Book Review: A Quick Introduction To the New Testament

Another little Kindle freebie from a while ago, I picked up this Quick Introduction to the New Testament because it was by Don Carson and Douglas Moo. The title page tells me that it's an excerpt from An Introduction to the New Testament, just a little section of a much bigger book (which may well also be on my bookshelf, but hasn't been read yet).

To be honest, I was slightly disappointed with this book. I had imagined and expected that it would be an introduction to each of the books of the New Testament, a little sampler to whet the appetite and help the reader to learn more about the books that make it up. That's not what the book is, though. Rather, it's more an introduction to the academic study of the New Testament:

'This introduction provides little more than a surface history of a selection of the people, movements, issues, and approaches that have shaped the study of the New Testament.'

Along the way, there is a brief discussion on how we got the New Testament written down and passed along, including the textual evidence for the authenticity of what we hold in our hands today:

'There are about five thousand manuscripts or parts of manuscripts (some of them mere fragments) of all or part of the Greek New Testament, and about eight thousand manuscripts or parts of manuscripts of versions.' This, the authors note, means that 'of all the works that have come down to us from the ancient world, the New Testament is the most amply attested in textual evidence' - compared to the Annals by Tacitus or the works of Euripides.

From there, the authors move on to textual criticism, as scholars seek to discern and decide between the variants that have inevitably arisen through hand written copies of the text. Yet we should not be worried: 'The overwhelming majority of the text of the Greek New Testament is firmly established. Where uncertainties remain, it is important to recognize that in no case is any doctrinal matter at issue.'

Another major section focuses on longstanding interpretive traditions. This presents 'a highly selective summary of a handful of important people and movements that proved influential in the interpretation of the New Testament and some small indication of the impact of the New Testament documents in history.' These people include Ireneaus, Walter Bauer, the Jesus Seminar, the schools of Alexandria and Antioch, Athanasius and Chrysostom, Augustine, Anslem, Abelard, and many others. This then leads to the rise of biblical theology, with lots of interesting details and discussions. From there, the focus shifts to historical criticism, literary tools and the impact of postmodernism.

AS I've said, it wasn't the book I thought I was getting to read, but I'm glad I did read it. This is a good summary of the flow of thought about the New Testament over the past two millenia and as such will help theological students to put the pieces and names together to get the full picture. It's primary audience is the student, but many other interested readers may also benefit from the work of Carson and Moo.

I'm terribly sorry if you're interested in reading this - it's now no longer available on the Amazon Kindle store. The fuller work it's taken from, though, is still available from Amazon.

Book Review: Simpler

I'm always on the lookout for special offers and free giveaways for my Kindle, and a few weeks back Mike Burns was giving away his ebook Simpler: Declutter Your Life and Focus on What's Most Important. I downloaded it and gave it a read. You might know that I could benefit from something like this - for most of the time, my desk exists somewhere under the mountain of books, papers, pens and other stuff. I know where everything is, but perhaps I could benefit from decluttering?

The book is written in a motivational speaker style, with lots of 'you can do it' encouragement and generalisations about whatever it is you need to get sorted. 'Every person who reads this book, including you, can take steps today to declutter their life and begin to focus on what's most important to them.' (Loc 53) Similarly, 'My life isn't always simple. But it is simpler than it used to be.' (Loc 68)

The book is divided into two sections. The first looks at 'A Case for a Simpler Life', where mindset and approach are considered, eventually leading to action. On the subject of busyness, Burns argues that 'if we want to live well, we can't just COUNT activities, we have to WEIGH them.' (Loc 113) He introduces the concept of minimalism, in terms of priorities.

However, the whole section is summarised by deciding on our own values and being honest about what is most important to yourself. This is in the context of the fact that 'Life is short. Our days are limited.' (Loc 174) There's a valuable insight here, although he really misses the whole point, by only being focused on this life, and on extracting as much good out of this life as possible. While his philosophy is minimalism, his approach continues to proclaim materialsm loud and clear. You see, if this world is all there is, then it's all about the material world, he's seeking to have heaven on earth. On that, I'm reminded of the CS Lewis quote where if someone aims for heaven, they get this world thrown in as well, whereas if they focus on this world, they miss out on both heaven and earth.

