tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post115084222419908261..comments2024-03-24T03:21:03.154-04:00Comments on CAMPONTHIS: A GODLY MAN IS A LOVER OF THE WORD...recovering a reverence of God in ministry (pt 3)SJ Camphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-21906334476925622672017-11-27T08:43:07.275-05:002017-11-27T08:43:07.275-05:00If you're looking for a good Pay Per Sale ad c...If you're looking for a good <b>Pay Per Sale ad company</b>, I suggest that you take a peek at <b><a href="http://cps-adnetwork.syntaxlinks.com/r/ClickBank" rel="nofollow">CLICKBANK</a></b>.Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151279921022664662006-06-25T19:58:00.000-04:002006-06-25T19:58:00.000-04:00Terry,I appreciate your thoughts. I agree the ques...Terry,<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your thoughts. I agree the question is of rightly dividing, as I'm sure Jonathan Edwards would agree as well.<BR/><BR/>Here's a quote from the WLC:<BR/> <BR/>"The person who tries to take away his own sin by moral reform, good resolutions, "turning over a new leaf", performing good works, acts of charity, religious observances, forms and ceremonies, church membership, prayer, ascetic practices, or any other way whatever is a miserable, self-deceived sinner on the road to eternal frustration in hell. <BR/>Only the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, can take away the guilt of human sin. There is no other way."<BR/>Have a blessed evening in His rest. Matt 11:28-29<BR/>And I agree with Steve's comments. Very well spoken words.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151258832890104262006-06-25T14:07:00.000-04:002006-06-25T14:07:00.000-04:00Amen Terry,Hey guys the Law is good. A mirror is g...Amen Terry,<BR/><BR/>Hey guys the Law is good. A mirror is good, but you can't wash your face with a mirror and comb your hair with it. You need water and a comb.Bhedrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08091896907803479900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151216329017220782006-06-25T02:18:00.000-04:002006-06-25T02:18:00.000-04:00Campi,I agree with much of what you say, and again...<B>Campi,</B><BR/><BR/>I agree with much of what you say, and again, I would not disparage the Puritans as men. <BR/><BR/>But I do believe the infection of their *emphasis* has colored too much of our theology.<BR/><BR/>Two examples:<BR/><BR/>1. You wrote, "...as Paul grew in the faith he realized that he was 'the chief of sinners', and a ' wretched man.' "<BR/><BR/>Nowhere after the cross are believers called Sinners (which is not to say they don't sin). They were always called Saints. Paul even glowed about Christ's love for us "while we WERE yet sinners" (Rom. 5:8) A quick online concordance search of the word "sinner" will show that it always refers to unbelievers. (For commentary on James' "cleanse your hands, you sinners", see MacArthur Study Bible note, which I agree with).<BR/><BR/>So we would conclude that Paul called himself "chief of sinners" (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) in the same way a 50-year-old man who holds the record for pole-vaulting from his High School days might call himself the pole-vault Record-Holder. Paul was reflecting back on his persecution of Christ and His church.<BR/><BR/>He called himself "wretched man", not because his heart was wicked. He never says any such thing in any other context. On the contrary, he is the one who reveals the glorious truth of the New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17), and though he uses the word "heart" all through his epistles, it is never in a negative way toward the believer. <BR/><BR/>Indeed he speaks of the love of God poured out within our hearts (Rom. 5:5), and says God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into our hearts (Gal. 4:6). I would contend that this would not be a "wicked" heart.<BR/><BR/>Why then did Paul call himself "wretched man"? I believe the clue is in his statement that, "I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me." (Rom. 7:20) <BR/><BR/>He experienced the frustration that we all do at times, that we live in this "body of death", this flesh in which still dwells sin, this flesh that wars with the Spirit, and temporarily "wins" at such times that we are deceived by the world, the flesh, and the devil.<BR/><BR/>When we sin, it is not a result of a wicked heart, it is in *spite* of our new heart, bypassing it (no pun intended) when we temporarily walk by the flesh, and not by the Spirit. For Scripture is clear that if we walk by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.