it. They are quotable often, and word their thoughts in a piercing kind of way. You'll definitely want to memorize some of their statements and keep them handy as you think through issues with the EC. They are right on and very helpful.

My Recommendation
I would recommend this book to all who are interested in a good, biblical, Reformed argument against some of the more dangerous corners of the EC. These guys are gifted writers and posses the ability to articulate their position with clarity and biblical conviction. They are quotable on almost every page. It is clear that they have done their research. They have read most all of the major books by most all of the major authors of the EC, and have spent time in emergent churches. I have found that when it comes to reading McClaren, Bell, and others, you have to really spend time reading them charitably and listening to what they are trying to say. Otherwise, you will read them, but you won't read them. You'll wind up wasting your time chasing after their provocative wording yet all the while thinking you have something to say about the EC. I think this work is trustworthy and offers critiques that one can feel safe making their own. The approach is humble, but firm and intellectual. Go out and getcha one.

Further Thoughts
Now, I and my wife joyfully attend an Acts29 (emerging, though not emergent) church here in Louisville. (I am a HUGE Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler fan.) Though our church is on the more conservative, Reformed end of the emerging church spectrum, there are many similarities that our church shares with those of the less conservative end (i.e., an emphasis on community, cultural engagement, etc.). We have learned a ton and have been sanctified tremendously. We feel that our church has done a work in us that is unique and honoring to Christ. The EC is primarily a reactionary movement against some of the dead-traditionalism that indeed exists in evangelicalism. There are those who stand guilty of over-correcting, while others stand guilty of not taking such reactions seriously. The EC should be called out for where they endanger the Christian faith, but I am of the opinion that they should be heard out and sometimes heeded. The key is balance and discernment. This book can help you think through all that.

Thoughts? Comments?
Peace.
EP

Aaaaaaaand We're Back: Wanting to Be Her: Body Image Secrets Victoria Won't Tell You

I wasn't even looking for this book when I found it. I was supposed to be doing research for a paper for a theology class when this book caught my eye. Turns out, this accidental read had a more profound effect on me than the book I got for my paper.

I have thing for beauty--the topic that is. Knowing where we get our standards of beauty, how beauty (or a lack thereof) affects day to day living (and it does!), and gaining insight on how to uphold healthy and biblical notions of beauty have become a topic of interest to me. I now notice articles, talk shows, news segments, and books that speak on the subject of beauty. Basically, our culture is obsessed with having perfect looks. As a result, countless females loath their bodies and starve themselves while self-centered, lust-filled boys encourage them by having supermodel standards, holding off on relationships (or getting into tons of them) until they score that perfect-10 babe. And let's just be honest, the Christian scene isn't all so different from the culture in this respect. So...

What is This Book For?

Michelle Graham is writing to help girls have a biblical view of their bodies in light of Scripture's standard of beauty. She writes from experience and is very apt to make the challenges she does. From the back cover:

In this book Michelle Graham reveals how we have fallen into the trap of viewing our bodies through the lens of culture rather than through the eyes of God.

And that, I would say, is done well. She has a good grasp of our culture, and she argues from a sound theological framework that isn't afraid to call out sin and idolatry. She exposes the heart's lean toward finding satisfaction and affirmation in things other than God. In the end, females are challenged to evaluate their beauty in light of their intimacy with Christ, knowing that external appearance is only part of the package. Her use of Scripture is good, though there are some interpretations that I wouldn't have forced (For example, that Eve's "desire for her husband" [Gen. 3:16] meant that she would "hunger for acceptance from men" [p. 94]. Eh, not so much.). Otherwise, she is right on most of the time.

Key Chapters and Quotes:

Chapter 1: The Lie We Buy: Beauty and Culture

"How have you been affected by the lie that your body must fit a certain standard in order to be accepted? Check all the following statements that apply to you:

-I am critical of my body

-When I look in the mirror, I first notice the parts of my body that I think are inadequate

-When I see images of "beautiful women" in the media, I compare myself to them.

-As I get dressed and ready in the morning, I consider what others will think of my appearance.

-I weigh myself frequently and am emotionally affected by the results.

-The thought of being seen without makeup or hair done is scary to me.

-When others compliment my appearance, I have a hard time believing it's true.

-When I eat in front of people, I wonder what they are thinking about me.

-I tend to wear clothes that are baggy to hide my figure or tight clothes to show off my body in hopes of receiving attention.

