Book Reviews 2021 for Koorong

My Book Review Contributions on Koorong Books webpage continued...

#7.

The Christmas We Didn't Expect: Daily Devotions For Advent

Author: David Mathis

The Unexpected Reading
 By Emil Jayaputra, 23 Mar 2021
https://koorong.com/product/the-christmas-we-didn-t-expect-daily-devotions_9781784984762

There are many unexpected things in this book from the unexpected conception, parents of lowly estate, undignified visitors all the way to unexpected joy and that Unexpected Day. Written as 24 daily devotions for Advent, Mathis provides fresh revelation out of deep contemplation from multiple facets of Christmas that most of us might not have focused on. The very fact that His journey of human life started like us: from ovum to zygote to embryo to fetus to newborn. The call to look beyond ourselves. How Christmas will change us if our hearts will be softer or more callous. I bought this book not long after its release as it's highly recommended by John Piper. I'd say that the message of these devotions is to exhort us that the sweetness and essence of Christmas must be drawn and lived daily all year through, not just in the 24 reflective days leading to the D-Day. Above all, Christmas is worth celebrating not just because God came down as human but also because He forever joined our humanity to His divinity. This is truly a book on Christmas I didn't expect.t-sized book which could serve like a sanctuary that keeps ourselves pure in a time of common infection.

---

#8.

How Should I Think about Money?

Author: RC Sproul
https://www.koorong.com/product/how-should-i-think-about-money-23-in_9781642890587#product-tabs

Review Title: Profitable must-read for everyone
Review Stars: 5
Book Review by Emil Jayaputra, 26 September 2021

It is interesting that Jesus actually teaches about money more often than other topics like faith, prayer, heaven, or hell. With a keen interest and background in accounting and economics myself, this book offers a fresh insight to how we should be wisely managing our resources especially our finances. What I like about this book is it's small enough so you can read it quickly but still covers a lot of relevant subjects. Poverty, wealth and investments, value, inflation, interest, and owning a business are seated on the Scripture perspective in a separate chapter. At the same time the author also provided stories and lessons from history which help explain the concepts better. Without a doubt, this book will be a useful and worthwhile guide to families, business owners, employees, investors, company management, and everyone because how you handle your own money and/or manage others' money matter to God. Here and eternally.

---

#9

Reformation Questions, Reformation Answers: 95 Key Facts

Author: Donald K. Mckim
https://www.koorong.com/product/reformation-questions-reformation-answers-95-key-facts-donald_9780664260606#product-tabs

Review Title: Bite-Size Emphasis on Back to Bible
Review Stars: 5
Book Review by Emil Jayaputra, 31 October 2021

The 95 theses posted on the Castle Church in Wittenberg by Martin Luther have undeniably triggered and transformed the Christian church in Europe and and Christianity the world over. Since then over 504 years have passed. Numerous books and resources have been written in various disciplines on this defining moment of the church history. One of them was this humble 'Reformation Q&A: 95 Key Events, People & Issues' by Donald K. McKim. Starting with questions on the backgrounds like What was the Reformation all about, how did it develop, the author moved on to name 17 people leading and playing meaningful roles in this movement. Various happenings and topics surrounding one of the most studied events of Western world like Diet of Worms, Indulgences, Geneva Bible, Free Will are covered about one-page long each. Finally the author dedicated nine bite-size Q&A on the Reformation contributions to social welfare, modern science, even capitalism, and what it means for us today. It's lamentable that some Christians are still unaware of the importance of this critical episode that actually helped bring back the focus on the Bible as the highest authority and only theological basis for the Church. In an informal, easy-to-read way, this book will reintroduce the cruciality of the great Reformation because these days we are living in come with "every wind of teaching and the cunning/craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14). Happy Reformation Day 31 October 2021!

---

#10.

