Update on Southern

Another seminar I finished up recently was on English Baptists of the 18th century with a specific concentration on the life and ministry of Benjamin Beddome.  Great stuff for pastors.  Beddome consistently reminded me of Spurgeon in his preaching style.  I wrote a major paper on Beddome’s sermons from Matthew that I hope to extend, as well as some really good church minutes (I know what you are thinking) that are written by a pastor from a strong pastoral theology.

William Bradford on the Providence of God during the Plymouth Plight

May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: "Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity10," etc. "Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how He hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them." "Let them confess before the Lord His loving kindness and His wonderful works before the sons of men."

Prayer During Lent Season

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Luthern Pastor Video

Another hilarious video that subtly touches on the truth.

Martin Luther-Trusting God in the Bad Times

Why then should we fear if this God favours us? Why should we tremble at the anger of the whole world? If He is our dwelling place, shall we not be safe though the heavens should go to wrack? For we have a Lord greater than all the world. We have a Lord so mighty that at his word all things sprang into being. And yet we are so fainthearted that if the anger of a single prince or king, nay, even of a single neighbour, is to be borne, we tremble and droop in spirit. Yet in comparison with this King, all things beside in the whole world are but as the lightest dust which a slight breath moves from its place, and suffers not to be still. In this way this description of God is consolatory, and trembling spirits ought to look to this consolation in their temptations and dangers.

What I Am Reading- A Call to Spriitual Reformation

The subtitle of Don Carson’s A Call to Spiritual Reformation implies the objective of the book.  This work is an exposition of Paul’s prayers meant to shape the believer’s prayer life.  A Call to Spiritual Reformation is immensely helpful and deliberately pastoral in helping answer one of the greatest conundrums of Christian piety: how should saints pray?  Most believers realize they should pray, but the way of prayer is another matter.  All Christians should be indebted to Carson for answering this question straight from the pages of Scripture. To put it plainly, this work is an exegetical masterpiece.  No chapter from the body of the book works independently from Scripture.  Because Carson’s material is closely linked to Paul’s letters, the reader will find it clear to fulfill the objective of praying using Scripture and thus growing in a deeper knowledge of God.

Hymn of the Month

Pre-Lenten Prayers (Approximately 50 Days Before Easter)

O Lord, who dost teach us that our doings without charity are worth nothing, send thy Holy Ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and all virtues, without the which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee; grant this for thy only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Nuts and Bolts

A church is thinking twice about doing good to “Occupy Wall Street” protesters.




An interesting yet all too common article about a perspective of a lesbian regarding Scripture


President Obama’s health care enters the religious fray.

John Trapp

                          The Irish air will sooner brook a toad, or a snake, than heaven a sinner.

Update on Southern

Upon my trip to Southern back in December, one of my projects was to be involved in a colloquium regarding spiritual disciplines.  The spiritual disciplines are a subject matter that has fascinated and revitalized some Christians while causing panic and confusion to others.  I suppose part of the controversy involves can spiritual disciplines be evangelical?  Many people equate spiritual disciplines or spirituality for that matter with mysticism.  People who desire proper definitions both biblical and historic should consult Alister McGrath’s book on Christian Spirituality.
The main focus of this particular colloquium was to give serious examination to the works of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard and Donald Whitney.  We were to compare and contrast these three authors (whom many consider to be either the most evangelical or popular or both in the area of spiritual disciplines) and critique their works.  For me personally, this was a most delightful assignment since as a pastor this is one of the most up and coming issues the church will be facing and has significant ramifications in the life of the church.  For his part, Dr. Whitney (who mainly had a passive role and humbly listened to critiques from us as well as received our encouragements) is preparing to release his 25th anniversary edition of “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” so we were allowed to provide our input of what should and should not be in the new edition.  We will see if he and the publisher listens (not that they have to).

Richard Baxter

Where the word blessed is hung out as a sign, we may be sure
that we shall find a godly man within. Sir Richard Baxter (based on Psalm 1).

Pre-Lenten Prayers (Approximately 60 Days Before Easter)

Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do, mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Matthew Henry

                         Men may die like lambs and yet have their place for ever with the goats.

