Book Reviews

I had the privilege of making a comment and reading the manuscript in the beginning stages of this book. Here is what I said: “Same Lake, Different Boat is a heart-wrenching book by an author who has lived its message. It will equip you…to serve as instruments of healing and hope, to accept the reality of disability with joy and thanksgiving, and to appreciate the privilege of loving people with disabilities. Stephanie Hubach has given us a goldmine from a solidly biblical and theological perspective. This book is about ministry, caring, listening, coming alongside and helping. This book is priority reading for every leader in the church, as well as families of the disabled.”

Stephanie Hubach is the mother of two boys. The younger one, Timmy, was born with Down syndrome. She writes about how to have a biblical understanding of disability, how to deal with disability in the family, and the church’s role in ministering to those individuals and families with disabilities.

In a very transparent way, Same Lake, Different Boat opens up the Hubach family to share with us their laughter and tears, but more clearly shows the challenges and opportunities before us in knowing how to minister to the disabled and their families. Understanding and articulating a biblical view of disability are often difficult tasks. At the recent 2006 International Women in the Church Conference, Hubach led a seminar entitled “Those with Disabilities Help to Make us Whole.” That is what the book is all about. Hubach emphasizes what she calls the “common view of disability,” being abnormal in a normal world. Often things that deviate from the normal are viewed as abnormal. That’s not the way people with disabilities want to be seen.

She writes, “Disability is indeed a normal part of life as we know it. While unpredictable, it occurs with a degree of regularity. (For example, one in every 800 children is born with Down syndrome). It is to be expected. But the key to understanding this is the context, and the context is in the following four missing words: in an abnormal world. The biblical view of disability is that disability is a normal part of life in an abnormal world.”

Same Lake, Different Boat reminds us that not all people are comfortable or at ease with the disabled, especially those with “cognitive disabilities,” therefore do not know how to relate to someone with a disability. This book will help you and challenge you to think more biblically about this ministry. One paragraph summarizes the aim of the book:

“The next time you encounter a family touched by disability that is learning to live a new normal life, will you declare an emergency and ‘dial 9-1-1’ or will you see its struggles as extensions of your own? Will you ignore them in their challenges, or will you identify with the task before them? Remember: It’s all different, and it’s all the same. Families with a disabled family member face the same types of struggles as other families, but to a greater degree. May all families within the church be willing-in biblically boundaried ways-to engage each other by providing assistance, encouragement, and perspective.”

Same Lake, Different Boat will make serve as a call not to turn away from the disabled or families with disabled members. It will help you to see how to reach out and serve, as members of God’s covenant family, to those who not only need you but will bless your life in return.

Let me be upfront with you. When I received this book, I thought, another book by John Piper? Frankly, in some of the recent books, ideas were beginning to be seemingly repetitious. I appreciate Piper and his faithfulness to the Word. I particularly appreciate his four volumes dealing with some of the men of the church such as Jonathan Edwards, St. Augustine, John Calvin, John Newton, and J.Gresham Machen.

As I read the suggestions for how to read What Jesus Demands from the World, the introduction and aim, and the word to biblical scholars, I realized that this book is important. Reading through its pages quickly confirmed that to me. The title also intrigued me because often today there is an attempt to downplay or soft pedal what Piper calls the “demands of Christ.” Such a move often demeans the person of Jesus, waters down the Gospel, and does not reflect the whole counsel of God about the truth.

While it is true that we can focus too much on one aspect of the truth or we can fail to emphasize certain truths that finally distort the whole truth, we must not play fast and loose with the Word of God and the person and work of Christ.

What Jesus Demands from the World is unique and will have much impact on its readers. Piper wrote in the aim of the book that while it is easy to teach people to parrot all that Jesus commanded, his instruction was to teach people to observe all things that he has commanded, which is impossible, at least for man. Observing all things Christ has commanded is a result of teaching.

Piper wrote, “My aim has been to probe the meaning and the motivation of Jesus’ commands in connection with his person and work.” He further writes, “We should not be surprised, then, that Jesus’ final, climactic command is that we teach all nations to observe all that he commanded. This leads to his ultimate purpose. When obedience to his commands happens, what the world sees is the fruit of Jesus’ glorious work and the worth of his glorious person. In other words, they see the glory of God. This is why Jesus came and why his mission remains until he comes.” Piper concludes his explanation for this book, “The universal authority of Jesus produces a mission of teaching, not a mission of terror. His aim is God-glorifying obedience to all that he commanded. This kind of obedience that glorifies God is free and joyful, not constrained and cowering.”

