Taking God at His Word - Book Review

I just finished listening to ChristianAudio's Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me by Kevin DeYoung.

In the last few years I have spent a significant amount of time reading and studying several different confessions of faith, belief statements, and other similar historical documents. One of the most important aspects of a comprehensive statement of faith is the portion related to a view of the Holy Scriptures. When listening to this audio book, I found myself taken back to those confessions and statements as Kevin DeYoung expounded on the scriptures.

The chapters of this book methodically teach from the scriptures that the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, Infallable, and Sufficient. It does a wonderful job at balancing between being a completely understandable, introductory work on the scriptures, without losing the reinforcement and structure typical in a good, solid theological work.  In other words, I could easily hand this book to a new Christian without worrying about it overwhelming him, but I could also hand it to an older Christian as a resource for relaying the teachings of scripture on the scriptures.

The voice talent for this book was Lee DeYoung. With the common last name, I am assuming that this is a relation to the author. Having heard Kevin DeYoung speak, I enjoyed the reading by Lee DeYoung. He really captured the heart and passion of this book.... and he sounds a bit like the author. There is always something special about a voice talent that has a personal connection to the book.

If you are wondering what the Bible says about the Bible, then I would highly recommend this audio book. If you are wanting a book that breaks down the traditional, orthodox Christian view of the Holy Scriptures, this is an excellent resource book, and I would highly recommend it. If you are solid in your belief in scripture and just want a book that supports and reinforces this faith, then I would highly recommend this book.

Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung -- Book Review

I was too busy to read Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung.  The full title of the book is Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem. It was produced by Christian Audio.

I didn't actually read the book, I listened to the book thanks to Christian Audio. This book was read by Adam Verner.  He does a great job of capturing the feel of the book he is reading.  I always feel like I am actually listening to the author of the book when he is reading.

This book deals with the problem of business. ...and it is a problem.  We are too busy, or at least it feels that way.  This book seeks to first address the reasons why we are busy or feel busy. As he attempts to diagnose the problem of busyness, Kevin DeYoung freely acknowledges the reality that he does not stand above the problem, but is right in the middle of the problem. In so many ways, he hits the nail on the head as he describes the different realities of "why" we are busy.

Near the end of the book he quite appropriately addresses the fact that in some way are supposed to be busy.  As much as we might diagnose and treat our unnecessary busyness, there is still a sufficient amount of busyness that we should be all about.  The goal is not to eliminate the busyness, but to prioritize the activities in the middle of the busyness, i.e. are we spending time on what really counts?

My only difficulty in reading this book was the lack of addressing my own personal situation.  I am a full-time high school teacher at a local public school.  I teach geometry, calculus, and trigonometry.  I am also the senior pastor at a small local church. I don't need to add more, but I am also a husband and the father of two children.  I am (without surprise) busy. I would even say that I am "crazy busy" much of the time.  But I don't believe that I have taken on more that God has led me to accept in my life.  And I don't believe that there is anything that I can lay down right now.  So, taking a day off, doesn't happen all that often.  Much of what Kevin DeYoung says is still very helpful, but it comes up short in the specifics of my own situation. Bivocational Pastor will always be Crazy Busy... Is there a better way to handle my busyness?  Most likely, but I am not sure exactly what I can do differently, at least for now.

If you are busy in life, I suggest this book.  Especially the audio version, you can listen to it on your commute to work or while you are at the YMCA on the treadmill.

Atrocious

John Calvin, commenting on Exodus 21:22-25:

The fetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being (homo), and it is almost a monstrous crime to rob it of life which it has not yet begun to enjoy. If it seems horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man’s house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light.

[HT: Kevin DeYoung]

For me, abortion is not a political issue.  It is a life or death issue.  It is also a personal issue.  I can't agree with John Calvin more.

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15 Pro-Life Truths to Speak (by John Piper)

The Hole in our Holiness - Book Review

I just finished the Christian Audio version of The Hole in our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung and read by Adam Verner. The full title of the book is The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness.

The Amazon.com Description:

The “hole in our holiness” is that evangelicals don’t look particularly holy, and, despite the flood of gospel-centered discussions, there seems to be a greater focus on personal depravity than on the pursuit of holiness. Looking to right the balances, Kevin DeYoung presents a popular-level treatment of sanctification and union with Christ, helping readers to see what matters most—being like Jesus. He shows how one can be like Christ in being joined to Christ. The market is ready for DeYoung’s timely book, ready to avoid legalism and ambivalence, and they are ready for someone to articulate the inextricable relationship between grace and holiness.

I absolutely agree with the basis of this book. In my own circles of friendships and acquaintances, I have seen this consistent slide towards a relaxed view of holiness.  With many it has even been a, "We can continue in sin so grace may abound!" sort of view.  Though most wouldn't admit this truth, their lives proclaim it day by day.

I have seen this tendency in my own life as well.  The "big-bad" sins are gone, but those lingering ones tend to remain for a long time.  It has been through great conviction, and some trials and tribulations, that God has begun to work those out of my life as well.  It has now moved to the forefront of my mind that this is essential to all Christians.  And the critical nature of personal holiness has also shown itself in my study of Ephesians at Edgewood.

The thing that I really enjoyed about this book, that moved it up to an "excellent" number of stars on my ratings, is that it is full (to the brim) with scripture.  And not just references, I love it when an author includes whole verses and passages of scripture in their book.  It isn't just "filler" for a book, it becomes the book's spinal cord.

I also appreciated how Kevin DeYoung starts by showing us the "why" of holiness, but he also tells us the "how" from more than one perspective.  There were huge applicational points throughout the book, but he really zoned in on the marriage between God and his Grace in Jesus Christ and the effort that is exerted in a pursuit of holiness.

I highly recommend this book.  I really enjoyed the voice talent as well.  Adam Verner was a new name for me, but he really reminded me of the times that I have heard Kevin DeYoung speak.  There was such a personal feel to the reading that I thought that it was actually the author reading the book through most of it.

Check out the links above to go to Amazon, or go the the Christian Audio site to purchase this book.