"Economics" (Greg Forster)

TITLE: Economics: A Student's Guide (Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition)
AUTHOR: Greg Forster
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2019, (126 pages).

Christians are called to be good stewards of the world and her resources. Though believers are not of the world, they are still in the world. They have to live with the world systems that are in place. They need to work to make ends meet. They are expected to contribute to the well-being of the earth and the natural resources. Right theology is crucial because it leads to right care of the earth. The secular world often try to separate Christian beliefs from the world. Truth is, this is never possible simply because the world was never created to be secular in the first place. Christians believe that God created heaven and earth; and God had ordained mankind to take care of the earth. Unfortunately, sin had corrupted mankind and this has led to many troubles. In a world of plenty, we still have many swaths of poverty. When we are expected to share, we tend to hoard up resources for self. When we are called to care, we turn the other direction. What we need is a constructive and beneficial understanding of what economics are; what they are supposed to do; and how we are to go about cultivating a flourishing world economy that is anchored on the gospel and the goodness of God.

"Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek" (Benjamin L. Merkle)

TITLE: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
AUTHOR: Benjamin L. Merkle
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019, (192 pages).

Studying Biblical Greek is a challenge for many of us trained in English. Not only must we grasp the challenges of grammar and a strange new pronunciation, we need to interpret the nuances that are revealed through different contexts. For those who are not gifted with language studies, the technical aspects of the language can be arduously dry. Author Benjamin Merkle designs this refresher of 35 examples to help three types of readers: Current Seminary students studying Greek; Former Greek students; and teachers of Biblical Greek. Current students would find the examples helpful to shed light and relevance in their studies. Former Greek students would be able to revisit what they had learned and forgotten. Greek teachers could use the examples to make their classes not only more interesting but more powerful.

Using a regular second year Greek syllabus format, Merkle titles each chapter according to the Greek syntax and exegesis course. While the book could be used like a reference book, for those who prefer to start from cover to cover, each chapter builds on the earlier ones. Readers get to learn or refresh themselves on the nature of koine Greek; interpretation from contexts and not just the texts; and the basic grammar and syntax to remember. As it is assumed that readers already have a knowledge of the Greek alphabet and the pronunciation, the Greek words in the book have not been transliterated. However, the meaning is often accompanied by an English translation in brackets. Like an able teacher, Merkle guides readers along with three clear sections: Introduction; Overview; and Interpretation. In Introduction, we get a gist of what the chapter is about. This is followed by an Overview with the key points reiterated with examples of how they are used in the other parts of the New Testament. The Interpretation portion is not only the longest, but comprises the main application of the concepts mentioned. Where appropriate, the author brings in exegesis and references from other sources to highlight the different ways to understand the grammar or how the grammar is used.

"Fearfully and Wonderfully" (Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey)

TITLE: Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God's Image
AUTHOR: Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2019, (264 pages).

The human body is most fascinating. It is a wonder how the body functions as one whole. Even medical science, for all its advances could not explain everything. Today, we are still uncovering countless secrets and learning about how the body works under various circumstances. At the same time, some people use the human body to learn about life. This is what authors Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey have done. Using the underlying presupposition that human beings are made in the image of God, they reveal some of the most profound meanings about life and spirituality through the lens of how the body works. From cells to tissues, body parts to physiological systems, we are constantly reminded that the way our body functions is a powerful metaphor to teach us and our communities how we ought to live. Researchers even call the human body as "generator of diversity" (GOD). So powerful is the human body immune system that doctors would readily agree that no science nor medical knowhow could beat the natural immune system. The problem of AIDS is a classic example. When the human immune system breaks down, it speeds up fatality. From the health of a single cell, we learn how that impacts the way the immunity functions. From the diversity of the various body systems, we learn about groups, communities, villages, and nations. The authors make a case for the starting point of any community: Diversity. This is simply because we need one another's uniqueness and gifts. This should propel us toward a greater sense of belonging. The more we appreciate and cherish one another's diversity, the greater is our unity. Brand talks not just from his own experience and knowledge, he shares with readers insights from many other medical professionals. For example, while talking about homeostasis, he relates to us the discovery of Japanese Yas Kuno whose research on sweat shows us the wonders of the human body to adapt body temperature; Dr Walter Cannon's work on the wonders of the body to correct imbalances. Learning to accept diversity cultivates an atmosphere of acceptance. Our five basic human senses also have a lot to teach us.

"Walking With Jesus on Campus" (Stephen Kellough)

TITLE: Walking with Jesus on Campus: How to Care for Your Soul during College
AUTHOR: Stephen Kellough
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2019, (192 pages).

Institutes of higher learning are places of diversity. Ideas are shared. Perspectives are debated. Knowledge is shared. Friendships are cultivated. Yet, college years are also times in which one could experience stress, loneliness, emotional highs and lows. For believers in Christ, there is an added pressure of keeping the faith in a world of conflicting ideas. As college chaplain, author and pastor Stephen Kellough has seen a lot of things happening on campus. He has walked with different people from all walks of life. He not only understands the challenges of students going through their academic pressures, he knows how it impacts their faith. How do we care for our soul in our college years? It all starts with this one big question: "What is the most significant spiritual challenge on campus these days?" Is it a lack of Bible knowledge? Is it the anti-Christian climate? Is it secularism? Idol worship? The answer might surprise readers. It is something so fundamental and basic. The author finds out that it is essentially "to know that they are loved by God." Taking this as a central focus, author Stephen Kellough, a campus chaplain at Wheaton College for over 25 years shares from both knowledge and experience with students through the years. He looks at love from the viewpoints of the Bible to help us recognize that God embraces us with his love. He also draws from the experience of spiritual writers like James Bryan Smith, AW Tozer, John Stott, and others, to probe and ponder about the movements of love. This most significant challenge is just the first out of ten other challenges that Kellough mentions in this book that is soaked in his experience as a campus chaplain. Other challenges include:

"Holy Disunity" (Layton E. Williams)

TITLE: Holy Disunity: How What Separates Us Can Save Us
AUTHOR: Layton E. Williams
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019, (215 pages).

Many books have been written about unity, about community, and the need to stay together in spite of mounting challenges. One of the key reasons for separation is the lack of openness toward dissenting viewpoints. This is also known as "the idol of unity" where different views are belittled for the sake of a particular view. As a result, some voted with their feet by walking away. Others suppress their own anger which might appear somewhere else. Still others would lament the growing disunity within the community of faith. This book takes the bull by the horns by addressing diversity with boldness and openness. According to author Layton Williams,  it is entirely possible to turn disagreements and doubts into understanding and belief. Instead of retreating back to our cocoons of self-assurance, we are encouraged to debate our differences in the hope that we grow in understanding not just of alternative views, but to learn to see the bigger picture of any issue. Rather than promoting either unity or disunity, the key point is to learn about co-existence even in the lack of agreement. The way toward "holy disunity" is via the 12 unconventional gifts. Some of the positive outlooks toward seemingly "negative" emotional behaviours are highlighted as follows: