Homeward Bound

I made a video. It is about a two volume set from Banner of Truth I got myself for Christmas entitled The Calvinistic Methodist Fathers of Wales . Why is it important for us to read works like this in 2021? What encouragement and truth can we glean from it's pages? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said: "There is nothing more important for preaching than the reading of Church history and biographies." What is said about preaching may be well extended to the Christian life in general, as the reading of God's movements in the past can encourage believers to see what God has done in similar times, and perhaps how he can do so again. Wales has a rich Spiritual history, and the unique Calvinistic Methodist movement offers much to learn from as I read this work in the coming weeks:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJX8kEwAwyA&ab_channel=DanielHarris

A new year brings new goals, and one of my many goals is to grow myself in my reading. Reading truly good books is a way for me to both be comforted and challenged, to grow my convictions and ultimately change for the better. Here are some of the books I have been reading thus far in 2021.  As an aside, I would also like to resume writing on the blog with more frequency. I am busy with work and family, but I find writing to be helpful way for me to digest some thoughts on what God is teaching and what is going on in the world today. This most definitely something I would like to get back into in these very interesting days! Some books read: The Pilgrim’s Regress – C.S. Lewis This is an allegorical retelling of Lewis’s spiritual journey from unbelief to eventual faith in Christ. Though someone, like myself, lacking Lewis’ philosophical acumen and an understanding of the intellectual class of his day will struggle to understand quite what everything is referring to—it is nevert...

I have been reading through the book of Hebrews: a rich study if ever there was one. I cannot help but marvel in the goodness of God in sending Jesus Christ to us and giving us these New Covenant blessings we now enjoy through His mediation. Here are some brief thoughts on Hebrews 12:18-24, a beautiful portion: 18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come...

The book of Genesis is as raw as they come. We see the whole wheelhouse of man’s depravity exhibited throughout this introductory book: murder, deceit, adultery, incest, envy, pride. All manner of wanton wickedness is laid bare for the modern reader to see. There is also the corresponding judgment on the part of God against those made in his image. There is the expulsion from Eden, there is the worldwide flood, the confusing of the languages, the fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. In this primal setting all pretenses are put aside and the true natures of things are laid bare. God is holy and mankind is lost in the effects of sin and death. While much of the plan of God is still hidden in the dim light of early revelation, we nevertheless see aspects of God’s character that should cause us to wonder at His goodness and grace. There is the promise for redemption after the fall through the seed of the woman, the provision of the ark for Noah and the animals, the calling of Abra...

2020 thus far looks like something out of a dystopian novel. We have been in various stages of quarantine and shutdown due to COVID19 since March. Riots mirroring revolutions of a former era are taking to the streets. The city of Portland looks like Falujah. The government appears to be enjoying flexing muscle to see just how far they can go in the name of public health and safety. All of these are ominous indications of what is to come. Bear in mind we have an election this year as well. As Christians there is always bad news it seems. Prominent figures "de-convert" with frequency. Christians everywhere are being taken up with the latest cultural political movements. A Supreme Court ruling LGBT discrimination from businesses to be unconstitutional looks to be disastrous for churches and schools that wish to remain orthodox. And our nation is still aborting hundreds of unborn children every day in the name of choice.  In light of all this, I am so encouraged. This past Sunday...

I ran across this from Thomas Manton’s sermon on Psalm 119:1. I thought I would share: "But now you must know, there is a twofold keeping of God's testimonies--legal and evangelical. Legal keeping is in a way of perfect and absolute obedience, without the least failing; so none of us can be blessed. Moses will accuse us; there will be failings in the best. But now evangelical keeping--that is, a filial and sincere obedience is accepted, and the imperfections Christ pardoneth. If God's pardon help us not, we are forever miserable. The apostles had many failings; sometimes they manifested a weak faith, sometimes hardness of heart, sometimes passionateness when they met with disrespect, Luke 9; yet Christ returns this general acknowledgment of them when he was pleading with his Father, 'Holy Father, they have kept my word.' When the heart is sincere, God will pass by our failings, James 5:11, 'Ye have heard of the patience of Job.' Ay! and of his impatience ...

It is common today to look at our culture and our world, and despair that things are bad. "Look how far we our nation has fallen," we cry. "Look how feeble and worldly the church has grown." The temptation is the same temptation of the people of God throughout history: the temptation to make what is presented to our immediate senses greater than our God.  We are not so much different from the Israelites in the time of the Exodus. For years I have marveled at the seeming idiocy of the people. What other generation witnessed more incredible acts of God than the plagues and the parting of the red sea? Time and time again they saw with their very eyes the supernatural hand of God. And with all of that in their recent memory, when finally on the door step of the promised land they somehow are filled with despair: "There we saw the giants; and we were like grasshoppers in their sight." How could anyone, after witnessing what that generation witnessed, doubt...