The Conversation Stopper

For anyone who is familiar with the emerging church and its errors, this is a brilliant piece of video. For anyone who is not, this will make as much sense as a Brian McLaren book!

To find out where this originated visit here.

Enjoy!

New Books from The Banner of Truth

This month's edition of the 'Banner of Truth Magazine' came in yesterday, along with a sheet advertising some of their new publications. There are a few great looking texts which will be on my future reading list. I thought I'd post the details from the catalogue supplement along with some photos for those who don't get the 'Banner' regularly (in keeping with the concept of 'Double Usefulness, and all that!). All books can be purchased from The Banner of Truth Website,or ordered through your local bookseller.Sketches from Church History Student Workbook - Rebecca Frawley: £8.50
Complete with course syllabus, questions and answers, charts, time lines, maps, puzzles and essay topics, this Workbook will be an invaluable companion to S.M. Houghton's highly acclaimed Sketches from Church History, which is also published by the Trust. The Workbook in spiral-bound for ease of use.

The Life and Times of George Whitefield - Robert Philip: £10.00
Drawing on the testimony of those who had a personal knowledge of his subject, as well as from his own extensive study of Whitefield's journals, letters, and sermons. Robert Philip's biography is perhaps the best one-volume account of the life of the great evangelist of the eighteenth century. 'For those who want a work of quiet scholarship, Philip is not their man; but where there is a desire for the evangelical flame - for words that burn, and reach heart and soul - this volume will clearly show why the gospel can turn the world upside down' (Iain H. Murray)

David: Man of Prayer, Man of War - Walter Chantry: £12.50
A fascinating new study of ancient Israel's greatest king. Chantry's short chapters are full of rich pastoral insights into the life of faith, and practical lessons that every Christian will highly value. 'Perfectionists will not be comfortable with David. Those who stumble often, but who always turn with melted hearts to God for pardon and help, will find in him a brother for all situations. Such people will love the sacred history of his life and find it totally engrossing.' (From the Author's introduction).Raising Children God's Way - D.M. Lloyd-Jones: £5.50
Dr Lloyd-Jones in his balanced and exceptionally helpful exposition of Ephesians 6:1-14, shows how the gospel so wonderfully transforms the relationship between parents and children within the Christian home. These 5 remarkable sermons are drawn from the sixth volume of the Ephesians series, also published by the Trust.Let Christ be Magnified: Calvin's Teaching for Today - J.H. Merle D'Aubigne: £5.00
Many Christians around the world will soon celebrate the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth on the 10th July 2009. Perhaps the best way to commemorate the great Reformers birth is to remember the gospel he loved and preached. This rare little book takes us to the very heart and soul of Calvin's teaching - Jesus Christ. Quoting the Reformer's own words, the author insists: 'Let us give honour to persons who excel in the fear of God, but on condition that God remains above all - and that Christ triumphs.' Also contains a brief sketch of Calvin's life and work.Love Rules: The Ten Commandments for the Twenty-First Century - Edited by Bonnington and Milne: £6.00
This book conveys the vital importance of the Ten Commandments. It very clearly demonstrates the contemporary church's need to understand what the Bible teaches about the only moral standard that reveals the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the purity of the new life in Christ. Includes a very useful guide for individual and group study.

Humiliation for Secular Lecturers 101

Some of my most difficult days as a a Christian were in my first year as an undergraduate. I studied English at a secular university, as well as a smattering of philosophy. The basis of my beliefs, the authority of Scripture and the intellectual credibility/integrity of evangelicals at large were frequently drawn into question and summarily dismissed. It was difficult, and probably quite often unfair to an unsuspecting 18 year old!!

I think that this is why Dr James White's open letter posted over on his own site, where he tackles a lecturer who has been picking on his daughter's faith, strikes such a chord with me. You can read it here. I'm still trying to figure out whether the sense of glee and gloating that this engenders in me is sinful or not!!!

Thanks to Jonathan at Glosbaptist for a heads-up on this! (That's my way of saying that I stole this link from his esteemed blog!)

