Book Reviews – Page 137

What is the Trinity? by RC Sproul

May 28, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: Short Introduction to the Trinity.

Last week RC Sproul and his publisher (Reformation Trust) released the entire Crucial Questions series for free on kindle (list and links here.)

I have read Sproul’s Holiness of God and ,with a few reservations, thought it was good. But that has been the only of Sproul’s books I have read.

I read this introduction to the Trinity in bed after my wife had gone to sleep. It is not long (63 pages) and even then it felt shorter.

But Sproul included a lot of content in that short book. He looks at what the Trinity is not, by looking at some of the Christian heresies that forced the church to clarify it teaching.

Sproul made a distinction between paradox, mysteries and irrationality and concludes that the Trinity is not a paradox or irrationality but a mystery. (A more complete look at this idea is in the very good book Mystery of God.)

Beach Read Suggestions – Part 1

May 27, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summer is a traditional time for reading. Vacations, beach, pool all give us time to relax, unwind and read.

I have three posts of books so far (Fiction Part 1, Fiction Part 2 and Non-fiction).

Below I have listed books that I have read, a short description, a link to my review and an Amazon link.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – Bookwi.se Review

384 pages, 1603 of 1830 reviews are 4 or 5-star

Ready Player One is a great science fiction book for people that do not normally like science fiction. It is set in 2044 when the whole world spends most of their lives in an immersive internet, the Oasis. The real world is falling apart, but what everyone is interested in is the finding the puzzle in the Oasis, while will give the winner ownership of the Oasis.

Wade (online name Percival) is 18, an orphan and in poverty. The race to win the Oasis is his only chance to make something of himself. This was recommended to me first by my sister in law (not a science fiction fan) and later my wife really enjoyed it (also not a science fiction fan). I have read both on kindle and listened on audiobook. I recommend both.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett – Bookwi.se Review

352 pages, 544 of 826 reviews are 4 or 5-star

I love beautiful lyrical writing. Patchett knows how to do that. This is a story that from the beginning you know is going to end badly. A number of dignitaries are taken hostage by revolutionaries in a fictional South American country. The story progresses as one woman and 57 men are held for a long time. People on both sides begin to see one another as human. But they are stuck in a situation where there is no good way out. It is a tradegy (and reading by the beach can help offset the sadness). But there is also several love stories and wonderful insights into the human condition. (I originally listened to this on audiobook and the narration is excellent.)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – Bookwi.se Review

337 pages, 3114 of 3319 reviews are 4 or 5-star

This book was on a number best books of 2012 lists. It is a young adult novel. It is about two teens with cancer that fall in love. I have finished almost 90 books so far this year and it is the best fiction book I have read this year. I am planning on re-reading it this summer. (I originally listened to this on audiobook and the narration is excellent.)

The Genius of Ancient Man: Evolution’s Nightmare! by Don Landis

May 27, 2013 by All Old Users

The authors of this book are very straightforward about the assumptions underlying their approach to science: they believe the Bible is true and authoritative, that it should be interpreted literally, and that it should inform every aspect of one’s life, including forming your paradigm for approaching science. Even if you disagree with their starting points … Read more

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

May 25, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: I gave up after 40 percent because I just didn’t care any more. I borrowed Swan Thieves from the library because I loved Kostova’s first book, The Historian. The Swan Thieves is not the Historian. The Historian was a wide ranging (and too long) look at the idea of Dracula. It came out just … Read more

Mystical Paths by Susan Howatch (Church of England #5)

May 24, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: The son of Jon Darrow, Nicholas, has to come to his own faith and purpose.

I am continuing to really enjoy the Church of England Series. Mystical Paths is the fifth of the Church of England series and is the start of a spinoff series about Nicholas that starts with High Fliers. There is one more in the Church of England Series, Absolute Truths. But that book goes back to the 1960s again and revisits the original protagonist that started the series, Charles Ashworth.

Mystical Paths broke the series format again. This book is mostly a mystery/thriller. Christian Aysgarth, the oldest son of Neville (subject of books 3 and 4) died in 1965. But Katie, his wife is still troubled with the thought that it was not an accident, but a suicide (and she is to blame).

Third Shift – Pact – Part 8 of Silo Series by Hugh Howey

May 21, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: The final of the second series.

Hugh Howey is an independent author phenomenon. Most authors do not make $15-20,000 a month and decide to turn down a 7 figure advance on a book contract after selling the rights to their books to Ridley Scott.

But Hugh Howey, after a little over a year gets an article in the Wall Street Journal about his writing/marketing prowess.

Third Shift (Pact) follows the same basic mold. This is the third (and last) of this second series. Donald (who was sort of tricked into working in the Silo initiative) is again woken up to deal with a problem.

And Solo’s back story is finally revealed.

Scandalous Risks by Susan Howatch (Church of England #4)

May 20, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A young woman recounts her affair with the Dean of Starbridge.

One of the things I have enjoyed about reading the Church of England series is learning more about the actual Church of England. A Dean of a Cathedral is essentially the pastor of the Cathedral. In Scandalous Risks, Neville (Stephen) Aysgarth has risen from his role of Arch Deacon (assistant to the Bishop that oversees a geographical area of Churches) to the Dean of the Cathedral.

As Dean of one of the most prominent (fictional) Cathedrals in England Neville has risen to become one of the most powerful clergy in the Church of England. Unfortunately for him, the Bishop of Starbridge is now Charles Ashworth, Neville’s conservative rival.

But Scandalous Risks is not simply a continuation of Ultimate Prizes (#3). It is narrated by Venetia Flaxton. Young Venetia is 26, wandering around trying to find purpose in life. Her best friend, Primrose (daughter of Neville) draws her to Starbridge and Venetia finds a number of friends, a job working for the Bishop and eventually an affair with the Dean (Neville).

Pandora Park by Piers Anthony

May 18, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: Two children find their way into a magic park. This is Piers Anthony’s first children’s book and it shows. It isn’t horrible, but Anthony doesn’t really know his audience and it alternates between middle grade and older and I kept having this feeling of dread that some of his more erotic work was going … Read more

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

May 17, 2013 by All Old Users

Nollop is a (fictional) sovereign state on a small island off the coast of South Carolina, named for the man who purportedly composed the famous pangram: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” The citizens revere and almost worship Nollop; when the letters of the pangram, which are engraved on a memorial statue, start to fall off due to wear and tear, the government interprets this as instruction from their faux-deity to stop using said letters in any form, written or spoken. The new laws are enforced by public flogging, banishment, and possibly execution.

Who’s Tampering With the Trinity? by Millard Erickson

May 16, 2013 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Erickson focuses on how to disagree well and evaluate different Christian positions.

As I have been reading about the trinity over the past two years I have realized that it is actually fairly small questions that are at the root of the big debates.

This makes sense because Christians agree about the vast majority of Christian theology. There is very little debate about the fact that the Trinity has three members. That all three members of the trinity are God. Or that the Trinity is made up of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

But a relatively small debate has gained importance over the last 30-50 years because of another debate within the church, the role of women.