JRF's #6 - To the Glory of God by James Montgomery Boice

I don't think I need to tell you that Paul's letter to the Romans is an important book.  It is also very intimidating - as God's Word should be.

This 40 day devotional taken from sermons by the late James Montgomery Boice is a helpful tool to begin mining the countless jewels Romans has to offer.

We read through this together as a community group and it was exciting to see how every week our eyes were being opened to a new aspect of the amazing Good News of Christ, regardless of how familiar each person was with Paul's letter.

This collection of excerpts from Boice's sermon series, along with the acompanying Scripture passage and an application question was the perfect portion for a daily diet of meditating on God's glorious Gospel and its implications for our daily life.

This is a flyover of the mountain range that is the book of Romans.  But the view of the majestic snow cap peaks is more than enough to lure this traveller into a lifetime of exploring the valleys, ravines and cliff faces of these Himalayas of Scripture.

"A reigning monarch is a triumphant monarch.  If grace is reinging in us, grace is advancing its conquest over sin.  Christians sin. But they are not defeated by sin, and they do not continue in it...The goal of grace is to destroy and vanquish sin."

JRF's #5 - The Cross He Bore by Frederick S Leahy

One can never ponder the cross too much.  I'm always looking for books that will redirect my mind and heart back to the apex of history.  I first heard of this book when Tim Challies suggested reading it along with him in preperation for Easter.  I failed to do that but this year I finally got around to reading this excellent collection of meditations on Calvary.

Each chapter of this short classic looks at a different aspect of our Savior's suffering on our behalf.  Frederick Leahy does a magnificent job of stirring the readers affections and thoughts by weaving through the consideration of the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical sufferings of the King of Kings on that glorious, scandalous, beautifully horrific day.

I commend this book to your arsenal of Cross centered living.

"If we are to receive the crown of life, Christ must receive the crown of thorns."

"...not only did he submit to the injustice of his accusers, but also he submitted to the justice of God which he had come to satisfy."

JRF's #4 - A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

100 hundred years ago failed pencil sharpener salesman Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan) birthed the Science Fiction Adventure/Romance genre.  This book is the first of 11 in the Barsoom series (Barsoom apparently being the indigenous name for Mars).

This book and this series have literally inspired generations of filmmakers and storytellers.  Superman, Star Wars, Avatar, and Stargate are among the many well known stories that find their source material in this classic.  In fact the extent to which some of those stories are ripped off border on shameless at times.  For example the words Jedi, Sith and Banth all come from Burrows' tale.

The plot of A Princess of Mars centers around John Carter, a former Confederate Soldier who is mysteriously transported to Mars.  Here, thanks to his fearless courage, valor, and unearthly strength (due to the lesser gravity of Mars) he finds himself alternately getting in and out of danger.  Eventually John Carter falls in love with the the most beautiful girl on his or her planet, Dejah Thoris, princess of the martian kingdom of Helium (yes. Helium).

Though the writing and plot of this book is nothing that would make an English teacher excited, what makes this story so compelling and classic it its ability to tap into that deep desire of every boy to be a hero and every girl to be rescued by her knight in shining armor (cue feminist retort).  John Carter is not a complicated character, but it is exactly his uncompromising chivalry and uncomplicated nobility that makes him such a compelling protagonist.

100 years later the film John Carter, based on this book, made history as one of the worst flops of all time.  While this is unfortunate, as I think the film to be quite good, I do believe that if the filmmakers had stayed closer to the plot of the book, the film would have been much more successful.

JRF's #3 - Hitler's Cross by Erwin Lutzer

Adolph Hitler's rise to power did not happen in a vacuum.  In this thought-provoking book, pastor Erwin Lutzer traces the story of how Hitler's Nazis came to power in the very heartland of the Protestant Reformation.  Through tracing the cultural, theological and political storylines of pre-World War II Germany Lutzer skillfully shows what happens when patriotism, nationalism, and humanism are given a higher place than the Gospel and Biblical fidelity in the church.

It was at once fascinating and terrifying to examine how Hitler deceived, seduced, and hijacked the German church to serve his diabolical purposes.  It was also inspiring to learn of the brave few believers who stood against both Hitler and the apostate church at the cost of their reputation and lives.

Lutzer gives much food for thought in regard to how this "christian" nation with such a rich theological history was so easily led down such a Satanic path...and what that means for the American church.  While I at times think Lutzer overgeneralizes or connects dots through assumption rather than hard facts, his assumptions are well worth considering.

I leave you with a few questions:  Were the church-going German people any less depraved than you and me?  Why were they able to silence their conscience and give tacit or even enthusiastic approval to the slaughter of their neighbors?  Are we as American Christians susceptible or even guilty of conveniently being apathetic to injustice or even genocide in our own midst?  Have we put our faith in the power of politics over the power of the Cross?

Read Hitler's Cross to have your mind engaged and your soul stirred to stand for the Gospel at the cost of your life, for the good of your neighbor, and to the glory of God.

"Denying God and casting down the cross is never a merely private decision that concerns only my own inner life and my personal salvation, but this denial immediately brings the most brutal consequences for the whole of historical life and especially for our own people.  'God is not mocked.'  The history of the world can tell us terrible tales based on that text."

- Helmut Thielicke

"The Cross reminds us that the battle is not so much between church and state as it is within our own hearts.  If Christ has all of us, if the Cross stands above politics and the world as Bonhoeffer has reminded us, we shall overcome regardless of the cost."

John's #2 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

In a culture filled with reality TV, Twitter, and endless sarcasm an adventure tale like the Hobbit stands out as refreshing and timeless.

I won't go into the plot here, as you have either:   - already read it - are interested and should read it for yourself - or have no interest in dragons, hairy footed little people and awesomeness.  A plot summary would serve none of those groups.

Suffice it to say that I enjoyed reading the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and company far more than I did those of his younger cousin, Frodo.  The Hobbit was much more action packed and the smaller scope allowed me to invest more in the characters.  I also appreciated the lighter diet of Middle earth songs and poetry, which in The Lord of the Rings can sometimes go on for pages.

Here's hoping that the transfer of this superior Tolkien adventure to film is as succesful as that of The Lord of the Rings.

JRF's #1 - Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

Ya, I know.  Kind of a late start.  I have no delusions that I am going to make 52 books this year.  But I find that reviewing the books I read is a good discipline and perhaps you might find something edifying as well so here we go...

I finally made enough 10 minute drives back and forth to work to finish this audio book version of Jerry Bridges classic.  As you may remember from last year's audio book experiment, I have book on CD issues.

That said, Trusting God was an immensely encouraging listen.  In it Bridges takes the clearly taught, yet so often misunderstood or denied,  Biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty and shows how the simple act of trusting that God is who He says He is will profoundly change your life.

Perhaps the phrase that sticks with me the most and was oft repeated in the book was, "God's will is not in competition with our good".

This book helped expand my view of God's greatness and goodness.  In addition, it helped me see how the Big God of Scripture is involved with every detail of my life, and how that knowledge can give me strength in the midst of trial and uncertainty.

Read (or listen) to this book to help your Theology inform and transform your worship of and walk with King Jesus.

The good that God works for in our lives is conformity to the likeness of His Son. It is not necessarily comfort or happiness but conformity to Christ in ever-increasing measure in this life and in its fullness in eternity."  p. 120.

God's unfailing love for us is an objective fact affirmed over and over in the Scriptures. It is true whether we believe it or not. Our doubts do not destroy God's love, nor does our faith create it. It originates in the very nature of God, who is love, and it flows to us through our union with His beloved Son."            p. 155.