The second section then gives 'Practical Tips for Decluttering', looking at a range of areas of life, including your mind, your inbox, your bookshelf and your relationships.

There is a helpful bit on the need to prioritise. 'In case you've forgotten.....you can't do everything. When we find ourselves overcommitted, we have to be reminded that we must not only say "no" to bad things, but also GOOD things. Saying "no" to mindless things is A LOT easier than saying "no" to good things.' (Loc 365-368) [Incidentally, I wish he had said no to the excessive use of ..... and BLOCK CAPITALS for emphasis!]

I was interested to read how he had whittled down his book collection to just 18 books. The way he did it was to remind himself of the following: 1. You are probably not going to read all of those books. 2. If you do read them all, you may be reading too much. Most of those books will be outdated when it comes time for your children to read them. It's not likely that the internet will go away. It was interesting, but not an approach I'm going to follow - 18 books just wouldn't work for a pastor and voracious reader living in a community with no permanent library!

At the heart of Burns' philosophy is the idea of minimalism. In his words, 'minimalism is about eliminating the unnecessary so you can focus on what's most important.' (Loc 141) He is certainly consistent, writing in a minimalistic style. The book didn't take very long to read through, and didn't say very much. I don't think it's a book you would want to declutter your wallet or purse to buy, though. Simpleris available for the Kindle. You'll probably find much of the content on his blog.

Book Review: Ritual

One of the things you probably didn't know about me is that I quite like horror stories. The other day, I was in a charity shop in town and saw a few of the Point Horror collections - teen horror novels by Caroline B Cooney, RL Stine and Diane Hoh. I was taken back to those stories I read years ago. Horror movies are also one of my things, although I haven't seen (m)any in a wee while. Underworld, with vampires and werewolves, was probably one of my favourite films.

I'm therefore a prime target for the new horror story 'Ritual' on Kindle from local author, VL Young. Young is a friend of a friend, and twitter marketing meant that I was aware of the book on Kindle, and downloaded it during a 'free giveway' day. It's probably coming in the same vein as the Twilight saga, although I haven't read or seen them.

The book is narrated by Nikki, an Irish girl in America faced with a huge problem: 'Every night when I go to sleep, I wake up in someone else's nightmare.' The nightmares become real for Nikki, though, as she seeks to help her best friend, Alexia, who has been taken by Immortals. Along the way, there are appearances from Cole, Nikki's boyfriend, and Conrad, who is a werewolf, as well as plenty of vampires and werewolves.

The tale is gripping, and the reader is drawn in to the story, with plenty of excitement and lots of action. The ending is dramatic, and will be enjoyed. Young obviously knows the genre well, and writes in keeping with the limitations and 'rules' of the vampire/werewolf horror genre.

My only issue with the book is that it needs some editing, mostly in terms of spelling and grammar. At times the layout can be confusing, with a new paragraph being taken for each new sentence of speech when it's the same character speaking, leading the reader to assume it's the other character speaking. Perhaps another helpful suggestion might be to have the characters develop their own voices, rather than everyone sounding and speaking exactly like the narrator.

With these suggestions, it has to be said that this is a book (indeed, perhaps even a series) with a lot of potential. I enjoyed reading it, and would look to hear more from the author in the future. Fans of Twilight and such like are in for a treat. It's well worth downloading and reading.

UPDATE: Since this review was published, the author has been in contact to say that the editing has now been completed and I was reading an earlier draft. So there's nothing holding you back - download, read and enjoy!

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice *Spoilers*

'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' So begins Jane Austen's novel 'Pride and Prejudice' - a book I had never read. It seems to echo through our culture, probably through the endless television and movie remakes, such that I knew Darcy was a character, but knew nothing more about it. Coming free in the Amazon Kindle bookstore, I picked it up and started reading.

To my surprise, I enjoyed it more than I expected (and perhaps more than I should admit!). Austen's writing style takes a little bit of getting used to, what with the partial dialogue in scenes (where one character might be quoted extensively, but the other's contribution is paraphrased by the narrator), and the language is certainly of the time. Having said that, the pace is good, the characters are portrayed vividly, the story draws you in and keeps the reader intrigued, and the ending is very satisfying.

