Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book discussion questions

On Thursday I am leading a semi-evangelistic book discussion on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I am not a die-hard fan, but I do like the books and believe it provides a deeply real way into discussing the Gospel. I am not intending to draw direct links to Christianity myself (except perhaps at the close), but hope to enlarge imaginations so that the Gospel can be comprehended better once it is heard. The many Christians who will be there will no doubt make the significant links for me and hopefully also see the superiority of the Gospel.

I will probably improve it after some sleep, but here is a link to the questions, plus loads and loads of quotations on the three themes I hope to discuss:

• trust
• death; and
• love

I would like to have done remorse as well but there won't be time. Feedback welcome. I will probably edit this post after the event.

'God So Loved He Gave': A review

God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity by Kelly M. Kapic with Justin Borger, Zondervan.

We might expect a book about giving to be a guilt-trip and focused on our wallet. This book is neither of these.

It begins “Let me tell you a story...the story about God.”

That tells you a lot about this book. It is not a long book, although its 200 pages are closely typed and it is tightly written. Nevertheless, it a big book in other ways. The book sweeps from creation, through the fall to redemption with God himself as the centre of the story. As the main actor in this drama God is thoughtfully and beautifully shown to be God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And the story’s major theme is God giving himself in the Son and the Spirit to a people who never deserved such grace.

With this as the big picture the application becomes refreshingly different to many exhortations to generosity you may have heard.

• It is saturated in grace – we are reminded to give because we have first received.
• It is God-centred – you are inspired to grow in generosity, but wonder and thankfulness for the Triune God is the dominant melody.
• It is inviting rather than pushy - as the subtitle suggests, we are invited into God’s story and into the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity.

But this God of grace takes you to quite dizzying heights, and things look a bit different from his perspective. Just as God invites you in to join him, he invites you to join him going out in self-giving. Kapic and Berger show that it is the grace of the Triune God which will make generosity so much more radical than it would be otherwise. E.g.

• God didn’t just give things, but his person - so how can we respond by just giving a percentage rather than our whole person?
• We are rich because we have received so much - so how can we not give lavishly?

Personally the most memorable theme was that of belonging. We belong to God because he created us. This was perfect freedom but we rejected belonging to God and chose bondage to sin. God reclaimed us by giving (!) so we can experience the gift of being his slaves.

This book is so rich that I could spend a long time trying to describe its content but I would struggle to do it justice.

If you are wondering about the form: It is theological but I was pleasantly surprised how expositional it was. It would probably be enjoyed by any regular reader of Christian books but may be too demanding for an occasional reader. Finally, it is distinctly Reformed Evangelical in its theology but (in-keeping with the theme) Kapic is generous in drawing on a wide range of thinkers.

God So Loved He Gave is one of the very best books I’ve read in several years. It engaged me on every level (mind, heart and will) and there are not very many books you can say that about. I highly recommend this beautiful book.

[A detailed overview of the contents/headings/sub-headings and more on Kelly Kapic.]

Wisdom on reading well (part 4): Rico Tice

During a Christianity Explored training session, Rico Tice explained that we learn best if we are being taught in four different contexts:

• From the front;
• In small groups;
• One-to-one; and
• On your own.

I think it is obvious what the unique qualities of each context are. I am convinced that we should be reading the Bible and exploring what it means in all four contexts if we want it to seep deep into our hearts and lives.

I think this not only because this is a good principle for all learning (although I think it is, and it is striking how the College of Law balances all apart from one-to-one), but because it is particularly the case for the Gospel which is a proclamation of news but is already known and experienced by all Christians, and which is shared by a community but is also personal to each individual.

For the last 2 years I've been deliberately trying to balance all four in my life, and I am increasingly convinced of the worth of keeping that balance.

I should probably write a long post about the strengths and weaknesses of each, and describe how doing all four prevents the harm which would be caused by too much weight on one or the other. Its too late though so I'll leave you to think it through on your own!