From that aim, Piper started unapologetically with about 500 demands of Jesus and then for the purpose this book narrowed the list to fifty demands. Here is a sampling of the fifty demands included. 1. You must be born again. 2. You must repent. 3. You must come to me. 4. Believe in me. 5. Love me. 6. Listen to me. 7. Abide in me. 8. Take up your cross and follow me. 9. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 10. Rejoice and leap for joy. 11. Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. I think you can get the picture of the other thirty-nine demands.

There are a series of demands on love your enemy that I would mention: Love your enemies, lead them to the truth; love your enemies, pray for those who abuse you; love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, give to the one who asks; love your enemies to show that you are children of God. Then he includes: Love your neighbor as yourself, for this is the law and the prophets; love your neighbor with the same commitment you have to your own well-being; love your neighbor as yourself and as Jesus loved us. Each one of those demands is clearly explained and their application leaves no room to disobey. If it is our duty to obey Christ, then we need to know what that entails.

With our emphasis on the Kingdom of God, I particularly appreciated Piper’s explanation of “strive to enter through the narrow door, for you are already in the kingdom’s power.” He makes very clear how a Christian has already entered the Kingdom but he is also to strive to enter, referring to the present experiences as well as the future promises regarding the Kingdom.

Each demand explained by Piper utilizes from three to five pages. Each demand is very readable, not too complicated, but a faithful setting forth. His commitment to biblical faithfulness is present on each and every page. How refreshing and practically challenging. I believe it is a must-read for every Christian, especially today. What Jesus Demands from the World is a goldmine of truth for personal or group studies or a good format for a preaching series, giving Piper the credit if you do.

Buy this book! Read it carefully and prayerfully! Teach it to your children as you pass its truth on to the next generation.

In 2001 Crossway Books introduced the English Standard Version of the Bible. Since, its popularity has grown and is being used by more and more people and churches. We did a review in Equip for Ministry of the ESV when it was released. We will not repeat except to say that for those who want an accurate, readable, and reliable translation of the Bible, the ESV is our recommendation.

Crossway Bibles has printed the ESV in a variety of different styles and sizes. For example: large print, a pocket size edition of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, Leather bound and hard back editions, thin line, and a Children’s edition–not a children’s version which changes the translation.

In our effort to encourage people to read and study the Word, we mention the two new publications listed above. The ESV Daily Reading Bible is “designed to provide a flexible and complete Bible reading plan to guide you through the Bible on a daily basis.”

The publisher has formatted the Daily Reading Bible to help you read from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms. If you follow their design, you will read through the Old Testament once and through the New Testament and Psalms twice during the year. The Daily Reading Bible can be used for personal devotions, Bible study, and in the church. Unlike the earlier One Year Bible, which has a daily section from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs, this edition starts at Genesis and continues through Revelation. The days are listed in the margins throughout. For example: January 1 begins with Genesis, Matthew, and Psalm one. The 365 days are listed at the beginning of this edition.

The second publication,the ESV Journaling Bible, allows you to write notes in the margin as you read or study. It also begins with Genesis and continues to Revelation. If you have a fine point pen and are able to write in small letters and are not too wordy, you will be able to journal your Bible reading. Along with the small lines for journaling, the small type (7.5) might be a drawback for some. Maybe a larger print edition will appear in the near future. The Journaling Bible has an elastic strap attached, as well as marking ribbons to help you keep your place in reading and studying.

Dr. Rodgers has written this book, as the title says, for pastors. They are the key to teaching on stewardship and need to take the lead in this very important area of spiritual growth and discipleship.

In part one of the book he exposes what he calls the ministerial myths about money and the truth that answers each myth. Myth 1: A truly godly pastor will never talk about money. Myth 2: I can build a great ministry without raising money. Myth 3: It is not my responsibility to raise the money for my church. Myth 4: If I just pray and preach on giving, people will give as they should. Myth 5: If I ask for a giving commitment, it will hurt the church because many people will be offended and will leave.

He follows up with eight reasons why people don’t give and the answers the Bible gives to correct their thinking.

1. Christians don’t give because they lack pastoral leadership.

2. Christians don’t give because they have spiritual problems.

3. Christians don’t give because they have financial problems.

4. Christians don’t give because they have limited vision.

5. Christians don’t give because they have limited relationships.

6. Christians don’t give because they don’t know they can.

7. Christians don’t give because they really do not know how to give.

8. Christians don’t give because they don’t plan to give.

Part two of the book is a very practical step-by-step of how to deal with the issues of money and the principles that the Bible teaches about stewardship. He lays the plan out in a ten-step process. The strength of this section is step one about mastering the biblical principles of stewardship.

