Baker Books

"The desire to worship is rooted in our hunger for heaven. Our coming together for worship is a foretaste of heaven. In his book that is both spiritual and intensely practical at the same time, Kevin Navarro explores this vital connection between our fragmented experience in the here and now and the hope we all share for the time that certainly will come when heaven will come for us."

Michael Card, Award-Winning Musician, Author and Teacher

When I closed this book, I felt a tremendous mixture of hope, excitement, affirmation, and renewed devotion to the work of crafting weekly worship services. Kevin Navarro ennobles the entire effort of preparing the Sunday "dress rehearsals" for our ultimate worship experience in heaven. I'm grateful for the hard-won lessons, practical advice, and inspiring vision offered in these pages. Let our weekly celebrations resound with greater joy, profound hope, and a taste of eternity whenever we gather together!

Nancy Beach, Teaching Pastor and Creative Director, Willow Creek Community Church, Barrington, Illinois

"Here's a book on worship to be read by every church musician, pastor, leader and worshipper. Everything you always needed to know about an effective worship service."

Leith Anderson, Author and Senior Pastor of Wooddale Church

This is a book for those who know that "something's wrong about the way we are doing our worship." If you want to get off the "consumer track" and "do truth," then this book will help you reverse the trend and go in a direction that is more satisfying to the soul because it gets to the heart of what worship is all about.

Robert Webber, Myers Professor of Ministry, Dir. of M.A. in Worship and Spirituality, Northern Seminary

What a wonderful book! "Here is a book that anyone dissatisfied with the quality, Christ- and Scripture-centered nature, or impact of their worship services must read. While some may feel that Navarro's goals of excellence at times lie beyond their reach, no one can doubt his heart for seeing people brought to Christ and brought up in him through worship. His track record, moreover, first as a worship pastor and then as a senior pastor, at a church where I once served as an interim, speaks for itself--steady growth, qualitatively and quantitatively, in a congregation that dearly loves this infectiously upbeat leader who also models integrity and humility in everything he does."

Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary

Are worship services at your church flat? Predictable? Not really connecting people with God? Then get ready to fiesta in the Complete Worship Service! In this encouraging and challenging book, Kevin Navarro invites us to move past the "worship = music" myth and into a fuller approach to worship: a creative, corporate feast of praise, prayer, the Word of God, and the Lord's Supper. And he shows us how to practice hospitality that encourages members and guests to engage with God in worship. Weekly worship can be much more than a dreary duty; as Navarro ably demonstrates, the "Complete Worship Service" can be the appetizer course at your church for the heavenly banquet to come. Navarro writes with the heart of a worshiper, a pastor, and a jazz musician. The Complete Worship Service is filled with biblical insight and practical application. Pastors and lay leaders alike will benefit from Navarro's field-tested recommendations for practicing welcoming hospitality and designing meaningful worship services. I can't think of a better book to stimulate and inform conversations in your church about worship that engages the whole people and the whole person.

Dr.Robb Redman, Pastor of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX Author of The Great Worship Awakening

When it comes to worship, nothing matters if the only One worthy of worship is just a footnote beneath worship glitz. Kevin Navarro prods our hearts back to Jesus and to worship services that give life, not just lessons; a foretaste of heaven, not just so many factoids to get through another week. The Complete Worship Service is a timely, passionate anecdote to the worship humanism saturating contemporary services.

Sally Morganthaler, Author of Worship Evangelism and Founder of Sacramentis.com

Are you satisfied with your church's worship service? Do you leave feeling you have experienced "a taste of heaven"? If not, I would like to challenge each of you to purchase The Complete Worship Service as a gift to your church board, pastor, worship leader, worship committee, or whoever else may be in charge of choreographing your weekly worship service. This book could change your church from the inside out.

Diana Pederson, BellaOnline's Christian Literature Editor

Worship artist and pastor Kevin J. Navarro walks us through the complete worship service in this step-by-step guide. From desire to experience, Navarro has given pastors, worship leaders and church leaders alike a useful tool in developing a taste of God's kingdom for their churches and communities. He directs us through each element of the dynamic worship service, including hospitality, marketing, presentation and music selection. The book discusses the quality of the worship service as a whole, not just the songs we sing. As Navarro closes out the last chapter he makes a comment that must be taken to heart: "People are not just looking to be entertained. They are looking for life. They are looking for hope. They are looking for Jesus." The crafting of a complete worship service is not about putting on a good show. It is about creating an atmosphere, a taste of heaven, a place where people can find life.

Andrew K. Forman

Do you really belief that the Bible is the infallible word of God? Dr. Kevin Navarro challenges us to act as if we actually are the bride of Christ. The central theme is understanding that the worship service is a precursor to the marriage feast of the Lamb as promised in the Revelation of John. If you want to understand what a worship service should look like, take this journey through the complete worship service with a successful senior pastor with a heart for worship. This is essential reading for anyone that is serious about worshipping God. Whether you are in full time ministry or just a Christian who is tired of having to put up with second best in the worship service, this is the book for you.

The "Complete Worship Service" is an excellent, thought-provoking follow-up to "The Complete Worship Leader." Not another "how to" book which focuses on getting people in the church doors, but rather a challenge to exam what we're doing and Who we are doing it for. Yes, there are lots of practical illustrations and ideas, but the heart of the book is more about ushering people into a genuine worship experience, reminding them of the hope we have in Jesus. I would highly recommend this resource to anyone looking for a new direction in their worship services, and as a check-up for those whose patterns and practices might be routine and lacking inspiration.

