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Book Reviews

By Ministry Today Reviewers.

The Futures of Evangelicalism - issues and prospects

Craig Bartholomew, Robin Parry and Andrew West (Editors)

IVP, Leicester, 2003; 348pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 85111 399 0.

This collection of twelve essays covers a wide range of subjects from an evangelical perspective, including theology (McGrath), the Church (Vanhoozer), biblical interpretation (Marshall), biblical theology (Goldsworthy), mission (Chris Wright), ethics (Parry), a Christian world-view (Bartholomew) spirituality (Peterson), philosophy (Laughery), the charismatic movement (Scotland, Ruthven) and politics (Lazarus).

The tone of the book is set by McGrath at the beginning when he states that "the assumption of this book is that evangelicalism has much to reflect upon, much to repent of and a great deal to learn" (p.12). Similar openness is shown by Parry, who is brave enough to warn against the danger "of making an idol of our own interpretation of scripture" (p.160).

Stimulating though these essays are, it should be said that most of them have more to say about issues than prospects (to pick up words used the subtitle). This does not mean that they are not worth reading; they are, and many good things are said, but some have little if anything to say about the futures (note the plural) of evangelicalism.

Of those who do look ahead, Vanhoozer suggests that the way forward is "for evangelicals to recover the eschatological imagination" (p.80) and that the success of the evangelical church in the twenty-first century may well depend on whether "we can embrace others without making them like ourselves" (p.84). Wright suggests that "part of the dynamic of constant attention to holistic mission in the coming years will be a fresh vision of what it means to be human". And he says that "we shall have to work harder as evangelicals to articulate that in genuinely biblical terms..." (p.162).

The essays vary in length, from fifteen to sixty pages, and in readability, but ministers ought to be able to cope with them all with little difficulty, if any. This volume is a good overview of contemporary evangelical thinking but don't be deceived by the title.

John Matthews

The Gospel-Driven Church: Retrieving Classical Ministry for Contemporary Revivalism

Ian Stackhouse

Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2004; 291pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 84227 290 X)

Readers of the November 2004 issue of Ministry Today will already have had a two-page taster of this book by the Pastoral Leader of Guildford Baptist Church and a Board Member of Ministry Today. For us, this is one of the truly outstanding books of the year. In response to a draft copy from the publishers, I (PB-M) wrote: "Few books have stimulated me more in recent years than this penetrating analysis of present-day evangelicalism. Pastor-theologian Ian Stackhouse strikingly strips away many a charismatic shibboleth and in so doing points to what Christian ministry is truly all about. This book needs to be read by every evangelical church leader - as indeed by every student preparing for ministry".

The author, who spent many years leading a charismatic-evangelical New Church, argues that the movement, which has at its heart a longing for revival, has, faced with a continued absence of significant evangelistic success, lost its way and become what he calls 'faddist'. By this he means that, for a number of years now, the movement has been so desperate to find the key which unlocks the revival, that it has fallen prey to one 'instant answer' after the other. The result is a sort of creeping despair among the members and a growing sense of guilt among the leaders ("it must be my fault that revival hasn't come").

Stackhouse's answer is that the Church in general and the renewal movement in particular needs to return to the historic resources which feed spirituality and drive revival. He pleads for a rediscovery of expository preaching, sacramental observance, the full breadth of Christian prayer (not just fervent, heaven-assaulting prayer), and what he calls "the lost art of the cure of souls".

This is deeply reassuring stuff to those of us who, from a Reformed background, embraced the renewal movement with genuine hope, and then found it wanting in many of these areas. But The Gospel-Driven Church is also deeply challenging to all of us in 'professional' ministry. This is a book every reader of Ministry Today should get hold of, and commend to their colleagues.

Paul Beasley-Murray and Alun Brookfield

Changing Rural Life: a Christian response to key rural issues

Jeremy Martineau, Leslie J Francis and Peter Francis (editors)

Canterbury Press, Norwich 2004; 262pp; £19.99; ISBN 1 85311 599 1

The blurb on the back cover says that this book is "essential reading for all who live, work or minister in the countryside". I disagree. It is indeed essential reading, but for those who are thinking about living, working or ministering in the countryside, along with all who live and work in an urban environment, but who are involved in making decisions which affect the countryside and those who live, work and minister there.

For, as one such, it told me little I did not already know. But the book does reveal the ignorance and insensitivity of those whose decisions and policies affect our lives, along with dispelling most of the myths about the countryside which are fervently believed by people who only see it through a car or train window.

Changing Rural Life is a collection of essays by Bishops, all of whom have extensive experience of leading largely rural dioceses. Thankfully the list includes Bishops from Wales, Scotland and Ireland, which rescues the book from what might otherwise have been a self-indulgently English perspective.

The quality of the essays is high throughout, with a great deal of insightful comment on the realities of rural life, work and ministry. Each begins with a summary of the aim of the essay and ends with a bibliography to encourage more detailed investigation. There is also a helpful names index and subject index.

The essays cover a wide subject matter, addressing issues of image, expectations, the meaning of community, isolated communities, ownership, biodiversity, farming, GM crops, and ethnic diversity in the countryside.

As a rural parish priest, I identified strongly with comments such as: "Rural clergy are often aware that they are only as good as their last funeral" (p.14). I was also struck by the need felt by several contributors to try to break down the romanticism which often clouds a decision to move to the country. Quiet it isn't (sheep, cows, cockerels and combine harvesters make a lot of noise!) and isolated it often is. Yet that very isolation often is what creates the environment for the mutual interdependence of 'community'. One writer draws attention to the fact that, as rural communities become less isolated because of the use of cars, so the need for interdependence begins to disappear and with it the very sense of community which brings so many people to the country.

There is a theological 'afterword' by Rowan Williams in which he addresses the issues of our relationship to the land and the limits it imposes on our exploitation of it, whether for agriculture or tourism.

This is an excellent introduction to the issues which face those of us who minister in the countryside, and I commend it.

Alun Brookfield

Creation out of Nothing: a biblical, philosophical, and scientific exploration

Paul Copan and William Lane Craig

Baker Academic and Apollos, 2004; 280pp; £?; ISBN 0 80102 733 0

Current popular opinion, at least in the West, persists in seeing science and religion as being at loggerheads. It is, therefore, encouraging to have a book which gives a careful analysis of a topic of central importance in any scientific or theological account of the universe - where it all came from. Many people will be familiar with the first words of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". Many will also know, or have heard of, the 'Big Bang' theory of the origin of the universe, which is widely accepted amongst cosmologists. How are we to bring together these different strands of thinking about the fundamental question of origins in an intelligent and coherent way?

Copan and Craig, who are both primarily philosophical theologians, have investigated the crucial concept of 'creation ex nihilo' from a variety of perspectives (biblical, philosophical and scientific), and have concluded "the best explanation of the origin of the universe is that God created the universe out of nothing" (p.28).

