Brief Mention – May 2006
READING SCRIPTURE
Eugene H. Peterson. Eat This Book: AConversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, Grand Rapids, Mich.:Eerdmans, 2006. ISBN 0-8028-2948-1; 198 pages; $20.00; (800) 253-7521 orwww.eerdmans.com.
The book challenges readers to abandonself-serving approaches to reading Scripture, which ignore seeing it truly asGod’s revelation. Instead, Peterson articulates a vision of reading the Biblein order to appreciate the conversational nature of its language that willallow us to see ourselves in it. He introduces the ancient practice of lectiodivina, reading scripture in such a way so as to form one’s life in light ofthe story of scripture.
Peterson is professor emeritus ofspiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,and the author of the best-selling paraphrase The Message.
MISSIONS
David A. Livermore. Serving with EyesWide Open: Doing Short-Term Missions with Cultural Intelligence, Grand Rapids, Mich.:Baker Books, 2006. ISBN 0-8010-6616-6; 192 pages; $12.99; (800) 877-2665 orwww.bakerbooks.com.
Those who use short-term missionexperiences to introduce and excite people to the calling of mission will findthis a helpful resource. Livermore shows church leaders how to plan moreeffective short-term missions by laying out the effects of globalization onmissions, the conflicting image between Americans and nationals aboutshort-term missions, how to have a sharper mission focus and how to serve withcultural intelligence.
Livermoreis the executive director of the Global Learning Centerand cofounder of Intersect, which helps emerging Christian leaders inministries around the world.
EVANGELISM
Editor: Scott Dawson. The Complete Evangelism Guidebook: Expert Advice on Reaching Others for Christ, 2006. ISBN 0-8010-6615-8;400 pages; $16.99; (800) 877-2665 or www.bakerbooks.com.
This resource has 70 essays written bynearly 60 individuals who have extensive knowledge and experiencing reachingout to the lost. The first set of articles help readers to see how to definewhat faith is and then how they can demonstrate, declare and defend Christianfaith. Other articles address how to evangelize people of differentgenerations, races, jobs, religions, sexual orientations and in various socialand economic circumstances.
Dawsonis founder of the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association in Birmingham, Ala.
BIBLICAL STUDIES
John Carroll Brown. Drama of the Age: ADivine Drama in Seven Acts: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation, Longwood, Fla.:Xulon Press, 2005. ISBN 1-59781-475-X; 468 pages; $23.99; (866) 381-2665 orwww.xulonpress.com/bookstore/titles/159781475X.htm.
Brown’s book is a commentary onRevelation using the metaphor of a drama — with theater, director, producer,script, themes and plot -— to explain John’s vision. Revelation is outlinedwith its main drama of seven acts occurring between chapters 12 and 21.
The book also includes nine appendicesgoing into greater details about such related issues as Hades, Hell, “Temple of God,” “Plan of Salvation” and therelationship between Daniel and Revelation and the millennium.
Brown lives in Brownwood, Texas,and attends the Austin Avenue Church of Christ.
This list includes information providedby publishers. For more information, contact Reviews Editor John Harrison at [email protected].