I'm always encouraged to come cross (even through books) the forerunners like Pastor Kevin talking about the worship renewals and improvements. The book was practical to review where we are, what is applicable now, things that needs to be changed...etc. Should be time and labor consuming once we decide to put our hands on, but should also be rewarding to invest our time and labor in creating the welcoming and caring environment. And there's more to creating these circumstances, which is introducing and experiencing the taste of our Home that we long for. I thank Pastor Kevin's practical insight and substantial suggestions, giving me a chance to stop and review what I do, where I am for further improvements.

This is a very well written book. Not only is it filled with practical tips and advice, its revolutionary in its underlying premise that the complete worship service should provide participants a "taste of heaven". Though I've thought a great deal about the elements of heaven yet to come and the tastes of heaven available in this life the author has made a connection I've never made - and it's a brilliant connection. As a result of this book I see the worship service in a whole new light, filled with untapped possibilities. Our congregation needs to read this book; our leadership team needs to read this book!

Part One is my favorite part of the book and I've highlighted many well-written lines. Chapter One is an outstanding analysis of the human dilemma. Well summarized on page 21, "...people have been trying to get a fix like drug addicts all week long when what they are really searching for is a taste of heaven." Asking the question, "Are they getting that taste on Sundays?" is just great! Focusing the worship service on this goal is fantastic. This is a great chapter and a great goal.

In Chapter two the author adds the reminder (pg. 28) that, " we must have a theology of contentment" since this is not heaven, "we will never be completely satisfied until we experience the jubilation of the kingdom perfected." Matthew 18:20 and Psalm 16:11 are key texts for the idea of the worship service offering a taste of heaven. On page 30 the author adds, "We should be crying out to God through prayer every week that He will show up and manifest His presence in our midst." Well said!

My favorite lines in Chapter Three: "Because God has created us in His image, we are forever longing for another world. We long for the world where God dwells" and "(the worship service should be) so God centered and Spirit-charged that it is though we have entered another dimension." A lofty goal!

Once the author has laid this foundation he fleshes out his ideas with the nuts and bolts aspects of the complete worship service. Its great stuff and I was immediately motivated to analyze my own church and come up with creative ways to put the author's suggestions into practice and expand on those ideas. I would consider this book an essential handbook for any church seeking a fresh approach to the worship experience.

This book won't collect any prizes for great literature, being essentially a journal and a collection of blogs, but the story it tells is amazing. I couldn't be more impressed with Heidi and Rolland Baker. They are just ordinary people who have said, "Yes, God" and laid their lives on the alter, letting God work through them to do His will and bring His kingdom to the poorest (but richest) people on earth. It is both inspiring and convicting, because it reveals what incredible and mind-boggling things the Lord can accomplish through anyone who has died to self and is totally yielded to Him. The Bakers are a living portrait of the love of Jesus in action.

I fully excpect to not just witness God's miraculous Power but to walk in it as well! Read this book and your faith will come up into a new dimension! God can handle whatever your situation is and He will make His Face to shine on you!!! TRUST Him!

A simply beautiful love song of a book to the Lord. God, continue to pour out your blessings on the work of this couple and all their associates in Jesus' name.

Truly a must read for every believer!

The Baker's are an amazing couple who truly live out their faith in a very real way. They have amazing stories in this book that will expand your way of looking at what God can do. I have read several of their books and I am never disappointed.

This book is an exciting story of the marvelous events that happened when Heidi and Roland Baker committed their lives to dependance upon God and sought to love Jesus Christ to the fullest. It also is a window into seeing the intense price paid by these 2 committed members of the Family of God. God's character of healing, provision and liberty from evil spirits is clearly revealed in their persons and work. It challenged me out of my comfortable assumption that I knew about love and propeled me into confrontation with my deep hunger for more intimacy with Jesus Christ and to see God's character demonstrated in my life with signs and wonders. The book is a record from various blogs and diary like entries that testify to the immediacy and transparency of their ongoing ministry of dependance and service. It is compelling in it's testimony to the aunthentic character of life sold out to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If you are "stuck" in ineffective Christian life and know that there is "more" - read this book. If you are dissatisfied with your judgements that the Christian life is all fake and hypocritical and wonder how it has survived through the centuries -- read this book. If you dispair in thinking tha

Carson presents a biblical theology of suffering, though he doesn't put it that way. He looks at the broad sweep of scripture, seeing the bearing it has on the various problems about evil and suffering. He starts with daily life concerns and how we should view our lives, ourselves, God, other people, and what happens to us. He paints the proper perspective gleaned from the whole portrait of God and his actions throughout history across the scriptures and then warns of some serious dangers we might easily fall into when arriving at conclusions or when dealing with hard times.

The main focus of the book points to themes throughout scripture. The heart of the book has a chapter on each of the following topics - sin, the various kinds of suffering and evil, God's suffering people, hell and holy war, sickness and death, the final restoration we're moving toward, suffering in the book of Job, and God's own suffering. The final chapters look in depth at the mystery involved in our responsibility in a world in which God is absolutely sovereign (in which Carson defends, biblically, compatibilism about God's sovereignty and our responsibility for what we do), the comfort we can derive from God's sovereign care, and some pastoral reflections about how to live our lives in response to the biblical portrait he's examined. He concludes with a 10-page appendix on AIDS.

This is by far the most balanced book I've read on the topic. Most philosophers focus on the problem of evil in intellectual debates and end up saying little of relevance. Most non-philosophers look at how we should respond to suffering in our lives but often in terms of inner psychological matters, as if our own inner problems are the real focus. Alternatively, the popular books could be more or less lists of practical things to do, not always helpful in times of difficulty.

