TheoSource

Vocation and What I Value

2012-01-26T08:11:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Jonathan Parnell posted a note and a link to an an excellent challenge delivered by John Piper to a group of students in 1977. As these students faced the beginning of their seminary studies, Piper wanted to lay before them "the goal and difficulty of teaching theological studies and the personal traits that fit you for it." From my limited experience, I found this advice to be true and worth your notice.

The opening lines are excellent on their own with regard to vocation:

The only reason for living is the achievement of what you value. Nobody should ever sacrifice a higher value to a lower one. You should always aspire to deciding what you value. Until that happens you cannot make any reasonable steps toward choosing a vocation (or anything else).

Read the entire, short article here, which goes on to describe the task and traits of a theological teacher.

Pastorum Live - A Bible Study Conference

2012-01-25T13:04:00.000-06:00

This looks exciting. Logos Bible Software is presenting a Bible study conference called Pastorum Live. The itinerary is packed with a fast-paced lineup of scholars presenting on the full gamut of thorough Bible study: from background studies, to exegesis and interpretation, to application, and "connecting the dots."

Send your pastor, interns, licentiates, and me! Seriously, this looks great. See the details here:

Venue

Park Community Church
1001 N. Crosby Street
Chicago, IL 60610

"The person who has learned to read well is..."

2012-01-23T09:26:00.002-06:00

I encourage you to read the rest if these excellent thoughts on the discipline of reading!

The Vocation of a Lifetime (This is a short except from John Piper's article, “Teaching, Schooling and Reading” (September 1, 1974) posted by Tony Reinke on his blog, Miscellanies.)

Truly, degrees and credentials are one thing and disciplined learning is quite another!

Logos: 24-Volume Works of John Owen (January 2012 Giveaway)

2012-01-11T07:20:00.000-06:00

This is a fantastic opportunity. Also, be sure to download the Free Book of the Month for January 2012: Temptation and Sin by John Owen.

On the Mortification of Sin
On Temptation
On Indwelling Sin in Believers
Exposition of Psalm 130

This is the full version of which Richard Rushing abridged in Temptation: Resisted and Repulsed; reviewed here.)

Thank you Logos!

Enter to win a free copy of the 24-Volume Works of John Owen!

24-Volume Works of John Owen

Learn more about this collection

The John Owen Giveaway ends January 31, 2012. Check back in February for a new free download and collection giveaway!

Click here to learn more about Logos Bible Software Packages

Oh, to Put an End to Endnotes

2012-01-06T16:30:00.000-06:00

I dislike endnotes and it appears that I am not alone, nor am I the first to complain! This is an excellent essay-sized footnote on endnotes with endnotes by Michael V. Fox.

Michael V. Fox, From the Editor: On Footnotes, in Hebrew Studies 28. Read/download this article here (PDF).

Fox's case against Endnotes:

Endnotes, particularly in books, are a nuisance.
Endnotes are usually...imposed on authors by publishers...
Endnotes trail behind everything else

Fox's case for Footnotes:

Footnotes...[are] right there to read in a moment...
Footnotes are...intrinsically significant.
[F]ootnotes anchor the thought in the earlier scholarship from which it proceeded.
Footnotes...go along with text.

Also worthy of consideration is his argument in endnote 4 against the misplaced priorities of the standard style sheets for bibliographies. Having worked extensively with bibliographies, I always find it frustrating when the author's name is abbreviated. I agree wholeheartedly that the most essential information in a bibliography is the author's name, the title of the work, and the date. I wish that all of the information would be present including the city and publisher's name, but if anything must be abbreviated it ought to be the publisher's information.

[HT: Jim Davila @ PaleoJudaica.com who links to Christian Brady's post @ Targuman who gives credit to having received this from Robert Holmstedt.]

Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns - Vyrso

2012-01-03T12:29:00.000-06:00

For a limited time, you can download Robert Morgan's Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns for FREE. This edition may be read via your FREE Vyrso App for iOS or Android, via your Biblia.com account online, via your Logos Bible Software package on your computer, or via the Vyrso App or Logos App for your Kindle Fire.

Shepherd Press $.99 ebooks for December 2011

2011-12-22T16:10:00.000-06:00

You still have time to take advantage of an awesome offer from Shepherd Press. For the month of December (2011), all of the Shepherd Press ebooks are discounted to $.99 each (the discounted price shows up in the shopping cart). I just purchased the following in the Kindle format:

Christ Formed in You
Broken-Down House
Instructing a Child's Heart
Shepherding a Child's Heart

I recommend these books and the others offered by Shepherd Press. I have used Broken-Down House for a small-group study which was highly profitable (and worldview correcting for some of us) and A Proverbs-Driven Life for a Sunday School study which was also very helpful. You just can't beat this price for great books!

If you do not own a Kindle e-reader, I recommend them highly: see here.

However, you do not need to purchase a Kindle in order to read Kindle edition books. All you need to do is download the FREE Kindle reading app. Enjoy!

Reading and Warming by the Fire: Kindle Fire

2011-12-15T16:02:00.001-06:00

Warming up to the Kindle Fire

Since the debut of the first Kindle e-reader in 2007, I have carefully read reviews, tinkered with display models at local stores, compared features with other e-readers, and have asked for the opinions of friends who own e-readers. I love hard copy books (some would say, "real books") and I also recognize the inherent benefits of digital editions and using an e-reader. However, I had been hesitant about taking the plunge and buying and e-reader, until recently. With the incentive of a couple monetary gifts, I went out and purchased the recently released Kindle Fire. Needless to say, I am very impressed!

Although the Kindle Fire does not sport the paper-like, e-ink screen found on other Kindle models, it by design does an amazing job of encouraging reading. It may be argued in some cases that the device may increase your delight in reading. Here's why I think that this is so.

1) Versatility - By design, the Kindle Fire is able to toggle between a variety of types of media. On this one device readers are able to access periodicals, Kindle ebooks, PDF books and documents, as well as word processing documents. Additionally, the Kindle Fire allows the user to stream movies and videos, download and use a myriad of apps, view photos, and browse the internet. These items are often major distractions to reading, but they can also allow for opportunities to enhance the pleasure of reading books and periodicals when videos are included and immediate access to word definitions and internet articles and sites are linked.

Since I currently do not have Wi-Fi in my home, I avoid much of the distraction of browsing and fiddling with apps that require an internet connection. This is great because I am forced to manage my time more wisely (still working on this) and plan on when I need Wi-Fi to update the Kindle and when I should just relax and read.

2) Portability & Size - One of my apprehensions about e-readers has stemmed from my dislike for reading on computer monitors. Out of habit, I am a browser when it comes to sitting at a computer. I have downloaded the Kindle Apps for both my desktop and laptop, but I rarely use them. The primary trouble I have with reading on a computer monitor is the difficulty in getting into a comfortable reading posture. Location and position are critical for me when it comes to reading. There are two chairs in my home in which I can relax and enjoy reading or studying. I can use my laptop there, but I cannot get into that specific "book reading position" with the computer. You know what I mean: that cuddled up, leaning back, or legs-crossed-with-pencil-in-one-hand-and-book-in-the-other position that is just right for extended reading. I can achieve either of these postures with the Kindle Fire e-reader and I can comfortably read for extended periods of time just as with a "real book"! The size of the Kindle Fire is smaller than the iPad and it fits very nicely into your hand and along side other books you may be carrying. I absolutely love the fact that it fits perfectly into the inside pocket of my coats.

3) Functionality - The Kindle Fire, although it is not unique in this respect, offers readers the opportunity to read, take notes and compare multiple texts all on one device. Granted the note taking function is very limited compared to using an iPad, but nevertheless, note-taking and highlighting is possible. To this is added the ability to insert multiple bookmarks, to jump quickly to the Table of Contents, the beginning of a book, any particular bookmark, highlight, or note, or to sync to the furthest reading location within seconds.

With regard to comparing texts, I have tested this out in the areas of Bible study, Sunday School small-group study, and sermon note-taking. I recommend the use of the following items that are invaluable for free: the ESV Bible app, the ESV Kindle Edition text (or one of a number of Bible versions available for the Kindle); the YouVersion Bible app, the Logos Bible Software app. Although the Logos app only gives me access to selected books offline (I must select the ones I want to download for use offline) and it does not have a highlight and note taking function, it is still very nice to be able to read these resources I already own no matter where I am.

4) Price - Finally, the affordability of the Kindle Fire is what is most appealing to me. Well, I must qualify this because on our tight budget I had to wait until I received gift monies before I was able to spring for this tool. Nevertheless, compared to many of the other e-readers, including the other Kindle models, the Kindle Fire is the best bang for your buck if you want a device centered around reading. On account of the affordability of the Kindle Fire, I found a way to spring for a second Kindle Fire for my wife. What we discovered very quickly is that this little, yet powerful, device ranks high on the cool factor. Once I purchased one we quickly discovered that one was difficult to share. Because this device is relatively affordable we now own two, which would have never happened if I had initially purchased an iPad. The cost factor is huge especially since we already have a portable computer.

This is my take on the Kindle Fire. I agree with iPad users that the Fire is limited in comparison, but for all of us who have not been able to break into the Apple world, the Fire is an awesome alternative. The Fire is aptly named on account of its ability to warm up users in a flash and take reading to a new level of enjoyment.

I'd love to hear your comments on the e-readers you use. I'm always grateful for tools that promote reading.

Quote of the Day: How Will We Respond to Him?

2011-12-09T07:15:00.001-06:00

The Bible isn’t interested in whether we believe in God or not. It assumes that everyone more or less does. What it is interested in is the response we have to him: Will we let God be as he is, magnetic and holy, vast and wondrous, or will we always be trying to whittle him down to the size of our small minds, insist on confining him within the boundaries we are comfortable with, refuse to think of him other than in images that are convenient to our lifestyle? But then we are not dealing with the God of creation and the Christ of the cross, but with a dime-store reproduction of something made in our image, usually for commercial reasons.

(Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction )

The Vast Bounty to be Enjoyed in Older Books

2011-12-07T14:49:00.000-06:00

We contemporary Christians tend to try to satisfy our spiritual and intellectual palates with such coarse fare as may be offered at the local Christian bookstore, or on the "religion" shelf at the chain book outlet, all the while neglecting the vast bounty in our own churchly heritage that would supply far more in the way of solid food for the mature.

[From the Introduction to Reading Augustine: A Guide to the Confessions by Jason Byassee

(Kindle Edition, Paperback).]

We need a balanced diet even in our reading; dont' we?

Mentoring People with Books by Jason Byassee

2011-12-07T11:48:00.000-06:00

I just stumbled upon this post from February 2011 which offers excellent advice applicable to one-on-one mentoring relationships and also small groups. Here are two highlights from Jason's post:

First,

Reading expands the community of potential mentors to which we might submit. If we follow C.S. Lewis’ advice (offered, appropriately enough, in the forward to Athanasius’ aforementioned work), we will read two old books for every new one. This is not just to be an antiquarian. It’s to note what G.K. Chesterton called “the democracy of the dead.” With tradition, even dead people get to vote. Or even dead people can serve as our mentors.

Second,

Reading gives time and space to dig into ideas on one’s own, to ruminate on what was said corporately and prepare questions for next time. Reading in community makes for better readers and, we hope, better lives.

Great advice in general. You can read the entire post here.

Reading Augustine's Confessions

2011-12-06T15:26:00.001-06:00

I am reading The Confessions of Saint Augustine following Christopher Esget's Advent reading schedule and am finding this to be an extremely profitable exercise. Christopher is also posting thoughts on each reading which I have found to be very helpful. Visit his blog (Esgetology) and look for post titles beginning with "Advent Reading". He has highlighted a few recurring themes that have helped me to follow the progression of thought in the Confessions.

As I have been reading the Confessions, a few technical issues have come to mind that I'd like to share with you.

Pronunciation?
First of all, is his name to be pronouned aw-GUHSS-tuhn or AW-guhss-teen? My understanding is that the former pronunciation is preferred when referring to St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo. However, I still find myself floundering back and forth between both pronunciations during conversations; and, honestly, this has no bearing on how one reads the Confessions. But, a great exercise to pair with reading is conversation, and I have already had a handful of profitable conversations with regard to what I have read in the Confessions.

Which Translation Should I Use?
As I began reading, I used a circa 1880's edition and carefully handled it resisting the urge to mark up the text. I knew that this wouldn't cut it for long for two primary reasons: 1) I read better when I am free to mark up the text and take notes, and 2) I found E. B. Pusey's prose to be somewhat difficult to follow without a lot of re-reading. This lead to a quick perusal of a handful of translation options. Christopher Esget mentioned that he has enjoyed Henry Chadwick's translation in the Oxford World Classics Series. He later mentioned purchasing Maria Boulding's translation to be read on a Kindle. About the same time, Tony Reinke posted a simple translation comparison and recommended Boulding's translation on account of her excellent prose.

Having done my own comparison of seven English translations and narrowing my options down to the one's available for the Kindle, I settled on John K. Ryan's translation. My reasons were as follows: 1) I recently purchased a Kindle Fire and desired to find a Kindle edition of the Confessions, 2) I wanted a modern edition that I could recommend to anyone regardless of their reading level, and 3) Hoping to use this translation in a small group study, I desired a translation that incorporated chapter headings to help us track our way through discussing this book more effectively. I found that Ryan has improved upon the chapter headings which I found to be very useful in Pusey's edition. There is much to praise Boulding's translation work (it is beautifully dynamic), however I decided upon Ryan's translation and have been very happy with it.

