What Pastor Blair Has Been Reading (April 2025 through June 2025)

Adams, Isaac. What If I’m Discouraged in My Evangelism? Crossway: Wheaton, 2020.

This is another booklet from the 9Marks Church Question series. I know I have felt discouraged when evangelizing. Sometimes I am not motivated to do it at all. I have friends that are Christians who have yet to take a crack at sharing the gospel themselves. This little book is perfect to get you started in the right direction. It answers the most common objections to evangelism. And the author provides nine ‘hopes’ that we should keep in mind as we share that will give you motivation to follow through. If you are struggling, this is a good little primer. I will place it on the shelves of the church.

Bruce. F.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Eerdmans Publishing: Grand Rapids, 1990.

If you have read my past reviews, then you know I am a great admirer of F.F. Bruce (1910-1990). He is a scholar of incredible standing using the historical grammatical method. His work on Hebrews was originally produced in 1964 and revised just before the man’s death in 1990. It is a testimony to his scholarship that it is still relevant today. Bruce digs into all the historical details that sets the stage for the Biblical text. He presents insights from the Qumran scrolls, rabbinic, and Greek literature of the time period. And that might be the weakness of this commentary. He presents a little too much information which can obscure the basic meaning of the text (think of chasing rabbits). I am grateful for this commentary, but I would point you towards a few others first before reaching for this one.

Dudley, Geoffrey V. Leading Through Storms: Successfully Navigating Ministry While Maintaining Your Mental Health. Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove, 2025.

Geoffrey Dudley is an African American pastor serving in St Louis, Missouri. He went through a difficult trial of starting a building project for his congregation only to have his primary lending institution pull their funding in the middle of construction. From that point on more trials came and it almost drove him to taking his own life. Of course, when God is at work there is always a come-back story. He shares experiences from his personal ministry as well as leadership lessons during his time as an Air Force Chaplain. It is an inspiring story. I would caution pastors who read this book to beware of the distinction between secular leadership and spiritual leadership. There is heavy blending between the two. Also, there are a few places where Dudley contextualizes passages of scripture in order to fit his own situation. But his evaluation questions at the end of each chapter are very helpful. A discerning reader will find this to be a good tool.

Evangelista, Patricia. Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country. Random House: New York, 2023.

This was an absolutely disturbing book! Patricia Evangelista is a reputable journalist in the Philippines. She has chronicled the mass murders under the Duterte administration that occurred in the last decade. The president’s solution to the chronic drug problem was to kill anyone that was involved whether they were a user or a dealer. Of course, when such authority is granted, gross abuse occurs too. Many innocents were killed as well. Some continue to see Duterte as a hero. Yet he is currently facing criminal charges from the ICC for his misconduct (and his daughter is still Vice President!). Evangelista’s stories are heartbreaking. This is a remarkable case of what happens when someone is granted absolute power. It is a lesson from which we all should learn.

Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing and Epidemic of Mental Illness. Penguin Press: New York, 2004.

Jonathan Haidt is a distinguished social scientist. Let me begin by saying that he is a self-proclaimed atheist and evolutionist. With such a background, I had wondered why many of my friends had recommended this book to me. But I am glad I did read it; it proves that all mankind can learn from general revelation, but we need special revelation to interpret the data properly. Haidt and his team began to investigate why Gen Z has seen a steep increase in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicide (especially among girls). There was a huge spike that began around 2010-2012. His research learned that the phenomena can be traced back to the introduction of smart phones with constant access to the internet. The statistics are the same in every developed country where these devices are readily available to children. It has rewired development in how children process information. It has also made children susceptible to software developers who entice teens to keep eyes on their apps and anxious not to be using their phones. Despite Haidt bringing in some of his evolutionary philosophy, the data is clear. Smart devices are rewiring our brains! In addition to providing some helpful advice on how to combat the dilemma, what is amazing is that Haidt devotes an entire chapter to saying that one of the solutions to this problem is to ground children in spiritualism—some type of moral community that can help young ones navigate their choices. It seems to scream, ‘Yes, they need the Church and the Bible!’ This is a book I wish I had read when I was raising my girls. There is much more wisdom concerning phones and the internet than was available to me then. We should take advantage of preparing the next generation.

