Vacation Reading

I am writing from vacation at Topsail Island, NC. Lots of time for reading. Among books I've read:

• First, from the Bible, the book of Isaiah.

Among other books:

• Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Pundit’s Folly (Banner of Truth, 1995).

An excellent devotional companion to the book of Ecclesiastes.

• Thomas Boston, Crook in the Lot (Christian Focus, 2002 [original, 1737]).

i
A Puritan divine studies suffering in the life of the believer.

• Jim Kjelgaard, The Coming of the Mormons (Random House, 1953).

This book is in the Landmark history series for older children. I usually love these but did not like this one. The author writes from a decidedly pro-Mormon position and distorts the historical record in telling the story of the western migration of Mormons under B. Young.

• Alvah Hovey, The Life and Times of the Rev. Isaac Backus (Gould and Lincoln, 1859).

This is a biography of the great early American Baptist leader. Interesting to see how Backus vacillated over the course of two years (1749-51) on baptism before leaving the Congregational Church and being baptized on August 22, 1751.

• C. H. Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, Complete and Unabridged Edition (Zondervan, 1954).

Wow! This is a great book for pastors and for any growing Christian. Spurgeon conveys a passion for excellence in ministry--particularly in vibrant preaching and teaching of the Word.

JTR