Introduction

Despite this being my last month of work, I reviewed nineteen books. Of these, four were in mystery series I’ve been working through by Marsh, Allingham, Peters, and Kreuger. I returned to Stanislaw Lem after a hiatus of several years. I finished the mammoth On The Resurrection: Evidences. And I read the authorized biography of Willie Mays for my baseball book of the summer. Jon Meacham’s And There Was Light on Lincoln underscored the importance of presidential character.

I reviewed a succinct commentary on Galatians, a devotional on gratitude, and a book of prayers for those going through serious illness–very different books. Munther Isaac’s The Other Side of the Wall is a heart-wrenching lament for the plight of the Palestinian people by a Palestinian Christian pastor from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. I had the privilege to interview him. Among the other books I reviewed was memoir of Edwin Yamauchi, that tells the story of a professor who wedded devotion to Christ and his mission, excellence of scholarship, and love for students in a public university setting.

The Reviews

Galatians: A Life in Letters, Johannes W. H. van der Bijl. Langham Global Library (ISBN: 9781839739200), 2024. A narrative commentary on the Letter to the Galatians, reconstructing the circumstances leading to, and the actual composition of the letter. Review

On the Resurrection, Volume 1: Evidences, Gary R. Habermas. B & H Academic (ISBN: 9781087778600), 2024. Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus based upon a minimal historical facts approach comprehensively researched and documented. Review

The Star Diaries: Further Reminiscences of Ijon Tichy, Stanislaw Lem. Harper Voyager (ISBN: 9780544079939), 2012 (First published in 1971). Ijon Tichy’s voyages across the galaxy, satirical short pieces of science fiction by Polish writer Stanislaw Lem. Review

Story, Ritual, Prophecy, Wisdom, Mark W. Hamilton and Samjung Kang-Hamilton. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802883186), 2024. Four modes of scripture for religious education and their use in teaching the Bible: story, ritual, prophecy, and wisdom. Review

Scales of Justice (Roderick Alleyn, 18), Ngaio Marsh. Felony & Mayhem (ASIN: B00Q3JQMJ0), 2014 (First published in 1955). A giant trout beside a murdered aristocrat from one of four families, all having motives or opportunity for murder, in a small rural village. Review

Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend, James S. Hirsch. Scribners (ISBN: 9781416547914), 2011. Willie Mays’ authorized biography, his passion for every aspect of the game, and his greatness on and off the field. Review

Towards an Incarnational Spiritual Culture, Gordon E. Carkner (Foreword by Iain Provan). Wipf & Stock (ISBN: 9798385203772), 2024. The Incarnation and our quest for identity, addressing the rootless identities of modern gnosticism and expressive individualism. Review

The Confession of Brother Haluin (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, 15), Ellis Peters. Open Road Integrated Media (ASIN: B00LUZNWTU), 2014 (First published in 1988). From deathbed confession to arduous journey, Brother Haluin’s miraculous recovery results in a journey of penance accompanied by Cadfael. Review

My Heart Overflows: A Treasury of Readings, Poems, and Prayers on Gratitude, Compiled by the editors at Paraclete Press. Paraclete Press (ISBN: 9781640609617), 2024. A treasury of reflections on gratitude, a compilation of poetry, quotations, readings and art on thanksgiving for blessings, others, and God. Review

Blood Hollow (Cork O’Connor Number Four), William Kent Krueger. Atria Paperback (ISBN: 9781439157794), 2009. A murder is pinned on Solemn Winter Moon, but Cork thinks otherwise, confronting resistance and wounds from the past. Review

Faith Embodied, Stephen Ko. Zondervan Reflective (ISBN: 9780310151692), 2024. Bringing physical and spiritual health together, a physician/pastor connects senses and bodily functions with our worship of God. Review

The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope, Munther Isaac. InterVarsity Press (ISBN: 9780830831999) 2020. A Palestinian Christian narrative of lament and hope, describing the situation from his perspective and offering hope for a shared land. Review

The Waters of Siloe, Thomas Merton. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (ISBN: 9780156949545), 1979 (First published in 1949). A history of the Trappist monks, from Cistercian beginnings to the reforms at La Trappe, foundations in America, and the contemplative life. Review

Irreverent Prayers: Talking to God When You’re Seriously Sick, Elizabeth Felicetti and Samantha Vincent-Alexander. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing (ISBN: 9780802882639), 2024. Talking to God when you’re seriously sick is modelled in this book by honest, unvarnished prayers written during such illnesses. Review

