One of the things I’m passionate about in this life is books. HT: Jeff Oien for alerting me to the article 20 Beautiful Private and Personal Libraries on Flavorwire. My favorite was Miquel Mateu’s library at the castle of Peralada, Spain (below). Between the black and which pattern on the floor and the red chairs in the distance, I felt it was an interesting mix of a traditional library look with some nice color variation thrown in. Head on over to Flavorwire to see them all and let me know which one you liked best.

The good folks at InterVarsity Press sent along a review copy of Ezekiel, Daniel, Volume XII in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, edited by Carl L. Beckwith (Ph. D., University of Notre Dame). This latest addition to the series was preceded by Reading Scripture with the Reformers, written by series general editor Timothy George and Galatians, Ephesians, Volume X in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, edited by Gerald L. Bray (Ph.D., La Sorbonne).

Series editor, Timothy George says, “The biblical revolution of the sixteenth century was an explosive event that shook the foundations of the church and called all Christians ad fontes—back to the sources! The Reformation Commentary on Scripture brings many of these sources, some for the first time, into the hands of today’s preachers and laity. My prayer is that this new series will encourage a fresh engagement with the primary sources of the Christian faith, and that this will result in the kind of God-centered Reformation that shook the world of Luther and Calvin.”

The Reformation Commentary on Scripture (RCS) follows on the heels of and is a sequel of sorts to the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ACCS). (Learn more about ACCS on CD-ROM from my review here:  LINK.) When complete, RCS will span twenty-eight volumes, bringing together the writings of both well-known and obscure preachers, scholars and reformers of the sixteenth-century. The stated goals for the series are:

1. Renewing contemporary biblical interpretation by bringing to light Reformation-era biblical interpretation.
2. Strengthening contemporary preaching through exposure to the biblical insights of the Reformation writers.
3. Deepening understanding of the Reformation and the breadth of perspectives represented within it.
4. Advancing Christian scholarship in the fields of historical, biblical, theological and pastoral studies

About this Volume:

“In Ezekiel, Daniel, the latest volume in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, the startling and intense imagery, visions and oracles of the Old Testament Hebrew prophets are explored through the eyes of the church Reformers. These unnerving stories and apocalyptic pronouncements were especially captivating to the Reformers as they strove to view their circumstances through the lens of the Bible.

Volume editor Carl L. Beckwith brings together for the first time the voices of Luther, Calvin and Melancthon, as well as many lesser-known thinkers, to allow us to understand why the books of Ezekiel and Daniel were so crucial in the Reformation-era revolution in preaching and interpreting the Bible. This volume creates a window into the biblical, theological and pastoral minds of the Reformers as they engage the texts, providing new, deeper insights into these important and familiar passages.”

(Excerpted from the Ezekiel, Daniel, Volume XII Press Kit)

Notable recommendations for the Series:

“For folks interested in reception history and historical theology, these volumes are sheer gold, and Bray’s first offerings sets a high standard. The general introduction by Timothy George introduces both the series and the various schools of Reformed exegesis like Luther/Wittenberg, Strasbourg/Basel, Zurich group, Genevan school, British Reformation, and Anabaptists and alone is worth the price of the book.”
—Michael Bird, Euangelion, January 2012

“I am delighted to see the Reformation Commentary on Scripture. The editors of this series have done us all a service by gleaning from these rich fields of biblical reflection. May God use this new life for these old words to give him glory and to build his church.”
—Mark Dever, senior pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and director of 9Marks.org Ministries

“Discerning the true significance of movements in theology requires acquaintance with their biblical exegesis. This is supremely so with the Reformation, which was essentially a biblical revival. The Reformation Commentary on Scripture will fill a yawning gap, just as the Ancient Christian Commentary did before it, and the first volume gets the series off to a fine start, whetting the appetite for more. Most heartily do I welcome and commend this long overdue project.”
—J. I. Packer, Board of Governors Professor of Theology, Regent College

