Get your copy before this special price is gone.

Product Description: In twenty-first century America, at a time when the family structure is crumbling, divorce rates are at an all-time high, and respect for parents is diminishing, The Godly Home serves as a balm for those seeking God’s plan for the family. With an introduction by J. I. Packer, this book includes topics for those passionate about families or those teaching on the characteristics of a godly family. Richard Baxter covers topics such as marriage, children, and family worship methodically and comprehensively through both hypothetical and real-life questions and concerns that arise in family dynamics. He uses arguments, objections, and frequent Scripture to help husbands, wives, and children to live godly lives.

More than three centuries ago, Puritan church leader Baxter compiled a 1,143-page tome entitled Christian Directory, which included a section on family life. The Godly Home is the only stand-alone version of that section of Christian Directory. Editor Randall Pederson has updated the language and syntax to make this seventeenth-century collection of words one that will continue on for generations to come.

224 Pages
Published January 2010

Every day, The Trammel Family is praying for Kate McRae, would you please join us.

Here is Kate’s Background Story (online link)

Monday June 29th, 2009 was supposed to be a day filled with summer fun. The kids and I were going to the water park to celebrate summer. However, I noticed that a slight tremor in her right hand that she developed over the past 2-3 days had notably worsened. We decided to take her to her Pediatrician, just for safe measure. Her Dr decided to get a CT of Kate’s head, to rule anything out. We proceeded to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for a stat CT of her head. At 5:30 I, Holly, Kate’s mom, was taken into a room alone and told Kate had a massive tumor on the basil ganglia portion of her brain. The world stopped for us that day. I called her dad and through sobs told him to come to the hospital quickly. Our journey had begun. Kate was directly admitted to the PICU. One minute thoughts of the water park the next our child is critically ill in the PICU. We would have never chosen to be a part of this journey with childhood cancer, but it was chosen for us, and our sweet Kate. She is now in the Phoneix Children’s Hospital undergoing treatment for this disease.

Kate underwent a craniotomy with tumor resection on July 3rd, 2009. They unfortunately were only able to remove 50% of the tumor due to it’s location in the left temporal lobe of her brain and the fact that the tumor had wrapped itself around major blood vessels to her brain. Kate experienced right sided paralysis immediately following surgery. She has since regained much of this, however right sided weakness still continues.

After a few days of waiting the pathology report was in, Kate was diagnosed with a very malignant, aggressive brain tumor called a supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor or sPNET. Our hearts were shattered. Dreams for our little 5 year old daughter put on hold to battle this monster. Long term prognosis and outcomes weren’t encouraging so Kate has been put on a study that is showing a little more promising outcomes, hopefully a better chance at survival and less long term side effects. She is currently undergoing the Head Start 3 Study out of Los Angeles but doing it at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The study involves the initial brain surgery, 5 round of very intense chemotherapy with possibility of a subsequent brain surgery and then another round of chemo with a stem cell transplant. We are hoping to avoid radiation after transplant. Kate is also in physical therapy and occupational therapy and has been released from speech therapy.

We believe strongly in the power of prayer and the ability of Jesus to heal our precious daughter. Whether He does this through modern medicine or simply a divine touch, we aren’t picky. We are asking others to join us on this journey and fervently pray for our Kate. The road is long and unbelievably hard. We have 3 children, all who are intensely affected. Olivia is now 7, Kate is 5 and Will is 4. Please keep all of us in your prayers as we try to walk this journey of childhood cancer. Thank you.

As of September 29th Kate was readmitted to begin her 3rd round of chemo. She will be hospitalized for the entire round.

You can find updates on Kate here.

Speaker: Vern S. Poythress
Date: 1986-01-01
Hebrews 9:9, 10

Posted via email from Shane Trammel

Posted via email from Shane Trammel

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

To my utter amazement, at around 2 minutes 28 seconds into the video, Huckabee begins to compare the Manhattan Declaration to Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis, placing the two on equal footing with regards to their significance. That is just insane. There is no comparison in my mind. One document, the 95 Thesis, kick started the Reformation, the other, the Manhattan Declaration, will most likely be a footnote in history.

Don’t get me wrong, social justice, the sanctity of life and marriage, etc. all worthy issues for Christians to focus on. It’s the ecumenical nature of the Manhattan Declaration that has me concerned. Read this.

(HT: IAN D CAMPBELL: Ref 21)

TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING! This work has long been anticipated. Glean from the wisdom and spiritual depth of the Puritans during 2010 through these 365 daily readings.

Over the past fifty years there has been a great resurgence of interest in the writings of the Puritans. The reading of their works has brought great benefit to the people of God in many lands. Christians from many different backgrounds and cultures owe a great debt of gratitude to those faithful pastors and preachers who continue to speak through their writings even though they have long since entered into their heavenly reward. The Puritans really knew how to teach and apply God’s Word in the Spirit’s power!

Dangerous Journey (Hardcover) is the world-famous, much-loved classic Pilgrim’s Progress retold for children. This abridged version uses the original words of John Bunyan as selected by Oliver Hunkin to present a gripping narrative. Filled with intricately detailed illustrations, this handsome, large-format book makes an ideal gift.

The Holy War: The Battle for Mansoul (Hardcover)

John Bunyan could be said to have authored the most influential book in the English language (other than the King James Bible) – The Pilgrim’s Progress. But he has also written another dramatic allegorical novel – The Holy War.

Bunyan’s plan for his readers was for them to experience the struggles of the city of Mansoul as a fierce battle rages to take control of it. However, alongside this knife-edge drama Bunyan wished his readers to understand how the struggles of their souls ran in parallel to the struggles of the wretched inhabitants of that place.

The righteous and honourable ruler Shaddai and his son Immanuel rule Mansoul with justice and equity. But the ruler of darkness – Prince Diabolus – has other plans. With his evil captains and their battalions Diabolus plots the fall and destruction of the once happy city. The first to fall is Captain Resistance as Diabolus knows that there is only one route into the city and that it can only be breached through the permission of the people of Mansoul itself. With Captain Resistance gone the city is laid open to Diabolic lies and the next to fall is Lord Innocency and then the city is lost. So begins a story of treachery and deceit, foolishness and pride, forgiveness and final redemption. In fact this is, as Bunyan intended it, the story of a sinner saved by the grace of God.

Calvin considered prayer to be holy and familiar conversation with God, our heavenly Father; reverently speaking, it is family conversation, or even intimate covenantal conversation, in which the believer confides in God as a child confides in his father. Prayer is “an emotion of the heart within, which is poured out and laid open before God.” In prayer, we both communicate and commune with our Father in heaven, feeling our transparency in His presence. Like Christ in Gethsemane, we cast our “desires, sighs, anxieties, fears, hopes, and joys into the lap of God.” We are “permitted to pour into God’s bosom the difficulties which torment us, in order that He may loosen the knots which we cannot untie.” Prayer is the outpouring of the soul, the deepest root of piety, and the bedrock of assurance. It is the most important part of the Christian life, the lifeblood of every true believer.

The above comes from John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, Doxology (Chapter 19 — The Communion of Men with God)

Dec. 6, 2009 @ 9:06 PM

Matt was moved out of ICU on Sunday and continues to get plenty of rest as part of his recovery, per doctor’s orders. Please continue to pray for patience during this recovery time and to honor family-only visitation until further notice.

Pathology results of the tumor are due sometime mid-week, and we will keep you notified whenever possible.

If you attended a worship service at The Village this weekend, you saw a brief video with Matt that was taped prior to his surgery. Many were encouraged by it, and you can view it by going to the pastors’ blog on our church Web site.

Dec. 5, 2009 @ 1:57 PM

The doctors have ordered Matt to get as much rest as possible in the next few days. For that reason and because his hospital room cannot accommodate many people, visitation is being limited to family members only until further notice.

Matt will have a CT scan done today as is routine after brain surgery, and he is expected to come out of ICU on Sunday. When praying, pray that the Lord give everyone patience as we navigate through the next few days of recovery.

We promise to update you whenever possible. Thank you for your testimony of prayers and for being the Church.

He’s out of surgery! He was able to recognize the surgeon–praise the Lord!

Black Friday of course the famous day in which retailers attempt to convince shoppers to get up early enough that they spend more money than they had intended strictly on grogginess along.

Appshopper maintains a list of applications that have recently had a price change. As it turns out, there are dozens of applications that have just moved from costing at least a dollar, to no cost at all.

Now, some of these apps will now have some form of advertising, but you cannot beat the price of free. After the jump, a few of the  top free applications, and the full list.

WinC went from $2 to free, along with a $10 price drop for Photo Diary. Fun games BomberDove and Cannon Frenzy are now free, each costing$1 before.

For a full list of the applications that are now free, check the full listing here. Happy Black Friday, everyone.

It is reported that Obama and Singh announced a wide range of new agreements in areas such as energy, health care, education, climate change and agriculture. Nonproliferation issues, the war in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism were also topics of discussion.

Obviously missing however are “new agreements” with regards to serious issues in India such as the constant persecution of Christians (see video 1 and video 2), the issue of human rights (the sex trade/slavery, massive child labor industry, the caste system, etc.) and the issue of abject poverty for the majority of those living in India.

Here are some additional topics I hope President Obama and Singh will discuss: (Source) (Source) (Source)

1. About one-third of the world’s poor people live in India.
2. More than 450 million Indians exist on less than $1.25 a day, according to the World Bank.
3. Another 700 million Indians exist on less that $2 a day.
4. There are over 1.1 billion souls in India most of whom live in abject poverty.
5. Around 1.2 million children are believed to be involved in prostitution in India.
6. At least 2.5 million Indians suffer from HIV AIDS.

