What I’m Reading: Winter Edition
The Works of Jonathan Edwards: Selected Readings
by Jonathan Edwards
This is actually a pretty cool story. My father-in-law was a seminary student in the 1980s and he used to have to walk around to his professors asking which books he’d have to buy from Banner of Truth. Predictably, professors seemed to be inclined to say all of them. Regardless, he bought these collected works of Edwards and even developed a reading plan to get through several chunks of Edwards work. I love that it looks like it was legit printed on the Macintosh II.
If you’re not familiar with Edwards, he is considered by many to be the greatest American theologian. He lived in New England in the 1700s, served at a congregation in North Hampton Connecticut, served as a missionary to Native Americans, and finally served as a president of Princeton University. He’s buried in Princeton Cemetery. Famously, he wrote an account of the Great Awakening in New England and preached the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” which you may remember from high school textbooks.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The First Forty Years
by Iain Murray
This biography covers Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones first four decades (obviously) of ministry in Wales. I came to this biography with very little knowledge of Jones other than his famous dislike for humor in sermons and that he was a successful doctor who gave up a promising career for ministry in a small town. What I found was a deeply encouraging tale of God using one man to reinvigorate the evangelical movement in Wales. And he seemingly did it with only the assistance of the Puritan writers, God’s word, and his Holy Spirit. Truly amazing.
The Book of Swords
Edited by Gardner Dozois
This is a collection of fantasy/sci-fi stories…that have swords in them. Not overly complicated and some are better than others. The most well-known author is George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame, his chapter is quite entertaining. Worth a vacation read.
Isaiah: God Saves Sinners
by Ray Ortlund
Ortlund is a pastor in Nashville with a long history of serving the church. He was also previously a pastor of Old Testament Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. As such, he combines a gentle and humble spirit with deep theological knowledge. The results are spectacular. Ostensibly, this is a commentary, but I read it as a devotional, it is that accessible.
