The Weekly Hit List: April 19, 2013

Of Games and GodOf Games and God by Kevin Schut received a 4.5 star review from Ted Turnau for Christianity Today

“Evangelical Christian books on video games have typically been dreary, censorious affairs. Painting with oversized brushes, concerned authors with knitted brows have warned us for decades that our children and country are going to hell in a handbasket because of these games. They have not, let us say, been all that subtle or nuanced in their assessments.

“As a ‘gamer’ myself, I have toyed with writing a book on video games, since there seemed to be a need for a balanced voice in the conversation.”

“I’m glad I never got started on that project. Kevin Schut has already written it.”

Read the rest of the review here.

 

On God’s Side media:

- “Tell Me More” on NPR

KUOW-FM NPR, Seattle, “Weekday”

- Newsweek, “God and Country”

- Powell’s Books

- The Huffington Post, “We Are in a Battle for the Common Good”

Washington Square News, “National and community prosperity require rapport-building”

Don’t miss Jim Wallis tomorrow (Saturday, April 20) on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show (MSNBC), at 10:00 a.m. ET. The show will focus on the Boston Marathon bombings.

 

Quick Hits:

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers is a finalist in the Christian living category of The 2013 Word Awards.

Nicole Baker Fulgham, author of Educating All God’s Children  will appear on The Dr. Kay Show with Dr. Kay McElvey on 1240 WCEM-AM on Monday, April 22, at 11:00 a.m. ET

Educating All God’s Children was mentioned by Joshua DuBois in The Daily Beast.

Speaking of Dying by Fred Craddock, Dale Goldsmith, and Joy V. Goldsmith was reviewed by The Christian Century.

The Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns was reviewed by The Christian Century.

Claiming Abraham by Michael Lodahl was reviewed in Church Times (full review available to subscribers): “[Lodahl] reveals the most critical and significant differences between the two faiths, and also their common concerns.”

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

April ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 50% off.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers
Living the Sabbath by Norman Wirzba
Psalms as Torah by Gordon J. Wenham
The Virtuous Reader by Richard S. Briggs

The Weekly Hit List: March 29, 2013

Educating All God's ChildrenEducating All God’s Children by Nicole Baker Fulgham received a four-star review from Christianity Today

“Using dozens of her own similar stories, Nicole Baker Fulgham’s Educating All God’s Children . . . champions a faith-based message of ‘educational equity.’ Though fortunate enough to have attended better schools than those in her largely African American neighborhood, Fulgham argues that today’s impoverished families have little access to such mobility.

“Her book offers a candid theological plea for Christians (and, by implication, especially Republican Christians) to prioritize educational equity alongside issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. Educating All God’s Children convincingly shows scriptural mandates for closing the educational gap between low-income areas and wealthier communities.”

Read the rest of the review here.

 

Jim Wallis, On God’s Side:

On God’s Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn’t Learned about Serving the Common Good by Jim Wallis releases on Monday (April 1).

Jim Wallis wrote “On God’s Side: For the Common Good” for Huffington Post.

Don’t miss seeing Jim Wallis on Easter Sunday, March 31, on This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

 

Quick Hits:

Luke (BTCB) by David Lyle Jeffrey was reviewed in the May/June 2013 issue of Bible Study Magazine (available to subscribers): “Those who are interested in the church fathers will find this resource helpful. Pastors will find a treasury of ready-made quotations and illustrations from church history already connected to appropriate passages of Scripture.”

A Life Observed (August 2013) by Devin Brown was mentioned in Publishers Weekly Religion Bookline: “C.S. Lewis: Still Bringing Readers Joy.”

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was recommended by Darryl Dash.

 

Educating All God’s Children Giveaway Winners:

Congratulations to Guy Williams, Tyler Glodjo, Dennis Yam, Gus Cole-Kroll, and Naomi Johnston.

They have each won a copy of Educating All God’s Children: What Christians Can—and Should—Do to Improve Public Education for Low-Income Kids by Nicole Baker Fulgham on The Brazos Blog.

Keep checking back for our next giveaway.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

Don’t miss out on March ebook specials that are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 50% off.

Christians at the Border by M. Daniel Carroll R.
Performing the Faith by Stanley Hauerwas
Preface to Theology by John Howard Yoder
Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear by Scott Bader-Saye
Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would by Chad W. Thompson

The Weekly Hit List: March 22, 2013

On God's SideJim Wallis, author of the forthcoming On God’s Side, wrote about his new book in “What Does It Mean to Be on God’s Side?” for Sojourners.

“This is not just another book for me. I wrote it during a three-month sabbatical that started in a monastery overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Every day started before sunrise with prayers, walks, yoga, and exercise, followed by writing the rest of the day.

