Book Review - John Calvin

I finished the book John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology (Reformation Trust, 2008) edited by Burk Parsons. Contributors run the gamut from senior writers like Jay Adams and John MacArthur to juniors like Thabiti Anyabwile. This is a feast for Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike because is presents a human Calvin, not an ivory tower academic or 'frozen chosen' theologian. The twenty articles (including Ian Murray's forward) cover topics like Calvin's humility, preaching, counseling and prayer life.

You can purchase the book by clicking on the Westminster bookstore link and help support my book habit!

On Grace

“Until our consciences are bound by Scripture so that our actions are the product of conviction, we will be the victims of fluctuating fancies and susceptible to the “security” that is offered in conformity to a long list of human taboos. Convinced, grace-filled, spirit-led obedience to God’s Law really is the pathway to freedom. Remember, the law is not the dynamic of our sanctification, God’s love for us is not on the basis of duty, but neither does His love for us free us from duty.” Alistair Begg, Pathway to Freedom

Scots Wa' Hae!

The World Magazine Blog reminds us that yesterday was National Tartan Day. Oh well, a day late and a haggis short. Since I am conflicted; descended from MacDonald, married Buchanan and Scott, I've decided to show Clergy Tartan at right. Bring out the pipes and stand tall for a full playing of Scotland the Brave.

D. A. Carson on holiness

“People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.” - - D. A. Carson, For the Love of God