Book Reviews

Book Review: “Poems” by C.S. Lewis

October 17, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Poems by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lewis always aspired to be a poet. This was really his first literary love, and although he is far more well-known for his prose works, his passion for poetry shaped the way in which he wrote everything he did.

In this collection of his poems you get a first hand taste of his labors to master the skill of poetry. At points he shines with skill, at others he doesn’t scan as masterfully. Sometimes he selects a wonderful theme to gloss upon, and other themes should have simply been passed over. Poetry really is a lost joy in modern society. Sitting for a spell to look at something through the eyes of poetry is really a great blessing. It is worth the trouble and patience of reading a more archaic mode of communication. And of course, it is Lewis, so even when he’s at his worst, he’s still so good.

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Book Review: “30 WAYS TO PARENT ON PURPOSE” by Jonathan Harms

December 10, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

30 WAYS TO PARENT ON PURPOSE: Changing the World Through Intentional Parenting by Johnathan Harms
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My friend, Jonathan, recently self-published this short book on parenting. First of all, you come away from the book inspired by a father who loves his kids, and wants to do all he can to raise them in the ways of the Lord. Jonathan lays out thirty starting points where parents can get to work deliberately training their children. Some of these are simple, but we all can use the reminder to get rid of distractions and focus on investing in our children. I’d recommend working through this book as a husband and wife and at the bare minimum let it be a conversation starter for how you’re doing in raising your kids. A lot of people get into the parenting game without ever coming up with a strategy to win the game. I think Jonathan’s advice is, on the whole, really helpful in getting the planning juices pumping. Above everything else, he makes it clear that teaching your kids to love and glorify Jesus is the end-zone for parenting. It’s a really quick read, and so support my friend and grab a copy!

Book Review: “Toxic Charity” by Robert Lupton

October 22, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help by Robert D. Lupton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first half was very good, and eye-opening. Americans spend $5 billion dollars a year sending mission teams around the world; in some instances to paint the same orphanage six times in one summer. Clearly a poor use of our time and money. Further, oftentimes our charity produces an entitlement/dependency mindset that undermines the long-term health of those we are setting about to serve.

The second half was a little repetitive and short on answers/solutions. Particularly I would have wanted a more thorough Biblical explanation of how we should go about mercy ministry. Nevertheless, anyone involved in non-profit ministry, or charity work must read this and rethink how they go about their various ministries.

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Book Review: “The Temple” by George Herbert

July 31, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

The Temple by George Herbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A really wonderful collection of devotional poetry. George Herbert’s poetry sinks deep roots into the glorious doctrines of the Christian faith, and then raises us up to soar with poignant praise. He is witty, lucid, and demonstrates that good doctrine with a beating heart is a potent combination. What Adam had, and forfeited for all, Christ keepeth now, who cannot fail or fall. Herbert also mingles in a healthy dose of that good, ol’ fashioned earthiness of English poets. In almost every selection you find some sort of proverbial statement which are often quite Solomonic. I’d highly suggest leaving a copy on your nightstand and read a selection each evening. Really good stuff.

Here are a few of my favorite lines:

Pick out of tales the mirth, but not the sin.
A verse may find him, who a sermon flies,
The way to make thy son rich,
is to fill His mind with rest,
before his trunk with riches.
Do all things like a man, not sneakingly.
Laugh not too much: the witty man laughs least.
Towards great persons use respective boldness.
Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
All worldly joys go less
To the one joy of doing kindnesses.
Restore to God his due in tithe and time.
Praying’s the end of preaching.
Churches are either our heav’n or hell.
Sum up at night, what thou hast done by day.
And praise him who did make and mend our eyes.
The bloody cross of my dear Lord
Is both my physic and my sword.
What Adam had, and forfeited for all,
Christ keepeth now, who cannot fail or fall.

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Book Review: “The Lord’s Service” by Jeffrey Meyers

July 31, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

The Lord’s Service: The Grace of Covenant Renewal Worship by Jeffrey J. Meyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Meyers’ work here is a really helpful primer on how to biblically order our corporate worship services. He exegetes scripture to show how certain Old Testament precedents should be carried on in our New Testament worship, as well as showing how our worship––now in Christ––should be patterned after the sacrifices of the Mosaic law (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). Meyers also provides insight into historic context for why the Church has continually observed certain practices time and time again.

The shallowness of much of our modern worship services is largely due to lackadaisical thoughtlessness. We rarely ask how God’s Word describes and proscribes how our congregational worship should be ordered. Some may bristle at the notion of ordering or establishing a set liturgy, thinking this “boxes out” the Spirit. However, even in the most spontaneous Pentecostal church, there will inevitably emerge a routine and pattern for our regular meetings. We can either be deliberate and purposeful, or mindless and willy-nilly.