Carson gives full treatment to both kinds of problems but is less concerned with debating intellectual arguments, analyzing psychological issues, or listing off which ten things we need to change in our behavior. His focus is on God has revealed himself and acted in history, treating the biblical text as fundamental.

This is a balanced Christian focus, and other sorts of things can come out of that. In the end he does give practical suggestions, many requiring a change or development in understanding God and his carrying out his purposes in history. He says plenty to apply to the philosopher's problems of evil. He also deals in depth with hell, sin, human responsibility, and God's own suffering, crucial points in a full Christian response to that sort of problem, far more significant a package than either the standard "free will defense" that fits little with scripture or the Leibnizian "best of all possible worlds" response that doesn't fill in any details of what's so good about it.

Carson's treatment of hell, sin, human responsibility, and God's suffering is the place for philosophers to look. Hell isn't the place of torture for a capricious being to get his jollies from people's suffering, nor does it simply keep people from heaven. God's justice is satisfied one way or another (by Christ or by hell), and that's significant. Evil isn't permanent. It gets dealt with by a loving, caring God who won't stand for continuing evil. God's plan of salvation allows evil to continue temporarily so that greater numbers of people might enter salvation by turning to God for help out of sin's ensnarement. A holy God couldn't allow evil in his presence, yet a good God couldn't stand by and do nothing, so he entered history as Jesus Christ to deal with the problem, suffering himself in a greater way than any others would ever suffer, not because of the suffering on the cross, great though that is, but because of his total separation from his Father, something no mere human being has even done yet, since the final judgment is still to come.

Hell is necessary for those who won't admit their rebellion against God and the necessity of his action to solve the problem, since such people are resistant to God to the end. There's no place for them in the restored community of perfection. But it's not so much a place of torment directed against them as the torment within them due to increasing rebellion against God and good. It's what rejecting God points toward, and every human being (besides Jesus) deserves it, but God saves and restores those who follow him. This is the Christian gospel and not new to those who absorb biblical teaching, but its relevance for the problem of evil is often passed over.

If God has suffered more than anyone else, that says something. If hell is the logical result of human rebellion against God (what human attitudes against God would logically lead to) and simultaneously preserves God's people from evil, that's significant. God's plan has huge ramifications if there's a goal to history. Human responsibility for sin explains evil in ways that don't interfere with God's sovereign plan for history, contrary to the standard philosophical approach to these matters. This approach is refreshing after reading lots of "free will defense" responses that make free will primary and necessary, something undermined somewhat by Carson's approach, since God's plan is the key element in all this.

Carson also does more for the human person asking these questions than does abstract statements such as the traditional "best of all possible worlds" response by G.W. Leibniz. Leibniz may be right in some significant sense if God's overarching plan took into account the other ways things could have gone. However, it's terribly misleading, as demonstrated by Voltaire's drastic misunderstanding of Leibniz in his parody Dr. Pangloss (in Candide). What Leibniz intended, and any way Leibniz would be right, has to involve these other aspects emphasized by Carson, and it has to start from where he starts - these key themes in scripture.

As a study on why God allows suffering, this book is not unique. There must be many thousands of books written by believers on this difficult issue. I have read quite a few of these, and I would argue that this volume by Carson is right up there - certainly in the top ten.

This book first appeared in 1990, with this second edition appearing in 2006. Carson seeks to lay out the biblical material to help us get a handle on why suffering and evil exist, and how the believer is expected to deal with these issues.

He provides one of the better treatments of the subject, offering a balanced and judicious understanding of what the biblical material has to say about these topics. It is not a work of apologetics as such, and it does not attempt a lengthy philosophical theodicy. Instead it seeks to help Christians of all walks of life with some biblical, theological and pastoral discussions about evil and suffering.

Carson is right to suggest that we do not give the subject "the thought that it deserves" - at least until we undergo a nasty spell of hardhip. But we certainly need to develop a theology of suffering, if for no other reason than because so much sloppy thinking on the subject persists in Christian circles.

Indeed, Carson begins his volume by looking at some faulty answers to the question of suffering, from both Christian and non-Christian sources. After looking at some of these false starts, he develops in some detail the various biblical themes relating to the problem.

The entry of sin into the world is a big part of the biblical answer, of course. Indeed, the Bible takes the reality of evil very seriously. Much of the suffering that we experience is directly due to the reality of sin. Because many people today have a quite low view of sin means that they fail to fully understand its devastating consequences.

But suffering does not just come into our lives as a consequence of evil choices. Suffering can also be a tool of God's loving chastisement and discipline. But we live in an age which looks aghast at all suffering and hardship, and few of us are willing to let God complete the work he has started in us, which often requires hard times and adversity.

Carson also looks at many of the hot potato issues, such as hell, sickness and healing, whether God judges nations today, and other difficult topics. And then there is the whole issue of the sovereignty of God and the reality of evil. How do these things connect?

Like many, Carson feels that the overall picture gleaned from the biblical data leads one to adopt a position known as compatibilism. That is, the apparently conflicting claims of Scripture are in fact compatible. On the one hand, the full sovereignty and control of God is throughout the Bible affirmed. On the other hand, the full moral responsibility of humans is also affirmed. While it might seem that one rules out the other, Scripture assumes both positions to be true, and that they are not mutually exclusive.

