Introduction

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) is known as the pastor of the Puritans. His writings have proven to be so devotional and practical that many today are rediscovering his many works. Pastoral Ministry is an adaptation of his The Reformed Pastor which is not a book about a pastor being persuaded of a specific set of doctrines but instead being filled with the Spirit of God.

Summary

This particular Pocket Puritan has been written as a 31-day devotional that will cause the pastor to seek the Lord and His blessings on the ministry. In those 31 days, the pastor will look at what the Bible says about the office of pastor and how the pastor ought to live his life so that he can be of most effective use by God.

Of special note is a brief introduction to the man and his ministry in both writings and preaching by J.I. Packer. Here, the reader is introduced to a forgotten man today though he needs to be remembered even with his theological short-comings.

Review/Recommendation

There seems to be a concerted effort on behalf of some publishers to produce a number of biblically saturated books that are meant uniquely for those in the pastorate. Add Pastoral Ministry to those efforts. A hard-hitting (because it is biblical) 31-day devotional will provide a much needed wake-up call for today’s pastor. While many will probably not read the fuller The Reformed Pastor, most will read a 31-day devotional. Another book, not yet published, entitled A Portrait of Paul is very much in the same vain as Baxter’s work. The two of these books combined would make for an excellent gift to anyone looking to go into the ministry or who is in the ministry already.

Introduction

This is the second book in the St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary Series. These are being co-published by both Crossway Books and Reformation Trust Publishing.

Summary

This commentary on the gospel of John is not so much a commentary on the history of interpretation or exegetical work and word studies of the contents of John. Rather, this is commentary is Dr. R.C. Sproul’s sermons on the Gospel of John. We are blessed with fifty-seven sermons preached on Sunday’s at St. Andrew’s in Sanford, Fl. That encompasses almost two full years of Sunday morning sermons according to Dr. Sproul in the preface.

Chapter by chapter, verse by verse, Dr. Sproul unpacks and unleashes perhaps some of the best messages recently preached from the Gospel of John. He intertwines high theology and doctrine with simple and practical application in just about every sermon. He shows how the evangelist continually pointed his audience toward the great truth that God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Each chapter is only 6-10 pages long and therefore makes for fairly easy reading in that a chapter can be read and meditated on each day. You will plumb the depths of the purpose and content of the Gospel of John as it applies to us today while you read these messages.

I greatly enjoyed his two-part sermon on the man born blind (chapters 25 & 26).  In these two sermons, Dr. Sproul takes a look at sin and suffering and how we should biblically view suffering in light of Scripture.  In the course of these two sermons, we find that God is always glorified in suffering even if man does not give him the glory.  We see how the man reacted (praising God and being willing to be thrown out of the synagogue) and how his parents reacted (not willing to be chastised for their son’s good fortune!).  Sproul concludes this two-part series with the exhortation to speak of Christ and what He has done for you on the cross (assuming you are a believer).

Recommendation

As I stated in my review of the commentary on Romans in this series, having a compilation of Dr. Sproul’s sermons on a particular book of the Bible is a wonderful addition to any Christian’s library. I am excited that the sermon series on John was the second book to be published in this commentary series. This is not a book that you will purchase as a resource where you will only use it if you are wanting to study the gospel of John. Rather, you will find that drinking of Dr. Sproul’s wisdom through the reading of these messages now transcribed and collected into one source will be of great benefit to your soul.

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Merry Christmas from Christian Book Notes.

God is with Me through the DayGod is with Me through the Night

Review

Julie Cantrell is a freelance writer who writes about health, science, faith, education, family, child development or lifestyle. You can read some of what she has written and where she will be speaking at through her personal website, JulieCantrell.com. She also has a blog she updates regularly called Julie’s Journal and is worth checking out.

These two particular picture books are designed for children ages four to seven. With cute, full-color pictures of various kinds of animals, your child will love reading and viewing these books over and over again. In doing so, they will be introduced to the biblical attribute of God’s omnipresence–God is every where at every time.