Wisdom on reading well (part 1): Michael Reeves

I thought I'd do a little series on advice that has impacted how I read, and in particular how I read the Bible. This is the first piece of advice (not in order of importance by the way!) although it is implicit rather than explicit:

"Luther opened the Bible to find Christ, Zwingli sought more simply to open the Bible." (p.75, Michael Reeves, The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation)

This one sentence is probably the most important thing to me I read in Mike Reeves's book. It reinforced the video below which I had seen on Dave Bish's blog.

I found that massively personally challenging. Am I reading the Bible with the clear intention to meet Christ and see his glory? If I'm not, I'm perverted in my use of the Bible.

One caveat. It is helps to come to the Bible with questions and a knowledge of Christ beforehand, but we must then allow the Bible to question our questions and our knowledge of Christ so that we don't find exactly the Christ we expected to find. You could argue that Luther did not do that as well as he should have, and that is why he had a bad attitude to James, Revelation etc.

My books of 2010

For what it is worth, my highly personal favourite books of the year were:

1. Longing to Know: The Philosophy of Knowledge for Ordinary People by Esther L Meek
2. The Living Word: A Theological Study of Preaching and the Church by Gustaf Wingren
3. Counterfeit Gods: When the Empty Promises of Love, Money, and Power Let You Down by Timothy J Keller
4. The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-shift that Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
5. Perelandra by CS Lewis

Most of the books I read this year were pretty good. Unfortunately I read very little simply for myself because with my law course I didn't have the time. I think that meant that there were no books that were deeply personally significant this year. I read most of these books in order to discuss them with friends or pass on/recommend to others. None stand-out so much that I want to recommend any in particular.

I wish I had spent more time reading fiction and the Bible.

These are the books I read:

Crazy Love (Chan) – Like John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life but more focus on love for your neighbour. Perhaps could do with a stronger emphasis on our forgiveness, but I think it is a good thing that this kind of book is a Christian bestseller.

Experiencing the Trinity (Johnson) – A very short introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity. Pretty good although I’m still looking for a good introductory book to the doctrine.

Man and the Incarnation (Wingren) – A book by a Swedish Lutheran on Ireanaus. Particularly emphasising God’s continual creating activity, and our corresponding continual growth into Christ in whose image we are made.

Theology is for Proclamation (Forde) – Forde has a big idea, and it is a good one. In this wide-ranging critique he argues we should evaluate our theology by whether it leads to proclamation. He finds almost all orthodox theologising as lacking, but I didn’t feel like he had really thought through most of his critiques. I think he was just over-ambitious, and over-critical.

The Waiting Father (Thielicke) – A collection of sermons on the parables. I don’t think I’ve ever read such an amazing rhetorician, and then it is all backed by a first-rate theological mind. The down-side was that I was not always certain he was exegeting the text itself.

Letters to a Young Calvinist (Smith) – a very snappily written encouragement to soteriological Calvinists to widen their vision and embrace something more like neo-Calvinism. I thought this was a really great book.

Distinctives (Roberts) – we read this as a home group. I think we were all encouraged to have a bit perspective, and realised how radically that should affect our lives.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Tolstoy) – a dark short story about the dying of a stereotypical middle-class man who could have been around today. Vanity, all is vanity!

The Unquenchable Flame (Reeves) – an excellent introduction to the Reformation as expected (see my review note).

Gilead (Robinson) – Everyone says you should read it, and they are right. Gilead is a beautiful illustration of what it means to live and die well. Especially if read in comparison to Ivan Ilyich.

The Temple and the Church's Mission (Beale) – A ponderous book, but with a great central thesis that is probably a lot more controversial in the States than the UK. God intended for Eden to be a temple that would expand and fill the whole world with his presence through the work of humanity. The church, in Christ, picks up the task.

That Hideous Strength (Lewis) – Volume 3 of the Space Trilogy. I enjoyed this the most of all three, although it was probably the least ambitious.

What is the Gospel? (Gilbert) – I don’t like the fact that he included 'response' within his definition of the Gospel. But as a short, accessible and punchy explanation of what ought to be at the forefront of the Church’s teaching I thought it was very well executed.

The Trellis and the Vine (Marshall and Payne) – Argues that one-to-one ministry from the very top-down is essential in growing a church in character, conviction and competency. The central metaphor is important, and I am thoroughly convinced that churches ought to adopt this remarkably simple and word-centred model of ministry. I blogged a little on it.

Perelandra (Lewis) – the second volume of the space trilogy. Lewis attempts to describe the interaction between an unfallen woman, a fallen man and the devil. Very illuminating about temptation, and exposes much of how we assume that ‘sin’ is just the way things are.

Longing to Know (Meek) – a weird book that slips between quite mind-bending philosophy of knowledge and homey illustrations. But I learnt a lot about how we know, and how that applies to our knowledge of God and assurance. The trouble is, and the author will be unsurprised by this, a lot of what I learnt is difficult to express.

Life Together (Bonhoeffer) – a deserved classic which I read for the second time. Compact, practical and challenging. However, I continue to have a nagging doubt about Bonhoeffer. Everyone loves him and rates Discipleship and this book among their favourites, but if you asked me, or anyone else how he changed them I think most would struggle to say anything concrete.

Out of the Silent Planet (Lewis) – the first of the space trilogy. I don’t think this is the best but it sets up the rest of the series.

The Living Word (Wingren) – a powerful polemic for the life-creating power of the preached word and the significance of conflict with the devil.

He Is There and He Is Not Silent (Schaeffer) – I’m afraid I just don’t think I get Schaeffer. He paints with a broad brush over a huge canvas. I like what he is trying to do, but he doesn’t persuade me of anything.

Escape from Reason (Schaeffer) – as above. I feel I ought to love Schaeffer. My pastor is a fanatic. Perhaps I should read something more substantial.

A Sinner's Guide to Holiness (Chapman) – a short booklet on sanctification. Realistic, it was helpful for a friend in explaining the importance and difficulty of holiness in this life.

What Kind of God? (Ots) – This is best book I’ve come across at answering these kinds of questions. I wouldn’t hesitate to give this to someone who is not yet a Christian.

Friendship (Black) – A Victorian book on the importance of friendship. Vaguely Christian, but very perceptive. Reminded me a little of Lewis.

Counterfeit Gods (Keller) – I have been thinking about idolatry all year because this book stuck with me and was augmented by listening to his sermons and the influence that Keller is on friends. I have lived with the challenge and the hope of a better God in Christ all year, and I’m very thankful for that.

Proper Confidence (Newbigin) – Short book of lectures from the end of his life, it is therefore perhaps unsurprising that it is not very tightly written. Newbigin argues for the correct kind of confidence we should have in our faith.

The Reason for God (Keller) – Need I say anything? Second time I read it and enjoyed it as much as the first time. Every Christian should read this book. I don’t think it is good for giving away, but Keller is the best model I know of for thoughtfully dealing with real questions people are asking today.

The Theme of the Pentateuch (Clines) – This was a seminal book for OT studies, and like most seminal books you can see why as soon as you read it. I summarised some of it.

Doubt in Perspective (McGrath) –This is very good short book to give someone who is doubting. It is accessible and short, but goes quite deep.

I'm a Christian, aren't I? (Clark) – I’m sorry but I think this is the only truly bad book I read this year. It is written for nominal Anglicans, but I think it destroys both true and false assurance.

Just Love (Cooper) – I reviewed this here. A good book on the validity of divine retribution, that doesn’t neglect the Gospel.

• My 2009 list (when coincidently I also read 31 books, although they were longer and better because I had more time).
• Other's 2010 lists.

Some books of the year lists

• Kevin DeYoung
• Bobby Grow
• Jason Goroncy
• Krish Kandiah
• Tony Reinke
• Ed Shaw
• Sam Storms
• Trevin Wax

All the end of year reviews have collectively persuaded me that to read The God who is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story by Don Carson, and Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. Despite their best efforts I will resist the collective wisdom to read the doubtlessly excellent To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davison Hunter and Defending Constantine. The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom by Peter J. Leithart.

.

Reading too much?

It is far from my intention to depreciate the value or deny the usefulness of books, without exception: a few well-chosen treatises, carefully perused and thoroughly digested, will deserve and reward our pains; but a multiplicity of reading is seldom attended with a good effect.