It is said by many that India’s economy is a “vibrant success story” but the facts above say something altogether different as I see it.

We should also not neglect the reading of Luke 18:7-8.

Related Links:

1. 12 Released From Brick Kiln Slavery in India
2. Experts Call for Review of Human Trafficking Law
3. India – The Sex Workers (for Adults only)

A full preview of the book is available online.

Publisher’s Description: Before the dawn of time a plan was made… a plan to save and a plan to love, a plan to rescue and a plan to send. One after the other people were sent to be where they were needed to be.

In the distance wise men ride camels through the desert. A star glimmers in the night sky. They have a long way to go and many months of travel ahead of them.

Some shepherds stand guard over their flock of sheep as a young couple struggle the last few miles of a tiring journey desperate for shelter and a place to sleep.

All have been sent to one place for one event that will change the world forever. The one and only saviour of the world will be born that night in a stable, in a little country called Israel in a little town called Bethlehem.

The key part of the plan is a baby and His name will be Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.

Just go here. This month only.

Thanks to the good folks at Christian Audio for their generosity and vision.

It was surely Calvin’s perspective that prayer … does make a difference to the work of God. While prayer never coerces God to act other than his infinite wisdom has willed, it nevertheless is one important and necessary condition which must be present for certain aspects of God’s work to be carried out. Prayer, then, is not contrary to divine sovereignty but a divinely ordained instrument functioning within the sphere of God’s sovereign wisdom and power in carrying out his will. — Bruce A. Ware, “The Role of Prayer and the Word in the Christian Life according to John Calvin,” Studia Biblica et Theologica 12 (1982): 90.

Full MP3 Audio here. (1hr 25min)

Enjoy.

(HT: Apologetics 315)

Useful Links:

1. Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D’Souza, What’s So Great About God: Atheism Versus Religion. Hitchens and D’Souza debate at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
2. What’s So Great About Christianity
3. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

YouVersion iPhone Bible App from YouVersion on Vimeo.

The guys at LifeChurch have been working hard to build an online Bible with tons of interactive features.

You should do yourself a favor and go sign up right now. These guys rock, I love seeing Christians giving away their hard work to help people know and love Jesus more.

Download the iPhone app | Go to YouVersion | Facebook

From an email to a friend, Earl writes (only point 1 discussed here):

1. Read the classics: dial up amazon.com and search for the works of James McGregor Burns, Henri Nouwen, Warren Bennis, etc. While we can debate “what’s a classic?,” books of this sort will get you into the game in a hurry.

I just don’t get the attraction to Henri Nouwen.

Why would any true Christian want to point others to the writings of a heritic? I know that is a strong claim but it’s the truth.

Henri Nouwen, the now deceased Catholic theologian, hardly seems an appropriate spiritual mentor for bible believing Christians.

Consider the following quote from Nouwen:

Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God. — From Sabbatical Journey, Henri Nouwen’s last book page 51, 1998 Hardcover Edition

The above quote from Nouwen is in direct contradiction to the biblical record as to how one must be saved (justified). Ephesians 2:4-9 makes it abundantly clear that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. There is only one path to Christ and any message to the contrary is a false gospel.

Galatians 1:6-9 says that the preacher preaching a false gospel is accursed.

(HT: Developing a Reading Plan)

(HT: Feeding on Christ)

The unalterable character of God’s promise is emphasized for those who love God in Romans 8:28, where Paul promises that “all things work together for good.” Such a promise is negated if believers could actually apostatize. Romans 8:29-30 ground (hoti) the promise in Romans 8:28. The reason all things work together for good is that a chain of events are a reality for those who love God. They are foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified (Rom 8:29-30).

Assurance of faith is woven into the Pauline gospel. Those who are justified and reconciled will be spared from God’s wrath on the day of the Lord (Rom 5:9-10).  [page 277]

Other Resources from Tom Schreiner:

1. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ
2. Romans (BECNT)
3. Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance & Assurance

There is no other section of Scripture that brings Christians face to face with their humanity and the grace of salvation as the Sermon does. As Christ masterfully expounds on the Kingdom of Heaven, He presents believers with the perfect standard of the Christian life. He challenges the genuineness of our words and actions, allowing us to know exactly where we stand in relation to the Kingdom. Both humbling and encouraging, it is the greatest message ever preached.

The Sermon on the Mount begins with what is called “The Beatitudes” (Matt. 5:1-12) The Beatitudes give us the character of those who are the true children of God. The first four Beatitudes focus on our relationship to God, and the second four on our relationship to our fellowman.

A discussion on the meaning and applications of the Sermon is inexhaustible. That being said, I would like to discuss a very specific aspect of the Sermon, that being the topic of Mercy (Matt. 5:7). Even more specifically, I would like to discuss the “Ministry of Mercy” carried out in the lives of “Children in Need — the abused and neglected”.

James 1:27 tells us Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Today, approximately 500,000 children in the US are caught up in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to live safely at home. Imagine you, a Christian, being empowered to minister to these children in need.

The basic idea of the Greek word translated merciful is “to give help to the wretched, to relieve the miserable.” Here the essential thought is that mercy gives attention to those in misery. A synonym for mercy would be compassion. An important distinction is that mercy is not simply feeling compassion. Mercy exists when something is done to alleviate distress. Mercy is compassion in action.

One can only imagine how wretched and miserable a child would be who has and now may be experiencing neglect, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and seperation from parents.

If you desire to walk out James 1:27 and Matt. 5:7, consider becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate, in doing so you would be empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused and neglected children. This child advocacy program is not Christian in its founding, but remember, we are to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16), in the world, not of the world; a light in a dark place. This program provides Christians a truly unique opportunity to be “Ministers of Mercy”.

Please pray and ask God how you might be involved in life transforming ministry to children in need.

These essays are the most influential in forming the evangelical and Reformed view of Scripture in the twentieth century. They are around 100 years old, but the exegetical arguments still hold up. The book is a formidable work of godly scholarship. It is the starting point for most current discussions of biblical authority and inerrancy. Warfield’s view was not original, though some have claimed that it was. His was the traditional position of orthodox Christianity. But he was creative in his powerful defense of that position.

Bavinck’s theology is the most important work of Reformed systematic theology in the past century. The section on Scripture is marvelously comprehensive and nuanced. In my judgment, there is no difference between his position and that of Warfield, but his vocabulary and emphasis are different. He and Warfield give us “two witnesses,” coming from different cultures, testifying to the truth of Scripture as God’s word.

This is the most important breakthrough in the doctrine of Scripture since Warfield. Shows that Scripture has the character of a written treaty, of which God is the author, and to which believers must be committed without reservation. I have disagreed with Kline on some other matters, but I believe this book contains a powerful argument. Kline shows that the idea of a written, authoritative word of God is essential to God’s plan of redemption.

These are cogent articles by the old (around 1946) Westminster Seminary faculty, dealing with various aspects of biblical authority. I keep coming back especially to John Murray’s “The Attestation of Scripture” and Cornelius Van Til’s “Nature and Scripture.” Murray gives a concise, definitive exposition of Scripture’s self-witness. Van Til shows that both general and special revelation are necessary, authoritative, clear, and sufficient for their respective purposes, and that they stand opposed to the worldviews of non-Christian philosophies.

(HT: John Frame)

No question about it, God has blessed me and my wife with three wonderful biological children. I make that distinction because we are in the process of adopting from China. Please pray for us when you think about it.

From The Preaching of Jonathan Edwards, John Carrick

… Edwards maintains, that fallen man suffers moral inability and there are certain things that he simply cannot do. First, (Edwards explains to the Indians in the latest preaching on this text), [December 1751] men cannot make satisfaction for their sins; only God can do that. Second, men cannot earn a righteousness that makes them acceptable before God; only he can provide that. Third, men cannot change their hearts which, yet, must be changed by God. This alone is enough to demonstrate that Edwards was no incipient Arminian. John Calvin never enunciated the sinner’s moral inability more explicitly and lucidly. The sinner suffers total moral inability to save himself or to cooperate in his regeneration.

Other Helpful Resources:

1. A Jonathan Edwards Reader
2. Ephesians 2:1-5
3. Jonathan Edwards: Legacy
4. Jonathan Edwards Books
   

William P. Young – Author of The Shack

Every week, Drew has various publishers pitch him authors to interview on the show. Some he interviews, many he doesn’t. Never before though, has Drew endorsed a book as strongly as this one The Shack. A work of fiction, written by an unknown author & self published. Having only spent a few hundred dollars on marketing, The Shack has sold almost half a million copies in the last 10 months! WHY? Since finding out about The Shack, many of Drew’s friends have gone out and bought entire boxes of the book. This week, the author of this incredibly spiritually healing book joins us LIVE, in studio.

April 5, 2008 Radio Interview with Paul Young

He’s baaaack! This time Paul joins us to share his own personal journey. If you’re not sure what The Shack is all about. A work of fiction, written by an unknown author & self published. Having only spent a few hundred dollars on marketing, The Shack has sold almost half a million copies in the last 10 months! WHY? Since finding out about The Shack, many of Drew’s friends have gone out and bought entire cases of the book.

April 26, 2008 Radio Interview with Paul Young

December 6, 2008 Radio Interview with Paul Young

Pastor Kendall Adams Interviews the author of “The Shack”

Steve Brown Interviews Paul Young

From PTM.ORG (Interview #1 | Interview #2)

James Robison Interviews Paul Young on Life Today Part 1 from Shane Trammel on Vimeo.

James Robison Interviews Paul Young on Life Today Part 2 from Shane Trammel on Vimeo.

