"Becoming by Beholding" (Lanta Davis)

TITLE: Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation
AUTHOR: Lanta Davis
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (240 pages).
 

When young, our parents tell us fairy tales and other bedtime stories. In school, we learn through play and imagination. At home, we love watching cartoons with happy endings. Tales often begin with the familiar words "A Long time ago..." and end with that memorable phrase "... And they lived happily ever after." As we grow, imagination seems to take a backseat. Life then becomes a crazy rat race that leaves little room for imagination. Fantasies dissipate. Realities mandate. Imagination stagnate. Author Lanta Davis asserts that it is time to restore a healthy sense of imagination, in particular, to Christian Spiritual Formation. This is done by learning from our forefathers of the faith through tradition and the historical expressions of the faith. If we unearth the treasures of Christian artistic tradition, we can rediscover the rich legacies of the past. We can renew a fresh imagination to breathe creativity into our present world. We can also restore our understanding of identity and beyond. From an archeological dig into history and tradition, the author develops for us a three-pronged approach: "Right Belief," "Right Practice," and "Moral Character." 

"Walking the Theological Life" (Timothy R. Gaines)

TITLE: Walking the Theological Life: Discovering Method for Theology in the Lives of Biblical Characters
AUTHOR: Timothy R. Gaines
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic, 2024, (216 pages).
 

Mention the word "theology" and one will might see people roll their eyes. Some prefer to leave theology to the theologians, scholars, pastors, and seminarians.  Others might think it is simply an ivory-tower exercise with minimal practical use. Still, some people deem the study of theology as plain boring. This might have to do with some places that put too much stress on methodologies. What if theology is an invitation to ponder upon the revealed narratives in the Bible? What if it is to cultivate a sense of wonder from the lens of God? In this book, author Timothy Gaines invites us to ponder and wonder on how God leads 12 Bible characters through their ups and downs of life. Allocating a chapter for each character, Gaines unearths from it theological virtues and how God knew these people intimately. In Jeremiah, we learn about the mutual intimacy of God and Jeremiah in knowing each other. Sometimes addressed as a "weeping prophet," his humble life witnesses for God. In Jacob, we learn the theological virtue of wrestling, especially in times of grief and pain. Sarah is an interesting character. Gaines highlights her laughing incident as a way to learn of theological humour. Often painted in a negative light, Gaines expands our understanding of laughter as an act to trigger a reaction. I have heard people saying "Do not take life too seriously" as a way to lighten up or relax. It is tempting to view Sarah's laughter negatively. Gaines tells us to consider a broader theological perspective of the use of laughter in life.

"Light of the Word" (Susan C. Lim)

TITLE: Light of the Word: How Knowing the History of the Bible Illuminates Our Faith
AUTHOR: Susan C. Lim
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (240 pages).
 

The Christian faith is anchored on the Bible. Without the Word, we cannot know God and there is no Christianity of today. Without knowing the history of the Bible, we might not be able to fully appreciate the Truth. In fact, knowing the history of the Bible is to know the context of its formation. In Bible studies, one of the most important principles is to interpret the verses in context. That means recognizing the embedded meaning within the passage instead of mere verses alone. Context depends not only on literal meaning but also on literary forms. Other contextual considerations include cultural awareness, linguistic nuances, genre types, historical backgrounds, etc. Knowing the history of the Bible is like the study of the contextual origins of the Bible, that a good understanding will increase our faith and insight. It is the key to unlocking the Truth and build up our faith. Not only that, as far as the author is concerned, the Word has become her strength and refuge in many personal circumstances. Seeing the history of the Bible helps her to visualize her faith profoundly. In both her first and second confessions of faith, it was the Word that consistently guided and encouraged her. She begins with the angle of Scriptures and Salvation, to point out the reliability of the Bible even when many of us have expressed different types of doubts from time to time. Whatever it is, doubts do not negate salvation. Instead, they spur us to a deeper knowledge of the Word. She guides us through the origins of the canon, what it means, why it is important, and what it means for her personally. 

"40 Questions about the Text and Canon of the New Testament" (Charles L. Quarles and L. Scott Kellum)

TITLE: 40 Questions about the Text and Canon of the New Testament
AUTHOR: Charles L. Quarles and L. Scott Kellum
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2023, (352 pages).
 