-If money were no object, I would have plastic surgery in a heartbeat.

-I have often thought that becoming more beautiful would be the solution to some of life's challenges--my desires for romantic relationships, career success, popularity among friends or self esteem. (p.24)

"When we understand the gift of our God-made body, we will respond. . . with contentment and without embarrassment. We will take care of our body well by eating healthy foods and giving it the exercise of an active lifestyle. We;ll keep ourselves clean and enjoy pampering our body, without crossing the line onto body obsessions or comparing ourselves to other women." (p. 37)

Chapter 3: When Beauty Becomes a Beast: Beauty and Consequences

"There was an unspoken equation that I learned as a single woman: my chance of getting married correlates directly with my physical attractiveness." (p. 50)

Chapter 4: Who's the Fairest of Them All?: Beauty and Ethnicity

**This was probably the best chapter in the book. Basically, we are ethnocentric when it comes to beauty. Just read the whole chapter. But, here's a quote:

"The more European one's features, the more beautiful one is considered to be." (p. 62).

Chapter 6: Can I Still Keep My Favorite Lipstick? Beauty and Balance

"I would suggest that a desire for plastic surgery is rooted in body obsession." (p. 106).

"The less modest our clothing, the more we invite others to fill in the blanks and complete the picture of our naked body." (p. 112).

My Recommendation:

I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read and it keeps you engaged--I read almost half the book in one sitting! This would be a fantastic study for women to do. I would also recommend it to guys who are interested in how our culture of non-beauty influences our views of women and choosing a mate. It was beneficial to "listen in" on a girl-to-girl conversation. I gained some good insight into the minds of females as they battle with their bodies. After I read this I wanted to start being more careful to encourage my wife and help her combat the false views of beauty that she is bombarded with day to day. Overall, I would rate this book at 4/5 stars. Whether guy or girl, you should consider Amazoning this one.

Thoughts? Comments?

Peace

Praise Her in the Gates

So, I've read a few books lately, but have not added them to the Booked Blog.  No reason why, so I'm going to try and play catch up. 

It's been a while back, but I read Praise Her in the Gates, The Calling of Christian Motherhood, by Nancy Wilson (wife of Douglas Wilson).   It was a small book, easy read.  I'm not very good at summaries of books, but I'll give it a shot.

The book begins by laying out the misconceptions and biblical truths about conception, pregnancy and childbirth.  What God desires from these things and how our minds should be trained to think on these things.  It is also encouraging for those who are unable to have children or who have miscarriages.  God doesn't give us the why; we must trust in His kindness, goodness and His Sovereignty-- knowing that He works all things for our good and His glory.

The book then goes into very practical applications of what living out Proverbs 31:31 looks like:

Chapter 4: When the kids are sick

Overreacting vs. Under reacting

A time for teaching cheerfulness and patience

Teaching our kids to trust God in our illnesses

Chapter 5: Loving the Kids- Dinnertime, Bedtime and Holidays

Loving children when they aren't lovable

"You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

You shall be blessed and it shall be well with you.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. " Psalm 118:2-4

Hospitality

Table time-- a foreshadowing of the fellowship we will have in heaven

Reading around the table and at bedtime

Fluffy pillows and warm comforters

Chapter 6: Manners: Church Behavior, Friends, Family

Love for one another, protection of each other's names and reputations, sensitivity to needs of brothers

Church manners: 

Worship and fellowship

Trained and taught all week long

Sitting together as a family

Creative ways to keep the little ones quiet and the older ones paying attention

Courtesy is  a Christian characteristic

Chapter 7: Respecting Sons

Bring them up in their full stature both physically and spiritually

Treat them in a way that their soul prospers

Teach them to be providers

His need for respect from mothers and sisters

Not taking sides between Dad and son

Teach respect by respecting husband

Praise your husband to your son

Praise your sons achievements and accomplishments

Give him responsibilities and fully expect him to fulfill them

Good behavior receives respect and honor from parents

Courtesy-- do not humiliate or point out flaws in public

Do not expect male piety to look like female piety

Chapter 8: Loving Daughters

A critical spirit is destructive

Teach them about meekness, submission, respect, courtesy and holiness

They need love and security

Dads should fulfill the need for male approval

Teach them to control their emotions--not to use them to manipulate

Teach them to be home-centered

Model and teach biblical femininity

Chapter 9: Setting Standards: God's Rules and House Rules

"Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds." Prov. 27:23

Take care of business at home first, before you get involved in other Christian affairs