The Shack, A Look Inside, The 700 Club from Shane Trammel on Vimeo.

Paul Young Interview about The Shack with Emergent Village from Shane Trammel on Vimeo.

Human Embryologist, Dr. C. Ward Kischer, defines when human life begins and identifies false information resulting from Roe v. Wade.

David Lee of Justice for All tells the story of Emmitt Till and describes the use of graphic abortion images as putting a face on abortion much as the open-casket image of Emmitt Till put a face on Racism.

If college student Caleb Hogan argues what he truly believes, he stands to lose the most important competition of his lifeóand the support of his mother. If he softens his stance, he might win the coveted title…but lose the heart of his teammate Rachel in the process.

Come What May is a vivid reminder that choosing what is right is never easy…but it is always worth the cost.

Article Link: PDF

Read complete story here.

(HT: Lighthouse Trails)

Related Links:

1. The Shack Reviews | Thirteen Heresies in The Shack | The Shack Attack
2. The Faulty Foundations of The Shack – Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
3. We need more shack time

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

Back in January of 2006, I had the  privilege of sharing Christ with the man in this photo.

My prayer is that he has come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

May this image be a reminder that we probably have more opportunities than we take to share Jesus.

We wholeheartedly recommend the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

You cannot help but love Conrad Mbewe, who pastors a church in Zambia. Not only does he have a strong South African accent, and a comforting preaching style, he is a good expositor of Scripture and strongly stands for God’s Word.

Also, consider listening to this recent message by Pastor Mbewe.

Dr Carson spoke 3 times on Saturday on the topic of Making Sense of Suffering. The messages were not stand alone but rather they built upon each other. Carson gave us 6 theological pillars for understanding suffering. Carson helped us to see suffering from the view of the beginning (Genesis) and the end (Revelation). He also did not spare a healthy and hearty explanation of how the gospel is at the very heart of understanding suffering. Overall, it was, in my somewhat bias view, one of the best conferences I have been to.

1. Making Sense of Suffering – Part 1
2. Making Sense of Suffering – Part 2
3. Making Sense of Suffering – Part 3
4. Making Sense of Suffering – Part 4 (Gospel Reflections on Trials and Tribulations)
5. Preaching and Biblical Theology

(HT:Erik Raymond)

The funds will go towards financially supporting and raising awareness of the THOUSANDS of ’secret’ persecuted Christians. To visit the Walk in their Shoes website click here.

Right now, more than 200 million Christ-followers around the world are being punished, persecuted–even killed–because of their faith in Jesus Christ. This is not ancient history.

For security reasons and out of respect for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, we do not use names of specific people on this website when speaking of the persecuted church. Consider, however, persecution of Christians and the state of the Church as it exists in the world today:

1. In parts of Central Asia where the state religion is mandated, Christians are considered traitors to their country and their families. Family members are beaten, and then thrown out of their house and onto the streets.
2. In the Middle East and parts of Western Asia and Africa, laws prohibit Christians from evangelizing, and forbid citizens from choosing Christianity over the religion into which they were born. Christians caught sharing God’s Word are chased out of town, beaten, or worse.
3. In 1960, more than 70 percent of the Church worldwide was still Western (white and middle-class). But indigenous mission movements were beginning to emerge out of indigenous churches. Since the 1980s the non-Western Church has grown at such a rate that the Church worldwide is now more than 70 percent non-Western.

Women We Helped Elect:

EMILY’s List wins elections. Since our founding, we have helped elect 79 pro-choice Democratic women members of Congress, 15 senators, 9 governors, and hundreds of women to state and local office.

EMILY’s List has also become one of the largest financial resource for minority women seeking federal office. Click here to learn more about our work with women in color seeking office.

It has been a blessing to gain insight into who these men were and their contribution to the Christian faith. Reading about Cornelius Van Til has been no less insightful and beneficial. Reading the book Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman (American Reformed Biographies) has given me a deep appreciation for Van Til’s place in the history of the Christian faith.

“Muether does a masterful job of tracing the personal history of this ‘father of presuppositionalism.’ I could not put this book down.” – K. Scott Oliphint, Professor of Chruch History at Westminster Theological Seminary and editor of the book The Defense of the Faith (Cornelius Van Til)

In Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman (American Reformed Biographies) we read:

In 1944, at the suggestion of former student H. Evan Runner, Van Til wrote the widely distributed pamphlet Why I Believe in God … In this dialogue with an imaginary skeptic, Van Til admitted that God was for him the “all-conditioner,” who thoroughly shaped his belief in God. He then demanded that the unbeliever make a similar acknowledgment. “If you want to say that belief was poured down my throat, I shall retort that unbelief was poured down your throat.

Religious neutrality, in other words, was impossible. If one is not for God one is against God, and to be without bias is simply to have a particular kind of bias.

From the Martyn Lloyd-Jones Recordings Trust

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was possibly the greatest British preacher of the twentieth century. His ministry at Westminster Chapel and his writings earned him respect and affection throughout the world. He had a decisive influence on many individuals and on evangelicalism as a whole.

Now John Peters who (like the Doctor) is a Welsh- speaking Welshman, has written the first complete account of The Doctor’s life and achievement. It includes personal reminiscences by men and women whose lives were changed by Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Related Link: Living Grace — Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

(HT: Original Source)

We wholeheartedly recommend the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

Download it Now!

1. Letter Size (8.5 x 11)
2. Legal Size (8.5 x 14)

(HT: National Right to Life)

(1) True Christianity has always taught the inspiration, sufficiency, and supremacy of Holy Scripture. It has told men that “God’s written Word” is the only trustworthy rule of faith and practice in religion; that God requires nothing to be believed that is not in this Word; and that nothing is right which contradicts it. It has never allowed reason, or the voice of the Church, to be placed above, or on a level with Scripture. It has steadily maintained that, however imperfectly we may understand it, the Old Book is meant to be the only standard of life and doctrine.

(2) True Christianity has always taught fully the sinfulness, guilt and corruption of human nature. It has told men, that they are born in sin, deserve God’s wrath and condemnation, and are naturally inclined to do evil. It has never allowed that men and women are only weak and pitiable creatures, who can become good when they please, and make their own peace with God. On the contrary, it has steadily declared man’s danger and vileness, and his pressing need of a Divine forgiveness and atonement for his sins, a new birth or conversion, and an entire change of heart.

(3) True Christianity has always set before men, the Lord Jesus Christ as the chief object of faith and hope in religion—as the Divine Mediator between God and men, the only source of peace of conscience, and the root of all spiritual life. The main things it has ever insisted on about Christ, are—the atonement for sin He made by His death, His sacrifice on the cross, the complete redemption from guilt and condemnation by His blood, His victory over the grave by His resurrection, His active life of intercession at God’s right hand, and the absolute necessity of simple faith in Him. In short, it has made Christ the Alpha and the Omega in Christian theology.

(4) True Christianity has always honored the Person of God the Holy Spirit, and magnified His work. It has never taught that all professing Christians have the grace of the Spirit in their hearts, as a matter of course—because they are baptized, or because they belong to a Church. It has steadily maintained that the fruits of the Spirit are the only evidence of having the Spirit, and that those fruits must be seen! It has always taught, that we must be born of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit, and feel the operations of the Spirit—and that a close walk with God in the path of His commandments, a life of holiness, love, self-denial, purity, and zeal to do good—are the only satisfactory marks of the Holy Spirit.

Such is true Christianity. Well would it have been for the world, if there had been more of it during the last nineteen centuries! Too often, and in too many parts of Christendom, there has been so little of it—that Christ’s religion has seemed extinct, and has fallen into utter contempt!

This is the Christianity which, in the days of the Apostles, “turned the world upside down!” It was this which emptied the idol temples of their worshipers, routed the Greek and Roman philosophers, and obliged even heathen writers to confess that the followers of the “new superstition,” as they called it, were people who loved one another, and lived very pure and holy lives!

Let it never be forgotten, that its leading principles are those which are least likely to please the natural man. On the contrary, they are precisely those which are calculated to be unpopular and to give offense. Proud man does not like to be told that he is a weak, guilty sinner—that he cannot save his own soul, and must trust in the work of another—that he must be converted and have a new heart—that he must live a holy, self-denying life, and come out from the world.

Yet, this is the Christianity which is doing good at this day, wherever real good is done. The only religious teaching which can show solid, positive results—is that which gives prominence to the doctrines which I have endeavored to describe. Wherever they are rightly taught, Christianity can point to fruits which are an unanswerable proof of its Divine origin. There are myriads of professing Christians who have no life or reality in their religion—and are only nominal members of Christ’s Church. Except for going to church on Sundays, they give no evidence of true Christianity. If you mark their daily life—they seem neither to think, nor feel, nor care for their souls, or God, or eternity. Men and women who crowd churches on Sundays—and then live worldly selfish lives all the week—are the best and most efficient allies of the devil.

True faith is not a mere “mental assent” to certain theological propositions—but a living, burning, active principle—which works by love, purifies the heart, overcomes the world, and brings forth much fruit of holiness and good works. Let us live as if we really believed every jot and tittle of Scripture—and as if a dying, risen, interceding, and coming Christ, were continually before our eyes!

From John Owen’s “The Glory of Christ”:

“WE MAY, in the next place, behold the glory of Christ, with respect to His office, in the actings of God toward Him after His discharge of it in this world, in His own exaltation.

These are the two heads to which all the prophecies and predictions concerning Jesus Christ under the Old Testament are referred—His sufferings and the glory that followed (I Pet. 1:11). All the prophets testified beforehand “of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” So when He Himself opened the Scriptures to His disciples, He gave them this as the sum of the doctrine contained in them: “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26). The same is frequently expressed elsewhere (Rom. 14:9; Phil. 2:5—9).

