Link of the Week #12

Hello readers! There are many things that we take for granted. Obviously there are the day to day things like family, friends, or a good job. But often our ingratitude extends into other areas of life and can often come to the forefront when we think about our theology. Modern men tend to neglect and ignore the enormous gifts that our spiritual forefathers have granted to us. No where is this more evident than in our view towards creeds, confessions, and the men who made them. In this week's link, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson tackles this attitude of ingratitude by bringing us face to face with the situations and context of one of these great confessions: the Westminster Standards. I found this lecture to be very helpful in gaining a picture of what it meant to work on these important documents. I hope you enjoy this week's link!

To listen to this week's link go here.

A Gift of God...

"Among other things which are suitable for men's recreation and for giving them pleasure, music is either foremost, or, at least, must be esteemed one of the most prominent; and we must esteem it a gift of God to us with that purpose."
-John Calvin

Link of the Week #11

Hellos readers! In case you haven't noticed, we live in a very distracted society. Between Facebook, Twitter, texts, and e-mails not only is it hard to focus many no longer few focus as something to be desired! But what if all our multi-tasking actually undermines the tasks we seek to accomplish? What if our constant busyness keeps us from getting anything done? In this weeks link, our brothers over at the White Horse Inn interview T. David Gordon (the author of Why Johnny Can't Preach & Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns) on Distracting Ourselves To Death. We hope you find this interview insightful and convicting!

You can listen to this week's link here.

Passion & Patience in "Pilgrim's Progress"

I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, but very quiet. Then Christian asked, "What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?" The Interpreter answered, "The governor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now; but Patience is willing to wait."

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet: the which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags. The said Christian to the Interpreter, "Expound this matter more fully to me."

So he said, "These two lads are figures; Passion of the men of this world, and Patience of the men of that which is to come: for as here thou seest, Passion will have all now, this year, that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world; they must have all their good things now; they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' is of more authority with them, than are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest that he ahd quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags, so will it be with all such men at the end of this world."

Happy Birthday!

Today is John Calvin's five-hundred and first birthday! We'd like to kick off the celebrations by highlighting a book review posted by our friend Adam Parker over at Bring the Books. Adam provides a helpful review of Bruce Gordon's recent biography of the great reformer which looks to be an excellent work. You can read Adam's review here.

Link of the Week #10

Hello readers! I want to begin this week by apologizing for the lack of content over the last two weeks. As many of you know the PCA's General Assembly met last week and most of our family was out of town. But we're back in the saddle this week and we have a wonderful talk to share with you.

One doesn't have to look far nowadays to see criticism of the church. It's popular to view Jesus as the eternal rebel, as the one man willing and able to buck all the trends. Meanwhile, His bride is viewed as a stale, establishmentarian, out-of-date institution. The church (we're told) is an organism not an organization. But does this popular view reflect the teachings of Scripture? What exactly is the Church and why should we value her? In this week's link Rev. Kevin DeYoung speaks to these questions. We hope you enjoy it!

To listen to this week's link go here