Somehow the choices that we make are genuine and we are therefore responsible for them. Yet it is also the case that God is in charge of this world. These two truths of Scripture are repeatedly expressed, and the best option we have is to accept some sort of compatibilism in response. Plenty of passages can be provided here, where both truths are affirmed - sometimes in the same passage - and Carson examines this material in some detail.

Carson also acknowledges that at the end of the day we must allow some room for mystery as well. We are finite and fallen, so all of our understanding and knowledge will be partial and limited. And there must be a role for faith as well. "God is less interested in answering our questions than in other things," says Carson. These include, "securing our allegiance, establishing our faith, nurturing a desire for holiness".

There are plenty of questions about how genuine moral responsibility and divine sovereignty can coexist. But the biblical data that is available has to be dealt with, and Carson does as good a job as anyone of putting it all together.

As a leading New Testament scholar who is at home in the worlds of theology, biblical studies and pastoral work, Carson brings the required skills to pull off discussing such an important topic as this. If you have only room for a few books on the problem of suffering and evil, this book should be at the top of your list.

D.A Carson says that this is not meant to be a philosophical study of the problem of evil, and that it is just a collection of reflections for believers in Christ. Yet after reading the book, I felt that it was something that could benefit everyone. Carson begins by giving some stories from his own experience illustrating the problem of evil in our world. Then he proceeds in the succeeding chapters to discuss what the scripture says about evil and how we can experience the comfort of God in times of grief.

He stops along the way to critique theologies which do not leave room for a theology of evil (John Wimber's theology), and he points people again and again to scripture. Well done!

D.A. Carson is one of the more respected theologians of our day. He is one of the few evangelical scholars who has written extensively both on Biblical exegetical and interpretational matters, and on matters of contemporary worldviews and issues. Many evangelical scholars tend to focus on one or the other, but Carson is highly respected in both areas. This work deals with perhaps the most vexing question that has ever faced the human race, the question of suffering. For what Carson is trying to accomplish here, I think he does an exquisite job.

As Carson indicates at the start of this book, the book is not an attempt to provide a full orbed theodicy that will cover all aspects of suffering or the problem of evil. This is not a book that is devoted to exploring the philosophical origins of evil and how such origins reflect on the existence or nature of God. Carson does devote about two chapters to this, but it is not the thrust of the book, as Carson properly points out at the start. This is a book written to Christians mainly as 'preventive medicine' as Carson describes it.

It appears that what Carson is trying to achieve here is to provide the reader with a rather comprehensive analysis of what Scripture says about suffering, and equally important, what Scripture does not say. I thought that a big strength of the book was Carson's insistence on not going beyond the Biblical text to find more palatable or easy answers to such vexing questions that might make people feel better, but are not especially faithful to Scripture. Carson's mission appears to be to lay out for the reader what the Bible says and acknowledging the tensions that the Bible gives us on many aspects of the issue of suffering without using these tensions as an excuse to throw up his hands and declare incoherency. It is here that Carson's supreme expertise in Biblical exegesis becomes evident, and it is a source of comfort to the reader.

I was very impressed with Carson's willingness to repeatedly tackle tough questions and not shying away from difficult Scripture passages. As he says numerous times, the book is not necessarily offering full orbed answers to every tough question, but it is offering very sound and compelling thoughts where Scripture is clear, and acknowledging a certain amount of mystery over what is not clear, and clearly defining both.

Overall, I felt that the book was extremely balanced and thoroughly grounded in Scripture. This is a book that in my view, properly refrains from the extremes of offering overly simplistic answers that pretend to comprehensively deal with this topic, as well as the extreme of overly appealing to divine mystery as a way of dodging the tough questions. This is the best book I've read on the problem of evil that is something other than a philosophical defense. This is an exegetical defense, and a very good one.

Lastly, it needs to be pointed out who ought to read this book. I don't think an unbeliever will get much out of this, as Carson states. It is a book written by a Christian, for Christians who are not looking to use the issue of suffering to debate the existence of God. Likewise, I don't think it's the first book that Christians who are in the grips of suffering should pick up and read either. As Carson states, this is not a book that's really meant to comfort someone who is in the grips of suffering, but rather a book that is meant to provide a Christian foundation for suffering BEFORE the suffering comes so that Christians will have a better basis for coming to grips with it. Although I do think that those who are in the grips of suffering would profit from this book, I think the main audience for this book are Christians who are looking for a Biblical foundation for suffering. I also think that pastors and lay leaders would also greatly profit from this book since I thought there were a number of outstanding insights geared towards those Christians who are called to minister to those who are enduring suffering. It should also be pointed out that because the book was written 10 years ago, some of the discourse on AIDS is outdated and should be taken cautiously.

An outstanding book for what it deals with.

As other reviewers have noted this book is aimed at Christians and not for those looking for immediate relief from some trial in their lives. However, there is very much to commend Carson's work for those beginning to explore suffering, free will, and God's sovereignty and their many links to Christian doctrine and experience. While Carson says at one point that we may wish to skip Chapter 11 on the Mystery of Providence, I think it is worth the price alone.

There were 3 or 4 places in the book where he ended a section with a statement that I thought needed another line or two of explanation, but these are minor issues of style correctable for me by rereading a paragraph. Carson references Basinger & Basinger's Predestination & Free Will and Carson's comments provide a useful supplement and corrective for some of the views in Basinger. For those who quickly run to some sort of theodicy, Carson makes us pause and consider how great a God we do have. Before jumping on the process or open theological train, please read this. Overall this is a very readable yet challenging coverage of the subject.