Just in case you've never read it either, Pride and Prejudice follows the Bennet family as Mrs Bennet fusses and promotes 'The business of her life [which] was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.' The five daughters are caught up in the social scene, each with their unique character and personality, which is well captured. We're also introduced to the head of the household, Mr Bennet, who seems to reside in his study, well away from the cares of courting.

Along the way, we meet many other characters, but the main protagonist is Mr Darcy, who in the first half of the book portrays the 'pride' of the title, although we discover that in her own way Elizabeth Bennet is just as proud (and even more prejudiced). The romance blossoms along the way, with Elizabeth receiving a fair number of marriage proposals, from a variety of men.

While the English upper class social scene of the 1800s is quite alien, it's a fascinating insight into the lives of the 'great and the good' at the time. Perhaps lovers of Downton Abbey may wish to revisit one of the original classics from the period.

For me, it was interesting to hear of Mr Collins, a cousin of the Bennet family, who served as a clergyman under the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and to hear some of his insights on ministry. That is, keep in with the lady of the manor, and do your work:

'The rector of a parish has much to do. In the first place, he must make such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not offensive to his patron. He must write his own sermons; and the time that remains will not be too much for his parish duties, and the care and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making as a comfortable as possible.'

One of my favourite characters, however, was Mr Bennet. Early on, we're told that 'they found Mr Bennet still up. With a book he was regardless of time.' He has some of the best funny lines, as when Elizabeth comes to discuss Mr Collins' proposal with him: 'An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never seen you again if you do NOT marry Mr Collins, and I will never see you again if you DO.'

It's as if the book is perfectly split between the pride and the prejudice - indeed, my Kindle told me that the first mention of prejudice came at 51%! Misunderstandings are dealt with; prejudices are overturned and pride is replaced by humility as the romance drives towards its conclusion.

All in all, it's a great book, and well deserving of being hailed a classic. I'm glad to have read it, and enjoyed it, and will perhaps have a go at another of Austen's books before too long.

Book Review: The Life and Times of James Ussher

Archbishop James Ussher (or was it Usher?) is the man who is famous (or infamous) for the dating of creation to the 23rd October 4004BC, using the genealogies contained in the Scriptures. But there's more to the man than just this. One of the first students at the newly founded Trinity College, Dublin, Ussher finished as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1625-1656, having helped write the Irish Articles of Faith in 1615 - the foundation for the work of the Westminster divines as they crafted the Westminster Confession of Faith (which impacted on subsequent Reformed Confessions).

All in all, it appears that he was a remarkable man. The author sets out his aim early on in the book: 'The present volume is an effort to place the Irish Primate before the reader as he was in his day - a great ecclesiastic, a profound scholar, and a much-tried Churchman.'

Sadly that's about all I can tell you about Ussher, or even about the book. Consider this not so much a book review as a Kindle format review.

In theory, the Amazon Kindle is a wonderful invention. The ability to carry around with you a thousand books or more in something that fits into your pocket is amazing. A world of possibilities opens before you, of reading and accessing a multitude of books, wider than your regular genres, at a hopefully reduced price. Even better, the range of older books which might be out of print or out of copyright, suddenly re-released to the wider world as their texts are digitised and optimised for consumption.

This is one such volume. First published in 1895 by James Anderson Carr, the work has recently been republished in several hard copy versions (all very expensive), but appeared on the Kindle store for just 77 pence. A bargain! Buyer beware - you get what you pay for.

This Kindle edition hasn't been optimized for the Kindle at all, with the end result being a jumble of text and extensive footnotes all gathered together. It was simply impossible to read the book, as you were never quite sure which bits were the book and which were the notes. While most books with footnotes will have them available at the end of the chapter or the end of the book (with a handy link if you want to read the note), this one obviously tries to recreate the original text with its footnotes at the bottom of the page - except it doesn't work on a Kindle, or where footnotes carry on beyond a page themselves!

The price of the book was small, but the impossibility of the format means I'll not be able to read the book at all. Don't be caught out like I was! Here's the link to the Kindle version. A much better book would be The Irish Puritans: James Ussher and the Reformation of the Church.

Book Review: Orthodoxy

You don't have to be on Facebook or Twitter for long to spot one of the many social networking trends, whether it's posed photos; inspirational quotes with picture included; soppy sentiments (I plead guilty for yesterday's reminder of our engagement anniversary); games; or quotations from books. One of the authors who always gets a mention is the English writer, GK Chesterton, most notably from his book Orthodoxy.

Having found it for free on the Amazon Kindle store, it was downloaded and read, although not necessarily completely understood. Chesterton sets out in Orthodoxy to 'attempt an explanation, not of whether the Christian faith can be believed, but of how he personally has come to believe it.' (p. 1) To some extent, it is autobiographical, yet at the same time, he is writing in opposition to some other key thinkers in his day, against their philosophies and theories. In a certain sense, it's like listening to someone on the phone, only really hearing one side of the conversation, and not grasping all that is going on. The intellectual challenges and issues are those of his own day and experience, the debate raging in the letters pages of the London Times and such other papers, against George Bernard Shaw and other controversialists.

Chesterton's wit is very obvious, with his turns of phrase and his self-deprecating humour. Early on he declares: 'For if this book is a joke it is a joke against me. I am the man who with the utmost daring discovered what had been discovered before.' (p. 6) He tells how his experience of life has confirmed each of the main doctrines of Christianity, having worked from philosophical premises, so that what he would expect is exactly how things actually are: 'Instinct after instinct was answered by doctrine after doctrine.' (p. 75)

He has little time for revisionists or innovators in theology: 'Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved.' (p. 10) Similarly, he declares: 'And though St John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.' (p. 13) There are great appeals to tradition, such as this one: 'Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.' (p. 43)

As I've said, there were some parts I found difficult to grasp, partly because he was answering the accusations and challenges of others (in the most forthright of terms), and partly because he seemed to be using words I knew, but not in a way I could understand. one such is in his contrast between mysticism and reason; sanity and insanity.

The memorable phrases seem to roll off his pen: 'In so far as I am Man I am the chief of creatures. In so far as I am a man I am the chief of sinners.' (p. 90) 'We have said we must be fond of this world, even in order to change it. We now add that we must be fond of another world (real or imaginary) in order to have something to change it to.' (p. 102) 'In the upper world hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell.' (p. 107)

I'm not sure what my final opinion on Orthodoxy (the book!) really is. The special moments shine out like gems or stars, but there was a lot of other stuff to wade through to find them. While Chesterton was answering the questions his society (or particularly, some of the fashionable intellectuals) were asking, the questions have now changed, even if the answer remains the same. If you are wanting a challenge, then plunge in - the rewards are within - but the cost of finding them may just be too great. Having said that, the Kindle edition is free, so it'll not harm your pocket!

Book Review: South: The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917

The Kindle did it again! I've said before that books can transport you to places and experiences you would never otherwise encounter, and so it was with this free Kindle ebook, leading to a chilly read. Sir Ernest Shackleton was one of the great polar explorers, and this volume invites you to travel with him on his attempted expedition across Antarctica. As the world began to go to war in 1914, Shackleton and his dedicated band of adventurers were setting off to explore the Antarctic region, including a trek across the South Pole from one side to the other. This is the story of their journey.

From the outset, the reader is told that the expedition failed in its objective, but nevertheless 'there are chapters in this book of high adventure, strenuous days, lonely nights, unique experiences, and, above all, records of unflinching determination, supreme loyalty, and generous self-sacrifice on the part of my men.' (foreward). The reader is transported to the barren wilds of the South Pole and the whole polar region, with stories of football played on ice floes, long months of winter darkness, hunting for penguins and seals, dodging sharks and killer whales, low food stocks, and scary moments.

Early on, Shackleton's boat becomes stuck in the ice field, and the party have to set out on sledge and foot across the ice, not having made it to 'dry land' yet. Their bravery knows no bounds, in that terrible and desolate place; with courage and encouragement keeping their spirits high as they urge each other on through moments of thirst and hunger, as well as the sadness of losing the dog sled teams. The puniness of man compared to the wonders of Nature were felt: 'We had seen God in His splendours, heard the text that Nature renders. We had reached the naked soul of man.' (p. 115)

There were some insights into Shackleton's sense of responsibility and thoughts on leadership:

'I confess that I felt the burden of responsibility sit heavily on my shoulders; but on the other hand, I was stimulated and cheered by the attitude of the men. Loneliness is the penalty of leadership, but the man who has to make the decisions is assisted greatly if he feels that there is no uncertainty in the minds of those who follow him, and that his orders will be carried out confidently and in expectation of success.' (p. 68)

At the same time, there was a quiet confidence in the Providence of the Almighty God: 'When I look back at those days I have no doubt that Providence guided us, not only across those snowfields, but across the storm-white sea... I know that during that long and racking march of thirty-six hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers of South Georgia it seemed to me often that we were four, not three.'