Besides the confusion it often brings upon the judgment and memory, it occasions a vast expense of time, indisposes for close thinking, and keeps us poor, in the midst of seeming plenty, by reducing us to live upon a foreign supply, instead of labouring to improve and increase the stock of our own reflections.

- John Newton in his letter "A Plan of a Compendious Christian Library" (Works of John Newton, Volume 1, 236). Paragraphing added, HT DG.

I'm not sure if that is entirely true. But its worth reflecting on.

Suggestions for reading in 2010

Listening to: Martha Wainwright: Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris. Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record

Looking back on 2009 and my reading, I have three convictions. Firstly, I have not read enough of the Bible itself despite making time to read lots of Christian books. Secondly, I have not read many Biblical Studies. Thirdly, I have not read many books that are not Christian.

I feel the third one pretty keenly because I've now been living for over a year with Christians and without a TV and I'm feeling increasingly cut off from our culture. That may just be because I'm getting old, but I'm sure reading only theology/law books and living with Christians doesn't help.

Anyway, just over a year ago I asked for some recommendations of books to read. I read one and a bit books that Steve recommended. I read one that Glen recommended, and two from other authors he mentioned (but not the specific books he suggested). Belatedly I'm currently reading a book by David Wells I bought months ago because he was recommended by Peter (although I'm reading The Courage to be Protestant which apparently covers the same stuff as the book Peter actually recommended but in a briefer way). Somehow I thought I'd read a recommendation of Chris, but looking back now I actually didn't - I just bought one of the books and didn't read it! Anyway, if people want to recommend any non-Christian books (fiction or non-fiction) I should read, then I'm listening. Just don't suggest anything too long. I have a short attention span, and don't like to have forgotten the beginning by the time I get to the end. I'm currently thinking of reading The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the Ideas That Have Shaped Our World View by Richard Tarnas, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. But please feel free to suggest something more fun!

So... any thoughts?

Too much of a good thing?

It is often commented that we live in an information rich age. In 2005 206,000 new titles were published in the UK (can you believe that! that is more than any other country, even the US!), and we have easier access to those that are out of print than we did in the past. In addition we have countless other sources of information.

It is not a new problem though. Over 2000 years ago before there were too many books and the Teacher complained that 'Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh' (Ecclesiastes 12:12)... I wonder if he saw the irony as he added to the pile.

Luther saw the problem he created by writing so much (the English translation of some of his works numbers 55 volumes) when he wrote in his Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of his German writings that:

I shudder to think of the example I am giving, for I am well aware how little the church has been profited since they have begun to collect many books and large libraries, in addition to and besides the Holy Scriptures, and especially since they have stored up, without discrimination, all sorts of writings by the church fathers, the councils, and teachers. Through this practice not only is precious time lost, which could be used for studying the Scriptures, but in the end the pure knowledge of the divine Word is also lost, so that the Bible lies forgotten.

Philip Melanchthon was a true disciple when he also constantly apologised for writing so much. In his 1521 Loci he ends his very restrained work by recognising that it is good to write on good things, but that it can have bad results:

I think I have done well to discuss such important topics more briefly than I should have done, lest with misplaced diligence I call someone away from the Scripture to my disputations.

The problem is not always that we spend our time doing bad things instead of good, but that we spend time on good things and displace the best. I was reminded this when I observed on Sunday that my church was about to embark on some new thing. Our pastor rightly explained how this thing was good and Biblical, but then inferred that it therefore should be done (not seeing that A needn't imply B). This week I've realised that what is true of my church is true of me too. For example, I have got an unusually long list of good 'must read' books on my shelf at the moment but they do crowd out other things, including reading the Scriptures.

At the heart of this problem of not prioritising, or ordering our loves (?!), is that we don't want to accept that we are finite. We want to do a million things well. We just can't. We have to accept that we are not God. We cannot sustain the whole world by our action, comprehend all knowledge, or enjoy all good things we have been given.

I need to learn this, and our churches need to learn it as well.

Luther recommends...

These are books that Luther himself recommends your read:

'by 1537, when he wrote to Wolfgang Capito that along with his catechism the treatment of bound choice was his best work: "none of my works is worth anything except" the catechism and De servo arbitrio [The Bondage of the Will], he said.' (p. 15, Robert Kolb, Bound Choice, Election and Wittenberg Theological Method)

'Luther was extremely critical when it came to judging the value of his own books. The commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians (1531-35), the exposition of the Book of Deuteronomy (1523), and his sermons on four chapters of the Gospel of John (1528-29) he thought worth preserving because they were his only works really to contain theological teachings. He found the rest of his writings interesting solely from a historical point of view' (p. 168, Heiko Oberman, Luther: Man between God and the Devil).

'[Erasmus' arguments] have been refuted already so often by me, and beaten down and completely pulverized in Philip Melanchthon's Commonplaces [Loci Communes] - an unanswerable little book which in my judgment deserves not only to be immortalized but even canonized.' (p.102, Martin Luther, Introduction to The Bondage of the Will in Luther and Erasumus: Free Will and Salvation)

'It is a result of God's providence that the writings of Cato and Aesop have remained in the schools, for both are significant books. Cato contains the most useful sayings and precepts. Aesop contains the most delightful stories and descriptions. Moral teachings, if offered to young people, will contribute much to their edification. In short, next to the Bible, the writings of Cato and Aesop are in my opinion the best' (pp. 210–211, Martin Luther, "Table Talk Recorded by Anthony Lauterbach and Jerome Weller, 1536-1537" in Luther's Works, Volume 54: Table Talk, HT Tony Reinke)

These are books that Joachim Mörlin (1514-1571), the prominent early Lutheran theologian, and former student of Luther, suggested you read:

"Mörlin counseled beginning with the Small Catechism, for its three parts—law, gospel, and the table of responsibilities in the callings of daily life—summarize the entire Word of God. From the Small Catechism the reader should move to the Large Catechism and then to those works of Luther which summarize basic Christian teaching: the Schwabach Articles, the Confession Concerning Christ's Supper (1528), the Smalcald Articles, the Instruction for Visitors (1528), and the Augsburg Confession and its Apology, which Mörlin, like many of his contemporaries, counted among Luther's works as well as Melanchthon's. For learning the proper distinction of law and gospel the reader should turn to the Galatians commentary of 1535. Mörlin commended On the Last Words of David for its treatment of the 2nd article of the Creed, and On the Councils and the Church and Against Hanswurst for their treatment of the 3rd article. The Genesis commentary would summarize and complete the study of Luther's thought...

...The works of the earlier Luther, particularly the great trilogy of 1520—The Freedom of the Christian, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Open Letter to the German Nobility—were not on the lists, although they do appear on most such lists today."

(pp. 192-193, Robert Kolb, Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, and Hero, HT Benjamin Mayes)

Book buying

As someone with a bit of a problem with buying too many books I just thought I would share some knowledge.

The Book Depository is great! The prices are usually a few pence below Amazon's. And I never thought it would be possible to say this, but the service is even better! I have bought lots of books from them and they always deliver promptly without any fuss. The range is huge. They sell through Amazon marketplace but also from their own site.

I thought you may like to know as you are probably like me a little suspicious of Internet shops that you haven't used before.

Abebooks is also a great place to check out. Especially for second-hand books. It is basically Amazon marketplace for books old and new, but with more information on each book and more sellers.

Why am I not blogging?

To be honest I'm not really sure. Perhaps it is because I'm busy... but that has never stopped me before.

I think it has to be due to the fact that I'm doing a decent amount of reading. I've recently read, or I'm in the middle of:

• The Work of Christ by PT Forsyth. Amazing to read an entire book on the atonement again. He is an engaging writer who thinks really deeply and originally. I don't think I really got it till the end, but he is very thought-provoking. I greatly enjoyed it, although I wouldn't agree with all of it.
• The Shack by William P. Young. The book of Job if it had been written by a 21st century Christian who has a problem with authority.
• Dogmatics in Outline by Karl Barth. Beautiful, moving, massive yet concise. Lots of questions but I'm beginning to understand why his impact was so huge.
• Faith in a Hard Ground: Essays on Religion, Philosophy and Ethics by G E M Anscombe. Interesting lady, but crazily hard to understand. Is she right or wrong... I simply can't compute.
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy. A dying world with a total lack of hope and humans that lie to themselves about their future and their present. Wonderfully written. I read it in a single evening. Thanks Steve.
• Cur Deus Homo by Anselm. A clear and simple walk through reasons why the atonement had to be substitutionary, with less weird asides than I'm used to in ancient Christian books.

