Rebels Rescued

This new book is subtitled 'A Student's Guide to Reformed Theology,' but I feel it could as easily be treated as a Beginner's Guide. Something to consider giving to a person enquiring about Calvinism from a position of ignorance, albeit rather 'hip'! But Brian Cosby really deals very faithfully and unflinchingly with his subject. He litters it with many illustrations, and anecdotes which are mainly US orientated, but this does not blunt the essential thrust of his points. He goes over the '5 Solas' and through the TULIP acrostic and leaves reflection questions at the end of each short chapter. I was more impressed by this little book than I expected to be.

'Rebels Rescued' by Brian Cosby. Published by Christian Focus Publications. £5.99 p/b.

Jeremy

How God Changes People

How God Changes People is a selection of conversion stories from the Bible. Carine Mackenzie has once again written a book for young children (5yrs ish), not shying away from theological content and with plenty of accurate detail.  In her simple but direct style she writes about some of the well known and not so well known Bible characters whose conversion stories were wide and varying.  She is very clear about the work of the Spirit in each individual case and the God-given gifts of repentance and faith.  These truths and others are simply applied in a way that is relevant to children. The book also has a presentation page which makes it great for a gift. Recommended.
Lorna
How God Changes People by Carine Mackenzie, published by Christian Focus Publications, £6.99

Calling all ladies!

Our online ladies reading club is about to start a new book, so now would be a really good time to join!
The club started back in the summer of 2010 with a vision to help and encourage a discipline of regular reading amongst those who struggle to get through a book (maybe because of time constraints or motivation). We wanted to push readers beyond the 'easy reading' level to read books that they wouldn't normally pick up.  The idea was that through discussion and feedback via the club, a book could be worked through at a gentle pace.
Well, that was the original plan!  Here we are 2 years and 3 books later (yes, only 3 books - it is a gentle pace!) and I can certainly say that I have read 3 books I probably wouldn't have stuck with if it hadn't been for the club.  We started off with the Puritan Thomas Watson and read 'Great Gain of Godliness', then we moved forward a few hundred years to Dr D Martyn Lloyd-Jones on 'The All-sufficient God', we followed that by retreating into the Reformation era and have just finished Martin Luther's 'Commentary on Galatians'.
For our next challenge we are heading back to the Puritans.  'The Bruised Reed' was written in 1630 by Richard Sibbes and is a highly regarded treatise on Isaiah 42:3 'A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth'. I was convinced that this was the book for us when I read this recommendation by Lloyd-Jones:

I shall never cease to be grateful to Richard Sibbes who was balm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked and badly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to the onslaughts of the devil... I found at that time that Richard Sibbes, who was known in London in the early seventeenth century as the 'Heavenly Doctor Sibbes' was an unfailing remedy... The Bruised Reed quieted, soothed, comforted, encouraged and healed me.

I am sure that many of us often feel 'overworked and badly overtired' so I pray that this book will also be a profitable remedy to us too.

If you fancy joining, just drop me an email & I will register you on the blog.  The club is run on a members only blog so our comments and discussions can remain known only to us and there should be no concern about unwanted interference!
Another bonus is that you get a 15% discount on each reading club book...
Lorna