Meyers argues for “covenant renewal” worship. This orders the way in which worship in accordance with the Word, and centers upon the shared meal of the Lord’s Supper. In this way, we are frequently reminded of the covenant of Grace which the Gospel proclaims to us. Overall, this book was a wonderful defense of such an approach to Lord’s Day worship. There are a few points where I would depart from Meyers’ suggested practices, but on the whole, a really worthwhile read.
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Book Review: “Revival & Revivalism” by Iain Murray

June 15, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Revival and Revivalism by Iain H. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Iain Murray’s book The Puritan Hope was one of the most influential books I have ever read. It knocked over all sorts of theological dominoes, which set me on the current course of ministry I am on. This book, Revival and Revivalism is a rich historical analysis of the Christian culture in early America. He quotes extensively from early American pastors and theologians during the time of the Second Great Awakening to reveal their view of revival.

He then shows how the emergence of “altar calls” and physical responses (i.e. standing, coming to the front, falling down, etc.), were at first a matter of concern, and then a matter of contention amongst ministers of the Gospel. One camp convinced that these means were vital to procure converts, the other camp wary that mere external signs of repentance did not mean true conversion. Murray points out that the older view of revival was that it was like the wind and the rain, you never know when God might pour it out, you need only be faithful to preach the Gospel and implore souls to repent and flee to Christ. The later view (popularized by Charles Finney) was that you could generate revivals, and have massive numbers of converts by following a certain formulaic approach (i.e. camp meetings, pressuring people to respond in some physical manner, etc.).

Murray is a really insightful historian, and this book was really a treat. It familiarized me with godly men I’d never heard of before, and helped me fit others I had heard of before into a more full-orbed historical context. In essence, the church should yearn and pray for revival, and be quite wary of revivalism. Otherwise, we will adopt unbiblical means of laboring for converts, instead of faithfully obeying how our Lord commanded us to rescue lost sheep.

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Book Review: “The Defense of the Faith” by Cornelius Van Til

June 6, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Defense of the Faith by Cornelius Van Til
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What Van Til does here is remarkable. He pioneers important territory here as it relates to Christian apologetics. He points out that often our preaching and apologetics don’t match up, and we should strive to be, above all, submissive to Scriptural authority when it comes to defending the faith.

In essence, Roman Catholocism (building on Aquinas) and Arminianism seek to find a point of contact with fallen man and convince him to believe in a god. What Van Til points out is that this makes the mind and will of man ultimate, assuming that man’s reason can actually interpret the facts of the universe correctly.

Van Til starts from the fact that the Creator-creature divide must be forefront in our preaching and apologetic efforts. The Scriptures are the authority which should govern our efforts to persuade. Van Til insists that we remember that ALL men know God, but sinful man suppresses this knowledge.

Van Til slices things really thin at certain points. He takes folks in his own Calvinist camp to task for various compromises with erroneous thinking. At times he is tedious, perhaps unnecessarily, and the text at times is dense reading (could’ve used some editorial sandpaper).

On the whole, this was a remarkably helpful book. It kicked my rear end at times, and had me up and cheering at other points. I think this will prove to be a seminal work for generations to come.

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Book Review: “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis

May 17, 2018 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a confession to make. I’m not proud of it, but it is true. I’m 30 years old. I’ve been reading lots of books on a regular basis since I was 9 or 10. It is only a few weeks ago that I finally got around to reading Mere Christianity. All that to say, I’ve known about this masterpiece from Lewis for a good while now, even quoted portions of it. Now, I can say, it was worth the wait, and yet I wish I’d read it sooner.

Lewis is as skillful as ever at explaining in laymen’s terms deep theological truths. Keep in mind, Lewis repeatedly reminds us that he is not a theologian. So don’t expect to get your systematics from him. That said, he shows us a great example of how to take deep theological truths and state them so almost anyone––of even average intelligence––”gets it.” He certainly has his moments where those who like their theology as punctiliar as a swiss watch will wince, but he would likely wince in return at their inability to state such precise theological notions in such a way as to make them understandable.

I think Lewis actually did something quite remarkable in Mere Christianity, which will be of immense profit to the church for ages to come. He may not be right on every point, but he gets to the heart of the fundamentals of what it means to be Christian. He contrasts it with various other religious and agnostic notions, and shows that Christianity is the best explanation for the world, and is most reasonable. He also drives home important devotional points for what it means to live like a Christian, and not only believe like a Christian.

Don’t be like me and live over half your life before getting around to reading Mere Christianity! If you haven’t read it yet, put it as the very next book you read.

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