Excellence in Preaching Giveaway

I just reviewed this book and I want to give it away to somebody.

Here are the rules.  I’m not looking to give this away to somebody that just wants to read it for the heck of it or to pad a library.  I want to give this to somebody that is either A) going to give it away to a young pastor that is just beginning to get started in preaching or B) a young pastor that convinces me that he needs it C) an older pastor that thinks his preaching may need some help. and this might be used by God to do it. 

So here is how you win this book.  Read the review and then be the first one that meets one of those criteria.  You can either leave a comment here, there, or simply email me at

         mike AT fbjasper DOT org

First come first serve! 

Don’t Starve the Sheep to Fight the Wolves

“Men may try; but they will try in vain, when they attempt to convert the weapons for defending against infidelity, into bread to feed God’s hungry children.”  -(Ichabod Spencer, Pastors Sketches, 59)

In the context of this quote Spencer is lamenting the overabundance of speculations about faith and the continual labor to defend and explain the faith against those that do not believe.  The problem, says Spencer, is that “speculations about faith have no tendency to invite faith”.  Rather they tend to do just the opposite.  “Many of our treatises on the subjects of faith…are so filled up with explanations, and labored justifications, and attempted analogies, that they have more tendency to awaken doubt than call forth faith”. 

If I am reading Spencer correctly he is saying that shepherds ought to be careful not to feed their sheep with weapons used to fight off wolves.  A shepherds crook may help wayward sheep and fight off enemies but it makes a pretty unsavory and unhelpful meal for hungry sheep. 

Yet how often is the sermon that you hear on Sunday more geared towards displaying the folly of the world as opposed to feeding and nurturing hungry sheep.  Defend them, yes; but a good shepherd realizes that his task is far more than just keeping the wolves out.  He has to feed them too.  Starved sheep are just as dead as wolf-bitten ones. 

5 Short Book Reviews

John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man by Carl Trueman

John Owen is perhaps one of the most influential Puritans.  The Puritans are always interesting.  Carl Trueman is a great writer.  Carl Trueman knows the Puritans (especially John Owen) very well.  Add this all up and you get an unbelievably awesome book on John Owen, correct?  Nope.  Perhaps it is Trueman’s audience (perhaps scholars that argue about Latin words), I am not certain.  But this book is a snoozer.  Sorry.  I was excited about it.  I thought it would be awesome, but I found myself beating my head against the wall trying to finish it (I had to for a class).  It’s a small book.  It’s 39.95 on Amazon—cheaper than some other sedatives but very expensive for a 132 page book.  Owen scholars need to read it.  Anyone else, I would humbly suggest you look elsewhere.

A Hill On Which to Die by Paul Pressler

The good news: you can buy this used for a penny on Amazon.  The bad news: I’m not sure I’d want to pay the 3.99 for shipping.  If you are looking for a historical narrative of an insiders view of the Conservative Resurgence within the SBC then this is an interesting book.  If you are looking for something that would make a conservative like myself repulsed at the politics and ridiculously lofty claims about the resurgence then this book is also for you. 

To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson by Courtney Anderson

There is a reason why this book is 5 stars on Amazon.  Adoniram Judson’s life is an amazing testimony of the faithfulness of God.  Judson was the first North American missionary to take the gospel to Burma.  This is the exciting journey of how all of that came about and what it looked like once Judson hit the shores.  There are chapters of extreme heartache—chapters that make you wonder how Judson could carry on.  There are also chapters of extreme joy.  You see in the life of Judson a man that was very much like the apostle Paul; though he suffered great hardships he knew that the gospel was prevailing and so he was able to rejoice.  This is perhaps the best biography of Judson and a must read for anyone desiring to learn about foreign missions, Judson, or desiring to shape the world through the life changing message of Jesus Christ. 

The Church Leader’s Handbook: A Guide to Counseling Families and Individuals in Crisis by William Cutrer

If you are a minister you will deal with crisis.  You also should probably buy this book.  This is a short book but it covers a ton of material.  The first part of the book develops a basic strategy for thinking through crisis care.  Then Cutrer deals with 12 specific crisis issues covering everything from STD’s to Cancer.  He then ends the book with three preventive measures to avoid crisis.  How many pastors have had a family in their office struggling through pregnancy loss, or infertility issues?  How many family ministry pastors have had teenagers dealing with eating disorders or suicide?  This book deals with about any specific crisis you can think of, and Cutrer does it with practical advice and gospel-centrality.  Pastor, you really should own this book.

The Lost Letters of Pergamum by Bruce W. Longenecker

I was assigned this book for my New Testament I class.  Usually books that teach you about the historical setting of the Bible are a tad on the boring side—even for nerds like me.  But this book does something very novel; Longenecker paints a picture of the first century world using a fictional account that is based on quite reliable historical information.  In other words, none of this probably happened but it very easily could have.  Based on Revelation 2:13 Longenecker tells the story of Antipas (an eventual Christian martyr) through various letters between he and his contemporaries.  It’s so well written and engaging that some (myself included) may even get a little teary eyed at the end.  A wonderful resource and excellent tool to teach about the first century world. 

A helpful (for me) tip: If you ever decide to purchase a book that I have reviewed be sure to click the link and buy from there.  Anytime you see borrligh-20 in the URL that means that I get a little kickback from Amazon as a referrer.  It doesn’t cost you anything, it doesn’t add any steps to your order, but it helps me out considerably.  If enough people buy books referred from this website then I have enough to buy books each semester.