So much as we know of Christ, His sufferings and His glory, so much do we understand of the Scripture and no more.

These are the two heads of the mediation of Christ and His kingdom, and this is their order which they communicate to the Church—first sufferings, and then glory: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (II Tim. 2:12). They only deceive themselves who design any other method of these things. Some would reign here in this world; and we may say, with the apostle, “Would you did reign, that we might reign with you.” But the members of the mystical Body must be conformed to the Head. In Him, sufferings went before glory; and so they must in them. The order in the kingdom of Satan and the world is contrary to this. First the good things of this life, and then eternal misery, is the method of that kingdom (Luke 16:25).

These are the two springs of the salvation of the Church, the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth, from which flows all the golden oil whereby the Church is dedicated to God and sanctified. [The reference here is to Zechariah 4.] This glory of Christ in His exaltation, which followed on His sufferings, is what we now inquire into.”

(HT: Recover the Gospel)

Shack Attack-or A Call To Discernment by Wayne Elliott.  Downloadable .pdf here.

Uncovering The Shack by Dr. Michael Youseff.

“The Shack” by William P. Young by Tim Challies. A downloadable more comprehensive review in .pdf here.
(Tim Challies’ review may be the most comprehensive and popular to date.)

The Faulty Foundations of The Shack part 1, part 2, part 3 & part 4 by Pastor Alan Dunn.
(Another very in depth review.)

The Shack review by Matt Slick.

The Shack review by Gary E. Gilley

Audio Reviews

Albert Mohler Radio Program – A Look at “The Shack” – mp3

Calling for Truth with Dr. Paul Jean with guest Tim Challies on The Shack – mp3

CARM Radio show with Matt Slick interviewing The Shack author – mp3 (Yes, Matt seems unsure if the book was written as fiction in the beginning.)

Understanding the Times with Jan Markell with guests Eric Barger and Larry DeBruyn – mp3’s hour 1, hour 2

An interview that endorses The Shack – Steve Brown Etc. – Steve Brown interviews the author – mp3

abor·tion (ə-bôr’shən) noun
The termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus; especially: the medical procedure of inducing expulsion of a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy. (Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.)

Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures in the world, but the average person knows almost nothing of its gruesome reality. Year after year, it lurks in the shadows, quietly destroying almost 4,000 innocent human beings a day in the U.S. and 130,000 a day worldwide. In the U.S., this is happening because seven Supreme Court Justices decided that abortion was a constitutionally protected act. Without a vote, without public debate, abortion came in through the back door, never having to bear up under the weight of significant public scrutiny. Today, abortion is a billion-dollar industry which enjoys the support of very influential people in very high places. High schools and universities go to great lengths to graphically expose the dangers of smoking, drunk-driving and STD’s, but take a pass when it comes to abortion. Abort73.com exists to tell you what almost no one else is, so please, don’t make up your mind until you’ve taken the time to examine the facts. You are standing on the threshold, so come a little further. We dare you to know.

Take a moment here to consider a time in history, January 1973. This video gives us an historic look at the slew of high-profile events which largely kept the public’s eye off the Supreme Court’s tragic rulings in Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton.

Send a message to President Obama that you oppose FOCA and support current federal abortion laws.

FOCA Would Wipe Away Every Restriction on Abortion Nationwide

This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter’s abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Helpful Links:

1. The Baby in My Womb Leaped for Joy
2. Multimedia Files Available for “Prolife/Abortion”
3. Abort73.com

I’ve slowly read this section from Horatius Bonar’s The Everlasting Righteousness (pp. 33-36) several times. My heart sings each time I read it. I hope your heart breaks forth in praise for the Lamb.

We are never done with the cross nor ever shall be. Its wonders will be always new and always fraught with joy. “The Lamb as it had been slain” will be the theme of our praise above. Why should such a name be given to him in such a book as the Revelation, which in one sense carried us far past the cross, were it not that we shall always realize our connection with its one salvation; we shall always be looking to it even in the midst of the glory; and we shall always be learning from it some new lesson regarding the work of him “in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”? What will they who here speak of themselves as being so advanced as to be done with the cross say to being brought face to face with the slain Lamb, in the age of absolute perfection, the age of the heavenly glory?

You fool! Do you not know that the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ endures forever and that you shall eternally glory in it, if you are saved by it at all?

You fool! Will you not join in the song below, “To him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”? Will you not join in the song above, “You were slain, and here redeemed us to God by your blood”? And do you not remember that it is “the Lamb as it had been slain” that “the seven spirits of God are sent forth into all the Earth”? (Rev. 5:6)

It is the Lamb who stands in the midst of the elders (Rev. 5:6) and before whom they fall down. “Worthy is the Lamb” is the theme of celestial song. It is the Lamb that opens the seals (6:1). It is before the Lamb that the great multitude stand clothed in white (7:9). It is the blood of the Lamb that washes the raiment white (7:14). It is by the blood of the Lamb that the victory is won (12:11). The book of life belongs to the Lamb slain (13:8). It was the Lamb that stood on the glorious Mount (14:1). It is the Lamb that the redeemed multitude are seen following (14:4), and that multitude is the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb (14:4). It is the song of the Lamb that is sung in heaven (15:3). It is the Lamb that wars and overcomes (17:14). It is the marriage of the Lamb that is celebrated, and it is to the marriage supper of the Lamb that we are called (19:7, 9). The church is the Lamb’s wife (21:9). On the foundations of the heavenly city are written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (21:14). Of this city the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb (21:27, 22:1, 3) sum up this wondrous list of honours and dignities belonging to the Lord Jesus as the crucified Son of God.

Thus the glory of Heaven revolves around the cross, and every object on which the eye lights in the celestial city will remind us of the cross and carry us back to Golgotha. Never shall we get beyond it, or turn our backs on it, or cease to draw from it the divine virtue which it contains.

The tree–be it palm, cedar, or olive–can never be independent on its roots, however stately its growth and however plentiful its fruit. The building–be it palace or temple–can never be separated from its foundation, however spacious or ornate its structure may be. So, never shall the redeemed by independent of the cross or cease to draw from its fullness.

In what ways our looking to the cross hereafter will benefit us; what the shadow of that tree will do for us in the eternal kingdom, I know not, nor do I venture to say. But it would seem as if the cross and the glory were so inseparably bound together that there cannot be the enjoyment of the one without the remembrance of the other. The completeness of the sacrificial work on Calvary will be matter for eternal contemplation and rejoicing long after every sin has been, by its cleansing efficacy, washed out of our being forever.

Shall we ever exhaust the fullness of the cross? Is it a mere stepping-stone to something beyond itself? Shall we ever cease to glory in it (as the apostle gloried), not only because of past, but because of present and eternal blessing? The forgiveness of sin is one thing, but is that all? The crucifixion of the world is another, but is that all? Is the cross to be a relic, useless though venerable, like the serpent of brass laud up in the tabernacle to be destroyed perhaps at some future time and called Nehushtan? (2 Kings 18:4). Or is it not rather like the tree of life which bears twelve manner of fruits and yields its fruit every month by the banks of the celestial river? Its influence here on Earth is transforming. But even after the transformation has been completed and the whole church perfected, shall there not be a rising higher and higher, a taking on of greater and yet greater comeliness, a passing from glory to glory–all in connection with the cross and through the never-ending vision of its wonders?

Of the new Jerusalem it is said, “The Lamb is the light [or lamp] thereof” (Rev. 21:23). The Lamb is only another name for Christ crucified. Thus it is the cross that is the lamp of the holy city; and with its light the gates of pearl, the jasper wall, the golden streets, the brilliant foundations, and the crystal river are all lighted up. The glow of the cross is everywhere, penetrating every part, reflected from every gem; and by its peculiar radiance transporting the dwellers of the city back to Golgotha as the fountainhead of all this splendor.

It is light from Calvary that fills the Heavens of heavens. Yet it is no dim religious light, for the glory of God is to lighten to it (Rev. 21:23). Its light is “like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal… and there is no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light” (Rev. 21:11; 22:5). Yes, we shall never be done with the cross and the blood; though, where all are clean and perfect in every sense, these will not be used for purging the conscience or justifying the ungodly.

It is the symbol both a a dying and of a risen Christ that we find in the Revelation. the “Lamb as it had been slain” indicates both. But the prominence is given to the former. It is the slain Lamb that has the power and authority to open the seals; implying that it was in his sin bearing or sacrificial character that he exercised his right, and that it was his finished work on which this right rested and by which it was acquired. It is as the Lamb that he is possessed with all wisdom and strength–”the seven horns and the seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Rev. 5:6); the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of omniscience and omnipotence.

The Lamb is one of his special and eternal titles; the name by which he is best known in Heaven. As such, we obey and honor and worship him; never being allowed to lose sight of the cross amid all the glories of the kingdom. As such we follow him, and shall follow him eternally. As it is written, “There are thy that follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev. 14:4).

“On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters,” Obama said in a written statement.

“I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.”

The 1973 Supreme Court decision, enshrined as “Roe v. Wade” for the key figures in the case, gave the United States some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the world.

Roe v Wade galvanized conservative religious groups against abortion and made it a hot-button political issue, even though surveys have shown that more Americans are pro-choice — in favor of a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion — than pro-life, or against abortion.

Even a survey conducted last year by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) showed that only 11 percent of Americans favored a total ban on abortion.

Obama’s statement was “like a breath of fresh air for those of us who’ve been locked in the abortion wars for so long,” Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, told AFP.