Our children are our disciples

Godly discipline is focused on a long-term goal, not a short-term goal to make life easier

Be consistent

Chapter 10: The Importance of Education

Parents are responsible for the godly education of their children

Chapter 11: The Pleasant Home

A pleasant home should be full of joy and beauty-- the beauty of holiness

Perform duties cheerfully and patiently

Tidy, well-managed home

Chapter 12: The Domestic Arts

See domesticity as a duty and calling, not an option

Childrearing, cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening and decorating

Chapter 13: Letting Them Go

Train them to leave productive, godly lives on their own

As you can tell from the titles alone, it will be a book I will soon be picking up to reference.

Laura

Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Rienvention of the American Grown-up by Christopher Noxon

What are the necessary, non-negotiable changes one must undergo to be considered a responsible, functioning adult? Everyone (including Christopher Noxon) agrees that no one should stay a naive, temper-tantrum throwing, un-potty trained child forever. Most people can detect immaturity in someone quite quickly and will display various levels of irritation based on the age appropriate stages that many intuitively expect from all people. But are these age appropriate expectations universal for every time, age, and society? Are there re-definable aspects of adulthood that people must embrace as simply a part of constantly changing cultures? In light of the Industrial Revolution, the explosion of technology, the absence of economic hardship, and the increase in life expectancy among American adults, is there a legitimate (and therefore, acceptable) challenge to the modern definition of the term "adult?" Good question. In Rejuvenile, (a term coined and used by Noxon himself to describe those who have life interests of those younger than themselves) one is forced to wrestle with these tough issues as one cannot deny the ubiquitous emergence of new, non-traditional adult norms. For Christians, this area must be addressed. We must know how the Bible defines "adult," and what we are to expect from our young brothers and sisters in regards to true aging and maturity. Pastors must recognize that confusion about issues of gender, sexuality, and adulthood abound in our secular culture, and the average church attender is no exception to being subtly influenced by this confusion.

Noxon, who is not writing from a Christian worldview, writes:

Evidences of the presence and influence of rejuveniles is all around. The Cartoon Network boasts bigger overall ratings among viewers aged eighteen to thirty-four than CNN, Fox News, or any cable news channel. Half of the visitors to Disney World are childless adults, making the Magic Kingdom the number-one adult vacation destination in the world. Department stores stock fuzzy pajamas with attached feet in adult sizes. . . . The Entertainment Software Association reports that the average age of video game players is twenty nine, up from eighteen in 1990. (3)

Also, from the back cover:

Once upon a time, boys and girls grew up and set aside childish things. Nowadays, moms and dads skateboard alongside their kids, captains of industry pose for Business Week holding Super Soakers, and young people delay marriage and childbirth longer than ever--in part to keep family obligations from interfering from their fun.

Noxon also makes a distinction between "childlike and childish" (223), with the former being the acceptable alternative to traditional adulthood. For him, even amidst a lifestyle characterized by late night hours of video gaming, moving back in with parents after college, and remaining deliberately single or childless, one may still be considered an adult. He argues that because they are able to maintain complex relationships and display responsibility (even if it is to manage a mass tournaments of adult dodge ball), rejuveniles are qualified adults who have indeed grown up, just not in the way our parents and grandparents did. In his most defining statement, he writes:

[Rejuveniles] might not be married, they might not have kids, they might build their life around values older people find self-serving, but they're still adults--they're just a different sort, less mature in some ways, but, it must be said, far more in others. Yes, they're less self-sufficient, but they're also more self-aware. Yes, they're less dependable, but they're also more adaptable. And yes, their crisscrossing career paths can look like proof of indecisiveness or all-around flakiness. But these same qualities can also be seen as evidence of an open and adventurous spirit, one that would rather explore and experiment that settle down, stick to it, and hope for the best. (162-163)

As I read this book I thought of a lot of people by name, many of whom are Christians. Whenever I get that cringe feeling in my soul when I hear of directionless believers spending their money selfishly and who are celebrating a whimsical, "adventurous" life, should I just pass it off as a cultural difference? Should I just come to terms with the fact that my age appropriate expectations are a relative product of the place I was raised? Or, are there certain mindsets and behaviors that we can truly urge young adults to change their minds about? There is nothing intrinsically childish about taking a lengthy trip to another country or playing video games, but defined by the individual in context, they can be.

