Sometime last year I commented that with a reported 7 books being published in 2008, Mark Driscoll had his work cut out for him. That seemed all the more true after I reviewed Vintage Jesus, a substantial book on Christ and the cross. However, the situation clarified itself when Driscoll's four latest books showed up in the mail, I eagerly ripped the package open, and then watched Aidan effortlessly balance them in the palm of his hand.

With the slogan, "A book you'll actually read," these are more along the lines of thick pamphlets than books. Not that that's a bad thing. But you should know going in. At 96 pages, On the Old Testament can be read in around an hour, which is probably about right for people who don't get excited when words like "covenant theology" and "substitutionary atonement" are mentioned.

Here's what I liked about On the Old Testament:

Driscoll doesn't have time for his usual comedy shtick, but he does a great job outlining the big picture in direct, simple language. This is a book I'd feel comfortable giving to someone with no theological background at all (which is why I'm reviewing it here). So Driscoll succeeds in writing a very accessible, "popular theology" book about the Old Testament.

The book hits obvious issues that aren't strictly "biblical," such as professors sneering at the OT in their classrooms as Christian students cringe in embarrassment. Driscoll is highly aware of our cultural landscape, which isn't friendly to the Old Testament God at all--and he addresses it.

Jesus is very much present--which may seem like a misnomer in a book about the pre-Christ Hebrew scriptures. Of course it's not, though, and Driscoll probably does his best writing as he explains how Jesus is omnipresent in the Old Testament.

**1/2 On the Old Testament is a short book (warranting a short review) - but I really like what Driscoll is doing to make crucial knowledge of the Bible very easy to digest. This book would be great for a newcomer to Christianity, trying to figure out the basics, or for believers who want to get a firm grasp on some basic theology. I'm going to break with tradition and give it two and a half stars, since it's almost too pamphlet-like to qualify as a real book. But highly recommended. Yeah, it's on the Master Book List.

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Jayhawk star Mario Chalmers has impressed the Heat enough that they signed him to a three-year deal worth a couple million. This makes 5 KU players from the championship team who will be playing for substantial money (Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun-Russian team). In addition, Chalmers is apparently playing his way into the starting point guard role. From the Miami Herald:

Hours after signing his rookie contact, second-round pick Mario Chalmers showed why the Heat invested in his services.

Chalmers added a third consecutive impressive game to his week of work at the Orlando Pro Summer League, leading the Heat with 23 points and six assists in a 95-84 loss to Indiana.

Playing through an off shooting night, seven turnovers and foul problems, Chalmers made up for his struggles by attacking the basket and converting all 17 of his free-throw attempts.

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It might be.

One of the unadvertised side effects of going to seminary was an unexpected decrease in my untempered enthusiasm for all things bookish. What caused the ennui? Hard to say for sure. Mountains of assigned reading, some of it lousy? No doubt that played a part. No doubt research papers, and the necessity of utilitarian reading for footnotes, also was a factor. Long story short:

I stopped diving into books like they were deep lakes on a hot day.

But a couple nights ago, Lindsay was working on a lengthy "ministry assessment" thing online (having to do with downtown Kansas City church planting) and I sat down next to her with The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Two hours and 400 questions later, Lindsay was done with her assessment and I was done with The Road. (Incredibly written, heart-wrenching, post-apocalyptic novel.)

Folks, my reading verve might just have returned! I'm seriously excited about this, because having loads of books on my shelves that I don't have the wherewithal to read makes me feel something similar to what a young Michael Jordan would have felt if his ankles had suddenly lost their rigidity.

So the book groove might be back. Supporting evidence: Three nights ago I sat down and read Mark Driscoll's On the Old Testament cover to cover (succinct, effective intro re: the place of the OT in our lives). Impressive, eh? Well, the caveat is that this book is intended to be read in about an hour--it's only about five inches square and a quarter inch thick--which is why this is exhibit B.

Still, as an indicator, it's a good one.

My hypothesis will be put to the test in the days ahead, as I continue to tackle my current reading list. Don't want to jump the gun, but the prospect of my former Powers of Book returning has me happy.

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The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have started a series of NBA summer games. So far, Mario Chalmers, the star of KU's dramatic NCAA victory over Memphis, is getting the better of #1 draft pick Derrick Rose. (Much like he did in the NCAA championship game.) Chalmers fell to the second round of the draft, but he appears to have a very good shot at securing playing time with the Heat. From the Miami Herald:

Heat rookie guard Mario Chalmers, a second-round pick, was responsible for making matters difficult for Rose. Chalmers had 11 points, a game-high six assists, one turnover and six steals in 26 minutes. His shot was off -- he was just 2 of 8 from the field -- but his suffocating defense was not.

