I just received a review copy of The Living Church by John Stott (IVP, 2007) and have been skimming through it before I send it out to be reviewed. In the first chapter Stott lays out a few of his assumptions about his readers. The very first is worth repeating here.
Edited 12/3/07.

I just finished reading Mark Dever's The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (Crossway, 2007) and found it to be extremely clear, practical, refreshing, motivating and worthy of recommending to you. This little book was not only fun to read, but it also seems to have been fun to write. Dever writes in a plain, conversational style following a clear and purposeful outline, incorporating personal illustrations, and being very careful to speak to the introvert as well as the extrovert.

This last point is one that stood out to me the most. Dever admits that he is an extrovert and that he understands that not everyone else is. Throughout the book he keeps this in mind so that his counsel remains applicable to all.

Of the books I've read on evangelism this tops them all for clarity and balance. While reading this books I was anxious to get out and share the gospel, at least to be more "salty", as he put it.

I'm intending to write a full review for SharperIron, but for now I'd like to jot down a few notes.

1) The Gospel is not what a lot of people think it is. Dever argues that every Christian ought to be able to verbalize what the Gospel is. This is so true. It's so frustrating to ask "Christian" teenagers, and especially adults, to explain what the Gospel is and they act clueless. Dever does a superb job at articulating this point.

2) In like manner, Dever argues for what Evangelism is and is not. This is a must read section. In his conclusion to this chapter he writes, "Evangelism itself isn't converting people; it's telling them that they need to be converted and telling them how they can be."

3) Door-to-door evangelism is not mentioned at all. This is a dying hallmark of my ecclesiastical tradition. We will be going out this Saturday, too. It seems to me that we are afraid to change our method because we might give someone the impression that we are not zealous evangelists. On the contrary, Saturday morning door-to-door visitation can become a snare and/or a rut for those who would rather segregate their evangelistic efforts from the rest of the week. I admit that I struggle against this.

In fact, Dever talks a lot about sharing the gospel in the park, around town, with neighbors, etc. His main point is to remind us that, as Christians, this is to be our all-the-time lifestyle. We (I) need to be purposefully seeking opportunities to share Christ with others. A major part of this is developing relationships with non-Christians. He mentions frequenting certain stores and restaurants in order to get to know people (even if informally) looking for opportunities to share the gospel with them.

4) Where my ecclesiastical tradition tends to go immediately to the jugular vein of "getting people lost" and then telling them the gospel, Dever presents--what seems to me--a more balanced approach. Dever mentions that the Gospel has to do with the forgiveness of sins. He doesn't downplay sin, nor does he exclude it from the essential message of the Gospel (cf. pp. 56-57). He argues that we must be honest and urgent about the telling people about the holiness of God and the consequences of sin. However, "defensiveness is natural to the fallen human heart, so we want to do our best to help people hear the good news" (p. 65). Basically, we need to learn to "ask good questions and listen to their answers" (p. 66).

We need to pray that the Lord will provide an audience for the Gospel. I believe that the Gospel can be discredited when we use it as a billy club. It is certainly discredited when it is used in a manipulative way.

5) One last comment I'll make now is that I was glad to see that he included a section dealing with the sovereignty of God in evangelism. I've come to rejoice in the great motivation found in the doctrines of the Sovereignty of God and Divine Election. I heartily agree with Dever when he says, "I think a better understanding of the Bible's teaching on God's election would help them. I think it would give them confidence and joy in their evangelism" (p. 105).

Well, I'll save some more for my review. Oh, and in the meantime, I'd encourage you to read Doug Smith's review of this title here. Doug has also compiled a nice list of resources mentioned in this book here.

Crossway Books $9.99 | Westminster Bookstore $7.49 | CBD $7.99 | Amazon $9.99

Much is being said these days in the media concerning evangelical and even fundamental preachers falling into gross sin. The failures of these very public men seem to occur mostly in the areas of moral and financial accountability. Whenever such things happen, the godly and ungodly are both shocked. How can trusted Christian leaders do such things? While the due process of law runs its course and the media have a heyday, Christians wrestle with this question of how.

Yes, Satan attacks Christian leaders in his attempt to hinder the gospel, and he is pictured in the Bible as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). And we shouldn’t be dismissive of the scriptural warning. But sometimes I think we tend to assign all the blame to him, implying that we are mere victims and, therefore, not completely responsible for our actions.

