"Solomon Says" (Amy Parker and Sarah Humphrey)

TITLE: Solomon Says Devotional: 100 Days of Wisdom from the World's Wisest King
AUTHOR: Amy Parker and Sarah Humphrey
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2021, (208 pages).
 

Did you know that many years ago, there was a man who was raking in about a billion dollars a year? Apart from being the most wealthy person at that time, he was also the wisest man on earth. He was also a man richly blessed by the LORD God. This man is none other than King Solomon of Israel. These historical facts would not only thrill the minds of young children, they open the little hearts to the many proverbs in the Bible. One might ask how an ancient document of deep concepts and spiritual truths be easily understood by little minds? Well, the truth is often hampered by difficult language. As long as we can translate or transmit these truths in a way that children understand, they will learn the deep biblical truths. Proverbs 1:4 includes this declaration: "for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young." In a nutshell, these proverbs are meant for all ages, and if that is so, we should do our part to impart these truths to those who are young. In this devotional written in a way for young children to comprehend, there are 100 devotionals that comprise a Proverb, a brief description, a prayer, and a page for writing down one's thoughts and feelings. There are also pointers to pre-address any concerns kids might have. On the activity page, children are encouraged to write a song, pen a poem, work on a suggested activity, or simply draw a picture of what they have heard or learned. 

"Designed to Heal" (Jennie A. McLaurin and Cymbeline Tancongco Culiat)

TITLE: Designed to Heal: What the Body Shows Us about Healing Wounds, Repairing Relationships, and Restoring Community
AUTHOR: Jennie A. McLaurin and Cymbeline Tancongco Culiat
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2021, (272 pages).
 

There is much we can learn from the workings of the human body. There is also much that we do not yet know. This does not mean we cannot benefit from the knowledge available to us, the interconnectedness of the body systems as well as how we can use this knowledge to apply to human relationships. Learning about how the body heals gives us profound insights into healing human relationships all around. At the same time, their shared Christian beliefs enable them to relate to healing far beyond the physical domain, especially pertaining to the repair of relationships in a community. McLaurin begins with a dramatic retelling of a serious that happened during a family ski trip. Her husband Andrew was badly wounded and had to be rushed to the hospital. It so happened that the physical wounds coincided with emotional hurts arising from Andrew's work situation. That was a significant moment that motivated McLaurin to apply what she knew about healing to a societal level. Co-author Bem also had her traumatic moments when her husband Julio developed polycythemia. In the midst of her family struggles, many friends and fellow believers flooded them with multiple acts of care and love, creating an environment that facilitates healing and recovery. Going through the four stages of physical healing, a physician and a geneticist share their expertise and knowledge about how the human body functions before and after a wound, and how it heals. The four stages (overlapping but distinct) of healing are:

"Fix Your Eyes" (Amy Gannett)

TITLE: Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him
AUTHOR: Amy Gannett
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2021, (240 pages).

We cannot love someone that we do not know. In the same way, how could we worship someone we do not know? Thus, just as our love for God is linked to our knowledge of God, the more we know God, the better we will be in worshiping Him in our minds and hearts. Author Amy Gannett shares her theological insights in this book that connects worship with our knowledge of God. She affirms this as follows: "Worship is what happens when what we love shapes us—when we submit our character, choices, wills, and ways to God out of love and reverence for him." With the marriage of theology and worship, she launches into a fascinating theological journey to show us that worship is about fixing our eyes on Jesus, for He is the shape of what we need to know about theology. Chapter by chapter, Gannett demonstrates to us how the various head-based knowledge of God and His attributes to heartfelt realities. Readers might be curious to know how this could be done. Let me give one example from the book. The doctrine of the Trinity can be one of the most difficult or mysterious areas to study. In the chapter on this foundational doctrine, readers are invited into the author's househunting experience, where a house inspection report turns up a serious problem in the house foundation. Without this foundation, everything else in the house is in danger of collapse. Yet, in the mystery of unknowing, in the midst of analogies that fall short, we are motivated to learn more. More importantly, we are ushered into a realm where the only possible response is worship. Gannett takes us through the major branches of theological studies such as Christology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Bibliology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology, giving us not only a primer on these theological branches but how we can worship God in His spirit and in his Truth. A knowledge of Christology reminds us of the physical witness we have in Jesus. Pneumatology enables us to invite the Holy Spirit into our midst to worship with awareness of the Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity. Soteriology raises our heart of gratitude to the God who saves us. Bibliology anchors our worship based on the Word of God. Ecclesiology teaches us to worship as a Body of Christ. Eschatology prepares our hearts to worship the Coming King. 