Where are the original manuscripts of the New Testament? If all the original manuscripts were lost, how then do we verify the authenticity of the copies? Are the copies we have today reliable? How many manuscripts are there? What is Textual Criticism? How do we know if the New Testament is accurate? What about the Canon and the canonization process? How did the Bible get canonized? What about the gospel of Thomas? How do we deal with claims that there are more books that ought to be added to the canon? These questions and more are part of the 40 questions to deal with the text and canon of the New Testament. For the authors, they simply condense all of these into one question: "What is the New Testament?" Charles Quaries is the key person answering the questions about "The Text of the New Testament" (Part One) while Scott Kellum deals with questions pertaining to "The Canon of the New Testament" (Part Two). 

"Personality and Worldview" (Johan H. Bavinck)

TITLE: Personality and Worldview
AUTHOR: Johan Herman Bavinck (translated by James Eglinton)
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2023, (208 pages).
 

When doing studies about comparative religion, one of the most common ways is to use the term worldview. Sometimes, we tend to think that worldview is something objectively understood. That is only half the story. What equally matters is the person holding that worldview, for the subjective and the objective are related in more ways than one.  In other words, personality affects worldviews. The condition of the soul affects one's outlook on life. More importantly, any understanding of the world is only as good as one's personality. This is the crux of the book about the relationship between the subjective and the objective. Some people think that worldviews are objective while personalities are subjective. The problem is that such dichotomies are false. Both are linked in some or more ways. The gospel breaks down these false dichotomies to give us a concrete understanding of both the self as well as the worldview. Every philosophy, religion, or spiritual quest is a form of searching for God, so says Bavinck. One might want to argue the Person of God, but it is no denying that one searches for some form of transcendence in the name of Truth. Bavinck goes into the quest in two ways.

"The Evangelical Imagination" (Karen Swallow Prior)

TITLE: The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis
AUTHOR: Karen Swallow Prior
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2023, (304 pages).
 

What has imagination got to do with evangelicalism? How far do stories, myths, and metaphors affect our lives? How connected is modern culture with the evangelical Church? Who influences who more? In a book that uses many types of symbols and metaphors, author and professor Karen Swallow Prior gives us a creative snapshot of the state of the evangelical church. More importantly, she takes us back to how we perceive the Church, the evangelical movement, and the insidious influence the world has on public perception. It is a fresh way of thinking with regard to understanding the struggles of the Church and culture today. Taking away the notion of imagination merely as a "brain function," Prior first shows us the central function of imagination beyond mere perceptions, that it heavily influences our everyday living. The second thing is to show us that the evangelical movement is connected to our "social imaginaries." As our culture changes, so do our perceptions of the evangelical movement. After comparing the academic definitions of evangelicalism from theologians David Bebbington, Timothy Larsen, John Stackhouse, and the National Evangelical Association, Prior goes to the layperson's perspective to remind readers that most people don't see evangelicalism in an academic sense.

"Tell Her Story" (Nijay K. Gupta)

TITLE: Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church
AUTHOR: Nijay K. Gupta
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (224 pages).

One of the negative comments I have heard from modern readers is about the patriarchal nature of the Bible, especially the Old Testament. They note how the heads of households in the past are restricted to men. There are also many instances where modern folks quickly accuse gender discrimination. Why should Eve be a "helpmeet" to Adam and not the other way around? Why are most of the judges male? What about the way women are been treated? Is God being fair to the oft-referred "weaker" sex? Even in the New Testament, why did Paul put restrictions on women when it comes to teaching in the Church? These questions not only colour the minds of people, but they can also sometimes affect their faith. It might even cast doubts about God being fair and just. Sometimes, this has spurred the rise and development of modern feminism. Aware of such trends, scholars and theologians have begun addressing the issue of women and gender inequality in the Bible. In this book, author Nijay Gupta looks at the women leaders in the New Testament to highlight how such "hidden figures" have impacted the development of the Early Church. Apart from people like Mary, the mother of Jesus, Priscilla, and a few others like Phoebe and Eunice, the number of women leaders is agonizingly few. By shedding light on the impact of women leaders in the Bible, the author hopes to inform readers about the significance of women in ministry yesterday, today, and into the future. At the same time, there is definitely more than meets the modern cultural eye about women in the Bible. Gupta aims to debunk some of the myths that people have, such as women being resigned to insignificant roles in society then; and the unfair status imposed on women, etc. More importantly, by understanding the stories of these women, we get a better understanding of contexts. "Her Story" includes:

"Kingdom and Country" (Angie Ward, ed.)