The same passage that warns of Satan’s threat also instruct pastors to “shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3 NASB). Peter sees the threat of personal ambition as well as the threat of Satan’s attack. It is this inner traitor that tends to be granted immunity when he needs to be dealt with mercilessly. Paul refers to this traitor as “the flesh” (see Galatians 5:16-26).

John Newton recognized this traitor within and wrote to a fellow minister asking for prayer in his struggle with the flesh. Newton had a vivid way of describing this struggle with himself:

I have a troublesome inmate, a lodger, who assumes as if the house were his own, and is a perpetual incumbrance, and spoils all. He has long been noted for his evil ways; but though generally known, is not easily avoided…. Time was when I thought I would shut the door, to keep him out of my house, but my precaution came too late; he was already within; and to turn him out by head and shoulders is beyond my power; nay, I cannot interdict him from any one single apartment…. We often meet and jostle and snarl at each other; but sometimes (would you believe it?) I lose all my suspicion, and am disposed to treat him as an intimate friend. This inconsistency of mine I believe greatly encourages him, for I verily believe he would be ashamed and afraid to be seen by me, if I always kept him at a proper distance. However, we both lay such a strong claim to the same dwelling, that I believe the only way of settling the dispute will be (which the Landlord himself has spoken of) to pull down the house over our heads. There seems something disagreeable in this mode of proceeding; but from what I have read in an old book, I form a hope that when things come to this crisis, I shall escape, and my enemy will be crushed in the ruins. (Letters of John Newton. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2007, pp. 307-308)

While we keep watch around us for our adversary the devil, we should be just as diligent to look within and keep our guard up against this inner usurper and struggle with him until the Lord takes him down in ruin and sets us free in perpetual righteousness.

Thabiti Anyabwile, who is a pastor in the Cayman Islands, has written a book called The Decline of African American Theology: From Biblical Faith to Cultural Captivity. The publisher, InterVarsity Press, has this to say:

In this book, Thabiti Anyabwile offers a challenging and provocative assessment of the history of African American Christian theology, from its earliest beginnings to the present. He argues trenchantly that the modern fruit of African American theology has fallen far from the tree of its early predecessors. In doing so, Anyabwile closely examines the theological commitments of prominent African American theologians throughout American history. Chapter by chapter, he traces what he sees as the theological decline of African American theology from one generation to the next, concluding with an unflinching examination of several contemporary figures. Replete with primary texts and illustrations, this book is a gold mine for any reader interested in the history of African American Christianity. With a foreword by Mark Noll.

I want to know more of what the Lord has done in and through African American believers in the past and would love to see that work continue today. To that end Brother Anyabwile has written his book. In his own words:

I'm thankful for the generations of African American Christians who have left some deposit for the faithful. And I'm thankful for the generations of Christians from other ethnic background with whom they have interacted and shared the faith once for all delivered to the saints. I'm thankful that the Lord has allowed us to live in this time that we might learn from the times previous. And I'm thankful for IVP for publishing this book and hopeful it contributes to the ongoing reformation of the church.

This book should fill a great need in the church, and I look forward to getting a copy.

See also his book The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors.

Review of The Faithful Preacher here.

Of David.

INTRODUCTION
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF DELIVERANCE
On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

GENERALIZED STATEMENT THAT ALL KINGS WILL GIVE THANKS TO GOD
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,

for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

for great is the glory of the Lord.

THE REASON FOR THAT THANKS
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,

but the haughty he knows from afar.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF GOD'S PRESENT DELIVERANCE
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

PREDICATING GOD'S BLESSING, ASSERTING GOD'S ETERNAL LOVE, AND PRAYING FOR GOD'S PRESENCE
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

The Literary Study Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Tim Challies informs us that "Reformed Baptist Academic Press has just launched a new web site and is introducing two new books." I was unfamiliar with this publisher, so I visited their site to see what they're about:

Goal of Reformed Baptist Academic Press

The goal of RBAP, LLC is to publish distinctly confessional Reformed Baptist quality books and pamphlets on a rather scholarly level. These will be composed of works from contemporary authors as well as reprints from seventeenth-century Particular Baptists and other related works.

With this goal in mind, RBAP, LLC will publish books and pamphlets that either adhere to the theology of the 2nd LCF [2nd London Confession of Faith of 1677/1689] or are directly related to assist in its understanding and practice.