Recommended Translations
Confessions, (Oxford World's Classics) translated by Henry Chadwick (2009)
Confessions, translated by Maria Boulding (Paperback, Hardcover, Pocket Size)
The Confessions of Saint Augustine: translated with an introduction and notes, John K. Ryan. (New York: Image Book [Doubleday], 1960. (Kindle Edition, Paperback)
The Confessions of Saint Augustine, translated by E. B. Pusey (Logos Bible Software, 1996). For a very affordable price, you can add this classic translation to your Logos library.

Working With the Original
For those who would like to access a Latin edition, I recommend The Confessions of Augustine: An Electronic Edition, text and commentary copyright (c) 1992 James J. O'Donnell.

Study Guides
Finally, I received one response with a recommendation of a study guide for the Confessions and I found another.

A Reader's Companion to Augustine's Confessions, edited by Kim Paffenroth and Robert P. Kennedy (Louisville/London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003). In this volume, thirteen authors have been collected to write on each of the thirteen books.
Jason Byassee, Reading Augustine: A Guide to the Confessions, (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2006). A quick perusal of this volume reveals that it is concise, readable, and well-documented with footnotes; including questions for reflection, a glossary, and a select bibliography. 104 pages. (Kindle Edition, Paperback)

Schedule for Reading the Confessions of Saint Augustine during Advent

2011-11-29T16:20:00.000-06:00

While looking for a study guide for The Confessions of St Augustine I ran across this blog post which offers a reading guide for the season of Advent. This is a great idea and it is not to late to join in. Take a look!

Schedule for reading the Confessions of Saint Augustine during Advent | Esgetology

I also found a list of study questions provided by Robert D. Wallin (here). It's a start. If you know of any other study guide, please let me know. Thanks.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

2011-11-27T15:17:00.010-06:00

November 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the first publication of The Hiding Place, the true story of God’s grace triumphing over the horror of Nazi tyranny. The story concerns the ten Boom family of Haarlem, Netherlands: Corrie, sisters Betsie and Nollie, brother Willem, and their father and family patriarch Casper ten Boom. God’s grace is evident in this family, all of them believers in Christ, including the spouses and children of Willem and Nollie. Their faith is tested as they have to deal with German occupation and, eventually, arrest and imprisonment for their part in the underground resistance helping Jews escape to freedom. Some family members died in prison or were deported to Germany and never seen again. Like everyone else, the survivors came out of the ordeal with physical and emotional/spiritual scars. How do survivors of such horror pick up the pieces and get on with their lives? What about the enemies who survived? This is the theme of the book, that God can touch and change any heart wounded by sin and suffering, that love is stronger than hate, specifically, God’s love to us through Christ.

The first four chapters of the book give important background to the main story. Chapter one, “The One Hundredth Birthday Party,” relates the big celebration in Haarlem for the 100th anniversary of the watch repair shop owned by Casper ten Boom. This chapter introduces all the main characters in the story. Corrie reflects on this happy celebration, slightly marred by news of events taking place in Germany, and says,

The shadow fell across us that winter afternoon in 1937, but it rested lightly. Nobody dreamed that this tiny cloud would grow until it blocked out the sky. And nobody dreamed that in this darkness each of us would be called to play a role: Father and Betsie and Mr. Kan and Willem—even the funny old Beje [their house] with its unmatching floor levels and ancient angles. (p. 31. Page numbers are from the 2006 35th Anniversary Edition published by Chosen Books.)

In chapters 2 – 4 Corrie takes us back to her childhood as she learns about life and God from her parents. She learns about sickness and loss through the death of her mother and aunts, who lived with them. She learns also about watch making, doing business when others aren’t completely honest, about love and the loss of love, and trusting God with these hurts. All these lessons come into play during the war when she has nothing left to trust except God. These opening chapters move more slowly than the rest of the book, but they are essential and spiritually profitable. According to the author, “The experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.” (p. 31)

Beginning with chapter 5, “Invasion,” the action picks up. Hitler’s forces move into Haarlem, bringing ever-tightening martial law. As Nazi persecution of the Jews increases, the ten Booms become involved in the resistance, hiding Jews in their house and helping them to leave the country. They construct a wall in Corrie’s bedroom to create a small space for people to hide in case of a Gestapo raid. The opening to the secret room was well concealed. A buzzer system warned Jews and resistance workers in the house to flee upstairs to the hiding place. During this time Corrie and her family continued to read the Bible and minister to everyone that came to their house.

In spite of good planning and execution, the ten Booms were eventually caught. On February 28, 1944 a man pretending to need help came to their house. He was a Nazi spy who turned in the ten Booms to the Gestapo. During the raid the Jews made it to the secret room, but the family was arrested. Despite a thorough search the Nazis never found the room, which they believed existed and was hiding Jews.

The ten Booms were taken to a local prison where Casper ten Boom, now in his 80s, died. Corrie and Betsie were separated for months but reunited when everyone was moved to a prison camp farther into Holland. As the allied forces advanced the Nazis found it necessary to move all prisoners to another camp deep in Germany—Ravensbruck, an extermination camp for women. The sisters traveled together with only their faith and a few possessions, including a small Bible that had been smuggled in to Corrie.

At Ravensbruck conditions were far worse than anything they had yet seen. The women were forced to do back-breaking labor, subsisting on meager rations and living in filthy barracks. Hate was the order of the day, and most of the women lost hope. Even Corrie struggled with hatred for the guards. But Betsie pitied them and prayed for them, encouraging Corrie to do the same.

The sisters conducted nightly services for all the women who could crowd around them in the barracks, using the Bible they had smuggled into camp. Soon the atmosphere of the barracks changed as the Lord worked in the hearts of the women. Many of them found hope in Christ. Corrie, too, found help for her besieged spirit. In this section we realize that the book’s title has a double meaning. The “hiding place” is not just a little room, but “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word” (Psalm 119:114).

The circumstances of the story are dark, but the darkness is the backdrop against which the grace of God shines ever brighter. Betsie’s health broke in Ravensbruck, and shortly before she died, she said to Corrie, “. . . must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.” (p. 227)

A few days after Betsie’s death, Corrie was released. Many years later Corrie learned that her release had been because of a “clerical error” and that a week after her release all the women her age were sent to the gas chamber. For decades Corrie ten Boom traveled around the world telling her story and pointing people to Christ. Many lives wounded by war and hate have been healed through her ministry.

If you’ve never read this book, I highly recommend it to you. It is very edifying. Co-written by Elizabeth and John Sherrill.
______________________________________

Available from Amazon in several formats—
Deluxe paperback edition (35th Anniversary Edition) Better paper and print quality and opens more easily than the mass market edition.

Hendrickson hardcover edition

Paperback Mass Market edition

The Hiding Place DVD Movie (Excellent)

A comic book version of The Hiding Place is available for free download from Spire Christian Comics. Gives the gist of the story and is good for children to read.

God's Gifts Oblige Us

2011-11-18T14:53:00.001-06:00

On New Year's Eve we give attention to past accomplishments, and new resolutions; during the Christmas season we give attention to giving and receiving; and on Thanksgiving we consider the things for which we are grateful. I love each of these seasons for various reasons and they each hold a special place in my heart.

For this Thanksgiving season, I have taken note of a few texts of scripture that touch on the theme of gratitude. My thoughts have been drawn particularly to Psalm 100 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I also searched throughout my library to find and read portions of books on the subject of gratitude. The following books provided some helpful guidance: Jerry Bridges's chapter "Gratitude," in The Practice of Godliness, Nancy Leigh DeMoss's Choosing Gratitude (which came highly recommended to me by my wife), and Miroslav Volf's Free of Charge.

I found help in each of these titles and would like to share some of the lessons learned and shared in a recent sermon.

What is Gratitude?
Simply put, gratitude is the recognition of a giver's kindness. Not all gifts are tangible. Some are merely a complement, however, all gifts can be collected under the label of "kindness."

I am a Christian, and I want to know what gratitude is from God's perspective. At this point I found most of the resources I consulted to offer a very similar definition of Biblical gratitude. Jerry Bridges offers the following definition which is clear and concise: "Thankfulness is the recognition that God in His goodness and faithfulness has provided for us and cared for us both physically and spiritually."

Note these key aspects of Bridges's definition:

God has provided for you.

God has cared for you.

Both physically

And spiritually

Consider Your Very Existence

When a child is born we rightly speak of the miraculous gift of life. Our very existence as human beings comes from God. Adam, the first human being, was "formed from the dust of the ground and [God] breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature" (Genesis 2:7 ESV).

The Breath of Life
A quick survey of scripture's perspective on "the breath of life" will be helpful at this point. First, Job stated with conviction, "In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10 ESV). Second, Elihu affirmed the same truth in the middle of one of his speeches saying, "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (Job 33:4 ESV). Third, the psalmist sang, "When you send forth your Spirit [or breath], they are created..." (Psalm 104:30 ESV). Fourth, and finally, Paul argued in the Areogapus the "he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything" (Acts 17:25 ESV).

In chapter one, "God the Giver," in Free of Charge, Miroslav Volf argues that,

The very existence of human beings comes from God. We live, not so much on a borrowed, but on a given breath. We work, we create, we give, but the very ability and willingness to work, along with life itself, are gifts from God. They are gifts that, like breath, must be given over and over for us even to exist, let alone accomplish anything.

Take a breath; and another. Now consider, that God is giving, and giving, and giving you each and every breath.

Volf argues that, "Most of us don't quite 'get' the extent of God's gift giving." We are not only created but also are being sustained by the almighty, creative Spirit of God. "As creator, God is giver" (Volf).

Psalm 100 is a psalm for giving thanks (or a Thanksgiving Psalm) which centers on God our Creator, the giver of life and breath and every good thing. Verse 3 declares,

Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

At the center of the worship service is found the ancient confession of faith in the One True God. In our Presbyterian liturgy we include an opportunity to join with the Church universal in confessing our common faith using the Apostles' Creed. We typically enter into this portion of our worship with the question, "Christian, what do you believe?" The psalmist invites the nations to enter into confessing faith in the One True God with the word, "Know." This simple, ancient confession proclaims that...

Yahweh, the uncreated, self-existing One, is God alone!

He is the Supreme Being

He is the Strong One

He is above all and Sovereign over all

He has no rivals; no competitors

He is God!

And what does he do as God? He gives life and breath. That is, "He has made us, and we are his."

What else does he do? He gives us every good thing. Verse 5 declares,

For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever
and his faithfulness to all generations.

The extent of God's gifts are summed up in that he gives life, breath, and everything. So...

To What Does the Knowledge of the Extent of God's Giving Oblige Us?

Volf reflects:

To live in sync with who we truly are means to recognize that we are dependent on God for our very breath and are graced with many good things; it means to be grateful to the giver and attentive to the purpose for which the gifts are given.

But if God is the giver and I am dependent upon his gifts every moment and am obliged to be grateful and attentive to his gifts, yet I find that I am often ungrateful and out of sync; what then am I to make of God's giving? "God continues to give," writes Volf, "refusing to make giving dependent on our receiving things rightly.... Indeed, since our very existence is a result of God's grace, if God were to stop giving, we would stop existing."

Summary
Since God is a giver and...
since all of his gifts are good and vital to our very existence...
and especially since we are unworthy recipients of his grace...
we are obliged to return thanks!

We find that saying "thank you" is often very difficult. In some respects, saying "thank you" is humiliating because, as Volf notes, it places us in "a relationship of dependence and inferiority." At times, we merely get caught up with the gift and neglect the giver. Oftentimes this is unintentional, but nevertheless it is an egregious error. Finally, we often chafe at the understood obligation to say "thank you" to givers (as when our parents would chastise us through their teeth to "say thank you!").

At this point, Volf cites Ralph Waldo Emerson, who although exaggerating, does not go too far when he wrote, "We do not forgive the giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten."

What benefit is there to saying "thank you"?

Gratitude expresses appreciation not only for the gift, but also for the giver.

Gratitude honors the giver.

God's gifts oblige recipients in a handful of ways and Volf identifies four: Faith, Gratitude, Availability, and Participation. Here are a few highlights from Volf's development of these obligations.

Faith, or a posture of receptivity

Faith is the way we as receivers relate appropriately to God as the giver.

To receive from God in faith is the height of human dignity.

Hence faith doesn't tell us how little we are and what we can't do. On the contrary, it celebrates what we most properly are - God's empowered creatures - and it frees us to our greatest accomplishments.

Faith is the first part of the bridge from self-centeredness to generosity.

Gratitude

When we "give" thanks, we impart nothing to givers.

Those who thank God tell the divine Giver that they appreciate the gifts received; they honor God for that.

When I have faith, I affirm explicitly that I am a recipient of God's favors, and implicitly I recognize and affirm God as the giver. When I am grateful, I recognize and honor God explicitly as the giver, and I implicitly recognize and affirm myself as a recipient of God's gifts.

Faith receives God's gifts as gifts; gratitude receives them well.

God's gifts establish. They come with the message, "You are loved, and therefore you exist." With that message, gratitude becomes easy because it is not primarily gratitude for getting what we lacked and could have acquired ourselves if we were not so insignificant, but gratitude for the wonder of just being there as fruits of God's creativity and objects of God's blessing.

Availability

God gives so that we can help others exist and flourish as well. God's gifts aim at making us into generous givers, not just fortunate receivers.

God's gifts call on us to make ourselves available to their Giver.

We are not doing God any favors. We give ourselves for God's use to benefit creation, not benefit God.

God the giver requires a living sacrifice, ready to do God's work in God's world.

God sets the purposes and commands us to realize them.

[A]vailability means that we don't live in the world as we see fit, but are willing to be and act in the world as we see God being and acting. God provides the model, and we are ready to observe and imitate.

Today most of us want to be agents, not instruments. We want to act, not to be acted upon, not to be used by another who acts.

