| Whats New: August 2020 |
| New books for August 2020 Camden Theological Library has added a number of new books to our collection during the month of August. These books are now available for loan and are currently on display in the Library, near the circulation desk. Several of these books are highlighted below. A full listing of all new items can be viewed here. Can we trust the gospels? by Peter J. Williams The Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, John–are four accounts of Jesus’s life and teachings while on earth. But should we accept them as historically accurate? What evidence is there that the recorded events actually happened? Presenting a case for the historical reliability of the Gospels, New Testament scholar Peter Williams examines evidence from non-Christian sources, assesses how accurately the four biblical accounts reflect the cultural context of their day, compares different accounts of the same events, and looks at how these texts were handed down throughout the centuries. Everyone from the sceptic to the scholar will find powerful arguments in favour of trusting the Gospels as trustworthy accounts of Jesus’s earthly life. The Grace of Waiting by Margaret Whipp This wise and beautiful book draws on the experience of unchosen waiting – in sickness, in old age, and in the struggles and frustrations of everyday life – to explore the challenges of waiting and the skills it demands. A lifeline for anyone who finds themselves in a time of waiting, chosen or unchosen, or accompanying others through such times, it shows how the paradoxical gifts of patience point to the God who kindly waits for us. A book of grace, depth and beauty, destined to become a modern spiritual classic. Sunday’s sermon for Monday’s world : preaching to shape during witness by Sally A. Brown Sunday’s Sermon for Monday’s World will inspire both preachers and those who listen to them to move from sanctuary to street, week after week, eager to discern and participate in the ongoing, redemptive work of God already under way amid the ordinary scenes and settings of their Monday-to-Saturday lives. Does Religion Do More Harm Than Good? by Rupert Shortt Are the world’s major spiritual traditions sources of greater discord than harmony? Or are conflicts widely blamed on faith differences fundamentally social and political? In this succinct but richly reflective book, Rupert Shortt offers even-handed guidance on one of the most disputed questions of our time. Among much else he sheds light on the contrast between good and bad religion, and on why the distinction is of urgent relevance in an era increasingly described as post-secular. Wise Up! : Four Biblical Virtues for Navigating Life by Alyce M. McKenzie Wise Up! invites the reader to step up to the divine customer service desk and exchange self-sufficiency, self-absorption, self-indulgence, and self-protection for the four virtues of biblical wisdom: the fear of the Lord (faith), the listening heart (compassion), the cool spirit (self-discipline), and the subversive voice (moral courage). An invaluable resource for personal devotion, small group study, and sermon series, Wise Up! is a spiritual manual for navigating the twists and turns of an unpredictable life. The author mines the riches of the Bible’s wisdom literature from Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and the short sayings of the synoptic Jesus. The result is four guiding virtues that can keep our feet from stumbling on the journey to wisdom through the thorniest of paths. Understanding Christian Leadership by Ian Parkinson Understanding Christian Leadership offers an examination of a distinctly Christian understanding of leadership offering a critical appraisal of insights from secular theories of leadership, exploring biblical and other theological insights into the nature and practice of leadership. Holy Mischief : In Honor and Celebration of Women in Ministry by Mindy Makant The ELCA has been ordaining women for fifty years. Mindy Makant interviews eighty-five female pastors across the Southeast about their lives as women in ministry in a culture that has been slow to embrace them. This book is their story. Tongan dictionary: Tongan to English/English to Tongan by J.T. Fisher This simple Tongan dictionary – English to Tongan was created to help you connect with and understand the Tongan culture through learning some of the basics of the language. Using words and phrases will allow you to pick up on topics of conversations and even piece together simple replies. Rogue saints : spirituality for good-hearted heathens by Jerry Herships The world is full of good-hearted heathens, those who love people and those who want to do good in the world. They’re not against God–they just have little use for church. Church is boring and hypocritical. Plus, who wants to sit through a sermon every week? But while organised religion doesn’t appeal to them, these heathens long for a connection to something bigger than themselves: meaning, community, mission. Pastor Jerry Herships leads a church-ish community full of good-hearted heathens. They may not love church, but they love sitting around a bar talking about what really matters and doing some good for their city’s poorest residents. Herships takes that experience and absolves other