You should visit the site and bookmark it . Their current advisory board includes Samuel E. Waldron, who published a small book in 1991 called Baptist Roots in America: The Historical Background of Reformed Baptists in America. The book is very interesting and informative, but it is apparently out of print and quite pricey on Amazon, especially for a 50-page paperback. RBAP should reprint this one. Dr. Waldron wrote A Modern Exposition of 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith (AMAZON) in 1989 and it is still in print. For Baptist history in America you might want to check out Tom Nettles' series on The Baptists Vol. 2 Beginnings in America (CBD | AMAZON).

I found a minor problem with the RBAP website. It doesn't seem to render properly in Firefox. The page displays, but their links don't work. For now at least you'll need Internet Explorer to navigate their site.

ChristianAudio is offering a free audio book download this week as a way of saying, "Thanks," to all their customers. From November 17 - 24 you can choose one of ten audio books offered for this event. When you choose an audio book, use the Coupon Code THANKS2007. If you don't have an account, they provide a link to sign up for a free account. Then download your book and enjoy.

This past weekend our little church had the pleasure of hosting Layton Talbert and two of his children for a Bible Conference. We all had a wonderful time together in the Word. Layton's lectures and sermons evidenced hours of careful exegesis and meditation on this oft' misunderstood Old Testament book. My own heart was stirred, challenged, and comforted.

I'm adding links to the audio recordings of the sessions. I know that they will be a help and a blessing to you, too. Also, if you do not have a copy of his book, Beyond Suffering, I highly recommended it to you. You may also consider giving it to a friend or family member for Christmas. Tim Ashcraft has written a fine review of this book here.

Layton Talbert (Ph.D., Bob Jones University) is a professor of theology at the Bob Jones University Seminary. He has also authored Not by Chance, a study of God’s loving providence in every area of the believer’s life. Dr. Talbert lives in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife, Esther, and their five children.

BIBLE CONFERENCE 2007: Beyond Suffering | Dr. Layton Talbert

Date:	Title:	Scripture:
11/16/07 PM	Three Questions About Suffering	Job 1-2
11/17/07 PM	How Does a Spiritual Person Respond to Suffering?	Job 3
11/18/07 AM	What Do People Talk About During Suffering?	Job 4-37
11/18/07 AM	God's Response to Job	Job 38-41
11/18/07 PM	The "End" of Suffering	Job 42

____________________
Related Posts:

• Beauty in Adversity
• Beauty in Adversity - Part 2
  

Reviewed by Andrew David Naselli.

McCune, Rolland D. Promise Unfulfilled: The Failed Strategy of Modern Evangelicalism. Greenville, S.C.: Ambassador International, 2004. Hardcover, xvii + 398 pp. $24.99.

Editor’s Note: This review was originally posted on Andy’s blog along with a rejoinder from Dr. Rolland McCune. Due to the length of this review, we are splitting it up and publishing it here according to its two major headings—Part One: A Summary and Part Two: An Analysis.

Purchase: Ambassador-Emerald | CBD | Amazon

Special Features: Footnotes, Selected Annotated Bibliography, Scriptural Index, and Topical Index

ISBNs: 1932307311 / 9781932307313

LCCN: BR1642 U5 M33

DCN: 230.04624

Subject: Modern Evangelicalism

Read Part One: A Summary (11/19/07) & Part Two: An Analysis (11/20/07)

I've been studying the Prayer-Psalms and have marveled over the straightforward, transparent language used by the psalmists. Working through these Psalms has been a great help to me in my prayer life. My studies have turned my attention to the Puritan prayers collected in The Valley of Vision. One thing I noticed right off is that most, if not all (I've not read through them all yet), are in third person. This is difficult to follow when praying these prayers.

Well, I've taken the daily prayers found in the last section of the book and have been working on putting them into first person. I've also modernized a few words. Here is the prayer for Sunday Morning.

SUNDAY AM: Worship

O LORD,

I commune with You every day,

I bless You therefore for the day sacred to my soul

I thank You for the institutions of religion

I rejoice in another Lord's Day
Let my retirement be devout,

I am going to the house of prayer,
I am going to the house of praise,
I am going to the house of instruction,

Be a sanctuary to all who cannot come,
Forget not those who never come,
And do bestow upon me
openness towards my fellow-Christians.

Bennett, Arthur G. Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. (Banner of Truth)

If you are a parent of small children, you may be interested in some good Bible story books to read to your child. Albert Mohler has two very good posts where he makes book recommendations for preschool and school age children.

