Check Out

Blogs

The Economics of Sleep, Part 1 | Freakonomics Radio
“Could a lack of sleep help explain why some people get much sicker than others?”

10 Ways to Slow Down and Still Get More Done | Time Management Ninja
“As counterintuitive as it may first seem, you may need to slow down in order to get more done in your day. ”

Christian Groups Fight Scottish Law Giving Every Kid A Government Guardian | Kiley Crossland, The Aquila Report
“Christian and family groups in Scotland are making a last ditch effort to stop implementation of a new law that would assign a state guardian to every child in Scotland.”

A Redemptive Historical Lamb | Nicholas T. Batzig, Feeding on Christ
“As various aspects of the Person, saving work and fruit of the Lord Jesus unfolded throughout Old Testament redemptive history, one truth that continually rose to the forefront is the need for an atoning sacrifice.”

Three Types of Friends Every Leader Needs | Eric Geiger
“Some have lamented that leadership is lonely. The unique pressure and responsibilities that leaders face can push some leaders to isolation. But wise leaders reject the temptation to remove themselves from others. Great leaders know they need others for both encouragement and wisdom. Here are three types of friends that every leader needs:”

The Message of Islam vs. The Gospel of Jesus | The Gospel Coalition
“‘Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?’ has become especially controversial among Christians in the United States. Responses have often been polarizing, with one side insisting the answer must be affirmative and the other vehemently denying this. But the question itself is highly ambiguous and conflates different issues in an unhelpful manner. Thus, rather than trying to answer directly whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God, it’s more helpful to consider similarities and differences in the beliefs of Muslims and Christians, noting areas of both agreement and disagreement.”

New Book


Christ or Chaos by Dan DeWitt

Kindle Deals

For your non-Kindle book buying, please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.


Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney ($4.99)


Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything by Anonymous ($0.99)


Wednesdays were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, And God by Michael Kelley ($2.99)

Video

If the World Were 100 People | GOOD Magazine


Check Out

Blogs

10 Tips for Evangelizing Your Muslim Neighbor | Tim Challies
A highlight: “Introduce the life, teaching, and ministry of Christ. He is highly revered and exalted in Islam. The majority of Muslim converts testify that the most influential factor in their conversion was their exposure to the true words and life of Christ.”

After 20 Years, It’s Harder to Ignore the Digital Economy’s Dark Side | Don Tapscott, Harvard Business Review
“While the digital revolution has brought us many wonders, in hindsight my somewhat discouraging conclusion is that the ‘promise’ of a more fair, equal, just, and sustainable world has been unfulfilled. ”

Did God Die On The Cross? | R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries Blog
“We should shrink in horror from the idea that God actually died on the cross. The atonement was made by the human nature of Christ. Somehow people tend to think that this lessens the dignity or the value of the substitutionary act, as if we were somehow implicitly denying the deity of Christ. God forbid. It’s the God-man Who dies, but death is something that is experienced only by the human nature, because the divine nature isn’t capable of experiencing death.”

Where Writers Find Ideas | Barnabas Piper, The Blazing Center
“Writers find their material everywhere. At least good ones do.” Preachers should take this advice to heart to –not so much to get sermon ideas, but sermon illustrations.

12 Proven Productivity Hacks to Help You Win Every Day | Michael Hyatt
“I want to share twelve proven productivity hacks that will empower you to get a jump on the day and perform at your peak.”

A Mother’s Heart on Praying for Her Prodigal Son | Jenny Walsh, True Woman Blog
“One day during his senior year in high school, my son left the house taking a car and money withdrawn from his savings account. He sent me this text: ‘Don’t try to find me.’ We knew he had depression and was smoking marijuana, but now we realized that he was an addict using all kinds of drugs. I was frantic.”

7 Ways To Fail Well | Matt Rogers, The Blazing Center
“So what do you do with failure? Here are a few things I am doing (or trying to talk myself into doing).”

New Book


Sweetly Set on God: The Piety of David Brainerd edited by Dustin W. Benge

Kindle Books

For your non-Kindle book buying, please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.


Evolution Impossible by Dr. John Ashton ($2.99)


HarperCollins Atlas of Bible History edited by James B. Pritchard ($1.99)


Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life by Michael Kelley

Video

Derek Hamer at the Refresh Conference 2016


Work Essential to Happiness

“It was never intended that man should lead an idle or inactive life. Employment would in innocence have been as necessary to his happiness, as it is now to the human race.” Archibald Alexander

Lots of people imagine that they would be happy if they didn’t have to work. Indeed, to be idle would be paradise.

However, there was once a paradise, and part of the paradise was work. When God created the first man and woman, He put them in a perfect workplace, and gave them perfect work. Without work, paradise would not have been paradise.

Hard Work

Sure, with the entrance of sin, paradise is no more, and work is now much harder. Thorns and thistles, blood and sweat, are now part of daily work. However, the answer is not to avoid work, be lazy at work, or try to retire from work as early as possible.

