Book Review of The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters edited by Gupta, Cohick, and McKnight

Dictionary of Paul and His Letters: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship: Second Edition

Edited by Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick, and Nijay Gupta

ISBN 978-0-8308-1785-6

Intervarsity Press

Reviewed by Clint Walker

Many folks, like me, enjoyed the first edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, published in 1993. At that point, I was a twenty-year-old student at Sterling College in Sterling, KS. In 2023, the year that I turned 50, the second edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters was released. I have been excited to dig into this fine new work and highly recommend it to students of the New Testament everywhere.

Part of the reason I am excited about this book is personal. At the time of this book's release, all three of the editors of this new volume were at Northern Seminary. During COVID, I audited a class with Nijay Gupta on Philippians. Lynn Cohick taught a class in my doctoral coursework in 2021. So, my connection has made me root for this fine work.

This is a large text, and I will admit I have not read it cover to cover. (Honestly, it is not meant to be read that way) I have read this text, and several things are helpful to know about the scholarship in this text. They are:

• This is almost entirely new in its content. Only 15 of the original articles were used, and several of them were updated (p. ix). I will probably use both the original and this update for research.
• My perception is that this volume has longer articles than the previous text and perhaps fewer topics covered. 
• The bibliographies that follow the articles are up to date, and worth paying attention to!
• I think the "Interpretation" articles in this edition are an excellent addition.
• It is really worth one's time as a reader to not only explore articles based on the table of contents but go through the contributors list. For instance, I looked up Michael Gorman, and am going to read his three articles. In some cases, you can get a "readers digest" version of influential books and ideas. Good stuff.
• Finally, this may be marketed as a more academic book, but it is a great book for anyone who loves understanding Paul and His Letters in a deeper way, no matter their background. 

If you have the money, I recommend adding this book to your library!

Book Review of Flyover Church: How Jesus' Ministry in Rural Places is Good News Everywhere

Flyover Church: How Jesus' Ministry in Rural Places is Good News Everywhere

By Brad Roth

Herald Press

ISBN 978-1-5138-1372-1

Reviewed by Clint Walker

Since 2016, there has been both a public and ecclesial interest in small towns and rural life. Whether it is the flood of sociological interest seeking to investigate why rural people have such great affection for Donald Trump, or the renewed interest in small churches and rural ministry in ministry circles, understanding rural America, especially in flyover country, is getting some deserved attention.

Into this time, comes a wonderful book by Brad Roth entitled Flyover Church. Brad is a seasoned pastor and leader in out of the way places, and takes his readers on a journey to discover the importance of small town ministry, and some helpful attitudes and practices in that context.

The book, which I read good portions of in the Flyover Brewery in Scottsbluff NE while listening to Chris Stapleton, is a guidebook for ministry in rural places, especially those in small towns in the Midwestern and Western United States. Brad takes us on a journey in Flyover Church, in which chapter titles are patterned after movement of Jesus as God's incarnational presence in the world, with a call to his readers to follow Jesus' pattern as well. As Roth says in this text, "ministry is about making ourselves available to his people and his world. Ministry is not a task based job, but a presence based one..." (p. 27). As Roth serves as a tour guide to rural ministry, he points to things to notice, attitudes that work, and practices that are necessary to be faithful in rural and small town ministry. There are no step by step instructions on "how to", but there is lots of practical insight on how to live rural ministry as a way of life. 

I would recommend this book to anyone exploring or practicing ministry in out of the way places. Flyover ministry is not always easy, but Brad Roth shows how it can be a true and beautiful way of serving the call of Jesus.

Book Review of Zion Learns to See by Terrance Lester and Zion Lester

 

Zion Learns to See

by Terence Lester and Zion Lester

Illustrated by Subi Bosa

IVP Kids

978-1-5140-0669-0

Reviewed by Clint Walker

Terence and Zion Lester have written a children's book entitled Zion Learns to See, which is a wonderful story about discovering a vibrant, living faith committed to loving others, and standing in solidarity with those who are under resourced.

In a book that appears to be autobiographical, Zion goes to work with her dad one Saturday morning. Her dad works at a community center in a neighborhood that has people who are homeless and hungry. Terance introduces her to his friends, and Zion helps meet some of the needs of hungry and unhoused. She begins to understand in her heart a lesson that her father was teaching her, namely that "Every person matters to God. And that means every person should matter to us"

This is a great book for teaching Christian values and social responsibility to children and adults alike. The illustrations are well done. The narrative tells a story of personal transformation by a young girl, which will encourage others to be transformed as well.

This book belongs in any home that is trying to disciple their children to be thoughtful, compassionate, and committed to loving others. It also belongs in church libraries, city libraries, and Christian schools. 

Review of Not Finished Yet by Sharon Garlow Brown

Not Finished Yet: Trusting God with All My Feelings

Sharon Garlow Brown

ISBN 978-1-5140-0795-2

IVP Kids

Reviewed By Clint Walker

Sharon Garlough Brown has written a wonderful series of novels designed to explore women's spiritual formation in a fictional narrative. Now, she is writing a children's book, describing a grandmother and a grandchild who deal with big feelings through art and a deepening faith in the presence of a gracious God who is still at work in the world and in each of us.

Probably the best compliment I have as a "girl dad" after reading Not Finished Yet is that I wish it had been written when my daughters were little enough to hear it and read it as little girls. It deals with real issues without being platitudinous. 

The story in this short book flows well. Jessica Lynn Evans illustrates it well. The metaphor of God painting the universe and that he is not finished with his creation is thought-provoking and compelling for me, as I am sure it will be for others. 

This is a great children's book on the shelf at a church, in a home with children, or in a library in the middle of town.