In addition to the recommendation for school age children, Dr. Mohler gives 10 suggestions for profitably reading these books to your child. I love the way he ends this article:

No moment invested in teaching your child the Bible and reading Bible stories is ever wasted time. If your reading of a story is interrupted by circumstances (or by a child who has lost the fight against sleep), just pick it up the next time and move on. Enjoy every moment while your children are at this precious and promising stage of life.

Check out Fabulous Friday at Christianbook.com!

This is a set that I highly recommend and it is at a great price (and hardcover!).

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 4 Volumes
J.C. Ryle
Baker Books (June 1, 2007)
Retail Price: $250.00
CBD Price: $27.99

Up until this past June these commentaries have been available in paperback from Banner of Truth. I'm glad to see these reprinted in hardback.

I hadn’t planned on revisiting this topic, but I had another idea on the way home from work today. When I left the workplace this afternoon, looking forward to another drive home past the trees in their fall glory, the first thing I noticed was there wasn’t as much color as there had been 24 hours earlier. Then I noticed how hard the wind was blowing. Also, we had rain last night. Many leaves, which were at their peak yesterday, are lying on the ground today.

My previous article on “Beauty in Adversity” mentioned the fact that patient, submissive suffering displays God’s glory to others. This especially seems to be the case when a faithful believer discovers that he or she has a terminal disease and accepts the Lord’s will with grace and joy. But what about when a vibrant Christian’s testimony is suddenly cut short through death or through circumstances that diminish his public usefulness? What if you don’t get your chance to “shine”? Or, you were shining and your avenues of service disappeared? Is there glory when no one can see Christ through you because they can’t see you? And that’s because something beyond your control happened. The leaf in full color is lying on the ground.

I’ve struggled with this when experiencing “setbacks” I didn’t understand. “Where’s the glory in this?!! It doesn’t make sense!” I couldn’t see how God was getting any glory out of my circumstances.

Though we know from Scripture that we shouldn’t seek to be “seen of men,” we still tend to think that if they don’t see us, God gets no glory. When we think this way, we are short-sighted. We can have our spiritual myopia treated by pulling back the curtain of space and time and gazing into the heavenlies. In Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul reveals why God’s grace was given to him:

to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:8-10 NASB).

There are other spectators to the outworking of our faith than just the earth-bound. When serving God in the dark, when suffering for His sake in a barren land with no human in sight to appreciate it, have we ever considered the scriptural truth that others are watching? And that God is being glorified in the heavenlies because of our faith? It is “through the church” that God’s manifold wisdom is now being made known to the angels.

The church is the mirror, that reflects the whole effulgence of the Divine character. It is the grand scene, in which the perfections of Jehovah are displayed to the universe. The revelations made to the Church—the successive grand events in her history—and, above all—the manifestation of “the glory of God in the Person of Jesus Christ”—furnish even to the heavenly intelligences fresh subjects of adoring contemplation. (Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry, p. 1)

If our desire is to obey and glorify God, does it matter whether we are in a prominent place or a desolate place? If we are yielded to our loving heavenly Father, does it matter to us if our testimony is unexpectedly stifled through perplexing circumstances? What do we do when we want to serve in a particular way, but we feel like a bird with its wings clipped? Perhaps we look at the colorful leaf on the ground and think, "What a waste!" But that leaf is exactly where God put it. And that’s when the quality of our submission is really revealed. It’s easy to submit when we agree with the conditions. But when God crosses our purposes, are we willing to remain under what He has ordained for us?

The servant is not above his Lord. He does not “talk back” to his Lord. He has no will of his own; he is fully absorbed with his Lord’s will. If his Lord says to stand in a room all by himself, the servant obeys. He loves his master and will not depart from Him. The servant learns to lean not on his own understanding, trusts that his Lord is good and wise, and cares more for his Lord’s honor than for his own desire for “fulfillment.” God’s perfections are displayed and He is glorified in the heavenlies when His people gladly follow His orders, whether waving brilliantly in the trees or lying silently on the ground.

This morning we posted my review of the following title at SharperIron.

In the Shadow of Grace: The Life and Meditations of G. Campbell Morgan. Compiled and edited by Richard Morgan, Howard Morgan & John Morgan. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007. 144 pages, Paperback. $12.99.

