Received for Review

 

Weinrich, William. John 1:1-7:1 (Concordia Commentary). St. Louis: Concordia, 2015. 863 Pages. Cloth. $54.99. https://www.cph.org/p-7379-john-1171-concordia-commentary.aspx Page, Hugh R. Jr., General Editor. Randall C. Bailey, Valerie Bridgeman, Stacy Davis, Cheryl Kirk-Duggan, Madipoane Masenya (ngwan'a Mphahlele), N. Samuel Murrell, and Rodney S. Sadler Jr., Associate Editors. The Africana Bible: Reading Israel's Scriptures from Africa and the African Diaspora. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. 358 Pages. Cloth. $39.00  http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/1786/The-Africana-Bible

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Received for Review

 

Hughes, R. Kent. Douglas Sean O'Donnell, Contibuting Editor. The Pastor's Book: A Comprehensive and Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 592 Pages. Cloth. $45.00. https://www.crossway.org/books/the-pastors-book-case/

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Volume Ten!

 

This post will mark the last entry in LBR/LHPQBR Volume 9, and the opening entry in Volume 10 of Lutheran Book Review. Visit Lutheran Book Review at  http://lhplbr.blogspot.com/

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Liturgy and Hymnody Review: 2011 GIA Hymnals

 

Worship-Fourth  Edition (Pew edition with readings). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2011. Cloth. $16.50. http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/hymnals_start.cfm (LHP) Worship-Fourth  Edition (Keyboard landscape edition). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2011. Cloth. Two Volumes. $120.00. http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/hymnals_start.cfm (LHP) Worship-Fourth  Edition (Bb instrument edition). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2011. Spiral. $90.00. http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/hymnals_start.cfm (LHP) Gather-Third  Edition (Pew edition with readings). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2011. Cloth. $16.50. http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/hymnals_start.cfm (LHP) Gather-Third  Edition (Guitar edition). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2011. Spiral. Three Volumes. $90.00. http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/hymnals_start.cfm (LHP) When I was on vicarage, I intended to visit every Lutheran and liturgical congregation in the community. I accomplished that goal, gathering brochures and bulletins from a variety of ELCA, Roman Catholic and Episcopal congregations, plus many other congregations of various denominational names. I was able to witness a Roman Mass in Latin and a Roman cathedral using an early version of Worship from GIA. With the revised Roman order of Mass (http://revisedromanmissal.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/43/Four-GIA-Hymnals-Slated-to-Coincide-with-Implementation-of-the-Revised-Order-of-Mass.aspx), there was a need for publishers to update their hymnals. Let's examine two from GIA. The wide range of GIA editors, both full-time staff members and those working on specific projects, have been working overtime to develop new hymnals for the twenty-first century Church. Each of these projects will reflect the high standards the Church has come to expect from GIA hymnals. Each will have a unique focus designed to meet the needs of diverse American Catholic communities. All are truly comprehensive hymnals (featuring musical diversity), two are designed to serve multicultural communities; and one is the first-ever cover to cover bilingual, English-Spanish hymnal (Publisher's press release, posted on August 09, 2010). Back in 2008 (Liturgy, Hymnody, & Pulpit Quarterly Book Review Volume 2, Issue 4, Angels' Tide, 2008), we reviewed the previous version of Worship. LHP Review Worship: A Hymnal and Service Book for Roman Catholics (Third Edition, Choir Edition). Chicago: GIA Publications, 2001. Cloth. $23.00. www.giamusic.com (LHP) Intended for Roman Catholic parishes, Worship, Third Edition is a unique thing—a hardcover hymnal instead of a disposable newsprint quarterly missal. That switch alone would teach a congregation much about our Christian heritage in Church music as well as catechize them toward a better theology of worship.   There are Lutheran influences evident from a Lutheran Worship psalm tone for Psalm 6, liturgical music by Richard Hillert (271, 458), the LBW version of "From Heaven Above" (388), Martin Franzmann's "Thy Strong Word" (511), "All Glory Be to God on High" (527), and even "Weary of All Trumpeting" (635). Lutherans will also recognize the Vajda/Schalk collaboration, "Now the Silence" (668). Martin Luther's most famous hymn appears as the three stanza "God Is Our Fortress and Our Rock" (576), a 1982 Michael Perry translation copyrighted by Hope Publishing Company.   Particularly impressive is an index of Hymns for the Church Year (1205), building upon the Lutheran contribution of the "Hymn of the Day." There are many hymns on the list we have in common throughout the Three-Year Series.   After an initial section for the Liturgy of the Hours, the psalter is supplemented with numerous canticles and a first-hand view of the Rite for Christian Initiation of Adults (100). I do not believe the Bible's theology of Holy Baptism supports such a piecemeal initiation process, but Lutherans can learn how to better connect a catechumen (youth or adult) with the congregation throughout and following catechesis.   Petitions to anyone other than God (109, hymns 421, 443, 693, 711, 1202, et al) should be abandoned.   Reconciliation (125) is a good Gospel word for "Confession and Absolution," yet penitents should be taught that confession is made for the sake of absolution.   The Order of Mass, Divine Service, begins on 229. Much will be familiar to Lutherans. While I personally like seeing the Nicene Creed beginning "We believe…" because that is the original text, the Apostles' Creed (239) should remain "I" rather than "We" for the same reason. Additional musical settings (and parts of settings) follow.   Worship is ahead of its time by continuing to include Latin-language liturgical music (340ff). Pope Benedict would be pleased. Even in Bach's day, Lutherans still used Latin texts (at least occasionally) for the Daily Office and Divine Service. "O Come, All Ye Faithful" (392) is also presented as "Adeste Fideles," memorably sung by Bing Crosby. "Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates" (363) is a much better text to pair with the tune TRURO than with the weak Easter text, "Christ Is Alive" (466).   A section for liturgical propers begins on 765. Users of LW and LBW will note similarities to the front of those hymnals. For Palm Sunday and the Triduum, Holy Week, resources are notably and appropriately expanded.   Prayers of the Individual and Household (1152) are extensive and are weakened only by invocations of saints and angels rather than Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   An index of Scripture Passages Related to Hymns (1204) will be a welcome feature for regular users of the hymnal as well as other Christians mining it for resource suggestions.   I also liked the off-white paper inside and ribbon to the visually and tactile-rich red cover.   QBR requested a review copy of this hymnal because it is a Choir Edition. It makes me more thankful for the hymnals I've used at worship over the years, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, and Lutheran Service Book, all hymnals with the majority of the music presented in four-part (choir-like) harmony. LSB was supposed to have a "Choir Edition." It probably won't ever appear. I'm still curious, though. Given the similarities between this Worship: Choir Edition and the final form of LSB, what would a LSB: Choir Edition have looked like?   Yes, there is a greater expense to this choir version than the usual pew copies of Worship, Third Edition, but I encourage parishes that are considering a purchase of this hymnal to buy all choir editions, or to buy only choir editions from this point on. If you buy them, and teach the people, they will sing! Harmony is a beautiful thing.   In addition, I would encourage GIA to include harmony parts on as many hymns and psalms as possible in Worship, Fourth Edition.   