Whilst applauding the subject matter and the endeavour, there were some features of the book which I found problematic. First, given the range of perspectives on the central topic, I wondered whether it might have been more successful as an edited book with contributions from scientists, philosophers and biblical scholars rather than a co-authored book. Second, much of the material was quite technical, and I found myself wondering at whom it was aimed: professional theologians, scientists or philosophers perhaps, but it makes tough and, at times, disjointed reading for someone with an intelligent general interest. Third, the conclusion was announced at the start, and each chapter progressed relentlessly through the arguments to what seemed like a pre-determined end. I would have preferred a presentation in a dialogue format which allowed the counter arguments to be put by those who actually believed them.

Richard Cheetham

The Just War Revisited

Oliver O'Donovan

Cambridge University Press, 2003; x+139pp; £13.99; ISBN 0 521 53899 8

This is one of the first volumes in a new series entitled 'Current Issues in Theology' designed to meet "a need among upper-undergraduate and graduate students of theology, as well as among Christian teachers and church professionals, for a series of short, focused studies of particular key topics in theology written by prominent theologians".

O'Donovan, who is Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology in the University of Oxford, takes a fresh look at some traditional moral arguments about war. He argues that, since the Reformation, the development of religious positions on war cannot be dissociated from the rise of legal theory and secular forms of justice and that at the heart of the issue must lie a proper understanding of the relationship between politics and theology.

The first half of the book comprises four lectures covering aspects of the just war theory which, O'Donovan argues, is neither a 'theory' nor about 'just wars', but "a proposal for doing justice in the theatre of war" (p.vii). Supplementing these lectures are four short papers which aim to address some of the practical questions, like counter-insurgency war, immoral weapons, sanctions (which are seen not as an alternative to war, but as war by other means) and war crime trials. Finally, there is an 'Afterword' which deals with the situation prior to the war against Iraq (the book was finished in Advent 2002).

This is a carefully written book that requires, and rewards, close attention, which is not to say that it is difficult. It deals with the issues in a coherent fashion and will be of great help to any ministers seeking to clarify their own views in this area and/or wishing to help their people to do the same.

John Matthews

Mere Theology: a guide to the thought of C S Lewis

Will Vaus

IVP, Leicester 2004; 266pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 84474 026 9

Will Vaus has done a masterful job in this comprehensive survey of the theology of C S Lewis - 'mere' theology in the Middle English sense in which Lewis used it in the title of his book Mere Christianity, meaning 'basic'.... The author is obviously extremely well versed in all of Lewis' writings, and includes copious references to his works as he summarizes his beliefs in doctrinal areas such as God, Christ, creation, the cross and in the more practical areas of Christian living such as marriage, war and peace, love and prayer. He stresses that it was axiomatic for Lewis that theology has to have a practical outworking in our lives, and one thing that struck the present reviewer was the sheer practicality of much of what Lewis wrote, arising clearly from his own wholehearted attempts to apply his faith to daily life. His wisdom and sanctified common-sense also shine through so much of what he wrote, as does his great gift of illuminating profound truths through story or analogy.

Very occasionally the author gives his own comment on some aspect of Lewis' beliefs, but this does not detract from his overall objectivity. He is clear and concise in his summaries of the various areas of Lewis' convictions, and on occasions points out helpfully the sources from which Lewis himself derived some of his ideas. He says that he hopes that his readers will not take his book as a substitute for reading the original works of C S Lewis. If it whets your appetite to do just that, as it did for this reviewer, it will have served its purpose well.

Maurice Markham

Sex and Love in the Home

David Matzko McCarthy

SCM, London 2004; 297pp; £18.99; ISBN 0 334 02946 5

This is a revised and expanded edition of a book first published in 2001. From the title one might think that this was going to be a light, even fluffy and romantic look at the ideal life that Christian couples should lead. Far from it!

The book is rooted in Roman Catholic social theology. It is well-written and argued but not an easy read. It deals fairly with a number of Biblical texts and requires a passing knowledge of Chrysostom and Augustine amongst others. The intention of the author is that "the everyday will be woven together with a theological 'stepping back'...life in the neighbourhood will be put in conversation with theological enquiry" (pp.8/9).

There are early chapters on the nature of love and marriage and at the heart of the book in Part Two on the social role of the family. McCarthy's thesis is that marriage and family flourish when they are part of an interdependent network of households in community. This becomes a critique of the personalism and individualism that rules in Western society and he questions the concepts of 'nuclear family' and 'family values' where these serve to uphold and justify small atomised social units rather than issue in the common good.

Part Three is a more practical application of the theory that "marriage does not set a couple apart in order to start a family, but puts a husband and wife in the middle of a larger network of preferential loves" (p.246). The additional material in this edition is mostly in Chapter 10 and includes sections on adoption, cohabitation, same-sex partnerships and divorce. The traditional stance upheld in the latter three will not be conducive to everyone, although the distinction between cohabitation as a step to marriage or as an alternative to marriage is helpful. Many might want to ponder his conclusion here that, "Living together represents our modern predilection to think about love apart from formal and institutional intrusion. It also represents our diminishing ability to sustain interpersonal commitments" (p.211)

A further edition of the book might also consider the role of the single person in the nature of household society which McCarthy envisages. This seems to me a serious omission. The book is well indexed and there is a full, but largely American bibliography.

This will not be a book to give to couples entering or reflecting on marriage, but one for the minister to work at and study, even if some of the pithy and attractive comments turn up in sermons, home group materials and magazine articles.

Chris Skilton

Take back your Marriage: sticking together in a world that pulls us apart

William J Doherty

The Guilford Press 2001; £?; ISBN 1 57230 879 6

This book, by one of America's leading marriage therapists, is intended mainly as a self-help book for couples, and as a resource for those working to support married people. Acknowledging the change in the social context of marriage over the last 30 years, the author expresses a view that warms the heart: "I believe that the core social and personal challenge of our time is how to make loving, permanent marriages work for ourselves and our children". Though clearly a 'how to' book the focus is not on skills but on how couples can 'take back' their marriages through emphasising their commitment to stay married come what may, by time together, marriage rituals (anniversaries, meals out, etc.) and by finding support for their relationships in a nurturing community. Doherty articulates views with which I as a marriage counsellor easily identify: "While our contemporary culture celebrates the consumer pleasures of getting married, it undermines our prospects for a permanent marriage. In a 'me-first' world, marriage is a 'we-first' contradiction."

Consequently as well as encouraging couples to prioritise time together, he also advocates the need to resist consumerism (if it's breaking, throw it away and get a new one), therapists who are not trained to work with couples and therefore may do more harm than good, the attitude of family and friends, and to focus instead on constructive ways to build a strong relationship (lots of tips here).

Though the book contains a lot of useful pointers, not all the cultural context is transferable (e.g. how many British couples have a supportive marriage therapist, or even an atmosphere supportive of strengthening relationships at their church?). Nevertheless, this is a useful resource to those ministering to married people.

Sue Clements-Jewery

When Marriage Breaks Up

Pauline Druiff

SPCK, London 2004; £8.99; 111pp; ISBN 0 28105 676 5

I was asked to read this book by an Archdeacon and did so with interest and from the standpoint of a Bishop's Visitor, the person who is called in to support the spouse when a clergy marriage has broken down.

