"Of Making Many Books There is No End"

This post is in connection to Mihilis and Baylor who are my friends...at times.


1. One book that changed your life: I know that this will be certainly weird, but Shepherding a Childs Heart by Tedd Tripp. If Websites were up for grabs I would say DGM.Org ever since I stumbled upon it when I was a 2nd semester Freshman at NBBC.

2. One book that you've read more than once: Biblical Separation, by Ernest Pickering (I know I'm sorry, really, I'm sorry).

3. One book you'd want on a desert island: Bible (ESV/NIV depends what mood I was in the day that I wound up on a desert Island). If Bible does not count I would want Desiring God.

4. One book that made you laugh: Mark Twain's, A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage. Had I actually read it, I would probably have put Dave Hunts, "What Love is This"

5. One book that made you cry: Absolutely Free! By Zane Hodges. Another would be "The Spiritual Life of Theological students by B.B. Warfield.

6. One book you wish had been written: Tuesdays with Adam Thomas. You know, a book about my worldly wisdom kind of Solomon like. Someone needs to chronicle my journey and milk my thoughts.

7. One book you wish had never been written: Biblical Separation (and all look alikes)

8. One book you're currently reading: Give Praise to God (Ryken, Thomas (not adam) and Duncan).

9. One book you've been meaning to read: Lectures on Calvinism By, Abraham Kuyper

10. Tag 5 others: I only have 5 friends and they tagged me.

11. Name one book you've read that really sucked: Again, Biblical Separation ( and all look alikes).

Good day to all.

Biblical Theology

I know that this book is not new and some of you probably already have it, but I needed to alert all who frequent this sight about it. It has been updated from the cover you see here and published through Soli Deo Gloria. It's subtitle is "The History of Theology from Adam to Christ". The work is an overview of the history of God's people through successive covenants which were established by God for his people. Monergism.com has the book and it is also highlighted in this months, absolutely sweet, TableTalk issue from Ligonier Ministries (my boy Sproul). The ISBN 1877611832 page amount is 911.

All must get this! Ok, maybe not all, but most, that is, after I get it.

Just a heads up. Mihilis and Baylor, I am coming with my "tag" post next.

Almost Riddle Like

In considering the journey of faith, both that of mine and those of whom are recorded within redemptive history, I am constantly being struck with a sense of enigma. That is to say, the journey of faith is somewhat inexplicable or almost cryptic in a way. I am constantly being confronted with a type of "win-loss" strategy from Scripture. Consider the idea that EVERYTHING connected to Christ is gained through loss. That is, if I am to gain Christ himself then I am to lose everything that I hold as gain (Phil 3.8). Is it not almost paradoxical to forsake things of value in order to gain valuables? Think of how suffering is gain? Is not suffering demeritorious almost, but yet without it you cannot see Christ? Better yet, we are to consider it meritorious when we suffer since through its taking from us we are actually gaining (Phil 1.29).

Redemptive history speaks of Abraham forsaking all that he had and experientially knew for something that he had never seen. I mean he left everything he had and left for a city "not knowing where he was going" (Heb 11.8). Moses also considered demeritorious reproach as wealth (Heb. 11.26). I mean, do you see the dilemma? The entire redemptive historical story, including your part is a paradox, that is, gain through losing is the story.

How then is the paradox destroyed and the beauty of the story revealed? Suggestions? (fear not I have my own, the right one of course:).

Taking A Bat to the Beehive

A NOTE TO THE READER:


I have recently caught wind of a bit of a rustling taking place due to the previous post. I must say, I am bit taken back from the notion that the idea of some of us younger men taking decidedly different approach in our futures than that of our pasts is coming to so many as a surprise?

Anyway, I say that to say this, I think that I speak for all (friends of like "faith" in the matter) when I say that we are not meaning to blatantly disrespect any one particular person, institution, or ministry with our comments (unless otherwise noted). Rather, this forum is an assumed context of jest, sobriety, devotion and scholarship. It is however, up to the reader often times to discern and decide which is which and when. That is, genre identification becomes significant in blogging (Note:The last post was not totally in Jest, this is for sure!)

This forum amongst friends, and sometimes others, is however, certainly open to "lockerroom" brawls and out and out "knock-down-dragout" fights since, once again, that is the assumed context!

Finally, here's to more bloggin' trouble, "CHEERS"!

Separating from Separating

I know that for many of you, well, for all of you ( I think anyway) the philosophical (some dare to even say "doctrinal") position known as "Separation" among evangelical brothers is far from receiving your attention at this point in your thinking. That distance of thought is what I would like to encourage all the more. I am not trying to instigate a debate over the 50's and all that took place between the Fundamentalist and according to Ian Murray, Billy Graham (Referring to his book Evangelicalism Divided). That is not the day in which we live. There is a new horizon with which we need to be concerned. This new horizon is rarely, if EVER, addressed without an appeal to the 50's! Worse yet, the exegetical witness is not there for someone to defend separation from conservative evangelical brethren. It is not there. Not there.

On a historical level the Fundamentalists have been battling the Southern Baptists for many years over what now is true HISTORY. It is now a terrible rumor to say that the SBC aligns itself with a liberal agenda through cooperative financial effort. The data is not there. Not there. So, why are the fundamentalists "separating" from them again?

Falacious too, is the idea that the Fundamentalists are somehow abidig by Paul's admonition to "mark and avoid" certain brothers by not sharing pulpits or classrooms but none-the-less commending one another to the doctrinally disordered brother's literature on Godliness, Systematic Theo, Devotional material etc. I do not think that that is a proper application to the Apostle's warnings. Well, I know its not.

Anyway, I just thought that I would pass that little tidbit along so as to make sure that we are all on the same page. And better yet, if not we could contend for the unity of the body against all rivals.

I assume the separatist ship has sailed and none of you are on it. If you are still however on the shore and considering it, DON'T. It's not really there.

Finally, I hope you love the irony of how I am separating from separating. Get it? Oh well.

The bondage to Self-Love

Do you subscribe to Tabletalk Magazine? If not, you should. Tabletalk is a monthly magazine from Ligonier Ministries that engages both the mind and heart. You can almost hear the RTS slogan in each article ("A Mind for Truth a Heart for God"- a personal favorite of mine).

I say all that to say this, last night I was smitten while I sat and read the introductory article to this months issue entitled, "Exceptional Mediocrity". The article is about how mediocrity is not something that ought to have ANY part in the Christian experience. In some sense Paul might even say let this "not even be named among you". Sproul writes,

"The legitimate motive for excellence is to seek achievement for the end to glorify God. That is the chief purpose for which we are created, to bear witness to His glory. One thing that does not bear witness to the glory of God is a human addiction to mediocrity, a smug satisfaction with the status quo" (TT pg7).

As I read that I could not help but to think that each and everyone of the theologians that I lean on, look up to, somewhat "idolize" or perhaps have a fascination with all have had the same current running through their veins. That is, they all worked hard (1 Cor. 15.10). I was confronted with the fact that doing theology and loving God is not easy and toilless. Rather, there is much labor to be done and work to be performed. I was so rebuked by Sproul's admonition and yet greatly encouraged and set aflame. I have much work to do but the work MUST be done.
I was admonished also that, "No one achieves excellence in any worthy enterprise without diligent and disciplined labor" (can you hear Edwards' "Resolved" list in that?). Is not the glory of the cross a "worthy enterprise" and does it not draw me unto labor?

Finally, Sproul wrote these inflamatory words, "Let us therefore seek to excel, let us push ourselves to the highest limits of endurance to achieve the highest possible level of excellence in all that we do, while at the same time watching vigilantly for the evil impulse of pride to vitiate any value to our labor. Let us work hard, let us excel to God's glory. Soli Deo Gloria."

Brothers, hate your self-love and keep working.