Today, I am going to go out on a limb and recommend a book that I have not read, and in fact will not be available until sometime in March. The Archeological Study Bible will be, as far as I know, the only Study Bible of its kind. It will not contain theological commentary, but will instead feature historical and archeological information.

I am not thrilled with the publisher's choice of translation (NIV), but I am excited to see the accompanying articles and pictures. It should be a very useful tool for the average reader who wants to better understand the historical context of Scripture. I know I'll be getting one.

One of the contributors, and the initial reason for my interest, is Todd Bolen of The Master's College. His work was featured in this article earlier this month. You can read what Todd has to say about The Archeological Study Bible here.

Related links:
Archeological Study Bible
Bible Places
Life in the Holy Land
Bible Places Blog

I have become increasingly interested lately in the history of the Church and in the lives and writings of the pastors and theologians to whom we owe our great heritage. Among the books I have had my eye on recently is Devoted to the Service of the Temple: Piety, Persecution, and Ministry in the Writings of Hercules Collins, which I discovered at Pastor Steve Weaver's Blog (Steve is co-editor). (Who can resist Reformed Baptist theology from a guy named "Hercules"?) Steve has become one of my favorite Bible expositors (listen here), so whatever he is reading is of interest to me. Pastor Weaver has provided the following information on the new book:

The new book exploring the spirituality of 17th century Baptist pastor Hercules Collins is now in stock at Reformation Heritage Books and available for order online here.

Description:

While largely forgotten in modern times, Hercules Collins (1646/7-1702) was highly influential among the late 17th and early 18th century Calvinistic Baptists of London. Through a biographical sketch and 35 sample selections collected from Collins's writings, Michael A. G. Haykin and Steve Weaver introduce us to the vibrant spirituality of this colossal figure.

Product Details:

ISBN: 9781601780225
FORMAT: Paperback, 160 pages
RETAIL PRICE: $10.00

Commendations:

"Hercules Collins is one of the great figures from our Baptist heritage—a pastor who suffered much for the cause of Christ and left a great legacy for generations that followed. There is something especially compelling about the witness of a man who was oppressed and imprisoned for his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The witness of Hercules Collins as pastor, prisoner, and preacher is worthy of the closest attention in our own times. We are indebted to Michael Haykin and Steve Weaver for bringing Hercules Collins to life for a new generation." —R. ALBERT MOHLER, JR.

"The secret of Collins's courage and strength lay in his relationship with the Lord Christ. The enormous contemporary value of reading his life and writings is not just in its exposition of his evangelistic methodology, and its indirect comments on today's broader theological scene, but in the inspiration it gives to the heart of each Christian for growth in grace and deeper spirituality." —GEOFF THOMAS

"We are indebted to Michael Haykin and Steve Weaver for these carefully chosen selections …. For too long Baptists have had little access to the richness of their theological tradition. We have a great past, and many able servants have given their lives to the cause of our churches, and yet so few of their works have been reprinted. This book continues a very encouraging recent trend, in which the best works are being restored to print. May the Lord bless this book, and the efforts of its editors." —From the FOREWARD by JAMES M. RENIHAN

Authors:

MICHAEL A. G. HAYKIN is Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky & Research Professor of Irish Baptist College, Constituent College of Queen's University Belfast, N. Ireland.

STEVE WEAVER is the pastor of West Broadway Baptist Church in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Previews:

Front Cover
Back Cover
Foreward by James Renihan
Excerpt #1: "God is the Gospel"
Excerpt #2: "Plain Preaching"

After receiving several books for review purposes, I have learned a couple of things. First, I would rather choose my own books. Second, I don’t like reading books for the purpose of reviewing them. I would rather read for my own education and edification. My hope is that this will benefit some beyond myself. With that said, I hope you’ll understand if this is not a particularly well-written review. It is, after all, my first book review, as well.

