What is the best way to do missions? That is possibly the wrong question to ask. The right question could be, "What are the ethical means and goals of missions?" Or "How does missions produce virtuous Christians?" Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Missions" by Michael Niebauer. 320 pages, published by Lexham Academic in July 2022. This book is part of the...
Nov 06, 2022•35 min•Ep. 58
Proverbs 1:5-6 reads: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Proverbs: Wisdom That Works" by Ray Ortlund. This volume is part of the Preaching the Word commentary series edited by R. Kent Hughes. 224 pages, published by Crossway in March...
Oct 23, 2022•29 min•Ep. 57
This is the situation: You accepted Christ, you affirm everything your church believes but you are not growing spiritually. In fact, what does growing spiritually even mean? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Living in Christ's Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God" by Dallas Willard. 192 pages, published by InterVarsity Press in, according to Amazon, 2017. But this is a mistake beca...
Oct 09, 2022•26 min•Ep. 56
Martin Luther said of the Epistle to the Romans: This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament, and is truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. We can never read it or ponder over it too much; for the more we deal with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading...
Oct 02, 2022•27 min•Ep. 55
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the amazing, fantastic, incredible, book that inspires children all over the world to read the Bible and enjoy reading it. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story" by Sergio Cariello. 832 pages, published by David C. Cook in September 2020. Available in hardcover for USD18.79 and in Kindle for USD9.99 in Amazon. Or you can get it v...
Sep 18, 2022•34 min•Ep. 54
The book of Ruth is a beautiful story centred on Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. We see God and God's people reflecting God, his kindness and redemptive work. If you want to dig deeper into the text, you need to keep listening. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review Ruth, a volume from the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary or AYBC for short, by Edward F. Campbell Jr. 188 pages, published by Yale University Press in May ...
Sep 11, 2022•29 min•Ep. 53
There was a time in Israel's history, when the Word of God was lost. Then while renovating the temple, the people found the scrolls and they rushed it to the king. When the king saw it, he recognised it as treasure. In a similar way, today's classic is a treasure for Christian readers everywhere . Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review that handsome piece of work I hinted at in the last episode. Cur Deus ...
Sep 04, 2022•28 min•Ep. 52
Can prayer and theology mix? Isn't theology for the smart people and prayer for the spiritual people? How wrong you are. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Prayers for Knowing God" by Tony Evans. 190 pages, published by Harvest House, on February 2021. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD6.64 but it's free from Faithlife for August, as part of their Free Book of the Month programme. Structure By w...
Aug 28, 2022•24 min•Ep. 51
Culture, culture, everywhere. And not a drop of wisdom to drink. We spend, rightly spend, time and effort to read and interpret the Bible. And the Bible tells us that Jesus lived as a Jew in Roman-Greco times. And we look up from our Bibles and we wonder, "How should we live in our times?" Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends", a collec...
Aug 14, 2022•32 min•Ep. 50
A preacher walks into a church. A church member asks him, "Can you please preach on worship." The preacher says, "Sure. I've got a great sermon on John 4:24, 'Worship in Spirit and in Truth'.". The church member says, "No, that wouldn't do. The last three preachers preached on that same verse. Do you have something else?" The preacher thought for a while and said, "Nope. I've got nothing." With today's book, you will know how other books in the Bible, verses other than John 4:24, speak on worshi...
Jul 27, 2022•39 min•Ep. 49
300 years ago, many Puritans believed the return of Christ was imminent. After all, the Great Awakening was divine proof that America was the last stop in the global harvest. Alas! America today is not the America the Puritans knew. America today needs vision. Not political vision. Or social vision. But a theological vision! And who better to offer that theological vision to America than America's greatest theologian, Jonathan Edwards. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Rea...
Jul 17, 2022•34 min•Ep. 48
Every generation has an apologetics book that they call their own. Will the meme generation trust a meme connoisseur to answer age-old questions on Christianity? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Why Believe?: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity" by Neil Shenvi. 272 pages, published by Crossway in June 2022. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD14.99. I got this book free as part of Crossways Blog...
Jul 10, 2022•27 min•Ep. 47
What happens when you get the world's top interviewer together with the world's top evangelist? You get a book something like today's. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review Billy Graham: Candid Conversations with a Public Man by David Frost. 224 pages, published by David C. Cook in August 2014. A Free Book, Simple I got this book for free from Faithlife. But it's not free for you. Just me. I don't know h...
Jul 03, 2022•31 min•Ep. 46
You look around you and you see all those kings. Call them presidents, prime ministers or supreme leaders. Whatever the title, they are people in power. Who can stand against them? Who can bend them to their knees? Whose kingdom will outlast theirs? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers. Today I review "The Message of Daniel: His Kingdom Cannot Fail" by Dale Ralph Davis. This is a commentary from The Bible Speaks Today series, a series with Alex Motyer, John Stott and ...
Jun 19, 2022•39 min•Ep. 45
Covid is over or eventually over. You got places to go, people to meet. Before you book your trip for your next holiday, why don't you consider reading today's book? Who knows, you might get some soul-enriching ideas for your next destination. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Going Places with God: A Devotional Journey through the Lands of the Bible" by Wayne Stiles. 176 pages, originally published...
Jun 12, 2022•35 min•Ep. 44
We all like shortcuts. Why take that long hard road when this road is faster? If we can get things done in a shorter time with the same or even better results, why shouldn't we? It's a no-brainer. What if I told you there is a shortcut to missions? For the Great Commission. Would you take it? Does that shortcut even exist? Find out in today's book review. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "No Shortcu...
Jun 05, 2022•37 min•Ep. 43
A Palestinian Christian living in Israel writes a book on reconciliation. Palestinian. Christian. Reconciliation. Put all those words together and I coudn't resist to buy, read and review the book. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Theology of Reconciliation in the Context of Church Relations: A Palestinian Christian Perspective in Dialogue with Miroslav Volf" by Rula Khoury Mansour. 352 pages, publ...
May 22, 2022•35 min•Ep. 42
The evangelical world has no shortage of scandals. But are you ready for the real scandal? The real scandal of the evangelical mind? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" by Carl Trueman. 48 pages, published in January 2011 by Moody Publishers. You can get the Amazon Kindle book for USD3.99 or you can get it for free from Faithlife. "The Real Scandal of the Evan...
May 07, 2022•30 min•Ep. 41
Every pastor who has served 50 years in ministry should be legally compelled to write a book. After so many years of faithful service to the Lord, they should be designated a national treasure. That's my conclusion after reading today's books. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review two books. The first book is "The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor's Heart" by Harold L. Senkbeil. 312 pages, published by...
Apr 24, 2022•32 min•Ep. 40
Reading and Readers is officially one year old! Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Just not today. Today is a special episode where we celebrate the baby steps of this podcast. On the 19th of April 2021, I launched Reading and Readers and for this anniversary and every anniversary afterwards, I plan to look not at the books but in the mirror. This is a behind the scenes episode. And hopefully this is the beginning o...
Apr 17, 2022•33 min•Ep. 39
I'm recording this 2 hours before I am supposed to publish. It's been a busy week. Lots of deadlines, lots of work. My to-do list looks more like a wish list. Is it possible for busy busy Christians to have a vibrant prayer life? Or is that only for monks in monasteries of the past? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review Faithlife's Free Book for the month of April, "The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Sti...
Apr 10, 2022•37 min•Ep. 38
The Gospel of Luke is a favourite for many Christians, including R.C. Sproul. In today's book he guides the reader through this beloved gospel, the way Luke wrote it, fixing our eyes upon Christ, from start to end. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "A Walk with God: An Exposition of Luke's Gospel" by R.C. Sproul. 400 pages, published by Christian Focus in November 2011. It's available in Amazon Kindl...
Mar 27, 2022•27 min•Ep. 37
Prayers don't have to be long. We can learn and grow from the short prayers of the saints. Hymns don't have to be boring. Hymns can be timeless and enriching moments even for the youngest of Christians, dare I say, especially for the youngest of Christians. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today is a double feature. I review two books for you. The first is the Faithlife free book of the month for March, "Short Pra...
Mar 13, 2022•28 min•Ep. 36
The Russian invasion of Ukraine echoes the German invasion of Europe 80 years ago. Both Putin and Hitler recite history to justify the war. When a holocaust memorial was damaged in an airstrike, President Zelensky tweeted: "What is the point of saying 'never again' for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating..." The question we pose today is "How should we think of history?" Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host...
Mar 06, 2022•32 min•Ep. 35
A man walks into the ICU saying, "Help me, I can't breathe". A little girl walks in at the same time saying, "Help me, I have a splinter in my finger." The nurse rushes the girl with the splinter into surgery but tells the man who can't breathe to wait in the lobby. You ask the nurse, "Why?" She explains: "The man had a panic attack. It should go away in a while and we monitor him in the lobby in case it gets worse. As for the girl, she only saw the splinter. One look at her and I knew she was i...
Feb 27, 2022•29 min•Ep. 34
Have you seen this meme before? The first picture is a boy with polio, followed by a picture of scientists working hard in a lab, and concludes with "Science cures polio". Next, we have the same picture of the boy with polio. But this time followed by a group of people praying on their knees to God, and concludes with "Prayer cures nothing". Christian, what do you make of that? Is science and technology robbing God's glory? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podc...
Feb 20, 2022•33 min•Ep. 33
"Surely you don't believe that the best explanation for an empty tomb is a resurrection. There must be tonnes of other far more reasonable explanations for that." Really? Well, I've got a cold case detective who says otherwise. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review Alive! A Cold-Case Approach to the Resurrection by J. Warner Wallace. 28 pages, published in 2014 by David C. Cook. Available in Amazon Kindl...
Feb 13, 2022•23 min•Ep. 32
Hymn books give way to Powerpoint slides. Church organs to electric guitars. Offering bags to online transfers. Local churches to bible study groups, online communities, the metaverse? Is an insistence on local churches simply a clinging on to an outmoded way of the Christian life? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Local Church: What It Is and Why It Matters" by Edward W. Klink III. 176 pages, p...
Jan 30, 2022•31 min•Ep. 31
It's the beginning of the new year. Places to go. People to meet. Books to read. And what better way to start the year than to read a book titled Sunrises: Reflections on the New Year Ahead. Oh wait... It's titled Sunsets: Reflection on Life's Final Journey. Wait a minute, this is about death? Who thought it was a good idea to start the year by reading a book about death? Well, someone at Faithlife. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christ...
Jan 23, 2022•33 min•Ep. 30
A good advice in life is to "Begin with the End in Mind". If you know where you are heading, you'll know what you are doing. If you agree, then today's book review is for you. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I'm reviewing "Revelation and the End of All Things" by Craig R. Koester. This is the second edition, published in 2018 by Eerdmans Publishing. It's priced at USD9.99 in Amazon Kindle but it's free in L...
Jan 09, 2022•33 min•Ep. 29