"Following the Call" (Charles E. Moore)

TITLE: Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together
AUTHOR: Charles E. Moore
PUBLISHER: Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2021, (396 pages).

One of the most powerful teachings of Jesus is none other than the Sermon on the Mount. Even though many sermons have been preached on it, many books written about it, and many references made to it, these precious messages continue to astound us. If there is one theme about the Sermon on the Mount, it would be about the revelation of the Kingdom of God. This is where this book comes in, to help us learn from the different masters of reflection throughout the ages. Compiled from the writings and expositions from Early Church leaders like Irenaeus (2nd Century), Gregory of Nyssa (4th Century), and Jerome (4th Century); to modern writers like Wendell Berry, Stanley Hauerwas, Timothy Keller, Philip Yancey, and more, readers get to learn about kingdom character, kingdom commands, kingdom devotion, and kingdom priorities. Like having multiple preachers on selected sections of the Sermon on the Mount, we get many powerful perspectives on Jesus' teachings. E. Stanley Jones asserts that the Sermon is not about a Christian's duty but liberty to do all the good they can. On the beatitudes, Philip Yancey gives us a profound image of what it means to be poor in spirit, often making provocative observations about the virtues of poverty. There seems to be a correlation between the beatitudes discussed and the corresponding expertise or experience of the authors concerned. For instance, the beatitude on mourning brings together writers like Nicholas Wolterstorff who had experienced personal tragedies. The beatitude on purity engages Søren Kierkegaard's famous reflections on purity. The beatitude on persecution draws from the experience of Jerome and Oscar Romero, both of whom were persecuted because of how they practiced their faith convictions. Just reading the short reflections alone and a little knowledge of the contributors' backgrounds gives the reader a fascinating insight not only into the passage but also into the unique ways God has touched these individuals.

"The Monastic Heart" (Joan Chittister)

TITLE: The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life
AUTHOR: Joan Chittister
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Convergent Books, 2021, (288 pages).

How many times have we heard people say: "It's a crazy world out there?" Saying is one thing. Learning how to respond is yet another. With the ongoing pandemic and the constant challenges of life, we all need a better way forward, besides simply taking a break, going away on vacation, or for more serious cases, going to a therapist. Many people struggle with finding a fulfilling life, and they substitute this search for fulfillment by aiming for wrong targets. Things that ultimately do not satisfy. In a world that increasingly says that they are not religious but spiritual, we need to pin down what exactly does that reveal about us. Perhaps, if we could tweak our search, and to direct our efforts to something meaningful, something that is helpful for the soul, it would make our living on earth not only more bearable but fulfilling. The premise of the book is to mine the rich ancient wisdom from the monastic era. This is far better than to adopt conventional pep-talk that often are superficial. Phrases like: "Relax, things will get better," or "Just try to think positive" simply do not cut it. In a world that are mostly distracted by issues and multiple perspectives, our hearts are crying out for something more focused and single-hearted on the most important matters in life. Like what the ancient monastics have learned, it is one thing to withdraw from the world, it is yet another to deal with the inner turmoil happening inside our hearts. This book contains 50 monastic practices that we can adopt to help us in the single-hearted search for meaning and fulfillment. It is meant not just for Christians, but for anyone seeking to find not just meaning but our responsibility in life. 

"A Surprising God" (Thomas G. Long and Donyelle C. McCray)

TITLE: A Surprising God: Advent Devotions for an Uncertain Time
AUTHOR: Thomas G. Long and Donyelle C. McCray
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2021, (112 pages).