PJC With the arrival of Worship—Fourth Edition, let's consider how GIA got here: The tradition of Worship hymnals began in 1971. Worship II and Worship—Third Edition followed in 1975 and 1986, respectively. Together, they account for the greatest number of GIA hymnals used in Catholic parishes over these years, with hundreds of thousands of the latest edition still in use. It is fitting, then, that our newest top-of-the-line hymnal should be its fourth edition. Lots will be new! Unlike its two most recent predecessors, the Fourth Edition will be comprehensive, much in the style of GIA's RitualSong. While it will include a substantial collection of the finest organ-based hymnody, it will also include the best-loved contemporary music, and shorter "world music" pieces; a significant amount of the core material will have Spanish translations. The single feature about which we are most enthusiastic, though, is its wide-range exploration of hymn texts by modern writers—those writing for today's church. For immediate accessibility, a majority of these hymns will be matched with well-known, well-loved tunes.   The five editors—Kelly Dobbs Mickus, senior editor, Robert Batastini, Fr. James Chepponis, Charles Gardner, and Fr. Ronald Krisman—have devoted a tremendous amount of energy and expertise to assembling an outstanding body of hymns matched to each Sunday of the three-year Lectionary. While these hymns will be distributed thorughout the book according to thematic category, the Hymn of the Day calendar will point directly to an exceptionally appropriate hymn for each Sunday and solemnity of the church year, with tunes that are likely to be familiar. (Publisher's press release) We had the opportunity to see different volumes of the Worship library than last time. While we appreciated a fuller music edition in the choir edition of W3, imagining what a Lutheran Service Book: Choir Edition could have been, the Three-Year Lectionary Readings printed in the back of our review pew copy of W4 remind us of the days when German Lutheran hymnals had room for the Historic Lectionary readings, the creeds, Small Catechism, and an account of the destruction of Jerusalem. Having God's Word in the ears and eyes of His people at liturgy is a great thing! Lutherans will note a couple hymns by Lutheran other Lutherans including "This Is the Feast" and "A Mighty Fortress." Hymns for the Church Year (1231ff) profitably carry beyond Lutheranism the idea of the Hymn of the Day. I am curious/concerned about a Dakota hymn included in the collection (575). The text needs context and more Christian specificity to avoid any appearance of unionism or syncretism. The durably-constructed organ edition has guitar chords on some hymns, songs, and liturgical pieces. It could be used by as a lead sheet edition by a keyboard player, guitarist, or even by an LCMS guitarist in conjunction with Lutheran Service Book. (Search for hymn tune titles to find music in common between the two hymnals.)   In the same way the available Bb edition for trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax could be used in conjunction with LSB for Lutheran worship. We appreciated reading the following in the introduction to the comprehensive spiral-bound single volume: Two principal approaches have been used in developing this collection. For classical, organ-based hymns, the instrumental part is most often in the form of a trumpet descant. For piano/guitar-based songs, the instrumental part is most often conceived as woodwind material. All parts, of course, are theoretically playable on any melody instrument, subject to range and technical feasibility. In order to accommodate the range of various instruments, the parts have frequently been printed in octaves. As a trumpet player, I will make use of the Bb Instrument volume of Worship: Fourth Edition! As I am a Lutheran reviewing a worship resource intended for Roman Catholic parishes, my previous criticisms and commendations (noted above in our 2008 review) are hereby repeated. Gather—Third Edition   Though having a somewhat shifted emphasis from Worship, our Gather hymnals, especially the green Gather Comprehensive, have enjoyed unprecedented adoption by parishes across America for a single hymnal edition.  Our plans to produce a revised version of Gather Comprehensive—Second Edition have prompted some feedback, and we are now planning instead a new edition called Gather—Third Edition. Gather—Third Edition will contain many new and revised Mass settings to coordinate with the revised Order of Mass. In addition, GIA wishes to take advantage of the many new titles which have been published since 2004 (when Gather Comprehensive—Second Edition was released) by including 75 new titles in the section of hymns and songs. This third edition of Gather will retain the balance of the two previous editions of Gather Comprehensive: approximately 70% piano/guitar based titles and 30% organ-based. (Publisher's press release) The above gives a good summary of what makes Gather distinct from Worship. Our pew edition also had the Three-Year Lectionary readings. Core hymns were similar to W4. The different composition of Gather meant that we were given a guitar chord edition, a resource that would also function well as a lead sheet edition for a pianist. And, as I mentioned above with Worship's organist edition, could be used in conjunction with LSB in my tradition and congregation. A few other observations are in order. the Gather guitar edition makes up three spiral-bound volumes! Thinking creatively, this could be purchased and used as a Large Print edition of Gather! For hymns and songs in difficult (for guitar) keys, capo chords are suggested. Perhaps, for Gather: Fourth Edition, the melody could be provided in the capo chord keys for convenience on select songs and hymns. Gather does provide some hymns and songs in better keys for singing and accompaniment than my LSB. I'll take them to my music shelf at church for future use there on Sundays, Wednesdays, and festivals! Last year, we reviewed (http://lhpqbr.blogspot.com/2014/03/quick-summaries-marathon-look-at.html) an additional GIA hymnal: Lead Me, Guide Me—Second Edition This revision has been a long time coming, and we guarantee it will be worth the wait. The project began some years ago with a discernment meeting chaired by Archbishop Wilton Gregory and attended by a distinguished group of African-American clergy, liturgists, musicians, and GIA staff.  It gave focus to the revision and spwned a core committee consisting of Msgr. Raymond East, chariman; Robert Batastini, project coordinator; Dr. James Abbington; Marcia Berry; Richard Cheri; Dr. Norah Duncan IV; Sr. Joan Angela Edwards, SSM; Kenneth Louis; and Fr. J-Glenn Murray, SJ. While the original Lead Me, Guide Me was subtitled "The African-American Catholic Hymnal," the new edition recognizes that many communities, while being predominantly African-American, are in fact significantly multicultural. Lead, Me Guide Me II will be significantly expanded from the original in that it will include the full breadth of African American church music that is suitable for Catholic worship, a representative selection of music from Africa and the Caribbean, and a large cross-section of the common Catholic repertoire of our day. The latest music editing advances have enabled significant strides toward printing the music to reflect performance practices in the African American church more than in the first edition of this hymnal. The new LMGM will have a complete three-year set of Lectionary psalms composed by some of today's finest African American composers. (Publisher's press release) One of the great blessings of all three hymnals is a common musical setting for Mass. We have now seen it in Lead Me, Guide Me II (98ff), Worship IV (202ff), and Gather III (166ff). We would love to see how this is presented in GIA's bilingual hymnal. This is good, right, and salutary! Generations of Lutherans in America have benefited from the Common Service and a few common ways of singing the texts of the liturgy. I could imagine an edited version of this GIA common setting for the Order of Mass. being made available for Lutheran, Anglican, and Episcopal congregations by GIA in the near future.   Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, District Education Chairman and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. A graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the forthcoming LSB Hymnal Companion, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. He is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, and making music.