Related Books and Media:

• Reformation Commentary on Scripture website

The good folks at InterVarsity Press sent along a review copy of Mark: The Gospel of Passion by Michael Card. This is the second book in the Biblical Imagination Series. Luke: The Gospel of Amazement, the first book in the series was released in 2011. Forthcoming titles include Matthew: The Gospel of Fulfillment and John: The Gospel of Wisdom, which will be released in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Michael Card has a broad vision for the Biblical Imagination Series, which brings together his music, writing, and teaching ministries. The core elements of the series are an individual commentary for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, a collection of songs for each of the four gospels, a video teaching series, and an itinerant conference series. You can find more detailed information on the Biblical Imagination Series at www.biblicalimagination.com.

About the Book:
As noted above, Mark: The Gospel of Passion is the second book in the Biblical Imagination series written by Michael Card and published by InterVarsity Press. The books in this series are not academic or devotional commentaries, but rather seek to get the reader “engaging with the Scriptures at the level  of the informed imagination.” (p. 14) The book opens with a brief introduction to the person of Mark (“Who is Mark”) and the major themes of this gospel (the so-called messianic secret, the fiery trial, and the gospel of passion: the emotional life of Jesus). The book is organized around the sixteen chapters of the gospel of Mark, with each chapter of the gospel having its own specific chapter in the book. Working through each chapter in verse order, the text alternates from biblical text to commentary throughout. Readers who want to move beyond the scope of this work and delve even deeper into the gospel of Mark, should take note of the Appendices and other end materials:

• Appendix A: Ancient Sources on the Relationship between Peter and Mark
• Appendix B: References to the Emotional Life of Jesus in the Gospels
• Appendix C: Historical References to the Period of Mark’s Gospel
• Appendix D: References to Mark in the New Testament
• Appendix E: The Additional Ending of Mark
• Notes
• Resources

Notable Recommendations:
“Michael Card has taught hundreds of thousands of us to love Jesus more deeply. Now, with this new book, he teaches us to follow Jesus more closely. Thanks, Michael!”
-Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author

“In honoring his mentor William Lane, Michael Card illumines a forgotten path of biblical imagination by a thorough examination of the book of Luke. I have been using this book as a meditation in my studio to live and create as an artist of the twenty-first century; I found every page to be eye-opening. This book is a feast for truth seekers and creators. . . . This humble offering is a sweet aroma and an invaluable contribution to all those who desire to know the Bible and live creatively.”
-Makoto Fujimura, artist and writer

Related Books and Media:

• Facebook
• www.biblicalimagination.com

I’ve been watching all of the favorite books of 2011 posts popping up throughout the blogosphere, so I figured I should make my contribution.  I’m going to be a bit of a rebel and buck the system by listing 5 books rather than 10.  Drumroll please…..

