Lutheran Book Review

A Contrasts Review is where we contrast very different kinds of material to better understand them all. Begbie, Jeremy S. and Steven R. Guthrie, Editors. Resonant Witness: Conversations Between Music and Theology (The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011. 497 Pages. Paper. $34.00. www.eerdmans.com (LHP) DeYoung, Kevin and Greg Gilbert. What Is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011. 287 Pages. Paper. $15.99. www.crossway.org (LHP) The best thing about writing book reviews is that I get to read. Let me rephrase that: I have to read. Books are a necessary part of being a pastor. Piles of unread books are unsightly...and embarrassing.  Third try: The best thing about writing book reviews is that I have to read (and review) because there is accountability. I owe it to myself. I pray that my opinions are helpful to both author and publisher...

Smith, Kile. Mass for Philadelphia. (Commissioned by Phillip and Heather Shade and members and friends of All Saints' Episcopal Church Choir, Norristown, Pa., for the Closing Eucharist of the Philadelphia 2012 National Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians, and as a gift to the wider Church community.) Philadelphia: Tau Imprints, 2012, 2013 (ASCAP). 9 Pages, 13 Pages. pdf document. www.kilesmith.com (L) Most Americans seem to think that "Mass" is a term only used by Roman Catholics. No. Historically, Anglicans and Episcopalians and Lutherans have used the term, though it is more common among Lutherans outside of the United States. It is time to recover the word for Lutheran use. I have composer Kile Smith to thank for the encouragement because of his Mass for Philadelphia, now expanded for Lutheran use. Mass for Philadelphia was commissioned for the 2012 National Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians. That conference was h...

Peterson, Andrew. Light for the Lost Boy . 2012. Audio CD. $10.00. https://store.rabbitroom.com/product/light-for-the-lost-boy (LHPN) Andrew Peterson came to our attention because of some of our other CD reviews.  We were pleased to receive a review copy of his 2012 recording, Light for the Lost Boy . Tracks Preview 1 Come Back Soon Preview 2 The Cornerstone Preview 3 Rest Easy Preview 4 The Voice of Jesus Preview 5 The Ballad of Jody Baxter Preview 6 Day By Day Preview 7 Shine Your Light On Me Preview 8 Carry the Fire Preview 9 You'll Find Your Way Preview 10 Don't You Want...

de Silva, Chris. With Great Love. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2012. Printed music, saddle stitched. $26.50.  www.giamusic.com (LH) de Silva, Chris. With Great Love. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2012. Audio CD. $16.95. www.giamusic.com (LH) Callanan, Ian. In Beauty We Walk. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2012. Printed music, saddle stitched. $22.00. www.giamusic.com (LH) Callanan, Ian. In Beauty We Walk. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2012. Audio CD. $16.95. www.giamusic.com (LH) Melley, Paul. God Is Love. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2012. Printed music, saddle stitched. $17.00.  www.giamusic.com (LH) Melley, Paul. God Is Love. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2012. Audio CD. $16.95. www.giamusic.com (LH) This review covers three albums/sheet music sets from GIA. All are in a modern American musical idiom.  Extensive musical parts are available for our first collection, ranging from brass to woodwinds, to strings beyond the choir, guitar, and keyboard provided t...

A Contrasts Review is where we contrast very different kinds of material to better understand them all. Moreau, A. Scott. Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2012. 429 Pages. Paper. $28.99. http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=2513 (LHPN) Bauer, Andrew P. A Lutheran Looks at...Mega Churches. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2012. 98 Pages. Paper. $14.50. http://online.nph.net/p-12433-a-lutheran-looks-at-mega-churches.aspx (LHP) Cosper, Mike. Rhythms of Grace: How the Church's Worship Tells the Story of the Gospel. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. 223 Pages. Paper. $15.99. www.crossway.org (LHP) These three titles arrived at roughly the same time. I read them together. I thought about them together. So, here goes... Contextualization is the art of translating ideas into a particular situation, place or culture. It is fundamental to communication, which makes contextualization e...