“My other discipline was not to write or comment publicly on the news. I watched the nation’s political discourse each night after a day of writing and found it more depressing than ever. It was an election year.

“The resulting book is not about politics in the narrow sense, but about how to engage our personal and public lives with an ancient but timely idea and practice—the common good—that has long and deep historical roots across many religious faiths and secular notions of democracy.

“I sought to explore the biblical and theological roots of the idea, and then apply it to the most basic questions of economic trust, the role of government, civility, renewing democracy, globalization, conflict resolution in a violent world, and, of course, what our faith can contribute to the common good with the world as our parish.

“Most compelling, I found Jesus’ call to love our neighbors to be the gospel foundation for serving the common good.”

The rest can be read here.

 

Quick Hits:

Of Games and God by Kevin Schut was recommended by Ted Turnau.

The Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns was recommended by Ben Spackman.

Be Not Afraid by Samuel Wells was recommended in an excerpt written by Michele Howe, shared by Diane Markins.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was recommended by Matthew LaPine.

Video is available of Miroslav Volf, author of A Public Faith, speaking on “Public Faith in a Pluralistic Society” at Q Forum.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

March ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 50% off.

Christians at the Border by M. Daniel Carroll R.
Performing the Faith by Stanley Hauerwas
Preface to Theology by John Howard Yoder
Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear by Scott Bader-Saye
Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would by Chad W. Thompson

The Weekly Hit List: March 15, 2013

The Evolution of AdamThe Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns is a finalist in the Religion category of the 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards.

Traditional Christian teaching presents Jesus as reversing the effects of the fall of Adam. However, an evolutionary view of beginnings doesn’t allow for a historical Adam, making evolution seem incompatible with what Genesis and the apostle Paul say about him. For Christians who accept evolution and want to take the Bible seriously, this presents a tension that endangers faith.

Peter Enns offers a way forward by explaining how this tension is caused not by the discoveries of science but by false expectations about the biblical texts. Focusing on key biblical passages in the discussion, Enns demonstrates that the author of Genesis and the apostle Paul wrote to ask and answer ancient questions for ancient people; the fact that they both speak of Adam does not determine whether Christians can accept evolution.

This thought-provoking book reconciles the teachings of the Bible with the widely held evolutionary view of beginnings and will appeal to anyone interested in the Christianity-evolution debate, including college and seminary students in science and religion courses.

To see the full list of finalists, click here.

 

Quick Hits:

On God’s Side by Jim Wallis was included in “Religion Titles for Spring 2013” in the March 4, 2013, issue of Publishers Weekly.

The Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns was referenced by David B. Garner.

Of Games and God by Kevin Schut was reviewed by Shane Walker.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was referenced by Matthew LaPine.

Speaking of Dying by Fred Craddock, Dale Goldsmith, and Joy V. Goldsmith was referenced by Sara of From the park.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

March ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 50% off.

Christians at the Border by M. Daniel Carroll R.
Performing the Faith by Stanley Hauerwas
Preface to Theology by John Howard Yoder
Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear by Scott Bader-Saye
Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would by Chad W. Thompson

The Weekly Hit List: January 11, 2013

Speaking of Dying

Speaking of Dying by Fred Craddock, Dale Goldsmith, and Joy V. Goldsmith was reviewed by Ministry Matters.

Speaking of Dying begins with a negative critique of both the American Protestant church and the culture in which we are embedded.

“As the book progresses, however, a clear and hopeful narrative comes into view—one in which life begins, continues, and finally ends in the context of sacrament.

“Craddock, Goldsmith, and Goldsmith turn personal experience and careful research into an eminently readable book on a vitally important subject.”

Read the rest of the review here.

 

Quick Hits:

The Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns was reviewed by blogger Janet Goodrich.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was reviewed on the blog Anita Reads.

Living into Focus was also recommended by blogger Liz Spangler.

David Lyle Jeffrey, author of Luke (BTCB) wrote an article for Comment Magazine: “Is Christianity Philosophical?

Darkness Is My Only Companion by Kathryn Greene-McCreight was mentioned in an article on “The Power of Patient-Expert Books” on Huffington Post.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

January ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 40% off.

Commentary on the New Testament by Robert H. Gundry
The Character of Christian Scripture by Christopher R. Seitz
Creator Spirit by Steven R. Guthrie
Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics edited by Joel B. Green
Genesis (BTCB) by R. R. Reno
Flawed Families of the Bible by David E. Garland and Diana R. Garland
Cross-Shattered Christ by Stanley Hauerwas
The Forgotten Ways Handbook by Alan Hirsch with Darryn Altclass

The Weekly Hit List: January 4, 2013

Some of the Best of the Best of 2012:

The Evolution of Adam

The Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns was included as a “Best Book of the Year” by Rachel Held Evans.