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Quick Summaries for November 2015: Hymns, Chants, and Spiritual Songs

 

Anslie, John, composer. English Proper Chants (Melody Edition). Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2015. 230 Pages. Paper. $24.95. www.litpress.org (L) Anslie, John, composer. English Proper Chants (Accompaniment Edition). Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2015. 229 Pages. Spiral. $29.95. www.litpress.org (L) Rowthorn, Jeffry and Russell Schulz-Widmar, Compilers and Editors. Sing of the World Made New: Hymns of Justice, Peace and Christian Responsibility. Carol Stream, IL/Chicago: Hope Publishing Company/GIA Publications, 2014. 297 Pages. Spiral. $18.95. http://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=20518 (H) Schalk, Carl. Sing with All the Saints: Twenty-one New Hymns and Carols for Congregation, Choir, and Accompaniment. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2014. 59 Pages. Staple. $12.00. http://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=23480 (H) Jones, Jacque B. Songs Unchanged, Yet Ever-Changing: 50 Hymn Texts. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2014. 128 Pages Spiral. $19.95.  http://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=23892 (H) Quick Summaries are pithy paragraph-long reviews of releases that cross our desk. These are reviews for when you don't have all day  to decide whether a resource is worth your time, money, storage space, or trouble.    +/ Possibly useful to liturgical, confessional Lutheran congregations, English Proper Chants provides Entrance Antiphons and Communion Antiphons for each liturgical proper for Mass in the Roman Missal. LCMS cantors, pastors, or choirs could sing the simple yet sublime antiphons to bookend Psalms used as the Introit, Gradual, or Offertory of the Day. Intended for the Three-Year Lectionary, they could be adapted for the Historic One Year Lectionary. Accompaniment is available and beautiful, yet optional.  This is an intentional "adaptation of Gregorian chant for use with English texts..." / I found more to appreciate than I expected to in Sing of the World Made New: Hymns of Justice, Peace and Christian Responsibility. Six sections make up the spiral-bound collection: Creator and Creation, Peace and Reconciliation, Justice and Human Need, Dignity and Diversity, Commitment and Service, Hope and Expectation. I was familiar with a few Taize titles that I could/would use, a beloved (yet difficult in so many ways) text/tune "Weary of All Trumpeting," the familiar "Hail to the Lord's Anointed," "God of Grace and God of Glory," "For the Fruit of All Creation," "For All the Faithful Women," "When Israel Was in Egypt's Land," and "How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord." The hymns I have cited above are currently in Lutheran Service Book or one of its predecessor hymnals or supplements. Some were included in the current LCMS hymnal because of their confession of the core of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ and the Gospel. This collection may yet yield a few tunes or texts that wear well and fill gaps in current hymnals, but many are far too mainline progressive or politically correct for my taste. - /  Songs Unchanged, Yet Ever-Changing: 50 Hymn Texts by Jacque B. Jones includes strong hymns on historic, Biblical Christian themes like "I Am the Bringer of Living Water,"  "Peace of God Beyond our Knowing," and an unique hymn about Peter from his denials of Christ to restoration by Christ, "Seeking Warmth from Charcoal Blazing." Such hymns are in the same collection as others celebrating the ordination of women in the United Methodist Church (102-3), "celebrating religious diversity and encouraging interfaith communications" (24-5), and an overall sensitivity to "social justice issues" (4, passim).      + GIA is to be commended for publishing the hymns and carols of Carl Schalk. The latest collection, Sing with All the Saints, features 21 hymns and carols with texts by Herbert Brokering, William Cowper, Timothy Dudley-Smith, Paul Gerhardt, John Mason Neale, David Rogner, and Jaroslav Vajda, among many others.  Schalk succeeds as a hymn tune composer because of his memorable melodies that strike the right balance between pleasing predictability and Brokering-like singable surprise. My favorite was the Gerhardt text, "Commit Thy Way, Confiding," set to Schalk's WEST SEATTLE. Pick up a set for your choir!   Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, District Education Chairman and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. A graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the forthcoming LSB Hymnal Companion, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. He is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, and making music.

