The Sound of Forehands Clapping

This is a book of truth. These Sketches are taken from real life. They are facts, not fancies. They are the experiences of some whom the author has known in the course of his ministry. He has not given to them an item of colouring. The only thing about them from which any erroneous impression can possibly arise, is to be found in the fact that they are only sketches, not containing all that could be given in respect to the individuals here mentioned. But they are believed to contain a fair and sufficiently full representation of each case.

The author has made this selection from the materials in his possession, on the principle of avoiding useless repetitions as much as possible, and on the principle of meeting some of the strange difficulties which sometimes trouble inquirers after salvation.

I didn’t know what to expect when I began reading a A Pastor’s Sketches by Ichabod Spencer. Out of the blue I was asked to review the book by a small publisher I had never heard of which was odd for two reasons: 1) I hadn’t updated my blog in months and 2) I would expect a publisher to want well written reviews of their books. I was also worried that if the book was bad I’d have to write a review saying as much, but in the end the lure of a free book was too much for me!

What I found though as I began reading the book was amazing. In fact I was weeping at the end of the first chapter. The book is a collection of conversations that Ichabod Spencer began putting to print in 1851 while pastoring in Brooklyn, New York. This was a time between the Second and Third Great Awakening in America and as such it was a unique period of time. It’s also written in an older, more proper, style of American English. Yet, the relevancy of the book was astonishing to me.

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“They wanted to know how a loving God could let people go to hell.”

What kind of love would seek to prevent or pervert justice? It’s very common for parents to blindly defend their children when they’ve committed grievous acts, but is that right of them? At the same time, if a parent does agree with the need for their children to be brought to justice and yet does so without any sadness something is also wrong.

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A while I ago I briefly highlighted the book Total Church that Steve Timmis (one of its authors) taught from at an Acts 29 boot camp that I attended.

Shortly thereafter I read the book and loved it. We all need direction in our lives and Total Church provides it in some of the simplest of terms. If you’re a Christian and wondering or not if a book about “the church” would really provide direction for you, then you absolutely need to read it! The first three chapters are worth the $10 by themselves.

It’s also come to my attention that Veritas Community Church has created a free study guide! I’ve only flipped through it, but I can’t wait to dig into it later.

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Posted via email from dwayne’s posterous

The Resurgence is launching a new music branch named Re:Sound. Part of me doesn’t understand why, because all of Mars Hills excellent music is already available for free on their site. But hey, maybe in the future they’ll help get some music from some other local churches on folks radar. I’d love that.

Re:Sound will be launching on June 11th and until then they are giving away a free sampler with tracks from Joe Days Northern Conspiracy, Joel Browns Red Letter and Tim Smiths Ex Nihilo – All Mars Hill bands. They’ve also included all the chord sheets for the songs which I am guessing is great if you know how to read music and play an instrument.

Here’s a few of my favorite tracks:

Red Letter – forthcoming release – Author and Perfector

Northern Conspiracy – forthcoming release – What Have We Done

Ex Nihilo – Rain City Hymnal – I Sing the Mighty Power

I know I have not been writing about my personal life lately. I’ve been posting links to content and such. I’ve been too busy to write, but I have been wrestling and growing.

When I started the series on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood I said

But that’s not really what interests me the most. You see, both of these views on gender within the church do not simply address the questions of “how do a husband and wife relate?” and “can women be pastors?” Both views offer answers to much, much deeper questions that are relevant to any man or woman whether or not they are married or desiring to be a pastor.

Piper has asked before, “What do you tell your little boy when he asks you, ‘Daddy, what does it mean to grow up and be a man and not a woman?’ or ‘Mommy, what does it mean to grow up and be a woman and not a man?’” Piper has said that if all you can respond with is an anatomical answer, then you are setting your children up for disaster.

Mark and I have taken a bit of a break from reviewing the book and, yes, we need to get back on track, but let me give you an update of where I am at. I am still uncomfortable with drawing lines in stone of what manhood and womanhood is without strong Biblical warrant. I still am not sure how exactly God describes manhood in Scripture or even if he does with the precision that I want, but I am more convinced then ever that it, manhood, masculinity is real.

I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but while reading the article bellow I was fighting back tears. There is a depth of character and honor that the article describes that I long for and by Gods grace I believe I will understand more and posses more. While the article is not purposefully christocentric by any means (oh and I wish it was!), I could not help but feeling the weight of His glory hidden behind it.

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Christian Audio dot com offers a different free audio book each month. This months selection is another amazing classic:

Beginning with the story of Stephen from the book of Acts, considered the first Christian martyr, the drama builds to the passion of the early Church’s persecution under the Roman Empire. The hardy and radical faith of those first believers spawned medieval missionary movements that spread the gospel across Europe and into England, Scotland, and Ireland.

If you prefer actual books you can grab the book on Amazon too.

Excerpt from the Foxes Book of Martyrs

Reformed Theological Seminary on iTunes – lecture series by Tim Keller and Edmund Clowney on preaching Christ from all scripture, and engaging with people. FREE Download.

Keller outlines his approach to handling scripture which is Christological, and takes us through the engaging the heart with that. Clowney contributes from a lifetime of experience in showing way scripture is about Jesus – from which we could all learn massively.. Keller shows how he prepares to preach and the way that he’s learned from people like Dick Lucas. You can see why people are raving about Keller. Listening to this series of lectures could be the best use of 18 hours of your time.

Also be sure to grab Kellers 189 page syllabus for the course.