To be available for God, to be made and instrument for God, is to be available for mistreatment - or so it might seem at first glance.

Participation

Indeed, in addition to making us flourish, giving to others is the very purpose for which God gave us the gifts. To pass them on, participating in God's gift giving, is the fourth thing to which God's gifts oblige us.

[Luther argued:] "Surely we are named after Christ, not because he is absent from us, but because he dwells in us; that is, because we believe in him and are Christs to one another and do to our neighbors as Christ does to us."

Luther described the way God works in in a memorable phrase: God never works in us without us.

Christ's indwelling presence has freed us from the exclusive orientation to ourselves and opened us up to two directions: toward God, to received the good things in faith, and toward our neighbor, to pass them on in love.

Volf concludes, "Every gift [we give] breaks the barrier between the sacred and the mundane and floods the mundane with the sacred. When a gift is given, life becomes extraordinary because God's own gift giving flows through the giver."

Concluding Scripture Selections on the Above Themes
Love

John 15:13 (ESV) - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 4:8b-10 (ESV) - ...God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Gift

James 1:17 (ESV) - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

John 3:16 (ESV) - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Gratitude - Nancy Leigh DeMoss profoundly summarizes the theological progression from gifts to gratitude when she writes, "Undeniable guilt, plus undeserved grace, should equal unbridled gratitude."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

May the Lord help us to be truly thankful! SDG.

2 New Academic Titles Worth Mentioning

2011-11-16T15:03:00.001-06:00

There are at least two new academics worth your notice. I have previewed the sample pages only, so I do not have much to say other than I have learned much from each of these others through some of their other works.

1) G. K. Beale. A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New. Baker Academic, 2011. Hardcover, 1072 pages.

G. K. Beale (PhD, University of Cambridge) is professor of New Testament and biblical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the coeditor of the Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament and the author of seven books, including commentaries on Revelation and 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

Endorsements

Excerpt: Cover - 87 (PDF) // vii-ix, 88-116 (PDF)
Purchase:

From the book: [t]his biblical theology of the NT ﬁrst attempts to trace the canonical storyline of the OT and tries to distill the major biblical-theological themes from that storyline (chap. 2). Since, as we will see, “movement toward an eschatological goal” is one of the major themes of the OT storyline, the third, fourth, and ﬁfth chapters look respectively at the eschatology of the OT, then of Judaism, and ﬁnally of the NT. The themes composing the OT storyline found in chapters 2–3 become the basis for the NT storyline, which is stated in chapter 6. The NT plotline is a transformation of the OT storyline through developing it and fulﬁlling its prophetic features.

Chapter 6 then discusses methodological problems in the search for “centers” in the OT and the NT and how this is similar yet different from the search for a storyline, the latter of which the present project prefers. What is meant by the word “storyline” is explained further in chapter 2 (under the heading “The Repeated Cosmic Judgment and New Creation Episodes of the Old Testament”) and especially in chapter 6. It is argued that a storyline reﬂects a uniﬁed story yet contains multiple themes that are incased in a narratival canonical plotline.

Then the components of the NT storyline, as noted earlier, serve as the organizing outline of the remainder of the book (chaps. 7–28). Each chapter discusses and traces throughout the NT a thematic component of the storyline (along with subthemes to be traced that are subordinate to each major thematic component). This NT section is the bulk of the book. Each theme discussed in the NT section is seen from the perspective of its roots in the OT, its development in Judaism, and through the lens of the “already and not yet end-time fulﬁllment” in the NT. Accordingly, chapters typically are structured, to one degree or another, by discussion of relevant OT background, then Jewish developments, followed by analysis of the NT material (sometimes but not always in the order of Gospels, Acts, Paul, General Epistles, and Revelation). In some cases, when the relevant material is concentrated in only certain parts of the NT, there is more focus on those parts than others, as alluded to earlier.

The OT storyline that I posit as the basis for the NT storyline is this: The Old Testament is the story of God, who progressively reestablishes his new-creational kingdom out of chaos over a sinful people by his word and Spirit through promise, covenant, and redemption, resulting in worldwide commission to the faithful to advance this kingdom and judgment (defeat or exile) for the unfaithful, unto his glory. The inductive basis for the formulation of this statement is found in chapters 2–3.

The NT transformation of the storyline of the OT that I propose is this: Jesus’s life, trials, death for sinners, and especially resurrection by the Spirit have launched the fulﬁllment of the eschatological already–not yet new-creational reign, bestowed by grace through faith and resulting in worldwide commission to the faithful to advance this new-creational reign and resulting in judgment for the unbelieving, unto the triune God’s glory. At ﬁrst glance, some of the conceptual categories that compose various chapters may not seem to grow out of the foregoing storyline components, but I will argue that they indeed do.

I contend that the goal of the NT storyline is God’s glory, and that the main stepping-stone to that goal is Christ’s establishment of an eschatological new-creational kingdom and its expansion. The main focus of this book is on the development of this new-creational kingdom and its spread as the penultimate means to divine glory. Others have argued well that the glory of God is the ﬁnal goal of Scripture, so I concentrate my efforts here on the major instrumentation that accomplishes that goal. (15-16)

2) Andreas Köstenberger and Richard Patterson. Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. Kregel Academic, 2011. Hardcover or PDF, 880 pages.

Andreas J. Köstenberger is director of doctoral studies and professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He translated Adolf Schlatter’s two-volume theology of the New Testament into English and is editor of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Richard D. Patterson (PhD, University of California, Los Angeles) is distinguished professor emeritus at Liberty University.

Companion Item: Invitation to Bibblical Interpretation Presentation Slides

Excerpt: Endorsements - 94 (PDF)
Purchase:

From the book: This volume is based on such respect both for the ultimate author of Scripture and for its human authors. We are committed to taking the text of Scripture seriously and to practicing a hermeneutic of listening and perception. We aim to take into account the relevant historical setting of a given passage and to pay close attention to the words, sentences, and discourses of a particular book. We purpose to give careful consideration to the theology of the Bible itself and to interpret the parts in light of the canonical whole. Last but not least, we seek to operate within the proper framework of the respective genres of Scripture. (58-59)

New General Editor of the NICNT Series Announced

2011-11-16T08:53:00.001-06:00

Joel B. Green

Eerdmans has announced that Joel B. Green will be the new General Editor of the NICNT series. The NICNT volumes are a staple in the libraries of many evangelical Christians. The reputation of this series for excellence is remarkable.

Joel Green will be the fourth General Editor of this series following Ned B. Stonehouse (1946-1962), F. F. Bruce (1962-1990) and Gordon D. Fee (1990-2011).

Congratulations!

Note: Joel B. Green is the author of the NICNT volume on The Gospel of Luke (1997).

With regard to the future of this commentary series, Green writes:

Gordon’s fingerprints will remain on the series for years to come. New volumes will appear soon, written by authors he recruited. These include commentaries on Hebrews [by Gareth L Cockerill], for example, as well as on the Gospel of Mark [Rikki Watts] and Galatians [David A. deSilva]. Longer-term, we will witness the ongoing renewal of the series, with new authors and new emphases keeping pace with the ongoing work of New Testament scholarship. And the NICNT will continue to model the priority given to engagement with the biblical text in the service of pastors and students – carrying on the good work for which the series has long been known.

The New International Commentary on the New Testament

New Dynamic View for TheoSource

2011-11-09T15:20:00.000-06:00

I have been tinkering with Blogger's new Dynamic views and have finally switched the blog over to this format. I love how clean it looks and how quickly the pages load. Because the sidebars are not available in this template I have moved much of the sidebar content to new pages. Check it out!

UPDATE 11/14/11: Apparently Google pushed out the Dynamic Views far to quickly and haphazardly. Until they iron out a few major bugs, I have switched to another template.

New From Baker Academic: Evangelicals and Nicene Faith

2011-11-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a new book edited by Timothy George published by Baker Academic. This volume is the third installment in the Beeson Divinity Studies series.

I am also glad to see that this volume includes a chapter by my friend and undergraduate classmate Mark Gignilliat. Mark's doctoral studies at St. Andrews were focused upon the relationship between the testaments, and his doctoral dissertation looked into the relationship between Isaiah 40-66 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:10 (see here). His research has also produced articles and another book on the relationship between exegesis and dogmatics (see here for one example), and I understand that he is currently working on a theological commentary on the prophecy of Micah. Mark's contribution to this volume appears to be along similar lines. This looks great!

Evangelicals an Nicene Faith: Reclaiming the Apostolic Witness

Contents

Introduction: The Faith We Confess Timothy George

Identity

1. The Faith Once Delivered: Nicea and Evangelical Confession Thomas C. Oden

2. The Gospel Promised by the Prophets: The Trinity and the Old Testament Mark S. Gignilliat

3. The Road to Nicea: The New Testament Frank Thielman

4. Whosoever Will Be Saved: The Athanasian Creed and the Modern Church Gerald Bray

History

5. The Reformers and the Nicene Faith: An Assumed Catholicity Carl L. Beckwith

6. The Nicene Faith and the Catholicity of the Church: Evangelical Retrieval and the Problem of Magisterium Steven R. Harmon

7. The Church Is Part of the Gospel: A Sermon on the Four Marks of the Church Carl E. Braaten

8. Confessional, Baptist, and Arminian: The General-Free Will Baptist Tradition and the Nicene Faith J. Matthew Pinson

9. Toward a Generous Orthodoxy Curtis W. Freeman

Practice

10. Practicing the Nicene Faith Elizabeth Newman

11. The Nicene Faith and Evangelical Worship David P. Nelson

12. Taking in His Coming Down Kathleen B. Nielson

13. The Will to Believe and the Need for Creeds John Rucyahana

14. Can the Church Emerge without or with Only the Nicene Creed? Mark DeVine

15. Life after Life after Death: A Sermon on the Final Phrase of the Nicene Creed Ralph C. Wood

16. Delighted by Doctrine: A Tribute to Jaroslav Pelikan Timothy George

Publisher's blurb -

The Nicene Creed is the most universally accepted statement of Christian faith by Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox believers alike. In this volume, top scholars examine the Nicene Creed's connection with the evangelical tradition, presenting evangelicalism as a renewal movement within the one holy catholic and apostolic church. Particular focus is given to the Creed's practical outworking in the life of the church--its theology, spirituality, worship, and mission. Topics include pastoral work, biblical exegesis, the emerging phenomena, and Christian orthodoxy's revival in the Global South. The book will be useful for students of theology, church history, and spirituality. It will also appeal to pastors, church leaders, scholars, and all who wish to present the traditional Christian faith to twenty-first-century people.

Timothy George and David Hogg on the RCS (InterVarsity Press)

2011-10-31T14:46:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Timothy George speak on a combination of subjects in which he very apparently delights: Scripture and the Reformers. Here is a short video interview with Dr. George, the General Editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture, which draws out his enthusiasm for this dual-delight and how this new Commentary series can serve the Church by retrieving for her sake the rich exegesis of Scripture by the Reformers. As Dr. George concludes, "[These are] retrieved for the sake of renewal; the renewal of the church, the renewal of the body of Christ."

I was also glad to hear a few words from Dr. George's colleague at Beeson Divinity School, Dr. David Hogg, volume editor of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job. I enjoyed meeting Dr. Hogg a few years ago and sitting in on one of his Church History classes during a visit to SEBTS.

Watch the video below.

The Reformation Commentary on Scripture from InterVarsity Press on Vimeo.

Learn more about this series at InterVarsity Press - Retrieved for Renewal: Introduction the Reformation Commentary on Scripture.

Related -
Timothy George, Reading Scripture with the Reformers, RCS (IVP, 2011).
_____, Theology of the Reformers, (B&H Academic, 1999).
David S. Hogg, Anselm of Canterbury: The Beauty of Theology, Great Theologians Series (Ashgate Pub, 2004).

John Piper on Thinking to Make Us Lovers of God and Others

2011-10-31T10:39:00.003-05:00

Today (10/31/11) is the final day to download a free copy of Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper at ChristianAudio.com.

CLICK HERE

I began to listen to this audiobook while I did some driving this weekend. I am hooked. I have enjoyed the books, articles, sermons, tweets, and blog posts that I have either read or listened to over the years. To be honest, when I first saw this book in a bookstore, I thought, "Well, here is another Piper book that will no doubt be very thought-provoking, but I don't have time to read it now."

My thinking has been changed. I need to hear this message now, and I'm also certain that this book will also be a tremendous aid to the church. I would love to have our Sunday small group to read, think through, and discuss this book. We are currently working through the book of Revelation which challenges us at every turn to think carefully about the gospel message without getting tangled up in speculations and fruitless debates.

In the video trailer below, Piper states that his end goal is "that we would love God through thinking well about the world and about the Bible that he has given us. The whole aim is not to make us thinkers, the aim is to use thinking biblically to make us lovers."

Since thinking invariably requires a person to ask questions, Piper points us to a biblical perspective on a very common concern of the average reader of the Bible. Here's and excerpt that was helpful to me.

Is the Habit of Asking Questions Respectful?

Some may wonder if asking questions of the text is a respectful way to read the Bible. It can be. Or it may not be. An illustration may clarify. Near the time of Jesus' birth, an angel came to Mary and to John the Baptist's father with predictions about what was going to happen. Both Mary and Zechariah asked a question about what the angel he said. But the angel was angry with Zechariah, not Mary. Why?

It had to do with the attitude of their hearts in asking their questions. The angel said to Zechariah, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John? (Luke 1:13). But Zechariah was old and his wife was barren. He was skeptical. In fact he was unbelieving. He expressed this with a question, "How shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years" (Luke 1:18).

