#Rut Etheridge III

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by Rut Etheridge III | It's obvious to those who try to look at life biblically that sexual chaos is running rampant in pop culture. But, tragically and tellingly, what isn't as obvious to us is just how pervasively sexual cruelty is preached and taught in our circles. Courageous victims of abuse have stepped forward within...

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Feature Article: Seasonal Movies and the Christmas Story

My feature article on Seasonal Movies and the Christmas Story is a quick connection between the beloved movies we love to watch every season and the Biblical story we get to tell every Christmas. These short and personal reflection posts are some of my favorites to write. I think it gives character to my blog and shows different sides of my life.

The thing about online ministry is that it is hard to show all the sides of yourself. So it is easy for people to jump to conclusions and make remarks about your intentions or purposes. While wisdom is to be sought, grace can go a long way. I am happy to share a more personal side with you, my newsletter readers, and am thankful to have you along as I try to create for the glory of God. 

Book Review: God Breathed

This year I really went all-in with my book reviews. So much in fact that I’m ashamed to say that I spent less time with my actual Bible reading. When Crown & Covenant Publications sent me God Breathed by Rut Etheridge III I did not know what to expect. But as it turns out, it was just the book I needed to breathe new life into my love for God and his book.

My plan to fix my problem of running behind on reading, writing, and posting seems to be working. I'm trying to submit my reviews as soon as they are ready and I am doing my best to get in a pattern on Instagram of keeping up with what I post on my blog. The books keep coming in and I'm going to keep busy but I am happy to work hard on improving my content and quality. And I will hopefully get back on track with my Bible reading!

Book Review: The Book of Psalms for Singing

The Psalms have long been my favorite book in the Bible. Filled with emotion, high praise, and theological truth, they deserve a special place in the lives of God’s people. But how can we help our people hide these verses in their hearts? The Book of Psalms for Singing by Crown & Covenant Publications is my answer.

I haven't seen any hymnals reviewed before so it's fun to be creating in this space. I try to write about the quality of the book as well as the content, while remembering that music is often a subjective experience. I find myself as a music leader to often be inadequate, so it's an interesting challenge to position myself as a reviewer in this regard.

Book Review: Prayers of the Bible

I have used many devotional Bibles and books to help me in my daily reading of Scripture and personal quiet times. However, the focus on prayer was either minimal or lacking. Thankfully, Prayers of the Bible from Crown & Covenant Publishing is here to help.

I don't remember when I started incorporating Scripture into my prayers. I still find myself needing much improvement. But doing so has enriched my prayer life and helped me to really connect to Christ and his word on a deeper level. And when I come across worship lyrics that are straight from the Bible, it helps me to sing it mean it with emotion and integrity.

Book Review: Shaped by God

As a worship leader, I am always looking for new ways to be inspired creatively and refreshed spiritually. With the new year approaching, I thought it would be fitting to revisit the Psalms. In this small book, Shaped by God, John Piper shares six sermons that help us think and feel in tune with the Psalms.

I snuck this review late in the week and I am glad to continue my relationship with Cruciform Press. Their partnership with DesiringGod is perfect, and I should be receiving some new and old titles from them soon.

Extended Play

The song "Show Me" was stuck in my head and I could not figure it out until I took a dive into Spotify. By the way, our most played track in 2019 is a loop of ambient white noise. And because we use it to put Linus asleep, since he loves to stay awake, I'm sure it's his least favorite track haha!

Food: Juice it Up smoothies

Movie: Avengers Endgame

TV: The Office

Book: Basic Christianity by John Stott

Article: Stir the Imagination, One Sermon at a Time by Abraham Cho

Song: Show Me (feat. Madison Ryann Ward) by John Splithoff

Coming Soon

I recorded my vocals for our new ETJ track and I think I'm hitting the highest notes ever attempted in our music. I need to find some time to record a guitar solo if I want to get it ready for a New Year's release.

We're going to start an official podcast for SOLA, and it's going to consist of the SOLA-specific episodes of my Sound Words podcast. We're going to launch with two brand new episodes soon.

Next week I have an assortment of book and Bible reviews from major as well as indie publishers. And the feature article on my blog will be a refreshed version of one of my favorite older articles: There’s a Happy Feeling Nothing in the World Can Buy.

Weekly Review

SOLA: Stir the Imagination - One Sermon at a Time, and What If I‘m Not the ‘Submissive’ Type?

Thank God it's Friday: How humility leads in conflict, Albert Mohler on words, Christmas creating racial tensions, and Lost in the Woods by Weezer.

Book Review: Shaped by God

Book Review: Prayers of the Bible

Book Review: The Book of Psalms for Singing

Book Review: God Breathed

Feature Article: Seasonal Movies and the Christmas Story

Recommended Reading: 3 Reasons The Church Needs Asian American and Other Minority Voices, How Etsy’s Trend Expert Gets It Done, 6 Ways to Foster Healthy Social Media Habits, and The Millennium Comes of Age: A Decade in Teen Movies.

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TGIF: ROUNDUP FOR DECEMBER 13, 2019

"Reconciled" is the theme for SOLA Conference 2020 and registration is now open! View our conference page and watch this 1-minute video of Pastor Harold Kim, president of SOLA and senior pastor at Christ Central of Southern California, sharing about this year's theme. To learn more, let SOLA editor Hannah Chao introduce you to our plenary speakers, Kim Kira, Watson Jones III, and Owen Lee.

This marks the 41st edition of our roundup, and as SOLA has grown, we are glad to focus on a more Christian, Reformed perspective to better serve our audience. And if we share outside articles, we will be careful in framing them correctly. We are happy to have you reading and we welcome your feedback, especially from those who subscribe to our roundups. As always, if you have a link to share, tweet me @musicgoon or email me at aaron@musicgoon.com.

ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB

1. Abraham Cho: Stir the Imagination, One Sermon at a Time

Writing for The Gospel Coalition, Abraham Cho, senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church East Side in New York City, shares from personal experiences how preaching that engages the mind, emotions, and the will is accessed by the imagination.

2. Rebecca McLaughlin: What If I‘m Not the ‘Submissive’ Type?

Rebecca McLaughlin, author of Christianity Today’s Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year, shares an excerpt on understanding Ephesians 5, Gospel roles, and Christ-centered theology (not gendered psychology).

3. P. J. Tibayan: Five Key Texts and Pastoral Application

The new issue of 9Marks Journal features this article on by SOLA editorial board member P. J. Tibayan on manhood and womanhood with applications for pastoral faithfulness.

BOOKS, PODCASTS, MUSIC, AND MORE

1. Albert Mohler: The Briefing

In Thursday’s episode of The Briefing podcast by Albert Mohler, he discusses Oxford’s Word of the Year (Climate Emergency), Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year (Existential) and Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year (They). As Christians, readers, and writers, we are reminded about the importance of words and the meanings we give them.

2. Jimmy Needham: Joyful Joyful

From SOLA Conference worship leader Jimmy Needham’s album “The Hymns Sessions, Vol. 1.”

3. Aaron Lee: Book Reviews

This week I reviewed God Breathed by Rut Etheridge III, Prayers of the Bible by Gordon J. Keddie, and The Book of Psalms for Singing by Crown & Covenant Publishing.

FEATURED THIS WEEK ON SOLA NETWORK

1. Hannah Chao: Introduction to SOLA Conference 2020's Plenary Speakers

“We are excited to introduce our three plenary speakers: Kim Kira, Watson Jones III, and Owen Lee. Each of them wholeheartedly believes in the power of God’s word, and we are honored that they will be speaking on the topic of “Reconciliation” at our SOLA Conference in March.”

2. Tia Kim: God Will Not Forget You: Hope in the Darkness of Alzheimer's

“Alzheimer’s disease goes for the jugular of a person’s earthly identity and relationships. I have heard many family members and friends question God’s presence. And I have quietly wondered this myself. Where is God in this thick darkness? Where is God as a person’s body and personality is ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease?”

3. Aaron Lee: 4 Takeaways from the Church in China: A book review of Grace to the City

“Although I am Chinese and attend First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut, I feel quite removed from what is happening to Christians in China. It is easy for me to see my local surroundings and think that this is the only area where God does his work. After reading Grace to the City, the new book published by China Partnership and edited by S. E. Wang and Hannah Nation, I have a clearer picture of how God is working overseas.”

4. Faith Chang: 3 Reasons The Church Needs Asian American and Other Minority Voices

“I’m convinced one of the most important purposes God has for making me bicultural is to equip me for service in his kingdom. If you’re a minority and a Christian, I believe the same is true for you -- those who learn to live biblically in the tension of being between two cultures can be a gift to the church.”

5. TGIF: Roundup for December 6, 2019

In case you missed it, here are some headlines from last week: Rapper Rich Brian on his Asian identity and immigration story, and How #candid are your candids, really?

General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors.

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Book Review: God Breathed

This year I really went all-in with my book reviews. So much in fact that I’m ashamed to say that I spent less time with my actual Bible reading. When Crown & Covenant Publications sent me God Breathed by Rut Etheridge III I did not know what to expect. But as it turns out, it was just the book I needed to breathe new life into my love for God and his book.

A Treatise Against Self-Made Truth

Pastor and author Rutledge Rut Etheridge III is the assistant professor of biblical studies at Geneva College. He was also a high school teacher and church pastor. His writing shows that he clearly knows his Bible, but he is well-versed in today's culture and ways of thinking.

God Breathed is a treatise against self-made truth and the philosophy of man. It is compelling, comprehensive, and courageous in championing Scripture as the Word of God that the whole world needs. Etheridge does so In 10 chapters and over 300 pages. It is a big book that guides you along with masterful theology and cultural analysis.

Absolute Truth and Beliving the Bible

Chapter`1 sets us up by acknowledging that the world says we cannot know absolute truth. Descartes, Kant, and even the band Fun. familiarize us with the topic. The idea of a ceiling of self is introduced, but the ceiling is glass and even kids can see right through it.

Chapter 2 asks: “Do we really need to believe the Bible?” The problem of fake faith is presented as well as the notion of an experienced “real life.” It is revealed that some learn to lock their faith away. We think we believe and we think we know what Jesus looks like. But segregation even in our churches by race and age reveals our lack of unity. We claim we all have our own personal ways of relating to God. A quick look at modern worship music shows that we do not know who we are singing to. Selfie sermons are rampant. And Biblical illiteracy, especially in youth ministries, is a shame.

Chapter 3 brings back Immanuel Kant, along with agnosticism, Deism, and the Enlightenment. But Etheridge says that the Bible has an answer as well as to Nietzsche, rationalism, and atheism in 2 Timothy 3:16. This is the heart of the book. God is not silent.

Religion, Words, and Stories

In Chapter 4, Etheridge lets the reader respond by questioning why God does not fix this broken world. For instance, why do mass shootings take place in this world? Bart Ehrman is introduced and an explanation is provided as to why he does not believe the Bible. Etheridge claims that everyone is indeed religiously motivated. He examines abortion and human trafficking but provides hope in a Savior even during suffering.

In Chapter 5, our words are pitted against God’s words. Even amongst ourselves, we have disagreements and opposition. But the beauty of the Bible is revealed in the concept and names of calling God our Dad and Father. Personal truth is combated with what Jesus has to say about himself. We are trusting in God when we rely on the promises in his word.

Stories are the theme of Chapter 6, from Beauty and the Beast to Harry Potter. Chapter 7 shows that God is present even in our darkest stories, from Abraham and Isaac to the cross of Jesus Christ.

Life, Love, and Worship

Superheroes and redemption are discussed in Chapter 8, along with Satan, lies, and death. But Jesus offers us abundant life and the opportunity to live forever.

In Chapter 9, the beautiful topics of love, personhood, sexuality, and meaning are brought to the forefront. Sex and friendship are touched upon, and when we look at the Bible we can see a picture of perfect love.

Chapter 10 is a fitting end to the book by elevating the Psalms. It is the soundtrack of the Bible, full of emotions and feelings. But more importantly, it offers the high-note of praise to our powerful God.

Beautiful and Breathtaking

An extensive amount of endnotes are included as well as a bibliography. These features alone take up 100 pages of the book, and it is a testament to the thoroughness and scholarship of the work. After reading this book, I am reminded of the book that is breathed out by God. It challenges my preconceptions. It deserves my attention. And I, along with the rest of the world, are connected to it in a beautiful, breathtaking way.

I was provided a complimentary copy of God Breathed in exchange for an honest review. Read more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books.

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Rut Etheridge III: Doubting the Traditional Take on Thomas

Rut Etheridge III: Doubting the Traditional Take on Thomas

After Jesus rose from the dead, a disciple named Thomas would not believe it when others told him that they’d seen the Lord. They were thrilled, ecstatic. But Thomas wasn’t having it. The talk of Christ-sightings probably seemed crazy to Thomas, if not also cruel. Thomas was spent. Like the other disciples, his heart had been ripped out by the brutal death of his beloved master. Thomas said that…

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by Rut Etheridge III | There’s a lot to be upset about in our day and age, and with our culture. And now that political season is ramping up, there are votes to be gained and even more money to be made by generating needless anger and weaponizing legitimate grief. It is an especially crucial time for those who name the name of Christ to live, act, and bear public witness in a manner worthy of his gospel…

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by Rut Etheridge III | The Lord is so very clearly moving in judgment among his church in our land. Recent years and even recent days have been full of revelations, in small conservative denominations and major Christian conventions, of abuse perpetrated and covered up by church members and...

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by Rut Etheridge III | The paradox that is fallen man echoes sweetly and savagely in the natural world. The pain of the cosmos is, most essentially, a human tragedy. As God’s world, creation retains a fundamental integrity, what theologian Herman Bavinck calls...

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by Rut Etheridge III | Sometimes writers like to lament the torturous nature of the craft.  It can be a little self-exalting when we spend a lot of time trying to convey just how very agonizing is the process of producing good books, articles, poems, sermons, or speeches. Some of us male writers even make the...

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by Rut Etheridge III | During times of profound providential pressures, the Lord blesses his church with severe mercies. One of those hard-to-receive gifts is the exposition of our insidious, indigenous idols. False, territorial gods are seldom evicted from our souls without a spiritually gory fight...