This is one of the songs from T4G that has remained stuck in my head:
T4G2010 — O Great God from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
You can find the lyrics and back story here.
How I Will Probably Vote on the GCRTF in Orlando
I have to be honest and say that I am really torn on the recommendations from the GCRTF. There are things that I like. Areas that I think they did not go far enough. And frankly some things that I simply do not understand. There have been concerns expressed by people that I greatly respect.
Perhaps I am just being a mindless lemming, but I will probably vote yes. And there is one simple reason why—I trust Dr. Mohler. This is not to say that I do not trust others on the GCRTF or those that have voiced concerns. I simply trust Dr. Mohler’s wisdom. I trust that he has thought through many of the concerns, he loves the SBC, he loves Jesus, and he has a proven track record as a man with great wisdom. So, I trust Dr. Mohler.
Consider his most recent challenge to the messengers to Orlando…
Review of The Trials of Theology by Cameron and Rosner
Author: Edited by Andrew J.B. Cameron and Brian S. Rosner
Pages: 192pgs
Publisher: Christian Focus
Price: 9.89
Genre: Theology/Ministry
Quick Summary:
This book is written specifically for students of theology. There are numerous trials that come with giving yourself to the study of theology. This book considers voices from the past as well as voices from the present. The modern authors give tips for steering clear of the various pitfalls unique to the specific disciplines of theology. The past authors give a more general advice to doing theology.
In this book you will hear from Augustine, Luther, Spurgeon, Warfield, Bonhoeffer, and C.S. Lewis. The modern authors are: D.A. Carson (biblical studies), Carl Trueman (church history), Gerald Bray (systematic theology), and Dennis Hollinger (Christian Ethics). It may be helpful to view the table of contents: http://www.monergismbooks.com/pdfs/trialstheology1.pdf
What I Liked:
This book is filled with wisdom and amazing quotes to put on my wall. It is great hearing voices from the past share their hopes and fears for the next generations. But sometimes the voices of the past are trapped in their own era and their timeless advice is muddied by specificity. Thankfully we are also given in this book advice from modern authors that say essentially the same thing but do with the specificity required of our own day. This book is such an excellent idea and it delivers on its promises.
I have to agree with what Dr. Schreiner blurbed on the back cover, “I was consoled, convicted, instructed, and even ushered into God’s presence by this book”. I was deeply convicted by Warfield and Bonhoeffer. I was instructed by Lewis and Trueman. And I was consoled by Carson and Spurgeon. The chapter by John Woodhouse is equally convicting, encouraging, and instructive.
What I Disliked:
I was a tad disappointed by the light sampling of Augustine. There is so much that Augustine has said that could have been placed in this book. What is here is greatly helpful but considering all that Augustine offered to the topic it seems lacking.
At times a couple of the modern authors seem to be more engaged in defending the need for their particular discipline than expressing the trials attending it. There are some spots that major on the “trials” but offer little advice on “becoming a proven worker”. But when read as a whole this book certainly delivers.
Should You Buy It?
If you are a pastor or a student of theology then this book needs to be on your shelf. If you do not tend to read or study theology much then you would benefit from this book but it may not be a necessity. This book should be given to every seminary freshman. You can buy it for yourself or a gift for only 9.89.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Spurgeon’s Opinion of Pulpits
“Pulpits have much to answer for in having made men awkward. What horrible inventions they are…the old-fashioned pulpit has been a greater curse to the churches than is at first sight evident!”
What could have been their design and intent it would be hard to conjecture. A deep wooden pulpit of the old sort might well remind a minister of his mortality, for it is nothing but a coffin set on end: but on what rational ground do we bury our pastors alive? Many of these erections resemble barrels, others are of the fashion of egg cups and wine glasses; a third class were evidently modeled after corn bins upon four legs; and yet a fourth variety can only be likened to swallows’ nests stuck upon the walls. Some of them are so high as to turn the heads of the occupants when they dare to peer into the awful depths below them, and they give those who look up to the elevated preacher for any length of time a crick in the neck. I have felt like a man at the mast-head while perched aloft in these “towers of the flock.” These abominations are in themselves evils, and create evils.
Source: The Spurgeon Archive