Introducing Christian Doctrine (second edition), written by Millard J. Erickson and edited by L. Arnold Hustad, is a briefer version of Erickson's previous work, Christian Theology. Introducing Christian Doctrine is an introductory-level textbook in systematic theology.

This book covers the full gamut of Christian theology, with sections on what theology is, God's revelation, the nature and work of god, humanity and sin, the person and work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and eschatology. On issues of doctrine, Erickson explains the various positions, identifies their strengths and weaknesses, and then pronounces which he believes is the best position. The reader may not always agree, but Erickson's arguments are well-reasoned and logical.

Introducing Christian Doctrine is easy to read, perhaps surprisingly so, both for theology students and laity. And in addition to being a worthwhile textbook, it also serves as a very handy quick reference guide to doctrinal questions. No self-respecting theologian should be without it.

I have been quite happy with this abridged version of Erickson's 1300-word Christian Theology. While I find the full verison to be one of the more excellent references out there and think it is well-suited for a more advanced theological course, it boggles the mind of many students in an introductory course. This condensed version of Erickson's work by his former grad student Arnold Hustad is perfect for an undergraduate introduction to Christian theology.

My seminary diploma from Bethel has Erickson's signature on it (when he was there back in the 1980's), so I am familiar with this man's work. I studied theology using his Christian Theology text (it was 3 volumes at the time). I love what he has done in this second edition volume of Introducing Christian Doctrine, as he was able to condense his material to fit into 400 pages. He admits in his preface that it was his editor who is reponsible for being able to chop down his work in such a radical way, and I fully understand that the hardest task for a writer to do is to edit down his own work. Anyway, it worked.

We are using this text for the first time in our private Christian high school's junior and senior Bible classes. Some students appear to be a little lost, but many are welcoming the challenge to clearer thinking. The book is not "Theology Light," as another reviewer seemed to suggest, so please don't approach it as "easy." Good systematic theology takes lots of work, plenty of wrestling with scripture, and many restless nights. But I like the fact that this text is a softer approach (without a complete "dumbing down" of the material) for first-time theology students. (I'd be happy to let anyone know the results by the end of 2002 when we will complete this text.) Also, I like about Erickson's attitude is that, while he certainly has presuppositions, he attempts to fairly lay out the possibilities on issues that certainly divide Christians into separate camps. He gives his opinion, but he doesn't treat it as if anyone who disagrees is a heretic. All in all, Erickson's work gets a thumbs up for those who want an overview on the basic teachings of Christianity.

As an abridged version of a longer, more detailed theology text, I anticipated that this shorter volume from Erickson would neglect some key areas in systematics. I was wrong. Introducing Christian Doctrine is jam-packed without being overstuffed. It has sacrificed nothing essential as far as I can tell. There are times that I wish the theological discussions would continue on a little more but there are more copious volumes out there that treat most of these subjects with greater depth. My only complaint is that Erickson doesn't provide a list of titles for further study on each of the theological topics he discusses. Most chapters end with a huge chunk of white space available on the page and it's possible that a list of recommendations to explore each topic further would've been helpful. But that is a minor defect in a surprisingly rich book.

Erickson follows the standard model of "description, examination, evaluation, and final conclusion" in presenting his topics. This helps the reader get a good grasp of what the doctrine in question is all about, how it has been supported by its proponents, how it stands to biblical scrutiny, and finally whether or not it is tenable. Especially helpful is the "implications" section in some of the chapters. After reviewing the biblical data, he concludes and suggests what the implications of the particular theological viewpoint would be if held correctly.

Erickson provides a brief roadmap and study guide to each chapter which is usually only a page long. Included here are the chapter objectives, the chapter summary, a list of study questions, and a chapter outline. However tempted I always am to skip right to the meat of the text, I force myself to read this preparatory section because Erickson always does a good job of priming the reader for the chapter ahead. It's like seeing the big picture at the begging and then focusing on the details afterwards. With an eye on the whole map you can learn the smaller areas with greater ease.

As far as the content goes, I disagree with Erickson on a relatively small number of things. Most notably his conclusion on the issue of eschatology (pp. 393-400) as well as his theodicy (pp. 147-149). Nonetheless, even when we disagree I appreciate the fact that he refrains from "strawmanning" and caricaturing the positions he tends to disagree with. With a coolness that most of us don't operate with he simply refutes the views he disagrees with by using a palette of Scriptural documentation. Whatever my disagreements with him are, I respect the way he frames the opposing views and rejects them without sensationalistic dismissals. I even appreciated that he had a section on Postmodernity and Theology.

For a thoughtful, biblical, and eminently readable text on theology, I'd readily recommend this shortened version of his longer work on systematics. Introducing Christian Doctrine is a lot like John Frame's Salvation Belongs to the Lord, and while it's a tad more technical, it's by no means unapproachable by the average layman. Introducing Christian Doctrine is a solid, readable work whose staying power has been confirmed by its widespread usage in the academic world.

I am not a school student anymore, but when I wanted clarification of certain Biblical doctrines, a friend of mine pointed me to this book. This book was written by Dr. Millard J. Erickson, a widely respected Evangelical professor of theology, and is widely used as a textbook throughout the United States. The book is divided into twelve parts: 1) The Doing of Theology (studying and contemporizing theology), 2) God's Revelation, 3) The Nature of God, 4) The Work of God, 5) Humanity , 6) Sin, 7) The Person of Christ, 8) The Work of Christ, 9) The Holy Spirit, 10) Salvation, 11) The Church (nature, government and ordinances), and 12) The Last Things (eschatology).

