Review of EVIL AND THE JUSTICE OF GOD by N.T. Wright

The problem of evil is one that I, like almost everyone else in the world, have wrestled with ever since becoming a Christian. In EVIL AND THE JUSTICE OF GOD, thelogian N.T. Wright wrestles with this problem head-on by focusing on a God who does respond to evil. He examines the Bible to reveal the ways that God has fought against evil throughout history.

As the title of the book suggests, Wright focuses much of this book on the epitome of God's defeat over evil in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Wright paints a picture of God's ultimate defeat and removal of evil in the new heavens and the new earth. He suggests that we don't live just waiting for this moment, but living lives of justice toward others in light of the world God is bringing about. In this way, we act as agents of God in the fight against evil.

No one has ever definitively solved the problem of evil, and this book won't do it either, but it does present God as one who is against evil and doing something in response to it.

Review copy provided by InterVarsity Press

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Review of HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED by Paul Tough

HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED by Paul Tough is a book about what factors contribute to a child growing up to succeed in life. The book starts by looking at what it looks like for children not to succeed. Tough is a journalist, and he introduces us to a variety of people whose stories are heartbreaking because of the factors and conditioning they lacked in early childhood that contributed to some very difficult circumstances later in life. I found it very interesting and alarming as a parent the effects of stress on children.

Tough’s book goes on to reveal that success is based less on school-based learning of information than helping children to develop the character to put their learning into practice. There’s plenty of scientific data revealed throughout the book, as well as stories to illustrate the book’s main points. Children need environments created for them that will help their character development. Character will help children endure in areas that information and skills may not.

I think this book is really important and should be read by parents and educators. Children deserve to have people in their lives who are committed to investing in their development and shaping of their futures. HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED will help to give people a vision to strive for, as well as steps to take to get there.

Review copy provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

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Review of JONATHAN EDWARDS'S THEOLOGY: A REINTERPRETATION by Kyle Strobel

I've become increasingly more interested in the thought of Jonathan Edwards recently, and the reason is Kyle Strobel. JONATHAN EDWARDS'S THEOLOGY: A REINTERPRETATION is a new book by Strobel that dives deep into the writings of Jonathan Edwards to illuminate exactly what Edwards believed and taught. Strobel explains in the introduction that Edwards's beliefs have often been misunderstood, and he seeks to cast light on these misunderstandings and bring some much-needed clarity. He does this by exploring Edwards's writings, often comparing their chronology. He shows that a close reading of Edwards's writings reveal development in his thought as he was writing.

Strobel looks at Edwards's thoroughly trinitarian thought, exploring Edwards's explanations for the personhood of the members of the trinity and the "personal beatific delight" of the trinity. Edwards grounds the rest of his theology in his theology of God's trinitarian nature. Strobel shows Edwards's development and how many have misunderstood his stance. Strobel, after giving us a clear and thorough look at Edwards's trinitarian theology, goes into other areas of Edwards's theology. This gives us some important thoughts on the end for which God created the world, the nature of heaven in Edwards's mind, redemption, and religious affections.

Strobel's book is heavy reading that both requires and generates much thought. Because Edwards grounds his theology in a robust biblical conception of God's trinitarian nature, reading the book not only provided intellectual stimulation, but an awe of who God is. 

Review copy provided by Bloomsbury

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Review of PAUL'S USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN ROMANS 9:1-9

Romans 9 is one of the most debated passages of Scripture because it is often used to propose that God unconditionally elected what individuals he would save before the foundation of the world. The flip side of this is that God unconditionally chose whom he would not save and sentence to hell forever before the foundation of the world. This is the common interpretation of Calvinism. I remember the first time I read Romans 9, and I was disturbed by what I was reading because that's exactly what it seemed to be saying from my reading of it. I can understand why someone would come to that conclusion. But, like many people, I also came to believe that if Romans 9 really reads that way, it doesn't paint a very good picture of God. It paints a picture of God that doesn't match up with the God who says he desires all to be saved. But Romans 9 still remains as a very confusing passage of Scripture.

In his book PAUL'S USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN ROMANS 9:1-9, Brian Abasciano takes a close and careful look at this confusing passage and illuminates what Paul intended when he wrote it. Abasciano does this by recognizing that Paul alluded to passages of the Old Testament to make his argument. He shows that Romans 9-11 form a unit and are the theological conclusion to what he has been saying in the first 8 chapters of Romans. In this passage Paul is seeking to show how God's promises to the Israelites in the Old Testament haven't failed. He shows how Paul used the Old Testament in verses 1-9 to show how God is just in rejecting Israel as a nation because of their unbelief. This leads to a thorough look at the passages that Paul alludes to in their original Old Testament context. He then shows the ideas Paul is trying to communicate by using these passages.

