Monday, June 27, 2011

Books I Need to Finish...

There are a few books that have been on my radar for a year or longer that I have meant to read, but just haven't got around to. Well, truth is, I've started all of them at least once, and then either was distracted or didn't have the courage to pull through. I thought what better way to find the motivation than to drive a stake into the ground and commit to reading these books by January 1 2012? So here's what the list looks like today:


  1. Moby Dick [Melville -- because my 'classical' base is fairly weak]

  2. Standing on the Promises [Wilson -- because I will never be as good as I should be raising children]

  3. Chosen But Free [Geisler--because I'm yearning for a sound, exegetical defense of the doctrines of salvation]

  4. Analysis & Design of Analog Integrated Circuits [Gray -- because I'm a glutton for punishment]

We'll see how it goes. If we're lucky I might be able to put together mini-reviews as I knock these down. Although that last one might be a bit of a challenge.

3 comments:

Matt and Carrie Proctor said...

Good luck on these reads. I just hammered through Brothers Karamazov over 2.5 months. Though, I hear Moby Dick is a much tougher read . . .
if you're looking for a short, succinct, exegetical, and fair representation of the Reformed view, I recommend John Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied (i have a copy somewhere). I don't go 100% in with Murray on everything, but he gives a thorough defense that reflects reformed soteriology. It might be a good companion book to compare with Geisler and I think has a better tone than what I've seen of James White. Personally, I think having read godly writers and having professors from both perspectives (I like Roger Olson's defense of Biblical Arminianism), I have tried to be less polemical in my own tone and less focused on looking for the differences but rather on showing the similarities - the need for all the hear the Gospel, the call for people to believe and repent (human responsibility), and the goodness and sovereignty of God to bring Himself glory and to us goodness, mercy, and love.
I'm thankful the EFCA has a big tent for both perspectives. We sharpen each other.

enjoy reading!

Alan said...

Jonathan, I'm glad to see you blogging occasionally and I look forward to your reviews! Someone said that "reading makes a full man and writing makes a precise man." Here's to your next six months pursuing fulness and precision.

Jan said...

Ambitious! Disciplined! Mind-expanding. Keep us posted!