Friday, May 28, 2004

You want a good book? I get review copies of books everyday. Literally. I'd like to share more reviews of books online at www.wineskins.org but I can't review them all and often send books to our readers, those wanting to help review books. I've tried having a book review editor, sending the books out to the occasional email request to do reviews, but nothing has adequately helped me stay ahead of the inflow of books, so I'm trying this. Each week, I'll try to describe a book and ask you if anyone wants to take it and give me a 300-500 word review (that's about half page single space). Here are titles of a few books I've received this week available: Recapture the Wonder (Integrity, 2003) Ravi Zacharias is author and if you've heard him or read his books, enough said. (taken) A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter (IVP, 2003) Again one you've heard of, Michael Card, and if you know his music and enjoy it and are challenged by it, you may also like his writing, in-depth and theologically sound. Read Homeland Security: The America God Will Bless (Broadman, 2004). Richard Land, radio/tv conservative takes a look at what we ought to be as a nation, God's security vs. man's. Africa and the Bible (Baker Academic, 2004) - ooh, I might want to read that one first, but make me an offer The Lord's Table: A Biblical Approach to Weight Loss (Focus Publishing, 2003). A workbook. I stay on the edge of sedentary and probably need this book, but I'll never get through this workbook style. If that's yo thang, then let me know. (spoken for) The Making and Unmaking of Technological Society: How Christianity Can Save Modernity From Itself (in The Christian Practice of Everyday Life Series, Brazos, 2004). I like virtually everything Brazos puts out. OK, tell ya what ya need to do to get one of these for review: Be committed to give me 300-500 words. Don't take a book if you can't commit to reading and writing a short review. Send me a letter sized envelope with $2 in postage on it A short note telling me which book you want Send me a comment also on this blog or my email (gtaylor@woodmont.org) and reserve the book you want (one at a time). Let me know if you have questions   2:41:10 PM    comment []

How's your equity? I'm struck in reading the bundle of Psalms from 96-99 how many times the word equity occurs in the NIV (Ps 96:10,13; 97:11; 98:9; 99:4,8). Equity in modern parlance nearly always refers to how much we own, the value of our stuff less what we owe the bank. Yet several times in these Psalms we read of a God who judges with equity, rightly, fairly. Interesting irony to me that in these Psalms God is praised as the Supreme King over all creation. No doubt he's in charge, that the created order--from the slime on the bottom of the rocks to the hair on the top of our heads--is firmly established, with equity. Meanwhile, as part of God's creation, we have been trying to get our stake in the whole enterprise since the dawn of creation. We want our equity. So I'm reflecting today on God's equity, how it differs from mine not only in lingo but in total force of what God is doing compared to my efforts to own in this world. God firmly established his ownership equity in this world and will judge as he sees fit, rightly, with equity. How's your equity? Read these Psalms yourself and let me know your thoughts. 8:17:17 AM    comment []