This was a more interesting read than I ever expected it to be, primarily because it approaches the subject in a way I have never heard before. 
            First, the sub-title, discipline as a gift, came completely out of the blue for me.  A gift, really?  It had always seemed to be, mainly from the way I had seen it handled before, an odious chore that most completely ignored.  But the author makes you see it from a completely different perspective.  Discipline defines the church by setting boundaries, something every child psychologist should readily recognize.  Children who know the limits are happier children because they have a sense of security.  It also helps define who we really are.  As Mr. South says, "Any group, religious or otherwise, which claims unique status must have and maintain clearly-demarcated boundaries so all can recognize who is not in the group…No discipline, no church."
           He also shows discipline as a command that must be obeyed just like any other if we dare to call ourselves a New Testament Church.  "In spite of an abundance of New Testament teaching, churches today are largely negligent in the practice of corrective discipline, which is nothing less than disobedience."
Then we see that our negligence in this is not just disobedience, but a lack of trust in God who has told us to practice it.  Presumably, He thinks it works, and who are we to question Him?  It also shows a lack of love for those in sin, and a "tendency to accommodate ourselves to our pluralistic society."  Okay, now he has my attention.
           But in doing these things, he carefully sets forth his arguments with far more scripture about church discipline than I was ever aware of, and with a sense of sorrow for those who are lost and could be saved if we followed God's plan.  Covering each passage from every angle, he makes the point that the Bible writers discuss more than one type of discipline which are each dealt with in a different way.  "One size fits all" does not work in such a delicate, yet momentous, topic. 
           I have hardly done this book justice with this review.  It should probably be read by every Christian in the country, certainly every elder and preacher.  Don't waste any time getting to it!
            Church Discipline:  God's Gift for a Healthier, Holier Church is published by DeWard Publishing Company.
 
Dene Ward

Many of us know Matt Bassford from the hymns he has written for us to sing and has explained on his blog.  That he understands both music and poetry is obvious.  "Exalted," which we sing fairly often, is one of my favorites of his, and never fails to send chills down my spine and make my hair stand on end.  Now he has done us all a monumental service by paraphrasing the entire Psalter and choosing tunes to sing them with.  As he says in his introduction we are commanded to sing psalms and we seldom if ever do.
            Speaking of that introduction, it should be preached from every pulpit in the country.  Our culture has taught us that the songs we sing in worship should all be songs of praise or thanksgiving.  Look through the inspired songbook (Psalms) and you will find out that we are leaving out the majority of things we should be singing about.  My own study of the Psalms several years ago left me shocked to discover that only 30% of the psalms were praise psalms.  The largest majority were psalms of lament.  Even when we do use a psalm, we "cherrypick" as Matt calls it, the cheerful parts and leave the rest untouched.  I remember a song leader introducing a new song and boasting, "It's straight from the Bible.  No one should complain."  But that song took one verse of a much longer psalm, repeated that verse almost endlessly, and completely ignored the rest.  Another quote from Matt's introduction:  "Though this neglect of the more challenging psalms may make our assemblies less demanding, it leaves us woefully unprepared to face the sorrows of life under the sun."
            Matt has given us beautifully worded paraphrases for each psalm.  For the longer psalms, he divides them into two, three, or more separate psalms (such as Psalm 119).  Then he suggests a tune to sing it by, usually a well-known standard hymn.  I have tried several of them and they always work out, unlike some of the modern praise songs that throw six words on one or two notes and just expect you to fit them in somehow.  He also includes other ways to change the tune if it is one you don't know, with his metrical descriptions.  As long as you find a tune with the same metrical description (many hymnals have them now), it will fit.  From my own experience with these psalms, practice at home first.  If the tune is one you barely know, find it in the hymnal and sing it a few times first to cement the tune in your mind.  Then try it with Matt's words.  And don't do too many at once.  I found myself suddenly switching to another tune right in the middle of the fourth one.  But I could handle three in a row with little trouble.
            Several churches have begun studying the Psalms with the aid of this book.  After it has been thoroughly dissected, they then sing the psalm with the suggested tune, or one they have found that matches the meter and which their group is more familiar with.  Matt has done us a great service.  This is truly a labor of love for his brethren, and one of devotion to the God he serves.  Well done, Matt.
            Worshiping with the Psalms comes from Truth Publications.

