Surprisingly good sci-fi. The new twist: the Cylons look human. Very promising beginning.

Interesting commentary on the celebration of mediocraty in true comic-book format. Loved it.

A surprisingly touching romance movie that transcends the normal fare in this genre.

Grenz’s status as (perhaps) the leading evangelical scholar is well earned. Great book for understanding the basic evangelical position.

Highly readable introduction to basic Christian ethics. Hollinger begins with a survey of methodological approaches and argues for character ethics grounded on the reality of the Triune God and Christian worldview. Hollinger also gives a fair assement of leading past and contemporary theologians, including Stanley Hauwerwas.

So far an interesting challenge to the more “tradition” view of God that begins with his immutable attributes. Pinock and company offer a theology of God as open to interacting with his universe. A paradigm shifting read.

Sanders offers some good material for reflection on leadership within the context of ministry and the life of faith. He contrasts early on “natural leadership” from “spiritual leadership,” emphasizing that the spiritual leader is characterized by dependence on the Lord, a love for God and neighbor, and a desire to obey. The challenges or “questions” for a leader in chapter 5 are especially useful as is the later chapter on prayer.

It’s a pleasure to read a text from a learned Evangelical scholar with a strong sense of the history of the issues of revelation, inspiration, and authority of Scripture. Bloesch deserves his reputation as an leading Evangelical systemitizer.

Lebacqz begins to do justice not by engaging in ethical abstracts but by examining injustice. Ethical abstractions, she argues, separated from injustices, tend to deny life and support the status quo. Her vital contribution consists of recognizing that the oppressor and the oppressed have distinct roles in responding to injustice. The books serves as an important corrective for the Nozick and Rawl type of ethical reasoning.

Though written to try to accommodate as large an audience as possible, Smith manages to salvage the project by providing plain, sage advice. Though simplified and generalized, I am finding the book useful for thinking through the issues of marriage. The book’s strength lies in the discussion of obliterating unrealistic expectations and examining fear of commitment.