Category: What I Read In (2017)

September seemed to be a hot-button issue month. There was less quantity, but significantly more quality with my reading prompting discussions and exploration of people, their stories, and how they relate to what these authors had to say. Everywhere I went these books provoked thought, and I learned a lot. Here’s a brief overview of what sat on my nightstand this month. God and the Transgender Debate In this 2017 book Andrew Walker has crafted a compassionate guidebook for a complex condition. Stripping away unhelpful arguments from both sides Walker delivers the truth in love, and in a way which is profoundly helpful to both those who are struggling with gender dysphoria, and those who would seek to walk alongside them.  Read my full review.   Between…

The Imperfect Disciple I’m grateful for Jared C. Wilson’s honest, down-to-earth look at what it means to be a disciple who is also human. We all stumble and fall; even Paul knew what it means to “do what I don’t want to do”. Wilson’s writing is easy to relate to, doesn’t come off as holier-than-thou, but rather seeks to walk side by side with us; offering encouragement for the average, broken-yet-striving Christian. One of my favourite sections was his wonderful walk through understanding and applying the beatitudes. For a sneak peak (and plenty to get the grey-matter thinking about), take a look at my top ten favourite quotes from the book. Batman: I Am Suicide (DC Universe Rebirth Vol 2) Tom King (and friends) did such…

July turned out to be a whirlwind month filled with all sorts of unexpected curveballs and unseen circumstances. As a result, I didn’t get through the books I had set for myself for this month, and so this edition of What I Read gets renamed “What I’m Reading”, because I’m mid-way through everything. The Disciple-Making Parent This could be the best book I’ve read on parenting so far. There are plenty of books that teach about parenting as connecting with the heart of your child, taking expected and unexpected moments to disciple your children, and infusing the gospel into your conversations as well as your corrections. But the value that The Disciple-Making Parent brings has been the importance of highlighting that discipleship begins with you…

Calling on the Name of the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Prayer Gary Millar managed to find something that I didn’t think existed in 2017: an angle on prayer that no one has ever explored before. Millar presents the first full biblical theology of prayer I’ve seen; from Genesis and the Pentateuch, through the Psalms, the Prophets, the Gospels, Paul’s writings, and finally prayer in the remainder of the New Testament letters. All throughout, Millar adds weight to his thesis that prayer is essentially “calling on the name of Yahweh to fulfill his promises”. He adds that for us, praying “in Jesus’ name” is the New Covenant re-imaging of the this formula. This book will change how you look at prayer, and cause your prayers…

The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity This month I’ve continued my reading on the Trinity, this time with B. B. Warfield. I thoroughly enjoyed this short walk through every passage of Scripture where the Trinity is present. You often hear people talk about the fact that the Trinity isn’t explicitly revealed in the bible, but Warfield demonstrates how the three persons of the Trinity (and the orthodox position on the Triune God) permeates all of Scripture, from the Old Testament all the way through to the words of Jesus, Paul, and others. Enjoy Another book added to my shelf by an fantastic woman author engaged in solid thinking. For everyone. Read my full review here. The Flash Volume 2: Speed of Darkness I’ve come to love…

I didn’t read as much as I normally would this April, but what I did read was fresh and nourishing. This month also saw me graduate with my M.Div, so I’m looking forward to being a little freer now to read more widely. Other books I read this month (not listed below) include Abraham Kuyper’s Lectures on Calvinism and Helmet Thieke’s A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. Humble Roots This month turned out holding a selection of books from thoroughly enjoyable women-theologians. The first off the bench was Hannah Anderson, whose book is tenaciously biblical while exploring humility through our physical bodies, emotions, and the natural world. Anderson reminded me afresh how pride is conquered through the recognition of our dependence on God, our need…

I read a bunch of great stuff in March. I haven’t included everything, as there will be some reviews being posted over the next few weeks, but overall March was a great month with marriage, means of grace, history, intelligent design, and some good old (new) superhero adventures. Know the Creeds and Councils Having sat in more than one class on church history, I’ve seen plenty of material covering heroes and heretics, councils, creeds, and controversies of the early years. This little book by Justin Holcomb was such a great springboard; every chapter short and punchy, and closed with a “so what?” for Christians today. While you’ll move through this book easily, if you’re like me it will act like a living map where the…

Reading for 2017 is well under way (check out what I read in January here). Here’s what I’m looking forward to this month. Habits of Grace: David Mathis So far I’ve read the forward (by John Piper) and I love the way he sets the reader up with the expectation that Mathis’ aim is to help believers enjoy Jesus through the spiritual disciplines. Having practiced (or at the very least become aware of) many spiritual disciplines from various branches of Christianity throughout history, I’m very much looking forward to the encouragement of Mathis in deepening my Christian spirituality, and enjoying Jesus more. Assassin’s Quest (Farseer Trilogy, Book #3): Robin Hobb The Farseer Trilogy are the books that I both want to finish, and don’t want to…

Now that the new year is here, I’m well underway with mapping out the books I’m excited about reading in 2017. I found last year’s choices enriching and enlarging (read that post here) and I’m looking forward to maintaining that wide variety and varied diet in the year to come. Below are the first five books I’m diving into in January (I doubt I’ll have time to review them all). Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them I thoroughly enjoyed this latest work from J.K. Rowling when it lit up the silver screen. I’m not entirely sure how I’ll fare given that her screenwriting debut has been presented through this hardcover in movie-script style (complete with stage directions, scene numbers, etc), but I’m looking forward to…