TITLE: Kingdom and Country: Following Jesus in the Land that You Love (Kingdom Conversations)
AUTHOR: Angie Ward
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2022, (208 pages).
 

Is there a difference between patriotism and nationalism? What about our allegiance to God and country? Are they the same? Thanks to social media, people are starting to be vocal about the state of politics, in the country. For Christians, it is about practicing their faith in an increasingly secular world. Some might even say that our world is increasingly becoming anti-Christian. Recognizing the deep splits and contentious divisions in the country, several authors, teachers, pastors, and theologians have come together to share about what it means to follow Jesus in the country. Kicking off the discussion is Rod Wilson who laments at how politics had affected a typical small group discussion. Just like how Donald Trump had become a contentious President, mere mention of his name in any group setting could spark a wave of arguments. Wilson challenges us to begin with the example of Jesus and then learn how to cultivate quality conversations with humble curiosity while managing our heart-felt convictions. Karen Wilk shows us a vision of the kingdom of God and how we ought not promote human agendas in its name but to join in God's will as He leads. That means when prompted inside, we need to manifest the kingdom of God outwardly, especially those outside of our comfort zones. Ryan Tafilowski takes us back to the early centuries and Old Testament times to remind us how our predecessors had fared under the threat of persecution and hardship. Christians need to live with integrity even when it means being bullied or tortured by the powers that be. Derek Vreeland shares how the people of God in the Old Testament lived under different authorities. From theocracy to living under autocratic governments, he cautions us against taking the law into our own hands and throwing away any trust in God. Instead, the main role for God's people is more subversive rather than combative. Sean Palmer looks at the meaning of allegiance and the difference between allegiance to God and to country. The best way forward is for Christians to hold the state accountable to God rather in the virtues of grace and love to one another. Michelle Ami Reyes looks at the narrative of what it means to be American and what it means to be Christian. She debunks the false narrative of seeing America as a "Christian nation" when it is clearly not. She then provides a new multilayered guide to understanding a new narrative. Tina Boesch reflects on the status of what it means to be a stranger in a foreign land. It takes first-hand experience of what it means to be treated like a foreigner before one appreciates the privileges of citizenship. Between dominion and disengagement from society, the overriding attitude to the land we are living is to practice discipleship within the local community we live in. Alejandro Mandes urges us to look beyond all kinds of multicultural differences to become citizen-disciples. Juliet Liu notes how many Christian leaders got carried away with politics, nationalism, and Trump, and urges pastors to preach the gospel instead. Mandy Smith implores believers to humble themselves and pray. She calls us all to pledge ourselves in a new creed that proclaims God above all human allegiances. 

"Flood and Fury" (Matthew J. Lynch)

TITLE: Flood and Fury: Engaging Old Testament Violence
AUTHOR: Matthew J. Lynch
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (240 pages).
 

How do we deal with the problematic texts in the Old Testament? Why does the God of the Old Testament condone violence? How do we make sense of the Stunned by a question about violence in the Old Testament, author-professor Matthew Lynch aims to address these challenging questions head-on. He writes especially to those who had "persistent concerns about violent texts" as well as those who cannot grow beyond these concerns. The key is not avoidance or denial. First, he states the problem. On the one hand, he acknowledges the presence of violence in the texts. Listing down the "problematic verses" in the Canaanite wars, violent prayers in the Psalms, gruesome stories in Judges, etc, he assures the reader that he is well aware of the struggles people might have with these acts of violence. On the other hand, he reminds us not to burn down the house (the Bible) for the sake of dealing with spots of grease (acts of violence). How then do we approach it? He rejects 8 ways of approaching this issue. Approaches such as avoidance, rejection, mythical treatment, cultural projections, and so on simply do not cut it. Instead, we need to learn to see the bigger picture of the whole Bible. Listen carefully to the contexts of these violent episodes. Do not read modern cultural contexts into the ancient texts. If one is able to appreciate the reasons why such violence takes place at all, perhaps, we learn a lot more about how not to behave. 

