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Short Notes

Reviewed by Paul Beasley-Murray.

First published in 1989, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition (SPCK, London 2010.; 160pp; ?7.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06332 1) by David Adam has become a classic prayer collection, and is warmly commended.

The Black Church in the 21st Century (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2010; 250pp; ?14.99; ISBN 978 0 232 52792 6), edited by Joe Aldred and Keno Ogbo, consists of a series of thoughtful essays on a wide variety of issues affecting the black church, from Gospel music to politics, from conflict resolution to elders, from youth to health, from climate change to ecumenism. Why should white ministers be interested in such a collection of essays? Because the black churches may well be the key to the survival of the church in Britain!

Two more volumes have appeared of Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville), edited by David L Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor: Year C, Volume 3: Pentecost and Season after Pentecost 1 (2010; 398pp; ?26.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 664 23102 6) and Year C, Volume 3: Season after Pentecost 2 (2010; 347pp; 26.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 664 23103 3). Preachers following the lectionary will find these volumes a God-send, for each reading is accompanied by brief essays on the exegetical, theological, homiletical, and pastoral challenges of the text.

All that Matters: Collected scripts from Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ - volume 2 (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2010; 158pp; ?13.50; ISBN 978 1 84952 070 6), by the gifted communicator John Bell, offers a Christian perspective on matters of current social and international importance.

Dissent in Altrincham: Religion, Politics and a Touch of Scandal 1870-1905 (Author House, Milton Keynes 2010; 493pp; no price; ISBN 978 1 490 6950 6), by Stephen Birchall, looks at the religious, social, political and cultural life of Altrincham, a town on the south side of Manchester, through the lens of the Baptist church in that town - or to put it another way, he sets the history of the church within its social context. As a former minister of AltrinchamBaptistChurch, I found this a fascinating account. It is a most unusual in-depth local history, and is to be highly commended.

Ezekiel (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 280pp; ?23.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 0445 1. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Nancy R Bowen is one of the most recent contributions to the Abingdon OT Commentaries series, which seeks to provide “compact, critical commentaries” for the use of theological students and pastors. Each section of the commentary is divided into ‘literary analysis’, ‘exegetical analysis’ and ‘theological and ethical analysis’ - the last section in particular helps to root the commentary in today’s world. Preachers will find this a useful resource.

Tensions in Christian Ethics: an Introduction (SPCK, London 2010; 288pp; ?19.19; ISBN 978 0 281 05827 3), by Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs for the Church of England, is a primarily a student textbook, giving an overview of contemporary Christian ethics. A challenging read!

First published in 1980, Walter Brueggemann’s magisterial commentary on Genesis (Westminster John Knox, Louisville 2010; 384pp; ?16.99; ISBN 978 0 664 23437 9) in the Interpretation Commentary series has been republished. This is a welcome reprint.

Collected Writings on Scripture (Apollos, Nottingham 2010; 335pp; ?16.99 hardback; ISBN 978 1 84474 447 3), by the American evangelical scholar, Don A Carson, is very much a ‘library’ book and will be of most use to theological students. It contains eight essays the author has written over the years on such subjects as biblical interpretation; unity and diversity in the New Testament; and redaction criticism. The second part of the book contains a series of reviews of key books on biblical inspiration.  

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: Volume One Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments (Hendrickson, Peabody 2010; ?26.99; ISBN 978 1 59586 491 4. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by James H Charlesworth, is an indispensable tool for biblical scholars. First published in 1983 by Yale University Press, this is an unrevised reprint. 

It Worked For Us: Best Practices for Ministry with Children and Families (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 255pp; ?19.99; ISBN 978 0 687 65992 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Judy Comstock, covers a host of issues from family ministry to personal growth, from preteens to Special Events, from Special Needs to Technology. It is very much rooted in the North American scene, and therefore is of limited interest to British churches.

