What I'm Reading Now

I am reading a book called Early Christian Creeds, by J.N.D. Kelly. It talks about the all of the Creeds that have come along in the Christian experience. It will take me awhile to finish this book. This is mainly because I am pursuing my Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministry. Fret not! I will finish it. If you are interested in this book, it is published through Longman Publishing Group in New York, NY. It was published first in 1960, and then again in 1972. The ISBN# is 0-582-49219-X.

Erik

Your Dad Wants to Bless You

This book was edited by a dear friend of mine(thanks, Anthea). Everybody wants their father. I do like the way that these were categorized. However, I do not like the use of the Message as a "translation." Perhaps that was a personal choice. If so, that's all right. Otherwise, I like the book a lot. The weekly blessings is a great book that will help a lot of people. "I Apologize..." and "Confrontation!" really hit home with me. If this book seems like a good one for you to read, it is called Your Dad Wants to Bless You, By Billy & Jennifer Crain, Published by Lucid Books, ISBN# 1-935909-14-9. Edited by Anthea Kotlan.

Erik

Apologia Pro Vita Sua

This is John Henry Newman's Autobiography. It tells of his life, personal and theological. It is a very detailed book. It goes into a very thorough detail about his friendships, especially the ones he had during the Oxford Movement(Keble, Pusey, etc.). It also talked about his poetry, which is good. He wrote a few hymns(Lead, Kindly Light), which are sung in the church today. Take time to read it and do not rush through.

Erik

The Epic of Gilgamesh

This story is one that is an alternate Noah's flood story. Although it may seem like one on the surface, the resemblance stops there. Where Noah is a man of God, the man in the Sumerian tale is a merchant who is looking out for himself. I have had Philosophy and Theology professors tell me how much of a parallel tale this is to the Noah's flood tale. The only thing I see in this that a flood happened and that it was in the general geographical area. It is an interesting tale, but that is all that it is.

Erik

On Knowing Christ

I am a bit late in posting this review of Jonathan Edwards' sermons. For that I am sorry. For a sample of the Puritan theology, and also for a good idea of how a person should pursue holiness, a person should read Edwards. The only way I can describe Edwards is PURE. His writings have the most intellectual and spiritual acuity. People who have a negative opinion of puritans have not read their writings, which is why the Puritans have gotten bad press over the years. The two best Puritan theologians are Edwards, and John Owen, if anybody ever decides to read some of these two. Just a trivial bit of information: Jonathan Edwards was a former president of Princeton University.

Erik

Still Reading: Four Witnesses

Treatise on Human Nature

I just finished reading St. Thomas Aquinas' book, Treatise on Human Nature. It is actually part of the Summa Theologiae. The book gives a really good philosophical view of very basic questions. It is available through Hackett Publishing of Indianapolis, IN. It is for people who are familiar with philosophy. It is not very easy to read.

Erik

Now Reading: Four Witnesses

Fear and Trembling

This work, a largely philosophical one, should not be discounted. Kirkegaard dealt with the ethical issues of the sacrifice that Abraham had to deal with in Isaac. He posed ethical questions such as should have Abraham had obeyed God, etc.? If you really want to stretch your ethical chops, then give this a try.

Erik

Now Reading: On Knowing Christ, By Jonathan Edwards