Unlike what you might expect from a textbook, I found this book to be very readable, with the issues being spelled out in easy to read language, with the different views of the doctrines being explained, with the author then focusing in on his view and how and why it differs from the other views. Overall, this book answered my questions quite nicely, giving me a much better understanding. So, even if you are a simple layperson like me, you will benefit from having this book. I highly recommend it.

wow. tim keel has written a leadership book that, well, isn't like others. i suppose i could put it in the same kind of category -- roughly -- as max depree's books (leadership jazz, and leadership is an art), in that tim doesn't prescribe a method, or give 5 or 10 or 21 irrefutable laws. instead, he brings his artist's perspective to the role of the leader, spending the biggest portion of his page real estate talking about cultural discernment.

killer stuff, really. when tim suggests, in the subtitle, that the kind of leadership we should embrace is one of narrative, metaphor and chaos... well, let's just say he clearly lives these three words out on the pages of this exceptional book.

This was much more than just a book about leadership. It was a book about the postmodern approach as well as an encouragement that faith does not and should not just be of the mind but also of the heart.

This book is a must read, and a must own! I am NOT an emergent village participant, and have NO plans on being one. I am a church planter, however, and this book has it! It is amazing, even if you are not an emergent follower, EVERY pastor should have this book of leadership in their library, and they should reference it often!

It's been a long time since I read a book that I couldn't put down... And the book was most likely a work of fiction. But this one is most certainly real stuff, as non-fiction as you can get. And even though I'm not a church leader, per se, something about Intuitive Leadership - Embracing a Paradigm of Narrative, Metaphor & Chaos, the latest literary endeavor by Jacob's Well Church pastor and Emergent Village co-founder, Tim Keel drew me in, bound my imagination, and wouldn't let me go until I turned the last page. Keel's experience, not only as a pastor and teacher, but as an artist, allowed him to effortlessly create a dialog that is as flowing and natural as it is compelling. This is a narrative that was forged as much by limber fingers dancing lightly (and sometimes very heavily) on the keyboard of a laptop computer as it was by dipping brush after brush into a multitude of jars of pigment. Keel's words leapt off of each page as if he were sitting right in front of me, narrating the very text that I was reading.

Read the entire review here:

http://sense-datum.org/tim/archive/2007/11/28/book_review_intuitive_leadersh/tim_samoff__weblog

If you have been going around in the Postmodern conversation for any amount of time, or are at all curious about the "Emergent Church", or are feeling like you keep stubbing the big toe of your faith, here is some real help. And do not let the title keep any one from reading. This is not just one more dry book on leadership. It is for you. Tim Keel brilliantly (please accept the praise Mr. Keel) weaves history, scripture, experience, and culture into something truly inspiring and useful to those with an eye on things to come. Or even on things that have been. I cheered out loud more than a few times as my heart was being reclaimed by Jesus. So many connections were made with the loose ends of my faith. And not in the form of easy answers, but with the asking of better questions. Did I mention that this is a brilliant work? The bottom line is that this is most likely the most important and engaging book i have read to date. And if in fact you are in a position of leadership, ( as I am ) this is a catalyst for honest growth that you will look a long time to better, or even equal for that matter. I could go on but instead will plead with you to trust your intuition..... it is as good as you would hope.

I found this book to be a training manual for the renewal of Western Civilization. Our Culture, heritage, and way of life must not become extinct. Cowan and Guinness have done the church a remarkable service for the Church by compiling these essays.

Each essay is about 4 to 6 pages in length, supplemented by photos/pics, quotes, and questions for application at the end of the chapter. Like many works associated woth OS Guinness and the Trinity Forum, this book can challenge deeply held notions and force one to rethink them. The breadth of authors covered is immense: the Greeks to the Latins to the Reformers to Modern Day. Also interspersed are esssays about classics by non Christians.

The Book stresses that the classics are not canonicle but complementary. The need for reading--studying--old books can not be overstated. C S Lewis said that for every new book one reads, one should next read to books from another century for obvious reasons: those books have been tested over time.
Tolle Legge

I buy copies of this for every college-bound teen at our church. It features articles by a very eclectic mix of Christian literary critics (though evangelical Reformed/Presbyterians and Roman Catholics predominate). It is fair and balanced in its treatment of works that are often very hostile to the faith. Beautifully illustrated.

I received this book after a long anticipation of its arrival from Amazon.com and the wait and cost were by far worth it. As a student at Bob Jones University who loves to study and read classic literature on my spare time, the book soon became indispensable(probably with in a few minutes of cracking the cover). This volume does more in a few strokes of the pen than some do in a whole set of books. I suggest it strongly, it affirms Os Guiness' prowess as an editor as well as writer, as well as providing a concise literary base for practically every famed author of our world's favorite classic. Ranging from the Greeks to the existentalists and beyond...it is wonderful. I end this review in saying that it would be wise for anyone interested in the classics, from novice to advanced, no matter what the desire--you won't be disappointed.

After recently perusing "The New Lifetime Reading Plan", I dug this book back out to do a comparison. "Invitation to the Classics" has more of a particularly Christian approach, including works by Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Weil, and Lewis that other such surveys might omit. It also focuses on western literature, leaving out some of the great Japanese and Chinese classics that would give one more of a well-rounded education. Most authors included here are represented by only one work, and some choices are curious indeed (for Faulkner, "Go Down, Moses" was selected over "The Sound and the Fury", for Joyce, "Dubliners" got the nod over "Ulysses"). That does not diminish the value of this book, however. This is more than just a reading list. It is a beautiful book in its own right, with color photographs and illustrations to enhance the experience. All in all, I highly recommend this volume.