“This represents a new way of thinking that will serve women a lot better in the future, while protecting the rights that were established by Roe v Wade,” he said.

In his statement, Obama spoke of the need for “affordable contraception, accurate health information and preventive services” in order to “prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion and support women and families in the choices they make.”

No one was available for comment at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops or at the pro-life American Life League (ALL), which in a statement issued last week slammed Obama’s “radical support for abortion on demand.”

“Obama promises to be the most virulently pro-abortion president in history. Millions more children will be endangered by his radical abortion agenda,” the ALL statement said. (Original Source: Yahoo News)

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

Just this evening I discovered a wonderful resource, a booklet by Jim Ellif called The Eaglet.

The Eaglet presents the good news about Christ in a colorful story that engages both children and adults. Parents, grandparents, pastors, Bible study leaders and loving Christians everywhere will find it an important resource for explaining what it means to believe in Christ.

We have worked extremely hard both in art/design and content to present Christ as clearly as possible in this booklet. I think you will appreciate the beauty and message in your copy of the newly-designed Eaglet, but I especially want you to distribute it broadly. We’re hoping it will be an unusually effective tool for your churches and communities, and that many will come to Christ through it.”—Jim Elliff, author.

An older version of this booklet is available as a PDF here.

Obama’s second full day as president falls on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States.

The sources said Obama may use the occasion to reverse the “Mexico City policy” reinstated in 2001 by Bush that prohibits U.S. money from funding international family planning groups that promote abortion or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion services. It bans any organization receiving family planning funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development from offering abortions or abortion counseling.

The “Mexico City policy,” commonly referred to by critics as “the global gag rule,” was devised by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 at a population conference in Mexico City.

President Bill Clinton lifted the ban in January 1993 as one of his first acts as president, but President George W. Bush reinstated it in his first executive order on January 22, 2001, the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

At the time, critics — including Planned Parenthood — called the move a “legislative ambush.”

Bush defended the action, saying then: “It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortion or actively promote abortion.”

(HT: CNN)

As expected, we can read of Obama’s intention to “Supports a Woman’s Right to Choose“. From the official White House site we read:

President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in that case.

Translation: Obama will do everything in his power to secure the right of women to kill their children if they so choose. Only their unborn children mind you. Exactly the ones who have no voice and can not defend themselves.

To be sure, to champion the termination of the unborn makes you an enemy of God; one whom God will surely judge. We, you and me, and the unborn child, all are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); formed and knitted in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). Abortion is an assault on God’s divine right as giver of life.

Must Reads:

1. Where Does Child Killing Come From?
2. Pray for the Third Wave
3. Fetal Development
4. Rescuing Unborn Children: Required and Right
5. Sources to Help You Speak Against Abortion
6. abort73.com

No real surprises here. Bishop Robinson prayed to the “…God of our many understandings…” By any account, given the coverage of what was to be expected from Robinson’s prayer, the Bishop’s prayer was no surprise, but shocking none the less. When you consider the fact that the bible is replete with references to “the only true God”, “the Lord God of Israel”, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. God, understood in truth, is hardly a God of many understandings.

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that there is only one God, one Lord, one Savior.

If not convinced, consider for your own study this small sampling of Scripture pointing to the “one true God”

Jer. 10:10, John 17:3, Acts 3:13, Ephesians 4:4-6.

1 John 5:20 sums it up nicely:

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

One final thought here. Is it just me, or is it obvious to others that Bishop Robinson’s prayer completely excluded any “call of justice” for the unborn. A holocaust of immense proportion, the senseless murder of 1.2 million babies annually in the U.S. alone, not even mentioned in Robinson’s prayer. (see Abort73.com)

I would like to echo Steve Camp’s prayer for Bishop Robinson:

pray earnestly for Bishop Robinson that the true God of the Bible would grant him godly sorrow leading to repentance from sin, genuine saving faith to believe, and the grace to confess and know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Being mindful of 2 Tim. 2:24-26, it is important that we remember to correct our opponents with gentleness. Lord help us keep our motives pure and our own hearts clean before You.

Bishop Robinson said he had been reading inaugural prayers through history and was “horrified” at how “specifically and aggressively Christian they were.”

“I am very clear,” he said, “that this will not be a Christian prayer, and I won’t be quoting Scripture or anything like that. The texts that I hold as sacred are not sacred texts for all Americans, and I want all people to feel that this is their prayer.”

Bishop Robinson said he might address the prayer to “the God of our many understandings,” language that he said he learned from the 12-step program he attended for his alcohol addiction.

Specifically and aggressively Christian. As though this were a bad thing. Maybe Mr. Robinson needs to take a hard look at scripture before he rules out using it in his prayer.

Psalms 1:

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Related Links:

1. How Barack Obama Will Make Christ a Minister of Condemnation
2. Desire and Deceit: The Real Cost of the New Sexual Tolerance
3. The Idol of Our Many Understandings — Bishop Robinson at Prayer

All of the past sessions and seminars are now free to download.

Themelios is published three times a year exclusively online at www.theGospelCoalition.org. It is presented in three formats: iPaper (a Flash-based interface that allows flexible viewing without requiring you to download the document ), PDF (for downloading and citing pagination) and HTML (for greater accessibility, usability, and infiltration in search engines). Themelios is copyrighted by The Gospel Coalition. Readers are free to use it and circulate it in digital form without further permission (any print use requires further written permission), but they must acknowledge the source and, of course, not change the content.

This is the first of many first no doubt to be associated with the Obama Presidency. Christians, if ever their were a time to humble ourselves and pray it is now (2 Chronicles 7:14). It is my humble opinion that many influential Christian leaders are encouraging the Christian community to pray the wrong prayer with respect to Obama and his Presidency. These Christian leaders are praying and asking others to pray blessings upon Obama.

Congratulations again President-elect Obama. May God bless you and strengthen you as you embark on a historic journey. — Bishop T.D. Jakes

The Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders. I am honored by this opportunity to pray God’s blessing on the office of the President and its current and future inhabitant, asking the Lord to provide wisdom to America’s leaders during this critical time in our nation’s history. — Rick Warren

When asked “Are you looking forward to an Obama administration? A change?”, Pat Robertson had this to say …. I am remarkably pleased with Obama. I had grave misgivings about him. But so help me, he’s come in forcefully, intelligently. He’s picked a middle of the road cabinet. And so far, if he continues down this course, he has the makings of a great president. So, I’m very pleased so far. (This is a stagaring quote from Robertson)

Note: Emphasis in italics are mine.

The cry from our Christian leaders should be that Obama turn from his wicked ways, come to faith in Christ, and lead our nation as a true man of God. It is appropriate, as many have pointed out, to use 1 Timothy 2:1-5 as a model for whom we should pray, how we should pray, and for what we should pray. It’s unfortunate however that many apply this portion of scripture in very broad terms. John Piper, in his message, Pray for Kings and All in High Positions, make this point.  You will want to read through and maybe even listen to this message from Dr. Piper.

In closing, there is no question, that as Christians, we should pray for our leaders. The critical issue here is that we pray as God would have us to pray. So my prayer today is that our prayers would be Spirit lead and not something of our own invention.

I would propose that the subject of the ministry as long as this platform shall stand, and as long as this house shall be frequented by worshippers, shall be the person of JESUS CHRIST. I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist; I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist; but if I am asked what is my creed, I reply: “IT IS JESUS CHRIST.” My venerated processor, Dr. Gill, has left a Body of Divinity, admirable and excellent in its way; but the Body of Divinity to which I would pin and bind myself for ever, God helping me, is not his system or any other human treatise, but Christ Jesus, Who is the sum and substance of the gospel, Who is in Himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth, the all-glorious embodiment of the way, the truth and the life. — Delivered on Monday Afternoon, March 25th, 1861 by the Rev. C. H. SPURGEON

Helpful Links:

1. 369 – The First Sermon in the Tabernacle (PDF)
2. 369 – The First Sermon in the Tabernacle (HTML)
3. C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography, Vol 1: The Early Years
4. C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography, Vol 2: The Full Harvest

1. Go to the ESV Reading Plans page.
2. Right-click (Ctrl-click on a Mac) the “RSS” link of the feed you want.
3. Choose “Copy Link Location” or “Copy Shortcut.”
4. Start iTunes.
5. Choose Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast
6. Paste the URL from step three into the box.
7. Click OK.

(HT: JT)

We wholeheartedly recommend the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

By accenting the centrality of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (historia salutis), and by incorporating faith union with Christ into the deepest structure of its soteriology (ordo salutis), [1] Reformed theology in the tradition of John Calvin offers an expansively rich conception of salvation in Christ, [2] and affirms a robust theology of justification in Christ. Believers are justified in Christ by receiving through faith alone the imputed righteousness of the crucified and resurrected Son of God. [3] Reformed theology therefore affirms the central redemptive significance of union with Christ and maintains staunchly the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, received by faith alone, as the sole ground for the believer’s justification.

Notes:

[1] Soteriology is the study of the application of redemption to believers in Jesus Christ. Historia salutis focuses on the once for all accomplishment of salvation in the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. Ordo salutis concerns the definitive and ongoing application of redemption in Christ to believers. What has been accomplished by Christ in his death and resurrection (historia salutis) is given in Christ to all believers (ordo salutis).

[2] For an excellent summary of this development with reformed soteriology, consult Sinclair B. Ferguson’s The Holy Spirit.

And just when you thought you could no longer be shocked. Well, sit down. Planned Parenthood of IN is selling Christmas gift certificates. And yes, they can be used toward abortion.