That crossing had been when Shackleton took two of the party with him in an attempt to bring help from the whaling station at South Georgia, having crossed the sea in a little boat entirely unsuited to such a journey. The lieutenant left in charge of the remaining men on the ice had an infectious leadership style, brimming with confidence that spilled over into his companions:

'Wild reckoned that help would come in August, and every morning he had packed his kit, in cheerful anticipation that proved infectious, as I have no doubt it was meant to be... "You see, boss, Wild never gave up hope, and whenever the sea was at all clear of ice he rolled up his sleeping bag and said to all hands, 'Roll up your sleeping bags boys; the boss may come today." Talk about an illustration for an eschatalogical hope!

This was a fascinating read, both chilling and yet inspiring. Chilling, because with the constant depiction of ice and snow and temperature of 0 degrees Farenheit (let alone Celsius!), it makes the reader a little cold, even in the heat. Inspiring, because of the leadership provided by Shackleton and the willingness of the men to serve and help and encourage each other. All in all, it was a remarkable journey, even if unsuccessful, and well worth reading for the bargain price of £0.00! South can be downloaded from Amazon for the Kindle.

Book Review: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

One of the advantages of owning a Kindle is that there are lots of older books which are out of copyright, and thus available free of charge in ebook format. Having often heard tell of Sherlock Holmes but never having read any of the tales from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I downloaded this free volume and really enjoyed it.

These adventures are twelve short stories, mini mysteries, all successfully solved by the impressive Holmes, ably assisted by his bemused friend, Dr Watson. The reader is transported to Victorian England, and all sorts of strange occurrences and events to be investigated and enjoyed.

From A Scandal in Bohemia to the Red-Headed League; A Case of Identity to the Boscombe Valley Mystery; the Five Orange Pips and the Man with the Twisted Lip; there are also adventures of the Blue Carbuncle and the Speckled Band; the Engineer's Thumb; the Noble Bachelor; the Beryl Coronet, and the Copper Beeches. Each story leaves the reader guessing until the secret is revealed and the mystery solved through Holmes' unique style of deduction. I wouldn't want to say much more about the stories because they would be ruined for the reader.

If you've got a Kindle, or even a Kindle app, then this is a great little collection to download and save for those times when you have about ten minutes to spare, perhaps in a doctor's or dentist's waiting room, or on the bus. And as I say, it's free!

Book Review: The God With Sore Legs

Adrian McCartney invites you on a journey, in more senses than one. The first journey is very impressive - as he sets off to cycle around the coast of Ireland. In the style of some of the best travel writers, Adrian vividly portrays the thought process that led to the start of the journey (with a few hours' notice!), as well as the places and people he encounters along the way. There's lots of humour, plenty of craic, and the undoubted pleasure of a bag of chips and a can of coke after a hard day's cycling.

Yet as the pace slows along the country coastal roads of this island, Adrian brings the reader on another journey, to discover the God with sore legs - Jesus, exhausted after a long walk, sitting by the well in Samaria. Each chapter presents another look at Jesus, as encountered in John's gospel. At times, there were some details I didn't necessarily follow or agree with, but on the whole, there's lots to consider, and the book provides a compelling and helpful introduction to Jesus.

It's perhaps geared towards those who don't know Jesus, but even those who have known Jesus for a long time will be blessed as they perch on the back of Adrian's bike and listen in to his stories and the story of Jesus. Here are just a few tasters to whet your appetite:

'Let's consider grace for a few moments before considering it for the rest of our lives.'

'Not following him does not make you a bad person. You already were!LOL.'

'Faith can never just be a matter of believing. It is also about acknowledging and declaring. Nicodemus was beginning to acknowledge where his journey had brought him.'

The God With Sore Legs is available from The Good Book Shop (in paper copy) and the Kindle store.