Words

Well Amazon did their part and delivered the books I ordered for school ahead of schedule. On my previous post I listed all the books I ordered. So last night after work (and after walking the dog) I broke open the box - like a kid on Christmas morning! The smell of fresh paper, the crisp edges, the smooth unstained covers, it is a site to behold! I was, needless to say, anxious to read, but the time was not yet upon me for reading.

After dinner with some friends, Erin and I sat down on the couch and watched our son run around the house throwing his soft football and shouting “Go Buckeyes!” Well at least that’s what he means, it sounds more like “TofteyeGo,” but he’s getting there! Not that I agree with his statement, being from the Wolverine state, but since Grampa, Grandma, Mom, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Heidi, and ESPECIALLY cousin Noah, all say it… I’ll let it go. The irony in the whole thing was that while shouting “Go Buckeyes!” he was throwing a University of Michigan football around! What ability to delicately balance two incompatible thoughts, sounds like I have a theologian on my hands!

But I digress, I was talking about books! So as I sit on the couch with my greek book (A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Exegesis: Taking the Fear Out of Critical Method) beside me and Ethan playing nearby, Erin begins to discuss some important topics. To which I listened, while secretly eying my new book. However, it was not too long before I was caught (I never was too sly)… but she left me off the hook saying “I know you want to read it and you can.” After reading Ethan a couple night-time books and putting him to bed, I began to dive in! I got through a couple chapters last night and am slowly working my way through it. I’m currently in the section about textual criticism and it is definitely interesting. As I read more and reflect, I’ll post my thoughts.

Once it was time for bed I picked up the next book (my bedtime story) and began to read its contents. The book is Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren and this was only the second night of reading it. It didn’t come from Amazon, I got it from the seminary library, but still I will read it. I haven’t brought myself to purchase the book (although for sometime now its been on my amazon wishlist); I just haven’t brought myself to buy it. The book is somewhat controversial, not necessarily endorsed by some (see reviews by Albert Mohler, Tim Challies, and John Frame), but supported by others as well (Tim King, Craig Blomberg, and numerous blogs out there). Brian himself seems open to criticism (see critical remarks from a theologian on his site), but openness to critique does not mean openness to change one’s primary stance. I can not, as of yet, tell you if I can endorse this book. I have to give it a fair reading before I give it my seal of approval (like that means anything anyways). I’ll be posting shortly to give some of what I’ve found so far.

Well thats enough for now on my new books, I’ll have to post some of my thoughts on them as I dig in further.