Preaching (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 224pp; ?14.99; ISBN 978 0 687 65994 4. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Fred Craddock, was first published 25 years ago. Filled with practical wisdom, it has become an American preaching classic. Let me quote from the chapter on study: “There are many terms to describe this activity. Study is an act of obedience: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind’. It is a time of worship: ‘An hour at study’, said the rabbis, ‘is in the sight of the Holy One, Blessed be He, as an hour of prayer’... It is a time of pastoral work: the entire congregation will benefit from the fruit of this labour. Study will protect parishioners from the excessive influence of the minister’s own opinions, prejudices, and feelings”.

Jesus the Fool: the Mission of the Unconventional Christ (Hendrickson, Peabody 2010; 208pp; ?10.99; ISBN 978 1 59856 358 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Michael Frost, Professor of Evangelism and Missions at Morling College in Sydney, Australia, argues that Jesus set out to shock his hearers, turning their thinking inside-out and upside-down. Frost is a gifted communicator, who majors on story-telling. I confess that the book does little for me, but no doubt others will rave over it.

Living by the Rule: the Rule of the Iona Community (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2010; 150pp; ?10.50; ISBN 978 1 905010 65 3), by Kathy Galloway, explores the practices and methods of accountability that each member of the Iona Community make part of their everyday life. A challenging read to leaders of local congregations!

New Challenges for Christians: From test-tube babies to euthanasia (SPCK, London 2010; 160pp; ?12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06280 3), by Robin Gill of the University of Kent, consists of a series of articles, many of which were written originally for the Church Times, on all kinds of ethical topics, ranging from genetics and stem cells to assisted dying, from abortion and fertility treatment to sexuality and families. A lively read, packed full of information!

The MissionalChurch and Leadership formation: Helping Congregations Develop Leadership Capacity (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 238pp; ?12.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6493 2. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Craig Van Gelder, is somewhat misleadingly entitled - it is not a book for pastors, but rather for college staff engaged in ministerial formation. The book consists of eight somewhat ‘worthy’ essays, none of which particularly engaged me!

A Spirituality of Survival: Enabling a Response to Trauma and Abuse (Continuum, London 2009; 164pp; ?14.99; ISBN 978 1 4411 9255 4), by Barbara Glassa, a Methodist minister who is a director of a project supporting survivors of sexual abuse within faith communities, makes the important point that survival is about ‘living above’ (sur-vivre) our experiences of abuse and trauma, as distinct from being overwhelmed by them (sous-vivre). However, like many books on spirituality, it develops a theology based on an imaginative rather than exegetical approach to Scripture, which from the perspective of those who have a high view of Scripture spoils the argument.

Ministry, Sacrament and Representation: Ministry and Ordination in contemporary Baptist Theology, and the Rise of Sacramentalism (Regent’s Park College, Oxford 2010; 239pp: no price; ISBN 978 0 9539746 8 9), by Paul Goodliff, a former Board member of Ministry Today and currently Head of the Department of Ministry for the Baptist Union of GB, is an important study on the developing understanding of ministry and ordination amongst Baptists. It is a very detailed scholarly book - not surprisingly since it first saw life as a thesis for a doctorate of ministry, and apart from the last third, which has been somewhat expanded, it has been little changed. There are three strands to the book: first, an analysis of written documents (including formal Baptist statements); second, an analysis of data gained from a survey of 316 Baptist ministers (representing 20% of the total number of accredited Baptist ministers); and third, an exploration of the influences that have shaped beliefs about ministry held by those who responded to the survey. This fascinating book shows that there is a good deal of ‘confusion’ in present Baptist thinking. Traditionally Baptists have had a very functional view of ministry, but, to my surprise, the majority of Baptist ministers today have a much more sacramental approach toward ordination. The author himself represents this latter view.  Although I am not persuaded by his arguments, this thoughtful book will now be essential reading for all Baptist students heading for ordination. The author is to be congratulated on a splendid piece of research.   

Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy: Engaging with early and medieval theologians (Apollos, Nottingham 2010; 398pp; ?19.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 436 7), edited by Bradley C Green, is a ‘heavy-weight’ volume in both senses of the word! There are essays on Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, the three Cappadocians, Augustine, Anselm and St Thomas Aquinas. This volume has a three-fold purpose: 1. To strengthen the faith of Christian students by helping them to understand the riches of the church’s theological reflection; 2. To introduce theological students to the key theologians of the Christian church; 3. To help readers learn how to think theologically, by seeing how the central early and medieval theologians thought. The contributors are to be commended for succeeding in their aim!

Jesus Wars: How four patriarchs, three queens and two emperors decided what Christians would believe for the next 1,500 years (SPCK, London 2010; 352pp; ?12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06333 8), by Philip Jenkins, tells the fascinating story of the early church’s battles over ‘right belief’. Unlike many books, this is an entertaining read! 

Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Services (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 97pp; ?8.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 0680 6. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by F Belton Joyner, offers resources for a series of biblically based sermons on “Jesus: God’s Unlikely Revelation”. The final chapter is devoted to ‘seasonal funerals’!

On Being A Disciple of the Crucified Nazarene (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 337pp; ?19.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6026 2. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Ernst Kaesemann, one of Germany’s great New Testament scholars in the second half of the 20th century, consists of 28 previously untranslated lectures and sermons delivered between 1975 and 1996. If the truth be told, this book is more of historical interest than anything else, showing, to the surprise of some perhaps, that a radical theologian could also be a passionate disciple of Jesus!

Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry (Augsburg Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2010; 167pp; ?13.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9661 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Melissa M Kelley, amends outdated ideas about grief with the latest social science on attachment, meaning-making, and coping; and then applies the findings to pastoral minister. In spite of the theory, the book is also intensely practical as is evidenced by the many case studies. It is, however, not an easy read.

‘He Began With Moses...’: Preaching the Old Testament Today (Apollos, Nottingham 2010; 256pp; ?12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 448 0), edited by Grenville J R Kent, Paul J Kissling and Laurence A Turner, is a splendid scholarly contribution to preaching on narrative (plot and character), from the Law, lament, praise poetry, Wisdom, the Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Apocalyptic, the Minor Prophets, difficult texts, and Christ from the Old Testament. My one sadness is that not one of the contributors is pastor of a church - yet again we have the academy telling the church how to do its stuff. Are there no pastor-scholars or pastor-theologians?

Jerusalem Testament: Palestinian Christians Speak, 1988-2008 (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 190pp; ?14.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6485 7), edited by Melanie A May, is a collection of statements issued by the Jerusalem Heads of Churches on the situation of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land. This is more a resource for the historian, rather than for the pastor.

The Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary: Joshua (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 257pp; ?12; ISBN 978 0 8028 2702 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Gordon McConville and Stephen Williams, provides an exegetical and theological treatment of a book that often troubles the modern reader. Themes dealt with include land, covenant, law, miracle, judgment (including the problem of genocide) and idolatry. An essential book to read for any pastor wanting to preach from the Book of Joshua!

The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2011 (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 423pp; ?16.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 0701 8. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by David N Mosser, consists of sermon helps and worship planning aids. Half of the entries are based on the Revised Common Lectionary, while sermon series make up the other half. The basis of this book is that “faithful preaching can and does happen when we use our individual gifts in concert with the insights of others”.

The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church: VII Our Own Time (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 734pp; ?24.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 1771 6. Available in the UK through Alban Books), by Hughes Oliphant Old, is a strange mixture of anecdote and analysis of preachers in “our own time” (i.e. post 1960). In his chapter “A new age in Britain”, the author looks at the preaching four Britons: William Still, John Stott, Dick Lucas, Trevor Morrow, and Nicky Gumbel. I confess that I found it an unsatisfactorily superficial treatment.