It is an easy book to read and I found it so useful that I will keep it as a resource book. Pauline Druiff writes in such a fair and balanced way; she covers all the aspects of marriage breakdown and divorce, but bringing in the Christian dimension. She provides examples given by those who have been there, and those who have written on the subject.

For me the most helpful chapters are those dealing with the Christian side and the place of God, the faith issues and the 'Who am I?' dilemma. My experience has been that the response of the Church to the breakdown of a clergy marriage is mixed and can seem to the spouse as insensitive and unhelpful at times.

This book should be in the reference section of every clergy bookcase. Marriage breakdown is now more common among Christian couples, and the clergy are asked for help from members of their congregation or from colleagues. Reading this book would leave them better prepared.

The book shows how far the author herself has travelled since her divorce and is a good example of what can be achieved in the 'life after divorce' once confidence and hope have returned. Her advice is sound and positive and the further reading and useful addresses sections are really helpful.

Eleanor Grant

Spiritual Resources in Family Therapy

Froma Walsh (editor)

The Guilford Press 2004; £?; ISBN 1 57230 919 9

Leading family therapists in the USA have contributed articles to this volume, which comes at a time when counsellors and therapists in the UK are at last recognising the importance and relevance of their clients' spirituality. Timely and welcome as it is, inevitably its direct application in the UK is somewhat limited as it is written by Americans for Americans (it has sections focusing on the experience of Afro-Americans and Latino-Americans which though interesting are not transferable).

Froma Walsh in her foreword recognises that "spirituality is a powerful dimension of human experience... yet it has long been regarded as 'off limits' in clinical practice. Many therapists have regarded clients' spirituality as a private matter not to be intruded on and best left to clergy, pastoral counsellors or faith healers".

One might add that in the UK, until comparatively recently, spirituality was often seen as part of the clients' defences and resistance to change!

Walsh and the other writers in this book encourage therapists to be aware of their own spiritual journey, something which is very necessary, but possibly easier in the USA than here.

The book contains three sections, part I giving an overview of the importance of spirituality. Part II explores spiritual resources in families and the ways therapists can tap into them. In part III the spiritual aspects of the therapeutic process and journey to healing are explored, including ways of working with clients' issues in their personal relationship with God.

As a practising therapist familiar with the systemic way of thinking, I found this book both fascinating and informative. However, I fear it may be of more limited appeal to working ministers.

Sue Clements-Jewery

On Making Choices

Margaret Silf

Lion. 2004; 96pp; £4.99; ISBN 0 7459 5133 3

Decisions, decisions. Our lives are filled with them every day, from selecting which variety of crisps to buy from the supermarket, to choosing a life partner or career. How do we decide which choice to focus on? How do we learn to be true to ourselves? And can we change course if we get things wrong?

Margaret Silf seeks to make the process less stressful, more focused and more fruitful. She uses a few simple tools that combine the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions with the common sense of the 21st century and encourages us to trust the processes of our own heart and mind.

For someone like myself, raised in the traditional Christian mindset which taught that God had but one plan for your life and that if you did not find and follow that plan you were doomed, this little book was a refreshing read. I certainly recommend pastors to have a copy on their shelves; equally a useful book to take on a retreat.

Mary Brookfield

Short-term Spiritual Guidance

Duane R Bidwell

Fortress Press/Alban Books, Edinburgh 2004; 129pp; £11.99;

ISBN 0 80063 658 9

The practice of spiritual direction or guidance has grown from a fringe activity to an essential part of the ongoing lives of many ministers and laity during the past twenty years. This book explores an important aspect of this work, based on the assumption that many pastors are involved in short-term spiritual guidance, often for fewer than five meetings or sessions. Bidwell addresses the principles and practice that will best serve this process and does so by drawing on lessons learned from both pastoral counselling and spiritual direction (and he makes helpful distinctions between the two). His eight key assumptions of brief pastoral counselling (pp.28ff) are a useful guide for any minister.

A strength of the book is the way in which it helps provide a framework for understanding the nature of common pastoral encounters - with people who are finding praying hard or struggling over a significant decision to be made in life. His emphasis on the importance of allowing individuals space in which to tell their story and to be involved in seeing how this telling has implications for the present and for future action is helpful and will strike a chord with many. There are useful chapters on 'Contemplative Action' and 'The Art of Discernment' which, although brief, are backed up like the rest of the book with a good annotated bibliography and (very helpfully indeed) a bibliography of web resources.

For readers of the journal there will be some concern as to how well this book travels across the Atlantic, not just in its American idioms (it's unfortunate that so many illustrations feature diapers somewhere!), but in some of the culture and ethos which undergird the last two chapters on 'Spiritual Guidance with Couples and Families' and 'Discovering your Purpose'. They are not actually an essential part of the argument of the book and have the feel of additions to the main text.

There is plenty of wise advice and descriptions of good practice for those involved in pastoral ministry, but readers will need to exercise discernment to choose what is appropriate to their own situation.

Chris Skilton

On Prayer

Margaret Silf

Lion 2004; 96pp; £4.99; ISBN 0 7459 5132 5

Another book on prayer? Yes, but this one gives us very practical and down to earth advice, following such questions as who do we think we are praying to; where is the place for prayer; is prayer just for the good days, or dare we throw the book at God?

My first thought was what an easy little book to read. But that isn't really the point. Many of the short pieces of text are so pertinent they deserve a great deal more attention and I was therefore drawn to read and re-read this book.

When so many Christians make their prayer lives unnecessarily complicated, the author reminds us that prayer is relationship: "When we pray, we simply acknowledge our longing to be in right relationship with the source of all being; all else follows from that fundamental choice."

Definitely a useful addition to a pastor's bookshelf.

Mary Brookfield

Making Peace

Joy Mead

Wild Goose Publications, 2003; 93pp; £7.99; ISBN 1 901557 84 7

This book contains five practical workshops for groups or individuals, facilitating the use of words and poetry in everyday life. The titles of the chapters are Let us be different, Speaking peace, One-word answers ...or questions?, G-O-D, Coming home and Making peace. They are addressed using a mixture of prose and poetry which shed light, deepen awareness and inspire us to personal change and to engage with God and others to transform the world about us. The final line of Elma Mitchell's This Poem, quoted at the end of chapter 1, sums up the power and potential of this helpful little book: "Words can seriously affect your heart."

The Dream of Learning Our True Name

Kathy Galloway

Wild Goose Publications, 2004; 126pp; £10.99; ISBN 1 901557 79 0

This book reflects the fact that we encounter spirituality in the whole of life and not just in the nicer bits. It is just as present in the midst of painful divisions and prejudice, as it is in the midst of love and in the warmth of human relationships. Learning our true name is the key to wholeness and this compilation of Kathy's own poetry, helpfully combined with other works, shows us that walking a path of integrity is the beginning of learning that name. Some of the poems are printed against a background of maps of regions of the world where the search for identity has unleashed destructive power. But other poems indicate that the same yearning for true identity has within it the potential to bring us to God.