As I watch my five year old flip through book, I see how he teaches my youngest son (21 months) what each animal is and what kind of sound it makes. If he does not know or cannot remember, he will ask either me or his mom for help. Granted, my five year old cannot read, but he knows the books are about God’s being with us all the time and so he tells his brother the same truth. We have had fun making animal noises and discussing God’s creation through both of these books.

After seeing how my three sons I have enjoyed these books, I can recommend them as a dad as well as a book reviewer. They can be purchased separate from one another, but to have both of them is to encourage more reading for your kids and more thinking about God’s presence for your family. After all, God is not only with you through the day but the night, too.

Giveaway

Zondervan is sponsoring this week’s giveaway. I have one copy of each book to give to one person (I just could not split the two books up!).  Here is how you can be entered to win both books:

1. On Twitter:  @ChristBookNotes is giving away two books by @JulieCantrell http://tw0.us/4o9
2. On Facebook:  become a fan of Christian Book Notes.
3. Leave a comment below about how your children love to read picture books.
4. Subscribe to my RSS Feed or Email list (your email address is always kept private).  If you subscribe, please send me an email at tdelaney017@yahoo.com to let me know.

Congratulations to Andy Raymond and Jason Gardner. Andy won by tweeting about the contest and Jason won by leaving a comment and added to his chances by blogging about the giveaway.  Jason blogs at eis doxan. Congratulations to both of our winners.

Stay tuned as we have more giveaways lined up and ready to go here at Christian Book Notes.

Earlier today I reviewed The Disappearance of God.  Now, I have been blessed to acquire the five books pictured above to give away this week.  There are two ways to win.  First, sign up for my email or RSS feed and let me know through the contact page.  Second, leave a comment below telling how you have been blessed by Dr. Mohler’s ministry.  It is that simple.  The giveaway ends next Monday (September 1, 2009) at 5 pm.

Sarah has been in and out of surgery today. She truly has a button on her chin and her tongue. I have the pictures on my phone but no way of getting them on the computer as of yet–I will be buying a USB cord soon!

She came out in great shape though she is a bit testy right now. They have her on Tylenol for pain. She lets everyone know that her tongue is hurting. Apparently she has the lungs of a baptist preacher! At any rate, I told her to button it to which she screamed even louder!

We are now in a holding pattern. We need to see if this surgery will work and keep her from “desatting” which means her oxygen levels will remain up at all times. The button will not be removed for 7-10 days and her tongue will remain attached to her lip for a year. If this does not work they will either have to do a tracheotomy or break her jaw and reset it.

The Lord allowed me to be able to share the gospel (through prayer) with the doctor performing the surgery and the nurses assisting him. He also allowed me to share the gospel quite extensively with Sarah’s nurse and was even able to point her toward a nice church in Bullit County.

We also found out that we are still considered in network at Kosair.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

*That Sarah will do well with this procedure and not need a tracheotomy or her jaw broken.

*That Krista and I will continue to find our sustenance in the Lord–it is difficult when your family is in two different places.

*That the gospel will continue to be proclaimed and that the Lord would see fit to draw those whom He has called unto Himself.

*Perseverance–it is so easy to be focused on one area of life during a major crisis and loose focus on others. Please pray that we would be able to persevere in our everyday tasks and work and ministry as well.

PRAISES:

*God has continued to pour out His mercy and loving-kindness on our family through our immediate church family, our own families, and our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as through our friends. Those of you who are praying–we cannot thank you enough. Those of you who do not believe in Christ as Lord and Savior (you know who you are) I pray that the Lord would use our trial to show you His mercy

*Sarah came through the procedure today with no complications

*We were able to share the gospel today

*The Lord’s provision through His children for some of our means.

*We are in network at Kosair

Please continue to pray and if you leave a prayer (or subscribe) you will be entered in a drawing for one of five different sets of books.