One of the most popular questions Christians tend to ask is how the Bible of ancient times speaks to us in modern times. With a strong devotion to the Word and a desire to practice the Word, we ask general questions like "How relevant is the Bible today?" to specific questions surrounding contemporary life such as: "What would Jesus do in our situation?" or "What does the Bible has to say about politics, our friends, our current issues, or even our personal life?" Biblical scholars tend to be skeptical about such questions that begin with contemporary life instead of the Word of God first. In a marvelous preface, authors Thomas Long and Donyelle McCray believe that we need to do both "in the fray" (what it means then) as well as "above the fray" (what it means now). My first thought is: Easier said that done. Then authors Long and McCray surprise me with how they manage to write this Advent devotionals from three angles of relevance: Heavenly, Societal, and Personal.  Long and McCray alternate their devotions with the same format. Each day begins with a catchy title and short Bible passage. After a brief story or personal anecdote, we get to ponder upon the various surprises that defy our wildest imaginations. Even in the midst of troubles and turmoils around us, when the world around us seems to paint a bleak future, Jesus promises something totally unexpected: Redemption is coming! When doubts and uncertainties surround us with stories of doom and gloom, the Bible surprises us with the promise of eternal hope. Even when Revelation produces quite frightening images, we could still hang on to the promise that on Judgment Day, Jesus will rule with Justice and Mercy. This pattern of surprises come amid our current atmosphere of protest movement surrounding "Black Lives Matter," wars, political turmoil, economic struggles, poverty, etc. The authors want to prepare our hearts for the Hope of hopes, the Love of all loves, and the Surprise of all surprises: aka, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

"Five Things Biblical Scholars Wish Theologians Knew" (Scot McKnight)

TITLE: Five Things Biblical Scholars Wish Theologians Knew
AUTHOR: Scot McKnight
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021, (184 pages).

This review is a follow-up on the complementary volume from my previous review, that theology and biblical studies should complement rather than compete against each other. After all, they help the rest of us understand biblical truth more deeply. Theologian Hans Boersma's tongue-in-cheek foreword subtly maintains the supremacy of systematic theology over biblical theology. He even brands biblical scholars like Scot McKnight as more theological than what most people might have perceived. What he is saying is that McKnight's views put him on the same side as his own. In endorsing this book, Boersma is even saying that at the end of it all, both biblical and dogmatic theology affirms the fundamentals of orthodox Christianity: Christ is present sacramentally (theological) in the biblical texts (biblical scholarship). This sets the stage for a grand pushback by eminent biblical scholar, Scot McKnight. Arguing that the task of a biblical scholar is more difficult, McKnight points out the nature of biblical studies which is to take ourselves away from our contemporary viewpoints to immerse ourselves into the biblical texts. Such a task is immensely more challenging. His central point: "All theology must start at the exegetical level."  

"Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew" (Hans Boersma)

TITLE: Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew
AUTHOR: Hans Boersma
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021, (176 pages).

The disciplines of theology and biblical studies ought to complement each other in the study of Truth. Together, they help us form a more wholesome picture of what Scripture teaches us. With greater knowledge and insight, we have deepened our understanding of both systematic theology and biblical theology. Unfortunately, the bridges of understanding between the two disciplines have not grown correspondingly. This has led to unhealthy comparison and sometimes, willful playing down of each other by proponents of either party. While most professors and theologians see the disciplines as complementary, this is often more theoretical than in reality. Apart from the professional respect offered to one another, we need a third angle to help bridge the gaps that may exist. Who could best do that? This is where two eminent professors and authors from each of these disciplines could do. By bringing forth five major things they wish the other side would know, they not only highlight the unique strengths of the particular disciplines concerned, but they also form five bridges of understanding.  In the spirit of mutual encouragement, cross-disciplinary learning, sprinkled with dockets of humour, Professor Hans Boersma points out the purpose of theology, which is: "to use the Scriptures as a means of grace in drawing the reader to Jesus Christ." This Christocentric reading ought to circumvent the tendency to overemphasize historical studies. More importantly, this should lead us toward sacramental communion with God, in Jesus. Whether it is cheekily done or not, Boersma uses a common phrase "no Scripture" to highlight the key things before the biblical scholar's favorite distinction. He then lists the following five compelling things he wishes biblical scholars should know: 

"Made to Worship" (Phil Stacey)

TITLE: Made to Worship: Empty Idols and the Fullness of God
AUTHOR: Phil Stacey
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021, (272 pages).

He was set apart for a singing career. Yet, the very things that made him famous are also the very reason for breaking him down. Growing up in a family of singers, Phil Stacey has a gifted voice and a love for music. As a son of a pastor, Church is like his second home. He and his family thrived musically everywhere they went. For Phil, his music was what attracted people to him. It was the reality show, American Idol, that launched him to fame. This book is his memoir of faith, of his humble beginnings, his journey to American Idol, and the subsequent darkness that befell him in the midst of glittering images of fame. Writing about his fall from grace, he shares also about his return via the path of faith. He ends with a powerful note to proclaim that all his music, all of his experience, and all of his life are essentially made for worship. 