Next on my list: Rowan Williams, TF Torrance, and John Murray.

What I'm trying to say is that because of my request for recommendations and other factors I've been reading more widely than usual and I feel like I am so far from getting my bearings that I cannot manage even my usual half-baked thoughts which I pass of as posts.

I'm sure you are not missing me.

As an aside I have just come across a bunch of excellent looking MP3 lectures by some top-notch scholars from a recent conference on 'Reading the Decalogue through the Centuries'. I've listened to Timothy Wengert on Luther's view of the Decalogue which was very good. I'm looking forward to listening to some more.

Any recommendations?

After 4 years of studying law I now have at least 10 months without having to decipher a case report, so have a quite a bit of time on my hands. At the same time I'm feeling unusually unexcited about the books on my waiting-to-be-read list.

The comments box is open. What are your must-read books that I should read this winter? I will buy and read at least one from every comment.

My top 3 books for seekers

Inspired by this.

What would you suggest? Do you think my limited reading/sin has made me make some bad choices? This is a genuine request for recommendations (but you will have to work hard to persuade me of Mere Christianity/Basic Christianity if you were thinking of those).

• A Journey Worth Taking by Charles Drew
• Real Life Jesus: meaning, freedom, purpose by Mike Cain
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller

I fear that all of these are a bit to nice. Maybe that's because I'm a bit to horrible... I don't know, there is nothing wrong with being nice after all. But you really can feel a difference between those three and John Piper's Seeing and savouring Jesus Christ. I don't think that it is meant to be so much of a 'seeker book' but nevertheless the Jesus presented by Piper is a whole lot more full blooded that the other three... and yet they remain my top 3 books for seekers... go figure.

I think I'm going to read Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears next.

Does anyone else have this nasty dilemma when reading such books, to decide between books which spell out the challenge and the promise of the gospel without neglecting the challenge or putting up unnecessary obstacles (in the form of controversial secondary doctrines) to the gospel?

I still think though that the best thing to do is take someone to a gospel (e.g. with Christianity Explored) or through the bible (e.g. with The World We All Want). Saves all the angst as well, and you can avoid having to add in caveats about how you would phrase things differently!

What I'm up to

You are probably all very happy that things have gone quiet on this blog recently. Unfortunately I am busy at work at the moment and my law studies have restarted. This means I'll have less time to read, and blog, than God has graciously given me over the last few months.

However, I thought I'd let you know that I have decided after some deliberations to give the Puritans a second chance. I read a handful of books several years ago but could not understand what all the fuss was about. So I am joining the 2008 Puritan Reading Challenge, and going to try and get through 12 short Puritan books in 2008. Perhaps I'll give up half way through, but we'll see.

In preparation my commute has been to the sound of JI Packer's seriously English introductory lectures from 1988. Interestingly he relates how he had been trying to get a publisher to publish Richard Baxter's Christian Directory, which was one of just two books written by Puritans which was not occasional or based on sermons, and was actually designed to stand the test of time. The Banner of Truth apparently did not judge it sound enough! However it seems that he finally did manage to get someone to publish it in 1997.

On a more serious note, Packer makes a convincing case for understanding the Puritan movement as a revivalistic movement, which sheds a different light on things.

Meanwhile I'm also finding Lutheranism a strange and exciting new world of theology. The English-speaking evangelicalism that I know has always looked to the Reformed when it has got serious about theology. This seems clearest in that when people identify themselves as 'Reformed' in England they usually mean 'not Arminian', when of course the Arminians were 'Reformed' as well. Reading Lutheran theology I feel God confronting me, and interacting with me, in a way I have not felt since reading Calvin for the first time. Still I am not sure that I can agree with most of what distinguishes Lutheran from Reformed when it actually comes down to brass tacks. Nevertheless I can see the prophetic power that it must have had in the sixteenth century and still has now.