''I think I did a pretty good job,'' Chalmers said. ``But it was about the Bulls and the Heat, and the Heat came out the better team.''

Heat assistant Keith Askins, who is coaching the summer league team, said much of game plan involved running the offense through Beasley and Chalmers.

The two accounted for 10 of the Heat's first 12 points and led Miami to a 48-34 halftime lead. But Beasley picked up his third foul in the second quarter and played just eight minutes in the first half.

Way to go, Mario!

* Pardon the pun. Photo is property of KUSports.com.

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The Pitch, one of Kansas City's news-mags, features an article about Lori Chaffer. Good insight into her songwriting and the "Christian" music industry.

Lori released a solo album a couple years ago (1beginning), but if you know her name, it's likely because of Waterdeep, the indie band that she and husband Don Chaffer founded. Waterdeep is a local favorite with a pretty storied history, and they achieved some national recognition a few years back.

In addition, Heart Attack Time Machine, the latest Waterdeep album, is available for "whatever you want to pay" on NoiseTrade. This one is a folky album highlighted by Lori's vocals, and I put it on my Top Albums of 2007 list. You should grab it.

HT: Cawleyblog.

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Last night Lindsay and I went to the Kansas City Shakespeare Festival, sans kids, and saw one of the bard's great depressing plays, Othello. I've been thinking that one of these days I need to compile a Top Ten Summer Attractions in KC list--the Shakespeare Festival would definitely make it...

Anyway, we arrived at the park pretty late, and managed to get decent seats only because of the kindness of some folks who let us sandwich our collapsible chair right between them (the concept of personal space evaporates at these events). As we were sitting there eating, drinking, and making merry, people were still streaming by looking for seats. About five feet away on our right, a couple in their 40s were kicked back in lawn chairs. A gaggle of teenagers came over and started putting their blanket down in a patch of turf in front of them--but the man, who apparently wanted about eight feet to stretch his legs, made a rude comment: a pompous, condescending, "Do you mind?" type statement.

Several people sitting around us noticed, and looked up to see the teenagers straggle away with bewildered looks on their faces. The dude who had sent them packing leaned back, stuck out his gut, and extended his legs as far into the open area as he could, with a smug expression on his face. Lindsay was so indignant she was still muttering five minutes later.

I was ticked off too. I mean, you come to a park for "free Shakespeare," knowing it will be a communal experience, and then as soon as you arrive, you have the audacity to act like you own a large patch of real estate? (All kinds of parallels about grace and arrogance and the church are begging to be made here, but...)

So after fuming out loud for a little while, I prayed, "God, would you send a couple people with chairs--not a blanket, chairs, preferably tall chairs--to sit directly in front of that dude?" I mean, God is concerned about justice everywhere, even at a Shakespeare Festival in Kansas City. Right?

Of course right. So I'm typing this to tell you that about ten minutes later, as I glanced to our right, my face absolutely lit up when I saw two people in tall chairs sitting directly in front of our real estate tycoon. Apparently he hadn't been able to protect his little plot of land after all. Ha ha ha.

I can't say this happens all the time, but when you see someone get justice handed to them in a way that's fitting and immediate--in a way that makes you laugh out loud, like we did yesterday--it does serve notice that final and ultimate justice will not be evaded. God gives us a ton of freedom, and we can personalize that freedom with our own petty preferences and selfish obsessions, or we can bank on the grace of Jesus and use our freedom for others.

On the 4th of July weekend, here's hoping we learn to use our freedom in ways that will earn God's happy endorsement.

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We just got back from picking blueberries with the kiddos and we're about to head back out for fireworks and maybe some volleyball. But quick heads up: You can download Feist's highly regarded album (made my Top Ten list in 2007), The Reminder, for $5 at Amazon. This is a "$5 Friday" deal, so grab it fast--the discounted prices are usually good for a couple days.

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Derek Webb gained considerable notoriety for giving away Mockingbird a couple years ago. Now he's playing a reprise of that theme by making The Ringing Bell (2007) available via NoiseTrade, another new-mode approach to music distribution.

At the NoiseTrade site you can pay whatever you want for The Ringing Bell, or download his album without charge by referring three friends. The upshot: Another avenue to free Derek Webb music. A handful of other musicians (including Derek's wife, Sandra McCracken) are featured as well. It'll be interesting to see if NoiseTrade catches on and others come on board.

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--but I'm pretty sure several civil wars began exactly like this, including a couple that lasted for several decades, long after the original plastic toy had been destroyed.

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