The Five Spaces, Dustin White. The Brethren Church (ISBN:9781732268180), 2019. Understanding the church’s spaces of discipleship, a study of how the church may leverage the different relational spaces we inhabit. Review

Coroner’s Pidgin (Albert Campion, 12), Margery Allingham. Open Road Media (ISBN:
9781504087230), 2023 (First published in 1945). Back from war, Campion finds a corpse in his bed, brought to his flat by an aristocratic lady protecting her son. Review

And There Was Light, Jon Meacham. Random House (ISBN: 9780553393965), 2022. The convictions shaping Lincoln’s public life including his opposition to slavery, the importance of the union, and his belief in providence. Review

Jingjiao: The Earliest Christian Church in China, Glen L. Thompson (foreword by Samuel N. C. Lieu). Wm. B., Eerdmans (ISBN: 9780802883520), 2024. The earliest Christian Church in China came via the Silk Road in the seventh century, substantiated by the Chang’an stele and other documents. Review

An Asian American Ancient Historian and Biblical Scholar, Edwin M. Yamauchi (Foreword by Stephen B. Kellough). Resource Publications (ISBN: 9798385211609), 2024. An Asian American Ancient Historian and Biblical Scholar is the memoir of Edwin M. Yamauchi, professor of history at Miami University, chronicling his family, faith, scholarly work, travels, and church leadership. Review

Book of the Month

Gary R. Habermas On the Resurrection: Evidences runs to over a thousand pages. Yet it is highly readable, thorough, amply documented, and well-argued. Consequently, it is simply the best presentation of the arguments based on evidence for the resurrection that I have read.

Quote of the Month

Irreverent Prayers is a book written by two Episcopal priests facing life threatening afflictions. Specifically, one fought of a MRSA infection of her leg involving months of treatment. The other went through successive surgeries for two different cancers, and was diagnosed with a serious recurrence during the writing of the book. In contrast to the pious language of so many written prayers, those in this book are raw and honest, giving words for what soi many in similar circumstances face. For example, here is a “Prayer When People Call Me Brave or Inspiring”:

“Gracious God, help me to react graciously when well-meaning people call me brave. I’m not brave. I didn’t choose this and wouldn’t if I had a choice. All I do when I’m not in treatment is sit around or sleep, which is hardly inspiring. I should pray that you shield them from knowing that they would react as they must if they were in this situation too, but I would like them not to say stupid things in the future. So please sort it out, God. Amen.”

What I’m Reading

Because I currently have five books awaiting review and five others I am reading, I’m just going to list them, with at most a few words when the title alone doesn’t make clear what the book is about.

Books awaiting review;

• Woke, John G. Stackhouse, Jr. Explores this and other epithets in our current political discourse
• Waiting for Al Gore, Bob Katz. A gentle satire on environmental activism by an author I like.
• Disarming Leviathan, Caleb Campbell. On loving our Christian nationalist neighbors.
• The Heretic’s Apprentice, Ellis Peters. Another in the Brother Cadfael series.
• Living with Purpose in a Polarizing World, Albert M. Erisman and Randy Pope. Twelve biblical figures, how they engaged their culture, with contemporary illustrations from business and professional settings.

Books I’m Reading

• Chasing Sacred, Mikella Van Dyke. On inductive Bible study and how it impacted the author’s life.
• Cultures of Growth, Mary C. Murphy. How organizations can foster cultures of growth by the kind of mindset they foster.
• Christianity and Constitutionalism, Nicholas Aroney and Ian Leigh, eds. Explores the Christian sources that have and may inform constitutional forms of government.
• The Preacher and the Printer, Randy Petersen. On the unlikely friendship between George Whitefield and Ben Franklin.
• Metaphysics of Exo-Life, Andrew M. Davis. Draws upon the metaphysics of A.N. Whitehead to formulate a cosmotheology addressing possibilities of extra-terrestrial life.

As you can see, there are lots of interesting reviews coming in the weeks ahead. I’d encourage you to sign up to follow Bob on Books to see them when they are posted! Happy reading friends!

The Month in Reviews is my monthly review summary going back to 2014! It’s a great way to browse what I’ve reviewed. The search box on this blog also works well if you are looking for a review of a particular book.