"Returning from the Abyss" (Walter Brueggemann)

TITLE: Returning from the Abyss: Pivotal Moments in the Book of Jeremiah
AUTHOR: Walter Brueggemann
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2022, (170 pages).

What does it take to do a sustained study of Jeremiah? What is the "primary plotline" of this major prophet? What has the book of Jeremiah has to say to modern society, and in particular to the modern USA? How would Jeremiah speak into a culture constantly tarnished by incidents of racism and economic injustice? Reflecting on chosen passages from the book of Jeremiah, author Walter Brueggemann aims to highlight how the ancient prophet's message to Israel then is also applicable to us today. Beginning with how Jeremiah describes the time of the kings, the author looks at the reign of several kings of Judah and Israel and extrapolates God's message of intent into the 21st Century. He invites readers to enter the abyss of the Israelite exilic experience, to show us the inexplicable gift of being able to return from such dire circumstances. Instead of a verse-by-verse or a passage-by-passage commentary style, Brueggemann opts for selective verses that help us pause and read via the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. With each verse, Brueggemann provides us a context for the thought process. He then highlights some of the spiritual ills or challenges facing ancient people of God and challenges us to recognize any modern equivalents. Brueggemann challenges us to identify the threats of atheism and idolatry, warning us against the mistake of identifying the lesser enemy.

"Five Views on the NT Canon" (Stanley E. Porter and Benjamin P. Laird)

TITLE: Five Views on the New Testament Canon
AUTHOR: Stanley E. Porter and Benjamin P. Laird
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2022, (288 pages).

How was the Bible put together? What are the criteria to determine which books are legitimate? What prompted the canon process? What about authorship and apostolic authority? These are some of the critical questions dealt with in this book. The canonization of the Holy Bible has become one of the most controversial issues in modern times. With rising suspicion of the institutional church and the growing intellectual climate of mistrust, it has become increasingly necessary to re-examine old assumptions and historical evidence. In the pre-enlightenment age, societies in Christendom jurisdictions mostly accepted the authority of the Church in all things religious. Today, contemporary society does not share such trust. Instead, suspicion and skepticism tend to be the default paradigm. Who gives any human being the right to canonize anything? What about perceived and actual authority? These questions are some of the issues dealt with by five different scholars and theologians from different backgrounds. With five views, readers can get a better idea of the complex issues and why they are so controversial. The five views presented are:

1. Conservative-Evangelical (Darian R Lockett)
2. Progressive-Evangelical (David R Nienhuis)
3. Liberal-Protestant (Jason David BeDuhn)
4. Roman Catholic (Ian Boxall)
5. Orthodox (George L Parsenios)

"Mouth of the Donkey" (Laura Duhan-Kaplan)

TITLE: Mouth of the Donkey: Re-imagining Biblical Animals
AUTHOR: Laura Duhan-Kaplan
PUBLISHER: Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021, (94 days).
 

Children are often fascinated with animals. They ask interesting questions like, "What does this animal eat?" "If this animal fights against the leopard, will it win?" "Will the deer outrun the tiger?" For Sunday School teachers and those teaching children in churches, animals in the Bible often bring out curiosity in kids. That is why animal narratives in the Bible are some of the most popular stories to tell little children. They paint Noah's Ark with glee. They imagine pairs of animals living inside the ark. They participate in plays that reenact Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. Even the Old Testament prophecies give us images of sheep, lambs, wolves, and many others. Animals are not just the domain of children. Adults too sing the classic hymn, "All Creatures of our Lord and King," as well as the popular choruses, "As the Deer" and "Lion of Judah." How do we interpret the use of animals in the Bible? According to author and professor, Laura Duhan-Kaplan, she adopts a four-level interpretation based on Kabbalistic teachings. 

1. Plain literal (peshat)
2. Exposition of recurring ethical themes (derash)
3. Allegorical (remez)
4. Secret allusions to God's nature (sod)

"Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals, and Fasts of the Bible" (Paul H. Wright, ed)

TITLE: Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals and Fasts of the Bible 

AUTHOR: Paul H. Wright (Editor)
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2022, (232 pages).

What is the connection between Food and Faith? Why are festivals so much a part of the Hebrews? What is the significance of events surrounding feasting and fasting? How does food foster relationships? This book attempts to answer some of these questions from biblical, historical, relational, theological, and practical perspectives. Covering both the Old Testament and New Testament feasts, the author aims to help us see how the simple act of eating could bring people together and bind them. At the same time, festivals enable us to be in tune with the cycles of a religious year. Like seasons during the year, these timely observances enable us physically and spiritually to appreciate God's intended rhythms of rest, relaxation, and relational dimensions of creation. 