Dene Ward

Peter Williams has written a book both enlightening and encouraging to the believer.  Even skeptics should appreciate this evenhanded approach to the question in the title.  Dr Williams very carefully avoids coming across as either liberal or conservative in his theology as he gives us fact after fact, along with charts and tables to validate his points. 
            He even begins with Non-Christians to establish the confirmation of the Gospels in their basic historical facts.  Next he examines early Christian sources, proving that their natural bias does not mean that their basic information is incorrect.  He then surveys the four books in question to establish whether they are correct in things like geography, bodies of water, roads and means of travel, gardens, and several other things, ending with an interesting discussion of names that this reviewer found intriguing as well as persuasive. 
            The author continues in this vein through several other issues, all credible and easy to comprehend.  Only at the end does he finally try to persuade us that Jesus is real, which means he is worth listening to and following.  It is well worth your time, which will be short but also rewarding.
            Can We Trust the Gospels? is published by Crossway.
 
Dene Ward

I was ready to tell you that this one might be difficult to find, that you might have to look on used book sites like Thriftbooks and Abebooks, or that you might have to scour used book stores, or perhaps the used book section in the Florida College Chatlos Library.  But guess what?  I found it on Amazon! 
            So what is it about?  The complete title might help:  Attitudes and Consequences in the Restoration Movement.  If, like me, you are a third generation Christian and wonder exactly how you got where you are, this book might answer the question.  It will also answer a few other questions you might have like, "Why have people called me a Campbellite?" and "Is the Christian Church related to us in any fashion at all?"  Yes, it is a history of the 19th century movement called, at first, the Reformation, but later, the Restoration Movement.  The point is, to not just reform Protestant religions, but to scrap everything and start over completely, restoring the New Testament Church and its pattern in worship, work, and living.
            The book does get bogged down occasionally with extensive quotations from various preachers, but no one can accuse the author of misrepresenting anyone that way.  He tells it warts and all, it seems to me.  In some cases I was a little aghast at statements those old fellows made, though they were not old when they made them.  These were zealous men in the prime of their lives who saw no religious group following the New Testament pattern and sought to change that in an effort to promote unity among everyone claiming to be a Christian, for the sake of spreading the Gospel.  But when people would not give up their cherished beliefs, no matter how wrong they were shown to be, they settled for gathering the ones who would and became a strong movement for the Truth of the Word.  They were ridiculed by many, but many others joined the choruses we have heard all our lives:  "Where the Scripture speaks, we speak; where the Scripture is silent we are silent," and "For every action we must have a 'Thus saith the Lord.'"  It is the development of that attitude that the book follows.
            As was even the case in the First Century, there was a falling away, and the author chronicles that as well.  Those who were born after the original printing of this book (1945) can tell of similar problems that have risen in their own lifetimes.  If nothing else, the book encourages us to stay faithful.  It may not be for everyone, but for those of us who "have always wondered," it could be a profitable read.
            Attitudes and Consequences was republished by Truth Publications in 2011.
 