<BR/><BR/>2. You wrote, "...pierce us all with a deep sense of our depravity."<BR/><BR/>I believe the Scripture is clear regarding the depravity ("total") of the unregenerate. But thank God, He has made us a "new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)<BR/><BR/>That's why Paul could say, with a straight face, "...such WERE some of you," after the list of all the categories of sinners.<BR/><BR/>Indeed, to God be all the glory...<BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151212139239122242006-06-25T01:08:00.000-04:002006-06-25T01:08:00.000-04:00Hi Chris,Thank you. I agree 100% with your clarif...Hi Chris,<BR/><BR/>Thank you. I agree 100% with your clarification on NCT. I know the Christonomy guys are the exception, but only pointed it out to illustrate my dislike of [alas, unavoidable] labels. After all, think of the array of aberrants in Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism, though most in these movements are, of course, honorable and orthodox folks.<BR/><BR/>John Reisinger is an online friend of mine (through the Sound of Grace chat group), and one of the most astute theological minds of our time (he would blush at that).<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151209482425661842006-06-25T00:24:00.000-04:002006-06-25T00:24:00.000-04:00Hi Terry,Since I know the "battlers" of Christonom...Hi Terry,<BR/><BR/>Since I know the "battlers" of Christonomy.com personally, and I know many proponents of NCT I wanted to make a little clarification to your comment.<BR/><BR/>Christonomy.com and their view of justification is truly the exception rather than the norm in NCT. They did not receive this aberrant view of justification from reading NCT material.<BR/><BR/>Having read John Reisinger, Fred Zaspel, Tom Wells, and many other proponents (and met most of them) of NCT they all hold to a sound view of justification. In fact, John Reisinger wrote a number of articles in his Sound of Grace newsletter refuting the New Perspective.<BR/><BR/>In His Grace,<BR/>ChrisExblogitoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10238538236937702814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151206614205290052006-06-24T23:36:00.000-04:002006-06-24T23:36:00.000-04:00Cyd,We all use labels for convenience, but I'm rel...<B>Cyd,</B><BR/><BR/>We all use labels for convenience, but I'm reluctant to use them regarding a theological system, because they carry so much baggage, and have so many aberrant devotees in each system. <BR/><BR/>Having said that, I reject Dispensationalism, especially of the Classical variety, and especially in varieties that teach a different salvific covenant for Israel and The Church. Scripture teaches that under the New Covenant promised to Israel, there is now no Jew or Gentile, but one Body of Christ.<BR/><BR/>I held to a form of New Covenant Theology long before the term was even in existence. But I would prefer "a theology of the New Covenant", rather than New Covenant Theology for two reasons:<BR/><BR/>1. NCT has some in it's ranks whom I believe are in error regarding justification. For example, the guys at christonomy.com are valiant battlers for NCT, but are sympathetic to the New Perspective on Paul, as taught by Sanders, Dunn and Wright.<BR/><BR/>2. NCT has not been very thoroughly "systematized", it being a newer kid on the block. I don't shy away from it for that reason, however, since God sheds light on Scripture as He chooses. I'm <I>sola scriptura</I> all the way, and thankfully the Reformers didn't reject justification by faith because it was the new kid on the Roman Catholic block.<BR/><BR/>One thing that is clearly ludicrous, however, is the claim in a monthly issue of Sproul's <I>Table Talk</I> a couple of years ago that New Covenant Theology is Antinomian. Only a person who doesn't understand NCT could make such a claim.<BR/><BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151206546226751462006-06-24T23:35:00.000-04:002006-06-24T23:35:00.000-04:00This discussion is good.We don't want to use grace...This discussion is good.<BR/><BR/>We don't want to use grace to go back to a yoke of slavery (legalism - Gal. 5:1) nor to use it as an opportunity for the flesh (libertinism or antinomianism - Gal. 5:13); but for holiness and purity before the Lord and each other.<BR/><BR/>The Puritans rightly understood this balance. They were not driven by Law, but by grace; they were not driven by wicked hearts, but "perfecting holiness in the fear of God"; they were not driven by an unhealthy view of sin, but by a right view of reverence; AND that is was all driven by and under grace (Titus 2:12).