Busy Season for HSU Authors
Three Hardin-Simmons University faculty members have recently seen the hard work of research, writing, and laboring with editors, publishers, and book agents pay off with exciting new offerings.
Mathew
Dr. Larry McGraw just released the second of his The Bible Says series of devotionals with The Bible Says, Daily Devotional Insights from Mathew. The popular devotionals were previously broadcast on radio and the demand for printed, personal copies was so great that he began publishing the meditations with devotions from Isaiah.
Dr. McGraw serves as the Associate Dean of the Logsdon School of Theology at HSU, and has taught at the University for over 25 years. He's been a top-rated radio personality in Abilene and has written teacher guides for Baptist Way Press in connection with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
As to his latest offering, Dr. McGraw says, "God's Word is as powerful and as fresh today as it was when it was first written. The message from the scriptures speaks to encourage us and to make life worth living. This book moves the reader back to the days of Jesus as Matthew's gospel brings God's truth into today's situations. With daily devotional meditation, we can learn how the Lord wants us to grow spiritually. Life can be different when we hear what.....The Bible Says." The book is available in the HSU bookstore.
Love Unbounded
A joint project between Dr. Tiffany Fink, assistant professor of history at HSU and her husband Dr. Rob Fink, visiting professor of history at McMurry University, Love Unbounded: The Influence of First Baptist Church on Abilene, Texas has just come off the press. The work offers a historical perspective on the relationship between First Baptist Church and the community and citizenry of Abilene during the 125 years the church has shaped the life of our historic community.
"When First Baptist Church was celebrating its 125th anniversary, I began to think about the influence of First Baptist on Abilene, specifically the many other institutions in town started by the church," says Rob, "God soon put it on my heart to tell this story. I asked Tiffany if she would like to work with me on the project. As we researched, a mission spirit of First Baptist toward Abilene became clear. This mission spirit became the theme of the book, as it was central to the nature of the church. Throughout its history, First Baptist and its members continually developed new institutions, mission churches, and programs. The expression of love by First Baptist towards the community inspired me and shaped the book."
"I enjoy the study of human attachment to place in the American West," Adds Tiffany, "and became enthralled with the project as it unfolded, not only as a history of the church in which we are active and the community in which we are living and raising our family, but also as a study of settlement and development in the American West and, in this case West Texas."
The book, with forward by Dr. Philip L. Christopher, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church, should be available in the HSU bookstore in the near future.
Life Together in the Way of Jesus Christ
Dr. Dan R. Stiver recently published the text, Life Together in the Way of Jesus Christ, An introduction to Christian Theology. Dr. Stiver, the Cook-Derrick Professor of Theology at Logsdon School of Theology at HSU has already received raves from colleagues.
Charles J. Scalise, professor of church history at Fuller Theological Seminary says, "This book's treatment of the theodicity question is simply masterful--the clearest treatment of the question of suffering that I have ever read in a beginning theology text."
Kevin Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School notes, "Stiver not only provides a survey of the tradition but responds to present concerns, striking a good balance between communicating the heart of the classic tradition and addressing contemporary problems."
Beth Newman, professor of theology and ethics at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond is effusive, "Dan's overarching image of theology as a journey is provocative and insightful. The originality of this work lies in the fact that he situates these topics in our contemporary context, drawing from a wealth of recent resources and issues to make the topics come alive, without sacrificing a good grasp of the many debates surrounding the topic."
Dr. Stiver wrote the book to fill a gap in existing literature, "In teaching introductions to Christian theology, I had found a lack of a suitable book representing modern Baptists, and the free church tradition in general, that also dealt with recent, major trends in theology. After finding that others shared this observation, I wrote the book, not just for Baptists, but as a book that would hopefully represent well this significant tradition."
Life Together in the Way of Jesus Christ is now available in the HSU bookstore.
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