I had the pleasure last year of of reading and reviewing Anthony’s book and interviewing him as well. Links to both of those blog articles are below:

• Book Review
• Interview

The Answers Book For Kids series is written for kids ages 6-12. This unique collection is designed to equip kids with answers to their questions about the Bible and the history it reveals. The ultimate goal of the series is to prepare kids to better defend their faith against a fallen world. Each of the books considers 22 questions focused on a specific topic area. Topics covered in the series are:

• Volume 1 – 22 Questions on Creation and the Fall
• Volume 2 – 22 Questions on Dinosaurs and the Flood of Noah
• Volume 3 – 22 Questions of God and the Bible
• Volume 4 – 22 Questions on Sin, Salvation, and the Christian Life

About the Authors:
Ken Ham is the president/CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis – U.S. and the highly acclaimed Creation Museum. Ken Ham is one of the most in-demand Christian speakers in North America. Ken’s emphasis is on the relevance and authority of the book of Genesis and how compromise on Genesis has opened a dangerous door regarding how the culture and church view biblical authority. His Australian accent, keen sense of humor, captivating stories, and exceptional PowerPoint illustrations have made him one of North America’s most effective Christian communicators.

Cindy Malott is a member of the Answers in Genesis staff. She works as executive assistant to the Marketing & Media teams, and worked hard helping to organize and compile important biblical answers for these informative children’s resources.

Related Books:

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

You can learn more about our Homeschool Road Trip here: LINK.

A Week in the Life of Corinth By Ben Witherington III

“Ben Witherington III attempts to reenchant our reading of Paul in this creative reconstruction of ancient Corinth. Following a fictitious Corinthian man named Nicanor through an eventful week of business dealings and conflict, you will encounter life at various levels of Roman society–eventually meeting Paul himself and gaining entrance into the Christian community there. The result is an unforgettable introduction to life in a major center of the New Testament world. Numerous full-page text boxes expand on a variety of aspects of life and culture as we encounter them in the narrative.”

Christ-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles By Graeme Goldsworthy

“The appeal of biblical theology is that it provides a “big picture” that makes sense of the diversity of biblical literature. Through the lens of biblical theology the Bible ceases to be a mass of unconnected texts, but takes shape as a unified metanarrative connecting the story of Israel with that of Jesus. It presents the whole scene of God’s revelation as one mighty plan of salvation.

For fifty years Graeme Goldsworthy has been refining his understanding of biblical theology through his experiences as a student, pastor and teacher. In this valuable complement to his Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics, Goldsworthy defends and refines the rationale for his approach, drawing especially on the work of Australian biblical scholar Donald Robinson.”

10Publishing just released a brand new book from Timothy Keller. Here’s a description from the 10 of Those website:

‘What are the marks of a supernaturally changed heart?’ 

This is one of the questions the Apostle Paul addresses as he writes to the church in Corinth. He’s not after some superficial outward tinkering, but instead a deep–rooted, life–altering change that takes place on the inside. In an age where pleasing people, puffing up your ego and building your résumé are seen as the methods to ‘make it’, the Apostle Paul calls us to find true rest in blessed self–forgetfulness.

In this short and punchy book, best–selling author Timothy Keller, shows that gospel–humility means we can stop connecting every experience, every conversation with ourselves and can thus be free from self–condemnation. A truly gospel–humble person is not a self–hating person or a self–loving person, but a self–forgetful person.

This freedom can be yours…

Where to buy:

• Amazon.com

Related Media:

“The Explicit Gospel” by Matt Chandler from Crossway on Vimeo.

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Crossway

In The Jefferson Lies, David Barton will make the case that Thomas Jefferson has been the victim of of a two century smear campaign, calling into question some of the myths that have grown up around this larger than life character from the history of our great nation. Through his examination of the historical records, original documents / letters, and other recent evidence, Barton feels strongly that he will be introducing readers to the “Real Thomas Jefferson.”

Here are the myths that will be explored in the book:

• Jefferson and Sally: Did he really have children by his slave, Sally Hemings?
• Jefferson and Jesus: Did he really abandon the faith of his family?
• Jefferson and the Bible: Did he really want to rewrite the Scripture?
• Jefferson and the church: Did he really advocate separation?
• Jefferson and slaves: What is the truth about his slaveholding and his statements that all are created equal?
• Jefferson and education: Did Jefferson really found the first secular, irreligious university?

About the Author:
David Barton is the founder and president of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious, and constitutional heritage. He is the author of numerous best-selling books and also addresses more than 400 groups each year. David and his wife, Cheryl, have three grown children.

He was named by Time magazine as one of America’s 25 most influential evangelicals, and he has received numerous national and international awards, including Who’s Who in Education and DAR’s highest award, the George Washington Honor Medal.

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

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.