There is a section called Coming to Jerusalem, which would be excellent to use in Holy Week. The poem for Tuesday is called Author-ity, (sic) and two brief quotes catch its essence: "But without words, there are no stories..." and "I want to write my story in flesh. Embody it. Incarnate it." This is a good book for personal use and contains lots of good material for groups and worship.

The Green Heart of the Snowdrop

Kate Mcllhagga

Wild Goose Publications, 2004; 221pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 901557 85 5

This is a collection of the prayers and poems by Kate Mcllhagga, a URC minister and a member of the Iona Community until her death in 2003. It includes poems and prayers of gathering and beginning; creation and self; Advent and Epiphany; Lent and mothering; Easter and Pentecost; pilgrimage and endings and blessings. For Kate, the green heart of the underside of the snowdrop flower symbolised an aspect of God's purpose for our lives.

Her poetry reveals a passion for the integrity of creation, a right relationship with the environment, whether in the city or in the countryside, and with one another. This is an ecumenical book in the true sense of the word.

All three of these books will be a help to all for whom firing the imagination and finding appropriate language to express it is a daily challenge.

David Grainger

You've got to have a dream: The Message of the musical

Ian Bradley

scm press 2004; 231pp; £16.99; ISBN 0 334 02949 X

I have been 'entertained' by musicals for many years. In spite of having seen Les Miserables five times, numerous Gilbert and Sullivans, Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Evita, Whistle Down the Wind, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera (twice), Joseph (three times), Fiddler on the Roof (twice), The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Barnum, Starlight Express, The Lion King, Carousel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Cats, this book certainly gave me a very different aspect of them.

Ian Bradley is Reader in Practical Theology at the University of St Andrews. He is also a leading authority on the works of Gilbert and Sullivan and an active performer in the St Andrews University Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

The author points out that the majority of the West End theatres are filled with musicals and ask the question, 'What attracts people to them?' His answer is that musicals provide millions of people across the world, not just with entertainment and escapism, but with spiritual and theological values, a philosophy of life and an encounter with God.

After the 40-page introduction, the well ordered book takes six chapters to explore: 'Gilbert and Sullivan'; 'The golden age of Broadway'; 'The rhythms of life and the brotherhood of man'; 'The biblical superstars of the 1970s'; 'Les Miserables'; and 'Musicals of the last 25 years'. In each, he explores what the words have to say both within the context of the musical and within the context of God at work in today's world.

Gilbert and Sullivan seem initially to lack any discernable theology, but the writer suggests that even in the Savoy operas there were "perspectives that set the parameters and tone for the development of musical theatre".

In chapter 2, the author draws our attention to the fact that Rogers and Hammerstein developed musicals "with an emphasis on character and plot with an undergirding atmosphere of uplifting idealistic optimism." Listen to Showboat to understand what he means.

Chapter 3 moves into musicals such as West Side Story with its "full in your face realism and shattered dreams and focusing on the seamy side of life". This is the era of Oliver and Fiddler on the Roof through to Company (about the chic, intellectual, spiritually empty people living in New York).

This then leads to Chapter 4 with the rise of the biblical superstars of the 1970s. The quote from America that Jesus Christ Superstar was "drawing bigger houses than any church in town, and they're supposed to be telling the same story" is very telling. The writer points out that at least this musical raises questions `about the person of Jesus: "Who is he and what has he sacrificed?" The way that these are framed, and left unanswered, leaves open the key question as to whether he is the Son of God.

In Chapter 5, Les Miserables has 31 references to God, many of which are in the context of prayers, six references to Jesus, eight mentions of heaven and prayer and a theological statement: "To love another person is to see the face of God." The length and complexity of this musical may "lack the subtlety and philosophy that is found in Victor Hugo's 1,450 page novel", but throughout it resounds with "much meaty material for sermons and discussion groups".

Chapter 6 looks at musicals in the last 25 years such as Cats, The Lion King, Whistle down the Wind, Rent, Children of Eden and The Beautiful Game. This latter musical failed because "it was set too near home (in Northern Ireland) and simply demanded too much of the audience who expected, when they had paid £30 for their seat for an evening out, that a Lloyd Webber musical would have big romantic tunes and glorious sets."

In the final chapter 7, the writer suggests that there is a "message for the church", which should take seriously the fact that "one of the main reasons why musicals connect so powerfully with so many people is that they appeal to all the senses and offer a total rather than just a one-dimensional experience. They gain their impact through being performed. The same is true of religion and especially of religious worship."

A book worthy of a place in anyone's library, especially if you are willing to be challenged to explore new ways of connecting with people today.

David Small

Short Notes (Paul Beasley-Murray with Alun Brookfield)

Preachers will enjoy Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the book of Job (IVP, Leicester 2004; 111pp; £6.99; ISBN 1 84474 056 0) by Christopher Ash, the new Director of the Cornhill Training Course in London. A pastoral rather than a scholarly book, this is a great resource for preaching a series on Job.

Jesus and People Like Us: The Transforming Power of Grace (St Andrew's Press, Edinburgh, 2004; 159pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 7152 0820 9) by Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon, consists of a series of wide-ranging reflections on the final stages of the ministry of Jesus and his inter-action with his disciples. This is perhaps a book to recommend to the congregation for Lenten reading.

At first sight Beginning to Preach: A practical guide to preaching well (Tufton Books - Church Union Publications in conjunction with the Canterbury Press, Norwich, 2004; 41pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 85191 047 5) by Robert Beaken is so basic and so expensive for what it is, that I was tempted to dismiss it altogether. However, the five pages on 'Funeral Services' are exceedingly good, and deserve to be read by every new minister.

Every Anglican bishop, Baptist regional minister, URC moderator, Methodist chairperson, and New Church 'apostle' needs to get hold of Church Disputes Mediation (Gracewing, Leominster 2003; 553pp; £30; ISBN 0 85244 578 4) by James Behrens, a barrister and a mediator, who among other things is Chancellor of the Diocese of Leicester. With the needs of the Church of England uppermost in mind, the author examines in detail mediation practice in churches and denominations throughout the world. He also takes an in-depth look at the Westminster Abbey dispute between Wesley Carr, the Dean, and Martin Neary, the organist. Not surprisingly he concludes: "Dispute resolution within the Church of England needs to be transformed. Mediation provides the key to this process, although it is not the whole story. The Church of England needs to rediscover the Scriptural principles of conflict resolution. When the Church starts to resolve its own disputes in this way, it will be a witness to the world of the transforming power of Christ".

The Country Vicar (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2004; 212pp; £12.95; ISBN 0232 52546 3) by David Osbourne, takes a searching look at the life of rural clergy. It's a good read, livened by 'real' examples of ministry in the countryside and offers a realistic attempt at defining a model of ministry in a context where clergy are much thinner on the ground than they used to be.