Romans 9 in Abasciano's view concerns God's election of corporate entities, specifcally those who place their faith in Christ. The book looks critically at John Piper's exegesis of Romans 9 and seeks to show God as the gracious pursuer of all people, but the savior of only those who believe, those identified in the Bible as the elect.

This book is an important exegetical look at Romans 9, and anyone wrestling with these issues should spend some time reading this book.

Review copy provided by Bloomsbury

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Review of the Audiobook of THE NEXT GENERATION by Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley is one the most well-known and respected church leaders in America, and he's known specifically for his leadership capabilities. In his book THE NEXT GENERATION LEADER, Stanley outlines the characteristics he believes that emerging leaders need in order to be most effective. He outlines five key characteristics:

Competence
Clarity
Courage
Character
Coaching

Personally, I think that his section on Competence is the most helpful part of the book. Stanley believes that for leaders to be their most effective selves, they need to be focused on the things for which they are most competent. People are wired differently. Some people are better at some things and terrible at others. Next Generation Leaders delegate the things for which they are not competent. This not only frees them to do the things they are good at; it gives other people the opportunity to do things they are competent at.

The other characteristics are important as well. It's important to communicate clarity in the midst of uncertainty. We have to have courage to do the things we are called to do as leaders. We need people wiser than us helping us to develop further. And we need to live lives of character.

I listened to the Christian Audio audiobook version of this book, and I had hoped that Andy Stanley was the one reading it, but he's not. Having listened to Andy Stanley many times, I didn't feel like the reader of the book quite matched the voice of the book, but it was still good. Stanley is a great thinker and a great leader, so I would recommend this to anyone who serves in a leadership capacity.

Review copy provided by Christian Audio

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Review of TROY STETINA: THE SOUND AND THE STORY DVD

Photo Credit: FRET12 Productions

When I started learning how to play guitar, I read a ton of guitar magazines. Every month I would grab the newest guitar magazine and start learning new techniques to play. This was essentially how I learned to play. As I look back I realize that probably 90% of my learning was from the teaching of guitar instructor Troy Stetina because many of the lessons I went through in those guitar magazines were written by him. I since learned that Stetina is one of the foremost guitar instructors in the world when it comes to learning how to play well with both speed and control.

I was really excited when I saw that FRET12 Productions released a guitar instructional video called TROY STETINA: THE SOUND AND THE STORY. This video truly shows how incredible of a guitar instructor Stetina is. I love how the DVD begins with different guitar players and instructors sharing their thoughts on Stetina. The video features Stetina in front of a stack of Marshall amps, holding a Paul Reed Smith guitar, with some really great lighting in the background, making the video itself very visually appealing.

Stetina gives some really helpful tips that are vital to beginning guitar players. He focuses on learning correctly. A lot of guitar players want to learn how to play fast, but as Stetina points out, they develop sloppy habits that they need to eliminate while playing slow that will only get worse when they speed up. He teaches how to develop control while playing slow and slowly speeding up. The goal, Stetina says, is effortlessness in your playing.

Stetina teaches many different concepts, such as picking techniques, trills, bending, not relying on mechanical shapes, using the metronome effectively, creativity and composing, and a ton of others. Throughout, you’ll learn how to isolate problem areas and create exercises to overcome those areas. You’ll be told to practice things slowly and accurately before building speed.

The Story part of the DVD focuses on some of the players who have learned from Stetina, as well as giving us an inside look at Stetina’s creative process in the studio. This makes this video a step above because you’re learning how to really make music and not just learning how to play guitar really well. Finally, the video closes out with some guest lessons from Michael Angelo Batio, Eric Friedman, Bill Peck, and my personal favorite, Mark Tremonti.

As you listen to and watch Troy Stetina play, you’ll be amazed and driven to learn more. THE SOUND AND THE STORY DVD gives you the great opportunity of learning guitar from one of the greatest instructors out there. I can’t recommend it enough.

Review copy of the DVD graciously provided by FRET12 Productions.

Check out the video at  FRET12 PRODUCTIONS

Review of The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament on Colossians & Philemon

I’ve really enjoyed the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series, and David W. Pao’s contribution on Colossians and Philemon is another great edition to the series. Colossians is an interesting letter that deals with a major error cropping up in the Colossian church and focuses a great deal on Christology. Pao looks at Paul’s authorship and handles the text in a way that draws out Paul’s Christological focus throughout the letter.
 
Colossians is one of my favorite books of the Bible to go to over and over again, and the part about faith, hope, and love near the beginning of the letter is one that I especially love. Pao shows how foundation hope is to love and faith. The commentary also handles Paul’s famous Christological hymn, describing what Christ as firstborn means. Pao’s handling of Philemon presents Paul’s letter as a lesson on how relationships change in light of the Gospel.
 
The layout of the series is helpful to each commentary, especially the theological applications after each section. If you’re working through either of these books, this commentary is a great place to get your questions answered.
 
Review copy provided by Zondervan Academic

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