Part three of the book is how to apply the previous ten-step program to your church. His premise is if you preach it people will give.

There are several appendices-one, a sermon on getting out of debt, and another on the authors experience in his former church where he used the dynamic giving system to increase giving by as much as 32%.

He also gives a good bibliography on stewardship at the end of the book. There are good ideas and food for thought as pastors consider what they should be doing in the area of stewardship.

This book is the second in a projected series of commentaries on the books of the Bible. The first in the series was Galatians by Phil Ryken.

The objective of this commentary series is to provide pastors, teachers and other Christians a narrative commentary on the books of the Bible. The commentaries are and will continue to be doctrinally Reformed and concentrate on the unifying theme of redemptive history. Redemptive history is the theme and tapestry running throughout the entire canon of Scripture; however, that is not often the understanding of most Christians who tend to see the Bible as a collection of many different books from different authors at different moments in history setting forth a particular message.

Though Duguid may strain a bit at certain places to highlight the redemptive theme, you will see the redemptive tapestry unfold in Esther and Ruth. Esther is a story about God using Esther and her uncle Mordecai to thwart a plot to kill the Jews in the great empire of Ahasuerus. While one of the unusual characteristics of this book is that God is not mentioned, you have to see him working behind the scenes to fulfill his covenant promises to save his people despite their unworthiness.

Duguid has written in sermonic fashion that reflects good exegesis and will provide the reader with many insights into the meaning and significance of Esther. One point of interest is the meaning and ongoing reminder of why the Feast of Purim is established by Mordecai.

While the intent of this series is to present a commentary from a historical redemptive perspective, there is also some good moral application throughout the book. The same applies with part two, Duguid’s messages and commentary on Ruth.

While I admittedly have some question about his commentary on the opening historical situation that lead Elimelech and his family to leave Bethlehem for the land of Moab, I am intrigued by reasons and explanations offered.

This book, as well as the first on Galatians, are helpful tools to have. Commendable efforts are made in each chapter not only to open the text in its original setting, but also based on that understanding to move the reader to the application in our contemporary setting. For example, while explaining the establishment of the Feast of Purim, Duguid writes about festivals and celebrations today from a plus and minus perspective. Celebration is an important part of our life and tradition, but knowing what to celebrate or not is extremely important.

Another example of contemporary application is seeing Naomi, with her daughter-in-law Ruth, returning from Moab to Bethlehem, reminding us that Christ has not left us to return to him, alone. Christ comes to us to accompany us back to the Father’s house. Duguid is careful to show Ruth’s journey from Moab to Bethlehem, from a stranger and outcast to finding a place with Boaz and finally God himself.

This is volume six of a projected eighteen-volume set of commentaries written by capable scholars, using the New Living Translation text throughout the series. Volume six combines three Old Testament books, Job by August H. Konkel and Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs by Tremper Longman III.

This series attempts to “provide pastors and laypeople with up-to-date evangelical scholarship on the Old and New Testaments. It’s designed to equip pastors and Christian leaders with exegetical and theological knowledge to better understand and apply God’s Word by presenting the message of each passage as well as an overview of other issues surrounding the text.”

These three Old Testament books from the wisdom literature section will be useful for preaching and teaching. While it reflects good exegesis, the commentary does not take the reader into all the research that supports the results. For example, you will find good and useful information on the particular book’s background relating to authorship, date, audience, literary style, as well as major themes of the book. Each one of those topics has bearing on understanding, interpreting, and teaching the passages. Each book also contains a helpful and easily applicable outline of the book that can also readily help you recognize the book’s content.

Another example of the helpfulness of these commentaries is reflected in Konkel’s section, “theological concerns” from Job-the character of God, covenant, creation, evil, Satan, people, justice, and the Redeemer. All three of these OT books would be a challenge for today’s audience because they both reflect and remind us that this universe is full of mystery and incomprehensibility to the human mind. Often there are things that do not fit the normal pattern of behavior, even though there is an obvious moral order. Things happen that appear to be paradoxical and certainly not always predictable, but God is always the sovereign, be it in Job’s struggle to understand his plight or Qoholeth’s attempt to understand the difference between the earthly and heavenly perspective of things. Both Konkel and Longman have done good work that will benefit us in many ways. Each chapter and/or section has the NLT text in full, a brief but credible exegetical section, and then the commentary.

If the remaining volumes in this series support my conclusion about volume six, this will be a helpful and useful series.