BOOK NOTES

 

If we can think of a good book as written by a good man, then Lynn Hieronymus’ What the Bible Says About Worship more than qualified, for the author is such a fine person. Beyond that, this book is both entertaining and informative, drawing deeply both from Scripture and our own heritage. One-third of the book is a “Special Study” on Alexander Campbell and the Hymn book, and the whole of the book draws heavily on our heritage in worship. And yet the biblical norms are not neglected, not even the worship of the synagogue. We highly recommend this book as well worth the price tag of 13.50.

A Documentary History of Religion in America by Edwin S. Gaustad is in two volumes, the first goes to the Civil War, the second since 1865. It allows you to read the documents that made American religion, with appropriate introductions to them, such as William Penn’s treaty with the Indians, the Puritans’ founding of Harvard so that there would not be “an illiterate ministry,” and Alexander Campbell’s essay on Christian unity. The author mistakes Campbell’s second wife for the first one (Selina always had that problem!) in an accompanying photo, but he can be excused for that. If you want to know history, this is the way to study it, the documents themselves, with a little help on how they came about. I suggest you get the first volume first, and then move on to the second. Over 500 pages each, they are well worth 16.95 each, which is postpaid if prepaid.

You will delight in Michael Green’s The Day Death Died, a thin paperback on the evidence for the resurrection of Christ. 3.85 postpaid.

For 15.00 we will send you a five-pack of C.S. Lewis’ most seminal writings: Miracles, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain, Mere Christianity. If you have not read Lewis, here is the place to both start and end. You will be both impressed and edified.

Several titles by our own folk in Churches of Christ deserve to be read, some new, some old. New is Olan Hicks’ In Search of Peace, Unity, and Truth (3.95). Not yet old is Waymon Miller’s The Role of Elders (3.95). Old but still new is K. C. Moser’s Gist of Romans (5.95). Moser’s The Way of Salvation (5.95) is also still in print. We stock these books because they are liberating material, all of them, pointing our people in a new direction, away from sectarianism and authoritarianism to catholicity and freedom. Don’t give up on us until you have read these books. Still another new title from our own ranks and equal to the others is Cecil Hooks’ Free in Christ, which you will have to order from him, and I urge you do so. It is distributed free but I suggest you send 2.00 for postage and handling. Address:1350 Huisache, New Braunfels, Tx. 78130.

Our own story of our people, The Stone-Campbell Movement: An Anecdotal History of Three Churches is now in its second printing and is still making friends and influencing people. The price is 21.95 postpaid, but for a special deal see box below.

You will be impressed with the bound copies of this journal in matching volumes back to 1977 (earlier ones are no longer available), with colorful dustjackets. Principles of Unity and Fellowshipo (1977) and The Ancient Order (1978), single volumes, are 5.95 each. Blessed Are The Peacemakers and With All The Mind (1979-80) and Jesus Today (1981-82), double volumes, are 9.00 each. Prepaid only please. the bound volume for 1983-84, entitled The Doe of the Dawn, should be ready by spring. You can help circulate this journal through our club rate for four or more names (no limit) at 3.00 per year per name. You send us the names and we do the mailing. Bundle rates to one address is the the same rate. Some of our most appreciative readers are those who were introduced to the journal by someone else, so why not give this a chance with some of your friends. If you send us eight subs (counting your own or your renewal) at 3.00 each (total 24.00), we will send you a free copy of The Stone-Campbell Movement by Leroy Garrett, but you have to request the book.