The angel did not like this response. Zechariah did not ask humbly how God would do this. He was not submissive and trusting in his question. So the angel said, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time" (Luke 1:19-20).

But Mary's heart was different when she asked her question. The angel had said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:30-31). Mary, of course, was perplexed and could not understand how this could be. So she asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). Instead of getting angry at her, the angel answered her question as far as he could: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the son of God" (Luke 1:35).

If you prefer the print edition, see these sources:

Theological Meditations from Dorothy Sayers

2011-10-27T16:02:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years I have noticed a number of references to and quotations from the writings of Dorothy Sayers in books that I have read. These repeated references have piqued my curiosity, so I decided to keep an eye out for one of her books at either the library or in bookstores, but just the other day I found a book in my own library containing a selection from Sayers's writings. How about that for a bargain?

The book I found is a two-part volume, A Matter of Eternity: Selections from the Writings of Dorothy L. Sayers chosen and introduced by Rosamond Kent Sprague / Are Women Human? by Dorothy L. Sayers, with an introduction by Mary McDermott Shideler (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B. Eerdmans [1973]).

The first part is described by Sprague as "a devotional book." The second part is an address given to a Women's Society in 1938.

As I read, I am tweeting statements that have caught my attention (and that fit within the 140 character limitation). Here are the tweets I've posted thus far:

#DorothySayers on Dogma: The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggerd the imagination of man--and the dogma is drama.

#DorothySayers: The Christian formula is not: "Humanity manifests certain adumbrations of the divine", but: "This man was very God."

#DorothySayers: He had "a daily beauty in His life that made us ugly,".... So they did away with God in the name of peace and quietness.

#DorothySayers: The people who hanged Christ never...accused Him of being a bore--on the contrary; they thought Him too dynamic to be safe.

#DorothySayers: ...if the Church is to make any impression on the modern mind we will have to preach Christ and the cross.

Still reading and enjoying the Christ-centered meditations...

Geoffrey Grogan (May 4, 1925 - Aug 31, 2011)

2011-10-10T09:18:00.000-05:00

Just this morning, I found and read Ian D. Campbell's 10/8/11 post at Reformation 21 noting the passing away of The Rev Dr Geoffrey Grogan on August 31, 2011.

I was first introduced to the work of Dr Grogan when I asked my Hebrew professor for a recommendation on the theology of the Psalms. He was quick to recommend Dr Grogan's Prayer, Praise and Prophecy: A Theology of the Psalms. I did not find Grogan's work to be ground-breaking, offering new views and insights into the Psalter; but, rather, I found it to be both scholarly and accessible, reverent, and illuminating with regard to the text.

Having come to appreciate this earlier work, I was delighted to acquire a copy of Dr Grogan's more recent commentary on the Psalms, published in the Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary series. This work is also very useful combining his research on the theology of the Psalter along with a psalm by psalm commentary.

I am glad to have been introduced to the work of Dr Grogan and to have both of these volumes in my library. Although this is the full extent of my acquaintance with Dr Grogan he has published a handful of other theological works and commentaries. To learn more, I recommend that you visit the Geoffrey Grogan Memorial website. There you will find a short biography of his life, a fascinating gallery of photographs, a list of his published writings, and more.

Review: Fire Someone Today by Bob Pritchett

2011-09-12T15:23:00.001-05:00

Bob Pritchett, Fire Someone Today: And Other Surprising Tactics for Making Your Business a Success. Nashville: Nelson Business, 2006.

A winsome, witty and worthwhile read!

Bob Pritchett, President and CEO of Logos Research Systems, Inc., shares more than a score of useful business practices that can be applied in nearly any commercial setting.

This is the first book on business that I have read cover to cover and I found it to be very helpful. The chapters are brief, the arguments are crisp and clear while also being amply illustrated. I also learned a great deal about the company that produces Logos Bible Software.

Although I currently am a business owner, I have learned invaluable lessons about what business owners need and are looking for in employees, as well as what makes for "an excellent employee" (see ch. 21). I have already tried to implement some of the lessons learned and have been able to introduce some of these ideas to my immediate boss. I am looking for more ways to apply the many lessons I learned from this book.

Chapter 14: Read, is one of my favorites (the book person that I am). In this chapter Pritchett argues that business owners cannot afford not to read. Furthermore, encouraging your employees to read broadly and providing for them a platform for sharing the lessons learned from their reading is invaluable to your business. To guide the reader, Pritchett comments on five categories of reading (News, Inspirational, Technical knowledge, Ideas, and People) and eleven excellent sources for finding these types of materials to read.

Visit firesomeonetoday.com and read Chapter 6: Cash is King and view some Endorsements.
Visit Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Purchase a copy to read: (also available on Kindle) Logos

Other reviews:

BHS, NA27, UBS4, LXX, Vulgate Available Online

2011-09-08T15:43:00.000-05:00

academic-bible.com provides free access to the original Bible texts in Greek and Hebrew, published by the German Bible Society, in addition to English and German Bible translations. The is a nice resource for access to these text, especially if you do not have access to them in another Bible software package.

The following editions are currently available:
Hebrew Old Testament following the text of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
Greek New Testament following the text of the Novum Testamentum Graece (ed. Nestle-Aland), 27. Edition
Greek Old Testament following the text of the Septuagint (ed. Rahlfs/Hanhart)
Latin Bible following the text of the Vulgate (ed. Weber/Gryson)

In addition, you can access the following translations:
the German translation following Luther, Revised 1984
the King James English translation

The NETBible

You will also find an online Bible Lexicon.

While you are visiting the site, check out the free download of Textual Research on the Bible: An Introduction to the Scholarly Editions of the German Bible Society.

Be sure to Register in order to gain full access to the contents of this website. Registration is free and simple.

HT: James Hamilton at For His Renown

Themelios | A Preacher's Decalogue by Sinclair B. Ferguson

2011-08-22T09:05:00.001-05:00

Sinclair Ferguson shares a suggested preacher's decalogue. I found this to be stirring and very helpful.

Ferguson seeks to answer the question, "What Ten Commandments, what rule of preaching-life, do I wish someone had written for me to provide direction, shape, ground rules, that might have helped me keep going in the right direction and gaining momentum in ministry along the way?" He answers with the following suggestions:

Know Your Bible Better
Be a Man of Prayer
Don't Lose Sight of Christ
Be Deeply Trinitarian
Use Your Imagination
Speak Much of Sin and Grace
Use "the Plain Style"
Find Your Own Voice
Learn How to Transition
Love Your People

Read the entire article here.

Vos's Reformed Dogmatics (1st English Translation) @ Logos

2011-05-24T14:08:00.000-05:00

Are you aware that Logos Bible Software is making plans to translate into English and publish a digital version of Geerhardus Vos's Reformed Dogmatics? This set has been on the Pre-Pub gathering interest for about 2 months. It looks like they are making good progress but still need more interest before sending this to publication.

I am very glad that this will be available to students. Ever since I was first introduced to Vos's Biblical Theology I have been an admirer of his scholarship. More recently, I have been reading his sermons printed in Grace and Glory and have been blessed by their Christ-centeredness.

If you are up on your Dutch, you can preview a portion of Vos' work at www.Archive.org.

Geerhardus Vos, Dogmatiek I (1910)
Dutch lectures about reformed dogmatics of Geerhardus Vos from his teaching period at Grand Rapids (Volume 1 of 5).

Geerhardus Vos, Dogmatiek II (1910)
Dutch lectures about reformed dogmatics of Geerhardus Vos from his teaching period at Grand Rapids (Volume 2 of 5).

As I perused the Dutch edition online, I noticed that the contents of these volumes appear to be a collection of Vos's lecture outlines. The notes are in outline format without any footnotes or endnotes. The text is typed and all Hebrew and Greek terms are written in by hand. Here's a sample look:

I'm confident that these volumes will include sound scholarship from a redemptive-historical perspective. Given the fact that we have so many other works of his available in English, I have wondered why these have not yet been translated. I also have searched for references to his notes in a few other notable Reformed Systematics but have not found any. I find this to be curious unless it has to do with the fact that Vos put greater emphasis upon studies in the field of biblical theology (for a short and helpful essay on Vos's view of the relationship between biblical theology and systematic theology see Dr. Vern S. Poythress's essay here). I think that this must be the case.

Here is an overview supplied Logos Bible Software:

Key features (also note that the Translator, Editor and Number of Pages is still to be determined):

Notes on Logos Bible Software's Approach to Translation Projects:

What do you think?

The Advantage of God's Providence

2011-05-05T22:39:00.000-05:00

Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

Q. 28: What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?

A.: That we may be
patient in adversity,
thankful in prosperity;
and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us,
we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father,
that nothing shall separate us from His love;
since all creatures are so in His hand,
that without His will they cannot so much as move.

[emphasis added]

I am currently working on a paper researching seven prominent Reformed symbols of faith* in order to extract their distinct contributions to the development of a Christian world and life view. This evening I am addressing the Reformed view of the providence of God and I came to this Q&A in the Heidelberg Catechism. This is beautifully put, and it ministered to my heart.

*I'm using Joel Beeke and Sinclair Ferguson's Reformed Confessions Harmonized (Baker, 1999) which is very useful.

John Goldingay's To the Usual Suspects: Eisenbrauns Sale

2011-04-28T14:26:00.001-05:00

Today's DEAL OF THE DAY from Eisenbrauns is a moving little book by John Goldingay, the David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary since 1997. It is the Paternoster edition (1st ed.), released in the UK in 1998, of To the Usual Suspects: One Word Questions. The American edition is titled Walk On: Life, Loss, Trust, and Other Realities and was published by Baker Academic in 2002.

To the Usual Suspects
One Word Questions

by John Goldingay
Paternoster Press, 1998
v + 202 pages, English
Paper
ISBN: 9780853649274
List Price: $12.99

The price at Eisenbrauns is awesome (today only for $1.60 plus $4.95 shipping). If you take advantage of this offer from Eisenbrauns or not, I hope that you will at least add this to your wish list. It is currently out of print, so you will most likely have to purchase it from a second-hand source.

What's it about?
This little book offers a view into the heart of John Goldingay, the Christian, the husband, friend, scholar, theologian, and biblical commentator. The order here is intentional, because the primary threads around which the tapestry of Goldingay's theological musings has been woven are his faith and his relationships, especially his relationship with his late wife, Ann. I prefer the American title because it communicates the purpose of the book more clearly. This book is about life, pain, faith, joy, tears, separations, and new blessings. I recently mentioned to some friends that reading through this book moved me like none other (save the Scriptures).

What the UK titles adds, is that each of the chapters is a one word topic, or question. In the preface, Goldingay states that this book was written in the few weeks prior to his move from the UK to Pasadena, California and was edited and prepared for publication during the few weeks after his arrival in the US. So, what you get is a quick, diary-like collection of sketches on living the Christian life, or walking on in the light of Christian faith. Goldingay does not tell you how to live the Christian life, but he removes the curtains shrouding his own life and experience and invites you to walk with him through some of the most trying, yet blessed days of his life.

What I found most interesting?
There are three things that fascinated me as I read through this book: the first was the story of his wife's struggle with MS, the second was his frequent comments on favorite music, musicians and movies, the third, was the way he walks through the OT applying its toughest lessons to life. Learning about MS from Goldingay's perspective has helped me to understand some of the difficulties those who suffer from this disease are having to deal with. I also enjoyed Goldingay's thoughtful engagement with the music and movies he enjoys. He values stories that are true to life; stories that do not make light of the joys and sorrows of life, but that do an excellent job at helping the audience to appreciate and enter into the emotions of life.

What else has Goldingay written?
If you have heard of John Goldingay at all it is probably with reference to either his three-volume Old Testament Theology or his three-volume commentary on Psalms. Here's a list of some of his works:

Key Questions about Biblical Interpretation: Old Testament Answers (Baker Academic, forthcoming 2011)
Key Questions about Christian Faith: Old Testament Answers (Baker Academic, 2010)
New International Biblical Commentary

Minor Prophets II (Hendrickson, 2009)
Isaiah (Hendrickson, 2001)

The Old Testament for Everyone

Genesis for Everyone: Chapters 1-16 (WJK Press, 2010)
Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone (WJK Press, 2010)
Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone (WJK Press, 2010)
Joshua, Judges, and Ruth for Everyone (WJK Press, 2011)
1 & 2 Samuel for Everyone (WJK Press, 2011)

with David Payne, Isaiah 40-55: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary International Critical Commentary Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (T&T Clark, 2007)
Psalms Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms (Baker Academic, 2006-8) Best Price
The Message of Isaiah 40-55: A Literary-Theological Commentary (T&T Clark, 2005)
Models for Interpretation of Scripture (Clements, 2004)
Old Testament Theology (IVP Academic, 2003, 2006, 2009)

Vol. 1, Israel's Gospel
Vol. 2, Israel's Faith
Vol. 3, Israel's Life

God's Prophet, God's Servant: A Study in Jeremiah and Isaiah 40-55 (Clements, 2002)
Daniel Word Biblical Commentary (Word, 1989)
Theological Diversity and the Authority of the Old Testament (Eerdmans, 1987)

Two Excellent Small-Group Resources on Biblical Wisdom

2011-04-27T11:26:00.000-05:00

We recently began a new Sunday School study using Anthony Selvaggio's A Proverbs Driven Life published by Shepherd Press. (My thanks to the kind folks at Shepherd Press for sending me a review copy a number of months ago.) At the time, I read bits and pieces of it and was impressed enough to give a copy to a friend whom I thought might find it useful devotionally and in one of his small group studies.