<BR/><BR/>This is a tremendous article that Watson nailed and got absolutely right. His words bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ, a right view of Scripture in sanctification, an exalted view of grace, and a much needed recovery of the reverence and transcendence of God in sanctification. The amount of God's Word contained therein by Dr. Watson is profound...<BR/><BR/>Even the Apostle Paul said that <I>"it was by the terror of the Lord"</I> that he <I>"persuaded men..."</I> (2 Cor. 5:11). Also, as Paul grew in the faith he realized that he was "the chief of sinners", and a "wretched man." This was not self-flagellation or some sort of Law-induced-guilt under the weight of bad misguided, misunderstood theology - hardly; this was grace-based-sanctification at its most pure and honorable biblical form. It is called humility... and Watson understood this too.<BR/><BR/>The problem is, we can't take our 21st sensibilities of Christianity and then try to "fit it" in a 17th or 18th century context without understanding what the Puritans language and day afforded them.<BR/><BR/>Needless to say, Watson's words sting our postmodern evangelical ears that it was bound to produce some of the well-meaning, yet uncomfortable reactions expressed here. I know this, that in the age of NPP, emerging church pabulum, SBC confusion on soteriology, Open Theism, pragmatism, and Schuller's self-esteem gospel - I find Watson refreshing, challenging, and most of all... biblical.<BR/><BR/>I do agree with my brother Terry when he says, <I>"this isn't just a question of historical perspective, but exegetical."</I> Amen man - preach it... <BR/><BR/>May the living, active, double-edged sword of the Spirit, pierce us all with a deep sense of our depravity, a great sense of the Lord's grace, and a holy sense of His person.<BR/><BR/>To God be all the glory...<BR/>Steve<BR/>1 Peter 1:13-17SJ Camphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151204011825466412006-06-24T22:53:00.000-04:002006-06-24T22:53:00.000-04:00Hi Cyd,You wrote, "it is not that Watson (or any o...<B>Hi Cyd,</B><BR/><BR/>You wrote, "it is not that Watson (or any of the Puritan writers) are sin-focused or sin centered."<BR/><BR/><B>I would recommend just skimming through puritansermons.com and seeing how much is geared toward the Law and duty, and how little is geared toward grace, joy, freedom, forgiveness, *after* initial salvation. Their emphasis is hard to escape.</B> <BR/><BR/>You wrote, "On the contrary, because of the *new* nature and ongoing sanctification, does one not become MORE aware of sin? Are sins not all the more glaringly horrifying as we are being conformed to the image of Christ?"<BR/><BR/><B>Yes, but unfortunately the horror of sin doesn't keep it from being committed. Only walking by the Spirit does that. All the guilt and Law poured on the sinful believer is powerless to prevent sin.</B><BR/><BR/>You wrote, "It is not a matter of 'performance' or 'navel-gazing'"<BR/><BR/><B>Again, I'd recommend breezing through puritansermons.com. The Performance-based thinking of the Puritans is legendary. Duty, duty, and more duty. Instruction on how to do the duty. Duty to study the instruction on how to do the duty...ad infinitum, and very slanted to Old Covenant thinking. And very quenching to the Christian life. Unforunately, Christians trained in this kind of thinking often *relish* the misery caused by the "conviction" (I'm not saying that about you personally).</B><BR/><BR/>You wrote, "...rather a holy, reverential fear and awe of the beauty and perfection of Christ as He reveals Himself to us through His word. And the joy of knowing and believing that He offered Himself on our behalf to save us from the wrath of God, sanctify us here and now, and give us eternal life with Himself is so tremendously humbling to the depths of the soul, wouldn't you agree?"<BR/><BR/><B>Yes, I would agree. Unfortunately, that's seldom ever the emphasis of the Puritans. They see the Christian life in terms of sinning or not sinning.<BR/><BR/>Do you know what Richard Baxter's counsel was to those grieving for relatives who passed away? Don't grieve too much, because it's sin, and such sin that keeps you from your other duties, thereby causing even more sin. (It's not that it's not true, it just illustrates the *focus* of the Puritans.)</B><BR/> <BR/>You wrote, "The Puritan believers were grounded in the exaltation of Christ; their lives were not merely reactionary to the times, but completely God centered."