I do think we can say that adulthood universally boils down to two non-negotiable characteristics: Gospel-marriage (for those who are not called to gospel celibacy) and Gospel-parenthood. Now, I realize that being married, per se, and having children, per se, does not make one an adult any more than being unmarried makes one childish. But, there is a clear Scriptural distinction between childhood and adulthood (e.g., 1 Cor. 13:11) and, it is sinful to not grow out of the former. Thus, it is crucial to recognize the things that keep one in childhood and prevent one from becoming a respectable adult in the eyes of Jesus.

Noxon is right when he points out that the widespread presence things like divorce and the ability to travel anywhere in the world at a relatively cheap price all contribute to the molding of a culture. He is quite helpful for my thinking on some of the things he says. I think there are some changes taking place in our minds regarding what it means to grow up, and not all are sinful. But, in the end, I think adulthood belongs to and is defined by God. There are non-negotiables, namely, marriage and parenthood, and the reality of selfishness is not something to be taken lightly, especially for Christians. Youth pastors need to know how their young people are growing up, and they need to have an understanding of what promotes true maturity and what keeps it from flourishing.

I enjoyed this book. Blake, I know you will get to it soon. I can't wait to talk about it with you.

Peace. Comments? Questions? Differing viewpoints?

(Sculpture found at Rednose Studios)

Mohler's Booked Blog

Dang it! Mohler just started a book blog for reviews and such. Not only will this put The Booked Blog out of business, but it will also make us look like children given that he will post about 7 posts a week. Thanks a lot Al.


You can find his new blog here. If anything, you know where he got his inspiration... ; )


Peace.

Why Small Groups?: Together Toward Maturity

You can find this book in full-text at Google here.

Why Small Groups?: Together Toward Maturity is edited by C.J. Mahaney and includes a compilation of articles on small groups from many seasoned pastors across the nation. This book is primarily geared toward equipping leaders to lead small groups, but is certainly beneficial for those who want deepen their current small group involvement. Also, those who are still considering or questioning the small-group (aka, home-group, care-group, family-group, etc.) rout and it's biblical foundations will find no better Scripture-centered discussion of small-groups than here.

Main Thesis

Small groups provide an environment that cultivates biblical fellowship and sanctification. Biblically, the Christian faith is designed to thrive in a community setting. Though fellowship certainly occurs in many ways and at many times, small-groups are a way to ensure consistent, long-term, gospel-focused meetings between members of a local church. In most churches going to Sunday School and hearing a sermon in "Big Church" (even if they are sound, expository studies) is an inadequate means of sanctification. Small groups are not bible studies. They are geared to create a climate that allows for Christians to meet with the intention of walking together in faith. From serving one another to serving with one another; from rebuking sin to applying the weekly sermon; from praying together for a lost parent to accountability for one's private struggles; from grieving together over the loss of a sibling or parent to celebrating the arrival of a new baby; from providing a meal for one who is sick to sharpening spiritual gifts; from personality conflicts to biblical reconciliation--small groups get people into real community and challenge those who would otherwise only relate to their Christian friends on a superficial level. Fellowship is essential to the Christian life. Talking doctrine once a quarter over a styrofoam plate of fried chicken, green bean casserole, and rolls does not create the type of fellowship envisioned in Acts 2. Small groups are a way to become skilled at experiencing true fellowship with those of your local church.

Quotes

"Genuine fellowship isn't practical in a crowd of 200 or 2,000. That's why I feel so strongly that churches must create small groups where Christians can develop intimate relationships, where they can 'know and be known.' A church following a biblical model will not just 'have' small groups. It will not merely 'offer' small groups. Rather, it will be built with small groups." (Mahaney, 3)

"Opportunities to fall in love, get married, procreate, pursue a career, go bungee jumping, play baseball, or go to school are all open to humanity in general. But only Christians can experience fellowship. For this reason alone, this unique quality of Christian existence should be exceedingly precious to us." (Loftness, 19-20)

"Small groups provide an excellent context in which to pursue many of the vital goals of church life that are difficult, if not impossible, to pursue on Sunday mornings." (Mullery, 47)

"Small groups can provide excellent opportunities for us to die to excessive love of comfort by embracing the changes and challenges God brings our way." (Butler, 77)

"The most important decision one will ever make is whether he or she will be devoted to Jesus Christ. And devotion to Jesus Christ cannot be effectively implemented without a devotion to the local church." (Harvey, 92)