Shaun’s Favorite Books of 2011

1. The Constantine Codex
	Paul L. Maier is one of my favorite authors of all time.  My first introduction to Dr. Maier’s writing was A Skeleton in God’s Closeton my way back from visiting Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN back in 1997.  Since then I’ve acquired and read pretty much anything he has put his hand to.The Constantine Codex is the third book in the skeleton series beginning with A Skeleton in God’s Closet in the early nineties, followed by More than a Skeleton in 2003.  All three of these wonderful novels tell the story of Harvard Professor and unwitting adventurer Jonathan Weber. If you’re a fan of biblical archaeology, these books will not disappoint!
2. Deadly Disclosures (Dinah Harris Mystery Series – Book 1)
	It is only recently that I became acquainted with the writing of Julie Cave.  Julie is author of the Dinah Harris mystery series published by Master Books.  Deadly Disclosuresis book one of the series and deals with some pretty heavy issues, including the case for creation / intelligent design over evolution and other raw life issues including tragic loss, depression and alcoholism.  There are several clear articulations of the gospel in the book and overall it shows that Jesus Christ is sufficient, able to heal the deepest of wounds and deliver from even the deepest of hurts. Julie winds a masterful tale is one of the best new authors I’ve encountered during 2011!On a related note, I recently finished The Shadowed Mind (Book 2), which I will be reviewing soon and can’t wait to get started with Pieces of Light (Book 3), which is all cued up and waiting on my kindle.
3. Learning to Jump Again
	Learning to Jump Again is one of those books I never intended to read this past year, but it sort of came across my path at just the right time.  Anthony’s book is a very honest telling of the forceful emotions and spiritual turmoil one experiences leading up to and during the years that follow the loss of a parent.  I saw my own story in so much of what Anthony shared.  For me, reading this book was a cathartic experience. I would recommend this book to anyone who is working through the loss of a parent or other loved one, but my only caution is that this book may be too much for you right after the funeral. I would suggest picking up Learning to Jump Again at least three to six months afterwards.
4. Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People
	After spending all of that time acquiring Greek skills during our college and seminary days, it seems we just can’t find the time to keep up with it as our list of responsibilities always seems to keep going up, while our available time for study and personal development goes in the opposite direction.  Even if your Greek skills have atrophied a bit, don’t despair.  Keep Your Greek has some great ideas to help you get your Greek on and bring out the inner Bible Geek that’s inside of us all.  I would highly recommend this book for any Bible college / seminary student, pastor, or layperson who is interested in or who has ever studied Greek. Even if your interest in keeping up with your Greek studies is limited, you will find something of use here.
5. Luther: Echoes of the Hammer
	As a 33 year old man who reads an awful lot of non-fiction, I honestly don’t tend to read a lot of graphic novels.  As a father of some soon to be teens, who love graphic novels, I’m starting to get into them a bit more.  I’m always on the lookout for good resources to teach them about church history, especially the reformation.  With all of that in mind, I highly recommend Luther:  Echoes of the Hammer.  This book will help readers understand why Martin Luther is considered an important reformer and hero of the church. Excellent writing and beautiful illustrations make this book a joy to read and keep it moving along at a good pace. With the many informational helps included in the book, even readers who are unfamiliar with the terms or people of the reformation period will be able to follow the story with ease.

Book Details:
Author: Anthony Weber
Publisher: WestBow Press (2011)
Binding: Paperback
Page count: 164
ISBN: 9781449721305
Where to Buy: Amazon | BN

Recommendation:
Review Date: 11/29/2011 by Shaun Tabatt
Rating: Recommended

Review:
Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us will need to come to terms with the loss of our parents at some time in our lives. When the time comes, we will encounter deep grief and emotion at a level that we generally have not experienced before. It’s almost like a part of you dies when your father or mother breathes their last breath. In Learning to Jump Again, Anthony Weber shares his own story of the devastating loss of his father to a two and a half year battle with pancreatic cancer. Anthony never intend to write a book about his experience, but things changed when he received an overwhelming response to his journal entries after he shared some of them on Facebook. it was obvious that he had struck a chord and he felt strongly that others dealing with this sort of loss would benefit from the story of his journey towards freedom and healing chronicled in his journal.

Learning to Jump Again is divided into three sections. Part one (The Journal) contains entries from Anthony’s personal journal, sharing the raw feelings and emotion he experienced from the time he first learned of his father’s cancer, through his decline and passing, and the aftermath of the eight years following the funeral. Part two (Moving Beyond the Memories) contrasts life’s realities against truths found in God’s word and touches on topics like emotions, dreams, memory, faith, prayer, God and several other related topics. The last part of the book (From Heart to Head) is largely based on essays Anthony wrote for a class he took at Trinity Theological Seminary in Indiana, exploring the problem of pain and evil at a philosophical and theological level. Essays of this sort may at first glance seem out of place in this sort of book, but Anthony shares the reasons he felt it was necessary to include them in the final section of his book:

• “My journal mostly captures the way things are, at least at that point in my life. These essays are an attempt to address the way things ought to be, from a biblical perspective. “
• “My journal recorded what I felt; these essays capture what I believe.”
• “My journal seems to capture a sense of pessimism that does not reflect the life I have today.”
• “I wanted this book to close in a manner that reminds us that, though we grieve, we have a bulwark of truth to support us and a foundation of hope to sustain us.