Kellemen, Bob. Grief: Walking with Jesus. P&R Publishing: Phillipsburg, NJ, 2018.

Grief is the feeling of suffering a loss. While we normally associate grief with the death of a loved one, it can also apply to other things we love that are no longer with us: getting fired from your dream job, a spouse who divorces you, a church member that leaves for another local body. All of these events can produce grief. Biblical counselor Bob Kellemen has written this 31-Day devotion to address this feeling. I wish I could say this is a great resource. Probably 80 percent of the daily readings are wonderful. The remaining ones are somewhat mediocre and at least two have a poor application or wrong exposition of scripture. That being said, the better devotions are encouraging and point rightly to seek our satisfaction in God as we grieve. This would not be my first ‘go-to’ on the topic, but I would have no problem assigning ‘homework’ from individual devotions in the book.

Lohmeyer, Ernst. The Lord of the Temple: A Study of the Relation Between Cult and Gospel. John Knox Press: Richmond, 1962.

Ernst Lohmeyer had a fascinating life. He was a conservative theology professor from Germany. He stood against the Nazi party within his country and even fought for the Belgium resistance. As an East German, after the war, he was later captured by the Soviets and executed. This volume is one of the few of his writings translated into English. I saw it as a resource as I was working through Acts trying to understand what role the temple played in the life of the early apostles. The result of this research was breathtaking. Using Biblical theology, Lohmeyer has convinced me that a central purpose of Jesus’s mission was to eradicate the temple as the Lord’s church would thoroughly replace it. I was inspired and encouraged despite that Lohmeyer writes some of the longest paragraphs I have ever read (that, however, might be due to translation). I hope to read more of his writings in the future. This book is in the public domain, so anyone could read it online.

Marshall, I. Howard. Acts: Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Eerdmans Publishing: Grand Rapids, 2001.

According to D.A. Carson, this is the best intermediate overview of Acts combining the best elements of theology, history, and practical application. To date, I don’t think I can dispute that claim. The staff used this in our first study of Acts preparing for next year. I found it to address the major points of the book. In regard to what information may have been lacking, Marshall pointed to additional resources when necessary. Perhaps the only fault is that he tended to make liberal scholar, E. Haenchen, his favorite whipping boy with whom he disagreed. I would have preferred that he spread the criticism, so it didn’t look like he had it out just for him. But this is still a timely and relevant commentary of the book of Acts.

Newheiser, Jim. Money: Seeking God’s Wisdom. P&R Publishing: Phillipsburg, NJ, 2019.

This another 31-Day Devotion in the Biblical Counseling Coalition collection. I have been working through each of these to use as tools within my own counseling. This is one of the more outstanding volumes. Newheiser has (somehow) been able to provide a condensed solid foundation for how to view money as a Christian. He provides advice on vocation, warnings, what to do when financially distressed, and practical wisdom about keeping money in its place before God. This is a great little devotion to get someone started towards sound financial health. Parents- this would be a great gift for a college student who is not only looking to make their mark on the world but needs to know the importance of a budget. For those of us adults who have had money problems, this is a good refresher about where we should be. I highly recommend this book.

Piper, John. A Godward Heart. Multnomah Books: Colorado Springs, 2014.

My first introduction to the writings of John Piper was through his devotional, A Godward Life (book one). That was twenty years ago. At the time, I was intimidated to read Piper and thought this would be an easier way to get to know his teachings. These are shorter articles that originally appeared on the Desiring God website. That first volume turned into a second, A Godward Life (book two). And now both have been collected and revised to produce this volume, A Godward Heart. It was nostalgic to work through these daily devotions again. I remembered many of them fondly. I also have discovered areas I might somewhat disagree with the good pastor, in relation to where I am now in my spiritual journey; not anything major, just growth that I don’t always take a mentor as gospel. But I also would say the devotionals are just as edifying. If you are looking for a good daily devotional, this will suit you. It will still point you toward a God glorifying life.