About one month ago I began looking through resources on the book of Proverbs. I wanted something easy enough to read and discuss in a Sunday School class which includes students ranging in age from 8 to mid-80s. I gave Selvaggio's book a more thorough look and found it to fit the bill well. We ordered 15 copies and began our study a couple of weeks ago. I've received great feedback from the class which is excited about the opportunity to study this beloved but often misunderstood and inappropriately applied book of the Bible.

Here's the publisher's blurb about the aim of this book:

This is a book about the wisdom God has given us in the book of Proverbs. By this wisdom, we can learn how to live in light of what is really true about ourselves, one another, and this wonderful yet deeply flawed world. Ultimately, therefore, this is a book about life lived for God in the light of divine truth. It's about life as God intends for us to live it. Proverbs does offer an infallible guarantee that a Proverbs-driven life will result in spiritual and practical blessings. But it is vitally important to remember that the goal of Proverbs is not finding earthly prosperity or even wisdom itself. The goal of Proverbs is to grow ever closer to the God who is Wisdom.
Download a sample of Chapter 1 in PDF format

I would add, that Selvaggio is very readable, grace-filled, and Christ-centered. This book is not a commentary on Proverbs, but rather a simple introduction to the book and an application oriented study of five important themes: Work, Wealth, Friends, Marriage, and Children.

My two children are the youngest members of the class, and I also wanted to find something to use as a supplement, at least with my youngest. About the time I was looking for a resource for this Sunday School class I received a complimentary copy of a brand new title from Shepherd Press designed for children: Get Wisdom!: 23 Lessons for Children About Living for Jesus by Ruth Younts.

My wife and I have looked through this and we love it. It is simple, attractive, fun, biblically sound, and designed to stimulate interaction between parents (or teachers) and their children. I have enjoyed working through this with my son. Our discussion have been very healthy (for both of us). I recommend both of these to you!

Translation Work on When Helping Hurts Underway

2011-04-15T17:19:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I received a comment from a reader asking if Corbett and Fikkert's When Helping Hurts is available in Spanish. This morning I learned that translation work is underway in Croatian, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. That's good news. This book has proven to be very helpful.

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert (Moody Publishers, 2009). PB

Sample Pages

Website: www.whenhelpinghurts.org
Author Interview: YouTube (The Chalmers Center)

List Price: $14.99

ChristianAudio.com

Publisher's Description: Churches and individual Christians typically have faulty assumptions about the causes of poverty, resulting in the use of strategies that do considerable harm to poor people and themselves. When Helping Hurts provides foundational concepts, clearly articulated general principles and relevant applications. The result is an effective and holistic ministry to the poor, not a truncated gospel.

A situation is assessed for whether relief, rehabilitation, or development is the best response to a situation. Efforts are characterized by an "asset based" approach rather than a "needs based" approach. Short term mission efforts are addressed and microenterprise development (MED) is explored.

208 Pages

Published July 2009

About the Authors:
Brian Fikkert is an associate professor of economics at Covenant College, and the founder and executive director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College.

Steve Corbett is the community development specialist for the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, and an assistant professor in the department of economics and community development at Covenant College.

Recommendations:

Mission to the World (PCA): Recommended Reading (Mercy and Justice)
Mission to North America (PCA): Mercy Ministry Resources

Limited Atonement: A Mere Logical Deduction?

2011-03-28T22:12:00.000-05:00

In studying the Reformed doctrine of limited (or particular) atonement, I turned to A Theology for the Church, ed. Daniel L. Akin (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2007) in order to see how my Baptist brothers dealt with this doctrine. Dr. Paige Patterson, who articulates an Amyraldian view of the atonement in his chapter "The Work of Christ," critiques the Reformed doctrine of limited atonement by simply stating,

"The idea of an atonement limited only to the elect is a concept that belongs to a logical system" (585-6).

In presenting John Owen's exegetical view of the doctrine of limited atonement, Carl R. Trueman responds to charges such as this. He writes,

It is important to make this point at the start, because there are many who see limited atonement as a mere logical deduction from the doctrine of election and reprobation. That is far too simplistic a way of looking at it, because there is considerable exegesis underlying the notion of limited atonement and a great deal of sophisticated reflection upon the connections between Old Testament and New Testament in the development of the concept. Thus, to disagree with limited atonement you must disagree with the exegesis that underlies it and reject the understanding of the relationship between Old Testament types and New Testament antitypes. You should not dismiss limited atonement as a naïve, overly logical deduction from [the] doctrine of election, because that simply is not the case." [Carl R. Trueman. "Post-Reformation Developments in the Doctrine of the Atonement," in Precious Blood: The Atoning Work of Christ, ed. Richard D. Phillips (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2009), 197-8.]

Three classic studies on the atonement which include detailed exegetical work on the subject of the extent of the atonement are:

John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955 [reprinted in 1984].
Leon Morris, The Atonement. Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1983.
John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1983.

"Must-Have" Theological Books, or Not?

2011-03-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

Here is a wise word of counsel from Fredrick Danker concerning the hype, buzz, and confusion that often attends the publication of theological books. This is a stinging reminder and one that I need to remember.

The quality, not the condition, of the dog-eared expositions on pastors’ shelves is a fairly good indication of the spiritual diet they serve the people. Yet it is not always easy for the minister or for the seminary student who is beginning to build a theological library to make a judicious selection. In a blizzard of pretentious advertisements, some of which threaten one with expository bankruptcy if this or that allegedly immortal publication is not immediately purchased (at a carefully calculated “discount” for a limited time only), one cannot always see real value clearly. Also, some unscrupulous publishers do not always inform their prospective purchasers of the original date of publication of some of their reprinted items.

Frederick W. Danker, Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study (Rev. and expanded ed.; Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993), 281.

My rules for purchasing books:

Resist the "herd" mentality. Purchase books that are proven to be useful and, at least to some degree, timeless.
Don't take the publisher's word for it. I don't know of any case where Christian publishers are being intentionally misleading. However, I do realize that they are trying to sell books. I prefer to purchase, rather than be sold to.
Do your own research:

Is this a reprint of an older edition? Note that when a publisher purchases the rights to an older title, they will sometimes reprint the same book under a new title. Likewise, you will find that the same book published in the UK might also have been published in the US under a different title. Always read the copyright page. This is where you will find this kind of information.
Is this merely a new format of a previous edition (PB or digital)?
Is this book discounted because the bookseller is being "nice" or because it is an out-dated edition or title? I've been burned by this a time or two.
Who is the author?
What else has the author written?
Who else has been written on this same topic?

Read a couple book reviews. Try to find a review that will highlight both the value and the shortcomings of the book. Prefer scholarly reviews over blogger reviews.
Read the endorsements with a grain of salt. Endorsements can be both helpful and deceiving. Authors generally request endorsements from those whom they expect will have very positive things to say. Also, endorsements are often too short, too general in their descriptions, entirely lacking in criticism, and too glowing in their praise. Who endorses a book is just as important as who does not.
Always read through the table of contents. The title and subtitle can sometimes be deceiving or, at least, misleading. The TOC will give you the length and structure of the book. Look for the addition of extra materials such as appendices, indices, endnotes, and a bibliography. A good index and bibliography can tell you a lot about the content of a book.
Browse through the book first. If you cannot find a copy in your local library or bookstore, many books can be browsed online via the major booksellers or at Google Books.
Judge every book by its cover. Take note of the construction of the book. In general, publishers are continually looking for ways to keep the cost of printing books low and margins reasonable. More and more, we are seeing cheaper materials being used to produce books. When it comes to poor construction, you may be better served by purchasing a digital version.
No matter what, I compare prices and shipping costs!

A Christian Perspective on Business as Vocation

2011-03-05T16:56:00.000-06:00

Since I was old enough to seek employment I have been actively employed in the workplace. Even while I was studying in college, I put in as many hours as I could to pay for my school bill and to put a little bit of spending money into my pocket. I have often harbored hopes of one day leaving the workplace in order to pursue a higher calling in Christian minister. Really, I never wanted to consider the idea that my being in the workplace was just as much a calling from God.

There have been a handful of authors and speakers who have been a help to me in correcting my thinking from a biblical perspective about the issue of calling and the unbiblical dichotomy I subscribed to regarding secular and sacred (i.e., the workplace and Christian "full-time" ministry). God, in his kind sovereignty, has called me to labor in both the workplace and the Church. It is, at times, a struggle to maintain a proper perspective on and appreciation for both spheres of calling together, but I am increasingly learning how involvement in one sphere prepares me for the other.

A brand new resource that asks the kind of questions I have been asking about work in general and about the benefit Christians bring to the workplace is now available. In Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace, by Kenman L. Wong and Scott B. Rae , you will find a theology of work, calling, business ethics, management, stewardship and more. I have found this book to be not only theologically grounded, but also practical and realistic. I wish all of the business men and women in our churches would read this book. It will provide a much needed perspective on advancing the kingdom of God in a sphere to which many of our "full-time" ministers do not have access. A work like this could result in hearty discussions among business men and women in the contexts of luncheons and small groups, resulting in businesses that strive to be not only profitable, but also beneficial to local and global economies. Finally, a work like this could be distilled into a format that might be used to prepare our teens, grounding them in a theology of work, ethics and stewardship, as they seek God's calling, especially if it happens to be in the workplace.

Series: Christian Marketplace Integration Series edited by J. P. Moreland and Francis J. Beckwith.

Contents
Series Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Your Work Is an Altar
The Shape of a Calling to Business
Business and Spiritual Formation
Wealth, Success and Ambition
The Calling of Business in the Global Economy
Ethics in the Workplace
Leadership and Management: Serving Employees
Marketing: Serving Customers
Stewardship and Sustainability: Serving The Garden and Our Neighbors
Emerging Directions in Business

Conclusion
Subject Index
Scripture Index

Disclaimer: Although a review copy of this work has been provided to me by IVP Academic, the choice to review this book either favorable, negatively or not at all is left to my own discretion. I receive no compensation for this review and the opinions are entirely my own.

Imitate Christ

2011-02-27T09:37:00.000-06:00

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

31 Εἴτε οὖν ἐσθίετε εἴτε πίνετε εἴτε τι ποιεῖτε, πάντα εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ ποιεῖτε. 32 ἀπρόσκοποι ⸂καὶ Ἰουδαίοις γίνεσθε⸃ καὶ Ἕλλησιν καὶ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, 33 καθὼς κἀγὼ πάντα πᾶσιν ἀρέσκω, μὴ ζητῶν τὸ ἐμαυτοῦ ⸀σύμφορον ἀλλὰ τὸ τῶν πολλῶν, ἵνα σωθῶσιν.

11.1 μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, καθὼς κἀγὼ Χριστοῦ. (SBL Greek NT)

Carson's Pastoral Reflections on Suffering & Evil

2011-02-19T13:34:00.000-06:00

The following notes are highlights from Carson's chapter 13, "Some Pastoral Reflections," in How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990).

When unbelievers grieve, there are opportunities for Christians to help and serve and share the gospel; but in this book I am not specifically addressing that challenge (though of course many of the same things apply). Here I have the Christian in view.

We must recognize that grief normally passes through predictable stages.
The value of recognizing that stages of grief are common, however, is that the person who is trying to offer comfort will see the telltale signs and respond appropriately.... It would do many would-be comforters good to sit down and read the moving and candidly personal book of Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son, written after his twenty-five-year old son was killed in a mountain-climbing accident.
[Dr. Carson also references C. S. Lewis's A Grief Observed in other parts of this book. Another book along similar lines recommended to me by Michael Howell, our Minister of Pastoral Care at our home church (Trinity), is Benjamin Morgan Palmer's Death in the Home: A Christian Father Responds to Loss. I would also add my recommendation of John Goldingay's Walk On; Layton Talbert's Not By Chance: Learning to Trust a Sovereign God and Beyond Suffering: Discovering the Message of Job; as well as these representative missionary biographies: the two-volume biography of J. Hudson Taylor, and Darlene Deibler Rose's Evidence Not Seen.]
Some grief takes a long time to heal.
Frequently in the midst of suffering the most comforting "answers" are simple presence, help, silence, tears.
Many verbal expressions of encouragement should not be based on the assumption that they must answer an implicit "Why?"
When verbalized answers to anguished cries of "Why?" are required, what and how much we provide will depend largely on what might be called our spiritual diagnosis, that tis, our assessment of the needs and capacity of the individual.
When a Christian I do not know very well asks that sort of question, my response to that question may be, "I cannot give you all the answers to your 'Why?' But you may draw courage from the fact that the one who loves you so much he died for you asked the same question: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?""
There is nothing in Scripture to encourage us to think we should always be free from the vicissitudes that plague a dying world.... But where self-seeking, self-gratifying forms of Western Christianity predominate, it is essential to lay out these truths, loudly and often.
For one reason or another, suffering is often associated with guilt feelings.
Some forms of suffering require active intervention.
In countless instances, Christians provide—they must provide—more than a counseling service or a shoulder to cry on.
It is important to offer hope.
It is important to help people to live one day at a time.
Above all, we must help people know God better.
To this end, we must pray for those who suffer.

The Nobility of Labour

2011-02-18T23:36:00.000-06:00

There is warrant for the judgment that economics, culture, morality, and piety have suffered grave havoc by failure to appreciate the nobility of manual labour. Multitudes of men and women, if they had thought in terms of this principle and had been taught in the home, in the church, and in the school to think in these terms, would have been saved from the catastrophe of economic, moral, and religious ruin because they would have been preserved from the vain ambition of pursuing vocations for which they were not equipped and which, on sober and enlightened reflection, they would not have sought. It is a fallacy to think, and it is one that has greatly impoverished the life of society, that culture cannot exist and flourish among manual toilers. It may well be that it actually does not exist and flourish among such. But, if so, it is because our thinking and our social structure have been to such an extent based upon and oriented to this false and pernicious premiss. And this premiss has embroiled us in a vortex from which only revolution in thought and practice will deliver us.