This is a wonderful overview of classic Western literature from a Christian perspective. With a wide scope and a clarity of expression, there is likely something that any reader can enjoy and understand within these pages.

More significant than any of this, however, is that the book has something that far too many "contemporary Christian" books do not have: fundamental fairness. When dealing with unorthodox or non-religious opinions (take Nietzsche for example), the editors neither preach nor abdicate their religious duties. Instead, they urge the reader to consider the author's viewpoint, relate it to their beliefs and experiences, and take away from it what they may.

Any book which shares the good news of God's love and encourages critical thinking is a welcome addition to any bookshelf... whether a Bible shares the shelf is completely irrelevant.

This book is full of wisdom "Grandma" never taught you or me. It a good read just for the interesting wisdom and insight to the way it used to be.

I liked this book so much, I showed it to my mother and we bought three copies - one for her, one for me, and one for my brother! The book's title says it all - Jerry Baker really does present "Old-Time Gardening Wisdom". Specifically, he goes into many of the tricks and tips he learned from his grandmother.

The book is very well-organized, and is quite comprehensive (amazingly so!). Jerry Baker starts with simple information, such as how to evaluate your soil, where to put your garden and how large to make it, and he goes on to cover a range of topics including companion planting (a process by which plants are paired in beneficial relationships), fertilizers, pest control, and tips for growing herbs, berries, nuts and flowers. He also discusses the use of "electroculture" (a process of using metal objects to electrify the garden during storms and increase the amount of nitrogen in the soil), foraging for edible items in the wild and lawn care.

Really, I can't emphasize enough how useful this book is - it is absolutely one of the best books out there for gardening enthusiasts!

I originally checked this book out at the library. Some of the stories that he relates as a young boy learning from his Grandmother are both humorous and informative. After trying a few of jerry's concoctions I decided it was one of the books that would be handy to have on hand for future reference.

This book, along with the other books was very informative. It answered all my questions before I started my planting. Plus, being able to use products you have at home to take care of a problem, is a definite plus.

I have been looking for this book forever.....At least 12 years ago,when I became my mother's caregiver, the only thing that we
could pass time away together in the summer was gardening. I
watched every PBS show Mr.Baker appeared, wrote down everything
he advised and used it in the garden. Our garden was beautiful and MOM was in her wheel chair giving the instructions while I worked. When the ingredients called for beer, we mixed as called by his recipe, and (smile)drank the rest. Tobacco, fels naptha soap, all of it we tried out, all of it worked, and she and I had wonderful times before she passed.

Thanks Jerry Baker

P.S. The garden is still the best in the neighborhood. I now live in the Bahamas 7 months of the year, so I will be trying out exotic flowers with instructions from the book.

This book is a wonderful story -- the characters are fully developed, there is humor, tragedy, riddles, and plenty of adventure! It made me laugh out loud and cry. It is also an amazing allegory to our Christian walk. This book was very hard to put down!

This is a classic and must be read and part of your library. It is such a refreshing book to read. I was lead on an exhilarating journey through several areas of Europe by an amazing troupe of young souls. The author's talents are splashed throughout from the beginning to the very end. This book is liberating for the soul and would make for a wonderful movie for "Souls" of 2000.

C.D. Baker resurrected a bit of history in his reenactment of the medieval Children's Crusade. His fictional account of the many adventures one experiences with the characters is a non-stop march thru tragedy, heroism, and humor. Not for the faint hearted, this journey will leave yousurprised and exhausted.

Baker writes an engaging tale based on one of the most perplexing events in history, the Childrens' Crudade. This 12th Century debacle is the framework for a masterfully woven tale of redemption through suffering. No sooner does the gentle hand of the Divine lift the fortunes of the tiny band from certain doom than events take a turn for the worse. Starving and exhausted, the children are sustained by the wisdom, both worldly and spiritual, of an aged and disillusioned warrior priest.

A Journey of Souls stands alone in the genre of historical fiction as a book portraying life and the process of spiritual regeneration with the artistry of Monet's paintbrush.

It wasn't just a fascinating story, masterfully spun, but a reading experience that got me more in touch with myself, and will you too, I'd expect, if you've experienced, or are experiencing, emotional pain from living in this world. The worst part of reading the book, is that you immediately want a sequal. You don't want to leave.

I was particularly happy about every-member ministry that author was happy about active participation of people of God instead of spectator.

I just happy about his penetrating mind and depth of knowledge.

I particularly recommend to some of Korean pastors who call Plymouth Brethren (Christian Brethren) cult because of their Church Polity. Ignorance no long a virtue.

This work is a classic, though a little known one. I'm so glad this has been updated and reprinted. It is simply the best and most balanced book on the Holy Spirit I've ever read. Packer's critique of the Charismatic movement is especially balanced and perceptive. And his writing on the role of the Spirit is deep, on target, yet easy to understand. I will pound the table and recommend this book for any serious Christian.

Mark Marshall
author, God Knows What It's Like to be a Teenager

This book is more systematic than "Knowing God", but it cuts as deep. He addresses two major views of holiness: "Keswick Teaching" and Pentacostalism. He carefully shows the strengths and weaknesses of each movement. He then shows scripturally what is the correct view of the Holy Spirit work in our lives. Packer likes to call himself a "Packer of Theology" and this book takes careful reading. He often lists several scriptural references to make his point and then he is off to the next point. He carefully states his argument and tries to make sure the reader does take his point any further than it should go. The style seems dry at times, but when you read and meditate on what he is writing, the book is an incredible motivator to live in holiness.