Beginning with Old Testament feasts, readers get a fascinating overview of what the ancient Israelites did through the year. Paul Wright asserts that food provides not just nourishment for the body, it is also for the soul. 

"Listening Well" (Heather Morris)

TITLE: Listening Well: Bringing Stories of Hope to Life
AUTHOR: Heather Morris
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: St Martin's Press, 2022, (320 pages).
 

Do not even try to judge until one has walked a mile in someone else's shoes. This message rings throughout this book that urges us to listen before we speak. As we deal with the pandemic that has crippled much of the world, we need to reset our expectations and adjust to a new world. This makes the message of learning to walk in another person's shoes even louder. Author Heather Morris is a sharp observer of cultural changes happening during this time. She shares with us stories of hope that could only be understood if we care enough to listen and learn. Perhaps, even as Covid-19 continues to ravage the world's economy and stifle human relationships, we could still consolidate our resources and begin the process of rebuilding. Rather than pretend we have all the answers, why not ask questions on how people are doing? Instead of presuming what we need, why not listen carefully to the voices that are largely muted for whatever reason? Listening is an art that needs to be learned and cultivated over time. Not only that, we could learn many things from people of all ages. We can listen to the elders, children, peers, adults, and even ourselves. In listening to elders, Morris takes us back to her time with her own grandparents and great-grandparents, learning about the war and also about the need to talk less and listen more. She learns from a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor who shared the guilt of those who made it out alive.

"Turning Points in the Expansion of Christianity" (Alice T. Ott)

TITLE: Turning Points in the Expansion of Christianity: From Pentecost to the Present
AUTHOR: Alice T. Ott
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (320 pages).

Ever since Mark Noll published his classic work "Turning Points" over two decades ago, it has become a popular framework to study the history of Christianity. Such "turning points" are essentially significant moments in time that have changed the course of history. In Noll's book, some significant moments include the Fall of Jerusalem (AD70); the Formation of the Council of Nicaea (AD325); the Monastic Period (AD530); the Coronation of Charlemagne (AD800); the Great Schism (AD1054); Rise of Protestantism (AD1521); The Second Vatican Council (AD1962-5); etc. These significant events helped shape the Church into what it is today. For all his valiant efforts, even Noll's latest edition of his classic only touches the tip of the iceberg of history. It will take many more volumes to uncover the multitudes of decisions that have shaped the many developments throughout the history of the Church. Using Noll's framework that covers events from AD70 to the 1970s, author and professor Alice Ott boldly apply the same methodology to events from Pentecost to the Present age. She defines her turning point as both the beginning of a "new trend" as well as the "climax and culmination" of mission work outreach. Some of the unique features in this book include:

• Anecdote or illustration to introduce readers to the impact of the turning point
• Five chapters cover Christian influence before the Protestant Reformation
• Seven chapters cover the turning points after the rise of the Protestant movement
• Additional material on East Syrian and Roman Catholic missionaries
• Themes of missiology, theology, and history highlighted throughout the book
• Methods and strategies for evangelization
• ...

"A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship" (Lester Ruth and Lim Swee Hong)

TITLE: A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship: Understanding the Ideas That Reshaped the Protestant Church
AUTHOR: Lester Ruth and Lim Swee Hong
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021, (368 pages).

What questions would pop up when we talk about worship? For many Churchgoers, it is about the music and the songs they sing during service. Others would then talk about hymns, spiritual songs, and contemporary praise and worship. When we talk about the latter, one of the most contentious issues would be the battle between traditional vs contemporary worship. Generally speaking, this is another way of pitting old-style hymns against new-style contemporary songs. It could be a generational divide. It could also be in terms of personal tastes or theological differences. Some might even start a debate about musical instruments such as the legitimate use of electric guitars, drums, and synthesizers, etc. complete with neon lights. Which leads us to a question less often asked: What is the history of the contemporary Praise&Worship songs? Now, that's a question! In their interactions with students, believers, and regular churchgoers, two professors of music and worship have come together to share with us the questions that have inspired their theological thoughts and reflections. Readers familiar with the wide range of contemporary P&W worship songs would be delighted to read about famous organizations, songwriters, and singers like Bethel Church, Jack Hayford, John Wimber, Hillsong Church, Sandi Patty, Sandy Yu of Stream of Praise Ministries, Maranatha Singers, Integrity Music, Elevation Church, Saddleback, and many more. Some of the questions they considered include:

"A History of Evangelism in North America" (Thomas P. Johnston)

TITLE: A History of Evangelism in North America
AUTHOR: Thomas P. Johnston
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (352 pages).

