Unlike those un-named individuals from Dave Harvey’s work space [all will be read-vealed], I will generally always read the Introduction of a new title, as it is can be a portent of things to come.  AnIntroduction can be like the forecast of a coming day, and while it can miss the mark, it does provide you with an idea of how things will turn out on the morrow.  A good Introduction is like the starter as the meal begins.  Not only does it taste and see that this is very good, but it leaves you wanting more, as your tastebuds gush for the main dish to enter the room [Keep Reading, and you will find out how and where to read this Introduction, and other bonus material].

And in Dave Harvey’s new title, Rescuing Ambition, we have, what looks like and reads like, an excellent title that will encourage transformation of the mind, as it simultaneously completes open heart surgery on the sinner-transforming-saint!

The reason why this is such an important subject is that, in the need to continue to stoke the fires of Godly ambition, we can very easily miss the mark, encouraging us to give up such an ambitious pursuits, thereby circumventing the vehicle that can fuel the engine to high speed pursuits after the glory of God in our given generation!

All of this is to say, I need to read this book, not only as someone who has been prone throughout his life to dream big, desire bigger, but also as someone who must live with present limitations that, like a weekly grocery budget, only allow for so much of your favourite treat!

Therefore, I am looking forward to reading this title in full!

To help encourage you in kind, the following details may be helpful.

Here is how this book is described on the website dedicated to this title…

What comes to mind when you think of ambition?

Many think of ambition as nothing more than the drive for personal honor or fame. As a result, ambition—the God-implanted drive to improve, produce, develop, and create—is neglected and well on its way to paralysis.

For some, dreams are numbed. For others, there are no dreams; life just happens. And for those who are dreaming, motives are often confused. One thing is certain: ambition needs help.

Dave Harvey is calling for a rescue. He wants to snatch ambition from the heap of failed motivations and put it to work for the glory of God. To understand our ambition, we must understand that we are on a quest for glory. And where we find glory determines the success of our quest.

Has your God-given ambition been starved and sedated for too long? Are you ambitious? It’s time to reach further and dream bigger for the glory of God.

To go to the source of this page, and to find more about the author… Go HERE!

Just in case you are wondering, if I am trustworthy, read what other are saying… from HERE!

“In Rescuing Ambition, Dave Harvey distinguishes ambition for the glory of God, which is good, from ambition for the glory of self, which is bad. But godly ambition doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so Harvey helps us see how it is intertwined with humility, contentment, faith, and above all, the gospel. Dave Harvey is both an experienced pastor and a gifted writer, so you will find this book not only profitable but also hard to put down.”  Jerry Bridges, author, The Pursuit of Holiness

“Thomas Watson said, ‘Selfish ambition is the mother of all schisms.’ But Dave Harvey shows us a better way in Rescuing Ambition. With wit and wisdom, Dave uncovers the truth in scripture to teach how God forms a gospel-driven ambition in us for use in his mission and for his glory.  I hope every leader in the church today will read Rescuing Ambition.”  Ed Stetzer, President, LifeWay Research

Dave Harvey thinks well, writes well, tells good stories and cites people of substance and insight. I have long appreciated Dave’s integrity, wisdom and perspective. Were I not afraid of feeding his ambition for greatness, or my ambition to write a memorable endorsement, I would add that Rescuing Ambition is biblical, honest, witty and sometimes amusing. I’m happy to recommend this fine book on an important and overlooked subject.  Randy Alcorn, author of If God is Good and Heaven

“Rescuing Ambition is a book for all of us who were created by God, who strive to excel. It applies to every Christian. Dave Harvey brilliantly and accessibly answers the question, ‘Can Christians be humble and ambitious at the same time?’ He explains why and how we can, always rooting his presentation in Scripture. This is a book that has needed to be written. You will not be disappointed.”  Jim Tebbe, Vice President of Missions; Director, Urbana Missions Conference, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