The Grand Weaver: How God Shapes Us through the Events of Our Lives is the first book I have read by Ravi Zacharias. I had, of course, heard of him as an author, apologist, and conference speaker. By all reliable accounts, he is fairly sound theologically, and well spoken of by others whose work I do know and respect; so my expectations going into this book were high. Perhaps those high expectations colored my thinking as I read and made me too susceptible to disappointment, and disappointed I was. I want to state clearly that this is not a bad book. It simply did not, in my opinion, demonstrate biblically “how God shapes us through the events of our lives.”

Throughout the book, especially in the first half, Dr. Zacharias depends on anecdotes that illustrate the providential hand of God in directing our lives. These stories, for the most part, serve that purpose well, although, at times, I wondered if Zacharias was not leaning a bit too far toward the mystical. Too little was added by the author, however, to draw that conclusion—and that is a major complaint I have about this book. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who drops the ends of sentences and, with a meaningful look, expects you to get it? That’s how I felt reading this book. Zacharias would almost make his point, and then offer an anecdote, poem, or quote intended to convey the message. It was like . . . you know?

The second half of the book contains two chapters that are really quite good and could easily stand alone, Your Will Matters and Your Worship Matters. The following quote from the latter is the kind of solid, straight-forward writing that is lacking elsewhere in the book:

Teaching must become the center of worship again, and the ideas that shape our expressions must be biblically induced and shaped. I am not for a moment suggesting that right teaching will guarantee a throbbing, lively church. It may not. But I am suggesting that displaced and misplaced teaching will guarantee a heretical church.

The message of the book is that God is directing the circumstances and events of your life to make you who he wants you to be, and that you will never see this until you begin to look at your life from his perspective. And that’s an important message. It is a message that is conveyed, after a fashion, through the stories in this book. I only wish it had been conveyed more through biblical exposition.

You may enjoy the style of this book. I didn’t. If you are easily moved by poignant stories, this book is for you. If you are a pastor looking for fresh illustrations to spice up your sermons, this book might be for you. However, if you are looking for a biblical exposition of the sovereignty and providence of God, this is not that book.

Devoted to the Service of the Temple: Piety, Persecution, and Ministry in the Writings of Hercules Collins is a collection of the writings of seventeenth-century Particular Baptist pastor Hercules Collins edited by Dr. Michael Haykin and Pastor Steve Weaver. At 139 pages, including a bibliography, it is a short, easy read, but one that is packed full of rich pastoral theology.

The book begins with a thirty page introduction, providing a brief biography of Hercules Collins and the historical setting of his writings, followed by thirty-five short chapters, which are excerpts of his writings. This book can easily be read in one sitting, as I did, or one chapter (2–3 short pages) a day, as a devotional. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find such rich theology in any devotional book written today.

We owe considerable gratitude to Dr. Haykin and Pastor Weaver for bringing us this collection of writings from this great, though lesser known, “dead theologian.” I heartily recommend it to you, and leave you with this quote from chapter five, titled God is the Gospel:

There are many good objects in heaven and earth besides thee. There are angels in heaven and saints on earth. But, soul, what are these to thee? Heaven, without thy presence, would be no heaven to me. A palace without thee, a crown without thee, cannot satisfy me. But with thee can I be content, though in a poor cottage. With thee I am at liberty in bonds. . . . [I]f I have thy smiles, I can bear the world’s frowns. If I have spiritual liberty in my soul that I can ascend to thee by faith and have communion with thee, thou shalt choose thy portion for me in this world, “For in the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.”

Devoted to the Service of the Temple is available to purchase from Reformation Heritage Books.

The Black or White Chronicles by John Aubrey Anderson
Book One: Abiding Darkness
Book Two: Wedgewood Grey
Book Three: And if I Die

I am not a fan of Christian fiction. I have read very little of it, but what little I have read I have found to be generally lame as literature and theologically weak, at best. The theme of these books, spiritual warfare, has received especially bad treatment and so increased my skepticism. So when I began this series, I expected to trudge joylessly through the first volume, pat myself on the back for graciously giving my time to this work, and move on to better things. Not exactly overcome with enthusiasm, I began . . .

The setting of The Black or White Chronicles is the segregated South of the 1940s and continuing into the ’60s. The story revolves around Moses Lincoln “Mose” Washington, the great-grandson of a slave and operations manager of the local cotton gin, Amanda “Missy” Parker, the daughter of the gin owner, and their families. The community provides a variety of colorful characters.

The story begins in 1945 with seven-year-old Missy Parker, her twelve-year-old brother Bobby, and eleven-year-old Mose “Junior” Washington, who form an inseparable confederation known in the community as “those Parker children.” Basically good kids, they routinely get into the kind of mischief that naturally germinates in childish imaginations, such as building a crude boat out of siding stolen from one of Mr. Parker’s cotton sheds.

The action begins when Missy Parker is singled out for a demonic attack. In a dramatic scene on Cat Lake, demons possess several cottonmouth water moccasins and attack the three children as they play at the Cat Lake Bridge. In the ensuing struggle, Mose Junior saves Missy’s life, sacrificing his own in the process. Out of this tragedy, an unlikely friendship is formed between the two disparate families. More importantly, Missy and her family come to know Christ through the witness of the Washington family.

And that is all I am going to give away.

I found in these books a few pleasant surprises:

1. Any work of fiction that deals with spiritual warfare will inevitably be speculative. Scripture simply does not tell us enough about the spirit realm of angels and demons upon which to build a good novel. One of my fears before reading these books was that they would be filled with the kind of wild, paranoid nonsense that seems typical of those obsessed with “spiritual warfare.” However, I was relieved to find nothing of that nature in these stories. While the author’s descriptions of angelic and demonic activities are necessarily speculative, I don’t believe he went overboard with it. Other than the dubious claim that everyone has their own personal guardian angel, I found no blatantly unbiblical representations of angels or demons.
2. The sovereignty of God was clearly presented. Throughout the book, the belief is repeated that God is in control, that Satan can do nothing that God does not allow, and that believers need not fear the powers of darkness.
3. The Gospel is fairly accurately presented, and its proclamation is made the primary goal of the protagonists throughout the books. There is a definite element of decisional regeneration, but there is also an emphasis on genuine repentance and faith, and on God’s sovereignty in drawing sinners to himself.

I do have couple of complaints about these books. One, and an admittedly small one, is the presence of a few common clichés: there are apparently no unattractive women in the South. Most of them are beautiful, and many of them are jaw-droppingly stunning. There are also no bad cooks in the South. All the food, wherever you go, is the best you’ve ever had. The men—the good ones, anyway—are all brave and steadfast, the dogs are all smart . . . you get the idea. My next complaint is more substantial: the third volume, And if I Die, left too many loose ends untied. A fourth volume is almost demanded to bring the saga to a satisfactory end. Bring it on!

Admittedly, I picked up the first volume, Abiding Darkness, with a negative attitude. After the first couple of chapters, I remarked to my wife that it was a combination of Stephen King, Jack Chick, and Garrison Keillor. By the end of the book, I was ready to dig into the second. I did not expect to enjoy even one of these books, but I must admit that I enjoyed all three. They were entertaining, inspiring, and fun. If you’re looking for something to lighten up your reading schedule, The Black or White Chronicles could be just what the doctor ordered.

Excellent reviews of Tim Challies’ new book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, have already been written, and I have little to add to them. But I do have a few words to say about it:

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is unique among the books dealing with discernment that I have read. This is not a book addressing current issues. It does not take on some current attack on orthodox Christianity and guide the reader to the Biblical response. In other words, it does not do the discerning for you. It does something far more valuable: it teaches, directly from Scripture, what discernment is, and how to become discerning, and does it well. For that reason, it is far more valuable, and of much more lasting value, than any other book on the subject that I have read. Because the principles it contains are timeless, I cannot imagine that this book will ever become outdated.

Buy this book. Buy several, and give them away.

I also had a fair-sized rant running through my head concerning the disgraceful behavior of some (here and here) in comments they have made about Tim’s qualification and motives for writing the book, along with the integrity of its endorsers. But I’ll just condense it to a few words: [which I have decided to delete from this post].

I’ll give Tim’s pastor the last word on his qualifications:

I fully endorse Tim’s book. More than that, I fully endorse Tim’s life. He is a faithful, encouraging, serving, accountable, “normal,” giving member of our church.