Work is still a necessary part of our happiness. (It doesn’t have to be paid work, of course). God has so made us that work is part of our being, part of our humanity, part of our satisfaction, part of our joy. As we are able, we need to be active, to be constructive, to be creative, and to be productive if we are to be happy.

Dangerous See-Saw

Of course, we must not fall off the other side of the see-saw either–making work our only happiness and trying to get all our joy from it–that’s when work becomes an idol that can never satisfy.

But when we do our work as from the Lord, with the Lord, and to the Lord, then we are fulfilling the purpose for which we were created and God will bless us with happiness in and from our work.

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)


New Books in the PRTS Library

One of the privileges of working at PRTS is the weekly arrival of new books to supplement our library of 70,000+ books. Here are the new picks this week.

March 22

Note: Inclusion in the library does not necessarily mean endorsement of contents. We often have to buy books to help students with specialist theses and also to train students to think critically. Also, a book new to the library does not necessarily mean a new book on the market.

For your non-Kindle book buying needs please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.



When Shepherds Weep: Finding Tears of Joy for Wounded Pastors by Glenn C. Daman

“The purpose of this book is to help pastors regain their spiritual perspective in the trials of ministry by understanding how suffering is used by God to develop the pastor and the church. It comes along wounded pastors to offer comfort and encouragement.”



A Theology for Christian Education by James R. Estep, Michael Anthony, and Greg Allison

A Theology for Christian Education dedicates chapters to examining particular doctrines and their implications for Christian education. It is the only serious academic text to offer a systematic presentation of the intersection of theology and Christian education from a conservative evangelical perspective.”



Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis W. Jowers

Reasons for Our Hope offers a sophisticated yet accessible guide to ‘destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and . . . taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5).”



Two Biographies of William Bedell: Bishop of Kilmore, With a Selection of His Letters and an Unpublished Treatise by E. S. Shuckburgh



I Will Lift My Eyes Unto the Hills: Learning from the Great Prayers of the Old Testament by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

“All Christian desire to pray more effectively. What better way to learn how to pray than to study the great prayers of the Old Testament… This book is an answer to the prayer, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’”



Walther’s Works: All Glory to God  by C. F. W. Walther

“Encounter the final, mature systematic theology of C. F. W. Walther, first president of the LCMS. In no other work did Walther set forth his own theology as comprehensively as he did here. This volume is especially significant for its teaching on predestination and its defense of Lutheran doctrine as that which gives ‘all glory to God’.”



The West and China in Africa: Civilization without Justice by Alemayehu Mekonnen

The West and China in Africa: Civilization without Justice is an outcome of Dr. Alemayehu Mekonnen’s personal intellectual struggle, life experience, and an attempt to understand Christ and his message within the cultural context of Africa.”



Born This Way?: Homosexuality, Science, and the Scriptures by J. Alan Branch

“In Born This Way?, the author surveys the most common scientific arguments in favor of homosexuality and respond to pro-homosexual arguments. A review of the research will show that, while there are some genetic or biological factors that correlate with a higher incidence of same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior, as of yet there is no proof of genetic or biological causation for homosexuality.”



Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision by N. T. Wright

“For Wright, what Paul means by justification is nothing less than God’s unswerving commitment to the covenant promise he made to bless the whole world through Abraham and his family. This irenic response is an important contribution for those on both sides of the debate―and those still in between―to consider. Whether you’re a fan of Wright’s work or have read his critics and would like to know the other side of the story, here is a chance to interact with Wright’s views on the issues at stake and form your own conclusions.”



Christian Bioethics: A Guide for Pastors, Health Care Professionals, and Families by C. Ben Mitchell and D. Joy Riley

“The book examines these topics under three general headings: the taking of life, the making of life, and the faking of life. Christian Bioethics is a guidebook for pastors, health care professionals and families—anyone facing difficult decisions about health care.”



Disaster Ministry Handbook by Jamie D. Aten and David M. Boan

“When disasters happen, people turn to local churches as centers for response and assistance. When floods or tornadoes devastate an area, or when shootings and violence shock a community, knowing what to do can be the difference between calm and chaos, courage and fear, life and death. But few churches plan in advance for what they should do— until the storm hits.”



Truth in a Culture of Doubt: Engaging Skeptical Challenges to the Bible by Andreas J. Köstenberger, Darrell L. Bock, and Josh Chatraw

Truth in a Culture of Doubt takes a closer look at the key arguments skeptical scholars…keep repeating in radio interviews, debates, and in his their popular writings. If you are looking for insightful responses to critical arguments from a biblical perspective, easily accessible and thoughtfully presented, this book is for you.”



Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking through Suffering Together by Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn

“In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.”



Biblical Theology: The Common Grace Covenants Volume 1 by Jeffrey J. Niehaus

“The first of two volumes, this study explores the two common grace covenants: the Adamic and Noahic. The second volume will examine the special grace covenants: the Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New covenants. The volumes present covenant as an expression of the nature of God, and show a paradigm of activity by which God works in covenantal relations first to create the world and then, through a redemptive program after the fall, to redeem what was lost.”



The Anabaptists and Contemporary Baptists: Restoring New Testament Christianity edited by Malcolm B. Yarnel

“A study of the lives and theology of evangelical Anabaptists encourages a reader to dig deeper into the Bible, count the cost of discipleship to Jesus Christ, and commit oneself to engaging the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”


Check Out

Blogs

Credo Magazine: Preach the Word
“In this issue of Credo Magazine we aim to help pastors and churchgoers alike recover a love for Bible-preaching. Several contemporary pastors explain what expositional preaching is, why it matters so much, and how churches today can recover the expository sermon in the pulpit.”

Stop Slandering Public School Teachers | Tim Challies
“The last ten years have made me realize that many Christians speak unfairly about public school teachers. They may even speak slanderously.”

Two Most Important Elements of Preaching | Shawn Lovejoy, The Exchange
“Too many pastors are saying all the right things but lack the two most important things: PASSION and AUTHORITY.”

The Friendless Flatterer | Mark Jones, Reformation21
“One of the most publicly and socially acceptable sins is flattery. That’s why it is also such a dangerous sin.”

Andrew Fuller’s Case for Biblical Theology | Prince on Preaching
“It is a fact which must have struck every attentive reader, that God has not communicated his mind to us by giving us a set of principles, arranged in the form of a scheme; or that we have no such creed as formally includes all the things necessary to be believed in either the Old or New Testament. On the contrary, we see Divine truth introduced rather incidentally than systematically. It is scattered from one end to the other, through all the historical, devotional, prophetic, and epistolary writings.”

Feeding on Christ 5 Rules of Social Media Engagement | Nicholas T. Batzig, Feeding on Christ
“Five rules of engagements about what and when to say something online”

Why Are Some Academics So Unprofessional? | Rob Jenkins, The Chronicle of Higher Education
“Are academics the most unprofessional professionals in the world? Sometimes it seems that way.”

Blood Work: How the Blood of Christ Accomplishes Our Salvation Free eBook |Ligonier Ministries
“Reformation Trust is making the ebook edition of Anthony Carter’s Blood Work: How the Blood of Christ Accomplishes Our Salvation free to download until the end of the month. We encourage you to share this resource offer with your family, friends, and church community.”

New Book

For your non-Kindle book buying needs please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.


A Sad Departure by David J. Randall. The story of how the Church of Scotland accepted gay marriage and clergy and the resulting exodus of godly ministers and members.

Kindle Deals


The Case for Christianity Answer Book by Lee Strobel ($1.99)


Risen: 50 Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything by Steven D. Mathewson ($1.99)


Did Jesus Really Have to Die? by Aaron Armstrong (FREE)


Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Women by Patricia A. Miller ($1.99)


The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher Clark ($1.99). Lessons for today as we face the threat of radical Islam.


The Freemasons: A History of the World’s Most Powerful Secret Society by Jasper Ridley ($1.99). Gets good reviews as a balanced look at this influential group.

Video

Nurse and patient switch roles decades after first meeting
Should encourage pastors and trainers of pastors too.


A Christmas Book for Easter Time


In the spirit of being a true Scottish Presbyterian, I thought I’d highlight a book on the incarnation of Christ during the Easter season.

Not really.

It’s just that I was recently sent Sinclair Ferguson’s book Child in The Manger: The True Meaning of Christmasand enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t keep back my commendation until next December. So here are five reasons to read it now.

1. It’s timeless. Although it has Christmas in its title, it’s also a book for January to November. Why limit study of Christ’s enfleshment to December?

2. It’s educational. As we mature in the faith, it gets harder to find books that will teach us new things, that will give us fresh insights. No matter how mature you are as a Christian or how many Christmas sermons you’ve heard, you will learn new and fascinating truth about your Savior. I gained at least ten “new” insights into Scripture and was fascinated by the parabolic diagrams Sinclair used to outline incarnational passages.

2. It’s conversational. Over the years, Sinclair has perfected the gift of conversational theology. Instead of just spitting out facts or dumping data, you feel he is sitting in an armchair just casually chatting with you over an open Bible. I know of no writer whose writing voice so closely matches his speaking voice.

3. It’s personal. I was recently advised to include more of myself in my writing as people want to know the writer as well as what he’s writing about. Sinclair has mastered this art, including enough of his biography to illustrate his teaching but not too much as to obscure the person of Christ.

4. It’s relevant. Throughout, Sinclair is interacting with cultural problems and modern falsehoods, skillfully using Scripture to expose the fault lines in our society and its thinking, but also to show the Scriptural remedy for so much of the pain that afflicts so many lives.

5. It’s doxological. Well-known hymns and Christian poems pepper the book helping the reader not just to fill his mind but to lift up his heart. Innumerable pithy turns of phrase live long in the mind and heart. Above all, the person of Christ comes alive in multiple warm pages of devotional writing.

Child in The Manger: The True Meaning of Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson.