Mahaney applies 1 Corinthians 10:31 to the athletic area – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  With the biblical imperative firmly implanted in our hearts and minds, Mahaney calls readers to either a) “examine our hearts and lives for the presence of idolatry,” or b) “devote ourselves to the glory of God in all of life, including sports.”

So Mahaney urges athletes to run, pass, kick, and cycle to the glory of God: “Every play, every inning, every race becomes an opportunity to draw attention to God.”  The essence of this act is worship.  The author adds, “[Worship] is something we do in all of life, including our sports.”  So we draw attention to the greatness of God – not personal greatness.

Mahaney suggests several way to play to the glory of God:

• We play to the glory of God by thanking him for his good gifts.
• We play to the glory of God by demonstrating humility on the field.

Don’t Waste Your Sports in the final analysis is more about the gospel than sports: “The cross of Christ not only makes possible forgiveness of sin, but also provides power to overcome sin.”  This bedrock truth encourages Christ-centered behavior on and off the field.  It encourages athletes to do everything to the glory of God.

Don’t Waste Your Sports is a powerful antidote in a world that is dominated by proud athletes who drink from the polluted stream of self-glorification.  It should be required reading for Christian coaches and athletes.  It is a book that parents should read with their children.  Perhaps the next generation of athletes will stand together with men like Tim Tebow and do all things to the glory of God.

A few years ago, I heard Thabiti Anyabwile preach at Together for the Gospel in Louisville.  I remember being impressed with his pastoral heart, theologically precise mind, and his feet that were obviously set on obeying and glorifying God.  His newest book confirms my first impressions at T4G.

Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons reads like cliff notes for men who either aspire to serve, or are currently serve in either office.  And “cliff notes” is not a criticism; rather it is written in the most positive vein.  This does not suggest watered-down content or “weak tea.”  Rather, it affirms the qualifications and responsibilities that emerge in Scripture for faithful elders and deacons.  It reminds me of Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch – but tends to be less technical.  While Anyabwile’s treatment is theologically and exegetically accurate, it veers away from some of the more technical language and arguments that appear in Strauch.

The book is arranged in three parts.  Part one and part two survey deacon and elder qualifications – in short how to find faithful leaders for the household of God.  Part three summarizes the job description of pastors:

• Elders Refute Error
• Elders Avoid Myths and Train for Godliness
• Elders Hope in God
• Elders Command
• Elders Let No One Despise Their Youth
• Elders Set an Example
• Elders Teach
• Elders Grow
• Elders Watch Their Life
• Elders Watch Their Doctrine

Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons is a welcome and needed reminder for churches who are set on living, leading, and shepherding to the glory of God.  This is an important book and deserves to be read.  Highly recommended!

4 stars

Originally published in 1655, Gurnall offers the typical insight we expect from the Puritans. In volume two, this Puritan divine guides readers through the armor that Paul describes in Ephesians 6.

His exposition begins and ends with Scripture.  He leaves no stone unturned as he examines and explains the armor.  His exposition reminds the reader of a pastor on a quest for buried treasure.  He digs as deep as his shovel will take him.  And readers are rewarded with valuable insight; insight that may be immediately applied to the Christian life.

4 stars

Williams show graciousness and charity throughout as he refuses to caricature his opponents, namely – theologians who embrace the notion of libertarian free will, i.e. the power of contrary choice. The author refers to libertarian free will as the “Axiom of Libertarian Love,” which he defines at the outset: “Any agent, A, must possess libertarian free will to love or refrain from loving another agent, B, if A’s love for B is to count as authentic.”  The central aim of William’s work is to dismantle this argument.

Williams cuts through a wide range of philosophers, theologians, and Christian writers – from Pelagius and Cassius to Norm Geisler and Rob Bell.  He is to be commended for keeping an extremely complicated topic accessible for readers willing to put forth the effort.

In part one, the author argues the notion of libertarian free will actually militates against authentic love: “Libertarian free will, which seemed like a requirement of authentic love from a pre-analytical perspective, turns out to be a significant threat to authentic love.”

Part two examines whether the idea of libertarian free will has the theological endurance when subjected to deep biblical insight, what Williams refers to as “depth capacity.”  The old Pelagian argument that “ought” implies “can” is addressed with the full weight of biblical authority.

Finney’s flawed anthropology is exposed, namely – that sinners have “the natural ability to obey God.”  Williams unravel’s Finney’s argument by making an appeal to John’s gospel.  He adds, “Can the notion that ‘ought implies can’ breath at the depth of John 6:44?”  The contextual answer is a resounding no!

The author turns to Luther to expose the erroneous views concerning liberty in Erasmus:  “For Luther, imperatives do not lead to the libertarian conclusion that ‘ought implies can,’ but rather: Ought exposes cannot, and cannot exposes the need for radical grace.” 

Williams insight is something akin to Luther’s: “From this ‘ought exposes cannot’ perspective, God is not like a bully commanding a blind man to behold the Sistine Chapel for sadistic pleasure.  Rather, the picture of God comes closer to that of a compassionate optometrist who commands a blind patient to behold the Sistine Chapel before restoring his sight.  The impossible command serves the vital function of demonstrating who deserves all credit once the patient marvels at the painted ceiling with clear eyes.”  The remaining chapters deal with the tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.

Finally, part three focuses on “the scope of divine action in human love.”  This section is arguably the most helpful section of the book.   The author alerts the reader to several models of divine action in human love.  He presents the Pelagian, Semi-pelagian, Arminian, Augustinian views and also includes a view that could be construed as Pantheistic.  The tension is presented between divine giving and human coming, divine unifying and human loving, and divine raising and human remaining.

The author succeeds in roundly refuting libertarian free will.  He stands in a long line of godly men who have done the same including Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, and John Owen.

4 stars

Real Marriage  is biblical in its scope, practical in its counsel, and contains a wealth of information that will serve to strengthen marriages.

The book is grounded in a transparent look at the Driscoll marriage.  They share candidly about their mistakes and failures.  And they humbly share their triumphs and some of the necessary ingredients that have contributed to what is now a healthy marriage.

One of the greatest strengths of Real Marriage is its bold promotion of complementarianism, the notion that men and women are created equal as image bearers in the eyes of God, yet maintain distinct roles.  The husband must love his wife as Christ loves the church and the wife must respect her husband.  Mark and Grace point to numerous examples from their own marriage that bolster the case for complementarianism.  They should be applauded for their clear biblical teaching on a controversial theme that draws angry fire from liberal critics.

Mark rightly admonishes men: “God wants His glory to shine through men.  God wants His kingdom to be made visible through them.  God wants them to be His sons.  God wants us to follow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the example of Jesus.”  Driscoll charges husbands to honor their wives in several significant ways: “physically, emotionally, verbally, financially, and technologically.”  He demonstrates the importance of understanding the covenant of marriage and includes several practical points of encouragement, especially for young husbands.

Grace further elaborates on the complementarian position that is advanced in the book: “Men and women were created with equal worth but different roles.  God created and called the man to lead and love his wife, and when he doesn’t do that in a holy way, he is sinning.  God created the woman to help and respect her husband, and when she doesn’t do that in a holy way, she is sinning.”  She helpfully overviews biblical respect/submission and provides numerous ways that wives can embrace the biblical model by respecting their husbands.

In a chapter entitled, “Taking Out the Trash,” the Driscolls spell out what repentance looks like in marriage.  Repentance is not “managing our sin, blame-shifting our sin, excusing our sin, or manipulating God or people for blessing.”  They rightly argue that repentance includes “confession, contrition, and change.”

Additionally, forgiveness is explored: “Forgiveness is a gospel issue … It has everything to do with God.  As an act of worship, we must respond to our sinful spouses as God has responded to our sin – with forgiveness – because it is a gospel issue.  We cannot accept forgiveness from God without extending it to our spouses.”  The Driscolls maintain that the gospel is the only answer to a healthy marriage.

Almost half of Real Marriage is about sex – a sensitive subject that been largely under-emphasized by Christians.  There is much to commend in these chapters.  The Driscolls include many practical principles that are rooted in Scripture.    Mark exposes the sin of pornography; a sin that has ruined many a marriage and he duly warns men and women to steer clear from this grievous sin.

Chapter ten is entitled, Can We _____? and is receiving the most criticism in the online reviews.  While the Driscolls seek to answer legitimate questions based on the framework of 1 Corinthians 6:12, much of the material is inappropriate and does not benefit readers.   The graphic nature of the material proves more harmful than helpful.  Indeed, “not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 6:12).

Real Marriage is a difficult book to review.  There is a blend of good and unnecessary.  Readers should approach the book with a discerning eye and be sure to keep it out of the reach of children.

I received a complementary copy through the BookSneeze program.

