The Busy Christian’s Guide to BusynessTim Chester, IVP £8.99
Review by Rona Moore
Truth for All Time
paperback edition, £5.00, gift edition, £10.00. An easy read and good introduction to Calvin’s theology.
Never read Calvin? Feel rather daunted by the prospect?
Well, this little book is just the thing for you. It was written for ordinary people who do not have much background in theology, so that they could begin to get a grasp of all that the Scriptures teach. It’s brilliant. It’s heart warming, encouraging, and - you may be surprised to learn - very easy to read. In fact, it is a sheer delight to read. (I read it through in one evening.)
It gives you an overall picture of God’s plan for us and includes a chapter on prayer as the way we communicate with God.
Furthermore, it is a short book - only 74 pages long. When you have read it, you will want to recommend it to others, as I am doing now; and if you want to give it as a present to someone, then there is a special gift edition which looks rather smart.
Paul Tench
“Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism” (2008)
by Joel Beeke.(Reformation Trust)
500 years on from John Calvin’s birth there have been fitting commemorations of this great servant / leader of the church. If you are still wondering what it was all for, here is a superb book to make it clear. The author of the lion’s share of it is Dr Joel Beeke, a good friend of Heath Church. He writes simply, warmly and with great conviction. The foreword was penned by Dr Michael Haykin who may be less well known to many of you. Not long ago he was well received by the ministers at the Bala conference. In July 2010 he is to travel from the States as the main speaker at WEST’s Revival conference.
The book is divided into six parts:
Calvinism in history
Calvinism in the mind
Calvinism in the heart
Calvinism in the church
Calvinism in practice
Calvinism’s goal
Of the 28 chapters, 18 of them are written by Dr Beeke. Other contributors are James Grier, Michael Haykin, Derek Thomas, Ray Lanning, Robert Oliver, Ray Pennings, Nelson Kloosterman and Sinclair Ferguson.
So who is it for? I think it has broad appeal. The well-read, convinced Calvinist will enjoy it. But so too will the Christian who is wanting to deepen his or her understanding and walk with God.
Kerry Orchard