—John Murray, Principles of Conduct (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, [1957] 1978 [1991]), 36 (emphasis mine).

Man's Sensitivity to Trivia (Pascal)

2011-02-12T08:57:00.000-06:00

Man's sensitivity to trivia, and his insensitivity to matters of major importance, reveal he has a strange disorder.

Blaise Pascal [The Mind on Fire, edited by Dr. James M. Houston(Minneapolis: Bethany House Pub, [1989] 1997), p. 51]

New Updates to the Commentary Recommendation Lists

2011-02-09T14:49:00.001-06:00

At the heart of this blog/website is a collection of book recommendation lists that I have been building for more than a decade. I periodically draw attention to them, and they are always accessible by visiting the Book Rec's page. I have recently updated many of the lists and corrected a few broken links. All of the lists are now being stored in Google Docs and are free for public viewing/downloading.

While my aim in building these lists it to be comprehensive, I am constantly reminded of how impossible a task this is. Nonetheless, this remains my goal. The lists include more than just commentaries. I have also added lists of recommended biographies and theological works. In the future I will upload recommended works on Church History and Philosophy. For now, the primary focus is on Biblical commentaries and supporting works.

One new feature that I am in the process of adding (out of necessity) is the division of commentaries by century. Some of the lists have become so large, that it is difficult to get a sense of the progress of research over the centuries. For this reason, I have begun dividing the Biblical commentaries by the century in which they were originally produced. Thus far, I am about half way finished with this task. In the meantime, here are links to the individual lists that have been uploaded. As always, I'm interested in your feedback. Thanks.

Classification Guide

General Reference Works

Top Commentaries

Commentaries on the Whole Bible

Recommendations by Series

Old Testament Commentaries
OT Introduction
OT Pentateuch
OT Historical Books
OT Poetical Books
OT Prophetical Books

New Testament Commentaries
NT Introduction
Gospels and Acts
Pauline Epistles
Hebrews, General Epistles, and Revelation

Other Lists
Theological Works
Church History Works (under construction)
Christian Biographies
Philosophy (under construction)

Christian Chronology
Christian Missions Chronology

Horton Hears Another Huge Discount

2011-01-21T10:33:00.001-06:00

Along with the Westminster Bookstore (WTS) discount on Michael Horton's The Christian Faith, you may also want to keep in mind Christian Book Distributor's 50% discount . [As of 1/31/11 the CBD price is now at a 40% discount.]

I'm working up my order and am looking forward to using Horton's book in my seminary studies.

The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way
Michael Horton
Zondervan / 2010 / Hardcover
Availability: Available to ship on or about 01/21/11.
CBD Stock No: WW286042

$24.99
Retail: 49.99
Save: $25/00 (50%)

Also, recommended by my dad, is Horton's The Gospel-Driven Life. We found a copy of this book during the Thanksgiving holiday and he bought it. Since then, he shared a few highlights with me as he worked his way through it. He liked it so much that he immediately looked for another Horton title to read. My dad is a very particular reader. He's not interested in anything that presents a watered-down gospel, nor an overly academic, heady gospel. He delights in the biblical, simple, palatable, life-changing kind of gospel. That's the gist of his description of Horton's book.

Horton's The Christian Faith Discounted at WTS Books

2011-01-20T19:23:00.001-06:00

New from the Westminster Bookstore (please use the link below to place your order):

Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology For Pilgrims on The Way (Hardcover)

Read inside (PDFs): Sample Pages

~~WTS: $27.49 (45% Off $49.99)~~
~~One Week Only~~
~~(Sale Ends Thursday,~~
~~Jan. 27th @11:59 PM)~~

Current Price (as of 1/31/11): $29.49 (41% discount)

Due to overwhelming demand, we and the publisher are out of stock of this title. While we will honor the promotional price through January 27th, your entire order may be delayed until late February if you include this title.

About the Author: Michael Horton (PhD, University of Coventry and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford) is J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. He hosts The White Horse Inn radio broadcast and is editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. He is the author/editor of more than fifteen books.

"Michael Horton's new systematic theology has been long-awaited and does not disappoint. Here is classic, deep, orthodox Reformed theology, written in a way that is thoughtful and engaged... For those who think one must make a choice between guarding the faith and being thoughtfully relevant, think again: this book both teaches theology and is an example of how theology should be done. The reader who is undaunted by the number of pages will be richly rewarded." — Carl Trueman, Professor of Historical Theology and Church History and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Westminster Theological Seminary

"[A] major restatement of Christian truth for today... carried through in a fresh and stimulating fashion out of a deep commitment to Reformation and post-Reformation orthodoxy enriched by the subsequent redemptive-historical insights of Geerhardus Vos and others... One may have reservations about the author's “forensic ontology” and aspects of his use of speech act theory yet benefit greatly from his able and biblically sound treatment of numerous theological topics." — Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia

"[A] systematic theology for this generation of the Reformed movement."— Bryan Chapell, President, Covenant Theological Seminary

"A crisp, clear, and forceful new theology that is at once biblical and reverent, historical and contemporary, learned but accessible."— David F. Wells, Distinguished Research Professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Dr. Horton has produced a remarkable work. His approach to systematic theology is fresh and critically needed in our time."— R. C. Sproul, Chairman and President, Ligonier Ministries

"Horton’s Christian Faith has the great merit of never letting the reader forget that doctrine is for disciples who want to walk the way of Jesus Christ. Horton knows that the best systematic theology is a practical theology—one that helps us understand the ways of God, makes sense of life, and gives direction for God-glorifying living. He also knows that the best systematic theologies draw on biblical and historical theology. May many readers therefore take up this book, read, and walk!"— Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College and Graduate School

Trueman on Bonhoeffer and Anonymous Evangelicals

2011-01-18T16:15:00.000-06:00

The last two sentences of Trueman's short post are extremely helpful!!!! I've been criticized for reading Bonhoeffer, and other, and this is how I've tried to explain my interest in occasionally reading those who's theology differs at points from my own.

Trueman says it well: "Sometimes the problem derives from us asking a fundamentally wrong-headed question. Of more value than `Was he an evangelical?' is surely `How can I learn from him how better to be a Christian?'"

I'm sure that some folks will find a reason to criticize even Trueman's posture towards reading non-evangelical theologians, but I believe that there is wisdom in this perspective.

BTW, I recently received a copy of Mataxes' biography of Bonhoeffer and would love to dig into, but I just began a new seminary class (with RTS) and all of my general reading is going to have to take a back seat to Berkhof, Calvin, and Murray.

Free for Logos: Memoir & Remains of the R. M. McCheyne

2011-01-17T22:17:00.000-06:00

Have you added this title to your Logos collection? If not, you should.

Reformed Publishing in China

2011-01-17T09:23:00.000-06:00

A friend forwarded to me an article written by Michael Haykin which was originally published in The Banner of Truth Magazine (January 2011) and recently posted on the Desiring God website. The title of the article is "The Emergence of Legal Christian Publishing in China." I recommend that you read this and be aware of what the Lord is doing in his kingdom. I am encouraged.

I recently heard about the growing tolerance of Christian under certain circumstances and in certain places in China. This was exciting news, but I didn't realize that some freedom has been extended to the Christian publishing market--especially the Reformed Publishing market. This is very exciting.

Here are a few excerpts from the article that summarize the opportunity and the need which is worthy of the American Reformed community's attention (emphasis added is mine):

Most amazing of all is that in comparison with traditional evangelical publishers, Reformed publishers have a significant advantage when publishing in China. Currently, the Chinese publishing houses—all under government oversight—tend to give approval more frequently to certain genres of Christian books than to others. The books most often approved are biographies, old books with historical value (Pilgrim’s Progress, Institutes of the Christian Religion, e.g.), and marriage and family books. The Reformed community will immediately see the significance of this. How many biographies and old historical books does the Banner of Truth have? How many does the Evangelical Press have? For the past thirty to forty years, Reformed publishers have been publishing these books in great numbers which gives them a very unique advantage in filling the publishing vacuum in China. We can be certain that the vacuum will be filled with something. The key question is: What will fill that vacuum? The cults are not without presence in China.

...

The good news is that several publishers, such as Banner of Truth, Evangelical Press, and Solid Ground Christian Books each have at least 25 books that will likely pass government censorship in China (i.e. receive a Beijing issued ISBN). Other publishers such as Reformation Heritage Books, Shepherd Press, Inter Varsity Press (UK), P&R, and others, all have titles that will also likely pass censorship. Publishing contracts for these books could be signed tomorrow if funding were available.

For approximately $1 million USD, fifty to sixty Reformed titles can be translated and published in China. To some, this might sound like a very large amount of money, but when compared to what US churches are spending on building and renovation projects, this is actually a very modest figure. According to the U. S. Census Bureau: “Churches in the United States spent about $7 billion on church buildings in 2009.” One to two million dollar building projects are quite common. However, which is more strategic for the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the strengthening of the church worldwide: spending $1 million dollars building a new church gymnasium or Sunday School wing? Or, using that same million dollars to publish fifty to sixty books in a region that has one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the world, that exists in one of the biggest publishing vacuums of Christian books in the world?

The need of the hour is for men and women in the Reformed community to think globally, to think critically and make ministry and financial decisions in light of Scripture and the rapidly changing needs of the church worldwide. Christian publishing in China is still very much in its infancy and publishing quality titles now, while the number of legally published books is still quite low, can have an enormous impact on the future direction of the Chinese church. However, if we sit still and do nothing, the non-Reformed titles—which now largely define the market—will continue to shape the future of the church in China. What direction Christian publishing in China ultimately takes remains to be seen. Either way, we can be sure that it will have a decisive impact of some sort in the days to come.

Happily, concerned Christians around the world can get involved. In the past year, a new opportunity has emerged to help fill the publishing vacuum in China (which has 501(c)3 tax exempt status in the US): The Robert Morrison Project. Established in 2009, the Robert Morrison Project specifically aims to legally publish Reformed literature in China. Over the next five to ten years their goal is to publish 50 titles in China and the first 22 are all from the Banner of Truth Trust. Individuals and churches may sponsor the publication of specific titles. To learn more about this opportunity please visit their website or contact them by email.

Related:

Since January, 2008, Monergism.com has been offering Chinese literature through its online bookstore, Sinimbooks.com.
Desiring God also offers Chinese titles which you can find by using their Language Index and selecting Chinese-Traditional.
If you know of any other Chinese language resources, please let me know and I'll add them to this list. Thanks!

Compassion for The Offensive & The Sanctity of Human Life

2011-01-16T21:43:00.002-06:00

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation creating a special day to focus on the sanctity of human life and the fundamental right to life. National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is held on the Sunday in January which falls closest to the day on which the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions were handed down by the United States Supreme Court. That date was January 22, 1973. ("Sanctity of Human Life Sunday," in Save-A-Life of Montgomery, Inc., Volume 26, Issue 1 [January 2011], p. 1.)

Save-A-Life of Montgomery, Inc.
I am very thankful for Save-A-Life of Montgomery, Inc., because it has been through interaction with their staff and volunteers that I have been challenged to give special thought to the tragic issue of abortion. The January newsletter, from which I quoted above, challenges local ministries to make plans for celebrating the Sanctity of Human Life. Our home church, Trinity Pres, along with other local churches have given special attention to this special day. Since I am regularly preaching in a rural church outside of town and had been afforded the privilege of preaching today, I gave some thought this past week to the subject of the sanctity of human life.

Mark 6:30-34
The text I prepared to preach this morning was Mark 6:30-34. This text does not speak directly to the issue of abortion or the sanctity of life, but I did find an interesting, and I believe appropriate, way of bridging the text to my reflections on the sanctity of life. Here's what I found and shared with our people this morning.

Mark 6:30-34 draws the story of the first missionary venture of the disciples to a close while introducing the account of Jesus feeding the 5000. The apostles returned to Jesus exhausted yet exuberant. While telling him all that they had done and taught, Jesus recognized their need to rest and responded to them by calling them away from the crowds. After setting out on the boat to find a desolate place, the people from the surrounding towns recognized their direction and went ahead to meet them. What was expected to have been a desolate and quiet place turned out to be filled with another crowd of people.

Jesus Teaches Us How to Respond to Those Who are Offensive
At this point, Jesus becomes the center of the story and his response to the unexpected crowd is what arrested my attention. "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them" (emphasis mine). In his excellent commentary on this Gospel, James Edwards notes that there are four occurrences of "compassion" in Mark's Gospel. These occurrences are not used with reference to friends or compatriots, but rather to “those far removed and even offensive: lepers (Mk. 1:41), revolutionaries [5000 Jews] (Mk. 6:34), Gentiles (Mk. 8:2), and demon-possessed (Mk. 9:22)” (p. 230, emphasis mine).

Mark 10:14 should also be noted in this regard. Although the term "compassion" does not appear here, the disciples' rebuke directed toward those bringing children to Jesus illustrates a form of offense, and Jesus' indignant retort and acceptance of the children illustrates, again, his compassion for those who are "far removed and even offensive."

In Mark 6: 34, Jesus shows the disciples how to respond to those who are offensive, or shall we say, inconvenient. The disciple is to accept the interruptions, inconveniences, problems, and even sufferings of life as a part of his/her calling.

Applying Jesus' Example of Compassion to the Sanctity of Human Life
I understand that by law the decision to abort an unborn child resides with the will and/or desire of the mother. Reasons given for choosing to have an abortion include: trauma, handicap of the child, social affects, economical situation, and the health of the mother (AbortionFacts.com). In other words, our society has decided that life and death is something we have the right to control. If it is an inconvenience to us our our family, if it is untimely, an interruption, or a problem we’d rather do without, our laws say that that the decision is ours.