What is evangelism like in the past in North America? How could the past shed light on how we could do evangelism in the future? What can we learn about evangelism that we could use today? Scanning the past centuries in North American evangelism efforts, author Thomas Johnston brings together 21 professors to write on "evangelistic movers and shavers" who had influenced the North American cultural landscape. More importantly, it showcases how the Great Commission had been practiced by many in the past. Using a chronological progression, readers will learn about the history of key evangelists from the 18th Century to the 21st century. From Jonathan Edwards to Billy Graham; Bill Bright to John Piper's Reformed movements, the purpose of this book is to provide us a "biographical approach to evangelism," that the practice of evangelism is connected intimately to the personal lives of the evangelists. We learn of how Jonathan Edwards preached so passionately to convert rather than instilling fear. We see how David Brainerd, who lived for only 29 years, dedicated his life to minister to the Native American Indians. His perseverance in spite of great discouragement ought to provide a glimmer of hope for many modern evangelistic efforts. The 18th Century First Awakening was also impacted by the preaching efforts of two persons: George Whitefield and John Wesley. After John Wesley, Francis Asbury was instrumental in spearheading the Methodist movement in North America. While Asbury was not as eloquent as Wesley, he was an organizational genius, showing us that evangelism is more than speaking via the pulpits. In the 19th Century, we read about the Camp Meeting Revival Movement, in particular, in Cane Ridge Church where many churches and Christian communities started praying for revival to be just like Cane Ridge Church. That revival has been hailed as the greatest outpouring of God's Spirit since the first Pentecost in the Early Church. We see the impact of the Bible societies in America, laying the foundations for the Second Great Awakening. In the 20th Century, the key figures include John Mason Peck (and Rock Springs Seminary), Henrietta Mears (and the Sunday School movement), Dawson Trotman (and the Navigators), Billy Graham (and YFC), Bill Bright (and Campus Crusade), James Kennedy (and Evangelism Explosion), the Jesus Movement, and many more. 

"Prayer in the Night" (Tish Harrison Warren)

TITLE: Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep
AUTHOR: Tish Harrison Warren
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2021, (208 pages).

For many of us, we learn prayer as a manner of talking to God. From the pulpits, we learn about the importance not only of praying but also to pray without ceasing. The Bible says so. The ancients say so. The pastor says so. Many books have been written about prayer. Those who are starting up the journey of prayer might have been influenced by popular books such as Bruce Wilkinson's "The Prayer of Jabez," the prayer books for specific people by Stormie OMartian, and devotional books that help us learn the steps toward God. These books might teach us the techniques of prayer, but they often don't go far enough or deep enough. It didn't take long for many to desire fewer books on techniques and more on what the essence of prayer is about. Enter the ancients. For a time, advanced readers and pilgrims would gravitate toward the early ancients such as St Augustine, St. Clement of Alexandria, St. John Chrysostom, to medieval saints such as St Benedict, St John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, etc. Readers who prefer something more modern would appreciate prayer books by James M. Houston, Philip Yancey, Richard Foster, Tim Keller, etc. Yet, there are very few books that teach us the compline, or prayers of silence. Enters a powerful prayer book that speaks to us about the latter. In a book that is birthed through personal pain, author Tish Harrison Warren shows us the importance and beauty of praying in the silence. Although the book was written just before the pandemic lockdown in early 2020, it was not inspired by the pandemic but a reflection on the "personal stories of pain, vulnerability, anxiety, and loss that will continue long after the current crisis ends." What a revelation! Just like how the author did not know how her first book won the popular vote, she probably didn't know how this second book speaks to a generation gripped with pandemic worries and concern.  Warren begins the book with a flashback to her time in hospital needing surgery two days after her miscarriage. The first thing in her mind was to pray the Compline. It wasn't simply a prayer for some bleeding to stop or some pain to numb. It's about seeking the peace and comfort of Christ in the midst of growing darkness. Warren learned the necessity of Compline even as she endures two devastating miscarriages and the dark night of the soul where she didn't know how to pray anymore. These and other struggles form the backdrop of her journey into a new prayer dimension. Instead of starting prayer off as a form of daylight ritual, the Compline teaches nighttime prayers. Instead of beginning our journey of prayer, the Compline forms the "last prayer office of the day." Instead of something that hopes only for the best, the Compline enables us to prepare our hearts even in our worst moments. Prayers of Compline could be found in the Anglican Book of Common Prayers online. 

