The Last Enemy

Michael Wittmer's book subtitled "Preparing to win the fight of your life," is to help the believer die well.  Since every single person reading this post is dying you should read this.  The book comprises twenty three short chapters filled with Scripture and pastoral insights.  It is winsomely written, clearly connecting with the big issues around the theme. It is candid and compassionate, clear and concise and above all Christ centred.  All of these things make is so very suitable for the believer who has been sent and arrow from heaven to say that they will soon be required in the Master's house.
This is the book that you can give to that Christian friend who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  But more than that read it yourself and live in the light of it.
I can't recommend this little volume too highly.  A master lesson in pastoral theology.

Dangerous Calling

This the the latest book from the pen of Paul Tripp.  The subtitle reveals what the dangerous calling is about - confronting the unique challenges of pastoral ministry. The book comprises three main sections: examining pastoral culture; the danger of forgetting who God is; and the danger of forgetting who you are.  The book is obviously written in Tripp's unique conversational preaching style.  In each chapter it is as if you are in his counselling room as he downloads a lifetime of pastoral experience and expertise. In this book the writer is shockingly open about the dangerous life of the ministry and the sins that so easily beset us.
If you are a minister and want to finish the course you simply must read this.  If you are training for the ministry you must take this deep into your heart and life or you will so easily become one of the ministerial casualties that sadly pepper every denomination.
This should be compulsory reading at every seminary.

The Works of John Flavel Volume 1

It was a bit of a marathon but well worth effort.  Volume 1 of Flavel has the title, "The fountain of life, A display of Christ in His essential and mediatorial glory." 42 wonderful sermons on the person and work of Christ.  Flavel is relatively easy to read and not given by and large to endless sub points.  These sermons are theologically stimulating and heart warming.  Some of the earlier sermons you could read through in one sitting, others need to be broken up.  The clearly demarcated headings help in dividing up to read.
Well worth the effort.  Just five more volumes to go.

Lessons with Flavel

Commenting on Isaiah 53v7 John Flavel says that one of the uses of this is to press on us Christlike patience in our sufferings.  He suggests by way of practical application that in our sufferings we ought to look in various directions for help.
1. Look upwards when tribulations come upon you: look to the sovereign Lord that commissionates and sends them upon you.  You know that troubles do not rise out of the dust nor spring out of the ground, but are framed in heaven.
2. Look downward - cast your eye downward and see those who lie much lower than you.  Can you see none on the earth in a more miserable state than yourselves.  What is your affliction? Have you lost a relation. Others have lost all....
3. Look inward, cast your eye into you own hearts: consider either the corruptions or grace that are there.  Cannot you find enough weeds there that need such winter weather as this to rot them
4. Look outward - and see who stands by and observes your carriage in trouble.  Are there not many eyes upon you.
5. Look backward,  consult the multitude of experiences past and gone...Is this the first strait that you have ever been in.  If so you have reason to be quiet, yet to bless God that hath spared you so long when others have had their days filled up with sorrow.
6. Look forward to the end of your troubles..... they shall not be everlasting troubles.
7. Look to the right hand  and see how you are shamed, convinced and silenced by other Christians... and yet can not only patiently bear the afflicting hand of God but are blessing.
8. Look to your left hand and there you will see a sad sight..... there you may see a company of wicked graceless wretches carrying themselves under their troubles, but too much like yourselves.  What do they more than fret and murmur; despond and sink... It is time for thee to leave off, when thou seest how near thou art come to them.
...... above all thine eying the great pattern of patience, Jesus Christ; whose Lamb like carriage, under a trial, with which thine is not to be named the same day, is here recommended to thee.  Oh how should this transform thee into a lamb for meekness also.

Church Planting is for Wimps, Mike McKinley

Light and easy read.   More of a biographic study of church planting than a how to manual.   Not the last book you will read on church planting but one that contains many principles whatever your experience of church planting.  What I really liked about this little volume was the honesty of the writer.  The author has a warts and all philosophy.  The open and honest humble approach of the writer is a ray of light amidst the super hero impression given by many who write on this sphere of church life.  While the setting is clearly North American and the numbers on a a grand scale there is much here from which anyone interested in church planting will prosper.

Taken up to Heaven, Derek Thomas

Having been asked to preach at a young people's conference day on the Ascension of Christ I thought that this book by Derek Thomas would throw some light.  I wasn't disappointed.  The book consists of eight chapters each one dealing with some dimension of the work of ascension.  As the author admits the material had it origins in a series of sermons preached on the subject.  Derek Thomas has done a good job in the translation of the sermons into this written format. The material is well set out and thoroughly applied throughout.  Useful to use as part of daily devotions.