It once was the case that many Pro-Lifers thought that the development of ultrasound technology would finally give the window into the womb that would solve the question of personhood, but sadly the technology has come yet our society is still unmoved (see R. C. Sproul's discussion of this subject here). Still, although many have come to accept that these unborn babies are truly persons, the choice is given to the mother to decide whether or not the child will live. Many professing Christian doctors have either skewed Scripture in order to justify their murderous practice, or have claimed that they are personally pro-life, but publicly pro-choice (see John Piper's discussion of this subject here). They have effectively severed the sacred from the secular and are seeking to live an unscriptural, schizophrenic sort of a life. This is a tragedy of epic proportions.

The Bible clearly teaches us that both the giving and taking of life are God’s prerogative only. For instance:

Psalm 139:14-16
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

The Church Must Serve as an Advocate for the Unborn Children
This past weekend I took up the challenge to spend some time giving special attention to the cause of the unborn. I flipped through John Piper's book, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, and found a chapter titled, "Brothers, Blow the Trumpet for the Unborn" (pp. 211-27). This was a very helpful essay which answers the major objections to the Pro-Life position as well as providing a strong biblical foundation for the Pro-Life viewpoint. I would encourage you to read this chapter, or go to the Desiring God website and search for articles and sermons on Abortion. There is a wealth of excellent information to be found there.

It is all too often the case with unborn children that he or she has no one who cares for them as a human being, as one who desperately needs an advocate, a helper, a friend. When so many foes are gathered against them to destroy them because they are untimely and inconvenient, the Church collectively and Christians individually need to be standing in the gap, having compassion on them. We need to be pleading with mothers, no matter how they have arrived in their present situation of pregnancy, to let God have his way and embrace the God-made human life they are carrying and nurturing. There are plenty of options other than abortion with which God will be pleased. And as much as is possible, we, the community of faith, need to embrace these unwanted children for God's sake. This is the way Jesus taught his disciples to respond to the inconveniences of the unwanted, even the offensive (thinking especially of those children who are aborted because of some handicap). God help us to follow in His steps!

I have a lot more to learn about this issue, and I will be seeking out ways to be involved in the fight and to encourage our people to be involved in the fight. If you know of any other helpful resources that we should consider, please leave a note in the comments.

May we be a people (a Church) that give heed to the cries of the unborn! May we do our part as we petition the Lord our Maker to…

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the rights of the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
(Psalm 82:3-4)

Miroslav Volf on The Return to Scriptures

2011-01-03T22:12:00.000-06:00

Let me share with you a few more interesting statements from Miroslav Volf's Captive to the Word of God: Engaging the Scriptures for Contemporary Theological Reflection (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010). This book is a collection of essays which is intended to be a contribution to the recent renewal of Theological Interpretation of Scriptures (often abbreviated TIS). In the first essay (chapter 1), Volf briefly sketches out "the set of convictions about the Bible and its interpretation that guides his reading of the Scriptures. I found this to be fascinating on a number of levels. The major point of amazement to me is the idea that many modern biblical and systematic theologians are recognizing the need to return to the Scriptures. Here's how he develops this topic:

Reflecting on his career as a theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, one of the most imaginative and influential theologians of the second part of the twentieth century, told me a decade or so ago that if he were to start over again, he would interpret the Scriptures in a much more sustained way. Why? Scripture is the ultimate source of theology's vigor, he said. He was right. (p. 12)

A couple of pages later, Volf writes,

In my judgment, the return of biblical scholars to the theological reading of the Scriptures, and the return of systematic theologians to sustained engagement with the scriptural texts - in a phrase, the return of both to theological readings of the Bible - is the most significant theological development in the last two decades. (p. 14, emphasis original)

In a later post I would like to highlight the key aspects of Volf's doctrine of the Scrptures, but let me close with a few more statements on the necessity of grounding theology in the Bible.

Take the Scriptures away, and sooner or later you will "un-church" the Church. (p. 10)

...a merely historical reading of biblical texts is in danger of turning into a self-referential study of inconsequential cultural artifacts from the distant past of a then insignificant corner of the world. (p. 11)

The work of biblical scholars as historians is significant precisely to the degree that the texts which they approach as historians are alive today. (p. 11)

...for systematic theology to abandon the Bible is for it to cut off the branch on which it is sitting.... Moreover, if it abandons the Bible, Christian theology will no longer engage the document that lies at the heart of the life of Christian communities, the texts on which these communities depend for existence, identity, and vitality. The result will be a culturally and socially barren theology that hovers above concrete communities of faith - or maybe falls to the ground beside them - unable to shape either these communities or the wider culture. (pp. 11-12)

Volf on The Goal of Academic Theology

2010-12-30T19:56:00.000-06:00

As I understand it, the goal of academic theology, as distinct from religious studies, goes beyond striving to understand the world of the Christian faith. Theology seeks first to provide orientation to religious communities through critical and constructive engagement with their convictions, rituals, and practices.... Second, theology's goal is to shape how life is lived in the broader society, indeed on the whole globe, in the light of God's purposes for the world. Church and society are the two main "publics" of academic theology, those for whom it endeavors to interpret reality so as to offer guidance about what it means to live well before God.

Miroslav Volf, Captive to the Word of God: Engaging the Scriptures for Contemporary Theological Reflection (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010), 9.

My thoughts:

This statement appears to be carefully crafted and broadly generic ("orientation," "religious communities,"to live well before God"). This allows for a broad consensus among a diverse readership.
The first and last sentences do narrow the scope to "the Christian faith" and the "church". So, the type of academic theology in question is limited to the Christian church. I can live with this.
The task of theology is typically defined as "the knowledge of God," or "the study of God." Volf's definition is not here dealing with the task but first the goal of theology. For Volf, the goal of theology extends beyond the internalization of facts to include behavior as a response to the knowledge of God. This is similar to C. F. H. Henry's extended definition of the task of theology:
"The proper task of theology is to exposit and elucidate the content of Scripture in an orderly way, and by presenting its teaching as an orderly whole to commend and reinforce the worship and service of God" (quoted by Gregory Alan Thornbury in his "Prolegomena: Introduction to the Task of Theology," in A Theology for the Church, edited by Daniel L. Akin [Nashville: B&H Academic, 2007], 54).
Herman Bavinck is also careful to see beyond the mere task of theology to its ultimate goal. He writes:
"The task of dogmatic theology, in the final analysis, is nothing other than a scientific exposition of religious truth grounded in sacred Scripture. Apologetic defense of this truth and ethical applications to Christian conduct both are based in and proceed from divine revelation and faith; they do not ground or shape faith. Dogmatics and ethics are a unity, though they may be treated as distinct disciplines. Dogmatics describes God's deeds for and in us; ethics describes what renewed human beings now do on the basis of and in the strength of these deeds" (Reformed Dogmatics [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003], 26).
Thinking back to my reading of Barth's Evangelical Theology earlier this year, Barth addresses the task and goal of theology in a very thoughtful way. It is no secret that Barth resisted the notion of systematic theology. Rather, Barth was concerned with dogmatics and ethics rooted in biblical exegesis and made available to the community of faith through proclamation. Similar to the above definitions, Barth identifies the task of theology as follows: "Dogmatics and ethics must function properly by considering the Word of God and by holding fast to the order, formation, architectonics, and theology prescribed at given times by this Word itself" (181). Regarding practical theology, Barth writes, "Theological speech is taught its content by exegesis and dogmatics, and it is given its form through the experiences of whatever psychology, sociology, or linguistics may be most trustworthy at a given time" (183). Regarding the goal of theology, Barth writes,
"the service of God and the service of man are the meaning, horizon, and goal of theological work.... If theological work is not to become sterile in all its disciplines, regardless of how splendidly it may develop at one point or another, it must always keep sight of the fact that its object, the Word of God, demands more than simply being perceived, contemplated, and meditated in this or that particular aspect. What is demanded of theological work is the service of this word and attendance upon it. This may not always be its primary goal, and often it is the most remote one, but it remains its ultimate and real goal" (187).
Having set our sights on the goal of doing theology, Volf has prepared us to consider the simple, yet essential task of engaging Scripture as the source of theology. I'll comment on this later.

CT Share's Michael Ward's Top 5 Books on C. S. Lewis

2010-12-10T13:02:00.000-06:00

Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis (Oxford University Press, 2008) and of The Narnia Code (Tyndale, 2010), recommends five (5) books on the life and writings of C. S. Lewis.

C.S. Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life & Works by Walter Hooper (HarperOne, 1998).
Owen Barfield on C.S. Lewis by Owen Barfield, ED. G. B. Tennyson (The Barfield Press, 2006).
C.S. Lewis: A Biography by Roger Lancelyn Green and Walter Hooper (2nd edition, HarperCollins Entertainment, 2003).
Remembering C.S. Lewis: Recollections of Those Who Knew Him edited by James T. Como (Ignatius Press, 2005).
The Cambridge: Companion to C.S. Lewis edited by Robert MacSwain and Michael Ward (Cambridge University Press, 2010).

Read Ward's comments on each title here.

"Must Read' from Ferguson, Godfrey, Lawson and Sproul, Jr.

2010-12-06T12:24:00.000-06:00

Here's an excellent list of "must read" books from Ligonier's Teaching Fellows: Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Steve Lawson, and R. C. Sproul, Jr.

Notable: "Köstenberger’s Guide to the Best of 2010"

2010-12-04T08:15:00.000-06:00

Dr. Andreas Köstenberger offers his "Guide to the best of 2010" here.

Great Books: Bargains Along the Way (Part 3)

2010-12-03T19:43:00.007-06:00

Part Three -

It was in college that I was first bit with the bug of bibliomania. I read for leisure in high school, for class requirements in college, and then gradually for devotional purposes. It was in college that I realized how little I knew of God due to my own negligence. I became increasingly hungry for knowledge of the scriptures and experience of the love and grace of Jesus Christ in my everyday life.

I frequented the campus bookstore trying to acquaint myself with the vast array of Christian literature, and bought a few inexpensive classics like Pilgrim's Progress, Of the Imitation of Christ and a few by E. M. Bounds and Andrew Murray. I eventually found a shelf for second-hand books which were being sold at discounted prices. I bought and resold a handful of books there.

By my final year of college I had located a couple of used bookstores in town and frequented them whether or not I had spending money. If I wasn't purchasing books, I was learning authors and titles. After graduating I began to travel back and forth visiting family and I began to break up my trips by searching out used bookstores and antique malls along the way. To this day, I still practice this method of searching for bargains along the way.

During the Thanksgiving holiday this year we traveled northeast to Virginia Beach to visit with my family. Along the way we stopped in a few places where we found great deals on good books. Here's a list of the books and places we found. (With respect to brick-and-mortar book shops selling new and used Christian/Theology books I will forgo the normal hyperlinks to online retailers for this post. Please visit your local brick-and-mortar bookseller to discover what they are able to offer in person!)

The Christian Bookstore & Coffee House, Commerce, GA

There used to be a Christian bookstore located in one of the corners of the Tanger Outlet Mall, but it has since been closed. However, we found The Christian Bookstore & Coffee House next to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. We had an awesome lunch at Five Guys and purchased the following discounted titles at the bookstore:

Quo Vadis, Evangelicalism? edited by Andreas Köstenberger
Christ and Culture Revisited by D. A. Carson
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction Eugene Peterson - This is a second copy for me, but it is such a good book, I couldn't pass it up. I'll give it away to someone.
Girl Talk by Carolyn Mahaney & Nicole Mahaney Whitacre - I bought this one for my wife.

In South Carolina I didn't stop at any bookstores, but I did pick up two six-packs of my favorite soft drink: Blenheim Ginger Ale (especially the HOT).

Ollie's Bargain Outlet

Once we crossed into North Carolina I began to check my GPS for the nearest Ollie's along I-85 North. We stopped in Gastonia at the first of many Ollie's stores during our trip. We missed one along the way, but visited two more in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, and then a final stop in Rocky Mt., NC on the way home. If you are wondering why a visit to one would not be enough, my answer is that you normally find different books at each store, especially when it comes to major commentaries.