Can’t respond any better than Matt did at LoneStarTimes.com:

… celebrating the most important crisis pregnancy of all time by selling gift certificates, perfect for the woman who has everything but moral fiber…. And it’s so much easier than finding the perfect “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament.

Here’s the story, from WISH-TV…

Gift certificates have become a popular holiday gift option, but a controversial new one, already has people talking.For the first time, Planned Parenthood in Indiana is offering gift certificates. The organization said a big increase in calls and visits from newly unemployed and uninsured Hoosiers prompted what it calls the unusual, yet practical gift option.

“People are making really tough decisions about putting gas in their car and food on their table, so we know that many women especially put healthcare at the bottom of their list to do,” said Chrystal Struben-Hall, VP of PP of IN.The certificates come in $25 increments. They can be used for everything from birth control to $58 examinations that include breast exams and pap tests. Men who receive healthcare at PP can use them too.

“They can be seen for sexually transmitted disease screenings, HIV tests and general prostate exams and those kinds of things,” said Struben-Hall.

Some Hoosiers… asked if the gift certificates could be used towards abortions. The answer is yes. But, PP said that’s not the purpose of the gift certificates.

Struben-Hall said, “They really are intended for preventative healthcare. We decided not to put restrictions on the gift certificates so it’s for whatever people feel they need the services for most.”…

Oh, please.

Planned Parenthood, this generation’s King Herod, you know, the guy who ordered the mass slaughter of babies when Jesus was born.

[HT: friend John E.]

Sept-October

A View From the Field
Read the highlights taken from a few of our field reports from Peru. This month we highlight the lives and ministries of Miguel Salazar Ruiz, Miguel Sanabria, and Arturo Marin.

An Impossible Yet Powerful Gospel
The Church needs men who will stand before the opposing masses with nothing to help them or defend them except the Gospel and the God who has promised to work through it… Then we shall see the power of God manifested in the genuine conversion of the greatest sinners.

The Lozi: Answering the Call
Shannon Reece has recently moved from Hannibal, Missouri, to Muscle Shoals. He and his brother Sean and their families are called to church planting among the Lozi of Zambia. Read the touching account of Shannon’s call.

You may not change your view on U2 after reading this book, none the less, Worldliness is a gift to the church and a must read for anyone open to evaluating how gospel-centered their consumption of media, clothes, etc. is.

From the forward by John Piper: What does it look like when the blood of Christ governs the television and the Internet and the iPod and the checkbook and the neckline? Most people have never even asked this question, let alone answered it. The idea that lines might come into being freely and lovingly (and firmly) as the fruit of the gospel is rare. That’s why this book is valuable.

The book has six chapters:

1. C. J. Mahaney, “Is This Verse in Your Bible?” [1 John 2:15]
2. Craig Cabaniss, “God, My Heart, and Media”
3. Bob Kauflin, “God, My Heart, and Music”
4. Dave Harvey, “God, My Heart, and Stuff”
5. C. J. Mahaney, “God, My Heart, and Clothes“
6. Jeff Purswell, “How to Love the World”

Do Not Love the World — 1 John 2:15-16 is at the heart of this book

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

In addition to purchasing the book (or if you’re not ready to purchase it yet), you can download extended excerpts from the book for free. Download the foreword by Dr. Piper and the opening chapter by C.J. (“Is This Verse in Your Bible?”) as a PDF here. And recently a series of excerpts on modesty was posted, from chapter five (titled “God, My Heart, and Clothes”). Read this entire chapter online here.

C.J.’s message from the 2002 New Attitude Conference, “Do Not Love the World” (1 John 2:15) is another tool for resisting the sin in our fallen world—and in our own hearts. (This conference message eventually grew into the first chapter of Worldliness.) You can watch, listen to, or download the message at C.J.’s sermon archive.

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

If you’re like me, you have been waiting with great anticipation the arrival of the ESV Study Bible.

I am happy to announce the wait is over and you can now get your very own copy of this amazing study bible.

We wholeheartedly recommend the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

The MP3s are provided below:

1. Session 1 – Total Depravity
2. Session 2 – Unconditional Election



3. Session 3 – Limited Atonement
4. Session 4 – Irresistible Grace
5. Session 5 – Perserverance of the Saints

Here is one of these videos by Mike Bullmore answering the question, “How are we to interpret natural disasters? Are they necessarily a sign of God’s judgment?”

Here’s a four-part sermon series from Moo on the book:

1. Part One – Col 1:3-14 — Douglas Moo gives a broad overview of the book of Colossians of how they were trying to fit Christ into the worldview they’d already adopted. He homes on some key thoughts in the book, such as bearing fruit and growing and God’s rescue and redemption, like that in Exodus.



2. Part Two – Col 1:15-20 — This section of Colossians celebrates the supremacy of Christ in creation and the new creation. All you could possibly know about God is found in Christ. He is not some “blurry, impressionistic view” of God but the exact image of the Father.
3. Part Three – Col 1:21-23; 2:6-15 — The message of Colossians is that you don’t need to go running after spiritual truth in other places in the “religious marketplace” outside of Christ. What is a life lived in Christ look like? It’s rooted in Him, built up in Him, strengthened in Him, and full in Him.
4. Part Four – Col 2:6-23 — Doug tackles the difficulties surrounding the text concerning baptism and seeks to understand it in its context in the chapter. Baptism is a “last act of conversion” where it is more or less a “sealing” upon our conversion. “Your Christian life needs to be directed by the transforming work of the Spirit within,” he underscores, “creating the mind of Christ in you, leading you to live a life that pleases Him and honors Him.

Should a Minister Preach the Funerals of Unbelievers?

Monday, September 15, 2008 — A Commentary by Russell D. Moore

The following is an excerpt from this article: (complete article here)

In some ways, a Christian pastor is fulfilling the very essence of his calling when he preaches an unbeliever’s funeral. He is remembering in thanksgiving a life of one made in the image of God. He is there to intepret the reality that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23).

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

Published by Reformation Heritage Books, Baxter’s Christian Directory is a comprehensive survey of practical theology. In it, Richard Baxter instructs Christians on a host of issues that they face in life. He gives directions for ordering one’s personal life before God, performing duties in family relationships, fulfilling responsibilities within the life of the church, and living uprightly in relation to public officials and one’s neighbors.

This book does a masterful job in combining the principles of communion with God and the specifics of obedience to God. No Puritan work on applied theology has approached the popularity, scope, or depth of this treatise. With widespread interest in counseling and practical, biblical living in today’s church, Baxter’s work should be a welcome addition to every library and to anyone who wishes to give solid scriptural answers to man’s most important questions.

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Westminster Bookstore or Monergism Books when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

Revelation 14:12: “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

In every age of Church History we have witness to Saint’s who’s faith endured to the end. It is also true that many, down through the Church Age, have deserted the faith.

The state of the Church is no different today. We are blessed with many examples of those who have spent the majority of their lives running with Jesus. Presumably all true Christians desire to preserve to the end. Given that fact, it behooves all Christians to learn from those who have modeled Christ-exalting endurance.

At the Desiring God 2007 National Conference (A Call for the Endurance of the Saints), the church was called to endurance in the face of anything and everything that would deplete her zeal for the glory of Christ. As members of the Church, Christ’s body, that call goes out to each one of us.

The Desiring God 2007 National Conference invited speakers who have stood firm in their trials for a long time. We would do good to listen and to read the stories of these Saints.

One of those Saints, Jerry Bridges, spoke on the topic “Four Essentials for Finishing Well”.

Jerry Bridges says there are four foundational, fundamental actions that will enable us to fight the good fight of faith and to finish well:

1. a daily time of focused personal communion with God
2. a daily appropriation of the gospel
3. a daily commitment to be a living sacrifice to God
4. a firm belief in the sovereignty and love of God.

Bridges reminds us that our aim is not only to persevere but to endure—not only to stand firm but to move forward toward the finish line and the presence of God in glory.

A tremendous resource coming out of the Desiring God 2007 National Conference is the book Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints. Read it and be blessed.

Finally, speaking of Perseverance, theologian John Murray proposed a definition to take account of the full biblical witness on this theme:

“Perseverance means the engagement of our persons in the most intense and concentrated devotion to those means which God has ordained for the achievement of his saving purpose.” — Redemption: Accomplished and Applied

This blog wholeheartedly recommends the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

1 Timothy 4:13-16

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

From The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges (speaking of ministers) — First Published in 1830

The great Shepherd, indeed, who gave himself for, gave us to, the flock [Eph. 4:8-11]; and there is no more responsible thought connected with our work, than the obligation of giving ourselves to our people, so that they shall be led to prize us as a gift from Christ.

We will consecrate our whole time, our whole reading, our whole mind and heart to this service. We are to be labourers, not loiterers, in the Lord’s vineyard; not doing his work with a reluctant heart, as if we did it not, as if we feared being losers by him, or giving him more than he deserved. The pastoral dignity is really the condition of a servant. It obliges a man to devote himself entirely to Jesus Christ, and to his Church.

Our responsibilities demand an entire devotedness of spirit to every soul, as if it were the sole object of our care. ‘It ought therefore to be our solemn and cheerful determination, to refrain from studies, pursuits, and even recreations, that may not be made evidently subservient to the grand purpose of our Ministry.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, believes that gay sexual relationships can “reflect the love of God” in a way that is comparable to marriage, The Times has learnt.

In his 1989 essay The Body’s Grace, Dr Williams argued that the Church’s acceptance of contraception meant that it acknowledged the validity of nonprocreative sex. This could be taken as a green light for gay sex.

[This is an absurd conclusion Dr Williams has drawn. The so called Evangelical Church is in a world of hurt when one of its major leaders takes this kind of position on homosexuality. -- Shane Trammel]

Related Links:

1. New light on Archbishop of Canterbury’s view on homosexuality
2. Powlison on Biological Tendencies, Homosexual and Beyond
3. Beliefs about Homosexual Behavior and Ministering to Homosexual Persons
4. How can we help Christians who are struggling with homosexual desires?
5. Discerning the Will of God Concerning Homosexuality and Marriage
6. From Desiring God: Resources on Homosexuality
7. Books by David Powlison
8. Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It?
9. Ex-Gay Backs Mohler: Homosexuality is a Sin

(HT: Between Two Words)

Just to make it clear, it is not one of the reasons we quote from and recommend books, because we make a lot of money doing it. We do get “click credits” if you follow a link, but this does not earn us any ‘hard’ money. We do get credit towards the purchase of books, but the books we get in this way only serve to help us grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God (Colossians 1:9-10). It should also be said that we do not recommend books so you will spend less time reading ‘the Book’, that is, the Word of God. God’s Word, without question, should be our primary source of growing in God and we want you to understand that is our position.

So, why do we recomend and quote from book? Simply stated, for your joy and God’s glory. Our hope is that you will grow in God (your joy) and this growth will strengthen your worship to God and your service to others in Jesus name (God’s glory)

From 9Marks — Careful reading is not just the pastor’s task. In fact, the members of Christian churches are charged with the responsibility of discerning error in their pastors’ teaching, and of choosing teachers who will not simply tickle their ears (Gal 1:6-9; 2Tim 4:3). Reading solid books is a great way to develop your appetite for theology and your ability to discern truth and error. These [books 9Marks would recommend] are not lofty books – but they are deep. Again, this is not an exhaustive list. But it will serve you well as a launching point for future growth and usefulness in the local church.

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Monergism Books or Westminster Bookstore when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, says Obama would have “the most extremist policies on abortion of any President in history. Senator Obama’s views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them. This would include Catholics, Evangelicals and all people of faith. He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act.”

Related Links:

1. Christian Defense Coalition Joins Call Asking Pastor Rick Warren…
2. Senator Barack Obama Wants You to Pay for Abortions – Christian…
3. why the controversial Christian Defense Coalition is launching a new campaign
4. ABC News report

This blog wholeheartedly recommends the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

Apparently, should one of Barack Obama’s daughters make a mistake [conceive a child], he would not have them ‘punished’ with a baby.

Barack’s open and unapologetic devaluation of the life of the unborn child is beyond comprehension. Senator Obama claims to be a Christian yet his words clearly mark his disregard for the authority of Scripture.

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that God is the author of life and no child, unborn or otherwise, is a mistake but God’s creation, fashioned in His image. Who is Senator Obama that he would presume to have more understanding than God with regard to the unborn.

Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Psalm 22:10 — On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 139:13 — For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Genesis 1:27 — So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Related Links:

1. Barack Obama Would Back Daughters’ Abortion, “Don’t Punish Them With a Baby”
2. Barack Obama before Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007 (transcript)
   
3. Barack Obama video speaking before Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007
4. Youtube of #3

From page 156-157, we read:

Distractions from holding to the centrality of Christ are repeatedly to be found throughout his [Lloyd-Jones] sermons:

Beware of regarding anything as the work of the Spirit in you, no matter how striking the phenomena may be, if it has not led you to the Lord Jesus Christ … Our great enemy tries to counterfeit these things, and he can produce phenomena, but he never leads to the Lord Jesus Christ. [1] The devil turns people’s attention to phenomena, to the experiences, to the excitement. Any teaching or preaching which does not keep the Lord central and vital and overruling everything is already wrong teaching.

The lesson of Christian biography, he reminds us, is that the saints

were more concerned about holiness and about God and his love and knowledge of him than they were about the experience.

The claims of some that ‘experience of Christ’ supersedes any need for adherence to the word of God, and orthodox belief, he strongly denied.

I am not interested in the experience of a man who is still wrong in his doctrine. The test of the baptism with the Spirit is that it leads a man to the truth and to an understanding of the truth.

It is to the word that the Spirit of truth directs attention. Thus, he would often say, revival comes,

while God’s people are met together and the word is being expounded and unfolded. That is the way in which it comes. And again let me make this clear; the expositions need not be about the Holy Spirit, or about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Many friends need to be reminded of this at the present time.

Irrespective of what a man may say about a vision or an experience that he has had, if the teaching cannot be found in Scripture, or be reconciled, with Scripture, it is to be rejected as false teaching. Even though the remainder of his teaching may be scriptural and accurate, he is in error and he must not be follwed.

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1. Child Training
2. (Biblical Family) Biblical Manhood – Part 1
3. (Biblical Family) Biblical Manhood – Part 2
4. (Biblical Family) Biblical Womanhood – Part 1
5. (Biblical Family) Biblical Womanhood – Part 2
6. (Biblical Family) Biblical Womanhood – Part 3
7. Q & A — Paul Washer & Dr. Voddie Baucham – Part 1
8. Q & A — Paul Washer & Dr. Voddie Baucham – Part 2
9. Q & A — Paul Washer & Dr. Voddie Baucham – Part 3
10. Q & A — Paul Washer & Dr. Voddie Baucham – Part 4

The full text of the article BRAININESS: GOOD BUT NOT SUFFICIENT follows with some comments at the end. Emphasis in italics mine.

“Modern Reformation” is a bimonthly magazine published by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Its editor is Michael Horton, and among its advisors and contributors are W. Robert Godfrey, Ron Rosenbladt, R. C. Sproul, Timothy George, Douglas Groothuis, Carl F. H. Henry, and John Warwick Montgomery. If you read the more scholarly Evangelical journals, you will recognize some of those names.

Once upon a time, “Christianity Today” was the intellectual center of Evangelicalism, but CT long ago ceased to devote its pages to serious writing. Today it represents Evangelicalism Lite–not a liberal version of Evangelicalism but an intellectually lightweight version. “Modern Reformation,” which is a dozen years old, has filled much of the gap.

A recent issue was devoted to the theme “We Believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.” And these Evangelicals do, but it is one thing to believe in something and another thing to locate it. I admire the seriousness that infuses the articles in this special issue, and I wince in sympathy at the lack of success in finding that one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

In his contribution, Michael Horton tries to define what is meant when one says the Christian Church is “catholic.” “At one end of the spectrum are Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and specific Protestant bodies that often claim simply to be the catholic church without remainder.” This won’t do, he says, because the real Church is not mainly a visible body, and these churches are all visible.

“On the other end are most evangelical and pentecostal groups that, in their ‘nondenominational’ denominationalism, understand the church as simply the sum total of individuals who are truly born again.” That won’t do either.

The answer is to be found among the “churches of the Reformation,” Horton says. They “reflect a somewhat mediating position.” They have visible elements, such as “faithful preaching and right administration,” but they also take into account that the true Church is present wherever the gospel is preached. These Reformed (Calvinist) churches thus are one step up from the atomism of nondenominationalism but one step down from the rigor of the pre-Reformation churches of the East and West.

As I said, I wince when I read such arguments. I wince because the arguments are so unconvincing, as splitting-the-difference arguments usually are. I don’t want to pick on Michael Horton. Those writing in “Modern Reformation” on the three other marks of the Church are in the same predicament.

Paul C. H. Lim, for instance, laments that a friend has left Evangelicalism for Rome, but this only encourages Lim “to take a journey of his own to discover what true unity means and why, as a Protestant, he can assent to being part of ‘one, holy, catholic, and apostolic’ church.”

Well, Mr. Lim can assent to that, but he is not assenting to a fact, because the church he belongs to does not in fact have those four marks. Wishing does not make it so, and, reading between the lines and taking into account the evident intelligence and sincerity of the writers, I am led to think that they know–either consciously or subconsciously–that their position is not tenable.

Some Catholics think that Protestantism, being a truncated form of Christianity, must appeal only to people of restricted intelligence. Sure, there are many fine people in Protestantism, but those with brains move elsewhere. It’s not as simple as that. I know many highly intelligent Protestants, including several of the men whose names are listed above, and their remaining Protestant is not a matter of a lack of brains.

Why do they seem convinced by arguments such as those in this issue of “Modern Reformation,” when I and others think the arguments are so weak that, in a way, they prove the opposite of what they were intended to prove–that is, that they prove the necessity of joining the real Catholic Church (I mean the one headed by the Pope)?

Why are these intelligent people happy with arguments that others find flawed–and not just flawed on the periphery but flawed in their core? I have no answer for that. The situation may be something like that famous line drawing of a vase. Squint your eyes just so, and the image becomes two faces. Squint again, and it’s back to a vase. So near, yet so far.

Mr. Keating in saying the following presumes we trust he understands and is part of the one true church, that being the Roman Catholic church.

I wince in sympathy at the lack of success in finding that one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church…. I wince because the arguments are so unconvincing.

Keating argues that the Reformed understanding of the church is unconvincing yet offers no defense of his own position on the definition of the church.

Keating goes on to say, speaking of those in the Reformed camp:

I am led to think that they know–either consciously or subconsciously–that their position is not tenable…. Why do they seem convinced by arguments such as those in this issue of “Modern Reformation,” when I and others think the arguments are so weak that, in a way, they prove the opposite of what they were intended to prove–that is, that they prove the necessity of joining the real Catholic Church (I mean the one headed by the Pope)? Why are these intelligent people happy with arguments that others find flawed–and not just flawed on the periphery but flawed in their core?