"An Introduction to Christian Mysticism" (Jason M. Baxter)

TITLE: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism: Recovering the Wildness of Spiritual Life
AUTHOR: Jason M. Baxter
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021, (208 pages).

In the evangelical tradition, many of us yearn to know God more. Whether it is through Bible study or prayer, devotional practices or spiritual disciplines, we try to know God based on our own knowledge or backgrounds. If we are willing to admit, we often do these things on our own strength rather than to wait upon the LORD. We think we can know God more by mining the Bible, forgetting that it is one thing to know the Word of God, but yet another to know the God of the Word. We think we know God's Thoughts by praying according to our needs instead of needing God regardless of our needs. We forget that prayers are less about telling God about how great our problems are, but to tell the problems of the world, how great God is. In trying to master the Bible, we end up forgetting that spirituality is about the Word mastering us in order to know God more deeply and to make God known more widely. For us to grow into this level of spirituality, we need the help of those who have traveled those paths of spirituality. Mysticism is one of these paths. In our world of Do-It-Yourself spirituality, we tend to gravitate toward how-to manuals even in the area of Christian spirituality. There are steps to do this and steps to do that. It takes mystics like Meister Eckhart to remind us a rather controversial thought: that "in created things, ...., there is no truth." It is a reminder that our own perceptions of truth is imperfect or partial at best. Even our interpretations of God's Word is fallible. That is why we need the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide us. Having said that, moving into the mystical world can be a nervous experience. Aren't Eastern religions practicing mysticism too? How do we know when we are treading to an extreme? Is there such a thing as a correct approach? Even great teachers in the past, such as BB Warfield and CS Lewis, have cautioned us on the mystic practices. Author and Professor Jason Baxter assures us that in this book, he is not trying to convince us to accept all of Christian Mysticism but to "make it easier" for readers to be willing to be patient, to listen, and to be open to it. He does this by describing mysticism like what many mystics do: apophatically. Like the classic work, "The Cloud of Unknowing" by an anonymous writer, the deep desire for God is not through our eyes but through God's eyes. It is to let God be God instead of trying to make God into our own image. Baxter asserts that society in spite of its widespread secularism, there is still a hunger for spiritual and religious thought. He seeks to offer the Christian mystical teachings as an alternative in a world of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) and a "nice and polite God" we conjured up in our heads. He then shares snippets of spiritual wisdom throughout the centuries. People such as Plato, Plotinus, Gregory of Nyssa, Evagrius, John Cassian, etc, in the first millennium; Bernard of Clairvaux, Hildegard of Bingen, Guigo II, Bonaventure, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, etc in the second millennium. 

"J.I. Packer" (Alister McGrath)

TITLE: J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought
AUTHOR: Alister McGrath
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (192 pages).

To many Christians around the world, he is known as the author of the bestselling book, "Knowing God." To North American evangelicals, he is known as the Puritan evangelical from England. To students at Tyndale, he was remembered as the theologian who impacted their ministry and preaching. For those in Regent College, he was their beloved professor, a friend of Regent's co-founder, James Houston, a scholar who is passionate about equipping the layperson for ministry. For budding authors, he was always willing to contribute a preface, a foreword, or a brief commendation about a book waiting to be published. In a richly informative and inspirational biography of Dr James Innell Packer, Oxford scholar Alister McGrath has written a beautiful tribute. It is a story of the life of a man that simply needs to be told, for the benefit of anyone considering ministry or theological education. In it, McGrath gives us wonderful snippets of Packer's life and most interestingly, some of Packer's most famous quips. His reminder about the value of old books as well as the three ways to engage tradition with theological reflection is worth the price of the book.