Book Reviews

Posted: 11/17/06

Book Reviews

Whose Bible is it? by Jaroslav Pelikan (Penguin)

In the recent century, we saw two World Wars but also a crest in exploration of the Bible. Jaroslav Pelikan, professor emeritus of history at Yale University, published this “short history of the Scriptures” last year. It is a reverent and incisive interpretation. Unfortunately, he died May 13 at 82.

Preachers and Sunday school teachers like to get background information for their presentations, and this would be an excellent source. For example, do we let the whole message of the Christian faith rise and fall on the doctrine of inerrancy? And where does the Koran fall into the procession of sacred Middle Eastern documents?

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

There is a whole seminar in less than 300 pages in Pelikan’s sweep through origins and relationships in the word of God.

Bob Beck, intentional interim pastor

Fort Worth

The Serving Leader: Five Powerful Actions That Will Transform Your Team, Your Business and Your Community by Ken Jennings and John Stahl-Wert (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)

The Serving Leader is a brief but powerful book that simplifies tangible actions you can take to transform your workplace. However, if this book were only a how-to book, it would not be as impressive as it is. Jennings and Stahl-Wert also probe the relational aspect of leadership in a surprising way.

There are really two story lines beyond the five how-to’s in this book. There is the story of the researcher and his professional work, but there also is the story of the researcher and his father. The researcher’s story line takes him to some of the best organizations to learn what they do best. He explores the concept of building on strengths, trailblazing, raising the bar, upending the pyramid and running to great purpose. He provides nuanced definitions for all these actions that may surprise you.

If you have looked for a book on leadership that provided some tangible principles in the context of mercy, grace, healing, restoration, redemption, life purpose and the Christian message, The Serving Leader is the book you want to read.

Albert Reyes, president

Baptist University of the Americas

San Antonio

Making the Blue Plate Special: The Joy of Family Legacies by Florence Littauer, Marita Littauer and Lauren Littauer Briggs

Bible teacher and popular author Florence Littauer joins her equally gifted daughters in writing a book that speaks to the “heart” of family tradition and legacy.

The writers underscore what many of us often feel—that in many ways families and individuals are in danger of losing contact with the past and the deep, emotional meaning of events and relationships. While I usually am not drawn to such topics, the Littauer “gang” grabbed my attention in the introduction (“Pork with Panties”) and refused to allow me to escape until the final sentence in the last chapter, “What Will You Do?” (The appendix isn’t bad, either!)

Lauren Littauer Briggs does an admirable job in Chapter 7, “Holiday Traditions With Children,” encouraging family traditions that focus on “giving” instead of “getting.” The added recipes and holiday ideas are significant contributions to the book. She shows us how to make Christmas and other holidays something better than “it’s all about me.”

Lest you think the book is nothing more than emotional “fluff,” Marita Littauer provides a biblical foundation in Chapter 1.

The focus is on how Scripture reveals purpose and how purpose is amplified in family traditions that can remain powerful influences for good the rest of our lives.

The authors remind us that tradition and legacy are not built on occasional large, expensive events. Instead, families pass on real values by doing small “special” things really well.

Lauren Littauer Briggs reminds us, “The reward for surviving your children’s troublesome teenage years—when they hate you for no reason and wouldn’t talk to you if your hair was on fire—is that someday those same children will grow up, get married, come to realize you are wonderful after all and present you with grandchildren!” Take it from a grandparent, that’s when tradition and legacy mean the most.

Get this book. Parents will learn from it. Grandparents will celebrate it.

Charles Walton, pastor

First Baptist Church

Conroe