Bookshelf

We've gotten a couple of questions over the last few weeks about what we've been reading as a family. Thanks to only being able to acquire a single copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when it came out we were forced to learn to read to each other (no, it would not have been acceptable to simply take turns). That trend continued during pregnancy as a means of reading to pre-oxygen breathing Abigail, and has now become a part of our weekly routine.

Here's what's on the docket currently:

1. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994).

We generally try to read one chapter a week, though Grudem's penchant for repeating himself sometimes requires breaking up the material. Grudem's work is clearly not the best example of systematic theology proper, but his dialogical and doxological elements, as well as the aforementioned repetitive style make for a good learning/teaching tool.

2. Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994).

This was (is?) mandatory reading at Wheaton in the good old days and we thought Allison should get in on the fun. Noll is a first-rate historian and, at the time of writing, was well-positioned to speak about the state of the evangelical world in this regard. Even after 15 years the book is still an accurate and helpful analysis.

3. William P. Farley, Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R, 2009).

We've only just started this book, but Farley's title seems to be a fairly straight-forward representation of his thesis, namely that the gospel has serious implications for parenting methods and the manner in which you implement them. We could do without the overzealous complementarian language, but we could do with more "Even a child's testimony that he 'accepted Jesus' or 'asked Jesus into his heart' means very little. That is because God initiates new birth" (28).

Up Next:

Anthony C. Thiselton, The Living Paul: An Introduction to the Apostle and His Thought (London: SPCK, 2009).

Jeff likes to joke about how certain students have man-crushes on their professors or other scholars. Allison is pretty convinced that his man-crush is on Paul (which may or may not make it more acceptable). On a less awkward note, Thiselton is a first-rate scholar and this book promises to be an excellent introduction.

This list is, sadly, devoid of any good novels. We'd be interested in hearing suggestions of a good novel, biography, or non-fiction narrative (e.g. The Devil in the White City).

Happy reading.