The Importance of Pastors Praying For One Another

I had no idea when I started reading the writings of Gregory the Great that it would be so pastorally enriching.  I started reading them to look for various developments in Catholic theology.  One thing that has become evident early on is that Gregory had the heart of a pastor.  Consider this:

…cases of such importance hang over me daily as to overwhelm the mind, while they kill the bodily life.  Wherefore, most holy brother, I beseech thee by the Judge who is to come…help me, who am growing weary under this burden of pastoral care, with the intercession of thy prayer, lest its weight oppress me beyond my strength…For, while we are joined to you through the aid of prayer, we hold as it were each other by the hand while walking through slippery places, and it comes to pass, through a great provision of charity, that the foot of each is the more firmly planted in that the one leans upon the other.  (Gregory the Great, Book I, epistle xxv, p81)

All pastors can certainly feel what Gregory was lamenting.  As such I take great encouragement in his admonishment to pray for one another.  Yes, I believe the Lord encourages pastors to pray for one another, and I also believe that prayer is powerful and effective and that we are in some wonderful way held up not by the prayers themselves but the King whom they invoke. 

Top 11 Books from 2011

I lost track of how many books I actually read in 2011.  I know that I reviewed 46 and I have a decent sized list of books that I’ve either finished and haven’t reviewed or I have almost finished and will soon enough review. 

Here are the Top 11 Books that I read in 2011.  I filtered through all of the books that I read from 2011 based on two criteria.  First, lasting influence.  If the book is still jostling around in my brain then that gives it some points—especially if it was something I read in February.  Secondly, sheer enjoyment.  If I remember reading it and loving the read then it’s probably on this list.  Many books I read were excellent.  But these were the best:

11. Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos

I read this one last month and it was a very entertaining read.  It actually inspired me to read more works of fiction.  It’s a tremendous allegory, fun read, and actually makes you think.  Read my full review here. 

10. Think by John Piper

There is a difference between learning, studying, remembering things, and actually thinking.  John Piper inspired me early in the year to give myself to vigorous thinking and not simply coasting by on what the Lord has given me but instead fanning into flame the gift of God.  Read my full review here.

9. Christians Get Depressed Too

This is a very helpful resource for those that struggle with depression. I’ve consulted this book a few times over the course of this year.  One of the greatest things about this book is that it is short.  For those battling depression a short, practical, Christ-centered book is helpful.  Read my full review here.

8. 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible

This entire series of 40 Questions is worthy of looking into.  This edition by Dr. Plummer is an excellent resource on biblical interpretation (hermeneutics).  I used this book liberally while teaching a series on Biblical Interpretation at our church.  It’s certainly one that every serious student of the word needs to consider purchasing.  Read my full review here. 

7. The Greener Grass Conspiracy

Once I discovered that this book was not actually about global warming (no idea where I got that idea), I decided that I would give it a read.  It was excellent.  Oddly enough I think this book did more for my writing than anything else.  Altrogge’s writing style is one that I have tried to emulate.  Read my full review here.

6. Perspectives on Family Ministry

This book, coupled with my class with Dr. Timothy Jones on Family Ministry, has finally provided answers to questions I had stirring in my head for a couple of years.  It is a wonderful help to those ministers attempting to figure out how to do family ministry.  Read my full review here.

5. Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

Tim Keller writes a whole book on idolatry.  Enough said.  I have yet to review this book but it will certainly receive five stars.  Keller is an excellent writer and he applies the gospel to our idol factories better than most other authors. 

4. Redemption by Mike Wilkerson

I first heard about this book while it was in the beginning stages of publication.  Wilkerson spoke in one of my classes at Southern.  I was immediately hooked and anticipated the books arrival in stores.  I was not disappointed.  A helpful grid both for personal transformation and for small group settings.  Read my full review here.

3. Wise Counsel (John Ryland, Jr. and John Newton) by Grant Gordon

A book full of Newton’s letters, that’s enough to sell me.  This book has proven very helpful for me throughout the year.  Ryland is a young minister and Newton provides counsel to him all throughout the book.  These letters span almost the entire life and ministry of both Newton and Ryland.  It’s helpful historically but even more helpful pastorally.  I have yet to write a review but hope to soon. 

2. Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill

I do not share the same specific struggle as Wesley Hill.  But I do share his same struggle with sin.  This book is still something that I am chewing on.  It is helpful in ministering to homosexuals but it is even more helpful in ministering to your own soul.  Wesley’s view of redemption, brokenness, and healing is one that will inspire and help any reader.  Last I checked you can get this on Kindle for pretty cheap.  Read my full review here.

1. Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore

I absolutely love Crossway.  They have put out a myriad of excellent books.  I had heard from someone that had read this that it was one of the best books ever published by Crossway.  I thought that a pretty lofty statement.  But after reading this book I lean towards agreeing with them.  The writing is phenomenal.  The chapters are lengthy but reading them is never laborious.  In fact I will probably try to read this book in 2012 as well.  Read my full review here.

There you have it.  My Top 11 books for 2011. 

A helpful (for me) tip: If you ever decide to purchase a book that I have reviewed or one from this list has finally motivated you to buy the book.  Be sure to click the link and buy from there.  Anytime you see borrligh-20 in the URL that means that I get a little kickback from Amazon as a referrer.  It doesn’t cost you anything, it doesn’t add any steps to your order, but it helps me out considerably.  If enough people buy books referred from this website then I have enough to buy books each semester.