Purchase: Baker | CBD | Amazon

ISBNs: 9780801068171 / 0801068177

DCN: 242.4

LCCN: BX7260 .M555

Subjects: Devotional, G. Campbell Morgan

The following is an excerpt from my review:

Please follow this link to read the full review. Here is a .pdf version of the review.

I’m aware of only three full-length biographies of G. Campbell Morgan (the most notable being that of Jill Morgan):

1. Harries, John. G. Campbell Morgan: The Man and His Ministry (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1930).
2. Murray, Harold. Campbell Morgan: Bible Teacher (London: Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 1938).
3. Morgan, Jill. A Man of the Word: Life of G. Campbell Morgan (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1952; reprinted by Baker Book House, 1972; reprinted by Wipf and Stock, 2005).

Here are some of his most popular works available in print:

1. The Crisis of the Christ
2. Discipleship
3. The Teaching of Christ
4. The Westminster Pulpit

Here is A Complete Chronological Listing of the Published Writings of G. Campbell Morgan compiled by Tim Leaman.

Dr. Sam Horn’s biographical sketch of Morgan can be found here.

I'd love to have your feedback on G. Campbell Morgan. Are you familiar with his life and ministry? Have you read any of his works? If so, which is your favorite?

This was posted today on Dr. Rod Decker’s NT Resources blog:

I’ve just posted a pdf document that has some notes regarding the chronology of the Passion Week. I suggest a minority view with a Wednesday crucifixion to resolve two chronological problems with the data.

Decker presents a compelling argument for Wednesday. I lean toward a Thursday crucifixion myself, but I would accept Wednesday before Friday any day of the week. Despite the generally accepted tradition that the crucifixion was on Friday, I think the phrase three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40) deserves closer attention than some writers seem willing to give it.

My preferred harmony of the Gospels is the one by Robert Thomas and Stanley Gundry, published by Moody Press in 1978. It's a great resource for chronological studies in the Gospels, containing several helpful essays after the harmony. Yet in the essay on the day of the crucifixion they take the Friday position without dealing thoroughly with evidence and arguments. Thomas and Gundry argue that

[it] was common practice among the Jews to refer to a fractional part of a day or night as one day and one night (cf. Gen. 42:17-18; 1 Sam. 30:12-13; 1 Kings 20:29; 2 Chron. 10:5, 12; Esther 4:16; 5:1). Hence “three days and three nights” does not necessitate three twenty-four hour days between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection but is just another way of saying He was raised on “the third day.” (A Harmony of the Gospels, p. 320)

They don’t interact with other passages that might present a problem for the Friday view. Despite this uncharacteristically superficial treatment of biblical evidence (which Decker deals with more adequately), I highly recommend Thomas and Gundry for wider harmonization issues. Since my copy of the Harmony is from the seventies, I suppose it’s possible that a later edition has a more satisfying treatment of this question.

Thanks to Rod Decker for posting this document. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you know of other resources to help us reach an informed decision?

It’s the middle of November, and the leaves are in full color in upstate South Carolina. The colors aren’t quite as brilliant as last year’s, but I still have a beautiful drive home from work to enjoy for a week or two. I once read a Bible tract called “Beauty in Adversity,” which compared the Christian’s sufferings of adversity to what happens to the trees every year. The color means that the leaves are dying. And in their death they dazzle the eye with breathtaking beauty. When Christians suffer in a way that reflects Christ, they exhibit His attractiveness to other Christians and to an unbelieving world.

I’ve been thinking about this theme lately for several reasons. On Saturday November 3, many of the men in our church attended a prayer-breakfast that concluded our latest Bible study. For the past three months we’ve been studying the book of Job, using Layton Talbert’s new book, Beyond Suffering: Discovering the Message of Job, as a guide. After the regular meeting about 20 men stayed for nearly two more hours discussing Job and Dr. Talbert’s book, with the author in attendance. We were able to ask Brother Talbert questions concerning specific matters in Job and specific statements in his book. Meditating on this section of Scripture has frequently been a blessing to me, and Layton really brought out the meaning of Job in his book and in his comments at our meeting. One paragraph in his book describes the kind of suffering that Job faced and what his suffering means to us:

Affliction is suffering that is not only underserved but not even understood…. This kind of suffering comes only through the decision or permission of God (hence it is “permitted” by God). He may or may not originate this kind of suffering; but because He is sovereign, He alone claims ultimate responsibility for it (hence it is “sent” by God). It may come in the form of “natural” circumstances or through the actions (even the sinful actions) of people. It may affect us directly, or indirectly in the form of “collateral damage.” How does one interpret and respond to that kind of suffering? That is the issue at the eye of the storm swirling around Job (Beyond Suffering, p. 15).