<BR/><BR/><B>I would disagree. The Puritans were partly grounded in the Holiness of God and His Law, and partly in our duty (and usually failure) to live up to that Law. Thus their ministry was almost totally one of legal responsibility, threats and all, with a great confusion of Old and New Covenants.<BR/><BR/>I mean this kindly, but I find it interesting that your comments argue nothing from Scripture, nor address the several Scriptures I cited in addressing the Puritans. This isn't just a question of historical perspective, but exegetical.</B><BR/><BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151200818750714282006-06-24T22:00:00.000-04:002006-06-24T22:00:00.000-04:00Hi Don,You wrote, "It's difficult to believe the P...<B>Hi Don,</B><BR/><BR/>You wrote, <I>"It's difficult to believe the Puritan scholars all missed it....We're all bound to abide by the Scriptures, and I believe the Puritans most asuredly did this."</I><BR/><BR/>I agree that the Puritans studied and sought to "abide by" the Scriptures. The question is one of "rightly dividing", and understanding the radical nature of the New Covenant and the New Creation. Of course the Puritans didn't "miss" everything, it's just that they spent most of their time focused on duty, duty, duty. <BR/><BR/>And since we all fail in our duty, it results in condemnation and a wrong view that God is frowning on His children all the time. This quenches the Holy Spirit, and inflames sin, and causes a downward cycle and a lack of the fruit of the Spirit (although the believer may pretend, and look good and smell good).<BR/><BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151200612541055122006-06-24T21:56:00.000-04:002006-06-24T21:56:00.000-04:00I'd just like to put a word in For Terry and Miche...I'd just like to put a word in For Terry and Michele. I think they get it, but please know...I love you guys.<BR/><BR/>BrianBhedrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08091896907803479900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151194387482015162006-06-24T20:13:00.000-04:002006-06-24T20:13:00.000-04:00Thanks, Cindy. I think those were kind of the sent...Thanks, Cindy. I think those were kind of the sentiments I was going for, but just couldn't quite articulate them. You summed it up well, though. :-)littlegal_66https://www.blogger.com/profile/09424599483109788899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151186912788360182006-06-24T18:08:00.000-04:002006-06-24T18:08:00.000-04:00Cindy,Very well said.Cindy,<BR/><BR/>Very well said.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151186326609244972006-06-24T17:58:00.000-04:002006-06-24T17:58:00.000-04:00Michele said: "So, it became increasingly unclear ...Michele said: <I>"So, it became increasingly unclear to me as to who Watson was talking about...the Christian or the unbeliever. It seemed he was mixing the two. How God uses the Word on the unbeliever and how He uses the Word on His children is quite different. How God speaks to the unbeliever, or brings the unbeliever to repentance through His Word is different than how he teaches His children to grow in that grace by which they have now been saved."</I><BR/><BR/>Interesting take....you've given me much to think about, and have caused me to consider again my comment above.littlegal_66https://www.blogger.com/profile/09424599483109788899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151182540620588922006-06-24T16:55:00.000-04:002006-06-24T16:55:00.000-04:00terry,It's difficult to believe the Puritan schola...terry,<BR/><BR/>It's difficult to believe the Puritan scholars all missed it. Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, and all these incredible men of the Scriptures missed it.<BR/><BR/>We're all bound to abide by the Scriptures, and I believe the Puritans most asuredly did this.<BR/><BR/>Sure we can disgree, but to say they missed it, I don't know.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151164812207742412006-06-24T12:00:00.000-04:002006-06-24T12:00:00.000-04:00Warning: Sin-centered Christians will not like the...<B>Warning: Sin-centered Christians will not like the following comments.</B> But sin-centered Christians love warnings, so I knew it would be an attention-getter :)<BR/><BR/><B>Watson, like other Puritans in general, thought he was being Christ-centered by being sin-centered.</B><BR/><BR/>This is a result of his not cutting straight (rightly dividing) the Word of Truth. <BR/><BR/>He didn't understand that the Old Covenant was made obsolete by the New (Heb. 8). <BR/><BR/>He didn't understand that sin shall no longer be master of us because we are no longer under Law but under grace (Rom. 6:14).