It was also one of Brian LePort‘sTop Ten Books I Read This Year“:

“I finished this book with the conclusion that the Gospel does not depend on the historicity of Adam, but that doesn’t mean that this discussion is meaningless. A lot has to change for conservative Christians if they decide to abandon the historicity of Adam. Debates over everything from the nature of Scripture, to hermeneutics, to worldview, to gender roles, to eschatology can be impacted by one’s understanding of Adam (and Eve).

“If you are not satisfied with the ‘Bible v. Science’ paradigm this book may be a useful tool in beginning to reassess how you think about a lot of things.”

 

The Space Between

 

The Space Between by Eric O. Jacobsen, author of Sidewalks in the Kingdom, was the “Best provocative new book” of the “Best of 2012 in green community solutions,” according to Kaid Benfield (Director of Sustainable Communities for the National Resources Defense Council):

“This one was a very tough call, given The Walkable City . . . and Chuck Marohn’s . . . Thoughts on Building Strong Towns. But my nod goes to Eric Jacobsen’s Christian case for cities, The Space Between, because of its freshness.”

The Space Between was also an Honorable Mention on Englewood Review of Book’s Best Books of 2012 list.

 

Quick Hits:

Matthew Dickerson, author of A Hobbit Journey, was interviewed by Jeffrey Overstreet. Read part 1. Read part 2.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was reviewed by Mennonite World Review

Testing Scripture by John Polkinghorne was included in a post on Jesus Creed.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

January ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 40% off.

Commentary on the New Testament by Robert H. Gundry
The Character of Christian Scripture by Christopher R. Seitz
Creator Spirit by Steven R. Guthrie
Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics edited by Joel B. Green
Genesis (BTCB) by R. R. Reno
Flawed Families of the Bible by David E. Garland and Diana R. Garland
Cross-Shattered Christ by Stanley Hauerwas
The Forgotten Ways Handbook by Alan Hirsch with Darryn Altclass

The Weekly Hit List: December 7, 2012

The Space Between by Eric O. Jacobsen, author of Sidewalks in the Kingdom, was reviewed by Byron Borger of Hearts & Minds Books for Comment magazine

“Since Jacobsen’s 2003 Brazos Press introductory book Sidewalks of the Kingdom, many were hoping that the Presbyterian pastor turned new urbanist would write a more substantial follow up, taking readers further into the fascinating study of our built environment.

“His nearly decade of further study, writing, speaking, and engaging this interdisciplinary field has paid off with extraordinary fruitfulness, and Jacobsen’s new book is, without a doubt, one of the most important books in the field, and should be considered to be one of the most important books of the year.”

Read the rest of the review here.

 

Quick Hits:

Lee C. Camp, author of Who Is My Enemy?, was interviewed on “Kresta in the Afternoon” on Ave Maria Radio on December 3, 2012.

A Hobbit Journey by Matthew Dickerson was reviewed in Family Fiction.

The Bible Made Impossible by Christian Smith was recommended by Andrew Wilson on the Theology Matters blog.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was recommended by Dana Cassell.

Frank G. Honeycutt, author of The Truth Shall Make You Odd, wrote an article for The Christian Century: “New life without parole.” (The full text is available to subscribers only.)

Soulful Spirituality by David Benner was recommended by Barry Pearman.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

December ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 60% off.

The Virtuous Reader by Richard S. Briggs
Healing in the Bible by Frederick J. Gaiser
1 & 2 Kings (BTCB) by Peter J. Leithart
Broken Hallelujahs by Christian Scharen
Claiming Abraham by Michael Lodahl
Where Mortals Dwell by Craig G. Bartholomew
The Forgotten Ways Handbook by Alan Hirsch with Darryn Altclass
The Vampire Defanged by Susannah Clements
Adventures in Daily Prayer by Bert Ghezzi
Seven Deadly Spirits by T. Scott Daniels

The Weekly Hit List: October 12, 2012

Spirituality and the Awakening Self by David Benner was reviewed in the October 2012 issue of The Diocesan Post, a section of The Anglican Journal.

“In a day when the world is filled with self-help books, offering advice with varying degrees of helpfulness, Benner reconnects the process of transformational change with the world’s spiritual traditions, particularly reflecting his own deep rooted-ness in the mystical tradition of Christianity.