former churchgoers of their guilt. No, you don’t have to go to church to love and serve God. Yes, God still loves you and wants to help you love the world. Sent to flourish : a guide to planting and multiplying churches by Len Tang Church planting is hard work. Planters face a thousand pressures related to leadership, finances, identity, and more. Quick fixes don’t produce sustainability. How can church planters and their congregations flourish for the long haul? Sent to Flourish is a unique guide to accompany current and prospective church planters as they respond to this essential but sometimes daunting call. Theologically grounded while remaining practically oriented, it combines biblical patterns and practice to equip men and women planters to develop their own holistic planting plans. Colossians : An Eco-stoic Reading by Victoria Balabanski Victoria Balabanski analyses Colossians as a co-authored letter, written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment by Timothy with the input of Epaphras, and sent with Paul’s introductory and concluding greetings. The Letter to the Colossians has the highest view of Christ of any of the New Testament writings, and this theology of divine permeation invites us to notice the ecological potential of this letter. Protestant Worship : A Multisensory Introduction for Students & Practitioners by Jr. Allen, O. Wesley Students and leaders of worship strive to plan and lead worship well, in all sorts of circumstances. They and their fellow worshippers seek to experience a deep connection with God and with each other. In some ways, worship is about just that: connection. Protestant Worship: A Multisensory Introduction for Students and Practitioners teaches and actually demonstrates how the actions, reactions, outpourings and responses of a worship service are all part of a powerfully interwoven and ever-evolving whole. Finding the heart of the nation : the journey of the Uluru Statement towards voice, treaty and truth by Thomas Mayor Since the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart was formed in 2017, Thomas Mayor has travelled around the country to promote its vision of a better future for Indigenous Australians. He’s visited communities big and small, often with the Uluṟu Statement canvas rolled up in a tube under his arm. Through the story of his own journey and interviews with 20 key people, Thomas taps into a deep sense of our shared humanity. The voices within these chapters make clear what the Uluru Statement is and why it is so important. And Thomas hopes you will be moved to join them, along with the growing movement of Australians who want to see substantive constitutional change. Thomas believes that we will only find the heart of our nation when the First peoples – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – are recognised with a representative Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution. Sermons on the Parables by Howard Thurman This collection of fifteen of Howard Thurman’s unpublished sermons on the parables of Jesus recapture his powerful words and introduce and explain them to a new generation and audience. Capturing the power of the parables to challenge, transform us, and inspire us to act, Thurman’s reflections may inspire new readers to declare or reaffirm their commitment to the kingdom of God and the human community proclaimed by Jesus. The first letter of Peter : a global commentary by Jennifer Strawbridge Designed as the official commentary resource for the Lambeth Conference in 2020, and structured around the themes of the conference, the book offers a unique range of perspectives on an oft-overlooked epistle. With contributions from an impressive range of scholars including Paula Gooder, Emma Ineson, Paul Swarup, Musa Dube, Craig Keener, and Kwok Pui Lan, it will provide an important resource for anyone studying, teaching, or preaching from the letter. Performing the Gospel : exploring the borderland of worship, entertainment, and the arts by Deborah Sokolove What is the difference between good worship and good entertainment? Too often, people disparage some aspect of worship by calling it “just entertainment” or “just a performance.” Others say that they do not need to go to church because they have profound spiritual or even religious experiences at concerts, plays, movies, or dances. How is worship different from these performing arts? How is art different from entertainment? This book looks at the history of the performing arts both in worship and as worship, with particular attention to the attitudes that shape our ideas about both worship and entertainment. Working definitions of words like “art,” “excellence,” “liturgy,” and “play” help to illuminate what different people mean when they use them in conversations about Christian worship. Putting theological, scriptural, and practical writings on worship and the performing arts in conversation with interviews with dancers, musicians, actors, preachers, and liturgical scholars, this volume is intended to help pastors, performers, and everyone who plans, leads, or cares about worship talk with one another in mutually respectful and helpful ways. Walking in the Prophetic Tradition : Models of Speaking Truth and Acting in Love for Everyday People by Jason A. Bembry Contrary to