Lutheran Book Review

Harvey, Dave. Foreword by C. J. Mahaney. Rescuing Ambition. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010. 224 Pages. Paper. $14.99. www.crossway.org (LHP) I expected something else. I expected to be disappointed. Sorry, but I really did! Perhaps I thought I was going to get sports hero or Christian coach theology. Theology of Glory? I was wrong. Dave Harvey presents a Christian view of godly ambition that is grounded in vocation and selfless service to the glory of God rather than a self-serving ambition with a Christian veneer over works righteousness. Many think of ambition as nothing more than the drive for personal honor or fame. As a result, ambition—the God-implanted drive to improve, produce, develop, and create—is neglected and well on its way to paralysis. For some, dreams are numbed. For others, there are no dreams; life just happens. And for those who are dreaming, motives are often confused. One thing is certain: ambition needs help. Dave Harvey is calling for...

Siemon-Netto, Uwe. The Acquittal of God: A Theology for Vietnam Veterans. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2008. 107 Pages. Paper. $13.00. www.wipfandstock.com (P) Preus, Peter. And She Was a Christian: Why Do Believers Commit Suicide? Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2011. 183 Pages. Paper. $25.99. http://online.nph.net/p-9606-and-she-was-a-christian.aspx (LHP) Schuermann, Katie. Collects by Deaconess Melissa A. DeGroot. He Remembers the Barren. Fort Wayne: Lutheran Legacy 2011. 116 Pages. Paper. $14.95. www.lutheranlegacy.org http://heremembersthebarren.com/ (LHP) Pastors deal with difficult issues nearly every day. Some are more challenging than others. Though issues like these may need to be faced more infrequently than others, they still need to be faced with the Law and comforted with the Gospel of God's Word. Many Vietnam veterans felt and, in fact, still feel rejected by their God and the church and betrayed by their nation and even t...

  Tizon, Al. Missonal Preaching: Engage Embrace Transform. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 2012. 192 Pages. Paper. (Spiral-bound pre-publication galley received.) $16.99. www.judsonpress.com (P) I don't envy Al Tizon and the task he was given to write a book on missional preaching. Missional. What does this mean ? Author Al Tizon’s Missional Preaching generally succeeds in adding some substantive theological meaning to a trendy buzzword. While I may theologically disagree with the content of half of the example sermons included, I can see how a Confessional Lutheran preacher could benefit from this book. Good preachers always proclaim the whole counsel of God and always properly distinguish between God’s Law and God’s Gospel. Tizon points out that “Biblical preaching is missional preaching” as he defines the title term: engage culture “for the sake of the gospel;” “ be different from the world” as the church; repent, grow, and do good works as God’s baptized people; rec...

Greer, Andrew. Angel Band: The Hymn Sessions. MA'M Recordings, 2012. Audio CD. $9.56. (mp3 download for $8.99.) (Eight pdf charts provided via DropBox.) www.andrew-greer.com   www.mam-recordings.com (H) Andrew Greer's "Jesus Paid It All music video

    With the beginning of Volume 6, we intend to discontinue making pdf editions of this blog (unless there are overwhelming requests for them).   In response to an expressed need, we now have two sub blogs that both feed into Liturgy, Hymnody, and Pulpit Quarterly Book Review .    The content of http://LHPQBR.blogspot.com should appear to remain the same.    Readers that wish to receive only our forwards can now also go to http://lhpfwd.blogspot.com/ .    Readers that wish to only receive our original book and resource reviews and be notified of new resources that we have received may go to http://lhplbr.blogspot.com/ , the LHP Lutheran Book Review blog. We DO plan to make pdf versions of LHP LBR .   A Blessed Lent to all!   The Editor    View article...

  Sovereign Grace Music. Psalms. Gaithersburg, MD: Sovereign Grace Music, 2008. Audio CD. $10.00.  www.SovereignGraceMusic.org (H) Sovereign Grace Music. Sons and Daughters . Gaithersburg, MD: Sovereign Grace Music, 2009. Audio CD. $12.00.  www.SovereignGraceMusic.org (H) Sovereign Grace Music. Risen. Gaithersburg, MD: Sovereign Grace Music, 2011. Audio CD. $12.00.  www.SovereignGraceMusic.org (H) Our series on the resurgence of hymns continues to Maryland, where Sovereign Grace Ministries is based. SG Music was generous to provide three recent albums for review, ranging from rock Psalm settings, driven hymnic ballads that encouraging singing, and modern hymns and songs that focus on our Resurrection hope in Christ. For more than twenty years, Sovereign Grace Ministries has been producing songs for congregational worship. Our goal is to provide local churches with new songs characterized by biblical truth and consuming passion that honors God. While our lyrics co...

ESV Single Column Legacy Bible . Wheaton: Crossway, 2012. 1664 Pages. TruTone. $49.99. www.crossway.org (P) Jenson, Robert W. Lutheran Slogans: Use and Abuse. Delhi, NY: ALPB Books, 2011. 80 Pages. Paper. $6.00. www.alpb.org (LHPN) The Lake Louise Commission: The Sacred Family . Delhi, NY: ALPB Books, 2011. 124 Pages. Paper. $12.50 www.alpb.org (LHPN) Ronneberg, Rod. L. A Little Book of Canons: Eucharistic Prayers for Times and Seasons.  Delhi, NY: ALPB Books, 2011. 120 Pages. Paper. $10.00. www.alpb.org (LHPN)