<BR/><BR/>While he acknowledges grace in a vague way, his *focus* is on himself and his sin. This is unbiblical under the New Covenant. Our *focus* is to be on Christ, and walking by His Spirit. Keeping our eyes on Him, fellowshiping with Him. Not examining our navel 24 hours a day to see if we're more sinless than we were yesterday, and wringing our hands and hankies when we're not.<BR/><BR/>"If we walk by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). The love of Christ constrains us to walk this way, and the love of Christ is grown in our hearts and minds as we look on Him, not our fleshly wretchedness.<BR/><BR/><B>And the Puritans didn't get it, because they were reactionaries, reacting to a decadent immoral secular English church. And they reacted with a law/sin-focused life and study.</B> <BR/><BR/>They rightfully gloried in the greatness of God, and this is the one value of reading the Puritans, but it's a big mistake to go to them for tips on Christian living.<BR/><BR/>They are the Emperor who has no clothes. Greatly admired, almost worshiped like they were Christ himself, they were Law/Sin nerds who never got out of Old Covenant thinking, and into the bright light of Gal. 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."<BR/><BR/><B>And yet, I mean no disrespect to them as men. They were influenced by their peers and their times.</B> <BR/><BR/>But we are in another time, friends. A time in which we have an opportunity to bring the light of the New Covenant to a generation of believers who still think that their performance is the point.<BR/><BR/>A time when we can shake off "Religion" and replace it with Christ Who is our Life (Col. 3:4), and leave "Religion" for the World.<BR/><BR/>A time in which we can build true "...fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 Jn. 1:3), because "...the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:7)<BR/><BR/>We all want "true revival". But true revival is happening now in the hearts of those who understand the radical nature of Grace, who understand the freedom which is in Christ, and I don't mean <A HREF="http://www.graceforlife.com/2006/06/real-antinomian_13.html" REL="nofollow">Antinomianism.</A> <BR/><BR/><B>The Performance-Based Believer can never have the revival he thirsts for, because his *focus* is himself, and he doesn't even know it.</B> <BR/><BR/>He thinks he still has a wicked heart, and doesn't realize that he's been given a *new* heart, a heart of flesh to replace the heart of stone. (He has no idea what Paul means in Rom. 7:17, when he says, "...it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.") <BR/><BR/>His goal in a good sermon is to be "convicted", so that he can head back to his laboratory of Performance and maybe get it right this time.<BR/><BR/>Tetelestai! It is finished! He has done it! Life conquered Death! Our sins, beloved are *all* forgiven. We are free to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on the Author and Finisher of our Faith.<BR/><BR/>And the Catch-22 is that then we will sin less.<BR/><BR/>And it's all of Grace.<BR/><BR/>That's the New Covenant.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151078533098250482006-06-23T12:02:00.000-04:002006-06-23T12:02:00.000-04:00"what bugs me about posts like this ....is that th...<I>"what bugs me about posts like this ....is that there seemingly is less interest in what matters most. </I><BR/><BR/>I know. :-( <BR/>It <B>is</B> a bothersome & disconcerting phenomenon. <BR/><BR/>I blame Springer (for promoting the appeal of controversial topics in our society). Yeah...that's it....it's all Jerry Springer's fault...;-)littlegal_66https://www.blogger.com/profile/09424599483109788899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151073400655303502006-06-23T10:36:00.000-04:002006-06-23T10:36:00.000-04:00little gal... you busted me. :-)what bugs me about...little gal... <BR/><BR/>you busted me. :-)<BR/><BR/>what bugs me about posts like this (and I've noticed this on mine and other's blogs) is that there seemingly is less interest in what matters most.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03880337516584157981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151029727943006022006-06-22T22:28:00.000-04:002006-06-22T22:28:00.000-04:00Steve, Thank you so much for keeping Christo-centr...Steve, <BR/>Thank you so much for keeping Christo-centric and biblical in your posts. Watson has been my favourite writer (along side Brooks) for nearly 30 years now. I was weaned on his Body of Divinity with Lord's Prayer and 10 commandments!<BR/>Thank you for putting something on the web that is crystal clear and challeneges our hearts (as everything you put on is).