“Benner offers a helpful corrective to some of the self-centered road maps that are popular in our individualistic culture, suggesting, ‘Ultimately transformation is not even really about me. It is about an increasing recognition of the reality of the me-in-God and the God-in-me. Self-engineered attempts at transformation are far too self-focused to truly allow my ego-self to die and my spirit-centered self to emerge.’”

To read the rest of this review, click here.

 

Quick Hits:

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was reviewed by Jeff Loach of Presbyterian Record.
It was also reviewed by Jeff Borden on his blog, iCrucified.

Speaking of Dying by Fred Craddock, Dale Goldsmith, and Joy V. Goldsmith was featured in a “Take & read” piece on Christian Century.

An excerpt from Speaking of Dying was featured on MinistryMatters.com.

A Hobbit Journey by Matthew Dickerson was reviewed by Jeff Lonsinger on his blog, Pastor Jeff’s Ramblings.

The Evolution of Adam by Peter Enns was reviewed by Randal Hardman on his blog, The Bara Initiative.

A Public Faith by Miroslav Volf was reviewed in the August 2012 issue of The Messenger.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

October ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 75% off.

Deconstructing Theodicy by David B. Burrell
Song of Songs (BTCB series) by Paul J. Griffiths
Under the Influence by Monica Ganas
The Mind and the Machine by Matthew Dickerson
John (Paideia series) by Jo-Ann A. Brant
The Fall of Interpretation by James K. A. Smith
Killing Enmity by Thomas R. Yoder Neufield
Finding Your Plot in a Plotless World by Daniel de Roulet
Second Corinthians (CCSS series) by Thomas D. Stegman, SJ
A Liturgy of Grief by Leslie C. Allen

 

The Weekly Hit List: October 5, 2012

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was reviewed in the September/October 2012 issue of Faith Today.

“The book finds its own pleasant balance between theory and practical realities, offering tips for managing technology as basic and important as the use of email to resolve conflict. . .; reclaiming Sabbath; questioning how busy, busy, busy we are and what we can do about it.

“This is a significant and readable book for any person of faith wanting to at least consider we might actually be servants of technology, instead of the other way around.”

To read the rest of this review, click here.

 

 

Quick Hits:

James K. A. Smith, author of Letters to a Young Calvinist, had an article in the September 2012 issue of Christianity Today: “What Galileo’s Telescope Can’t See.”

Eric O. Jacobsen, author of Sidewalks in the Kingdom, was interviewed on Christianity Today‘s blog This Is Our City: “Why Suburbia Really Is Affecting Your Spiritual Life.”

God and Charles Dickens by Gary Colledge was reviewed on by Glynn Young on his blog, Faith, Fiction, Friends.

The Huffington Post shared The Work Of the People video of Miroslav Volf, author of A Public Faith, on “the moralizing framework and the blissful innocence that is puzzling to many about America.”

The October issue of Border Crossings, our monthly e-newsletter, is now available.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

October ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 75% off.

Deconstructing Theodicy by David B. Burrell
Song of Songs (BTCB series) by Paul J. Griffiths
Under the Influence by Monica Ganas
The Mind and the Machine by Matthew Dickerson
John (Paideia series) by Jo-Ann A. Brant
The Fall of Interpretation by James K. A. Smith
Killing Enmity by Thomas R. Yoder Neufield
Finding Your Plot in a Plotless World by Daniel de Roulet
Second Corinthians (CCSS series) by Thomas D. Stegman, SJ
A Liturgy of Grief by Leslie C. Allen

 

The Weekly Hit List: September 28, 2012

Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung has been granted second place in the 2012 C. S. Lewis Book Prize by the St. Thomas Philosophy of Religion Project.

This book offers a new look at ancient and enduring Christian moral wisdom on the Seven Deadly Sins, their meaning for today, and possible remedies.

The C. S. Lewis Book Prize recognizes the best recent book in the philosophy of religion or philosophical theology written for a general audience.

For more information on Glittering Vices, check out this Christianity Today interview with Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung from 2009.

 
 

Quick Hits:

Psalms for All Seasons was reviewed by Father Richard Peers SCP on the blog Company of Voices.

Living into Focus by Arthur Boers was reviewed on The Community, a blog of Canadian Anglicans.

 

Ebook Specials and Other Offers:

September ebook specials are currently running for multiple Brazos Press and Baker Academic titles. All of these are at least 50% off.

Who Is My Enemy? by Lee. C. Camp
A Public Faith by Miroslav Volf
Christians and the Common Good by Charles E. Gutenson
War and the American Difference by Stanley Hauerwas
The Politics of Discipleship by Graham Ward
Christians at the Border by M. Daniel Carroll R.
Hope in Troubled Times by Bob Goudzwaard and David Van Heemst and Mark Vander Vennen