Responding submissively to God, especially in the midst of suffering that we can’t explain, causes us to give off the fragrance of the One who said, “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7). Patiently enduring adversity demonstrates that, like our Lord, we too have committed our spirit into the hands of our Father (Luke 23:46). This type of submission comes only from God and proves to believers and to many unbelievers the reality, the nearness, and the grace of God. Many former opposers and persecutors have been drawn to the Savior through the dying testimonies of the saints, whether suffering cruel martyrdom or succumbing to “natural causes.”

This leads me to another reason I’ve been meditating on this theme lately. Last week marked the first anniversary of the death of a young local woman. You may not be familiar with the name Hannah Sobeski, but she became something of a “celebrity” in our area. Hannah was a 17 year-old rising senior at Dorman High School in nearby Spartanburg when she discovered that she had sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer. She spent the summer in Texas taking treatments and returned home in time to start her senior year. This was reported widely in the local news because she accepted God’s will for her life with a meek and quiet spirit, expressing her faith in Jesus Christ. In some ways she was no different from any other teen, looking forward to graduation, college, marriage and family someday. In other ways she was head and shoulders above the crowd, and the adversity God entrusted her with provided a platform to display His grace. And people noticed.

On a chilly Friday night in October 2006 Hannah was crowned Homecoming Queen. It was an emotional night for Dorman. You wouldn’t know it to look at the pictures in the paper but she barely had the strength to make it across the field with her dad. Also in attendance was her doctor, who had some difficult news to tell her the next day. Her tumor had doubled in size and there was nothing that could be done. She had only a few weeks to live.

Hannah died about four weeks later on November 9. Her family had maintained a daily journal on the Web, chronicling her progress in the treatments, her deteriorating condition, and her ever-renewing faith. On Hannah’s last day they noted in their morning entry her quickly weakening condition. As news of her imminent departure spread across the school and community, friends started arriving to see her one last time. As long as she was able she greeted them and encouraged them to keep believing in Christ. About fifty friends and family were in the house with her, and many more were filling the yard, praying and singing praise songs. At the news of her death there were tears of grief but also tears of hope and joy. They knew that all was now well with their girl.

Hannah’s mother Debbie and aunt Hope Houchins founded Hannah’s Hope Ministries to reach people in life crises with the Gospel. They maintain a blog on their site which they update practically every day, frequently with devotional thoughts from their Bible reading. Last week on November 8 Debbie Sobeski posted a remembrance of Thursday – One Year Later. It is in the form of a prayer, as are many of her posts. In this remembrance she said, “The details of this day I don’t ever want to forget. I experienced You Lord, You showed us Your glory. Your presence was so very real it penetrated every part of our home. Each day I continue to ask You to do the same – penetrate my home with the presence of the Living God.” She confesses her pain, but also her faith: “You know, Lord, I would never want to go through this again but Lord, You know I wouldn’t trade anything for the reality of Your presence in my life as I have experienced it over the last year and a half.”

I can make the same confession of feeling overwhelmed by God’s presence as I observed the Lord taking a friend of mine to Himself through the medium of cancer three years ago. As long as he was physically able, he gave glory to God and urged us to keep trusting Him. Though it was heart-rending it was beautiful because of God’s enabling weak flesh to be strong in faith. That gives me hope that my faith is real and that it will not fail, but prevail, because its author is God.

When we suffer patiently, entrusting ourselves to the Lord, we are entering into the “fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10) and displaying the beauty of His grace to others. The natural tendency in adversity is to question God and perhaps even to become bitter. How should we interpret our sufferings and respond to them? By reminding ourselves of what Layton Talbert reminded us at our book discussion: “Whatever adversity God puts on us, He did it to Himself first when He judged our sins in His own Son on the Cross.”

Some resources to encourage us to trust God and rejoice in our trials:

Talbert, Layton. Beyond Suffering: Discovering the Message of Job. (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 2007), 378 pp. A thorough and practical exposition of Job. [You can also purchase an autographed copy from the Mount Calvary Bookstore.]

Houchins, Hope. Hannah’s Hope: A Journey of Faith. (Spartanburg, SC: Hannah’s Hope Ministries, 2007), 269 pp. A day-by-day journal of Hannah’s six-month battle with sarcoma.