To Tell Afresh (SPCK, London 2010; 144pp; ?8.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06231 7), by Michael Perham, consists of a series of fairly basic Lenten lectures in which the Bishop of Gloucester affirms his belief in an amazing God, a community of prayer, transforming worship, a mission-shaped church, the ministry of the baptized, Christian values, a new society, and heaven on earth.

A recent survey asked which people, now dead, the British would most like to meet. Princess Diana was second and William Shakespeare third, but the clear winner was Jesus Christ. Jesus is the centre of history. This is the theme of Living Jesus (SPCK, London 2010; 176pp; ?9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06040 5), by John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford. Abounding in quotable quotes, this is a great resource for the preacher! 

A Heart on Fire: Living as a mystic in today’s world (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2010; 173pp; ISBN 978 1 905010 68 4), by Annika Spalde, a social activist who lives in a community which works to promote nonviolence, argues that mysticism is not for recluses, but has implications for the way in which we live our lives in the world.

Church Leadership: Vision, Team, Culture, Integrity (Abingdon, Nashville, revised edition 2010; 146pp; ?11.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 0302 7. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Lovett Weems, was first published in 1993. In spite of the rave reviews on the cover, the book lacks bite, perhaps because the author left the pastorate as long ago as 1985.

Is there room for yet another commentary series? I confess that this was my question as I looked at the first three offerings in the new IVP New Testament Series, which first were published in the USA some years ago by IVP Academic. However, as I perused these commentaries, I realised that there is indeed a place for this series, for it combines the best of academic scholarship with a good deal of pastoral insight. They therefore are ideal for pastor-preachers. I therefore wholeheartedly commend Philippians (IVP, Nottingham, British edition 2010; 204pp; ?9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 461 9), by Gordon Fee; Colossians and Philemon (IVP, Nottingham, British edition 2010; 225pp; ?9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 462 6), by Robert W Wall; and 1-2 Timothy and  Titus (IVP, Nottingham, British edition 2010; 271pp; ?9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 464 0) by Philip H Towner.

IVP are also to be congratulated on producing a number of helpful books with a focus on pastoral issues. Two of the latest such books are Surprised by Grief: A Journey into Hope (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 143pp; ?7.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 472 5), by Janine Fair, who tells how she dealt with the sudden loss of her husband, leaving her with two young children; and Just the Two of Us? Help and Strength in the Struggle to Conceive (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 191pp; ?7.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 475 6), by Eleanor Margesson and Sue McGowan, who both were given the diagnoses of ‘unexplained infertility’, and whose outcomes were quite different.

 

Recent booklets from Grove of Cambridge, unless otherwise stated all 28pp in length and all costing ?3.95 include:

What is the Spirit Saying to the Church: Letters from Seven Churches (Renewal 40, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 755 9), edited by Mark Tanner, is the last booklet in the Renewal series, with seven members of the editorial group sharing an insight into what they believe God is saying to the church in the UK at the present time. I found myself most challenged by John Leach’s contribution: “God is far less interested in the services we hold than he is in the service we give”; and we are in the business of creating “communities more like heaven through people more like Jesus”.

Preaching on Ethical Issues (Ethics 157, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 753 5), by Greg Forster, is a practical down-to-earth ‘how to’ booklet. In his introduction, the author makes the helpful point that the Latin word ‘sermon’ means a conversation: “It is important not merely to inform people intellectually what the Christian view about subject X is, but to engage them in thinking about it and acting on it”. 

Reader Ministry Today (Worship 203, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 758 0), by Charles Read and Philip Tovey, explores the changing shape and nature of Reader ministry in the Anglican Church. 

Julian of Norwich: Saying ‘Yes’ to God (Spirituality 113, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 757 3), by George Tolley, argues that the 14th century anchoress’ ‘Revelations of Divine Love’ are vitally relevant today.  

More to Life: A model for mission for the local church in the 21st century (Evangelism 90, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 756 6), by John Samways, tells the story of how in 2008 churches in Keynsham and Saltford joined together in a programme of outreach into the local community.