The Return

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense Dr. Larry Crabb Baker Books 2018 I chose this book because the title intrigued me.   When God’s Ways Make No Sense.    There have been plenty of times when that seemed truer than I’d like to admit.   Are we even allowed to say something like that?   Even if we think it.   So, an author willing to take on that topic had my attention. And mostly because I wanted his take on what to do about it? As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote.   The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not.   His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either.   Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology.   Or at least I think so.   I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating. ...

Review: Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot Mo Isom Baker Books 2018 I picked this one up after I’d seen a video promo by the author, http://moisom.com/sexandjesus#.   Sounded like she had something to say.   She does.   And even if you don’t think it applies to you it does in ways that aren’t necessarily related to sex, but just as a human being with desires.    Isom subscribed to many of the conversations that govern relationships in general, and those with men, for her generation, the millennials.   This book is not her life story, but it does describe some moments that were important to her journey then and now.   Her openness to share those times surprised me.   Her point without spoiling the book is that she had not understood what linked sexual intimacy to ordinary life, the why’s, if you will.   Was it not taught, discussed?   Or was she not interested in hearing might be a valid...

Review: The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus; An Evangelical Exposition of John 14-17 D. A. Carson Baker Books 1980 What am I doing reviewing a nearly 40-year-old book from DA Carson?   Baker has repackaged it and now it’s back on the shelf.   There’s no new forward or other additions to the front matter, so I assume this is the 1980 version which according to the preface was intended for the “church at large” (9).   I took that to mean persons other than the academic or the serious student.   I have to say things have changed greatly if this is an example of the reading the laity undertook all those years ago.   This book in my opinion is still for the serious student of Scripture.   It is not the strictly academic material that Carson produced though, so for those of you who want to work a bit at reading this I think you will be rewarded for your efforts.   Carson’s reputation and other work vouch for his abi...