Cook, Faith. Singing in the Fire (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995), 193 pp.

A wonderful book containing biographical vignettes of some not so well known Christians who glorified God in their dying testimonies.

This morning I had the privilege of conversing via email with J. P. Dorsey, proprietor of Dust & Ashes Publications (hereafter D&A). I first came into contact with Mr. Dorsey over 10 years ago bidding on some of his ebay auctions. He is still selling quality, rare Christian books and I would encourage you to keep an eye on his listings.

Along with selling second-hand, rare, and antiquarian books on ebay Mr. Dorsey has ventured into the publishing arena using the D&A imprint (visit their About Us page for more details). D&A's first publication was issued in 1996 and their strategy is to "publish short run, high-quality reprints of works we feel to be of particular value, whether academically or devotionally and of relative scarcity and expense on the market."

All of D&A's publications are of high quality; "smyth-sewn construction with woven cloth bindings and all-natural, acid-free papers to endure through repeated and regular use."

If you are not aware of D&A, please pay them a visit. If you have reason to contact Mr. Dorsey and/or if you choose to purchase his books, please let him know that you were referred by TheoSource. He has not asked me to promote his books, nor do I expect to receive any kickbacks for promoting D&A. I simply want you to be aware of another fine resource that is available to you!

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NOTABLE DUST & ASHES TITLES:

LIGHT & TRUTH. BIBLE THOUGHTS & THEMES. BY HORATIUS BONAR. COMPLETE IN FIVE VOLUMES.



PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON THE BOOK OF JOB. BY JOSEPH CARYL. COMPLETE IN TWELVE VOLUMES.




THE PASSION FOR SOULS. BY JOHN HENRY JOWETT.




A NARRATIVE OF SOME OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE MULLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, TOGETHER WITH JEHOVAH MAGNIFIED. ADDRESSES BY GEORGE MULLER. COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED.



THE COLLECTED WORKS OF J. HUDSON TAYLOR. BY JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR.


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BOOKSTORES THAT SELL D&A TITLES:

Reformation Heritage Books

Dan Reid has offered some great lines to be used when trying to justify the purchase of books to one's "nonacademic spouse." This is very witty! I think that I've used many of these lines already.

Well, this list has been a hit around the blogosphere and you've probably already read it, but here is a link for our records. Top Ten Things to Say on Returning Home with Conference Book Plunder

Books truly are tools of the trade! They are necessary for Bible students and pastors!

On a recent visit to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forrest, NC) I had the opportunity to attend a reception in the home of Dr Daniel Akin. A group of us gathered around him in his personal library and tossed out questions for him to answer. One person asked him how he was able to build such a large library (about 15,000 volumes). I was intrigued to hear that he had decided while he was a student to spend $1,000 per year on books. After he married his wife they agreed to continue this practice. He said this with all seriousness and encouraged us to consider doing something similar. His purpose in doing this was because he had a clear sense of calling.

Every laborer needs to be well equipped to perform effectively. Formal training is important and so is ongoing training. I'm convinced that an effective pastor is a growing pastor--growing spiritually and academically. A well-selected library, if attainable, should be sought after. Spurgeon believed that power in the pulpit can be improved when a preacher is well supplied with books (see here).

Our burden with TheoSource is to encourage Christians, laymen and ministers alike, to grow in the faith and to point out resources that will aid them in this endeavor. The goal is to become better students of the Word. No other book can replace or supersede the Word of God. If we can do no better than a few books, we would do well to master them. Spurgeon said elsewhere, “In reading books let your motto be, ‘Much, not many.’” Above all, let us master the the Word. When other books help us to achieve this goal they serve us well.

Tim Leaman has been kind enough to share a number of Selected (and often annotated) Bibliographies with us and I would like to share another one with you. The following is a list Tim has compiled of one my favorite figures from church history–Robert Murray M'Cheyne.

Bonar, Andrew A. Memoirs and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M'Cheyne. (Dundee: William Middleton, 1845), 606 pp.

This is a classic biography of a godly pastor written by his close friend. In some ways this can never be bettered due to the familiarity of the writer to his subject. The blood earnest zeal and holy life of this young preacher are an inspiration to any man of God. Every pastor should read this biography as least once.

Howat, Irene. Robert Murray McCheyne: Life Is An Adventure. (Geanies House: Christian Focus Publications, 2004), 144 pp.

