OFFICE NOTES

 

You are probably interested in a short, easy-to-read, fast-moving history of the early church. Harry Boer has produced such a volume, a 200-page paperback for 2.95. He traces the history to the eighth century, with emphasis on people, places, institutions events. He gives special attention to the controversies.

It is well to bear in mind that one who has eyes and will not read is no better off than he who has no eyes and cannot read. We are all morally obligated to improve ourselves, and this can begin with good books. Read and God will bless you, even if it means facing your TV to the wall. In this column we take particular pains to tell you of the very best reading you can do (in our opinion) at the least possible price. Books are high, true, but we can all afford to make an occasional purchase. They can then be shared with others, or they can be studied and marked, laid aside for a time, and then studied still more.

A lot of our young and old alike will profit from Lewis Smedes’ Sex for Christians, in paper at 2.95. Keith Miller says of it: “He does not give easy, permissive answers which bypass biblical injunction, but tries to face head-on many of the specific problems which are involved in trying to live as a Christian in a sensually oriented world.”

Let us insist that you do some first class Bicentennial reading in a new edition of The Federalist Papers. The writings of Hamilton, Jay, and Madison are abridged, giving the reader the essence of the thinking of the men who wrought out a new government. I have read from these papers to my boys and my students, and you’ll be pleased if you do the same. Madison’s insight into human nature is uncanny! Lester DeKoster, the editor, provides helpful introductions and notes. In paper at 3.45.

A.M. Hunter is one of the great scholars of Scotland, and anything he writes is worth your attention and money. For 2.65 we will send you his Interpreting the Parables. He lucidly lays out the meaning of the kingdom, as he sees it. Along with this consider his Gleanings from the New Testament, which is 30 brief discussions on varied topics about Jesus and the apostles. It provides insights into ethics, original sin, godliness, and what he calls “the eleventh commandment.” 5.45.

For awhile yet we can still send a new subscriber all the issues for this year, but we do this only when it is requested. Otherwise a new reader begins with the current number. For the remainder of this year you can subscribe or renew for 2.00 per year, 3.00 for two years. You can send us a list of five or more names and we will mail them the paper a full year for only 1.00 per name. We encourage you to do this so as to help us increase our outreach. We gain many new friends, readers who go on to renew again and again, in this way. So this is your way to share effectively with some of your friends. We do not reveal who sends in what names, despite requests. Since we keep no record once the plate is cut, we could not supply such information even if we chose to.

William Barclay fans will want to know that his Introduction to the First Three Gospels, long respected as a fine introduction, is now available in paperback at 5.95. His Introduction to John and Acts, a companion volume, is the same price. These are great bargains and will really bless you if you will study them. These are not to be confused with his Daily Bible Study. These also are. being issued in paperback in revised form. We will send them to you one at a time, if you would like, at 3.45 each.

We have a few copies each of Carl Ketcherside’s Mission Messenger for 1972, 73, 74, and 75 at 3.75. For 2.95 each we also have his Death of the Custodian and Heaven Help Us.