David Self, a freelance writer, has provided us with a mine of (mostly) useful information about The Roots of Christian Festivals (SPCK 2004; 118pp; £?; ISBN 0 281 05681 1). Some of the festivals covered are questionably Christian, but the historical facts are fascinating. Did you know, for example, that, until 1752, New Year's Day was 25 March?

I guess that The Call for Women Bishops (SPCK, 2004; 196pp; £?; ISBN 0 281 05621 8), edited by Harriet Harris and Jane Shaw, will be of most interest to Anglicans, but some in other denominations may find it equally interesting, since the essays explore various issues such as the history of the role of women in church leadership, the nature of 'vocation', authority, and the significance of women in the missionary enterprise. Fascinating stuff, and a good contribution to the debate.

Devotees of Dietrich Bonhoeffer will welcome his Reflections on the Bible: Human Word and Word of God (Hendrickson, Peabody, Massachusetts, 2004; 115pp; £6.99; ISBN 1 56563 988 X: available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) which consists of a wide range of texts: letters, meditations, expositions, sermons, lectures and seminar papers, translated by M Eugene Bohring. The last two sentences of the book give a flavour of what it contains: "The only thing left is the decision whether we are willing to trust the word of the Bible or not, whether we are willing to let ourselves be held by it, as no other word in life or death. And, I believe, we can find true joy and peace only when we have made this decision"

Every minister should get hold of 23 Days: A Story of Love, Death and God (DLT, London 2004; 119pp; £6.95; ISBN 0 232 52576 5), by Francis Bridger, Principal of Trinity College, Bristol. This heart-rending, thought-provoking account of grief will undoubtedly become a classic. Divided into three parts, the first part recalls the 23 days the author's wife went from diagnosis to death; the second part is an account of the following fourteen months of grief; the final part consists of eight letters to a close friend, showing how the author faced his struggles with God. This is a book to read and then to commend - especially to those who are experiencing bereavement themselves.

Eggs and Ashes: practical and liturgical resources for Lent and Holy Week (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2004; 256pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 901557 87 1) by Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill is a great resource for church worship as also for personal reflection.

What are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, revised edition 2004; 366pp; £19.99; ISBN 0 8028 0971 5 - available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Richard A Burrridge, Dean of King's College, London, was first published by Cambridge University Press in 1992, and contains a long additional further chapter (50 pages) detailing recent developments in Gospel scholarship. The main thesis of this ground-breaking book is that the Gospels should be viewed as biographical documents of the sort common throughout the Graeco-Roman world. Essentially a work of scholarship, this will not be easy reading.

From Silence to Sanctuary: A guide to understanding, preventing and responding to abuse (SPCK, London 2004; 187pp; ISBN 0 281 05639 0) by Jane Chevous, who has been on the staff of the Centre for Youth Ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, is a well-researched guide to three areas of abuse in particular: child abuse, pastoral abuse, and spiritual abuse. Full of information, this is a most helpful resource book for church leaders in general, and for ministers in particular. By contrast Sexual Abuse: Pastoral Abuses (Abingdon, Nashville, 2004; 118pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 687 04374 3 available in the UK through Alban Books) by Len Hedges-Goettle, good though it may be, appears relatively light-weight. Furthermore, its usefulness in the UK is limited by its North American setting.

In Teresa of Avila: An extraordinary life (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2004 - first published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1991; 292pp; £10.95; ISBN 0 232 52589 7) professional biographer Shirley du Boulay tells the story of one of the most beloved spiritual figures in history. In the words of the author: "To anyone asking for proof of the existence of God, anyone saying, 'Is God there?' Teresa's life offers a resounding 'Yes'".

The Parish Survival Guide (SPCK, London 2004; 142pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 281 05665 X), by Martin Dudley and Virginia Rounding, covers such issues as time management, codes of conduct, leadership models, appraisal, use of volunteers, conflict, and crisis management. Written from within an Anglican framework, it will be a good resource for curates in their first year out of theological college.

The welcome third edition of Shine On, Star of Bethlehem: A worship resource for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2004; 354pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 85311 588 6) compiled by Geoffrey Duncan for Christian Aid and CAFOD has been expanded to include more than 50 pages of extra material. I was amused by the following anonymous poem, entitled 'If Only...: "If the 3 Wise Men/had been 3 Wise Women/they'd have:/asked directions/got there on time/taken the right presents/cleaned the stable/made a casserole/and left peace on earth". Needless to say, this light piece is not typical of most of the material in the collection, which contains a wide range of resources, from simple prayers to complete service outlines, and a variety of readings.

A Lifetime of Blessing: Benedictions for all the days of your life (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2004; 356pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 85311 573 8) compiled by Geoffrey Duncan sets out to be "a broad-ranging and imaginative resource that will encourage and inspire us to count our blessings". Although there is a section entitled 'Worship blessings', to my disappointment it did not contain any creative forms of blessings which I could use in my church setting. An interesting resource into which to dip, perhaps, but not immediately useful.

Anything written by John Finney, Bishop of Pontefract, is always worth reading. His latest book, Emerging Evangelism (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2004; 178pp; £10.95; ISBN 0 232 52496 3) is therefore to be warmly welcomed. Controversial will be his argument that today's preachers need to emulate Paul at Athens rather than Paul at Antioch - an argument based on research which reveals that "four fifths of people coming to faith did not find the cross and forgiveness the most appealing part of the faith". Thought-provoking is his appeal to churches to consider putting on worship services at times other than Sunday morning, for the simple reason that Sundays tend to be the day when many children have to play sport; when many children from 'broken' families tend to visit the other parent; when many non-Christian people want to shop; when many have to work. This is a book to read and to discuss.

Acts - Abingdon New Testament Commentaries (Abingdon Press, Nashville 2003; 392pp; £17.99; ISBN 0 687 05821 X: available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Beverly Roberts Gaventa belongs to the genre of 'compact critical commentaries'. Essentially theological rather than pastoral, preachers will find this takes some working at.

Holy Land, Holy City: Sacred Geography and the Interpretation of the Bible (Paternoster, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, 2004; 162pp; ISBN 1 844227 277 2) by Robert P Gordon, Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge, consists of a series of wide-ranging lectures on the Old Testament, mostly given as the 'Didsbury Lectures' in 2001. Probably of most interest is the lecture on 'Literalism, Determinism and the Future' in which the author takes issue, amongst others, with the literalist pro-Zionist thinking popularised by Hal Lindsay.

Michael Green has a happy facility for re-cycling his books and thus benefits a new generation of ministers. The Corinthian Agenda (Victor/Kingsway, Eastbourne; 190pp; £6.99; ISBN 1 84291 147 3) first saw light of day in 1982 when it was published by Hodder and Stoughton under the title of To Corinth with Love. The only difference with the new edition is that there is now a four-page conclusion. For ministers wanting to preach a sermon-series on Paul's letters to Corinth, this is a good buy.

Churches using Alpha courses may be interested in the following booklets, published by Kingsway of Eastbourne this year and all priced at £1.25, and all taken from Questions of Life by Nicky Gumbel: Resisting Evil (ISBN 1 84291 191 0), Why and How Do I Pray? (1 84291 189 9), Why and How Should I Read the Bible? (ISBN 1 84291 190 2), and Does God Heal Today? (ISBN 1 84291 192 9).