"[It] is absolutely essential to realize that [para-church] ministries exist largely because local churches have fallen short of their biblical mandate. Truly, para-church ministries are evidence of the unpaid debt of the local church." (Harvey, 103)

"I find no New Testament examples of ministries that operated independently of local churches." (Harvey, 104)

Overall Conclusion

Anyone who is leading a small group needs to read this. There are crucial chapters on small group leadership filled with wisdom and insight on how to maintain a healthy small group. This was a great read. It's easy to read and can be read in one day. Check it out.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?
EP

Next post: Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up by Christopher Noxon. Get a preview here.)

Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

Well, over the weekend I read Mahaney's Living the Cross Centered Life. It was a refreshing and enriching read. I won't post a detailed review of it, but I will give you some quotes and main points.

Basically, the work of Christ on the cross is something we should never move away from. The cross does not function merely to get one into heaven, but it serves as an anchor that sustains the entire Christian life. The realities that flow from the cross are the foundation for every Christian act henceforth. This book reflects on the gravity of sin, the fierceness of God's wrath, the justice of God, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, the love of God, and reconciliation that occurs as Christians are justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ. From there, Christians are to no longer fear the condemnation of God. They are to live a life of joy knowing that God has welcomed them into fellowship by the work of His Son. As moods come and go, the work of Christ remains the same. As those who have been purchased by His blood, we are to always remember from where we have been rescued and never depart from the mercy and grace God has shown us in making us His own.

Quotes:

"Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth. It has more facets than any diamond. We will never exhaust it's depths" (142).

"How easily we fall into the trap of assuming that we remain justified only so long as there are grounds in our character for justification" (111). (Quote from Sinclair Ferguson)

"Nothing in all creation is more steeped in the miraculous than the fact of your forgiveness and mine" (95)

"A cross-centered life is made up of cross-centered days" (132).

This book is short and sweet, but dense and challenging. It would do anyone good to grab a copy and soak it in. Praise the Lord for sending us the Christ.

Peace.
Comments? Thoughts? Questions?

We Now Return to Your Regularly Scheduled Blog...

Well, the semester at Southern has officially ended, and with some free time and an accumulated book list ready to go, the Booked Blog is currently back on track. I'll try to get a post up soon. For now, here are some books that I read this semester that I would recommend.

The Work of Christ, by Robert Letham was an enjoyable read. Letham is very clear and makes many good points concerning the work of Christ.

"All things--education, politics, business, sports, the arts, family, life, economic conditions such as inflation and unemployment, scientific inquiry, the legal system and so on--are to be seen from the perspective of the creation mediatorship of Jesus Christ. This presents us not just one way of looking at the world. Since he made it, to view the universe from any other perspective will result in distortion." (209)

The Nature of the Atonement, a very helpful read for me. Southern's own Dr. Tom Schreiner contributes the essay arguing for penal substitutionary atonement.

This book is helpful for anyone who wants to define what they believe about the work of Christ.




The Cross of Christ is a must read for...well, everyone. Seriously, no one who is serious about studying the work of Christ can go without this one. What a work it is. Though a beast of a work, COC is pastoral and easy to read. Stott is a gifted writer with much insight into the cross. Go getcha one.






Evangelical Ethics tackles a wealth of topics and critical issues that the church faces today. Ranging from contraceptives and cloning, to euthanasia and environmentalism, J. Davis offers great discussion on the most current issues that every congregation must face sooner or later. With up to date research and statistics, Davis informs and equips the Christian with a sufficient knowledge to take a stand on some complicated issues that abound in our day. Readable and informative.



Aight. Who's next?

Peace.
EP

Family Driven Faith

All summer long and now into the fall, I have been increasingly disappointed in my lack of a book review on this blog. It is not that I do not have the time, nor do I think I lack the mental capacity to complete a book, but simply due to the fact that I like starting as many books that I can and then leaving them unfinished on the bookshelf. After many months of delay, and some encouragement by my wife, I completed Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham.

Christian Instruction
As Christians, there is an ever-increasing need for instruction and guidance in the area of rearing a family in a God-centered home. Voddie Baucham attempts in this book to equip his readers with the tools and instruction they need to rear children in an anti-family, anti-Christian world.