Paul Martin
Pastor
Grace Fellowship Church, Toronto
www.gfcto.com

Read reviews:
The Discerning Reader
Tim Irvin
Frank Turk

Buy it here.

Reformation Heritage Books is publishing a new book by Dr. Joel R. Beeke on the beliefs held by the Puritans on the doctrine of Spiritual Adoption. Heirs With Christ: The Puritans on Adoption will be out on June 3rd, and is available for pre-order here. To read the Foreword, click here. I don‘t believe I have a single book specifically dedicated to the doctrine of Adoption, so this will be a welcome addition to my library.

click image to view trailer

Endorsements:
“Dr. Beeke is well-known for his landmark work setting the record straight on the Puritan doctrine of assurance. Now he comes to our aid again with a superb treatment of the Puritans on adoption. I welcome his expert entry into this important field, and commend his keen insights and careful analysis to all who are interested in knowing ‘what the Puritans really said’ about adoption.” —Ligon Duncan

“In this short but spiritually substantive book, Dr. Beeke—a wise and careful ‘pastor theologian’ in the best sense of both words—introduces us to the Puritans’ comforting and transforming work on spiritual adoption. More than just historically informative, this volume should be warmly welcomed by all Christians who want to learn more about this crucial aspect of our identity as sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” —Justin Taylor

These are just a few reviews of the book I am currently reading, The Courage to Be Protestant: Truth Lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World by David Wells.

• Albert Mohler: On the Other Hand, Protestant Courage
• Tim Challies: The Courage to Be Protestant
• Nathan Pitchford: Book Review: The Courage to Be Protestant
• Roger Overton: Interview with David Wells on The Courage to Be Protestant Part I, Part II

I’ve been posting some excerpts this week, and I’ve been amazed at the difficulty of choosing highlights. It seems as if each paragraph is fairly bursting with potent insights into today’s church and culture. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that is so immediately — if you’ll forgive the cliché — relevant.

This is a guest post, written by Pastor Jerry Drebelbis, who has the dubious distinction of being my pastor.

Augustine As Mentor: A Review
By Jerome Drebelbisi

   Take a moment and peruse the number of books written by or about Aurelius Augustine, or Augustine of Hippo, 354–430 A.D. One reason for the numerous volumes is, in part, because Augustine, himself, was a prolific writer. More than 100 books along with sermons, letters and notes to friends and fellow church compatriots are attributed to him. So it is no wonder the copious number of books written about Augustine. Among these writings Edward Smithers, assistant professor of Church History and Intercultural Studies at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, brings us another perspective — Augustine as Mentor, A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders1.
   Mr. Smithers believes that “many pastors today . . . are struggling in isolation without a pastor to nurture their souls” (p. v). He is not alone in this concern. Anderson and Reese emphasize this same problem in the forward of their writing. We live in a world of “disenchantment with ‘knowledge for knowledge’s sake.’”2 If this spiritual isolation impacts church leaders today then what is the solution to escape the dilemma? Augustine as Mentor attempts to address this issue looking back at the beginning of the Church and one of its giants as a leader.

