** STUDENTS: Are you trying to avoid reading the volume? It is a worthwhile and brief book! Read it for yourself. **

I've read fourteen books so far this yr, and I'one thousand almost done with number 15. I find myself caught between 2 groups of people when it comes to reading – those whose optics burl out in shock that I've already read this many books, and those who take left me in the dust and already read 30 books! I'll review several books in my coming posts.

Engaging God's World, A Christian Vision of Religion, Learning, and Living past Cornelius Plantinga Jr. Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2002.

I acquired this volume, and it is actually written for a student entering a distinctly Christian academy. Information technology is to remind them of a Christian worldview, and that no affair what your educational major happens to exist, your faith should make a departure in how you see life. While I did not necessarily learn annihilation new, it was nonetheless a very worthwhile read! I liked Pantinga'south approach and his way of describing diverse concepts. My highlighter was put to good use.

The first chapter is entitled "Longing and Hope" which emphasizes that biblical hope is a wide-angle lens that brings this earth into focus. Christian promise ultimately centers on Jesus Christ, and to see Christ in context nosotros must expect at the 3 acts of this earth's drama: creation, fall, and redemption. From this betoken, there are individual chapters on creation, autumn, and redemption. The last chapter "Vocation in the Kingdom of God" pulls these things together, applying them to everyday life and society.

The author writes from a Reformed Christian perspective, and refers to things similar The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort.  Nevertheless, the writer states in the introduction, "I believe you will notice the presentation in the pages ahead to be non only Reformed but catholic and evangelical." (Note that is cosmic with a minor c.)  He was successful in my opinion.

Even if y'all are a knowledgeable Christian, years past university, sometimes we benefit from a review and reminder of how our faith impacts all of life. I recommend this book to you.

Here is a sample of content I highlighted as I read the volume:

"We will need solid instruction in the Scripture and Christian wisdom in lodge to recognize truth and in order to disentangle it from error and fraud." (pg ten)

"Yous will demand to gain wisdom from many sources in add-on to Scripture. You will need to await for truth wherever it may be constitute." (pg xii)

Regarding humanity being made in the image of God: "Nosotros image God by imaging Christ…It's an awesome thing to consider that every time you act kindly toward an irritating person, you are imaging God. Epitome is a verb as well equally a noun. It's something we do as well as something nosotros take." (pg 34)

"An idolator corrupts a relationship by introducing a third party into it…Then idolatry isn't merely an human activity of craving fame, for example, instead of God. Idolatry is as well the act of putting fame alongside God and trying to serve them both…In Scripture God warns confronting double-mindedness of this kind." (pgs 55-56)

"If yous are a doubter, the Bible is your book. It's total of the doubts and laments of believers whose faith emerges merely from a crucible of some kind." (pg 125)

Regarding the futurity kingdom of God (when Christ returns) and our living in lite of information technology now: "If we believe in the kingdom of God we will pray, and nosotros will promise…We will piece of work and study in the same direction as nosotros promise…Hoping for others is hard, but non the hardest. Praying for others is hard, but non the hardest.The hardest chore for people who believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ is in living the sort of life that makes people say, 'Ah, so that'southward how people are going to live when righteousness takes over the globe.'" (pg 142)