Brief Mention – April 2006

BIBLEARCHAEOLOGY

AlfredHoerth and John McRay. Bible Archaeology: An Exploration of the History andCulture of Early Civilizations, Grand Rapids, Mich.: BakerBooks, 2005. ISBN 0-8010-1287-2; 288 pages, $29.99; (616) 676-9185;www.bakerbooks.com.

Thisintroduction canvasses the contributions made by biblical archaeology thatprovide insight into the history, culture and social forces of thecivilizations that are encountered in the Bible. The book is filled withcolorful time-charts, diagrams and photos of biblical sites that will engagethe reader. Hoerth and McRay present archaeology in such a way that it willprovide a foundation for a deeper faith in a God who has providentially workedfor his people throughout history.

Hoerthis former director of archaeology at Wheaton College. John McRay wasprofessor of New Testament at Wheaton College GraduateSchool and is a member of the Naperville, Ill.,church.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

FredLehr. Clergy Burnout: Recovering from the 70-Hour Work Week…and Other Self-DefeatingPractices, Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 2006. ISBN0-8006-3763-1; 147 pages; $18.00; (800) 328-4648; www.fortresspress.com.

Lehrintends for his book to help ministers “reclaim their personal, professional,and spiritual lives” by pointing out the roots contributing to the danger ofcodependent behavior which result in such destructive behaviors as lowself-esteem, obsession, mistrust, and inappropriate intimacy with others. Lehralso provides a strategy for self-assessment and developing spiritual maturity,that will bring healing to ministers feeling burnt out.

Lehris founder and manager of Renewal Ministries which is a training and consultingcompany that focuses on change management and healthy church systems.

CHRISTIANLIVING

S.Leo Richardson. Grief — Work It, Let It Be, Delight, Ark.: Gospel Light Publishing, 2005. 93pages; $7.00 plus $1.50 postage; (303) 841-2338; [email protected].

Drawingfrom his experience after his wife died, Richardsonpoints others towards the principles and truths associated with the process ofgrief. He dispels several of the common myths associated with grieving,behavioral patters that occur with grievers and the dangers one encounters whengrieving is denied or avoided.

Richardson lives inParker, Colo., and is a member of a church of Christin Littleton, Colo.

CHRISTIANITYAND CULTURE

BoKirkwood. Unveiling the Da Vinci Code: The Mystery of the Da Vinci CodeRevealed, a Christian Perspective, Surprise, Ariz.: Selah Publishing, 2005. ISBN1-58930-164-1; 155 pages; $11.99; (800) 917-2665 or www.selahbooks.com.

Thisconcise book criticizes the claims of Dan Brown’s best-selling book The DaVinci Code that it is based on factual information. Kirkwood argues that a significant portion ofBrown’s so-called facts are unfounded and reveals Brown’s ultimate objective,namely to deny that the Bible is inspired, to persuade readers to mistrust thebiblical account of the early church and to undermine the apostolic vision ofthe church.

Withthe upcoming release of The Da Vinci movie, this is a helpful summary of thebook’s content and refutation of its claims.

Kirkwood is a familyphysician and an elder at the Parkview Church of Christ in Pasadena, Texas.
Thislist includes information provided by publishers. For more information, contactReviews Editor John Harrison at [email protected].