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PRODUCING a book is not easy – and three recent B.C. books are clearly the products of an extra measure of hard
work.
Richard Oostra of Surrey offers what amounts to a manifesto, calling for change
in much of the church community.
Church on the Rock(s) is a hard-hitting expression of one man’s view of what he calls churches with “a design defect,” which he believes carries “the very seeds of decay.”
Oostra is disenchanted with what he sees as current trends: “Most churches suffer from spiritual pride. As a result, they claim they have no
need of anything . . . In many churches, their lamp stands have gone out.”
Some will likely find Oostra’s views alarmist and overly harsh. However, there is no shortage of
thought-provoking ideas here, which will at least admonish Christians to be
more discerning regarding the churches they attend. For that, the author is to
be commended. (RichardOostra.com)
J.M. Longstaff, a retired minister living in White Rock, tackles an even tougher
topic.
How to Wage Spiritual Warfare is touted as his life’s work, and the scope of the book gives evidence of this. It deals forthrightly
with “spiritual battles all Christians must engage in for victory in our Christian
life.”
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Chapters range from ‘Our Allies the Angels,’ ‘The Author of Evil’ and ‘The Causes of Demon Possession’ to ‘The Falsity of Spiritism,’ ‘Why the Struggle Continues’ and ‘The Ministry of Deliverance.’ Topics include poltergeists, mental illness and exorcism.
In this age of skepticism toward the realm of the supernatural, this book calls
Christians to take the Bible’s portrayal of that realm seriously. It challenges readers to “become informed about the kingdom of darkness, and how you are a victor in
Christ. (XulonPress.com)
Vancouver-based Daniel John has compiled the four biblical accounts of Christ’s life into The Synoptic Gospel. The result, he says, is a work which “takes out the duplications while preserving all the details . . . [and] merges
the remaining words into . . . a single storyline.”
John took it upon himself to do this when he found that no similar ‘harmonization’ of the gospels was available.
He acknowledges that there were some discrepancies between the four accounts,
but notes: “These apparent conflicts were more to do with the timing of when the event
occurred, rather than a difference or choice between the specific details of
what happened, or what was said.”
He cites the timing of Jesus cursing the fig tree, and the accounts of who
arrived first at Christ’s tomb, as the most difficult passages.
We owe John a vote of thanks for providing such a unified account of Jesus’ life.
(SynopticGospel.com)
– David F. Dawes
September 2010
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