When the time comes for any of us to face this new chapter in our lives, we will feel like the boy on the cover of the book, staring down and wondering if we are ready to jump again. While we may not be ready to resume normal life immediately following our loss, this book offers a message of hope. Life will not be the same as it was before, but we can find a new sense of normal through the hope and healing available through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Having personally experienced the loss of a father, this book resonated deeply with my personal experience. I would recommend this book to anyone who is working through the loss of a parent or other loved one, but my only caution is that this book may be too much for you right after the funeral. I would suggest picking up Learning to Jump Again at least three to six months afterwards.

Author Information:
Anthony Weber is a pastor, high school and college teacher, coach, husband, and father of three boys. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from Cedarville University, and a Master’s Degree in Theology from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana.  You can learn more about Anthony Weber and his book at his web site and Facebook page.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided by the author for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

I enjoyed reading Deadly Disclosures (book 1 in the Dinah Harris Mystery series) by Julie Cave last week.  My review is availalbe here:  LINK.  This week I have the privilege of diving in to The Shadowed Mind, which is the second book in the series.  Here’s a description of The Shadowed Mind from the New Leaf / Master Books web site:

A suspense-filled mystery which answers an ominous question:

Who will be found worthy to live; who is the next victim?

After the deadly investigation into the Smithsonian murders, Dinah Harris is now facing a daily battle to keep her sobriety while struggling to form a new career from the ashes of her former job as an FBI agent. From the shadows will emerge a cunning and terrifying killer, who carefully and methodically will decide whose life has value to society and whose does not.

Using her profiling and security skills as a private consultant based in Washington, DC, Dinah uncovers a connection to the shadowy world of neo-eugenics, and those who publicly denounce the killings but privately support a much different view.

Against this backdrop, Dinah must come to terms with her own past, as those associated with the deepening mystery face their own personal demons, and struggle with the concept of God’s inexhaustible grace and forgiveness. Old secrets are revealed, tragedies unearthed, and the devastating legacy of science without compassion is finally brought to light.

The second in a powerful new fiction trilogy!

If this book would be of interested to you, I suggest you also watch the book trailer, which is shown below:

I just received my copy of Family Shepherds:  Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes by Voddie Baucham (Crossway, 2011).  If it’s anything like the other books I’ve read by Voddie, I’m thinking it’s gonna hit me like a ton of bricks, but since I’m striving to grow and improve as a husband and a father, I say bring it on.    The book it divided into 5 parts:

• Part 1:  The Need to Equip Family Shepherds:  Gaining a More Biblical View of the Family
• Part 2:  Family Discipleship and Evangelism:  Equipping Men to be Priests and Prophets in Their Homes
• Part 3:  Marriage Enrichment:  Equipping Men to Love Their Wives as Christ Loved the Church
• Part 4:  The Training and Discipline of Children:  Equipping Men to Raise Kingdom-Minded Warriors
• Part 5:  Lifestyle Evaluation:  Equipping Men to Count the Cost of Family Discipleship

Be sure to check out this brief promotional interview Crossway has put out for a good idea of what to expect in the book:

It was just earlier today that I loaded up my kindle with Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave and I’m already in to chapter 4.  Chances are I will finish reading the book in the next 24 hours.  Truth be told, I’m not an avid fiction reader, but Deadly Disclosures is an exciting read and I must find out how the story ends.

Deadly Disclosures is the first of three books in the Dinah Harris Mystery series, so I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2 (The Shadowed Mind) and book 3 (Pieces of Light).  Here’s a description of the book from the New Leaf / Master Books web site:

How far will some go to silence an influential Christian voice?