It’s interesting to me that Keating expects readers to move in his direction simply because he and others think the Reformed view of the church is weak. Keating is hardly convincing to me. Really, who does Mr. Keating think he is?

In the absence of Keating’s defense of his idea of ‘the church’ and his lack of reference to scripture, I will provide here a summarized explanation of the Reformed understanding of the church with scripture references.

systematic theology, chapter 44, the church: its nature, its marks, and its purposes — Wayne Grudem

The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved. Paul says, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). Here the term “the church” is used to apply to all those whom Christ died to redeem, all those who are saved by the death of Christ. But that must include all true believers for all time, both believers in the New Testament age and believers in the Old Testament age as well. So great is God’s plan for the church that he has exalted Christ to a position of highest authority [not a Pope] for the sake of the church: “He has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.” (Eph. 1:22-23).

Jesus Christ himself builds the church by calling his people to himself.

A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, chapter 20, the nature and foundation of the church

…. we can assert here that the church in Scripture is composed of all the redeemed in every age who are saved by grace through personal faith in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ, “the seed of the woman” (Gen. 3:15) and suffering Messiah (Isa. 53:5-10).

The church is one by virtue of its union with Christ. All its members are baptized by one Spirit into one body having one Head and one Lord. There is one building with one foundation, one flock under one Shepherd. Dissensions and divisions among Christians obscure the oneness of the body of Christ. Hence, we have various appeals in the epistles for unity through patience and love [not through a Pope]. The church’s “oneness,” as both fact and ideal to be achieved, is taught particularly by Jesus and Paul. [John 10:14-16; John 17:20-23; Romans 15:5-6; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:14-16; Ephesians 4:3-6; Philippians 2:2; Colossians 3:12-14]

To rap this up, I would just say there is an overwhelming body of biblical evidence to support the Reformed concept of ‘the church’ as being the body of Christ; those who are partakers of Christ and the blessings of salvation that are in Him.

Although we have not yet reviewed this Crossway title, we whole heartedly commend the ministry of Paul David Tripp, and recommend anything currently available from him.

Watch an interview with Paul David Tripp about Whiter than Snow

Publisher: Crossway/Good News Publishers
Author: Tripp, Paul David
ISBN-13: 9781433502309
Binding: Paperback
List Price: $12.99
Westminster Bookstore: $9.74 – 25% Off

A major survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith. A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. And almost the same number believes that there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion. This openness to a range of religious viewpoints is in line with the great diversity of religious affiliation, belief and practice that exists in the United States, as documented in a survey of more than 35,000 Americans that comprehensively examines the country’s religious landscape.

Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions – not just their own – can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%). Only among Mormons (57%) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (80%) do majorities say that their own religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life.

A similar pattern is evident in views of the Bible. Nearly two-thirds of the public (63%) takes the view that their faith’s sacred texts are the word of God. But those who believe Scripture represents the word of God are roughly evenly divided between those who say it should be interpreted literally, word for word (33%), and those who say it should not be taken literally (27%). And more than a quarter of adults – including two-thirds of Buddhists (67%) and about half of Jews (53%) – say their faith’s sacred texts are written by men and are not the word of God.

You can digest the complete report here.

Related Links:

1. NY TIMES: Survey Shows U.S. Religious Tolerance
2. ABC Report on Pew Survey
3. New Survey Maps Shifts in the U.S. Religious Landscape
4. Eye To Eye: Religion Survey
5. More Than 90 Percent of Americans Believe in God, Study Finds

You can read the complete article here but I would like to focus on something Franklin Graham said.

After the meeting, Franklin Graham issued a statement praising the Arizona senator’s “personal faith and his moral clarity.”

“The senator and I both have sons currently serving in the military, and also have a common interest in aviation,” Franklin Graham said. “I was impressed by his personal faith and his moral clarity on important social issues facing America today.”

I resonate with the patriotic sentiment, I am thankful for those who are willing to die in service to protect their country. It’s that statement about McCain’s personal faith and moral clarity that just floors me. Given other statements by Franklin in the past, maybe this should not be so scandalous to me, but I am sorry, it is.

McCain, to be praised for his “personal faith and his moral clarity”. Wait a minute, did I read that correctly.

I would like to know what’s so impressive about McCain’s faith and morality.

The McCain machine sees evangelicals as only having one choice, McCain obviously. Check out this quote and see how it sets with you.

Bob Heckman, who leads McCain’s outreach to conservatives, said voters will see clear differences — and McCain’s values better dovetail with their views than do Obama’s, he added.

“Part of our job is to remind them they’re down to a binary choices,” Heckman said. — Fox News

I think the ones needing the reminder are those running the McCain campaign. I challenge anyone to show me a portion of scripture from God’s Word (a Christian’s rule for faith and practice) where he must vote for the ‘best of the worst’ if you will. I will vote my conscience thank you very much. That conscience tells me McCain is a politician first and foremost and he is doing everything he can to win the Christian vote. All the while, very little is really known about McCain’s “personal” faith. That’s one of the big problems we should have with McCain, his unwillingness to boldly make statements about his faith.

I would say, Personal faith in what? What kind of faith are you referring to? Are you talking about the kind of faith that would characterize someone standing firm on the biblical gospel as intolerant? As Christians we are to boldly uphold the truths of the bible in love. To withhold these truths for fear of offense is certainly offensive, but not in the way many would expect. It is an offense to God when we hold back the truth in our fear of men.

In my way of seeing things, the so called “binary choice” is no choice at all.

All English Standard Version Personal Size Reference Bibles
at 40% discount
Poythress on the ESV

HeartCry Missionary Society is somewhat unique in that they raise up indigenous missionaries that they might evangelize their own peoples.

Vol. 57 of HeartCry Magazine was a joy to read and I recommend it to all.

Note: Consider supporting this blog by going to Monergism Books or Westminster Bookstore when looking for great deals on Christian books. — Shane Trammel

The following announcement celebrates the return of Manning to Vanguard University, a long time Assemblies of God institution.

Spiritual Formation Department

Chapel Series Special Events

Vanguard University Welcomes Back Brennan Manning

In October of 2006, our community had the honor of hosting best-selling author, spiritual troubadour and self-proclaimed ragamuffin Brennan Manning as a special guest in our University Chapel Series.  That year, as we were beginning to explore “The Furious Love of God”, Brennan brought us a message titled, “Healing Our Image of God and Ourselves.”  His words brought a true spirit of hope and recognition of our identity as Abba’s beloved children.  We are thrilled to welcome him back once again, this time presenting a week-long series titled: “The Experience of Jesus as Lord.”  You won’t want to miss this.

Books and media by Mr. Manning will be available for purchase at all sessions.  The morning sessions are closed events and limited only to Vanguard community members.  However, evening sessions will be open to the public free of charge.

Dates and Times: October 14-16, 2008

In her Baccalaureate Address to the Class of 2002, at what is now Vanguard University, Dr. Elizabeth Dermody Leonard quotes Brennan Manning no less that three times.

Manning’s book, Abba’s Child, is a key text book in the Vanguard University class ‘ADVANCED PSYCHOPATHOLOGY’. Almost 20 % of the grade for this class is based on the use of Abba’s Child.

Vanguard University even has a Spiritual Formation Department which is normally code for, ‘we have embraced mysticism‘.

If you review Manning’s scheule, you will notice his plans to visit several AG institutions:

1. Vangurard University
2. Central Assembly of God

Mark Chaplin, Associate Professor, Pastoral Ministries, North Central University (AG School) has this as part of his bio:

He counts among his personal favorites such authors as Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, Gordon Fee and C.S. Lewis, and students can expect to read selections from his assortment of choice writers.

(emphasis mine: underlined names would be considered to be ‘Christian’ mystics and  their teaching should be avoided.)

Other Resources:

1. CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY/MYSTICISM AS SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND METHODOLOGY
2. SPIRITUAL FORMATION: JUST SAY NO
3. WHOM WILL YOU SERVE BRENNAN MANNING?
4. Ragamuffin Gospel, Not the Gospel at All.
5. Beware of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Download the sessions here:

1. Reforming our understanding of God
2. Reforming our understanding of Evangelism
3. Reforming our understanding of Justification
4. Reforming our understanding of Holiness
5. Q & A

(HT: OKCRT)

Here is Colin’s account of his time with Dever.

When attending the Capitol Hill Weekender several months ago, I had the great privilege of joining Mark Dever for two hours as he carried out a “structured meditation.” Every week Dever grabs time with an alert, theologically informed chap in his congregation to think through how the sermon text applies to various groups within his diverse church.

Sitting in on this exercise was extremely insightful. First, it exemplified how to better use “the application grid”, something which I have used numerous times in the past. Furthermore, it evidenced the patient care that should be taken in this stage of the process: this truly was unrushed and thoughtful consideration of how the passage intersects with the congregation. Finally, I came away more fully convinced that this stage of sermon preparation is possible (and even productive) to do in collaboration with others.

Since returning from the States I have started my own practice of meeting someone for lunch and going through my own adapted version of the application grid. It has already made a real difference. Time and again I am struck by the lines of application that I hadn’t even thought of from my narrow, individual perspective.

An example application grid can be found here. A blank application grid here.

Update.

(HT: BTW)

Paul Schafer, a fellow Brother and blogger, recently lost his daughter, Abigail Schafer. Please keep his family in your prayers along with the Rainey’s.

1. A Journey into the Heart of God
2. God’s Immanence and Immensity
3. God’s Goodness
4. The Justice of God
5. The Mercy of God
6. The Grace of God
7. God’s Omnipresence
8. God’s Omnipresence and Immanence
9. The Holiness of God
10. The Perfection of God