My dealings with Ollie's is bitter-sweet. Bitter because I have to be reminded that another Christian bookstore probably went under. Sweet because the discounts are huge on brand new books. Here's what I found:

Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics (second edition) by Scott B. Rae
Fire Someone Today by Bob Pritchett (President and CEO of Logos Research Systems, Inc.) - I began reading this book and it is excellent. I recommend this for employers and employees alike. Pritchett has provided me with a much needed perspective on business.
A Guide to Christian Ambition by Hugh Hewitt
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life by Os Guiness - This is excellent. I've seen it recommended and had it on my Amazon wish list until now. This is a must read.
Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages by Ammon Shea - A few years ago I read two fascinating books about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. I'm looking forward to reading this one too.
The Invitation: A Simple Guide to the Bible by Eugene Peterson - This, too, is a great entry level introduction to the Bible. I'm hoping that it is something we can use in a small group or Sunday School class. (I bought two copies.)
Fasting by Scot McKnight
After You Believe by N. T. Wright
Enthroned On Our Praise: An Old Testament Theology of Worship by Timothy M. Pierce
Understanding Four Views on the Lord's Supper by Russell D. Moore, I. John Hesselink, David S Scaer and Thomas A Baima
Understanding Four Views on Baptism by Thomas J. Nettles, Richard L. Pratt, Jr., Robert Kolb, and John D. Castelein
Mark: Gospel of the Servant King by David E. Garland and Karen Lee-Thorp - This is a great looking study guide.
2 Chronicles by Raymond B. Dillard in the Word Biblical Commentary series - $10
1, 2, 3 John (revised) by Stephen Smalley in the Word Biblical Commentary series - $6
Hebrews by George H. Guthrie in The NIV Application Commentary series - $6
James by David P. Nystrom in The NIV Application Commentary series - $6
1 Peter by Scot McKnight in The NIV Application Commentary series - $6
2 Peter, Jude by Douglas J. Moo in The NIV Application Commentary series - $6
Joshua by Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. in The NIV Application Commentary series - $12

Clemens & Co. Books - Hogansville, GA

Our final stop along the way was in Hogansville, GA. This was our first visit here. I thought there was a used bookshop in Newnan, GA, but this store came up in my GPS search results. We were not disappointed. Hogansville is a beautiful little town and Clemens & Co. is an equally beautiful antique, art, and book shop. I learned that they price their books by section. So, the Religion/Theology section was $6.50 for hardbacks and $3.00 for paperbacks. This system was nice, but you have to be careful how you buy. Here's what I found:

Interpreting the Gospels edited by James L. Mays - The table of contents includes authors such as J. A. Fitzmyer, Robert Morgan, Paul J. Achtemeier, Howard C. Kee, Eduard Schweizer, Charles Talbert, Ralph Martin, D. Moody Smith, and Raymond E. Brown.
I & II Samuel by Hans Wilhelm Hertzberg in The Old Testament Library series (a series I've found to be critical but helfpul)
I & II Kings by John Gray in The Old Testament Library series
Isaiah 40-66 by Claus Westermann in The Old Testament Library series
Hosea by James L. Mays in The Old Testament Library series
Amos by James L. Mays in The Old Testament Library series

If you are in the area of any of these stores, I hope you'll pay them a visit. Also, I'd love to know the names and locations of your favorite brick-and-mortar shops where you find Christian/Theology books. Leave the name and location in a comment. Thanks.

(Part One - IVP Book Club)
(Part Two - Review Copies)

Good Books: Review Copies (Part 2)

2010-12-02T12:51:00.003-06:00

Part Two -

Along with my recent acquisition of 5 excellent books from the IVP Book Club, I have also received a few notable review copies. I'd like to introduce them to you now.

First, is an exciting new publication from B&H Academic: Missionshift: Global Mission Issues in the Third Millennium edited by David J. Hesselgrave and Ed Stetzer . This book has come at a great time for me since I have been involved in a Missions study group at my home church, and recently attended my first PCA missions conference. Missionshift is set up similar to the counterpoints format. There are three major essays highlighting missions past, present, and future. Following each essay are four responses. Ed Stetzer added a summary response to the first essay and four responders, and David Hesselgrave offers a final conclusion to the book. Thus far, I've read the first essay ("'Mission' Defined and Described") and the four responses to that essay. I found the back and forth style conversation to be very helpful as I thought through the essay. Some responders sought to extend the conversation on a particular point while others sought to make a needed correction, or strive for a greater balance. So far, I have found this book to be an excellent addition to the literature on Mission, especially in bringing us up-to-date on a number of current trends and issues in missions. I realize that some general readers will not enjoy the counterpoints-format of this book, but I believe that the mission-minded reader will find this exercise to be a rewarding challenge.

Another book that I have already finished reading was sent to me by InterVarsity Press. It is The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind by Alister McGrath . I found this to be an excellent book for young theologians to read. As I read part one, which is the foundation for the application presented in parts two and three, I was reminded of B. B. Warfield's The Religious Life of the Theological Student, Karl Barth's Evangelical Theology: An Introduction, and even N. T. Wright's The Challenge of Jesus. Warfield addressed the inner life of the student more specifically while Barth and Wright address the inner life as well as the everyday practice of theology. The point that each of these authors makes, and McGrath articulates very well, is that theological studies are not an end unto themselves. Rather, they are for the benefit of the Church and the world. If we are not thinking deeply and specifically about how to apply the wonders of theology, then we are not really doing theology at all.

Some reviewers of The Passionate Intellect have criticized the inclusion of the second and third parts because they seem to be nothing more than miscellaneous essays crammed into a book that was "good enough without them." I would argue that the presence of the "miscellaneous" essays in parts two and three are necessary to illustrate how one might work out the ramifications of part one. McGrath models this wonderfully by applying the principles set forth in part one to two topics that are of great interest to him (science and the New Atheism). This is a much appreciated volume.

Many thanks to these two publishers. I recommend both of these books to you. I recommend the first especially to the mission-minded reader; and the second especially to theological students and pastors.

(Part One - IVP Book Club)
(Part Three - Bargains Along the Way)

Good Books: IVP Book Club (Part 1)

2010-12-01T22:14:00.003-06:00

Thanks to a few publishers and some great bargains found over the Thanksgiving holiday, I've added some excellent titles to my library. I think these are notable and so I'll share a list of them here with a note of appreciation where appropriate.

Part One -

I'll begin with InterVarsity Press. About a month ago I decided to join the IVP Book Club. They were offering a nearly irresistible offer for those with the "disease" of bibliomania like me. I chose the following books according to the "Five Books for a Buck" introductory offer:

Hard Sayings of the Bible by Walter C. Kaiser, Peter H. Davids, F. F. Bruce and Manfred Brauch. This title was introduced to me years ago by a friend who shared with me his seminary project on Problems of Interpretation. I've had this on my wish list ever since.
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery edited by Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit and Tremper Longman, III. This title was heartily recommended by one of the ministers at my home church. I always appreciate recommendations.
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin and Daniel G. Reid. I'm a huge fan of this dictionary set. It's expensive, so any bargain on obtaining a volume is a no-brainer.
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. I am in the midst of a study of the Gospel of Mark and discipleship has been a major theme in my thinking. The title was irresistible. This is a study in the Pilgrim Psalms and we have highlighted this title once before here.
God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts. This title was also chosen on the recommendation of a friend, Doug Smith.

Along with these excellent books, IVP sent a handy tote for free. The Book Club does expect that members will purchase books direct from IVP so they also have offered a 30% discount off of list price for members. IVP has been publishing a lot of good books, so you will be sure to find plenty of options to choose from.

(Part Two: Review Copies)
(Part Three: Bargains Along the Way)

Let Your Sins Be Strong

2010-11-01T21:54:00.000-05:00

I have shared these quotes from Luther a handful of times already over the past few days, and would like to share them here, too. I appreciate these statements for their bold display of the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

“… learn Christ and him crucified. Learn to praise him and, despairing of yourself, say,

‘Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness,
just as I am your sin.
You have taken upon yourself what you were not
and have given to me what I was not.’

Beware of aspiring to such purity that you will not wish to be looked upon as a sinner, or to be one. For Christ dwells only in sinners. On this account he descended from heaven, where he dwelt among the righteous, to dwell among sinners. Meditate on this love of his and you will see his sweet consolation. For why was it necessary for him to die if we can obtain a good conscience by our works and afflictions? Accordingly you will find peace only in him and only when you despair of yourself and your own works. Besides, you will learn from him that just as he received you, so he has made your sins his own and has made his righteousness yours.” Luther's Works 48: 12-13; cf. Luther's Works 35: 49.

Also, in a letter to Melancthon Luther wrote,

13. If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God's glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.

Let Your Sins Be Strong: A Letter From Luther to Melanchthon Letter no. 99, 1 August 1521, From the Wartburg (Segment) Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores from: Dr. Martin Luther's Saemmtliche Schriften Dr. Johannes Georg Walch, Ed. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, N.D.), Vol. 15, cols. 2585-2590.

Don't Waste this Opportunity! Free Audiobook

2010-11-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

Thought you all would be interested in this. It's free (no commitments at all). I've downloaded a handful of free books from Christianaudio.com over the past couple of years. Christianaudio.com provides high quality recordings of excellent books. A few weeks ago, I purchased a hard copy of Don't Waste Your Life and have found it to be very challenging. Don't waste this opportunity! Enjoy!

Don't Waste Your Life

Author John Piper

Narrator Lloyd James

FREE

christianaudio, Crossway Books, and Desiring God have partnered together for the month of November 2010 to bring you the audiobook download of Don't Waste Your Life for FREE!

Instructions: Add the download to your cart, login to your christianaudio.com account, and click 'Checkout' to complete the order. If you don't have a free christianaudio.com account, you'll be prompted to open one during the checkout process.
A coupon code is no longer required to receive the free download!

If you already placed the free order and need to download it again, you can log into your My Account section of our site and re-download from your library, up to one year later.

Download the Don't Waste Your Life PDF study guide for free!

Download the Don't Waste Your Life MP3 message for free!

Bonhoeffer Reflects on Reformation Day

2010-10-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

31 October 1943
...Today is Reformation Day, a feast that in our time can give one plenty to think about. One wonders why Luther's action had to be followed by consequences that were the exact opposite of what he intended, and that darkened the last years of his life, so that he sometimes even doubted the value of his life's work. He wanted a real unity of the Church and the West—that is, of the Christian peoples, and the consequence was the disintegration of the Church and of Europe; he wanted the "freedom of the Christian man," and the consequence was indifference and licentiousness; he wanted the establishment of a genuine secular social order from clerical privilege, and the result was insurrection, the Peasant's War, and soon afterwards the gradual dissolution of all real cohesion and order in society.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison, ed. Eberhard Bethge, trans. Reginald Fuller, Frank Clarke, and John Bowen (New York: Macmillan, 1962 [1953]), 361 as cited by John G. Stackhouse, Jr. Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real World (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 145-6.

The Value of Parish Ministry for Theological Students

2010-10-12T12:41:00.001-05:00

Nothing demonstrates the futility of a purely academic approach to theology so powerfully as parish ministry. Working with my congregation forced me to confront the shallowness of my understanding of theology at that time: it proved to be cerebral, dry and unrelated to the harsh realities of human experience; unable to cope with the fuzziness of doubt and the messiness of sin.

Alister McGrath, The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind. IVP Books, 2010, pp. 61-62.

Resources on the Letter of James

2010-10-11T23:36:00.001-05:00

It has been my families privilege to be a part of a small group study with a handful of friends. We were first introduced to this group while they were in the midst of reading Tim Keller's The Prodigal God. Since then, we have studied the book of 1 Thessalonians, Paul Tripp's Broken Down House, Ecclesiastes, and most recently, the Epistle of James.

A few weeks ago I added a feature to the sidebar of this website where I have been keeping up with the books I am currently reading. Some are for sermon prep, others are for various Bible studies I am involved with, and the rest are miscellaneous books I am trying to squeeze in as I find time. Since I have now removed the list of books I was using for our study in the Letter of James, I'd like to list them here.

Of the many great commentaries and studies on the Epistle of James, these are the few I chose to read and reference along the way. For this study I specifically purchased The Letter of James by Douglas Moo and James by George M. Stulac. The reason for selecting these two was that I was specifically looking for a good commentary that I could recommend to those who participated in the study and especially to the other teachers. A heavy work was unnecessary, but I wanted to find one that had a good balance of sound exegesis and a pastoral appeal. The one I recommended to the group was George Stulac's commentary. We found it to be excellent for use in our small group and you can even access the notes for free here.

Here is a list of all the commentaries I used and recommend.

Epistle of James

George M. Stulac. James. IVP New Testament Commentary. IVP, 1993.
Douglas Moo. The Letter of James. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Eerdmans, 2000.
James B. Adamson, The Epistle of James. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1995.
Peter H. Davids. The Epistle of James. The New International Greek Testament Commentary. Eerdmans, 1982.
Peter H. Davids. James. New International Biblical Commentary. Hendrickson, 1989.

Christian Interpretation of the Old Testament

2010-09-28T21:56:00.000-05:00

Is there nothing about Christian interpretation that makes it look different from, say, Jewish exegesis or secular exegesis? Yes. We believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead. We know the end of the story, and now we can—must—go back and read Israel's story in light of that great culminating event. In doing so Israel's story becomes ours. This is why Christian interpretation is not a neutral undertaking, but one that, like every other area of our lives, rests in the reality of the gospel.*
*Footnote: A seminary professor of mine, the late Raymond Dillard, would evaluate student sermons on the Old Testament by asking, "Could this sermon have been preached in a synagogue?" The answer had better be "no"! His point was that there should be something distinct about Christian preaching of the Old Testament.

Peter Enns, from his Introduction to Exodus. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000, p. 26.

Enns' Introduction is an excellent read for a simple and convincing argument in favor of decidedly Christian interpretation of the OT. In this commentary, Enns also includes an Annotated Bibliography of the top 10 picks for the study of Exodus.

I have added his recommendations to the TheoSource catalog of Recommendations on the OT Pentateuch and Historical Books . You can find more Recommendations for Bible Study by clicking on the BOOK REC'S link at the very top of this website.

With Calvin in the Theater of God Available in PDF

2010-09-17T14:05:00.000-05:00

With Calvin in the Theater of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life, edited by John Piper and David Mathis, is now available in PDF from Desiring God.

Format: Softcover Book
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781433514128
Publisher: Crossway

HT: Desiring God Blog by Jonathan Parnell
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As a side note, back in 2001 I read Susan Schreiner's The Theater of His Glory: Nature and the Natural Order in the Thought of John Calvin (Baker Academic, 2001) and was introduced to Calvin's use of theater as a metaphor throughout his writings. Schreiner picked up on Calvin's repeated use of theatrum gloriae Dei, "the theater of God's glory," to describe the created world. This volume is an edited version of Schreiner's doctoral dissertation and is an excellent, scholarly introduction to the subject.

I also recommend David Hall's short article form Tabletalk Magazine, July 1, 2009.