On the Shelf…
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June 10, 2008, 9:02 am
Filed under: General
Filed under: General
Over the past week I have gotten on a reading kick. I have always enjoyed reading since I was young, but it seems as though I have an easier time sitting down and devoting time to it than others. Well, last week was one of those times. Let me give you the short list of what I read:
- The Pursuit of God: This classic written by A.W. Tozer is a book that I can always go back and read. It is nothing more than a 100 page challenge for Christians to “pursue hard after God.” Tozer’s passion for God and his desire to be in his presence is contagious. You walk away from the book desiring to know nothing but your God. Yet, it has been somewhat sullied by this article. Tozer was a passionate man, but like all, he had his problems.
- A New Perspective on Jesus: When I first picked up this book I was expecting something slightly different than what I found. This possibly influenced my overall perspective on the book, but… um… oh well. James Dunn, in light of the current desire to “discover” the “Historic Jesus,” examines the traditions and faith that surround the transfer of the information on Jesus. Dunn, in essence, spends a lot of time writing without establishing a new perspective. Oh… but he says that you should read his other book. I hate when authors do that.
- Adam: This is my fiction book for the week. Ever since I read the Circle Trilogy I have loved the way that Tedd Dekker writes. He has a way of building a story through an insane amount of detail without overwhelming the reader. From the first page till the last I was sucked into this psychological thriller. I am looking forward to getting my hands on another.
- Stop Dating the Church!: Joshua Harris is definitely not who I was told he was when all the kids in my church were mocking his book I kissed Dating Good-bye. I really wish I would have given him a chance back then. I have nothing but respect for him and his desire to serve God and others with all that he is while maintaining character and integrity in all his relationships. Harris develops this book based on the well founded truth that too many people are merely “dating” the church instead of being committed to it whole heartedly. The truth in the book pricks and shines light on the flaws of the heart of even those who would see themselves as being committed. This is a simple book everyone should read.
Well… take it or leave it.
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LIFE... 
It has been a little while since I read Dunn… but I believe Dunn’s point was that all the “New Perspectives” were misplaced. The New Perspectives (Funk et all) demanded that Christ be found outside of faith. In their opinion faith blurs reality. Or state a little differently, that the disciples “faith” created the biblical Jesus. Again, while it has been awhile, I believe this is what Dunn attacks… hence the subtitle “What the Quest for the Historical Jesus Missed.” Dunn points out that the best way to see who Christ was is to see the impact He made on his disciples. I don’t think Dunn intended to make a new perspective… instead he was writing against those who were on this Quest for the “New” Jesus, who they would claim is the “real” Jesus, but who is the Jesus that they have made into their own image. (I think.)
Comment by Rich June 11, 2008 @ 11:35 amYou are correct. And that is where my apathetic approach to the book comes from. Even in his handling of the issue(s) he seems rather laissez-faire. He simply brings up the concept of “Disciple faith” as opposed to “Easter faith” and the differences between oral and literary transference as the answer for all the arguments.
I admit that I may have missed quite a bit and appreciate your correction, but still think that this book appears to be lacking a certain je ne sais quoi.
(How do you like that… two French phrases in one comment… oh yeah!)
Comment by Adam June 11, 2008 @ 12:32 pm