Schriener, Patrick. The Ascension of Christ: Recovering a Neglected Doctrine. Lexham Press: Bellingham, WA, 2020.

I picked up this primer on the doctrine of the ascension a couple of years ago. It has been sitting on my shelf waiting for the right time for me to read it. That time came as the staff is preparing to preach through Acts in 2026. I am slightly sorry that I did not pick it up earlier to read it. I have found it very helpful as I preach through Hebrews as well. The point that Schriener makes is the work of Jesus did not end with the resurrection. Yes, he sits down at the right hand of the Father because the sacrificial work is completed. But he still ministers and rules as the exalted Christ blessing his church to spread his glory. Schriener does a great job presenting the Biblical theology undergirding this doctrine under the headings of prophet, priest, and king. The text is readable and concise. I found it to be both encouraging as well as edifying. This is a perfect primer as to why the ascension is an essential doctrine for our comfort and salvation. I highly recommend this volume.

Stephens, Don. War and Faith. Evangelical Press: Leyland, 2016.

During the period around Memorial Day, I like to read biographies of soldiers or accounts of battles that have a connection to the United States. It gives me a better appreciation for those who have served our country. A few years ago, I read Don Stephen’s book, War and Grace. It provided brief biographies of people who served in World War II and came to saving faith either before, during or after their war time experience. Stephens even included some enemies to the allies that repented. I enjoyed that volume immensely. This is sort of the sequel to the first book. It contains eight biographical accounts of those who were involved in the Second World War. While fascinating, these accounts are not as strong as in War and Grace. This is mainly due to the fact there isn’t nearly as much primary source material for the author to work with. But the faith of each individual subject does come across. You can read about the fighter pilot, Steve Stevens, who later became a pilot for MAF or Horst Alexander, a former Nazi youth, who was converted to Christ while in prison. War and Faith was a pleasant read, but keep in mind that it will not have the impact that War and Grace provides. It is still inspiring. If you have not read the latter yet, perhaps start with this one and then precede to the first volume.

White, David. Can You Change If You Are Gay? New Growth Press: Greensboro, 2013.

David White is an excellent scholar, counselor, and theologian. He works with Harvest USA which is an organization that counsels people trapped in sexual sin. In a previous review, I have highly recommended his book, God, You and Sex. Here, White has written this booklet for those who are same sex attracted and want to know if they can change. Typically, someone in such a struggle finds it hard to believe they can a) no longer be same sex attracted and b) desire to be in a relationship with someone of the opposite gender. White turns the argument to its true issue: ‘The opposite of homosexuality isn’t heterosexuality—it is holiness.’ Every person should desire holiness- living set apart for God’s purposes. We should desire to live lives that honor God and seek to do his will no matter the situation that the Lord places us. So, the answer is yes, through the power of the Spirit, you can change your outlook and attitude in submitting to the Lord’s will. This is a very encouraging message for those that struggle with this issue.

Wiedis, Dave. The Spiritually Healthy Leader: Finding Freedom from Self-Sabotage. New Growth Press: Greensboro, 2025.

With a plethora of ministry leaders falling into moral failure, this is a much-needed book to help ministers see where sin may have taken root in their lives and where it will eventually blossom. Wiedis guides the reader to look back at the past and discover developing lies (which became ruling passions) and how they have impacted ministry decisions. Such lies can be ‘ministry validates my worth’ or ‘I have no limitations’ or ‘I can never be in the wrong.’  He then shows the reader how to replace those lies with a ruling passion of the supremacy of Christ. Don’t expect a quick fix. It does require careful contemplation and work on behalf of the reader. I cannot commend this book enough. It will definitely be one of my top reads of the year. This is better than Dangerous Calling and Lead as it not only gives good biblical exposition, but it also provides solid application to dig at the root cause of sin. I plan on revisiting this book multiple times throughout my career. I recommend it for anyone in active ministry (elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers, etc.).