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Quick Summaries for November 2015: Theology and Prayer

Farrel, Bill. 7 Simple Skills for Every Man: Success in Relationships, Work , and Your Walk with God. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2014. Paper. $10.99. http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/7-simple-skillstm-for-every-man-2014/ (LHPN) Aageson, Julie K., John Borelli, John Klassen, Derek Nelson, Martha Storz, Jessica Wrobleski. One Hope: Re-Membering the Body of Christ. Minneapolis and Collegeville: Augsburg Fortress and Liturgical Press, 2015. Paper. $12.00. http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/20289/One-Hope-Re-Membering-the-Body-of-Christ?c=285662 http://www.litpress.org/Products/4812/one-hope.aspx (LHP) Rigney, Joe. Foreword by John Piper. The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 271 Pages. Paper. $16.99. http://www.crossway.org/books/the-things-of-earth-tpb/ (LHP)  Wolterstorff, Nicholas The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015. 180 Pages. Paper. $20.00. http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/7249/the-god-we-worship.aspx (LHPN). Wayne, Israel. Questions Jesus Asks: Where Divinity Meets Humanity. Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 2015. 186 Pages. $12.99. www.newleafpress.net (N QS) Thorn, Joe. Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 140 Pages. Paper. $10.99. http://www.crossway.org/books/experiencing-the-trinity-tpb/ (LHP) Philip, William. Foreward by Alistair Begg. Why We Pray. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 109 Pages. Paper. $11.99. http://www.crossway.org/books/why-we-pray-tpb/ (LHP)  Rigney, Joe. Foreword by John Piper. The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 271 Pages. Paper. $16.99. http://www.crossway.org/books/the-things-of-earth-tpb/ (LHP) Olson, Oliver K. Introduction by Mark C. Mattes. Reclaiming Lutheran Confirmation (Blue Papers Two). Minneapolis: Lutheran Press, 2015. 65 Pages. Paper. www.lutheranpress.com (PN) DeYoung, Kevin. What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 160 Pages. Paper. $12.99. www.crossway.org (LHP) Quick Summaries are pithy paragraph-long reviews of releases that cross our desk. These are reviews for when you don't have all day  to decide whether a resource is worth your time, money, storage space, or trouble.   +/ Farrel is a prolific author. That's not always a good thing. Personally, I prefer quality over quantity. That said, Farrel's new title could provide ample, encouraging, and positive discussion topics for men already in relationship with one another, and could help bridge the gap between acquaintances or those new to a men's Bible class group. Decision Theology (16) must be rejected based on the complete context of Joshua 24, John 15:16 in context, and Romans' description of human nature. I can appreciate the point of the joke on 58ff, but it becomes a distraction away from the point of planning. Readers could benefit from this title. Consider alternatives from Concordia and Lutheran Hour Ministries. - - An unsolicited title, One Hope failed to give me hope in the current incarnation of the ecumenical movement. Co-published by Liturgical Press and Augsburg Fortress, I find the title Biblically, theologically, practically, and confessionally inadequate for use by a Confessional Lutheran. Even signers of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (5) will be dissatisfied at the lack of depth, naive expectations of joint prayer (and possible sharing of the Sacrament of the Altar), childish discussions of prayer, and content that is disrespectful of the Lutheran Reformation and the Council of Trent. To paraphrase Luther himself, "Even a seven-year-old child" could tell you this title is not worth your time nor the paper it is printed on. I am personally embarrassed for both publishers given the good I have seen from both historically. / Also unsolicited, Wolterstorff's The God We Worship: an exploration of liturgical theology will encourage confessional Lutherans to persist in faithfully using our evangelically-edited received version of the historic western Christian liturgies for Divine Service and the Daily Office. "No liturgy has ever been composed from scratch." He will help readers to mine the truth of his simple sentence. Readers will be challenged by references to liberal theologians (2), and will have their patience tested with a Webster definition for worship (23) instead of better ones from Scripture, and talk of Eucharist as memorial (147ff). This title deserves a second read from this reviewer and will receive one in the near future. Look for more from me on this title "After Further Review..."  /+ We previously reviewed another title by author Israel Wayne in Quick Summaries (http://lhpqbr.blogspot.com/2014/07/quick-summaries-mark-questions.html). Our previous experience guided our expectations with this title to be as modest. We commend the author's encouragement toward proper priorities (43ff), yet we will always reject any act of the human will toward accepting Christ (47) as unacceptable and contrary to the Biblical teaching of conversion (see Acts 2). Discussions about healing (51) and demons (73) are too brief and ambiguous to be truly helpful. The author shines in a brief overview of proper vs. improper Bible interpretation (116ff) and in positively quoting Dr. Luther (132). Law and Gospel need to be more carefully distinguished throughout, especially on 171-2. + Joe Thorn's Crossway title, Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God, was one of the better titles we read for this QS. The introductory comments (19) on the depth of our sinfulness in the light of Scripture could have been much stronger and clearer. The forgiveness of sins in Christ alone is central and clear to this 140-page paperback as well as the doctrine of the Trinity. Thorn succeeds in making a book about the attributes/qualities of God interesting, catechetically helpful and comprehensible. The Father and Son are primarily identified by Who each Person is and what each Person does. The Holy Spirit is primarily described by active verbs. Insightful, concise, and helpful. + We pray because the Lord commands us to pray. That's law. We also pray because Jesus invites us to pray. We address Our Father as dear children address their dear father. William Philip's treatise on prayer "focuses us on four blessing-filled reasons that will help us want to pray" (back cover, emphasis original). We pray because 1) God Is a Speaking God; 2) We are Sons of God; 3) God Is a Sovereign God; 4) We Have the Spirit of God. Writing from Glasgow, Scotland, Lutherans will note Calvinist terminology in #3. The insights of this title, noted by Foreword author Alistair Begg, are worth the read. I will share Philip's critique of unbiblical ideas about prayer by Christians with my Sunday morning Bible class.  + Luther spoke of the "things of earth" as good First-Article-of-the-Apostles'-Creed gifts. Rigney, influenced by John Piper, has as his goal to remind Christians that every good and perfect gift comes from heaven above. Jump to page 26. I reacted negatively to "Christian Hedonism" when I was at the university. I believe this terminology may be too-easily misunderstood. I'm also a Lutheran, not a Calvinist reader/reviewer (cf. 27). The core of the book is "The Gospel Solution to Idolatry," (95-115). The solution of Scripture and the author is to not confuse Creator with His gifts of creation. Ultimately, I read this as a book of vocation. Christians should embrace who they are in Christ and should keep all of the created gifts of God in use according to their intended vocations.   +/ A necessary book, Oliver Olson's Reclaiming Lutheran Confirmation is a worthy second Blue Paper following Reclaiming the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage (http://lhpqbr.blogspot.com/2010/01/liturgy-hymnody-review-reclaiming.html). Like other reviewers, I found much of value for LCMS Lutherans to contemplate. I did, however, feel at times that I was not the original intended audience for this publication, that I was listening in to the latest episode in a generations-long conversation among Lutherans of the ELCA, its predecessor bodies, and its "successor" bodies. It helped me better understand a grown woman who is a member of my congregation who asked for a "Catechism Class." She had received a "Confirmation Class" back in her youth, but learned little about Luther's Small Catechism and nothing of his Large Catechism. Our class will conclude by Christmas. "Christians must be taught." Luther knew this when he wrote the 95 Theses and provided the tools to future generations in his catechisms. ++ If your budget allows for only one of the brief titles reviewed here, make What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality by Kevin DeYoung the title you buy. Last summer, on the Sunday after the revolutionary Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex so-called "marriage" in the United States, I made extensive use of Appendix 3 in my sermon. The main question of the book is this: Is homosexual activity a sin that must be repented of, forsaken, and forgiven, or, given the right context and commitment, can we consider same-sex sexual intimacy a blessing worth celebrating and solemnizing. The author answers based on Scripture, not political correctness. A final pithy sentence: ""The challenge before the church is to convince ourselves as much as anyone that believing the Bible does not make us bigots, just as reflecting the times does not make us relevant" (143). The Crossway website will provide you with a free study guide for the book. Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, District Education Chairman and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. A graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the forthcoming LSB Hymnal Companion, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. He is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, and making music.

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Received for Review

 

Baue, Fred. Lutheran Service Book: Guitar Accompaniment for the Liturgy - Downloadable. St. Louis: Concordia, 2015. 135 Pages. PDF. $59.99. https://www.cph.org/p-28920-lutheran-service-book-guitar-accompaniment-for-the-liturgy-downloadable.aspx (L) Chemnitz, Martin and Jacob Andrae. Chemnitz's Works, Volume 9 (Church Order). St. Louis: Concordia, 2015. 297 Pages. Cloth. $54.99. https://www.cph.org/p-26462-chemnitzs-works-volume-9-church-order.aspx (LHP)

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Received for Review

 

