Book Review of A Proverbs Driven Life by Anthony Selvaggio

The Proverbs Driven Life: Timeless Wisdom for Your Words, Work, Wealth, and Relationships by Anthony Selvaggio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A very helpful topical overview of the book of Proverbs. His introductory chapter on how to interpret the proverbs is worth the price of the book. Selvaggio's book is helpfully not exhaustive, and it is arranged into the overarching themes of communication, work, wealth, friends, marriage and children. I was pleasantly surprised to find someone saying what I've always thought regarding finding a spouse and have felt is typically ignored in most preaching on this topic. That is, not only should you look for a spouse of noble character, but you should also aspire to be a person of noble character yourself--one that would be worthy of finding. I would highly recommend this book as a resource for adult and senior high Sunday School curriculum.



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Review of Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A romantic fiction? What is Crazy Love? According to Francis Chan it falls on the preeminent commandment which is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The first three chapters develops very, very well the idea of the absolute sovereignty, transcendence, and magnitude of God. How could a God like this love us, who are so insignificant compared to his holiness? That is why it is crazy, and requires a consequent crazy sort-of love in return. Francis spends a lot of pages dealing with the concept of being lukewarm--and defines it based on Rev. 3:15-18. According to Chan "church goers who are "lukewarm" are not Christians (pg. 84). Chan's book is intentionally written to a North American church that says, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing" (Rev. 3:15-18). So he spends a lot of time about the importance of getting past our innate greed and giving generously away to those who are in need. He provides several first hand examples of what this looks like from contemporary Christianity and historical (like George Muller). Taken to the extreme (and I risk appearing lukewarm according to Chan), this view can possibly diminish the ability for capital generation for the glory of God and the bolstering of ministry projects from those profits. I was very thankful to read in the last chapter of Chan's book the importance of balance on this issue--just wish it came a bit earlier in the book. I do think that Chan's provocative tone is intentionally so because of the opulence of most of the North American church at large and specifically in his own Southern California context.



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Review of Hints for Parents by Gardiner Spring and Tedd Tripp

Hints for Parents: With Gospel Encouragements by Tedd Tripp by Gardiner Spring

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I wish I had read this short book earlier in my parenting career. Indeed, having read "Shepherding a Child's Heart," I found this short book much more valuable. Gardiner Spring's early 19th Century text with Tedd Tripp's notes along the way was very insightful and encouraging. One such encouragement came on page 26 from Tedd in which he says, "God will take your patient teaching of your children and authenticate its truthfulness to their hearts. Your hope as you teach them to have magnnaminity of heart ... is that God will use His Word to persuade your child of its truth. Your job is to set forth truth plainly; God's job is to shine the light into their hearts." There is courage and hope offered throughout as the goals and objectives of are clearly laid out. Gardiner writes, "God's time for the conversion of your children may not be your time. Your efforts may seem in vain--for years--but you will likely at last see your children rejoicing in the graces and comforts of holiness. He who goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (p. 67). A short but very helpful little book--would make a great new parent gift from your church. I only hope I can integrate the biblical wisdom found in this gem of a book into my own parenting.



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Review of The Supremacy of God in Preaching

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


John Piper writes of the importance of 'blood-earnestness' in preaching. And according to Piper, blood-earnestness is something that is seriously lacking in most preaching today. This intensity comes as an awareness of the magnitude of God and His Word fills the heart of a preacher. Piper gives anecdotal insights from the life and preaching of Jonathan Edwards which pointed to Edward's awe filled awareness of an infinite God. Piper strongly rebukes those preachers who glory in a flippant, humorous, entertainment-showmanship preaching which does not take seriously the gravity of message nor the situation. In contrast, Piper writes, "This is simply stupendous to think about--that when I preach, the everlasting destiny of sinners hangs in the balance! If a person is not made earnest and grave by this fact, people will unconsciously learn that the realities of heaven and hell are not serious" (p. 59). In short, Piper's main thesis is "Gladness and gravity should be woven together in the life and preaching of the preacher in such a way as to sober the careless soul and sweeten burdens of the saints" (p. 55). A short and helpful reminder for preachers, indeed a good book to read and reread from time to time. I wonder what affect this type of 'blood-earnest' intensity might have in the North American Church that is drowning itself in entertainment?



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