popular belief, the biblical prophets do far more than predict the future. They speak truth to power, they tell the truth about the uncomfortable past, they indict empty religiosity, they advocate for poor people and working people while seeking justice–all at tremendous risk to themselves. In Walking in the Prophetic Tradition Jason Bembry argues that the prophets have too often been domesticated by cultural impulses that reduce the prophetic message to prediction about Jesus or the end times. This book highlights themes addressed by the Old Testament prophets and connects each theme to modern people who exemplify passion for those same ideals. In this sense the prophetic tradition comes to life in the lived testimony of Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Myles Horton, Cesar Chavez, and Cornel West–moderns who stand courageously in this tradition. This book is a guide for all who seek a fuller understanding of the Old Testament prophets and who want to continue their work in the present. Seeing God in Art : The Christian Faith in 30 Images by Richard Harries Over the centuries some of the world’s greatest painters have explored and expressed their faith in God through their art. Here, Richard Harries invites you to reflect with him on thirty such artists, and to see how their paintings illuminate important aspects of Christian faith and teaching. Encompassing masterpieces by Rembrandt, Leonardo, Titian and Caravaggio as well as modern works by Chagall, Spencer and Rouault, this book presents the essentials of the faith in a way that will move the reader to respond with heart as well as head. Embracing Disruptive Coherence : Coming Out As Erotic Ethical Practice by Kathleen T. Talvacchia Does anyone need to come out anymore? Queer theory has challenged the idea of coming out as problematic for its false binary and essentialized version of identity. If gender is a socially constructed performativity, then what does coming out mean? At the same time, we live in a society that still struggles with structures of power that define what is considered normal and sanctions those who transgress. The intersectionality of gender with race, class, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, religion, age and other positional markers challenge a simplified belief that coming out is not necessary. Therefore, in the lived experience of many persons coming out still matters. This book initiates a different theological conversation about coming out. It argues that rather than the declaration of an identity category, coming out can be understood as the erotic ethical practice of truth-telling. The formation of conscience and moral integrity embody the two pillars of this erotic practice. Coming out understood as “disruptive coherence” is the erotic ethical practice of truth-telling grounded in our deepest desires to be known authentically in community. A Companion to the Book of Revelation by David L. Mathewson This book is meant to be a companion and guide through what many deem to be the most perplexing book of the New Testament. As such, it introduces the reader to the kind of literature Revelation is, how to interpret its pervasive symbolism, and sees it as a response to the unique circumstances of seven historical churches in first-century Asia Minor living under the shadow of the Roman Empire. This companion pays special attention to the literary context and flow of argument of John’s unique book, while also giving attention to the effect the visions would have had on the first churches. It also pays attention to the more perplexing details of the text. Revelation was primarily a book that called the churches to maintain their faithful witness in the face of a hostile environment. It also continues to speak to the church today, though perhaps not in the way we often think. On Solitude, Conscience, Love and Our Inner and Outer Lives by Ron Haflidson Ron Haflidson places the theology of Augustine in conversation with contemporary authors, who warn of the dangers of abandoning solitude for constant (often technological) connection. Haflidson addresses an essential question that has previously been neglected: What difference does it make to the practice of solitude if one believes that even in the absence of any human company, God is always intimately present? For Augustine, solitude is a moral necessity: he recommends that we regularly retreat from the crowd into the depths of our conscience, where we can dwell alone in the company of God, and enter into dialogue before and with God about who we are and how we love. Throughout this book, Haflidson pairs close readings of Augustine with those of noted cartographers of our inner lives, literary greats including Jane Austen, George Eliot, Marilynne Robinson and George Saunders. This book explores what undiscovered possibilities may lie in solitude. Anyone who is a part of the Uniting Church in Australia or a student at United Theological College is eligible to join the library and access our resources for free. If you are not yet a member and would like to join, please contact us on 02 8838 8940 or library@nswact.uca.org.au. Camden Theological Library Centre for Ministry 16 Masons Drive North Parramata NSW 2151 61 2 8838 8940 |
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