Praying the Eucharist: Prayers for Personal Use (SPCK, London, 2004; 92pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05635 8) by Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, consists of a thoughtful collection of readings and prayers to encourage communicants to deepen their understanding and experience of the Lord's Supper.

Justification: What's at Stake in The Current Debates (Apollos, Leicester 2004; 278pp; £?; ISBN 0 8308 278 1), edited by Mark Husbands and Daniel J Treier consists of a collection of ten scholarly papers given at a conference held in Wheaton, Illinois, in April 2003. The papers are divided into four sections: biblical theology; dogmatics in the present Protestant crisis; historical theology, with a view to Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed and Wesleyan understandings; and ecumenical considerations. Alas, although very worthy, the concerns underlying these papers are light-years away from grass-roots ministry. Here again we have an example of the gulf between academia and church.

In recent years Ignatian retreats have enjoyed great popularity. Two recent publications will undoubtedly foster this interest and will hopefully encourage many more to benefit from this rich resource for the spiritual journey. First of all, a new translation for the 21st century of The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyala (Gracewing, Leominster 2004; 112pp; £7.99 hardback; ISBN 0 85244 404 4) by Michael Ivens with a two-page introduction by Gerard Hughes. Second, Companions of Christ: Ignatian Spirituality for Everyday Living (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2004; 116pp; £7.99; ISBN 1 85311 598 3) by Margaret Silf, who provides a very accessible introduction and includes a number of thought-provoking exercises.

A Fitting End: Making the most of a funeral (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2004; 179pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 85311 602 5) by Hugh James is the latest of a spate of books on funeral services. This book, however, is better than most - it is written in a thoughtful, albeit interesting manner, by a practitioner (the author is a parish priest in West Wales). There is little new for the seasoned minister, but much that is of help to those beginning their ministry.

Somewhat wearily I opened 1 Corinthians (IVP NT Commentary Series, IVP, Leicester 2004; 343pp; £11.99; ISBN 1 84474 033 1) by Alan Johnson, a former professor at Wheaton College in the USA, wondering whether it had anything more to add than could already be learned from Gordon Fee's magisterial commentary on the same book. In fact, it abounds in all kinds of pastoral insights and contemporary applications. Preachers, buy this book, you will not be disappointed!

Sermons for the Christian Year: John Keble (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2004; 219pp; £14.99; ISBN 0 8028 2299 1 - available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), selected and introduced by Maria Poggi Johnson, is a collection of 24 sermons preached by one of the key figures of the 'Oxford Movement'. Anglo-Catholics and church historians will find this volume of particular interest.

Paul E Little was a superb apologist for the Christian faith. It is a joy to welcome the republishing by Victor together with Kingsway of three of his books: Know Who You Believe (Eastbourne 2003; 160pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 7814 38152 - first published in 1976 as Faith is For People, then revised and republished in 1987 as The Answer To Life); Know Why You Believe (Eastbourne 2003; 160pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 7814 39639 - first published in 1967); and Know What You Believe (Eastbourne 2003; 160pp; £6.99; 0 7814 39647 - first published in 1970). Minor revisions to all three books have been made by Paul Little's wife, Marie. None of the books are profound, but they are good to recommend for ordinary church people keen to share their faith.

Mary - A Catholic-Evangelical Debate (Gracewing, Leominster 2003; 240pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 85244 582 2) is an extended conversation between two former graduates of Bob Jones University: Dwight Longenecker, who terms himself an 'evangelical Catholic' and David Gustafson, now an Episcopalian. The conversation ranges widely over such varied issues as the virgin birth, the immaculate conception, the veneration of Mary and the rosary. It makes for a fascinating and stimulating read.

Two Worlds Are Ours: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism (SCM Press, London 2004; 287pp; £19.99; ISBN 0 334 02965 1) by John Macquarrie, the distinguished Oxford theologian, now recently retired, is an unexpectedly accessible examination of the lives and writings of a wide range of Christian mystics, beginning with Moses and Paul, and then moving down through the centuries and reaching eventually Henri Bergson, Rudolf Otto, Teilhard de Chardin, Jacques Maritain and Thomas Merton. Although Macquarrie would not describe himself as a mystic, he rightly argues that the goal of mysticism - the loving of God and the pursuit of his presence - should be the goal of us all.

The very name of I Howard Marshall of Aberdeen University is a guarantee of the best of evangelical scholarship. In New Testament Theology: many witnesses, one gospel (Apollos, Leicester 2004; 765pp; £24.99 hardback; ISBN 1 84474 047 1), Howard Marshall expounds the distinctive theological contribution of each New Testament book. This is a great accessible overview of the message of the New Testament and should be on the shelves of every preacher.

Those interested in the development of the legend of the three kings will undoubtedly welcome The Three Holy Kings of Cologne (Gracewing, Leominster 2004; 61pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 852244 407 9) by Hugh Mountney. This unusual book includes in particular an English translation of the 13th century account of 'The three holy kings' by John of Hildesheim.

The Cambridge Companion to Hans Urs von Balthasar (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2004; 282pp; £16.99; ISBN 0 521 89147 7) edited by Edward T Oakes and David Moss, is not for the fainthearted. It consists of a series of 16 essays by a wide range of theologians - Anglican, Catholic, and Protestant - on a 20th century iconoclastic theologian who many would rank with Origen, Thomas Aquinas and Karl Barth. Although a great book for the enthusiast, it is of limited interest to the average minister.

Some books are far too long, and into this category falls Transform Your Church With Ministry Teams (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids; 207pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 8028 2233 9 - available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Stanley Ott, a Presbyterian pastor based in Pittsburgh. Had Ott's argument been reduced to 28 pages (along the lines of a Grove booklet) I would have warmly commended it. But, as it is, this plea to transform committees into 'ministry teams' becomes somewhat wearisome, and all the more so when the language is over-the-top. Essentially, a 'ministry team' is "a center of Christian nurture as well as of service" - with the result that before addressing the task, the group spend the first hour or so in studying Scripture together and praying together. Personally, I am not convinced by the argument, but nonetheless the argument is worth putting.

The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church is a multi-volume exploration of the history of preaching by Hughes Oliphant Old. Volume 5: Moderatism, Pietism and Awakening (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2004; 620pp; £29.99; ISBN 0 8028 2232 0 - available in the UK from Alban Books of Edinburgh) examines the development of preaching in the 18th century. This scholarly work deserves to find a place in a college library, but it has little relevance to today's preacher.

The Second Intercessions Handbook (SPCK, London 2004; 158pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05649 8) by John Pritchard, Bishop of Jarrow, is a helpful resource for individuals or groups leading prayers in public worship. A church's worship would be greatly enriched by drawing upon material from this book.

