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• James Cantelon: Theology for Non-Theologians,
Wiley, 2007
Cantelon, now head of VisionLedd, was once pastor of
Broadway Church in Vancouver. Defining theology in simple terms, he
characterizes it as “the systematic and formulated knowledge of God.
[It] is as much a part of thought as physiology is a part of anatomy . . .
We need to distinguish between right theology and wrong theology, for
theology is like a backbone. Right theology will have you strong and fit;
wrong theology will have you hunchbacked and paralyzed.”
• Bruce K. Waltke: A Commentary on Micah, Eerdmans,
2007
Professor emeritus of Old Testament studies at Regent
College, Waltke turns his attention to one of the Old Testament’s
more significant ‘minor’ prophets. Focusing on Micah’s
juxtaposition of oracles of doom with prophesies of hope, he links the
prophet’s work with Christian theology. The book is recommended by no
less than J.I. Packer, who terms it a “meticulous canonical
exposition of God’s ongoing ways in judgment and mercy.”
• Eugene H. Peterson: The Jesus Way, Hodder &
Stoughton, 2007
Peterson, author of the popular Bible paraphrase, The Message, presents his take on
“the ways that Jesus is the way.” He explores the lives of
Abraham, Elijah, David, Moses and Isaiah, to show how they demonstrated
“the way of the Lord” which would find its fulfillment in
Christ. He also incorporates a critique of contemporary American
Christianity, focusing on the spiritual harm done by consumerism and
celebrity.
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• Bruce Sanguin: Summoning the Whirlwind, Canadian
Memorial Press, 2005
The author, a United Church pastor, ministers at
Vancouver’s Canadian Memorial Church & Centre for Peace.
Subtitled ‘Unconventional Sermons for a Relevant Christian
Faith,’ the book covers a range of topics, from poverty and violence
to wisdom and peace – with some intriguing titles, such as ‘Sin
is our Only Hope,’ ‘The Patient Redemption of Violence’
and ‘Doubt, Our Faithful Companion.’ Vancouver Sun writer Douglas Todd lauds
Sanguin’s “passion for justice . . . vulnerable
self-revelations [and] poetic sensibility.” Sanguin’s latest
book is Darwin, Divinity,
and the Dance of the Cosmos: an Ecological Christianity.
• William Vander Beek: God’s Word is Dynamic,
Guardian Books, 2006
This Langley author acknowledges the most common focus
of commentaries on the Epistle to the Hebrews: “the superiority of
Jesus . . . who has become our great high priest.” He offers another
interpretation, presenting “a more basic theme.” Hebrews, he
maintains, is actually about God speaking through the entire Old Testament,
and through all historic events.
• Charlene Fortsch: Daniel – Understanding the Dreams and Visions, Prophecy Song, 2006
This Anahim Lake author has clearly put a lot of
diligent work into this fresh examination of one of the Bible’s most
analyzed texts. Profusely illustrated by Erica Dissler, the book juxtaposes
King James Version passages with a wealth of useful historical information.
Several appendices offer detailed interpretations of Daniel, in relation to
Revelation. It should be noted that many Christians will find the
author’s negative portrayal of Roman Catholicism highly debatable.
However, there is no denying her respect for scripture, and zeal for
understanding God’s purposes.
August 2007
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