There is Work to be Done
The statistics show that we as Christians, and especially as Christian parents, have our work cut out for us. Recent studies show that between 70 and 88 percent of "Christian teens" are leaving the church by their second year in college. A failure rate of around 80 percent is staggering! While many in the church may attempt to blame pastors, youth pastors, children ministries, or even nurseries, the responsibility for preparing, disciplining, and discipling children lies squarely on the shoulders of parents.

This book provides readers with insight into how seriously Dr. Baucham approaches the task of giving his children a home that is focused on glorifying God first and foremost.

Cultivating a Biblical Worldview
One of the main components of preparing our children is to give them a proper worldview. This word is being tossed around a lot lately, but what it boils down to is that we act upon what we believe. How you react to different things in the world is based upon your system of beliefs. As parents, we are responsible for giving our children a Christian worldview, one that is based upon scripture. Reading this book has convicted me of my own shortcomings when it comes to "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) If I or my wife or my children have a conversation with someone who wants to know the biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations upon which we make ethical decisions, we must be prepared.

We are Accountable
Our children must be surrounded by a God-glorifying home. It is not enough for us to merely worship at church, but it is something that is essential to the Christian home. How are they to learn by simply attending church for 2-3 hours every week? How can one be expected to defend their faith, or even share their faith with others if they are not immersed in a home that is God-centered? Christians, and especially Christian men, must be leading their family. We will be held accountable for what we have done with our families, and it is a responsibility that we should take lightly. One day we will answer to God and God alone for what we have or have not done.

Be Prepared
After reading this book, I have come to realize that the blessing of being a parent does not come easily. We must be prepared. We cannot put off our responsibility onto someone else's shoulders because ultimately, we will be responsible.

Is it worth reading? Most definitely. Will you have a new outlook on homeschooling, family worship, and the importance of the church in the life of your family? You should.

Biblical Womanhood in the Home

This is my first contribution to the booked blog. I recently finished this book entitled, "Biblical Womanhood in the Home" edited Nancy Leigh DeMoss with the following contributors: herself, Barbara Hughes, Susan Hunt, Mary A. Kassian, Carolyn Mahaney, Dorothy Kelley Patterson and P. Bunny Wilson. Some of which may or may not ring a bell.

The books aim was to bring the focus back to what women are called to. The joy and fulfillment found in being a Biblical Woman is being destroyed by the world and its expectations and definitions of what a woman should be and look like.

Here was the overview:

I. The Glory of Womanhood as created by God
II. The Challange of Biblical Womanhood in a Fallen World.
III. The Freedom of Women as Helpers.
IV. The Joy of Women as Bearers and Nurturers of Life

One of the authors used Mary as a Biblical example of what a goldy woman should look like. I had never really heard or thought about some of the points she brought out:

Mary was an ordinary woman.

• She was not from a wealthy faimly; Jesus gave her significance.

Mary was a pure woman.

• He chose to plant the seed of His Son in a pure vessel.

Mary was an undeserving woman.

• She marveled at God's grace in choosing her.

Mary was a chosen woman.

• Chosen by God for a task of eternal significance.

Mary was a Spirit-filled woman.

• Enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Mary was an available woman.

• Her response, "May it be to me as you have said."

Mary was a believing woman.

• She took God at His Word.

Mary was a praising woman.

• In response, "My sould glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

Mary was a woman of the Word.

• The Word was hidden in her heart; her prayer quoted in the OT dozen of times.

Mary was a reflective woman.

• After His birth, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

Mary was a humble woman.

• She was about making Him known, not her.

Mary was a trusting woman.

• She did not push her husband to believe, but trusted God to speak to him and work in his heart.
  

Mary was a submissive woman.

• Embraced the will of God; let her husband lead (protect from Herod).

Mary was an influential woman.

• Wedding feast--directed others to Him; teaching her own children.
  

Mary was a praying woman.

• Woman of prayer, as seen in Scripture.

Mary was a devoted woman.

• Followed Jesus throughout his ministry--all the way to the cross.

Mary was a loved woman.

• He made sure His mother would be cared for.

Mary was a wounded woman.

• "A sword will pierce your own soul too," She gave up her son as well.

Another section focused not a godly, biblical woman as an example or inspiration for Christian women; but the foolish woman in Proverbs 7 to show what women of the world today look like and how we should contrast that.