Christians and Muslims: Pressures and potential in a post-9/11 world (IVP, Leicester 2004; 254pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 84474 060 9) by Peter Riddell, Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies at the London School of Theology, provides a survey both of the diverse Muslim approaches to British society as also of the diverse Christian responses. This will be a key-text for any concerned for dialogue between Muslim and Christian, and also a key-text for any Christian minister working in a community where Muslims are represented.

Human Rights and the Image of God (SCM, London 2004; 312pp; £18.99; ISBN 0 334 02959 7) by Roger Ruston, is a learned exploration of the relationship between universal human rights and the biblical doctrine most frequently linked to it, namely the creation of human beings according to the image and likeness of God. With this in mind, particular attention is given to Francisco de Vitoria, Bartolme de Las Cases, and John Locke. Perhaps not surprisingly a Catholic will focus on Catholic thought; however, it is a shame that no reference is made to the 'Radical Reformation', and not least to the first plea for full religious liberty by the 17th century Baptist, Thomas Helwys. It is true that the latter contains no explicit reference to Genesis 1.28, but its significance can scarcely be over-stated.

In The Way of Paradox: spiritual life as taught by Eckhart (Darton, Longman and Todd, 1st edition 1987, 2nd edition 2004; 133pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52520 X) Cyprian Smith, a monk of Ampleforth Abbey, gives an accessible introduction to Meister Eckhart (c.1260-1327/8), one of the great Christian mystics.

With a General Election in the offing, Votewise: helping Christians engage with the issues (Jubilee Centre and SPCK, London 2004; 116pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05683 8) by Nick Spencer gives a lively overview of the eight issues facing Britain today: asylum; race and nationhood; international order; education; transport and mobility; health and healthcare; criminal justice; and the economy. Each of these issues is looked at from a biblical perspective with a view to enabling readers to evaluate the promises of the political parties. An unusual and helpful read and a good book to recommend to one's congregation.

Theological Aesthetics (SCM, London 2004; 400pp; ISBN 0 334 02947 3) by Gesa Elsbeth Thiessen is an amazingly wide-ranging anthology from early Christianity to the present, with almost half the book devoted to 20th century writings. The volume covers such themes as beauty and revelation; the vision of God; the relationship of the senses and the intellect; meanings of signs and symbols; imagination, creativity and faith. A first of its kind, this is a challenging work introduction to a neglected area of theology.

What the Bible Really Teaches: A Challenge for Fundamentalists (SPCK, London 2004; 185pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 0560 3) by Keith Ward, formerly Oxford's Regius Professor of Divinity, is an all-out attack on fundamentalism, in which the author seeks to show that fundamentalists are not Bible-based at all. Subjects tackled include the Second Coming, Salvation, Evil and Divine Love, Sin and Grace, the Sacrifice of Jesus, the Resurrection, and Heaven and Hell. But if fundamentalism at times involves special pleading, so too does the author of this controversial book. This reviewer at least was not convinced.

Two further welcome additions to Tom Wright's popular 'for Everyone' guides to the New Testament are Paul for Everyone: Romans. Part 1: Chapters 1-8 (SPCK, London 2004; 178pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 281 05312 X) and Paul for Everyone. Romans. Part 2: Chapters 9-16 (SPCK, London 2004; 161pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 281 05706 0). These books should be on every church bookstall!

Welcome re-prints from IVP of Leicester include The Story of the Church (first published 1958, 3rd edition 1999; 271pp; £11.99; ISBN 1 84474 061 7) by A M Renwick and (the third expanded edition) by A M Harman, a concise introduction to church history and. Out Of The Saltshaker And Into The World: Evangelism as a way of life (first British edition 1980, revised edition 1999; 291pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 85111 646 9) by Rebecca Manley Pippert, a classic introduction to life-style evangelism. The latter re-print has also been accompanied by the issue of two Bible study guides ('Saltshaker resources'), written by Rebecca Manley Pippert for use in small groups, namely Spirituality According to Jesus: 8 Seeker Bible Discussions on the Gospel of Luke (IVP, 2004; £3.99; ISBN 1 84474 058 7) and People Who Met Jesus: 7 Seeker Bible Discussions (IVP, 2004; £3.99; ISBN 1 84474 057 9). In a British context these Bible study guides might possibly be used as a post-Alpha course for people who have still to commit themselves to Christ.

Courageous Faith Through The Year (IVP, Leicester 2004; £7.99; ISBN 1 84474 041 2) by Bill Hybels, compiled and edited by Keri Wyatt Kent, and Hearing God Through The Year (IVP, Leicester 2004; £7.99; ISBN 1 84474 042 0) by Dallas Willard, compiled and edited by Jan Johnson, are collections of short undated devotional readings extracted from the writings of Bill Hybels and Dallas Willard. Each devotional reading is prefaced by one or two verses of Scripture, and is then followed by a prayer or a reflection. To my mind, the balance is all wrong - it is as if the words of the 'celebrity' have more value than the words of Scripture. As a supplement to regular reading of the Scriptures, these books may have a place. They should not, however, be allowed to replace the regular reading of the Scriptures.

A Brief History of Death (Blackwell, Oxford 2004; 184pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 4051 0183 0) by Douglas J Davies, who holds a chair of theology at Durham, fails to live up to its claim to be 'a compelling read'. It is a somewhat bland survey, with little new to stimulate the average pastor.

Designed for students as well as ministers, Exploring New Testament Greek (SCM, London 2004; 236pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 334 02942 2) by Peter Kevern and Paula Gooder, both of the Queens Foundation in Birmingham, is written in a lively style and is an excellent modern introduction to those wanting to learn Greek.

Detox Your Spiritual Life in 40 Days (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2004; 201pp; £8.99; ISBN 1 85311 606 8) by Peter Graystone is a Lent book with a difference: amusing, down-to-earth, full of Biblical and other quotations, and simple. A word of warning: if the exercises are followed, this book could make a real difference to people's lives!

Speaking in Church (first published in 1989 by Churchman Publishing as Saying the Services, and now revised and published by SPCK, London 2004; 87pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 281 0569 5) by Burnham Hodgson is a basic albeit needful guide for people leading the prayers or reading the Scriptures. It also contains a brief addendum on 'Speech Act Theory' by Arthur Brookes. This is a book to lend over and over again.

Fans of J I ('Jim') Packer, currently Professor of Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, will be delighted to know that Hodder and Stoughton have produced new editions of both Knowing God (first published in 1973, 2nd edition 1993, 3rd edition 2005; 351pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 340 86354 4) and God Has Spoken (first published 1965, 4th edition 1998, 5th edition 2005; 174pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 340 86355 2). These new editions each contain a new, albeit brief, foreword. Both books reflect a conservative evangelical approach to Scripture.

The Money Secret (Hodder and Stoughton, London 2005; 210pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 340 86277 7) by Rob Parsons adopts a most unusual approach to helping people in debt by dealing with the issues in story form. Here is a pastoral tool with a difference.

Over 25 years in the making, the latest addition to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15 (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2004; 729pp; £32.95 hardback; ISBN 0 08028 2545 1) by Bruce K Waltke is in every respect a heavy-weight contribution to the Wisdom literature. Scholarly, and yet accessible to ministers who don't know Hebrew, this is a readable commentary which provides plenty of grist for the preacher's mill.