All very exciting but lots to do. Got to go.

Top 10 (Christian) books I read in 2007

It has been a funny year for my reading. Firstly almost all the reading I have done has been in the last 6 months due to pressures with work and OU study, and secondly because my reading has been very narrowly focussed around justification, Paul and the Law and the Reformation.

As you read more and more it seems individual books have less and less influence on you but here is my top ten list for what it is worth (BTW the criteria for judgment is how much I got out of the book combined to a lesser extent with their intrinsic worth):

1. The One Year Bible-ESVYes it is just a bible that has re-arranged the passages according to the reading plan, but it has strangely been used by God to make me read more of the bible more regularly than I have since university. Therefore it means quite a lot to me.
2. The Roots of Endurance: Invincible perseverance in the lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce by John Piper Beautifully written and seriously edifying. Although I knew the stories I found it really encouraging. If only John Piper always wrote so well.
3. Justification: What's at Stake in the Current Debates ed by Mark A. Husbands and Daniel J. Treier a collection of exceptional essays by Don Carson, Mark Seifrid, Bruce McCormack and others. Mark Seifrid has probably been the most influential author on me this year although I have only read essays by him and dipped into Christ our righteousness which I had read before (a brilliant book).
4. Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World by James B. Jordan I still haven't finished this book but I include it on the list because I have listened to hours and hours of Jim Jordan's lectures this year. He is very eccentric but has helped me to pay attention to the details when reading the bible, and particularly to seriously think about the OT cult, the literary quality of the bible, maturity as a theme of the bible, and so much else. He is unlike anyone else you may read - a creative fundamentalist.
5. The Principle of Protestantism by Philip Schaff A wonderful window onto the theology of the 19th century. An inaugural address by a 25 German scholar newly emigrated to America and to become the father of American Church History. Made me think seriously about the progressive nature of church history/theology and about ecumenicalism (see post here).
6. Gospel and Wisdom by Graeme Goldsworthy After reading several books massively influenced by Graeme Goldsworthy I finally got to read Gospel and Kingdom and Gospel and Wisdom. I can now see why he has been so influential although I enjoyed Gospel and Wisdom the most. It really helped me to see the relationships between the wisdom books, and their relationship to Jesus.
7. Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton A wonderfully written account of a very engaging character and a fascinating time.
8. A Journey Worth Taking: Finding Your Purpose in This World by Charles D. Drew Tim Challies the king of Christian book reviews included it in his top 7 saying that it was "the only book [he] read twice this year. It is a book that deals superbly with the notion of calling and finding our place in this world. Written by a pastor who is in the thick of things, planting a church in New York City, it provides a biblical perspective on the 'self-help' genre." I couldn't say it any better. It is a self-help book in a way and a little too inoffensive, but it is also quite inspiring.
9. Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection of the Dead? by Oscar Cullmann a short little book to shake up anyone who thinks in a disparaging way about the physical, and dreams of becoming a disembodied spirit after death. You can read it online and find out that most of what Tom Wright is now famous for saying has been around for a while.
10. The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals by Gene Edward, Jr. Veith a frankly beautiful book that is designed to be an introduction to Lutheranism (something you don't come across much in the UK), although I think that frankly it could be an good introduction to Christianity. Probably the best written book I've read this year, and the one I would most heartily recommend.

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: A Reformation Debate by John Calvin and Jacopo Sadoleto; Reformers in the Wings: From Geiler Von Kaysersberg to Theodore Beza by David C. Steinmetz; The Saving Righteousness of God: Studies on Paul, Justification and the New Perspective by Michael Bird

Pining for books

I'm pining at the moment for some serious theology reading. It's been too long! Far too long!

I'm sorry... I just had to share my frustration. I feel rootless - cut off from nourishment while other commitments devour my time, and TV picks off what's left before I notice what's happening. I should stop moaning and do something about it, but I must return to my essay instead!

Not very Philippians 4:8, sorry. I'll retreat into the woodwork again.