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
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.
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#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.
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.
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#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!
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!
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#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.
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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.
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