Abingdon of Nashville, whose books in the UK are available from Alban of Edinburgh , produce a wide range of books of interest to ministers. Some of their more recent offerings include The Passion-Driven Congregation (2003; 169pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 687 02305 X) by E Carver McGriff and M Kent Millard, which tells the story of St Luke's, a 'liberal' United Methodist church in Indianopolis, which grew steadily from 900 members in 1968 to 4000 members in 1993, a growth unhindered by a change of senior minister in that period. For the most part it is, however, difficult to draw parallels with the British scene; People Of A Compassionate God: Creating Welcoming Congregations (2003; 214pp; £14.99; ISBN 0 687 02324 6) edited by Janet F Fishburn contains a series of essays by five 'educators' who examined the process of change experienced by five different United Methodist Churches which resulted in their welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and 'transgendered' people into their midst; From Geography to Affinity: How Congregations Can Learn From One Another (2003; 237pp; £11.99; ISBN 0 687 022665) by the distinguished church consultant, Lyle E Schaller, who argues that networking with similar churches, whatever their denomination or location, is the only way in which denominational churches can survive. This is a book which every denominational 'brass-hat' needs to read, for it cuts across much traditional denominational thinking; and Radical Outreach: The Recovery of Apostolic Ministry and Evangelism (2003; 226pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 687 07441 X) by George G Hunter III, who issues a challenge to the churches of North America to be concerned for the non-churched, and not least the marginalised and non-English speaking immigrants. According to Hunter, 80% of American churches are stagnant or declining, a further 19% are growing as a result of transfer growth, while only 1% of churches grow substantially by conversion growth 'as people come to Christ out of the unbelieving majority'.

Three recent British books examine the British phenomenon whereby some 70% declare that they are Christian, and yet less than 10% are regular church-goers. Secular Lives, Sacred Hearts: The role of the church in a time of no religion (SPCK, London 2004; 134pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 281 05704 4) by Alan Billings, an Anglican priest based in Kendal, who urges ministers to take seriously the rites of passage when ministry is sought by so-called 'cultural Christians', not with a view to engaging in direct evangelism but rather in meeting the expressed needs of these non-churchgoers. The danger, however, of such an approach is that folk-religion is encouraged. Ambiguous Evangelism (SPCK, London 2004; 151pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05637 4) by Bob Mayo, Course Director for the Centre for Youth Ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, with Sara Savage and Sylvie Collins who similarly believe that direct evangelism is unhelpful when communicating with young people who are light-years away from understanding the Christian faith. Rather their curiosity has to be whetted by a more open-ended 'ambiguous' approach. Mission Implausible: Restoring Credibility to the Church (Paternoster, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, 2004; 214pp; ISBN 1 84227 295 0) by Duncan MacLaren, Associate Rector of St Paul's and St George's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, is essentially an in-depth sociological study, but has a fascinating chapter, 'Take Five', in which the author suggests five different and stimulating ways in which churches can stem the decline, including prioritising community over congregation and by investing in young people (if a church has to choose between a youth worker, an evangelist and a priest, go for the youth worker!), first by building 'plausibility shelters'. Of the three offerings, this third is by far the best.

Books for Lent 2005 include Out of the Ashes (CAFOD/Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2004; 98pp; £4.95; ISBN 0 232 52581 1) with contributions by Margaret Atkins, Chris Chivers, Christopher Jamison, Patrick Lafon, Jane Livesey and Ursula Sharpe - a lively, hard-hitting read based on Scripture; and The Power of Small Choices (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2004; 183pp; £4.95; ISBN 0 232 52530 7) by Hilary Brand, who looks at what science and contemporary culture say about human freedom and responsibility - less scripturally based.

Booklets from Grove of Cambridge (all 28 pages and priced at £2.75) include Gospel and Sacrament: Reclaiming a Holistic Evangelical Spirituality (Spirituality 89, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 563 7) in which Philip Seddon decries the way in which evangelicals have 'dumbed down' the sacrament of Holy Communion - a real 'cri de coeur'!; Creating a Culture of Welcome in the Local Church (Evangelism 66, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 562 9) in which Alison Gilchrist offers some fairly straight-forward ideas on how churches might more effectively welcome newcomers; Matthew's Jesus: the Message and Meaning of Matthew's Gospel (Biblical 32, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 564 5) in which John Proctor offers a fairly basic introduction to the Gospel; Developing Visionary Leadership (Renewal 17, 2004; ISBN 1 851740567 X) in which Richard Williams and Mark Tanner provide some fairly unexceptional resources for leaders; When the Church Says 'No' (Pastoral 98, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 565 3) in which Helen Thorp offers wise advice to those seeking to help people who have been rejected for office in the church, whether for ordained ministry or for local church leadership; Mission-Shaped Church: Missionary Values, Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church (Evangelism 67, 2004; ISBN 1-85174-569-6) in which Paul Bayes examines the recent Anglican report, Mission-based Church; Forgiving God (Spirituality 90, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 570 X) in which somewhat unusually Judith Crane explores how people who have suffered can learn to 'forgive' God for their suffering; Labyrinths and Prayer Stations (Worship 180, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 568 8) in which Ian Tarrant and Sally Dakin encourage their readers to design and set up their own 'prayer journeys'; Body Beautiful: Recapturing a Vision for All-age Church (Pastoral 99, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 573 4) in which Philip Mounstephen and Kelly Martin challenge the prevailing wisdom of tailoring services for people at particular stages of life; When Should We Divide? (Biblical 33, 2004; ISBN 1 85174 572 6) in which Michael Thompson makes the interesting point that every case of discipline in the New Testament is about how Christians should respond to the failings of individuals, not groups of people; Leading Others into the Presence of God: A Worship Leader's Guide (Renewal Series 18) by Chris Park would form a good study-guide for any worship group; Sculpture, Prayer and Scripture (Spirituality Series 91) by Liz Culling and Toddy Hoare is slightly esoteric in that few churches have sculptures to look at - the small photographs in the booklet do not inspire; Mirroring Jesus as Leader (Ethics Series 135) by Peter Shaw would perhaps more appeal to secular managers than to ordinary ministers, since it assumes familiarity with much modern management thinking; Liquid Worship (Worship Series 181) by Tim Lomax and Michael Moynagh is a post-modern guide to worship, in which individuals are free to combine the different elements of worship into their own preferred journeys; Ecclesiastes: a peculiarly post-modern piece (Biblical series 34) by Doug Ingram essentially argues that truth is in the eye of the interpreter; The Future of Ministry: Looking Ahead 25 Years (Pastoral Series 100) edited by Gavin Wakefield consists of five essays which together would form a thought-provoking basis for discussion in a ministers' meeting; and finally, and most useful of all, How to Develop a Mission Strategy (Evangelism Series 68) by Jim Currin, an excellent 'how to' guide for any church wanting to plan its mission and evangelism and definitely a booklet to buy.