"Why You Matter" (Michael Sherrard)

TITLE: Why You Matter (Perspectives: A Summit Ministries Series): How Your Quest for Meaning Is Meaningless without God
AUTHOR: Michael Sherrard
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2021, (194 pages).

For every "what" there needs to be a "why." For some of us, we need more than simply an answer to the latter. For many of us, this is essentially a quest for meaning and significance of our lives. What makes life meaningful? How are we part of the grand plan of significance? The key thesis in this book is that God exists, and that is why we matter. With the ongoing pandemic, many people are dealing with disruptions, loneliness, deaths, sicknesses, health issues, in particular mental and spiritual well-being. These might lead them to question the meaning of life. Then comes racial issues which led to the rise of the "Black Lives Matter" as well as an "All Lives Matter" reaction by some quarters. Even in societies that pride on equality and freedom of expression, many people still go through crises of various types. Author and pastor Michael Sherrard focus on a "crisis of meaning" to probe behind the reasons why people insist their lives matter in the first place. Once we can understand that, the rest will come into place. He helps us go beyond mere feelings as a judge of our worth. For feelings are often too subjective to be reliable. Rather than letting our feelings, our skills, or our subjectivity determine our life's meaning and identity, why not go back to our Creator? How is that meaningful? In the quest for such answers, we start by observing the culture and society we are living in. Can our present situation of secularism and godless society bring everlasting meaning? What are the promises of atheism? What about morality? The author helps us take a critical look at the society we are in, on the emptiness of the "good life" we often assume we are in. Gradually, he switches gear to help us envision a world with God. Sherrard essentially says the following:  

"Rediscover Church" (Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman)

TITLE: Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential (The Gospel Coalition and 9Marks)
AUTHOR: Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2021, (160 pages).

Why do we need to rediscover Church? Isn't it enough to simply believe and practice our faith daily? With the rise of online church and how many people have become so familiar with watching Church services on YouTube, Zoom, or other online channels, surely we can maintain this new way of doing church? Well, authors Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman disagree. A Christian without a Church is a Christian in trouble. We still need to get back to the meaning of the Church and to live together as a Community in Christ. There are many reasons why believers stay away from Church. The conventional arguments against the church include things like limited authenticity, distasteful politics, politicizing of religion, negative publicity, lack of transparency, irrelevancy, and the age-old accusation: hypocrisy. With covid, this disinclination from physical church gatherings has been accelerated. On top of this electronic distance, there are also those who feel disillusioned about the lack of pastoral care and the inability of their pastors to match up to the charismatic preachers who draw people to their professional online offerings. With such overwhelming cultural disarray surrounding faith and Church, it is no wonder that many people are looking for a reason to go back to Church. This book comes at the right time to answer that very question. There is a need and a future for the Church. What is necessary now is to go back to the essence of what Church is and what it means to be Church in the 21st Century. Hansen and Leeman began with the metaphor of marriage where Christ is the groom while the Church is the bride. If Christ gave himself for the Church, shouldn't that alone speak volumes about the importance of Church? 

"First and Second Thessalonians" (Timothy A. Brookins)

TITLE: First and Second Thessalonians (Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament)
AUTHOR: Timothy A. Brookins
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021, (256 pages).

When studying the Bible, one of the key emphases is to interpret the texts in the right context. That usually means trying to understand the literary and cultural situations back in ancient times prior to applying them to our present world. This commentary series goes much further and deeper to build the "theological convictions and moral habits" of readers. Instead of verse-by-verse, the commentary moves in terms of "rhetorical units." Within each unit, readers learn about the introduction, the narrative flow, and the theological themes. The introduction includes matters such as the identity of the author, the intended audience, the background, and an overview of the letter. Noting how little attention has been paid to the nature of the 2 books as letters, author and professor Timothy Broookins pays special attention to the letter genre to make sense of its literary composition. Using the nature of the letter as an interpretive lens, to understand the ancient contexts, the authorial intent, audience, history, cultural backgrounds, and so on. He goes further to point out that Paul's letter in a "literary" one rather than a "nonliterary" or a "diplomatic" one. It gives us a glimpse of Paul's narrative, being forced out of Thessalonica by the opposition. It was a tumultuous time as Christians in the region continue to be persecuted. Taken together with Acts, one could roughly piece together the places Paul had gone. Questions remain whether the reasons for the letter were situational, social, political, doctrinal, or even "anti-imperial." Some of the theological themes are: