Reviews
Blood Work
Blood work – this is a common phrase used in the medical industry. Every critical medical procedure must be based on accurate blood work – the chemistry demanded by the body relies on the right delicate balance and the blood work reveals what that chemistry mix is, so the doctors can proceed safely. The body […]
Comparison Between Particular and General Baptists
I recently read this book which documents how Baptists throughout the past few centuries have been known as men of the book. Whether a man was a general or particular Baptist, a common thread through them was a high and proper regard for the Word of God. This is, one hand, a most encouraging book, […]
The Church – Why Bother?
I was privileged to be able to read this book before it went to print. My short review is below, but first – here is a short promotional video from the author, for the book which can be purchased here: http://www.freegracepress.org/?p=1050 Review of Jeffery D. Johnson’s THE CHURCH: WHY BOTHER? By Stuart L. Brogden, Jan […]
Pagan Christianity?
I was given the task of reading and reviewing this book as part of a project at my church. Frank Viola is aggressive in defending his perspective; if you want his view you can easily find one or more of his blogs. With that short introduction, here’s my lengthy review. Pagan Christianty? By Frank Viola […]
Book recommendation: “The Giant Killer” by A.L.O.E.
I recently finished reading an intriguing story by ALOE (A Lady Of England) to my children entitled, The Giant Killer (1856). This allegorical tale (told in a fashion similar to Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress) is about a noble knight named Fides who battles giant sins such as Giant Untruth, Giant Hate, and Giant Pride. Reading this […]
The Tragedy of American Compassion
The Tragedy of American Compassion – Marvin Olasky Reviewed by Stuart Brogden, 30 Oct 2011 Tragedy and Compassion – two words that we don’t normally associate together. How could compassion be tragic? While we likely have different levels of bad news in mind when think of tragedy, we are all in agreement that tragedy is […]
Living Dangerously: A Dangerous View
Almost a year ago now, I had a quick discussion with the author of Living Dangerously: Seven Keys to Intentional Discipleship in the comments of one of his blog posts. Before I knew Shawn Anderson was the author of any book, I disagreed with the YouTube video he posted and with his related comments. One […]
IndoctriNation
I just finished watching this movie. A gentle but forceful examination of the government school system in our country, revealing why it can not be reconciled with a Christian worldview. WACO, Texas, Oct. 12, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ — As the 2012 presidential race begins to draw public attention, a new film seeks to bring education […]
Defending, Contending – what?
I recently started reading K. Scott Oliphant’s new book, The Battle Belongs to the Lord. Chapter 2 is an examination of the book of Jude and the author does an excellent job of explaining what we (those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ) are to defend and why we are to do so. […]
Film Recommendation: “Divided.”
I admit that, although passionate about the subject of the dividing of the family in the church (and the damage it has caused), I was not moved by the trailer for the new documentary on the subject entitled Divided when I first watched it a couple months ago. It wasn’t until my wife ordered the […]
Changed by God
David Brainerd (1718-1747) was a missionary to the American Indians in New York, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. Born in Connecticut in 1718, he died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-nine. Many people know of his work among the Indians, but in reading his diary (as edited by Jonathan Edwards), I was most struck […]
Book recommendation: “Terror at Beslan” by John Giduck.
“For a single religion to spawn so much hatred, so much inhuman capacity to commit violence against the innocent–even if those innocent are the citizens of a perceived enemy nation or culture–there must must be a cause. That cause cannot be the preaching of tolerance and peace so often ascribed to it.” – Terror at […]
Film review: The Bible vs. Joseph Smith.
Joel Kramer and Sourceflix have hit another home run with their latest release, The Bible vs. Joseph Smith. DefCon has been pleased to feature Joel Kramer’s past documentaries DNA vs. the Book of Mormon, The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon, and Lifting the Veil on Polygamy, and now The Bible vs. Joseph Smith continues […]
Entertainment Tonight, Or Home Failures?
There will be many who would question my thoughts on this post, but before you comment or leave mad, I would implore you to consider the words of Scripture to see whether we have been truly led astray or whether what we set in front of our eyes and our children is really nothing more […]
Book review: “The Marketing of Evil” by David Kupelian.
I just completed a page-turner that I highly recommend to the readers of DefCon. David Kupelian’s provocative missive The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, And Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom, takes you behind the scenes of how the media, entertainment, and politicians drive the culture and how they not only shape how […]
Book review: “Why Johnny Can’t Preach” by T. David Gordon.
I just completed the book Why Johnny Can’t Preach by T. David Gordon. It is a well thought-out thesis addressing the source of the problem with the ineffective preaching in most Christian churches in the West. Gordon highlights some of the reasons why preaching in the West is a failure (and consequently some of these […]
Book review: “The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” by John Cross.
From the author of The Lamb comes The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. This book explains the gospel of Jesus Christ in the most detailed yet simple way that I have ever read. This easy-to-read book is full of illustrations and details the gospel beginning all the way back in creation. It shows the […]
Film review: “The Monstrous Regiment of Women.”
Having no idea what this video was about, I recently watched The Monstrous Regiment of Women. I quickly found myself not wanting it to end. It was a great documentary detailing the effects that feminism has had on our culture. This documentary includes interviews with Phyllis Schlafly (of the Eagle Forum), Stacy McDonald (who wrote […]
Book Review: “The Basket of Flowers” by Christoph von Schmid.
What can I say about this book other than I absolutely loved it. This was the very first book published in the Lamplighter series and was the Lamplighter series “book of the year” in 1996. This continues to be my favorite Lamplighter book (see all Lamplighter books here) and is easily one of my favorite […]
Film review: “The Boy In The Striped Pajamas”
I don’t usually do this–in fact this is a first (and probably a last) for DefCon–but I have a secular movie recommendation. Before you think I’ve lost my mind, hear me out first. I gave up secular movies over two years ago for obvious reasons (sex, violence, profanity, etc.) in addition to the fact that […]
Book Review: “The Robber’s Cave” by Charlotte Maria Tucker.
Yet another fine book from the Lamplighter Series of Rare Books. Written in 1887 by Charlotte Maria Tucker under the alias of A.L.O.E. (A Lady of England), The Robber’s Cave is a good read for all ages. It is suspenseful, reflective, and entertaining. Furthermore, Tucker is not afraid to show Roman Catholicism (the religion practiced […]
Film review: “Fireproof”
I never imagined I’d watch this film let alone actually like it enough to recommend it. My wife procured this movie well over a month ago and it sat collecting dust that whole time until last week. We finally sat down and watched it and I must say I was quite impressed. The story was […]
Book review: Evangelism in the New Testament: A Plea for Biblically Relevant Evangelism by Jon Speed
This book, short and sweet at only about 40 pages, makes an irrefutable case that the vast majority of evangelism that took place in the New Testament was among strangers. This goes directly against the idea that friendship evangelism is the ideal way to evangelize. Personally, I’ve come to the belief that if you want […]
Book review: “Titus: Comrade of the Cross” by Florence Morse Kingsley.
The 1997 Lamplighter book of the year, Titus: Comrade of the Cross, was originally written in 1894 by Florence M. Kingsley. A fictional work weaving the lives of several people living in and around Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ ministry and crucifixion, this novel brings life to those nameless individuals found in the Gospels. […]
Book Review: “Warnings to the Churches” by John Charles Ryle.
I read this book a couple years ago and found it to be an incredible warning to the churches. It also was part of several things God used to draw me out of the lukewarm, mile-wide, inch-deep “churches” that I was attending. The back of the book sums it up succinctly: Some of Ryle’s most […]
Movie review: “The Exodus Revelaed.”
This is another great film sure to increase your faith. This documentary explored the Exodus route taken by the Jews as they fled Egypt and it offers compelling archeological evidence to support the veracity of the Scriptures. The Exodus Revealed is a good film for the whole family. “The Search for the Red Sea Crossing. […]
Book Review: “Buried in the Snow” by Franz Hoffman.
I recently completed the book Buried in the Snow by Franz Hoffman; part of the Lamplighter series of Christian literature. This is the first one of these books that I’ve read and found it to be really good. Written in 1879, it is a gripping tale that teaches great truths of the Bible and reliance […]
Book Review: “The Lamb” by John R. Cross.
I recently completed this wonderful book and was quite impressed with the strong yet simple explanation of the Gospel. Although it’s written for children, it is also good for those who have no clue what the Gospel is because it explains it in very easy terms accompanied with beautiful illustrations and questions at the end […]
Book review: “Family Driven Faith” by Voddie Baucham.
I just completed the book Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham. Don’t let the name fool you; it has absolutely nothing to do with the purpose driven garbage being peddled by the seeker-friendly mega-churches. In fact, I doubt that this book would be well received at such social club churches. In the book, subtitled Doing […]
Book review: “All of Grace” by Charles Spurgeon.
I just completed this work by Spurgeon (the audio book version) and found it to be a wealth of encouragement for those who wrestle with their assurance of salvation. It was also a deep source of doctrinal truths regarding God’s grace and provision for salvation; helping me to better understand that salvation is all of […]