Analysis:
   The book divides into six chapters. Chapter one examines biblical examples of mentors in the first century. While the author admits that the word “mentor” is not in Scripture he does recognize the discipline can take other forms, such as that of discipling. He uses Jesus and Paul as primary examples of those who mentored/discipled those around them. Numerous New Testament references are given to support the position.
   Chapter two unpacks mentoring as it appeared in the third and fourth centuries. The author, with copious references, details the lives of men like Cyprian of Carthage, Pachomius of Egypt, and Basil. These men and others formed in the author’s view a backdrop and example from which Augustine developed his own style of mentoring.
   Chapter three asks the question, who was Augustine’s mentor? Obviously some time is spent examining the way Augustine’s mother, Monica, influenced his spiritual development. Her example of holiness and practical faith are featured with numerous references to Confessions. The reader is then given a look at several of Augustine’s friends and companions. Alypius, Evodius and Ambrose were not only close companions to Augustine but also mentors. Smithers convincingly argues that while he finds that Augustine wrote very little about Valerius, Augustine’s predecessor, Valerius was his most “significant mentor.”3
   Chapter four, the longest chapter — 88 pages, brings the work to a climax. How did Augustine mentor others? The author draws from Augustine’s forty years in the ministry, 391–430, with citings from his numerous letters, books and preaching and supervisory method as examples of how Augustine discipled both subordinates and fellow bishops.
   Chapter five gives us Augustine’s thoughts on the subject. Once again from abundant references, the reader is given Augustine’s perspective of how a mentor should live and work. Five principles are mentioned as the framework of a mentor’s life. This leaves the reader wondering if Augustine, himself, adhered to his own ideals. The author answers the question by quoting Possidius, Augustine’s friend and biographer; “I believe, however, that they profited even more who were able to hear him speaking in church and seeing him there present, especially if they were familiar with his manner of life.”4 In specific, Augustine lived what he preached and proclaimed. As great a man as Augustine was the author does admit that one failure, if we can consider it such, in Augustine’s life was that few, if any, of his disciples followed in Augustine’s example to defend the church from heresy or to supply others with theological thought and exegesis (p. 257).
   The final sixth chapter is a short exhortation for leaders today. The author reminds the reader that a mentor must always be a disciple at heart, always learning, always growing in the faith, as did Augustine. He was disciple, mentor, leader, releaser of other into ministry, but most of all follower of Jesus Christ. The author leaves the reader with the question; “will today’s church leaders intentionally look at leadership potential around them and search for able people to outshine them?” (p. 259).

Synthesis:
   The reader can be assured that Mr. Smithers is very familiar with the subject. The book is well documented referencing many sources both from early church writings to more recent analysis. One easily moves through the author’s thoughts as he presents his arguments for discipleship and mentoring. His style, easy to follow, often opens with a question. For example, “How Did Augustine Mentor?” (p.134). The author then supports his answers by partitioning Augustine’s life into various elements to demonstrate how Augustine mentored in each one, the monastery, books, letters, councils, etc.
   While the book is well documented and thoughts expanded in an orderly fashion, progressing through the book becomes almost tedious. One wants to say, “Alright, I get the idea; let’s move on.” Unless the reader truly wants to know more about Augustine, for the average, sometimes overwhelmed, busy pastor, the book has too much detail. And while the book is true to its title, Augustine as Mentor, one wonders if Mr. Smithers is writing for the average church leader or his own colleagues.
   The last chapter, “Shepherding Shepherds Today” is only two pages. While there is benefit in knowing about mentoring in the early church, more thought and space could have been afforded to application today. Many pastors are, like this one, interested in not only the what but even more so, the so what. In the final analysis the reader wants to know what the author’s suggestions are that he has gleaned from his study. What from the author’s perspective, in twenty-first century culture, does he believe the pastor can and should pursue in depth? With this question always in mind there is a disheartening realization that the reader is given 257 pages of information but only two pages of application. The reader may have been more ably assisted if the author had balance the work more evenly.
   For example, one theologically prominent subject today is that of spiritual formation. Using Augustine’s writings the author could easily have moved into this realm of current significance. After all, is this not what Augustine was attempting to do with his contemporaries? In other words Augustine, who relied upon his biblical and theological premises, challenged heresies like Pelagianism, Arianism. How could those thoughts apply to our relativistic postmodern culture? How could Augustine’s thoughts have been organized to enhance one’s growth in spiritual formation? Answers to questions like these would have greatly enhanced the work.

1 Edward L. Smithers, Augustine as Mentor, A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders, B & H Publishing Group, Nashville, 2008. ↑ 

2 Keith R. Anderson and Randy D. Reese, Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for seeking and Giving Direction (Intervarsity Press, Dowers Grove, 1999), forward. ↑ 

3 Ibid, p. 112. ↑ 

4 Ibid, p. 229. ↑ 

i Jerome Drebelbis has pastored Grace Evangelical Free Church in Beulah, North Dakota, for ten years. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with a Masters of Divinity. ↑