On Old, Dead Theologians

I came across this article, by Justin Taylor, on why we should read old, dead theologians (as the title obviously suggests!). The article is an interview with Justin. Check it out here. Also, check out Justin's blog here

Quotes...

"You can be young, passionate about Jesus Christ, surrounded by diversity, engaged in a postmodern world, reared in evangelicalism, and not be an emergent Christian. In fact, I want to argue that it would be better if you weren't."

Kevin Deyoung (pg 15), Why We're Not Emergent.

A New Arrival...

The book, pictured to the left, arrived today. I started reading it tonight and so far it is great! You should check it out. Check out the site for the book here. Yes, it is available from Inspire Books and Gifts!!

Blank Bible Project...

Check out this series of posts on The Shepherd's Scrapbook blog. It is a list of instructions on how to take apart a bound bible and rebind it again with inserted blank pages for note-taking. It looks like a brilliant project. I keep re-reading them wishing I was handy with things like this or that there was someone else willing to do it and I could join in! Any takers?

The First Project...

The first book that I am going to review is C.J Mahaney's "Christ Our Mediator", a title worthy of being in the "Lifechange Books" series.

Read more here.

The Latest on Albert Mohler...

Justin Taylor has linked to a press release, from Southern Baptist Seminary, regarding the health of Albert Mohler. His response, in the press release, is a huge challenge and encouragement. Dr Mohler serves as the president of Southern Baptist Seminary. Check out his site, here, to read, or listen to, some of his insightful analysis and biblical exposition. He has a book coming soon, that has already gone to print, which I know I am greatly looking forward to. Pray for Dr Mohler.

A New Project.

Some new beginnings here.

A Much Needed Letter!

I love books! I love to sit down with a good book, a good cup of coffee, and read and be taught. I put quite a high value on a good book, especially when it comes to teaching us things about God and the things of God. We have to be so careful because it is so easy for all of us to get things so so wrong, and if we are thinking wrong then we will be living wrong because of it! Everything we read, just like everything we watch and listen to, impacts us for good or for bad. Now all I'm saying here is that we have to take care in choosing what to read and take care when reading it!

Quite a while back I bought a book called "What Love Is This" by Dave Hunt. The content of the book can easily be summed up by the sub-title, "Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God". Now, my purpose in this post is not to argue for or against "Calvinism", it's about the book. Dave Hunt writes from a staunch Anti-Calvinism position, and he does it incredibly badly! The people for whom he speaks, on behalf of, should cringe at how bad the book is written and how poor a job it does in articulating that particular position. The reason why I am writing this post is because, over recent days, it has come up as a book that has helped to shape people's thinking. Now, what I am not doing here is picking at people, or claiming to be the all-knowing one, I just want to sound an alarm that if you want a book to read on this topic, to help explain the positions, then this is not the one- it will mislead all who read it in their understanding of the subject because the simple facts are wrong!

The letter, that the title of this post mentions, is by a man called James White. James White is a well known apologist, who has responded to Dave Hunt's book by an open letter that he sent to the author. I found the letter only today so my thoughts have not been shaped or formed by this man's letter. I do encourage you all to read it though, if you have read Dave Hunt's book or are just interested.

I would recommend James White and Dave Hunt's book "Debating Calvinism". Ultimately though, if you want something to read on the subject, I say read the Bible- go to Romans or Ephesians to begin! I'm not here to sway your views, just to warn you about the errors in the book and, if you do read it, take care!

The letter is here.

New Beginnings...

As from the 31st of July, I will no longer be an employee of the Faith Mission bookshop. My employment is moving closer to my new home here in Lisburn. As of the 1st of August, I become an employee of the House of Vic Ryn, which can be found in Lissue Industrial Estate on the Moira Road. Let me explin why this is such a big deal for many people.

The House of Vic Ryn is a very unique business centre. The website makes it clear that they do not exist to simply provide a service, or simply to make money for the sake of making money, but they are a business with an incredible, God centred and God glorifying vision. Yes, The House of Vic Ryn exists to provide a service, to run business in a proper way but the passion and vision that fuels everything that they do is a deep-seated desire to give help to those who have committed their lives to helping others, and to see the gospel spread and people won to the Lord.

The big deal about me having a new job is not that I have got a new job, although that is big to me. The big deal is what the job means and provides. The next stage of the Vic Ryn vision is the opening of a Christian bookshop in their centre. It is an incredibly exciting veture for two reasons:

1. The service that will be provided

2. The place it will have in the larger Vic Ryn vision.


The Service:
Most of us will agree that the vision of a bible-based ministry is to see people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and for people to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and all to the glory of God. The new bookshop holds this as a major facet of its vision in its immediate context. The location of the bookshop opens it up to reaching people that a normal Christian bookshop can't. Being in the middle of a soon to be retail centre, with already existing businesses in place, the possibility of attracting the passing, non-Christian market gives the exciting prospect of getting good, sound and solid Christian literature, and mainly/especially the Word of God, into peoples hands with the earnest hope and prayer that with the reading of the material, God would move in peoples lives, giving them eyes to see and savour the beauty of Christ and for them to shun sin and hell and cling to Jesus for everything. I think you will agree, a mighty opportunity.
Secondly, to see people grow in their knowledge of Jesus and to be built up in their most holy faith. We get a glimpse of the heart of Jesus when He prays in John 17. We are very priviliged to get an opportunity to hear of such a conversation between the Christ and His Father. We catch a glimpse of the things that are most important to Jesus in those moments, and some of those things that concern us. I am specifically referring to Jesus' request in verse 17 of the chapter when Jesus prays "Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth."
Clearly, the desire of Jesus is that we become more like Him. We are also told that the way in which that takes place is by "the truth", the Word of God. So, the Word of God is of vital and primary importance. The bookshop will exist to get the Word of God into people's hands, and books that explain the Word and stay true and faithful to it. Many shops have no problem in selling overtly heretical books, this shop will strive to stock only those books that stay frimly true to the fundamental tenets of Christianity. Part of the service of the shop will be to cater for the needs of varying denominational beliefs etc, but there will be NO compromise on those beliefs that are fundamental to Christianity or those things that are just plain wrong!

The Larger Vic Ryn Vision:
Basically, whatever you buy in this shop, the profit will also be a part in accomplishing the larger Vic Ryn vision which is to give help and support to missionary and charitable causes. When you shop with us, you won't be making me rich, or making the directors of the firm rich, but will be helping to fund incredible causes and be a part of the gospel being spread across the world. I think this is an incredible vision that enables us who buy items from the shop, or any of the other businesses, be a part of a global mission and all we do is simply buy the same things but just from a different shop! I will post again soon and let you know what the money so far is accomplishing. It will blow your mind!


Your Part:
Come and use us when we open! There is already a cafe, furniture showroom, bathroom showroom and plumbing merchants that you can use, and the money goes to the same use. In terms of the bookshop, benefit from the resources and materials in the shop, knowing that, not only do you benefit, but many people will benefit from your purchase. The proposed opening date is October 1st, I will keep you up to date.