My Evensong
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    • Letter of Reference #1
    • Letter of Reference #2
    • Letter of Reference #3
    • Letter of Reference #4
  • Essays
    • INTRO to Romans >
      • Romans 1.1-7 Grace & Peace
      • To Rome With Love
      • Not Ashamed of the Gospel
      • A Two-sided Coin
      • The Patience, Judgment and Praise of God
      • Center of All Things
    • Romans 8 >
      • No Condemnation in Christ
      • Our Present Suffering >
        • The Golden Chain
      • The Groaning and Glory
      • The Spirit's Intercession
      • Salvation’s Eternal Gobstobber
      • Total Makeover - Romans 12.1-2
    • Paul's Application of Justification by Faith >
      • What About Me? - Romans 12.3-8
      • Authority & Submission - Romans 13.1-7
      • True Love - Romans 12.9-21
      • Love's Demands Romans 13.8-14
      • Unity: Not Judgmental - Romans 14.1-14
      • Unity in Hope - Romans 15.1-13
      • Travel Plans - Romans 15.14-29
      • An appeal for Prayer - Romans 15.30-33
      • Final Greetings - Romans 16.1-14
      • A Last Word About Last Words - Romans 16.25-27
      • Another Word About Last Words - Romans 16.25-27
    • Christ Formed in You >
      • Labor Pains
      • Marks of a Disciple
      • Holy Character / Holy Habits
    • Jesus Post Resurrection Narratives >
      • Words From the Cross
      • The Resurrection
      • The Ascension of Christ
      • The Exaltation of Christ
      • The Session of Christ
      • The Reign of Christ
      • Jesus as High Priest
      • Jesus as Judge
    • Second Thoughts >
      • After Christmas
      • Thoughts on the Covenant
      • Infant Baptism
      • Job and a Dangerous God
      • The Ultimate Question
      • Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing
      • God's Eternal Decree & Secondary Causality
      • God's Providence & Evil
      • The Anguish of Child Birth
      • Truth: That Elusive Fellow
      • Spilled Water
      • Stretch Out Your Hand
      • A Brief of the Olivet Discourse
    • Thoughts on Isaiah >
      • A Love Song Isaiah 5
      • Firm in Faith: Isaiah 7.1 - 8.8
      • The Salvation of an Incomparable God
      • Two Cities: God's Supremacy
      • Looking Toward the Rising Sun
    • Thoughts on Prayer >
      • The Glory of God in Prayer
      • Disciples' Prayer
      • Prayer & the Righteous Person
      • A Sufficient Grace
      • Providence & Prayer
      • Prayer & the Session of Christ
      • The Struggle of Prayer
      • "Failure" in Prayer
      • The Silence of God
      • Prayer & the Will of God
    • Psalms >
      • Psalm 1 & 2 - Introducing the Psalms
      • Psalm 139 - Wings of the Morning
      • Psalm 90 - A Complaint
      • Psalm 91.1-13: The Wings of Refuge
      • Psalm 91.14-16 - God Speaks: A Salvation Oracle
      • Psalm 91 - God's Salvation
      • Psalm 92 - A Sabbath Psalm of Worship
      • Psalm 100 Steadfast Love
  • Books
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      • How Hot is Hell?
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    • Marriage from a Kid’s Point of View
  • Links
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The lists on this page are an uncategorized assortment of books that I’ve found interesting or challenging or just fun to read.

Searching for Home - Craig M. Barnes

Read this book and you’ll look for more books by Barnes. The reading of it prompted me to reread Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” It offers tremendous insight into the Christian’s pilgrimage. In some ways it reminds me of Charles Williams’ book “Descent into Hell.” Since I’ve mentioned Williams it is worth saying that his novels are worth reading. He is probably the least well know of the Inkling coterie of literary scholarship but his books are every bit as fascinating as those of his more well know friends Tolkien and Lewis. 

Good News for Anxious Christians - Philip Cary

There is so much sloppy thinking, or rather the lack thereof, in the Christian church that this book ought to be mandatory reading for every Christian. It is an easy read and somewhat repetitive, but, frankly, I suppose that is needed to drive home the points Cary is attempting to make. 

Kingdom, Grace and Judgment: The Parables of Jesus - Robert Farrar Capon

Though problematic is places, this is still the best book on the parables of Jesus that I have read. Originally published in three volumes it is now, happily available in one volume. It is not a difficult read, but the novice to theology will have to read it carefully. I found it fun to read some of the chapters aloud to my wife. (I am currently reading “Pilgrim’s Progress” aloud to my wife before we go to sleep at night. She tells me my voice is better than a sleeping tablet.)

Atheist Delusions - David Hart

This is a genuinely good apologetic for the Christian faith in a postmodernist culture. Hart’s knowledge of theology in general and the patristics in particular roots the reader in historical theology and his understanding of the breadth and depth of philosophy makes his arguments all the more persuasive. 

Beauty of the Infinite - David Hart 

I just picked this book up again after laying it down for a year. It is a very tough read but his insights into the aesthetics of the Trinity and the general power and beauty of really good theology make it worth reading. 

A History of Western Philosophy and Theology - John Frame

Joshua Abraham Heshel noted in his book God in Search of Man that philosophy is man in search of God (or meaning in life) and that theology is God is search of Man. Frame, I believe, would agree that philosophy and theology are both systems of thought whose end goal is a coherent worldview that gives meaning to life. The former is anthropocentric (man centered) and the latter is Theocentric (God centered). Frame's book is a distillation of western philosophy and theology albeit filtered through the lens of a reformed theologian. In an interview regarding the writing of this book Frame says: "As history has developed, 'philosophy' and 'theology' have developed different traditions: What we call philosophy is usually, but not necessarily, non-Christian. What we call Theology usually emphasizes the study of the Bible and Christian tradition, It is often authentically Christian, but not necessarily so."

He continues: "I think we need to study both, because they cannot be sharply separated, and because they have determined different intellectual and cultural traditions. Christians need to study philosophy because they need to be more aware of the primary principles underlying recent culture and thought. Our Lord call us to speak the gospel, and we need to be ready to answer questions from the unbelieving world (1 Peter 3.15). Then, everyone needs to study theology, for in theology, rightly understood, can be found God's provision for our eternal salvation, including the salvation of human thought."

Though the book may seem lengthy it is very well organized with marginal notes to help guide the reader, an extensive glossary, and a series of questions at the end of each chapter, which is read before undertaking the reading of the chopper will help the reader grasp more thoroughly the content in each section. The book should prove to be an excellent resource for years to come for those seeking to give answer to an orthodox faith and for those who simply want a basic understanding of the progress of western thought and philosophy.