Anyway, the book hit home some great points and great encouragement. These were only a few things I pulled out. Here are a few Scriptures to ponder on:

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears her down." Proverbs 14:1

"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Gen. 2:18

"Your beauty...should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is teh way the holy women of the past who put their hope in Gd used to make themselves beautiful." 1 Pet. 3:3-5

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at h ome, to be hind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

"A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life...
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband alos, and he praises her:
'Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.;
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
Prov. 31:10-12,26-31

Encouraging, yet challenging.

BB Summer Review

Well, folks, the Booked Blog turned out to be very utilized indeed! Thanks for all who contributed this summer. Books from all different genres were read: theological, philosophical, historical, cultural, educational, etc. That means a lot of self-education was going on over the summer--good!

(Overall, around 40 books were read and reviewed--that's a lot of sitting!)

However, out of the 10 contributors only 6 contributed. Hmm. Should we trim the roster? Since seminary is back in full swing I wouldn't expect many new posts here until around December (at least from the main contributors). So, non-seminary contributors, it's your time to shine. Just grab a book, devote to one chapter every 2 days or so, and before you know it, bam! a book is finished and your reflections on it are often crystallized when you explain it to someone else (i.e., a review on the BB!). Do it, if not for the BB, for yourself!

Nevertheless, it's been real for now.

Suggestions? Contributor Requests? Contributor Resignations?

Peace!
EP

Revelation and Reason

Revelation and Reason: New Essays in Reformed Apologetics (360 pp) is a collection of essays edited by Scott Oliphint and Lane Tipton, two profs from Westminster Philly. This is an outstanding resource. Here are the contents:

----Part 1 Reformed Apologetics: Exegetical Considerations
1. Some Epistemological Reflections on I Cor. 2:6-13-Richard B. Gaffin
2. Resurrection, Proof, and Presuppositionalism: Acts 17:30-31-Lane G. Tipton
3. The Irrationality of Unbelief: An Exegetical Study-K. Scott Oliphint
4. The Case for Calvinistic Hermeneutics-Moises Silva
5. Paul’s Christological Interpretation of Creation and Presuppositional Apologetics-Lane G. Tipton
----Part 2 Reformed Apologetics: Theological Foundations
6. Divine Aseity and Apologetics-John M. Frame
7. Consistently Reformed: The Inheritance and Legacy of Van Til’s Apologetic-Michael S. Horton
8. A Confessional Apologetic-Thom Notaro
9. Theologia Naturalis: A Reformed Tradition-Jeffrey K. Jue
10. The Eschatological Implications of Genesis 2:15 for Apologetics-Bill Dennison
----Part 3 Reformed Apologetics: Methodological Implications
11. The Old-New Reformed Epistemology-K. Scott Oliphint
12. The Fate of Apologetics in an Age of Normal Nihilism-Michael Payne
13. Turn! Turn! Turn! Reformed Apologetics and the Cultural Dimension-William Edgar
14. Van Til and Transcendental Argument-Don Collett
APPENDIX - Cornelius Van Til and the Reformation of Christian Apologetics-K. Scott Oliphint.

----This is a fairly technical book. It is great, but I would only recommend it to those with a little background in Reformed apologetics. It is in some ways, simply more exegetical, theological, historical, and methodological ammunition to support Van Til's presuppostional method of apologetics. My favorite parts of the books were chapters 2, 5, and 10 where the contributors combined the insights of Cornelius Van Til and Geerhardus Vos, two of my favorite theologians.

----This is my last contribution to the booked blog. It has been fun and hopefully fruitful. I wanted to review a few more(one on new covenant theology, living Christianly in this world, and biblical theology), but time is gone. I would recommend all three though. Enjoy the Fall. Learn.

Rob Bell: SEX GOD

Well, let me take this opportunity to exhort many of my fellow Christians to take the time to occasionally read those with whom we don't see eye to eye. Many people will miss out on the depth and insight of this book simply because it is written by Rob Bell. Although I would surely differ from him on some important issues and might not recommend all of his material, I will refer to this book again and again for pastoral reminders of the Gospel-centered wonders of human sexuality.

