Christmas Books
December 9, 2009
Since I inevitably blog about books I'm reading, many of you already know the books about which I think highly. You can read my thoughts about Introverts in the Church; Counsel from the Cross; and Counterfeit Gods. I also recently finished Ligon's wonderfully pastoral Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? (the title is a nod to Samuel Rutherford's observation along that line). And speaking of Rutherford, I continue to dip into and give away The Loveliness of Christ.
I would also recommend Christian Focus' outstanding edition of The Marrow of Modern Divinity (almost done with this; I have found it very useful as I've prepared to preach through the Ten Commandments in the morning). For family worship, we are once again reading The Pilgrim's Progress, using Crossway's excellent new edition. One of my elders gave me the new Banner of Truth collection of letters exchanged between Anglican John Newton and Baptist John Ryland, Jr., called Wise Counsel (they were together for the gospel before it was trademarked!); this is a remarkable collection of letters and an amazing feat of scholarship. I've also been dipping in the collection of essays edited by Bruce McCormack, Engaging the Doctrine of God; highlights thus far include Don Carson on "The Wrath of God" and Donald McLeod on "The Doctrine of God and Pastoral Care."
My bedside table has more than religious titles. I'm nearly done with Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success, which is a fascinating secular testimony to Ecclesiastes 9:11. I also bought his new collection of essays, What the Dog Saw, which I hope to read over Christmas time visiting in-laws in Indiana. Another book that I bought to read over Christmas time, having seen the movie, is Michael Lewis' The Blind Side. I've also continued to read in my main "academic" field, 19th and 20th century American South; two nights ago, I began The Price of Defiance: James Meredith and the Integration of Ole Miss. I think the main problem is that there are so many things that I'd like to read and so little time!