The Next Story, Tim Challies

This is probably the best and only book that you will need to read on the impact of the digital era but read it you must.  The chances are that you have read this blog page on your laptop, smartphone or iPad.  Great tools to thank God for.  But like many good things they can come to control our lives and even weaken them if not used correctly.  Challies covers the while spectrum here - Facebook, surfing, texting, information at your finger tips.  What I like about his thorough approach is that he is not saying - bin your devices - any nutter could do that. Challies goes deeper.  He gets to the Word and applies the Word to the digital world we live in.  If you do Facebook you need to read this.  If you send emails you need to read this.  If you surf the net you need to read this. If you google you need to read this. Get the point - you need to read this.  I guarantee that you will be blessed and challenged.
It made me think.  Why do I need to check my email so often?  Why do I always have my mobile in my pocket?  What does my search history reveal about me?  Why am I so tempted to turn on my computer as soon as I get up?
So as far as repentance goes - I am no longer turning my macbook on first thing.  My email won't be checked so often - once a day will do fine.  I will master my new iPad and not be mastered by it.
Footnote - I saw a man on the beach yesterday who needs to read this book.  He had obviously taken his ten year old boy to the beach for a time of fun together.  As he kicked the ball back and threw a stick for his dog all the time he had his phone in his hand.  I thought catch yourself on mate - you are not the prime minister or the president of the US.  And neither am I - so don't expect instant messages back - I may be with someone more important than the both of us.

The Pleasures of God. John Piper

The publishers state on the cover "voted one of the century's top 100 books by World Magazine." It would be easy with such a build up for a book then to be a real let down.  Thankfully it wasn't. In fact I think that this was the John Piper book that I enjoyed the most to date.  It was first published in 2001 and many of the themes in the book appear in his other volumes.  The book comprises 10 chapters:

The pleasure of God in His Son

The pleasure of God in all He does

The pleasure of God in His creation

The pleasure of God in His fame

The pleasure of God in election

The pleasure of God in bruising His Son

The pleasure of God in doing good to all who hope in Him

The pleasure of God in the prayers of the upright

The pleasure of God in personal obedience and public justice

The pleasure of God in concealing Himself to the wise and revealing Himself to infants

One of the many things that I enjoy about reading John Piper is that you have to think, but more than that, you have to pause to worship the living Lord.  Another factor by which I judge a book is how often I say during the read - I need to preach on this.  It is safe to say that this thought appeared as I read each chapter.

Thoroughly recommended.  Even for the appendix, "Are there two will in God?" it is worth the money

Andrew Murray Men of Faith

While the majority of the population of the UK was applauding the tennis player I picked up this bite size biography of Andrew Murray the 19th century S. African pastor and evangelist.  This Murray was born and bred within the confines of Dutch Reformed Church.  He was a presbyterian who was heavily influences by the Holiness movement.  His deep devotion for the Lord Jesus shines through in every detail that the biographer records.  He was a man blessed with many gifts and graces and appears to have been one of those men with broad shoulders and endless energy for the kingdom of God.  Like most greatly used servants of the Lord this man faced many struggles in his efforts to serve his Saviour. While there is much to stir and challenge in the life of this godly man there are some things that seem a little confusing.  Thankfully the God that Murray served is bigger than our small thoughts of Him and His work with His servants.  One phrase stuck in my mind from Linder's account of Murray's life.  When God gives you a heart for His work expect His blessing.  So plod on.

A Praying Life, Paul Miller

Been reading through this book on prayer over the last few weeks and have had a love hate relationship with it.  I wanted to read it because I had read a few rave reviews and also the personal need to develop my private prayer life.  So what do I dislike about it?  I guess it's just one of my pet hates  - but why do American evangelical feel that they have to quote nuns and monks?  Now with that out of my system let me thoroughly recommend that you read this book.  If you are a normal Christian you lament that you don't pray as you ought.  This book doesn't come with a magic wand and hey presto perfect prayer life, but it will inform you, encourage you and help you to see that it really is possible to connect with God in a distracting world.
The book comprises five main sections: Learning to pray like a child; Learning to trust again; Learning to ask your Father; Living in you Father's story and Praying in real life.  There are 32 chapter in total each about a 15 minute read.  The author writes in a warm personal style letting you into his home to see how he and his wife learnt to pray amidst the business of a family life.
If you have a shelf for books on prayer this should be one of them.

Facebook photos

Call me an old fashioned nerd if you like but I just can't get this pictures on Facebook lark.  I may be wrong but I have a sneaking suspicion that all the happy smiling faces of my last night out, my formal, my new car, my new friend is fed by the obsession that life is all about me.  It seems that it feeds off the idea that I need as many people as possible to think, whaoh, they are so cool, so popular, so happy, so all together, what a great life they have.  It is called self worship. No actually idolatry.
What about a bit of reality?  Why not my formal that was such a let down, my new car that is costing me a mint to keep on the road, my new friend who has just dumped me.  Oh no couldn't do that - they wouldn't think so highly of me then.
Isaiah didn't do Facebook but I think if he did he would have posted no photo, but just the reality, I am undone.  He saw himself as he really was a sinner before God, ruined apart from the grace of God.  In the light of the glory of Jesus Christ He was released from the obsession with self to serving the only one who really has glory, Jesus Christ.  Here am I send me.
So young Christian, stop trying to build your own glory. Your glory is fading fast.  Soon you will not be that keen to post the sagging wrinkles or your latest wheelchair or zimmer frame.  Be obsessed with His glory and post it for all to see, in a life that is released from itself to serve Him.

Am I Called

When my wife saw this on my desk she commented, "Isn't it a bit late to be reading that."  Am I called is written by Dave Harvey from the Sovereign Grace Ministries stable.  Anyone considering pastoral ministry needs to read this.  If Carl Trueman and Tim Challies write in support of it that is good enough for me.  The book comprises three main parts: Approaching the call; Diagnosing the call and Waiting.
Each of the 10 chapters is well written and flows in Harvey's unique and readable style.  As well as thorough Biblical reasoning for each point being discussed the author has also forwarded many of the chapters with biographical material from some of the giants of ministry.  For these notes alone the book is worth the read.  This is not a heavy read but a thought provoking and enjoyable one.  I wish I had had such a book 25 years ago as I struggled with my call to the ministry.  Reading this has confirmed to me - stick at it!
From now on this will be my standard text for giving to young men both to persuade and dissuade regarding gospel ministry.

Let the Nations be Glad, John Piper

Every now and then you read a book and the instant thought is, Everyone needs to read this.  Well this is one of those books.  This volume by John Piper is all about mission and why mission should be the passion of every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The basic thesis of the book is that mission is all about making God supreme.  The book divides into three main parts:  The purpose, power and price; The necessity and nature of the task; and The practical outworking of compassion and worship.  In typical Piper mode it is saturated with Scripture and well endowed with suitable quotes from the giants of past generations.
If this book is not on every seminary reading list for evangelism then it ought to be.  Not that you will agree with all that you read.  It is a volume to ignite the heart.  It should come with a warning though - "This book might seriously change the direction of your life."  And isn't that what we are looking for.

Man United - No Cup but a message of Hope

Since I can remember I have only supported one team - Man U.  For nearly 50 years I have checked the results and delighted in every win.  Yesterday Man U didn't make it.  Pipped at the post by City.  Although it is hard to stomach I see something bigger - the love and mercy of the living God. Yesterday when City got the winner in extra time against the ten man QPR it was the love of God to the estimated 1.6 billion Man U followers across the world.  Every dreary eyed worshipped of the Reds is learning something new today - that the team that they hoped in for joy and satisfaction simply can't produce the goods.  Though the loyal fans across the world have given homage all season to their mighty men they wake this morning with a terrible ache - we didn't do it.  A dream unfulfilled. A satisfaction never provided.  And it is the love of God to show men and women the world over that no mere man, team or thing can satisfy the ache of the human heart for joy, satisfaction and fulfilment.
God caused City to win yesterday so Man U supporters who have worshipped their team so faithfully might look up and find the One who never disappoints, always produces the goods, satisfies with ultimate victory over our sin that would condemn us to hell if He had not taken the hell that we deserved.  When the final whistle blew yesterday God was declaring - come unto Me, worship Me, follow Me and you will have total joy.  If you are a Man U fan your sad heart at losing is God saying - stop worshipping your idol and turn to My Son Jesus and trust in Him.  If you are a City fan - when your gloating is over so will be your pleasure and you too must turn to Christ, repent of your sin for worshipping anything but the living God.  If you are a Christian use the epic end to the season to speak of the Ultimate winner who never lets His fans down - Jesus Christ.

Loving Christ's Church

Richard Baxter wisely writes that love for the church ought to be in a pastor's heart,
"He needs to delight in its beauty, seek for its good and rejoice in its welfare.  He must be willing to spend and be spent for the sake of the church." The Reformed Pastor
This is a key part of a man's call to the ministry.  Can it be seen that he loves the church of Christ, rejoices in her, thanks God for her, serves her, speaks well of her, is ready and willing to do all in his power to see her flourish.  Of course this is the duty of every Christian.

Sing a New Song

Anything from Reformation Heritage Books publishers is worth buying. This recent volume edited by Joel Beeke and Anthony Selvaggio is a fantastic book designed to stimulate the recovery of psalm singing in the twenty first century. The book comprises eleven chapters each written by a different writer. There are some big hitters in the list of writers - Beeke, Johnson and Murray to name but a few. Some of the chapters have an historical flavour, others on the blessing of singing psalms, and one or two from a more technical side. Malcolm Watt's defence of exclusive psalm singing is a belter.

I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough. Every right minded RP should fork out the fourteen quid and delight in the privilege of psalm singing. Any reader who imagines that there is just not enough weight to the exclusive psalm singing argument needs to read this too. And not for the chapter by Malcolm Watts but for the other ten chapters that speak so highly of singing the psalms. The only possible conclusion someone could come to is - why would I want to sing anything else.

Forever, living with eternity in view, Paul Tripp

This is another classic by Paul Tripp. If you like his style of writing - Biblical truth inserted straight into the heart before you get the Aoah out - you will love this one. His main thesis is that we must learn to view all of life from the viewpoint that this is not all that there is but that there is a vast eternity to get ready for.

The book is filled with heart warming illustration from a multitude of lives which helps get the truth right up close and personal. A whole host of areas are covered - from family to work. All of which are to be viewed from the vantage point of forever. Well worth the read.

The Busy Christian's guide to Busyness, Tim Chester

I joked to wife on reading this book that it took me rather longer than it should to read a relatively small volume, 179pages - "I was too busy." I guess that is the complaint of many today. Certainly it is an issue that I am finding more now nearly 20 years in to the ministry than I did when I started. It seems to be the daily cry of the majority of believers - too busy. Though there is much to help in a practical way in this volume this is no do it yourself guide to relieving the busyness. Chester goes much deeper analysing in the latter half of the book why we are so busy and just can't seem to say no to the boss. What is particularly helpful is the Biblical meditation at the end of the key chapters.

This is a must if you are starting out in working like, caught in the middle or ticking off the days to retirement which I am reliable informed are busier than ever.

I wish I could get my hands on a box of these. I think I could get rid of them very quickly.

Selected Shorter Writings of BB Warfield Vol 1

I bought this set of BBW simply because they belonged to the man who taught me to love the Reformed Faith, the late F.S. Leahy. Having read this volume it was obvious where my mentor gleaned his clear and concise style of writing. As I read this 500 page volume I could hear again in my head his to the point lectures on Systematics apologetics and ethics. This volume is exactly what it says on the tin- BBW's short writing culled from a host of journals and articles. It is composed of 59 chapters covering a variety of subjects - the theology of God, practical Christianity and an amazing final section of tributes to his former colleagues and friends. Chapter 52 is a must for theological students.

Remembering three mighty men

Today I visited the old Cregagh Rd meeting house as part of the Eastern Presbytery's committee responsible for the replanting of a congregation in East Belfast. The task seems so great, the need all around so overwhelming, our resources so meagre. But as I climbed the back stairs from the hall and entered the former session room the memories came flooding back. About twenty years ago I had the privilege of working in Cregagh during my first year placement from the Reformed Theological College. When a young inexperienced raw student entered that room it was a meeting place with God. It was in there prior to the service that three fathers in the faith paused to pray with you - Bob, Stanley and Herbie. None of them were men of great physical stature but even a novice knew that they were mighty men of God. As they prayed it seemed that windows of heaven opened and the veil drew back a little. These were men who knew their God and pleaded that their Saviour would be glorified in the saving of sinners and the building of the church. If those men were not already in their heavenly home and were hearing of this endeavour to replant in their beloved East Belfast they would be saying - Here am I send me. For years they prayed and laboured. And perhaps this response of the Presbytery is in answer to their prayers of long ago.

They are the sort of men that we are after. Men of prayer, men who love the Saviour, men who delight in the church of the covenant, men who will go the distance. If any young or not so young person reads this and you are wanting to do something with your life this is a challenge you can't afford to miss. I don't think we will get the likes of these three mighty men ever again. But they served a mighty God and merciful Saviour who delights to use the frail and weak.

If you would like to know more of the Eastern Presbytery's plans for East Belfast email me at djmccullough@o2.co.uk

There was no one in that room today. Maybe it is where you will be, pleading to the same Lord that my three fathers in the faith now serve within the glory of heaven.