Here's why:

What is This Book For?
The subtitle of this book is Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality. Basically, Rob Bell discusses what a lot of churches and pastors won't: Sex and God. Many don't even think the two words should even be mentioned in the same sentence, much less have any connections. That fact about sex is that God created it and it brings Him glory. Sex doesn't make God blush. God intentionally designed sex, with all of its biological and emotional pleasures, to create a special connection between a married man and woman, which in turn points to a special connection between God and His people. Thus, sexuality is never an end in itself. When the divine design of sexuality is misunderstood or misused (like in fornication or homosexuality), the soul satisfying intention is also lost. In reality, only Christians can understand what sex is truly about. Unfortunately, sex is often considered taboo in church or Christian discussions. Yet, humans were created as sexual creatures. To partake of sex outside of its marital design is destructive and will wrench the soul of true sexual satisfaction; yet to reserve any discussion of sex for only married people can likewise have adverse affects. There should be a healthy balance of sexuality in the lives of people of all ages, namely, acknowledging that God is for sex and has created humans to be sexual, yet to explain that God has wisely designed that sex is to have its fullest Gospel expression in Christian marriage. Rob Bell's overall emphasis in this book is that sexuality was created by God to ultimately be a spiritual act that serves as an image of Him with His people. Very good. Rob Bell talks about sex to Christians, and he does well.

Key Chapters and Quotes

"You can't talk about sexuality without talking about how we were made. And that will inevitably lead you to who made us. At some point you have to talk about God" (15).

Chapter 3: Angels and Animals
These two words describe the extremes that people go to when it comes to sexuality. "Angels " are those who abstain totally from acknowledging sexuality in any form until marriage. His idea comes from Matt. 22:30 that basically mentions that in heaven there will be no more marriage or sexuality. "Animals" are those who indulge in sex and are lead along unhindered by sexual impulses. Good chapter with good discussion.

Chapter 6: Worth Dying For
This is Rob Bell's chapter on leadership and submission. This is maybe one of my favorite chapters. Basically he wraps up leadership and submission by saying both husband and wife are to submit to each other (though the husband as head) with the mindset of Christ's selfless death, hence the phrase, "worth dying for." This chapter is partly geared toward women. He challenges them to not give themselves away (or to fill the void of wanting to be loved) to a man who will not treat them as if they were worth dying for. Good.

"The husband's waiting for the wife to submit is actually a failure to lead" (117).

From chapter nine, Whoopee Forever:

"If you are single, and you've been sent messages or it's been hinted at or even said to your face that you are somehow missing something, that you [as unmarried] aren't good enough, that you don't fit-that's not true. It's not just that you're fine single. The premise of the Scriptures is that you are able to serve God in ways that those who aren't married can't. The tilt is for being single, not away from it" (164).

There are more things to quote, but they are connect to larger ideas apart from which would just seem dumb. Read the book.

Concerns

My main concern obviously revolves around the things he says that are questionable. One should definitely be ready to spit out some bones here and there. Bell speaks a lot by asking questions, which is somewhat indicative of an attitude of uncertainty in truth. There were times where I saw how my thinking drastically differs from his. For instance, he would say that sex equals marriage, and that, say, a cohabiting couple might be married in God's sight (137, notice the uncertain approach). I don't agree. For one, Jesus didn't recognize the woman at the well (John 4:18) as having a husband even when she was living with a man (and most likely having sex). Also, if God viewed sex as creating a marriage then the Bible would not speak of fornication, only adultery. Things like that. I think Bell is inclusive in his view of denominations, considering things like the Protestant ordinance of the Lord's Supper to be the same thing as a Roman Catholic Mass (28). Then there is the fact that he presents God's love as God taking "a giant risk" (97) and making Himself vulnerable to heartbreak by creating people. He stresses that God lets us make the move when it comes to loving Him, and would never "override our freedom" by His power (98). All the 5 points of Calvinism in me cringe at such a human view of God's love. Those are a few examples. But, I think any discerning reader may see through these issues, for they don't necessarily undermine is whole point.

My Recommendation

Rob Bell is very gifted, clear, readable, and pastoral. I enjoyed reading this book. His writing style is very, well, bloggish (if that makes sense). He writes his book as if he were writing a blog, that is, with very simple expressions that model a casual conversation. A whole paragraph might be the word, "Yes." It will keep your attention and you will get through a chapter in no time. Yet, I am not sure that I would recommend it to all indiscriminately. There are things that I would want someone to have strong convictions about first before picking this up. This book is definitely useful and should be considered, but I would have people begin their notion of Christian sexuality by first Googling the word "sex" with the name "C.J. Mahaney" or "John Piper."

Ok, well, that is probably the last book for me this summer. School starts Monday. I will have a summary of this summer's activity on the Booked Blog in a few days. Keep it locked.

Peace.
EP