This is written for ages 9-14.

Lamb, William. M'Cheyne from the Pew. (Belfast: Ambassador Production Ltd., 1893, reprinted 1987). 157 pp.

This small book is the recollections of an elder who served under M'Cheyne. It provides a candid view of this legendary pastor. This is nothing like a complete biography but interesting to any M'Cheyne enthusiast.

Robertson, David A. Awakening: A Biography of the Life and Ministry of Robert Murray M'Cheyne. Paternoster: Authentic Books, 2004), 201 pp.

Smellie, Alexander. R.M. M'Cheyne: A Burning Light. (Geanies House, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 1995), 250 pp.

This Scottish author is famous for his Men of the Covenant. He writes a fine life of M'Cheyne. However, it is not as helpful as Bonar or Van Valen's works. This volume includes extracts from the diary of Jessie Thain and Alexander Cumming's record of the revival.

Smith, J. C. Robert Murray M'Cheyne: A Good Minister of Jesus Christ. (Belfast: Ambassador Productions Ltd., 1910, reprinted 1998).

This is a poorly written biography. The author has just gleaned much from Bonar's great work. Its chief value seems to be the quotations the author has collected from noteworthy preachers about M'Cheyne. This book will still be a blessing to many because of the impression left by M'Cheyne.

Van Valen, L. J. Constrained By His Love: A New Biography on Robert Murray M'Cheyne. (Geanies House, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2002), 491 pp.

This is the finest historical biography of M'Cheyne. The author has researched his subject very thoroughly. He provides many details not found in the older biographies. This volume abounds with letters, sketches, and pictures related to M'Cheyne's brief life. The author presents a well rounded factual portrait of this servant of God. The historical context provided by Van Valen makes M'Cheyne come alive Must reading for anyone who has been touched by this preachers life.

* There are numerous other sketches in separate works that summarize his life and ministry.
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Find books about Robert Murray M'Cheyne at...

Christian Book Distributors

Westminster Bookstore

Cumberland Valley Bible Book Store

Amazon

See also...
The Published Writings of G. Campbell Morgan

Robert Murray M'Cheyne & James Hudson Taylor

I've been guilty of returning books late, but these guys have me beat by a long shot.

Chile has returned 3,778 books that its military had taken from Peru's national library - more than 126 years overdue.

Chilean soldiers pillaged the library in 1881 after capturing the Peruvian capital, Lima, during the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific.

The volumes, written in Greek, Latin, French and Spanish, some with full-page colonial-era maps, dated from the 16th to 19th centuries. Chile shipped the books, most in excellent condition, to Peru this week via DHL, where they'll be returned to Lima's national library.

(Read the full article here.)

Crossway Books has just recently published The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor.

Abraham has just announced that, "We just received the new book The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World. It will be on sale for $5 from now through Friday."

November 5, 2007 thru November 9, 2007 ONLY.

You may be interested in browsing this book and can do so online here.

Here is a list of the contents:

Part 1: Culture and Truth
1 The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by David Wells
2 Truth and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by Voddie Baucham Jr.

Part 2: Joy and Love
3 Joy and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by John Piper
4 Love and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by D. A. Carson

Part 3: Gospel Theologizing and Contextualizing
5 The Gospel and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by Tim Keller
6 The Church and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by Mark Driscoll

After this sale you can purchase this book from Westminster Bookstore for $9.89 or from CBD for $11.99.

This month at Christian Audio you can download a free copy of an audiobook version of Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards. This title comes highly recommended from numerous sources. Don't pass this up (tell a friend).

The Religious Affections

by Jonathan Edwards

Narrated by Simon Vance

COMPARE TO: Audiobook on CD from CBD $28.99 | on MP3 from CBD $19.99

HARD COPY FORMAT:

• Religious Affections. (Ambassador-Emerald, Intl., 2006) [CBD, $9.99]
• Religious Affections. (BOT, 1961) [CBD, $17.99 | WTS, $12.35 | Monergism, $15.20]

RELATED BOOKS:

• The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 2 Volumes. (Hendrickson, 1998) [CBD, $59.99]
• The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 2 Volumes. (BOT, nd) [WTS, $56.70 | Monergism, $$62.00]
• Signs of the Spirit: An Interpretation of Jonathan Edwards's Religious Affections. (Crossway Books, 2007) [CBD, $11.99 | WTS, $10.55 | Monergism, $11.95]