I first encountered Andy Crouch via a blurb he wrote in David Kinnaman’s UnChristian (review). Even in a page and a half, Crouch established himself as a thinker with a unique perspective and strong voice, and grabbed my attention as a top contributing author. Now I’m holding his first full-length book in my hands: Culture Making.
Here’s what esteemed author/pastor/theologian Tim Keller has to say about this volume:
“Culture Making is on of the few books taking the discussion about Christianity and cultre to a new level. It is a rare mix of the theoretical and the practical, its definitions are nuanced but not abstract, and it strikes all kinds of fine balances. I highly recommend it.”
Gotta admit I’m pumped. Andy Crouch also blogs.
I have high standards when it comes to book acquisition, and I’ve been looking out for a decent copy of Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students for awhile now. In my book-stockpiling endeavors I’ve learned a somewhat counterintuitive rule of thumb: When you’re looking for books by dead guys, sometimes the best copies are old ones. Not only did newer editions of Lectures to My Students cost about 4 times as much as this copy–they were also flimsy, ugly paperbacks.
If you’re wondering, Yes–I am gloating a little.
I just received the latest installment in the “black cover” IVP Bible dictionary series, which is nothing short of amazing. (If I was a certified theologian I would say, “magisterial.”) This volume, which is the third in the Old Testament series, is edited by Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns. It covers Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther.
I’ve already cracked the book for some random browsing…at 967 pages, I may not read it cover to cover immediately, but it will be on active duty for years and years. The New Testament dictionaries were eventually condensed into one volume, which I love. No word on whether there’s a similar plan for the OT volumes.
In a different way than you think. Read this letter from Mark Driscoll in response to a critical review of his book, Vintage Jesus. Wow. (I also wrote a review of Vintage Jesus.)
HT: Jason Allen.
Dan Kimball comments on the newish book, Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be), and has some good things to say about authors Ted Kluck and Kevin DeYoung, who he describes as gracious and willing to converse. Kimball:
Kevin’s response has been so gracious, and he commented back to my comments. I can’t imagine that this type of correspondence to me, isn’t what would please Jesus. We have had some very wonderful back and forth dialog. I both disagreed with some of what they wrote and I also agreed with some of what they wrote. I personally see such wonderful, beautiful exciting things about what is happening in the emerging church world, but like the authors, I also have concerns and strong disagreements with some things in the emerging church world.
Dan Kimball also answers a question about Why We’re Not Emergent that came to mind almost immediately when I saw how and to whom the book was being promoted several months ago. Is it being billed accurately? I.e., are DeYoung and Kluck the reluctant converts away from Emergent that they make themselves out to be? Apparently not…
I am not too sure that the sub-title of the book makes sense to me. The sub-title is is “by two guys who should be” (referring to being emergent). I am not defending emergent here, but from what I understand of the authors, they are pretty hard core Calvinists. Being a hard core Calvinist means you are pretty locked into a very distinct theological system of beliefs. Also, just being a certain age or engaged in culture is not what makes one emergent - it is far beyond that. So from these things, I would not think that from what I read of these two authors that they naturally “should be” emergent at all. The sub-title maybe should have been “by two guys who shouldn’t be“. But that is petty, but it is the sub-title of the book.
Seems like Why We’re Not Emergent has its points. As Kimball says, “If I was to suggest reading through one fairly anti-emerging or emergent church critical book - so far, this is the one.” That’s a solid recommendation. I don’t think I’ll bite on this one, though, mostly because I was hoping for a more unique angle, based on that subtitle.