FBI agent Dinah Harris now has a missing person’s file to go along with a bad case of alcohol abuse and the depression she cannot seem to shake. Fighting to keep her focus, she struggles to find answers for why Thomas Whitfield, the prominent Secretary of the Smithsonian has vanished from his office with foul play almost guaranteed. Whitfield’s body is eventually found, and Dinah is drawn into a frightening conspiracy, as more people begin to die, and Whitfield’s faith is revealed as part of the motive behind his murder. Dinah finds troubling answers in an academic world filled with powerful financial endowments and a virulent opposition to the faith Whitfield only recently found. Can she reveal the truth before she finds herself the next silenced victim of a ruthless, unseen enemy?

The book trailer is what got me interested, you can see it below:

I’m a big fan of John Walton’s writing. Some of my favorite Walton titles are:

• Covenant (Zondervan, 1994)
• Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible (Baker Academic, 2006)
• The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate (IVP Academic, 2009)

I know I had heard about Dr. Walton’s new book, Genesis 1 as Ancient Cosmology (Eisenbrauns, 2011) awhile back, but had forgotten about it.  Many thanks to everbody’s favorite Eisenbrauns bookseller for refreshing my memory. Here’s the description of Genesis 1 as Ancient Cosmology from the Eisenbrauns web site:

The ancient Near Eastern mode of thought is not at all intuitive to us moderns, but our understanding of ancient perspectives can only approach accuracy when we begin to penetrate ancient texts on their own terms rather than imposing our own world view. In this task, we are aided by the ever-growing corpus of literature that is being recovered and analyzed.

After an introduction that presents some of the history of comparative studies and how it has been applied to the study of ancient texts in general and cosmology in particular, Walton focuses in the first half of this book on the ancient Near Eastern texts that inform our understanding about ancient ways of thinking about cosmology. Of primary interest are the texts that can help us discern the parameters of ancient perspectives on cosmic ontology—that is, how the writers perceived origins. Texts from across the ancient Near East are presented, including primarily Egyptian, Sumerian, and Akkadian texts, but occasionally also Ugaritic and Hittite, as appropriate. Walton’s intention, first of all, is to understand the texts but also to demonstrate that a functional ontology pervaded the cognitive environment of the ancient Near East. This functional ontology involves more than just the idea that ordering the cosmos was the focus of the cosmological texts. He posits that, in the ancient world, bringing about order and functionality was the very essence of creative activity. He also pays close attention to the ancient ideology of temples to show the close connection between temples and the functioning cosmos.

The second half of the book is devoted to a fresh analysis of Genesis 1:1–2:4. Walton offers studies of significant Hebrew terms and seeks to show that the Israelite texts evidence a functional ontology and a cosmology that is constructed with temple ideology in mind, as in the rest of the ancient Near East. He contends that Genesis 1 never was an account of material origins but that, as in the rest of the ancient world, the focus of “creation texts” was to order the cosmos by initiating functions for the components of the cosmos. He further contends that the cosmology of Genesis 1 is founded on the premise that the cosmos should be understood in temple terms. All of this is intended to demonstrate that, when we read Genesis 1 as the ancient document it is, rather than trying to read it in light of our own world view, the text comes to life in ways that help recover the energy it had in its original context. At the same time, it provides a new perspective on Genesis 1 in relation to what have long been controversial issues. Far from being a borrowed text, Genesis 1 offers a unique theology, even while it speaks from the platform of its contemporaneous cognitive environment.

I anticipate that this new book will generate debate and discussion, much like we have seen around the blogosphere with The Lost World of Genesis One. I suspect the $34.50 retail price may cause some to shy away, but if you have a strong interest in ancient cosmology and the origins debate in Genesis 1, you should consider adding Genesis 1 as Ancient Cosmology to your library. It will definitely rank high on my list of Christmas gift ideas this year.

Below are the books that caught my eye in the Winter 2012 IVP Academic Catalog.

You can view the full catalog below: