Review: As Kingfishers Catch Fire

Ever wonder what an award-winning Bible translator does on a Sunday morning? As Kingfishers Catch Fire (WaterBrook Multnomah, 2017) is a collection of Eugene Peterson's sermons and musings from his years as a church leader. Subtitled "a conversation on the ways of God formed by the words of God," this anthology of Peterson's homiletic hits seeks to develop our spirituality in a way of deeper holiness. This book is organized around a canonical structure, almost like a pseudo lectionary. It is as if we are invited into Peterson's church for front-pew seats on a Sunday morning service, eavesdropping on what he has to say to his congregation.

The initial impression—wow! Peterson is warm, didactic, and authentic as he interprets and applies the Scriptures. This book is targeted toward seminarians and pastors, but it can easily find a resonant audience from laypersons. A valuable resource for personal spiritual formation that, with God's help, can spill into how we shape those we shepherd.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review as a part of the Blogging for Books program.

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Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L. Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz. Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D. Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak....

Review: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

A revised version of the previously published NIV Zondervan Study Bible, the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (Zondervan, 2018) represents the best of biblical scholarship in a compact study Bible. It introduces Biblical Theology (BT), a discipline that is intended for readers to weave individual books and stories into a larger metanarrative that reveals God's redemptive plan through the entire Bible. To that end, this study Bible includes articles introducing BT and articles on theological matters. While the emphasis of this Bible may appeal to a more Reformed/covenantal audience, the contributors span a variety of theological traditions and are respected authorities within their discipline. The verse-by-verse notes—over 20,000—are insightful and suitable for determining the historical, literary, and cultural background of the text with a view to responsible interpretation of Scripture. There are in-text cross references, a concordance, maps, and useful charts. Each bo...

Review: Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic

In Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic (Zondervan Academic, 2020), Benjamin Noonan seeks to fill the gaps in recent scholarship in biblical languages. After briefly conducting a sweeping historical survey of linguistics and Hebrew and Aramaic studies, Noonan describes eight pertinent areas of advancement in Hebrew/Aramaic language scholarship: lexicology, stems, tense/aspect/mood, discourse analysis, word order, register/dialect, dating texts, and teaching biblical languages. Each of these topics represents a germane area of biblical Hebrew and Aramaic linguistic scholarship. Each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, a chronological and/or topical survey of representative thinkers and ideas, and a discussion of “the way forward.” Noonan’s text is an important reference for students of biblical languages, particularly those who will be conducting researching in Old Testament studies. Graduate and doctoral students will find an accessible bibliography of p...

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