Book Review

"Binding of the Blade"

About 2005, I discovered a fantasy series known as “Binding of the Blade” by a Christian teacher named L.B. Graham. Over the past three years, he has released the third, fourth, and, more recently, the fifth books. Graham’s books are most certainly as Christian as they are advertised to be. There is a sense of Christian morals, of Christian hope, and of the dependence that we have upon our Savior as we go through our everyday lives. The series is centered around an event that happened several centuries earlier: when the Satan character tempted a man to fall, and he did fall, bringing down the rest of the human race down with him. Despite this grave failure, there is hope. Allfather, the lord and creator of the fantasy world, promised that one day a boy would come and that his sacrifice would reverse what happened centuries ago. The series focuses on the fulfillment of that promise, which is gradually fulfilled and completed in an excellent ending in the fifth book All My Holy Mountain. The series has several Christian allegories, plenty of big battles, a couple of romances, and lots of travels, discussions, and the like. There are memorable characters like the faithful tiger Koshti, the sharp-tongued Mindarin, and the blind prophet Valzaan. I highly recommend the series to Christian teens as it is an easy read and is deeper in content than most literature today. And, you readers will be lucky because you don’t have to wait a whole year for the next book. =)

Is Theology for Everyone?

Dear Reader,

It seems to be a popular trend to avoid Systematic Theology, that is a formal organization of doctrines, and either allow Pastors and Professors to study it, or to throw it out altogether.  It is a tragedy of our time, for everyone is a theologian, and though they may not be theologians vocationally, they do hold a theology on which they base their beliefs and actions.  C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, points out that all people are theologians; however, many hold on to old and outdated beliefs that have been tried and refuted by professional theologians in years past.   He also notes that most of the new trends, post-modernism and new-agism especially, are repackaged versions of old ideas.  So if one does not guard and nurture their theology, it will affect every aspect of one's life; one cannot separate your theology and one's actions.   If one has a flawed theology, than his life will feel the repercussions.

There is another reason that studying peer-reviewed Systematic Theology is also beneficial; it makes one challenge and defend the views one already holds, and the studier is forced to think critically about their theology, and when one finishes their study, one is likely to have a clearer idea of God.  As a Christian, I want the clearest view of God I can possibly attain.  God is already immensely above me in every respect, and I want to know him more clearly.  

However, Systematic Theology is not and cannot be the only method of knowing God.  In fact, if one studies Systematic Theology and does not have a relationship with God, the studier's efforts would have been wasted.  God cannot be known from theology alone, just as I do not know Abraham Lincoln from studying him.   C.S. Lewis likens a personal encounter with God with a walk on the beach--you experience God or the Atlantic Ocean and are overwhelmed; however, you cannot get anywhere on the Atlantic Ocean without a map, a less real representation of the Atlantic that is culmination of all the real experience navigators have had on the Atlantic Ocean.  Certainly the map is not as exciting as a real experience, but it is very much as useful.  The bible is not practical theology alone, it contains many doctrines which have been copied and pasted into Systematic Theologies.  If God had inspired his authors of the Bible to include aspects of Systematic Theology and Practical Theology, shouldn't Christians study both?

However, I realize that most people find lengthier Systematic Theologies difficult to read, so I would like to recommend, free of charge, a couple brief Systematic Theologies:

Berkhof, Louis.  Summary of Christian Doctrine.  Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978.

------------------ Manual of Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1933. 

(The Summary is shorter and the Manual is more in depth)

Packer, J.I. Concise Theology. Carol Springs: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993.

Sproul, R.C. The Essential Truths of the Christian Faith.  Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992

I sincerely hope that you pick up one of  these theologies and begin studying.  Best of Luck.

I will post once a month on the 4th Sunday of the month.  Please tune into The Joyful Sound for more next month.

To email me with any questions or concerns, please email: unworthyservent@hotmail.com

Cordially in Him,

Tommy Race

The Big Movie Review: IRON MAN

Hello, this is Clocks. This is my very first review. QUITE a special moment. I am reviewing your movies for now on, joyfully, hehe. Of course, joyfully! ..After all it IS the Joyful Sound, is it not? ANYHOW, dolls, I can't exactly say too much about myself in this post, other than I am VERY analytical of movies. I don't like just anything, believe me. I stick it where the sun just don't shine if nessecary. But, overall, if you want to know about ME go to my PROFILE.. now off to whats important, the movie! Today I'll be reviewing "Iron Man". Exciting, right? Everyone's gotta just love a good sweaty multi-millionare iron giant fighting off terrorists in the desert, I know. Whoo! That's a mouth full. Off we go..

Entering the movie, after hours of my brother telling me the cameos of Stan Lee and upcoming spins offs of the movie, well, frankly I wasn't exactly pumped. In fact, I was just intending to pass the time. However, I was in for an awakening.. The beginning is actually, how can I put this, cool. Which is not how I intended it to be, which starts with a c and ends with a y. Uh huh. The worst of em' all. Although, again, in for a startling awakening. One big thing with me is I, personally, hate deserts. That sounds very naive but really, they put me in a terrible mood. However, oddly enough, the surroundings of the movie seemed to fit perfectly with the whole scheme of things. The music, also fit incredibly well. Robert Downey Jr. was smooth and cunningly attractive to add upon this combo. Mrs. Paltrow also wasn't too bad. She actually touched me and seemed truly sweet and had a certain, "twinkle" in her eye. Which, doesn't usually rub off on me as true from the standard Hollywood actresses. I'm sure the next thing you are pondering of is all the, "high pack action". Yes, the rumors are true. There is a LOT of action. Thankfully, just not the kind that makes you check your watch every ten minutes, but instead, leaves you on the edge of your seats, sweating.. as if you were Iron Man yourself.. yeah, yeah.. I got a little TOO into it, I admit. With the jaw hanging and all that good movie-going junk. ANYHOW. Long story short.. you get your money's worth and a good two hours of pumped up entertainment. My analyzation is: THREE STARS.

The Joyful Sound: Revived?

Dear readers of The Joyful Sound,

For the past year, I shut down The Joyful Sound because of my hectic college schedule.  But part of me wants to continue this venue to minster to teens and college students.  There is only one problem, I cannot write all of the articles I was able to write prior to my college agenda.  I know many of you miss The Joyful Sound.  Would anyone like to help out and write reviews, poems, and other pieces of interest?  If interested, e-mail me @ blair.joyfulsound@yahoo.com.

Your help would mean a lot to me!

Thank you,

Blair Sanders