3 stars

Christian hedonism is really a philosophy of life that is driven by five convictions.  1) The longing to be happy is a universal experience, and it is good, not sinful.  2) We should never try to deny or resist our longing to be happy.  Rather we should seek to intensify this longing and nourish it with whatever will provide the deepest and most enduring satisfaction.  3) The deepest and most enduring happiness is found in God alone.  4) The happiness we find in God reaches its consummation when it is shared with others in love.  5) To the extent we try to abandon the pursuit of our own pleasure, we fail to honor God and love people.  Or, to put it positively: the pursuit of pleasure is a necessary part of all worship and virtue.  In other words, the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

Piper develops the concept of Christian hedonism by applying the principles to the subjects of conversion, worship, love, Scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions and suffering (Suffering has been added to the tenth anniversary edition of the book).

Desiring God is filled to the rim with strengths.  The writing is clear and thought-provoking.  The content is not abstract and unrelated to life.  Rather it hits the reader right between the eyes with the truth of God.  Second, the writer comes to the table with a Reformed worldview which pervades the book [I might add that the writer rejects the Reformed emphasis on the Covenant of works].  Third, this book forces the reader to deal with matters of the heart.  Forth, this book is radically God-centered.  Every subject discussed comes back to the issue of the Lordship of Jesus  and whether or not the reader is finding his complete satisfaction in Him.

Piper has written a tremendous book.  He has the heart of a pastor and the mind of a theologian, a combination difficult to find in twenty-first century pastors.  Desiring God is a passionate book.  The contents will not only bring the reader to tears, but will engage his thinking in ways beyond the scope of his imagination.  Desiring God is a practical book.  It challenges readers to re-examine cherished presuppositions and think biblically about crucial life issues. 

- One of the most important books written in the last 100 years!

5 stars

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 17,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Short and pithy chapters that go straight to the heart.

See my review

HISTORICAL THEOLOGY – Gregg Allison

A sweeping narrative that informs and motivates budding students of historical theology.

See my review

PILLARS OF GRACE – Steve Lawson

The long line of godly men continues …

See my review

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH – Michael Horton

A systematic theology for pilgrims on the way.

See my review

THE PASTOR AS SCHOLAR AND THE SCHOLAR AS PASTOR  – John Piper & D.A. Carson

The sleeper of 2011.  Every pastor should read this book.

See my review

JOHN MACARTHUR: SERVANT OF THE WORD – Iain Murray

A portrait of faithfulness and courage.

See my review

THE MIGHTY WEAKNESS OF JOHN KNOX – Douglas Bond

One of the pillars of church history.

See my review

STEVE JOBS – Walter Isaacson

One of the most influential men of our generation.

See my review

KILLING LINCOLN – Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard

A terrific historical primer – makes me proud to be an American.

See my review

THE NEXT STORY – Tim Challies

Navigating the digital world.

See my review

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH? – Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

Terrific look at the mission of the church.

See my review

But I was in for a big surprise.  This is not high-brow theology.  This is not a Martyn Lloyd-Jones exposition.  Rather, Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington write in a simple, earthy fashion – perhaps a bit too earthy for some.  But they tell it like it is and they’re quick to reveal the gory details.

Red Like Blood is about real life; life that is painful and filled with disappointment.  Coffey and Bevington write from different perspectives,  however both men are familiar with pain.  Both men understand loss.  Most important, they both understand grace.  Bevington adds, “… We’ve both learned that the brokenness God allows is always merciful and purposeful – because it’s designed to move our soul to a destination where we become more dependent on God alone.”  So God’s grace not only proves to be purposeful – it is powerful and effective.

Red Like Blood is a powerful book that highlights the grace of God in sinful creatures.  It should not be confused with a deep theological treatise – however it is a much-needed reminder to sinners; it is a vivid reminder that sinners are in desperate need of grace.  I guess I got more than I bargained for after all!

4 stars

Diagnosing one’s spiritual health is also an important part of life.  Don Whitney’s book, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health presents a framework for spiritual health – a check list to gauge spiritual vitality.

The questions include:

1. Do you thirst for God?

2. Are you governed increasingly by God’s Word?

3. Are you more loving?

4. Are you more sensitive to God’s presence?

5. Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?

6. Do you delight in the bride of Christ?

7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?

8. Do you still grieve over sin?

9. Are you a quick forgiver?

10. Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?

These powerful questions provide a basis to determine spiritual health.  With the skill of a physician, Dr. Whitney has uncovered crucial questions that reveal weaknesses and sinful patterns in one’s spiritual life.  Whitney’s work should be celebrated and used in personal discipleship.