Periodical Fits of Frenzy

A trip over to Pyromaniacs is always worthwhile. Phil Johnson and the team have a wide variety of thought-provoking and often controversial articles, posted on most days of the week. One particular series which blesses me each week is the 'dose of Spurgeon' they serve Monday by Monday.

At the moment I'm reading John MacArthur's 'The Truth War' in anticipation of a major discussion which will be hosted on Pyromaniacs in the next month or so. Today's quote from Spurgeon is particularly relevant to the issues MacArthur tackles in his book, and is very encouraging in the face of the tidal wave of emergent heresy which is breaking on the shores of the evangelical church.

Reading Someone Elses' Scrapbook

I've just found a most amazing website/blog here. It is well-resourced, superbly written, and deep in content. I have a feeling that I'm going to learn a lot from 'The Shepherd's Scrapbook'!

An Insult to Oysters

I've been having a bit of a Spurgeon-fest since June this year, and have been richly blessed both by reading about the great preacher's life, and sampling some of his own writings. I'm currently working my way through 'An All Round Ministry', and am finding myself thoroughly blessed. A couple of passages that have been particularly rich are quoted below, both are from his address 'Forward!'.

The first relates to the deadly tendency in all of us who are preachers to be too long winded. I love the humour in what Spurgeon says:

"I heard one say, the other day, that a certain preacher had no more gifts for the ministry than an oyster, and in my own judgment this was a slander on the oyster, for that worthy bivalve shows great discretion in his openings, and he also knows when to close".

On a more serious note Spurgeon, at the end of the 'Forward!' address issues a heartfelt challenge to the ministers and students whom he was speaking to. It has blessed me, challenged me, and encouraged me in the step we are presently taking into missionary work:

"I plead this day for those who cannot plead for themselves, namely, the great outlying masses of the heathen world. Our existing pulpits are tolerably well supplied, but we need men who will build on new foundations. Who will do this? Are we, as a company of faithful men, clear in our consciences about the heathen? Millions have never heard the Name of Jesus. Hundreds of millions have seen a missionary only once in their lives, and know nothing of our King. Shall we let them perish? Can we go to our beds and sleep, while China, India, Japan, and other nations are being damned? Are we clear of their blood? Have they no claim upon us? We ought to put it on this footing,—not, "Can I prove that I ought to go?" but, "Can I prove that I ought not to go?" When a man can honestly prove that he ought not to go, then he is clear, but not else. What answer do you give, my brethren? I put it to you man by man. I am not raising a question among you which I have not honestly put to myself. I have felt that, if some of our leading ministers would go forth, it would have a grand effect in stimulating the churches, and I have honestly asked myself whether I ought to go. After balancing the whole thing, I feel bound to keep my place, and I think the judgment of most Christians would confirm my decision; but I hope I would readily, and willingly, and cheerfully, go abroad if I did not feel that I ought to remain at home. Brethren, put yourselves through the same process. We must have the heathen converted; God has myriads of His elect among them, we must go and search for them somehow or other. Many difficulties are now removed, all lands are open to us, and distance is almost annihilated. True, we have not the Pentecostal gift of tongues; but languages are now readily acquired, while the art of printing is a full equivalent for the lost gift. The dangers incident to missions ought not to keep any true man back, even if they were very great, but they are now reduced to a minimum. There are hundreds of places where the cross of Christ is unknown, to which we can go without risk. Who will go?"

'Meet the Puritans'

My very generous brother bought me a copy of this book at the beginning of the week. I don't know quite what to say about it - other than wow! This book represents a labour of love on the part of its authors, Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson, and is a kind of compendium on the life and work of the Puritans. It is tailored for both the beginner and the seasoned scholar in all things Puritan (I'm in the first category), and is refreshing and inspiring both in content and style. I have a feeling that it's a book which will, God willing, be in my hands for many years to come. For a copy of the book at a good price give ICM a shout online here. Thanks big bro!!

The Joy of Certain Guidance

This post, and the one below, constitutes some reflections on this important weekend for Carolyn and I, as we contemplate the conclusion of our ministry in Armagh Baptist Church tomorrow. As a couple we've been so blessed by the guidance and grace of God made apparently and abundantly known to us as we have sensed the call of God to mission. We can truly say 'All the way my Saviour leads me, what have I to ask besides?'. Today's first reading from Spurgeon's 'Morning and Evening' has been a rich blessing and I thought I'd share it here as a balancing post to the one previously posted this morning. What a joy it is to walk in God's path, to trust His hand, and to know His sustaining grace!

"Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."—Psalm 73:24.

The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray by it, he resolved that God's counsel should henceforth guide him. A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord. The blind man leans on his friend's arm and reaches home in safety, and so would we give ourselves up implicitly to divine guidance, nothing doubting; assured that though we cannot see, it is always safe to trust the All-seeing God. "Thou shalt," is a blessed expression of confidence. He was sure that the Lord would not decline the condescending task. There is a word for thee, O believer; rest thou in it. Be assured that thy God will be thy counsellor and friend; He shall guide thee; He will direct all thy ways. In His written Word thou hast this assurance in part fulfilled, for holy Scripture is His counsel to thee. Happy are we to have God's Word always to guide us! What were the mariner without his compass? And what were the Christian without the Bible? This is the unerring chart, the map in which every shoal is described, and all the channels from the quicksands of destruction to the haven of salvation mapped and marked by one who knows all the way. Blessed be Thou, O God, that we may trust Thee to guide us now, and guide us even to the end! After this guidance through life, the Psalmist anticipates a divine reception at last—"and afterward receive me to glory." What a thought for thee, believer! God Himself will receive thee to glory—thee! Wandering, erring, straying, yet He will bring thee safe at last to glory! This is thy portion; live on it this day, and if perplexities should surround thee, go in the strength of this text straight to the throne.

If you'd like more information about our forthcoming missionary service then please email us here, and we'll happily send you a pdf copy of our first prayer letter, and subsequent letters as they're produced. If you'd prefer it in hard copy then feel free to include your postal address in your email and we'll make sure it makes its way to your door mat instead of your inbox.

The Pain of Pastoral Regret

This post, and another one later today will probably be the last I'll post while I'm in the role of a Pastor. In God's will I'll be keeping 'Double Usefulness' going in the days to come, but our lives and my role in life are about to change significantly. As of tomorrow night Carolyn and I will become 'missionaries in training' with Baptist Missions, in preparation for going to Peru next year. Today is a time of preparation and reflection, as I'll preach for the final time as Pastor tomorrow morning, and then the church have very kindly arranged a special service for us in the evening. I thought I'd add two posts to the blog as my last point as a Pastor - isn't that what we often do in our preaching anyway: say 'and finally' and continue for another ten minutes?!

This first post could be labelled as a negative reflection - but I prefer to think of it as a dose of healthy realism. I'm reading Bonar's 'Memoir and Remains of Robert M'Cheyne' at the moment and am finding it so edifying. As M'Cheyne prepared to go to St.Peter's in Dundee he reviewed his ministry up this point, and wrote some thoughts in his diary which we can so readily identify at this stage in our lives. He had done his best, but knew that it was only a little in real, eternal terms. He deals with the pain of pastoral regret, with the sense that many (perhaps all?) pastors feel from time - that they simply have not done enough (nor can they do enough) in their service to God, that there are tasks, sermons, and elements of care that they could have fulfilled so much more fully. M'Cheyne writes:

'Lord I feel bowed down because of the little I have done for them which Thou mightest have blessed! My bowels yearn over them, and all the more that I have done so little. Indeed I might have done ten times as much as I have done. I might have been in every house; I might have spoken always as a minister. Lord, canst Thou bless partial, unequal efforts?'

Praise His holy name that He can and does bless our puny efforts to glorify His name. What a joy and what a terror to surrender our best labours, worn at the edges with sin and failure as they are, to the God who will try all of our works by fire!