Wisdom from Bridges on The Christian Ministry

There is as much benefit in the right choice of books, with which we should be most familiar, as there is in the election of other friends or acquaintances, with whom we may most profitably converse. No man can read everything, nor would our real store be increased by the capacity to do so. The digestive powers would be overloaded for want of time to act, and uncontrollable confusion would reign within. It is far more easier to furnish our library than our understanding. p46

Invictus, John Carlin

This is certainly a case of the book being better than the film. A fascinating read of how Mandela steered and planned his way to the top to lead a nation out of the horror of apartheid. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Language a bit strong for my liking in a few places but it was in the setting of quoted rugby player conversation. As far as lessons. Probably the example of Mandela in the effort that he took to understand people that he might lead the to a better understanding.

The Blind Side, Michael Lewis

A light holiday read. Not very often can someone say that the film is better than the book - but that is my assessment of this book. Don't waste your money on buying this - the film is much better. The storyline of this true story is fascinating - rich Christian American family take in a a poor black teenager who they love and shape to become a leading NFL hero.

Cry the Beloved Country, Alan Paton

David Powlinson of CCEF fame somewhere recommends this volume. I bought this last year and only got round to reading it on holidays this summer. Of the hundreds of books I have read over the years this is the best written by a long shot. It is a novel following the heartache of a black South African pastor searching for his rebellious son. Many key features of life are illustrated in this wonderful book. While many see it as a classic that traces the racial tensions of South Africa there is much more here by way of Biblical lessons. On every page we are reminded how broken this world really is. The reader is also reminded of the root of all trouble - sin.

Song of the Nighingale, Helen Berhane

This is a short and not very well written book that is absolutely fascinating. It recounts the details of the life of a woman imprisoned in the most appalling conditions in Eritrea. Her crime was sharing her faith in Jesus Christ. While there was a lot of theological head scratching at some things in this little volume one cannot help but be impressed by the desire that this woman has to share the faith. I couldn't help think - would I stand firm in the faith under such conditions?

The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, John Piper

I read this a few years back and read it again on holidays as I ran out of Sabbath day reading and turned to my wife's collection. This is Piper at his best in biographical analysis. This volume covers Luther, Augustine and Calvin. Each biography covers the basics of the life of the individual and then Piper's wonderfully penned applications and challenges from the life of. Much here to challege the pastor who is called to feed the people of God.

I Can Plod, John Appleby

This is a biography of the founder of modern mission, William Carey. It is not wonderfully written but the the power of Carey's life shines through all the same. It is one of those biographies that you will need to read with a pen and paper - the lessons just pour forth. Appleby has a great grasp not only of the life and work of Carey but also provides a thoughtful assessment of the times in which Carey laboured. One thought keeps striking me when I read this book - where are the Carey's of today? Where are the men and women with a passion for reaching the unreached? The lessons from the life of Carey are legion:
1. the Lord blesses hard work.
2. Persistence is vital in the work of the kingdom.
3. To reach the lost great effort will be required.
4. To mission effectively in a different culture a well integrated team is required.
The writer makes a mistake on page 198 - he says in a footnote the word for baptise always means immerse - that is very much disputed.

Taming the Tiger, Tony Anthony

Someone gave me this book as a freebie and like all freebies it sat in my desk for a while, after a few months was put on a shelf and then on a tidy up nearly got dumped. For some reason having put it in the waste paper basket I retrieved it and thought - I will give this a read. And what a read! It is the biography of Tony Anthony, three times world king fu champion. Not the sort of biography I usually go for. I was struck by the mercy and power of God to save and to keep those for whom Christ died. I was reminded that as believers we have a great deal of growing to do and God is faithful even when we fall. I was struck by the grip of grace that God has on His children. I was struck as to how the Lord delights to use his people in bringing others to faith.
Well worth the read. Authentic publisher.

Sermons to the Spiritual Man WGT Shedd

I read the counterpart to this volume (Sermons to the Natural Man) a few years back and found it very beneficial. This volume is exactly what it says in the title - sermons to the spiritual man - 26 of them to be exact. Each sermon has that typical Shedd approach - intensely thorough and imaginatively illustrated. I used this volume as a warm up for my daily devotions. Each sermon contains enough to inform the mind with new insights on the passage or text and stirring application to strike the heart.
My volume was hard back and published by Banner

The Cross Centred Life - CJ Mahaney

For 17 years as a minister of the gospel I have exhorted myself and the people of God to live only one sort of life - a life where the cross is in our constant gaze. This little gem by CJ Mahaney is a clear and concise call to the church to focus on the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. This says Mahaney is THE MAIN THING. The book comprises just 85 pages but each one is dripping with thought provoking and practical statement. This little giant consists of seven stimulating sections of compact comment on the cross showing how the cross rescues us from ourselves, performance Christianity and condemnation.
The book is a useful primer to serious life long reflection on the cross. If you read it don't stop at the last page but go on to the Scriptures seeking Him while He may be found. Go on to F.S. Leahy's classic trilogy on Christ and His cross.

Resources on the Lord's Prayer

Just finished preparation on the last sermon in a series on the Lord's prayer. In my preparation I have been making use of the following five books:
Reaching the Ear of God, Wayne Mack, P&R
When Grace comes Alive, Terry Johnson, Christian Focus
The Lord's Prayer for Today, Derek Prime, Day One
The Lord's Prayer, RT Kendall, Chosen
When You Pray, Philip Ryken, P&R
All five are worthy of a place on the bookshelf with Ryken, Johnson and Kendall being the most helpful. If you are into listening to the sermons of others Stuart Olyott is the key one to download.

Celebrating the Saving Work of God, J.I. Packer

Not my usual area of reading but picked up this four volume set over a year ago. Decided it was time it was read. This volume is a collection of 18 theological papers given at various conferences or written up in journals and brought together in this first in the series of Shorter Writings. The whole range of theological study is on offer: the Trinity, Covenant theology, person and work of Christ, justification, universalism, and an extended section on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. It is unlikely that a Covenanter minister would agree with all that an Anglican brother would write and that is the case for me too. Packer is a master with words and has a head for difficult doctrines and the ability to communicate what he wants to say. By and large I was with him in most things with the odd exception. In one or two places he is a bit more generous to Rome than I liked. But apart from that there is much of benefit in these papers.

The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, Daily quote

It is well to have a book for every spare hour to improve the parenthesis or interludes of time. p44

Bridges says that skimming books is a "most injurious habit"

The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, Daily quote

Bridges quoting from Scott's Life, "With all my discouragements and sinful despondency; in my better moments, I can think of no work worth doing compared to this. Had I a thousand lives, I would willingly spend them in it: and had I as many sons, I should gladly devote them to it." p23

The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, Daily quote

Those who will faithfully discharge their duty as ministers of the gospel shall have need to be prepared for sufferings.....Except we realise a high estimation of the Church, the constraining influence of the Saviour's love, and the upholding prop of Almighty grace, what is there to preserve us from sinking in to despondency? p12&13

The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, Daily quote

Speaking of the Christian ministry.......

"This therefore is the ordained means of conversion, and of subsequent establishment in every stage of the Christian life; and its necessity must continue, while there is a single sinner to be brought into the family of God, or a single grace in the heart of the saint to advance to perfection." p10

How different the view that ministers and the church has by and large of the ministry today. How many men see their ministry in this Biblical light? How many congregations view the ministry in their midst is this light?

The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, Daily quote

"For surely it is the highest dignity if not the greatest happiness that human nature is capable of here in this vale below, to have the soul so far enlightened as to become the mirror, or conduit or conveyor of God's truth to others."
p6

The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, Daily quote

It has been about 20 years since I read this book and after picking up a copy from the library of the late FS Leahy I decided to read again. Bridges was an Anglican minister from the 1800s. I reckon a chapter a day will do the trick. One chapter one quote.

"Who hath skill and strength proportionate? Who has a mind and temper to direct and sustain so vast a work? If our Great Master had not Himself answered these appalling questions by His promise - My grace is sufficient for Thee, and if the experience of faith did not demonstrably prove that our sufficiency is of God; who with an enlightened apprehension, could enter upon such an awful service, or if entered, continue in it?" p5

Singing the Songs of Jesus, Michael LeFebvre

Anyone who loves the psalms needs to read this book so that you will love them even more. Though just some 160 pages this is no airy fairy light weight ditty. Every line of this gem is carefully thought through and as a book punches well above its weight. The author has a different angle on psalm singing that is both thought provoking and worship empowering.
With psalm singing growing in popularity world wide this is a book just right for the times. The author is keen for the reader to see psalm singing as singing not simply words about Christ and breathed out by the Spirit of Christ but singing with Christ.
Although the writer makes it clear that this book is not a defense for exclusive psalm singing the reader is left with one concluding thought - why would anyone ever want to sing anything else.
Every psalm singing church should press this book into members hands so that they will be filled with encouragement to keep on singing the psalms. Every young person or not so young person looking out into the church and thinking - you know we really need to abandon these psalms for something more popular - needs to take up and read.
Food here not only for your mind but joy for the heart.

The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism

With the blessing of having a number of baptisms to administer in the life of the congregation I have been preaching a series on baptism, adding a new sermon when there is a baptism. To help in preparation I have been reading and studying up on baptism. I have had this volume on my to read shelf for at least a year and now have finally been through it. It is a collection of papers on the subject of covenantal infant baptism edited by Gregg Strawbridge. It has a good range of pastoral, historical and theological studies. Each chapter stands on its own and can be read without connection to the others. Gregg Strawbridge has managed to enlist some heavy weight reformed writers including Joel Beeke, Joseph Pipa, Richard Pratt and Daniel Doriani. Of the fifteen chapters only the penultimate one by Douglas Wilson gave me cause for concern. If I read him correctly he seemed to be favouring children partaking of the Lord's Supper. Having said that he did have some worthwhile comments to make on how we raise our children.
Anyone who is wanting to seriously study the whole issue of baptism must read this book.
It is published by P&R.