Love Came Down At Christmas: Daily Readings For Advent

Author: Sinclair B. Ferguson
https://www.koorong.com/product/love-came-down-at-christmas-daily-readings-for_9781784982898#product-tabs

Review Title: A Perfect Christmas Gift
Review Stars: 5
Book Review by Emil Jayaputra, 5 November 2021

It's not everyday that you would get to read and learn much about the most wonderful and comprehensive definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13 from the perspective of Christmas. Sinclair Ferguson linked these two because he said that that best-known chapter written by Paul is basically a description of Jesus Christ Whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. So Christmas is all about love. And what is love? "Love is simply being like Jesus". Naturally this book would be perfect for daily devotion use starting December 1 leading to Christmas Day as there are 25 chapters including Introduction. Each chapter is a comfortable reading that's about five-page long. The author finished every chapter with a brief contemplative reflection and poetic prayers composed by various famous theologians/authors like Augustine of Hippo or Charles Wesley. I can also recommend that you gift this book as a Christmas present for your family, friends or colleagues this Christmas because I know I will. May our God Who loves us so much with gifting His only Son to redeem us grant that we long and get to know more of Him, what Love looks like, and what Love actually means by musing on this truth that "real love always comes down" for Love came down at Christmas.
---

Book Reviews 2020 for Koorong

My Book Review Contributions on Koorong Books webpage continued...

#3.

Counterfeit Gods: When the Empty Promises of Love, Money, and Power Let You Down
Author:  Timothy Keller

Highly relevant and crucial reading
By Emil, 29 Feb 2020

https://koorong.com/product/counterfeit-gods-when-the-empty-promises-of-love_9780340995082

What I love about this book is that it actually identifies and dismantles our inherently acute conditions. Generally speaking, more obvious idols are money, sex, and power. But Tim Keller fleshed the idea out from biblical perspective that the idolatry enslaves and distorts our lives like the culture of greed that eats away at our souls and brings down economic collapse. Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God but a setting of the whole heart to replace God with the idols even when it sounds positive like family, work, career. Tim also advised how to replace our counterfeit gods, i.e. that Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractive to your heart than your idols. Rich of relevant quotations from Jesus Himself and influential thinkers like Martin Luther, C.S.Lewis, R.Niebuhr, he wraps all his messages around the real life stories from the Bible and modern times like WW II and the GFC 2008. For all intents and purposes, this book is highly readable and crucial to every serious Christian at each stage.

---

#4.

The Great Gain of Godliness
Author:  Thomas Watson

A must Puritan reading
 By Emil J., Mar 12 2020

https://koorong.com/product/the-great-gain-of-godliness-puritan-paperbacks-series_9781800403093

In the midst of such degenerate era as this where being godly, pious, or even just the word religious could become a source of mockery, The Great Gain of Godliness advised Christians to be like a living fish swimming against the stream. Not a dead fish down the stream. Thomas Watson reminds us in this book: "The looser others are, the stricter we should be. The more outrageous others are in sin, the more courageous we should be for truth." For those longing to be an upright person who shines in the dark and holds fast his/her integrity (Psalm 37:37), I would highly recommend this compact-sized book which could serve like a sanctuary that keeps ourselves pure in a time of common infection.

---

#5. [unrecorded / deleted by Koorong]

Most likely one authored by Ravi Zacharias

#6.

ANGELS

Author: Billy Graham

Spiritually Comforting
By Emil Jayaputra, 25 Jun 2020

https://koorong.com/product/angels-billy-graham_9780849938719

For some reason I have long been inquisitive to learn more about angels as this topic is not usually discussed in depth in sermons or daily talk. This book called "Angels (Ringing Assurance that We Are Not Alone)" is fit for its purpose as it quenches my thirst for many aspects of these ministering spirits. Plus it was written by Billy Graham, possibly the most prominent and influential Christian preachers in 20th century. The book assures me of angelic protection over God's children in times of hardship and danger. (Read the strange Christian bookroom incident as told by Dr. Nelson Bell, Dr. Graham's father-in-law, in 1942 in Shanghai China in one morning that lasted for two hours to be "enchanted".) Dr. Graham wrote some people strongly believe that each Christian may have their own guardian angel which possibly begins in infancy according to Jesus in Matthew 18:10. It also offers great comfort reading numerous accounts of heavenly escort of angels when believers cross that thin veil (death) from natural world to spiritual world... into the presence of the Lord. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book to my fellow believers especially those who, due to this ongoing pandemic COVID-19, are sick or dying, under economic/mental pressure of everyday living, or frustrated by events of present challenges. Thank God for the ministry of His blessed angels.
---

Book Reviews 2019 for Koorong

My Book Review Contributions on Koorong Books webpage

#1.