Strelan, John G. Where Earth Meets Heaven: A Commentary on Revelation. Eugene, OR/Adelaide, AUSTRALIA: Wipf & Stock/OpenBook, 1997/2007. 402 Pages. Paper. $44.00. http://wipfandstock.com/where-earth-meets-heaven.html (P) Ashmon, Scott A., Editor. The Idea and Practice of a Christian University: A Lutheran Approach. St. Louis: Concordia, 2015. 336 Pages. Paper. $39.99 (On sale for $34.99). https://www.cph.org/p-28072-the-idea-and-practice-of-a-christian-university.aspx (LHP)

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Olson, Oliver K. Introduction by Mark C. Mattes. Reclaiming Lutheran Confirmation (Blue Papers Two). Minneapolis: Lutheran Press, 2015. 65 Pages. Paper. www.lutheranpress.com (PN)

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Received for Review

 

Olson, Oliver K. Introduction by Mark C. Mattes. Reclaiming Lutheran Confirmation (Blue Papers Two). Minneapolis: Lutheran Press, 2015. 65 Pages. Paper. www.lutheranpress.com (PN)

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Received for Review

 

Winger, Thomas M. Ephesians (Concordia Commentary). St. Louis: Concordia, 2015. 895 Pages. Cloth. $54.99. Sale Price: $49.99. https://www.cph.org/p-7383-ephesians-concordia-commentary.aspx (P)

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Received for Review

 

Keating, Ray. Murderer's Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Manorville, NY: Keating Reports, 2015. 364 Pages. Paper. $15.99. (Kindle version: $6.99.)  www.pastorstephengrant.com  http://smile.amazon.com/Murderers-Row-Pastor-Stephen-Grant/dp/1514137615 (LHPN)

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DeYoung, Kevin. What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 160 Pages. Paper. $12.99. www.crossway.org (LHP) Anslie, John, composer. English Proper Chants (Melody Edition). Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2015. 230 Pages. Paper. $24.95. www.litpress.org (L) Anslie, John, composer. English Proper Chants (Accompaniment Edition). Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2015. 229 Pages. Spiral. $29.95. www.litpress.org (L)

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Wellman, Sam. Frederick the Wise: Seen and Unseen Lives of Martin Luther's Protector. St. Louis: Concordia, 2015. 321 Pages. Paper. $25.99. https://www.cph.org/p-26404-frederick-the-wise.aspx (LHP) Wolterstorff, Nicholas The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015. 180 Pages. Paper. $20.00. http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/7249/the-god-we-worship.aspx (LHPN)

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Wayne, Israel. Questions Jesus Asks: Where Divinity Meets Humanity. Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 2015. 186 Pages. $12.99. www.newleafpress.net (N QS)

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FW: Helps for the Reading Lutheran Layperson

 