Dene Ward
 

Everett Ferguson could very well be the most acclaimed Biblical scholar the Lord's body has ever produced.  Last year we reviewed the new edition of his Backgrounds of Early Christianity.  A mere look through that large volume will convince you that this man knows what he is talking about, especially when it comes to black and white facts.
            Here in this older work he has attempted to examine everything he can possibly find about the musical practices of the first century New Testament church.  He leaves no stone unturned as he delves into New Testament evidence, secular evidence, and historical evidence before even considering doctrinal ramifications.  He even does his best to find "Statements Favorable to Instruments" and can only find a very few, all of which deal with non-religious private functions. 
            He spends a good deal of time quoting the writers of the period who, when even mentioning instruments, by and large use them in figurative ways such as, "The psalterion is the pure mind moved by spiritual knowledge.  The kithara is the practical soul moved by the commandments of Christ" (Origen of Alexandria).  Quotes like that are plenteous.  He also mentions that the Greek Orthodox Christians, who divided from the Roman Catholic Church and certainly knew the Greek language better than any of us, objected to instrumental music accompanying the worship and still sing a capella.  (As an aside, they also know the Greek word baptizo and will not practice sprinkling for the same reason.)  The very term a capella means "in the style of the church," an open confession to the fact that everyone knew you did not have musical instruments in Christian worship.
            Another factor he discusses is the very nature of the worship in the church.  While Jewish worship in the Temple was all about ritual and physical show, the church became the spiritual Temple and its worship a spiritual worship.  Once synagogues began, even Judaism did away with the instruments.  Their worship had become centered on the Word of God rather than spectacle and they felt it no longer had a place.  Interesting, to say the least.
            A final section on doctrine should leave you convinced.  If nothing else matters, a capella singing will not lead to division while forcing an instrument into the worship will send those who feel they can no longer worship acceptably out the door. 
            I found this book listed by more than one publisher.  It is available on Amazon, Abebooks, Thriftbooks, and Ebay, and probably others.  Be sure you get the one by Everett Ferguson.
 
Dene Ward          
 

This book takes a commitment to read if you are an ordinary Bible student like I am.  It is longer than most other books I have read (368 pages in the old edition I have), and thicker in subject matter.  You certainly cannot try to watch a football game and read it between plays.  This one takes all of your attention, but reading one chapter at a time every day—20 to 30 minutes—easily got me through the book in a month without shorting out the synapses in my brain.  If you truly want a serious study, you can do this.
            In Life in the Son, a former Southern Baptist minister virtually talks himself out of Calvinism simply by studying in detail every passage in the New Testament that has anything to do with the various tenets of that system.  In this one he tackles, "Perseverance of the Saints" or, more colloquially known among those I grew up with, once saved always saved.  It is chockfull of scriptures.  When you finish, you will not only understand many scriptures like never before, you will understand what Calvinists (the preponderance of mainstream Protestant religion—your neighbors, probably) really believe and why.  Then you will see how they twist the plainest statements to make them bolster their beliefs.  In the Appendices you will discover from direct quotes of the man's writings how even Calvin disagreed with himself.
            You must also read the Introductions.  One comes from a Baptist preacher friend of the author's who is not really sure he agrees with him, but gives perhaps the fairest assessment of the book one could hope for, and scolds anyone who would automatically put it down before reading and considering.  If I understand the following Introductions (different ones for each edition), this friend was eventually persuaded that Mr. Shank was absolutely correct, simply because he did what he asked others to do—read the scriptures, read the book, and refused to be biased by former beliefs.
            One major caveat:  Mr. Shank knows his Greek grammar.  Again and again he will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about any Greek word and how it is used.  As they say, it was all Greek to me.  So what to do?  Just what you would do with a commentary that does the same thing.  Read past what you don't understand or necessarily need to know, and get the gist of the thing and why it matters.  It's not that difficult to navigate if you really want to.
            As I said, it's a commitment.  I wish you could read my old edition because it has my husband's notes from forty years ago scribbled in the margins and they are enlightening as well.  This book came out in the 1960s.  If you have an older relative or friend who preaches or did preach back then, he may very well have a copy.  Maybe he will have also scribbled in the margins and will let you borrow that copy for a month.
            My edition of Life in the Son was published by Westcott Publishers.  Some newer editions are from Baker Books.  You can find it on Christianbook.com, Thriftbooks, AbeBooks, Barnes and Noble, and of course, Amazon.   
 
Dene Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

I first heard of Tony Campolo in 1985 when watching a video of a sales inspiration speech he gave. He told the story found in this book of a "preach off" where his Pastor beat his best with a sermon of this title.  I thought the sermon idea deserved more than use as a cheer for salesmen and developed it. When our preacher was at a meeting, I preached it in 25 minutes. He heard about the rave reviews, listened to the tape and went 45+ minutes. He said the reviews were not as good. I replied, "You told them too much, you need to rely on what you know that they know."

For years I searched for the book. Then Google came along and I learned that the original sermon was by S.M. Lockridge and is less than 4 minutes. With the help of captions, I listened to his version but have not yet "heard" Campolo's. If it is printed in any of his books, I have not found it yet.