CEV the Big Rescue Bible (Cover & Illustrations 2014)

Publisher: Bible Society Australia

A Great Starter Bible for an Early Reader
 By Emil, 05 Nov 2019
https://www.koorong.com/product/cev-the-big-rescue-bible-cover-illustrations-2014_9780647519103

I bought this Big Rescue Bible for my son in Year 1 because I think it fits someone who just starts learning how to read: Font size not too small, not too heavy (hence avoided hardcover version), got introduction of each book, footnotes, side space for note taking, mini-dictionary, 20 pages of full color pictures, CEV text (which retains the form of and captures the spirit of King James version). And guess what, my little boy loves it so much that he reads it fervently (like unseen before) whatever the reason might be. We can only thank God, hope and pray that his early enthusiasm would be rolling like a snowball into the future.

----

#2.

A Praying Life: Connecting With God in a Distracting World
Author: Paul Miller

Fresh, Balanced View on Prayer and the Pray-er
 By Emil, 26 Nov 2019

https://koorong.com/product/a-praying-life-connecting-with-god-in-a_9781631466830

If you are bored with how any typical book on prayer shells out practical tips on how to pray, you've come to the right place. Like its title, it does talk a lot about prayers which shape our Christian life, hence the title "A Praying Life". Aspects of our spirituality that hinder our praying life, and how the state of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ are actually determined by our prayerfulness. The author also cites many real life stories in his own family which put the readers in perspective. In one story, for example, Paul tells of how prayer influenced what car they purchased. If you are struggling in many a life decision, you will certainly learn much from this book while at the same time being strengthened by its solid biblical theology which helps form your knowledge and understanding of God, self, and prayers in between.

---

In Memoriam – Pak Andar

Tukang Ngantar Selamat: Tetelestai

 

SENIN kemarin hape saya dihujani berita dukacita bahwa Pdt. Em. Andar Ismail telah berpulang ke rumah Bapa di surga pada 25 Agustus kemarin. Tak terbendung, aliran kenangan tentang Pak Andar membanjiri benak saya. Meluap. Berebut untuk keluar.

 

Pengalaman paling berkesan dan tiada henti saya syukuri adalah ketika saya (ditemani mama mertua) berkunjung ke rumahnya di bilangan Kelapa Gading. Sekitar enam belas tahunan yang lalu. Apartemennya kecil. Hanya kurang dari empat puluh meter persegi. Sederhana. Rapi dan sejuk. Kami disambut dengan sangat ramah oleh Pak Andar dan Ibu Stans. Beliau selalu memanggil nama saya dengan jelas dan mata berbinar: "Emil!"  Saya membawa beberapa edisi buletin Reformedia yang saya kerjakan di gereja kami di Sydney. Beliau nampak girang kalau mengetahui passion-nya menulis menular ke orang lain. Kami berbincang santai dan berbagi updates setelah cukup lama tak bertemu.

 

Beberapa bulan sesudah itu, Pak Andar menulis surat kepada kami dalam bahasa Inggris (menjelang kehadiran anggota baru keluarga kami) dengan tulisan tangannya sendiri. Senang sekali rasanya. Surat itu masih ada di laci bedside table saya hari ini. Baru saja saya baca ulang. Beliau menulis "Dear Natalia and Emil, we rejoice with you for the gift of life from God you're now preparing through the birth of...." Kalimat penutupnya berbunyi "Please note that Bab 22 "Dua Doa Teman Hidup" in Selamat Berteman are two prayers with/for you, one for the pre-partum, one for post-partum. Sincerely, Stans and Andar" dengan ciri khasnya di mana huruf r dari namanya digores buang amat panjang ke kanan. Dulu Pak Andar pernah memimpin Pemahaman Alkitab dalam bahasa Inggris di GKI Samanhudi (di ruang konsistori). Yang tentunya menjadi acara favorit saya. Salah satu topiknya, kalau tidak salah ingat, membahas Ecclesiastes. Pak Andar mengatakan bahwa kitab Pengkhotbah bukan ditulis oleh raja Salomo, melainkan oleh seseorang yang menempatkan diri dan menulis seturut dengan jalan hidup dan pemikiran Salomo.

 

Needless to say, saya adalah pencinta buku seri Selamatnya yang legendaris. Practically, setiap tahun Pak Andar mengeluarkan satu buku baru sejak Selamat Pagi, Tuhan! terbit di 1992. Saya selalu usahakan mendapatkannya, baik membeli sendiri atau nitip ke sanak/teman yang akan pulang ke Indonesia. Tak heran, jumlah buku Selamatnya sudah mencapai 33 judul yang tiap judulnya berisi 33 renungan. Jadi Pak Andar sudah menghasilkan paling sedikit 1.089 tulisan. Masih ditambah buku-buku lain di luar itu seperti Awam dan Pendeta: Mitra Membina Gereja, Tuhan Ampunilah Kecerobohanku (buku anak), dan yang amat saya gemari Witnessing for Jesus: Reflections by an Indonesian Pastor karena ini satu-satunya yang berbahasa Inggris. Bukan kumpulan renungan, namun isinya enak dibaca. Sangat memperkaya perbendaharaan kosakata dan frase bahasa Inggris saya. Pernah saya bertanya langsung ke beliau, kenapa tidak lebih banyak menulis buku dalam bahasa Inggris. Tidak akan ada banyak yang tertarik, demikian kira-kira respons beliau. Hmm, bener juga. Lebih baik bikin tulisan yang dampaknya  bisa lebih maksimal.

 

Satu lagi kenangan saya mengenai Pak Andar adalah ketika mengikuti rangkaian Seminar Bina Jurnalistik yang diselenggarakan oleh GKI Samanhudi pada tahun 1998. Salah satu acaranya, selain melakukan kunjungan ke kantor harian Suara Pembaruan di Cawang, adalah seminar Menulis Resensi Buku yang dipimpin oleh Pdt. Andar Ismail.

 

Berbeda dengan kebanyakan pembicara/penceramah, poin-poin yang diajarkan beliau di seminar itu, istilah sekarang, isinya daging semua! Satu tips penting yang beliau bagikan adalah ketika menulis book review, kutipkan satu dua kalimat dari buku itu secara utuh. Tujuannya agar pembaca bisa mencicipi secara langsung keindahan tulisan sang pengarang. Wow! Saya terapkan semua prinsip dan tips yang beliau bagikan ketika mengikuti lomba menulis resensi buku pada tahun yang sama. Alhasil, resensi buku saya terpilih sebagai salah satu finalis. Tidak menang. Penentuan juara dilakukan melalui wawancara lisan dengan beberapa orang juri di GKI Gunsa. (Agak mengherankan, gumam saya, alih-alih diminta menulis lagi untuk kemudian dinilai pada babak final, kok malah dihadapkan ke judge panel seperti sidang skripsi atau job interview padahal ini lomba menulis, bukan lomba bercakap.)

 

Sebelum bertolak ke Australia sekitar pergantian Y2K, Pak Andar sempat memperkenalkan saya dengan seorang anggota jemaat senior GKI Samanhudi yang sudah lama tinggal di Sydney. Mungkin itu terakhir kali saya bertemu beliau sebelum di kemudian hari kami bertandang ke rumahnya. Kalau Anda perhatikan sampul belakang dari beberapa buku Selamat, ada gambar karikatur wajah beliau. Gambar karikatur jenaka itu pula yang ditempel di pintu rumahnya. Tak pelak, saya pun meminta foto bersama dengan beliau di sana. Ahh, Pak Andar, tak disangka rupanya lumayan banyak memori indah bersamanya dulu. Kalau dipikir-pikir, siapalah saya ini, sedangkan beliau pendeta senior, dosen STT, doktor ilmu PAK, pengarang buku terkenal pula! Tapi itulah dia. Sangat humble dan lembut, tapi amat excited ketika pembicaraan beralih ke soal buku-bukunya. Ia bahkan pernah meminta saya (dan banyak fans Seri Selamat lain tentunya) untuk tidak segan mengusulkan judul buku Selamat berikutnya ke beliau.

Bersama Pdt Andar Ismail di pintu depan rumahnya dengan karikatur wajah beliau.

 

Sebagai seorang penulis, Pak Andar mempunyai memori yang kuat. Beliau masih ingat banyak hal-hal detail di masa lampau seperti misalnya tahun keberangkatan saya pertama ke LN. Padahal saya hanya seorang anggota jemaat biasa, bukan mantan muridnya di sekolah teologi, bukan anak petinggi gereja, bukan rekan kerja BPK Gunung Mulia yang menerbitkan buku-buku beliau. Masih krucuk pula (meminjam istilah beliau di bukunya). Pak Andar juga ingat nama adik saya (Adam) hanya karena dia pernah ikut menghadiri 1-2x English Bible Study-nya di GKI Samanhudi lebih dari 7 tahun sebelumnya. Beliau pun masih ingat pertama kali saya meneleponnya dari Sydney. Selain itu, beliau juga masih mengingat alamat lama Pdt Robby & Ibu Inge Moningka di Jakarta ketika saya memperlihatkan foto IRC. Di akhir kunjungan, sebelum berpisah Pak Andar berdoa untuk keluarga kami. Doanya begitu teduh. Perlahan. Jelas. Kata demi kata.

 

Sebagai pembaca dan penggemar Seri Selamat, saya ingin merekomendasikan 33 buku Selamat karangan Dr. Andar Ismail jikalau Anda belum tahu atau belum pernah membacanya. Tiga di antaranya yang bertengger di atas menurut versi saya ialah sebagai berikut. Selamat Panjang Umur (1995) mencakup begitu banyak aspek hidup dan dimensi iman. Sudah beberapa kali saya menghadiahkan buku ini kepada kawan yang berulang tahun. Kemudian Anda tak bisa melewatkan Selamat Mengikut Dia (1994) yang paling bernas doktrinal mengajak kita mengenal Kristus secara mendalam lewat pelbagai tulisan pendek yang dikemas menarik. Sebetulnya sulit untuk menentukan yang ketiga karena begitu banyak calonnya, tapi mungkin saya nominasikan dua, yakni Selamat Berkarya (1998) dan Selamat Melayani Tuhan (1996) sekalian Anda mencicipi nikmatnya bagian akhir dari bab 33 "Sampai Sumbu Penghabisan" di bawah ini.

 

Sebetulnya, buku terbaru beliau berjudul Tukang Ngantar Selamat: 33 Renungan tentang Percaya Diri (terbit 2023) yang merupakan kelanjutan Seri Selamat karena dinamai "Seri Selamat Sambung" dan ini buku pertamanya. Akan tetapi, pada akhirnya, "seperti batang lilin hidup dan pelayanan kita juga pada suatu waktu akan berakhir. Ada waktu untuk menyala, ada waktu untuk padam. Nanti ada lilin lain yang akan menggantikan dan meneruskan. Tetapi selama kita masih bisa bersinar, kita bersinar terus… Selama Tuhan masih memberi kesempatan… Terus melayani. Terus bersinar sampai sumbu dan batang lilin yang penghabisan."

Pak Andar sudah bersinar sembari meleleh dan akhirnya tiba pada "sumbu penghabisan". Meninggalkan kita semua. Kembali ke keabadian menempati ruangan yang sudah dipersiapkan oleh Sang Kyrios in the Father's house (Yoh 14:2). Thankfully, ia juga tetap di sini bersama kita dalam kelestarian karya dan karsanya. Ternyata inilah rahasia hidup abadi dua kali. Mengikut Kristus itu abadi (Yoh 11:25). Di kekekalan baka. Berbuah meninggalkan karya pena itu abadi (Ayub 19:23). Meniti di hati insani. Menyusup menuju kalbu para pembaca. "Karena buku itu pintu kalbu", bisik Pak Andar seraya tersenyum menjejaki hari pertamanya di pelataran firdaus.  (EJ – 26 Agustus 2024)

Buku itu Pintu Kalbu, tertulis di pintu salah satu ruangan di rumah Pak Andar.