Thursday, October 12, 2006
Reading
I've had a wonderful surprise with a book. Missionary friends of ours here, Bruce and Julie, gave us a book a little while back. It was unsolicited. It was a hardback edition. It wasn't my birthday or Christmas. Even if it had been, we've never exchanged gifts or anything like that before. And on the inside cover of Jesus the Messiah was the signature of the author, Robert Stein.
Eventually, I noticed the dedication to Mr. Stein's grandchildren and recognized the names of Jonathan's friends! I'm sure Julie mentioned it at the time, but I had completely missed the fact that this was her father's book. He is a professor of New Testament.
But the real surprise is that I've been thoroughly enjoying it. At first I was a bit worried. A friend's father's book showing up without notice made me think of home movies or slide presentations of someone else's vacation. But then I noticed the publisher, InterVarsity Press. They are an old and trusted friend for me. I credit many IVP books for me spiritual education. So I gave it a try.
What a pleasure it has been. Stein's is a systematic survey of the life of Jesus done with respect and careful scholarship and clarity. It's been a real encouragement to read and ponder. I have no idea if it is available or how much it costs, but I certainly recommend it.
Just this week, my niece Gretchen has been the cause of great distraction with another book. She has loaned me her copy of Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian. This is fiction, pure escapist fiction, though it is said to be realistic to the historical context of warfare at sea in the early 1800s.
I'm an obsessive reader, unfortunately, when it comes to good stories. Once I start, I tend to stay up too late and extend lunch breaks and generally find any bit of time to plunge back into the world of the book. So it's a good thing I don't have the others in the series near at hand. I'll have to wait for Gretchen to complete them. That way I'll at least get some work done and talk to me wife a bit and sleep like I should once in a while!
Eventually, I noticed the dedication to Mr. Stein's grandchildren and recognized the names of Jonathan's friends! I'm sure Julie mentioned it at the time, but I had completely missed the fact that this was her father's book. He is a professor of New Testament.
But the real surprise is that I've been thoroughly enjoying it. At first I was a bit worried. A friend's father's book showing up without notice made me think of home movies or slide presentations of someone else's vacation. But then I noticed the publisher, InterVarsity Press. They are an old and trusted friend for me. I credit many IVP books for me spiritual education. So I gave it a try.
What a pleasure it has been. Stein's is a systematic survey of the life of Jesus done with respect and careful scholarship and clarity. It's been a real encouragement to read and ponder. I have no idea if it is available or how much it costs, but I certainly recommend it.
Just this week, my niece Gretchen has been the cause of great distraction with another book. She has loaned me her copy of Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian. This is fiction, pure escapist fiction, though it is said to be realistic to the historical context of warfare at sea in the early 1800s.I'm an obsessive reader, unfortunately, when it comes to good stories. Once I start, I tend to stay up too late and extend lunch breaks and generally find any bit of time to plunge back into the world of the book. So it's a good thing I don't have the others in the series near at hand. I'll have to wait for Gretchen to complete them. That way I'll at least get some work done and talk to me wife a bit and sleep like I should once in a while!