<BR/>Steve in Australia<BR/>Oh by the way.. you are amazing at getting good pictures that match your commentary! (i've pinched every one for powerpoints!)Groseys messageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09256060632754175527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151025584519564432006-06-22T21:19:00.000-04:002006-06-22T21:19:00.000-04:00I love the following thoughts from Mr. Watson, whi...I love the following thoughts from Mr. Watson, which dramatically reflect his healthy respect for (and fear of) both God <B>and</B> His Word:<BR/><I>"A godly man loves the menaces of the Word. He knows there is <B>love</B> in every threat.<BR/>God would not have us perish; He therefore mercifully threatens us, so that He may scare us from sin. There is <B>mercy</B> in every threat."</I> <BR/>(emphasis my own).<BR/><BR/>I also thought it interesting that he mentioned "the threatening part of the Word" ahead of "the consolatory part of the Word." So many times we seem to wind up focusing on the parts that are a comfort to our weary souls first, rather than the parts that can threaten and convict us.<BR/>------------------------------------------------------<BR/>And Chad......you might as well stop trying to make us all think you're some sort of big "trouble-maker"......it's just not in you, brother. :-)littlegal_66https://www.blogger.com/profile/09424599483109788899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1151019303297732862006-06-22T19:35:00.000-04:002006-06-22T19:35:00.000-04:00Wait...where's the controversy?Wait...where's the controversy?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03880337516584157981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1150979260112438472006-06-22T08:27:00.000-04:002006-06-22T08:27:00.000-04:00Let me add my own enthusiastic recommendation of T...Let me add my own enthusiastic recommendation of Thomas Brooks' book, "The Godly Man's Picture (Drawn With a Scripture Pencil)."<BR/><BR/>Especially if you are new to Puritan writings or have been intimidated by them in the past, this is a wonderful place to start.<BR/><BR/>Contrary to the negative images we have in our culture when we hear the term "puritanical," I think you will find Brooks to be overflowing with compassion for his people. He is one of the most warmly pastoral writers you will ever read. Your stereotype of Puritans as stoic, stiff, dry, and harsh will be sweetly, though utterly, melted.Gordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14527530618839981892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1150942116760675082006-06-21T22:08:00.000-04:002006-06-21T22:08:00.000-04:00Love this post. It made me thing of Psalm chapter ...Love this post. It made me thing of Psalm chapter one... it was the first portion of Scripture we had our boys memorize. <BR/>May we actively pursue living out His excellent Word of Truth with delight and joy and reverence. <BR/>I have a long way to go. I wrote in the comments of my own blog on acquiring knowledge. "...We will be held accountable for how we display it (use it, live it out, speak it, blog it). Is it to be seen my men or to glorify God? (ouch) I think we all struggle with that if we tell ourselves the truth. And the Lord WILL, according to Philippians 3:15, reveal such things to us through just and divine chastisement if it has to come to that. (read Heb 12:5-11)<BR/><BR/>An eager student of the Word of Truth,<BR/>Lisa4givenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604421713579961024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1150926816885150082006-06-21T17:53:00.000-04:002006-06-21T17:53:00.000-04:00Steve,this was excellent! I had to copy it to wor...Steve,<BR/><BR/>this was excellent! I had to copy it to word to read it, the giant font made me googlie-eyed. :o)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting this, this is the kind of stuff I <B>love</B> to see on blogs.<BR/><BR/>This is why my husband likes dead theologians so much - the things they had to say just knock you off your feet, in a godly way, as opposed to the shock-jock affect so many seem to be going for in our day.<BR/><BR/>SDG...<BR/>CarlaCarla Rolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395062089776262435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1150918053881349432006-06-21T15:27:00.000-04:002006-06-21T15:27:00.000-04:00I've described Watson's writings as "poetic theolo...I've described Watson's writings as "poetic theology."Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00157478495964152429noreply@blogger.com