Consider…   Feed: Steadfast Lutherans » Posted on: Monday, February 23, 2015 7:16 AM Author: T. R. Halvorson Subject: Helps for the Reading Lutheran Layperson   A good friend suffered a heart attack. His doctor prescribed a treadmill to strengthen his heart and taught him about healthy diet. One evening when I visited, my friend took me to his basement to show me the treadmill. He got me on it and started putting the machine through its paces to show me its features. He explained why this kind of walking is necessary for our hearts, even though as farmers, we already do a lot of walking. Our regular walking is not the right kind for heart strength (too intermittent). While he was killing me in the paces, he explained how to read the "Nutrition Facts" panel on groceries as it relates to our hearts. It is crazy what's in a serving of Oreo cookies or those coconut frosted miniature donuts that I like. Canned soup? I quit it because of the salt. The problem is not just with junk food. All kinds of prepared or packaged foods are less heart healthy then we think. Too bad there is no "Nutrition Facts" panel on what passes for Christian books and articles. What are the ingredients of those doing to our hearts? They have their own kinds of saturated fat, sugar, salt, and cholesterol. Even though it may be selling like hotcakes in the nearby Christian bookstore, a book might be no better for us than Cheetos or Twinkies, wrapped in bacon, and deep fried. (Sorry that I spoke ill of bacon.) At least with food, making the shopping adjustment is not so difficult. You know where the fresh fruits and vegetables are in your usual grocery store. But in that nearby Christian bookstore, which is the aisle for you, the aisle for heart health? It's not that there are no worthwhile books there, but they are few, and wow, the sifting process! Where is the good Lutheran aisle? It's not in the store down the street. We have to make special trips, but to where? The first problems are what to read and where to get it. As we discover answers to those questions, we find that we often will need to read the materials in electronic form. That happens either because of lower cost, convenience, or our preference for e-reading. More often than we might have expected, a writing that we desire to read is readily available to us only in one of many electronic formats. This raises a number of additional questions. Where to find electronic books and texts, and how to manage them once we have them. This article addresses a number of these problems. Provided here are: Suggested reading list at levels: beginning, intermediate, and further on. List of Lutheran book publishers. List of Lutheran journals and periodicals. List of sources of Lutheran PDFs and texts. Recommended e-book reading and management application. Recommended PDF reader. List of online bookstores and repositories of e-books, PDFs, and texts. List of search engines for e-books, PDFs, and texts.   Version 1.0 — Suggestions This article definitely is only a version 1.0 effort. I welcome suggestions for additions, changed URLs, and other updates and improvements. Please use the comment box below, which will benefit everyone immediately, and cause an email to be sent to me so I can incorporate improvements.   Suggested Reading List for the Lutheran Layperson   Beginning The Lutheran Study Bible, ed., Edward A. Engelbrecht, Concordia Publishing House, 2009. Lutheran Bible Companion, 2 vols, ed. Edward A. Engelbrecht, Concordia Publishing House, 2014. Small Catechism Augsburg Confession: the Concordia Readers Edition, Concordia Publishing House, 2013. Didache, John T. Pless, Emmanuel Press, 2013. Lutheranism 101, Scot A. Kinnaman, ed., Concordia Publishing House, 2010 Why I Am a Lutheran, Daniel Preus, Concordia Publishing House, 2004. Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals, rev. ed., Gene Edward Veith, Jr., Concordia Publishing House, 2010. Luther: Letters of Spiritual Counsel, trans. & ed. Theodore G. Tappert, Regent College Publishing, 2003. Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., trans. John Nicholas Lenker et al., ed. John Nicholas Lenker, Baker Book House, 1983. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ for Sinners: A Series of Sermons Delivered by Martin Luther, ed. Chris Rosenbrough, Pirate Christian Media, 2011. Jesus Remember Me: Words of Assurance from Martin Luther, Augsburg Fortress, 1998. What is Marriage, Really?, Martin Luther, trans. Holger Sonntag, Lutheran Press, 2013. The Marriage Ring, Martin Luther, trans. J. Sheatsley, The Book Tree, 2003. Sacred Meditations, Johann Gerhard, trans. Wade R. Johnston,       Magdeburg Press, 2011. Meditations on Divine Mercy, Johann Gerhard, trans. Matthew C. Harrison, Concordia Publishing House, 2003. Handbook of Consolations (for the Fears and Trials that Oppress Us in the Struggle with Death), Johann Gerhard, trans. Carl L. Beckwith, Wipf & Stock, 2009. Divine Service: Delivering Forgiveness of Sins, John T. Pless, presented at the South Dakota District Lay/Clergy Conferences, Rapid City, SD May 6, 1995, Sioux Falls, SD May 7, 1995. (online here) Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules That Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible , Jonathan M. Fisk, Concordia Publishing House, 2012. God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life, Gene Edward Veith, Jr., Crossway Books, 2002. The Hammer of God, rev. ed., Bo Giertz, trans Clifford Ansgar Nelson and Hans Andrae, Augsburg Fortress, 2005.   Intermediate Small Catechsim Luther's Large Catechism with Study Questions, ed. Paul T. McCain, Concordia Publishing House, 2010. Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, A Readers Edition of the Book of Concord, 2nd ed., ed. Paul Timothy McCain, Concordia Publishing House, 2006. The Lutheran Difference: An Explanation & Comparison of Christian Beliefs, Edward, Engelbrecht, ed., Concordia Publishing House, 2010. Handling the Word of Truth: Law and Gospel in the Church Today. John T. Pless, Concordia Publishing House, 2004. Law and Gospel: How To Read and Apply the Bible, Carl F. W. Walther, trans. Christian C. Tiews, ed. Charles P. Schaum, Concordia Publishing House, 2010. The Conservative Reformation and its Theology, Charles Porterfiedl Krauth, reprint edition, Augsburg Publishing House, 1978. Christian Dogmatics, John Theodore Mueller, Concordia Publishing House, 1934. Martin Luther Confessor of the Faith, Robert Kolb, Oxford University Press, 2009. The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy, C. FitzSimons Allison, Moorehouse Publishing, 1994. We Confess Anthology, Hermann Sasse, Concordia Publishing House, 2003. Luther's Theology of the Cross, Herman Sasse, trans. Arnold J. Koelpin, from "Briefe an lutherische Pastoren," nr. 18, October 1951. (online here) Liturgy and Spiritual Awakening, Bo Harald Giertz, Augustana Book Concern, 1954. (Another translation online here and online here) Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service, Arthur A. Just, Concordia Publishing House, 2008. Christology, David P. Scaer, The International Foundation for Lutheran Confessional Research, 1989. Baptism, David P. Scaer, Luther Academy, 1999. Law and Gospel and the Means of Grace, David P. Scaer, Luther Academy, 2008. The Lonely Way: Selected Essays and Letters, vols. 1 & 2, Hermann Sasse, Concordia Publishing House, 2001, 2003. Luther on Worship, an Interpretation, Vilmos Vajta, Muhlenberg Press, 1958. Eating God's Sacrifice: The Lord's Supper Portrayed in Old Testament Sacrifice, Daniel Brege, IN: D.J. Brege, 2009. (Lulu) This Is My Body: Luther's Contention for the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar, rev. ed., Hermann Sasse, Concordia Publishing House, 2003. The Gift of Communion; Luther's Controversy with Rome on Eucharistic Sacrifice, Carl Fredrik Wisløff, Augsburg Publishing House, 1964. Reclaiming the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage, Oliver K. Olson, ReClaim Resources, 2007. "The Authority of Scripture," Norman Nagel, Concordia Theological Monthly, vol 27, no. 9, September 1956, pp. 693-701. (online here and online here) That I Might Be His Own: An Overview of Luther's Catechisms, Charles P. Arand, Concordia Academic Press, 2000. Martin Luther's Catechisms: Forming the Faith, Timothy J. Wengert, Fortress Press, 2009.   Further On Small Catechism Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, A Readers Edition of the Book of Concord, 2nd ed., ed. Paul Timothy McCain, Concordia Publishing House, 2006. Christian Dogmatics, 4 vols, Francis Pieper, Concordia Publishing House, 1950. Doctrinal Theology of the Lutheran Church, Heinrich Schmid, trans. Charles A. Hay and Henry E. Jacobs, reprint edition, Augsburg Publishing House, 1961. Theology of the Lutheran Confessions, Edmund Schlink, Trans. Paul F. Koehneke and Herbert J. A. Bouman, Concordia Publishing House, 1961. Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther, trans, J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academic, 2012. Luther's Theology of the Cross, Walther von Loewenich, trans. Herbert J. A. Bouman, Augsburg Publishing House, 1976. Commentaries on Luther's Catechisms, 5 vols, Albrecht Peters, trans. Thomas H. Trapp, Concordia Publishing House, 2012. Lutheran Theology, Steven D. Paulson, T & T Clark International, 2011. The Fire and the Staff: Lutheran Theology in Practice, Klemet I. Preus, Concordia Publishing House, 2004. "Herman Sasse and the Liturgical Movement," John T. Pless, Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology VII.2 (1998): 47-51. (online here) "Liturgy and Evangelism in the Service of the Mysteria Dei," Mysteria Dei: Essays in Honor of Kurt Marquart, eds. Paul T. McCain and John R. Stephenson, Concordia Theological Seminary Press, (1999), 233-34. (online here) Eucharist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries, Werner Elert, trans. Norman Nagel, Concordia Publishing House, 1966. The Worship Mall: Contemporary Responses to Contemporary Culture, Bryan D. Spinks, SPCK Publishing, 2010. Luther on Vocation, Gustav Wingren, ed. Carl C. Rassmussen, Wipf & Stock, 2004. The Two Natures in Christ, Martin Chemnitz, trans. J. A. O. Preus, Concordia Publishing House, 1970.   Lutheran Book Publishers Concordia Publishing House Concordia Theological Seminary Bookstore Emmanuel Press Luther Academy Books (via Logia) Lutheran Press Lutheran University Press Magdeburg Press Mark V Publications Northwestern Publishing House Repristination Press Sola Publishing   Lutheran Journals and Periodicals Around the Word CLC Journal of Theology Archive Concordia Journal Concordia Theological Quarterly For the Life of the World Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy Issues, Etc. Journal Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology Lutheran Quarterly The Canadian Lutheran   Lutheran PDFs and Texts Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Media Resources Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Way Index of PDFs John W. Kleinig Resources LCMS Document Library Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Essay File   Calibre – A Fabulous E-reader Application Foxit Reader – A Better PDF Reader You may be happy with your dedicated e-reader device: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or another. If so, you might never need to know about e-reader applications. But there are reasons for such applications, and for many people, such an application is a must. What are some of the reasons? You want to read on your computer or phone, be it desktop, laptop, notebook, or table. You want to carry your tablet computer, but then you'd be carrying two devices if you also carry your dedicated e-reader. You found a document you want to read, but it is in a format your e-reader device does not support. There are dozens of formats of e-books and texts. You want control over where your book files are stored for any one of a number of reasons, including to save space on your device's or tablet's internal storage, and your e-reader device either does not allow that, or makes it very difficult to discover how to do it. You want to be able to do other things with some of your e-books, PDFs, or texts in addition to reading them, such as editing the metadata (author, publisher, year of publication, etc. so their entries in your library listing are more useful).   Some of the producers of dedicated e-reader devices provide free computer applications, such as the Kindle application for Amazon Kindle-formatted books, and Nook Reading for Barnes & Noble Nook-formatted books. These might not support the format of a document you want to read, or their features might be poor. For example, the Kindle application that runs on Windows 8 Metro has not been well received, and Windows 8 tablet users have moved toward running in Desktop mode with the Windows 7 version of the Kindle app. Consequently, the software industry has produced dozens of independent e-reader applications. There are many good and very good ones. One fabulous e-reader application is Calibre. Calibre is a free and open source e-book library management application developed by users of e-books for users of e-books. It runs on Windows, OS X, Linux, and portably such as on jump drive. It has a cornucopia of features divided into the following main categories: Comprehensive e-book viewer Syncing to e-book reader devices Content server for online access to your book collection Library Management E-book conversion Downloading news from the web and converting it into e-book form E-book editor for the major e-book formats   Besides that, Calibre has a built in feature called Get Books that helps you search for e-books online. It searches, at this writing, 45 stores and repositories. While researching the historic Lutheran liturgy, I found many out-of-print books by Lutheran authors in PDF format through this feature, and easily loaded them into Calibre. For certain formats such as PDF, Calibre may call an external viewer, such as Adobe Reader. But I recommend getting Foxit Reader. Foxit Reader is richly featured, yet lightweight, and portable. When you install it, let it set itself as the default PDF reader. Then, when you choose in Calibre to read a document in PDF format, the document automatically will open in Foxit. Calibre has a very large user base. Many favorable reviews have been written about it. You would have no trouble finding some by searching the Internet. See for example, Calibre: Hands-Down, The Best eBook Manager Available. But perhaps the best way to get an idea about whether you want to try it is to watch the Grand Tour Video on the Calibre website. Give it a fair try, and I'll bet you will feel you want to make a voluntary contribution to its developers, as I did.   Online Bookstores and Repositories of E-books, PDFs, and Texts These bookstores and repositories are not specifically Lutheran, but contain many valuable Lutheran e-books and texts. Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookyards Books-A-Million Christian Classics Ethereal Library FreeBookSpot eBookMall eBooks.com eBooks-share.net Feedbooks Google Books Internet Achive eBooks and Texts ITunes US (books) Kobo Library BIN Lulu ManyBooks Open Library Project Gutenberg Read Print Scribd   Search Engines for E-books, PDFs, and Texts Digital Book Index EBOOKEE E-Books Directory Good Reads LibraryThing OverDrive Pdfgeni PDF SB PDF Search Engine View article...

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