Although this book is a harder read than either "Knowing God" or "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God", the book is more challenging spiritually. Once again he uses the Puritan writers to good effect. Read and enjoy. Drink deeply of the scriptural truths detailed in the pages of this book.

I suppose there is no-one who is more understood within the Trinity then God the Spirit. It is quite natural for us to understand God the Father since we have earthly fathers (Hebrews 12:3-11) and we can identify with God made flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:17-18) yet the Holy Spirit is often misunderstood or worst He is often ignored. Thankfully there are a few books out there that can help the disciple understand the indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit.

Dr. J.I. Packer's book, KEEP IN THE STEP WITH THE SPIRIT, is a classic reading from a Reformed view on the person and work of the Spirit. The book is an easy to read book on the person of the Spirit. The book, while theological by its very subject, is quite easy to understand. Each chapter deals with a unique ministry of the Spirit of God. Each chapter is based on Scripture which is a relief when it comes to books on the Spirit.

One final note about the book. I greatly appreciated Dr. Packer's chapter on "errors" concerning the work of the Spirit. Dr. Packer covers the ideas of Christian perfection, baptism in the Spirit, and other errors of the Spirit's work to show how these beliefs often lead to an unbalanced and sometimes an unbiblical view of the Holy Spirit. This chapter alone makes it worth the price to read.

Truly, a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit is needed in our day. As we watch the advance of false religions such as Islam or other Eastern religions and as we see the corrision of the modern Church in the West, we need to go back to Acts 1:8 and see that it is the person and work of the Spirit of God that brings us power to be Jesus' witnesses in an age of death. KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT is a book that does just that. Great reading!

I was in the charismatic church back in the 80's. But, because of certain experiences I had while there, I began to have misgivings about the constant emphasis (not bad in itself but it left out many things it should not have) on the Holy Spirit and the way it was being taught. When I tried to speak with people (leadership) about my feelings I found that I started getting the cold shoulder treatment. I would have appreciated even an honest "I don't know". I was starting to think something might be wrong with me.

Then I ran across Packer's Keep In Step With the Spirit. I can't tell you how greatly this book helped me. It let me know there was nothing wrong with me and that I was not the first person to feel the way I did. Packer even related in the book how, because he was a bookworm (as I've always been) God threw him a lifeline in the form of a volume or two of the works of John Owen (Owen wrote about 18 or more books if I remember correctly) which helped free him from the mental shackles of Keswick teaching.

I am here to say that Keep In Step With the Spirit did the same for me with hyperventilating charismatic/pentecostal teaching on the Holy Spirit. I even bought and gave away a copy to anyone who let on that they were going through what I did. And I also went on to read a number of John Owen's books which helped me to totally remake my spiritual and theological outlook into something with a lot more substance to it than I ever had based solely on what I'd gotten from church.
Sad to say but it's the truth.

I happened to be up early this morning and turned on C-Span's "booknotes" to hear David Anderson. When he was finished speaking, I knew I had to buy this book. Even though I have not yet read it, the message that Mr. Anderson shared about commitment, respect, sincerity and acceptance and his evident faith and alignment with his Christian beliefs were so incredibly powerful, that I knew I needed to place an order immediately.
I can't honestly offer a "star" rating as yet, but since I had to make a choice, I feel my rating is justified based on what I've seen so far.

I attend Bridgeway Community Church on a regular basis. I have attended this church for about 5 years now. I know David Anderson personally, and I am very proud of him and his many achievements since I have known him.

Anderson and Zuercher should be applauded for their courage to tackle the ongoing subject of Racism in America. I found the book very informative and encouraging, especially when Mr. Zuercher admitted to thoughts he did not realized he harbored against Blacks. I found the book informative as Mr. Anderson set an example for all us, on how to deal with persons who hate just because of something they see on the outside (skin color, religion style, etc.) This book is for anyone wanting to grow in their relationships with others.

Pastor David Anderson and author Brent Zuercher have penned a groundbreaking and unique book. What happens when two friends of different races explore racism and faith? "Letters across the Divide" happens. For a firsthand account of what multicultural relationships could look like, read this book.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care And Spiritual Direction, and Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.

Let me say upfront that I'm a white conservative male. In & of itself, there's nothing wrong there. However, most white conservative males don't think racism is a problem in America anymore. To anyone out there-white conservative or otherwise-if you share that believe, then this bookmis a must read for you.

This book covers reoccuring things like why most whites don't think that racism is a problem anymore & why African Americans answer it so differently. All too often, most white conservatives 0never ask their minoritiy friends & associates if they think racism is still a problem. If they did, they'd get an earfull, just like what is presented in this book.

In addition to being an ordained minister, the Lord has also called me to the ministry of Racial Reconcilliation. It's been a tough challenge but by his grace, I've stayed with it. This book has already been a valuable asset to my work. It's helped me to see things through the eyes of an African American (David)& through the eyes of a white guy, too (Brent). In listening to their correspondence back & forth, it's helped me look at several key issues connected with racism that never came to my mind at all. This book also helps to explain why America hasn't moved forward inb the area of Racial Reconcilliation. Sure, we've passed many anti-racism laws. But laws don't change the minds & hearts of people. And laws don't prevent individual racism 1-on-1.

This book should be a must read for all Christians out there. If you think you've heard everything there is to know about racism, think again. This book will challenge what you believe on the issue.

As I stated above, I work in the field of Racial reconcilliation. If any of you out there have any thoughts, feelings, opinions, suggestions, etc. on this issue, by all means get in touch with me.