If you want the sermon, you need to go to the youtube. It is not in this book. However, Campolo uses the theme as the basis for a number of excellent lessons teaching that Jesus answers our needs. His chapter defining the difference between romance and love is worth the time to read all 120 pages. But, the rest is hardly just filler. He will make you think, inspire you, maybe even change you into someone more zealous for good works and more focused on Jesus and eternity.

Keith Ward
 

This book is part of brother Mott's Thinking through the Bible Series, several of which I plan to read and review in the future.  I chose this one first because Keith and I had a deep study of 1 John last year and I wondered how we would match up with it. 
            Brother Mott keeps everything in context.  His context at times includes the gospel of John—that author has a tendency to use terms in exactly the same way whether in his Gospel or his Epistles.  For example, after a thorough reading of practically every place he uses the terms "light" and "walk", "walking in the light" becomes much easier to understand, and the surrounding verses add to that understanding instead of obscuring it.  Mott keeps terms like these in front of us constantly as we move from chapter to chapter, reminding us what they mean as we go.  In fact, after this sort of study I really wish those chapter divisions were gone altogether!
            Brother Mott truly understands the concept of expositional study.  He rarely, if ever, leaves the texts that John has written and his easy divisions make it simple to follow along in your Bible, reading a bit at a time there and then in his study guide.   Sometimes it made me want to go back and reread a section of scripture to see the full effect of what he had pointed out.  Any Bible study book that keeps putting you back into the text rather than have you hanging onto the guide has its priorities in order.
            For every problematic verse you thought these epistles contained, you will find a logical and plausible explanation.  You will also find a few verses we have misused in our misplaced zeal.  I look forward to more study with the books in this series.
            The copy I have of this book was printed by Sunesis Publishing.  DeWard Publishing Co is also printing several in the series.
 
Dene Ward

It is almost surprising that this somewhat liberal theologian could write this excellent study on Habakkuk.  Perhaps, as he reveals in its pages, life has a way of making you face realities you might have otherwise reasoned away.  However it happened, this little book is worth your time, and it won't actually be much time at all.  I read it in three sittings, and could have done so in one if I had had a little over an hour to do so.
            Habakkuk, as you might know, is the prophet who dared to ask God why and then tell Him that his answer didn't make much sense to him.  And far from striking the prophet with leprosy or lightning either one, God answered him.  The author includes his own translation of the text, going so far as to tell us the words for which we really have no translation.  In the middle one of Habakkuk's three sections, he offers an interpretation that is intriguing but seems totally relevant.  And in the end, he tells us what that sentence found four times in the Bible means, The just shall live by faith. 
            And finally he answers those eternal questions about suffering with joy, those things we wonder in the black of night as we lie there unable to sleep for the constant roiling of our minds from the trials we endure.  If you have ever suffered—and who has not?—this book may be what you need.
            The Triumph of Faith in Habakkuk is published by Wipf and Stock Publishers.  It is available new on Amazon and used through SecondSale, Thiftbooks, and AbeBooks.
 
Dene Ward

How was the text of the Bible passed through all these centuries?
            How do we know it is accurate?
            Who chose the books of the Bible?
            What about "the lost books?"
            Which version of the Bible is the best?
            These questions are commonly asked, not just by skeptics but also by believers who don't know how to respond to their unbelieving friends and neighbors, and all of them are answered in this book.
            Dr. Lightfoot skillfully answers highly technical questions in a way that even laymen can easily understand and remember.  When it becomes necessary to use technical terms, he defines them so anyone can comprehend their meaning.  He also includes interesting tidbits of history that make this book readable.  Each chapter, few more than 10 pages long, ends with questions making this useful for a class or simply an aid to memory for the individual.  Grabbing a notebook and answering them will make you better able to quickly find answers for anyone else who asks.
            It is beneficial to us all that the author is a believer himself.  You can trust not only his facts and explanations but also his motivations in writing this book.  He wants you to understand where the Bible comes from and have confidence that it is the Word of God indeed.  If you have not read any other book I have recommended, please get this one and do so.  You will not be sorry.
            How We Got the Bible is published by BakerBooks.
 
Dene Ward