Spurgeon on Delight

Take care to have something worthy to delight in. I do not know how those people go through the world who never have any sort of pure excitement, but always go moping about from the first of January be the last of December. Life must to them be a sorry drag. The sparkling eye and the smiling face are the things God meant men to have, and they do not realize life’s full beauty unless at times they posses them. Why, the Christian, above all man, should have what the world calls his “holidays and bonfire nights,”-his days of rejoicing, times of holy laughter, seasons of overflowing delight. Nay! I think he should strive to have them always, for we are told, “ Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of shine heart.” If we take our religion as men do physic, it is of little good to us. Some folks go to the house of God as you might suppose criminals would go be the whipping-post. But I like to see people come up to the
house of God with glad alacrity, like children going home, or like those who are bound for the place-
“ Where my best friends and kindred dwell,
Where God my Saviour reigns.”
(taken from his sermon on Psalm 1:1-3)

What I am Reading

Macrina was born probably in A.D. 327 to Basil and Emmelia.  She was their oldest child.  She was named after her grandmother, Macrina the elder.  This Macrina is often referred to as Macrina the Younger (or as Macrina “the Blessed”).  She had sisters of which very little is known, and several brothers (nine siblings in all).
Instead of conforming to the secular philosophy of the day, Macrina underwent an intense theological education in the Scriptures.  Her brother Gregory would observe that Macrina had an insatiable appetite for God’s word even as child.  She was drawn to the Wisdom of Solomon and to the Psalms in particular.  At the age of twelve, her father had arranged a marriage, but her young finance died unexpectedly leaving Macrina to take an oath of celibacy the rest of her life in order to pursue a life of Christian “perfection”.
Macrina’s influence can be witnessed in the religious training and pursuits of her younger brothers, Peter who later became Bishop of Sebaste, Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, Basil and Naucratius, who died young.  Gregory in his biography of his sister writes that when Basil returned home after his studies he was "puffed up" with his new knowledge of rhetoric and looked down on the locals. It was not long before his sister drew him to the study of philosophy by using the Bible and Basil took a course that was faithful in the Holy Scriptures.
All of these brothers along with Macrina were involved in some religious life of charity and prayer.  Upon the death of her father, Macrina devoted herself to the physical care and comfort of her mother and the spiritual development of many other Christians.  She comforted the family during seasons of grief (Naucratius died while hunting).  She established a community of believers devoted to asceticism, prayer, Scripture, and aiding others in need.  True to her belief system, she established this community out of her home made up of women of all classes including household slaves.  In addition to training her brothers, Macrina also influenced Gregory of Nazianzus and Eustathius of Sebaste.  This established group later became known as a group which practice and preached a lifestyle toward “Christian perfection”.  
Her brother Gregory honored her with a biography (“Vita Macrinae Junioris”) that he began to compose when Macrina was on her death bed.  This biography highlighted her piety in prayer as she awaited her entrance into heaven.  Their brother Basil had died some time before and Gregory was still grieving over him while Macrina lay dying.  According to Gregory, Macrina on her death bed rebuked him for his behavior that resembled more of a pagan than a Christian.  When he relayed to Macrina his persecutions, she replied that he ought to thank God that he was counted worthy to suffer.
Resurrection played a primary role in the life of Macrina, as her death bed talks with Gregory led him to write on the teachings of the resurrection, and dedicate it to his sister.  When she decided to remain single after her finance died, her motivation was that her betrothed was in a distant realm waiting to be reunited with her in Christ.  She firmly believed that the resurrection was simply “the restoration of human nature to its pristine condition”.  She consistently comforted Gregory’s spirit while she was dying until she could no longer speak.  She died in A.D. 379 and was buried in the grave of her parents.

Cotton Mather Quote

Cotton Mather gave what is among the best definitions of the purpose of preaching: “The great design and intention of the office of a Christian preacher is to restore the throne and dominion of God in the souls of men.”

Pre-Lenten Prayer (Approximately 70 Days Until Easter)

O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people, that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth & reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Nuts And Bolts

If you are beginning to think about tax season, and made at the government for over taxation, you are not alone.  However, I wouldn’t recommend doing what this fellow did.


There is always a perennial list of greatest guitarists, how on earth Phil Keaggy isn’t on the list I don’t know, particularly when urban legend has Jimi Hendrix crediting Philly as the greatest.

In tribute of Tim Tebow, there was a re-release of the 80’s classic “St. Elmo’s Fire” with the lead singer reworking the lyrics to pay homage to the Mile High Messiah.

Spurgeon on Psalm 1

“The sinner can do a thousand things which the saint cannot do, and would not if he could: and the Christian can do a thousand things of which the sinner knows nothing.”

Update on Southern

At the end of November and early December, I made my standard (first) trip to Southern.  I spent a week in Louisville only to return some ten days later.  I completed one seminar entitled “Biblical Foundations for Spirituality” led by Dr. Robert Plummer (one of Southern’s New Testament profs).  This seminar was to be led by Dr. Tom Schreiner, but due to his sabbatical, Dr. Plummer facilitated.  There were about fifteen students besides myself, and as usual it was extremely edifying.  Many great papers were presented, and I had the opportunity to ‘rub shoulders’ with many other brothers.  One of the most unorthodox moments is when Plummer suggested we return to the era of the Greco-Roman world and deliver our papers in the seminary hottub, which we did in one session, quite humorous.