“Whether you’re on Main Street or Wall Street this book has something to say to you. No author has done a better job of helping me understand my heart, my motives, and my Savior.  Harvey uses humor, Scripture, and real-life examples to help us balance our dreams and callings, while always reminding us that Jesus is the Christ.”  Josh Deckard, Former Assistant Press Secretary to President Bush

“I’ve always been a pretty ambitious person. I love thinking and dreaming about doing great things, about being a part of something great, something world-changing—and I’ve always felt guilty about this. I’ve wrestled with my motives and why I want to do great things. I suppose I’ll struggle with this tension for the rest of my fallen life, but, thanks to Dave Harvey, I now have a new tool to help me sort through these things in a gospel-drenched way.”  Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; author,Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different

“Ambition is war; a battle between the sin-driven pursuit of autonomy, self-sufficiency, and self-glory and a humble desire that everything you do would reflect the one thing that is excellent in every way, the glory of God. On every page, Harvey alerts us to this war and trains us to be good soldiers.”  Paul Tripp, President, Paul Tripp Ministries

“Dave writes to those of us who aren’t ambitious enough to read (much less comprehend) a thick theological treatise, but are interested enough to read the words of someone who understands that we are often content to watch others with ambition as they ride up mountains, compose great music, and attempt the unthinkable—like homeschool three kids. This is not a self-help book that doesn’t really help; it is a wake-up alarm to rouse the good gifts specifically placed within us by God for his own glory.”  Scott Thomas, Acts 29 Network Director

“I didn’t know that my ambition was defective and in need of rescuing until I read this book. Harvey writes with such compelling insight and clarity that you’re left thinking the lack of godly ambition ranks alongside pragmatism and theological flimsiness as ailments afflicting the church today. Yet, at root, this book isn’t about problem-hunting nearly as much as it is about the gospel, salvation, and embracing the ambitious agenda Jesus sets for our lives. Those who want to live with high and glorious purpose for the Savior must read this book. So do those who don’t, and those who never thought about what godly ambition really involves. Rescuing Ambition calls us to live large, bold lives by swiping as much glory for Jesus as possible.”  Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman; author, The Faithful Preacher

“Dave Harvey teaches us that God wants ambition back in our understanding of godliness and spiritual health. As Christians, we are to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:13)—that is, ambitious for them. We are to be people who dream and do big things for the glory of God and the good of others. This is a critical book for the church today because it helps us recover the spirit of William Carey, who ambitiously said ‘Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”  Matt Perman, Director of Strategy, Desiring God Ministries

“As the leader of an organization expressly dedicated to seeing the gospel deepen in our own lives as well as expand outward to the nations, I’m grateful for Dave Harvey’s recovery of the idea of ambition.  Dave’s book is a powerful, plainspoken, Scripture-saturated reminder that when the gospel is the center of our identity and security, we can be freed from the petty dreams and small-minded motivations that often hamstring ministry.  In the gospel, we find the freedom to be truly ambitious.”  Bob Osborne, Executive Director, World Harvest Mission

Dave Harvey has delivered a compelling case for developing Godward ambition in the lives of men and women alike. This insightful book carries a timely message in our ‘whatever’ culture: We all have ambition, but where it is aimed and how it is used is worth serious consideration. With self-effacing humor, Dave reveals how being wired for glory can either corrupt us or lead us to a divine agenda. Highly recommended!”  Carolyn McCulley, author of Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World

“Only an ambitious person would try to rescue ambition! Only an ambitious person would actually take the time to write a book on the topic. And only a humble person could accomplish the task! There is a vast difference between selfish ambition and godly ambition. If you want to know what sets them apart, read this book and discover the radical difference between self-glory and God’s glory.”  Tim Lane, Executive Director and Faculty, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation

“Proud people will benefit from reading this book and learning to bend their ambition towards God’s will. Those who are falsely humble will benefit even more by growing the godly ambition to pursue Him with their whole life.”  Mike Anderson, Director of the Resurgence

Dave Harvey isn’t satisfied to live a mediocre life and he isn’t satisfied to see the followers of Jesus live that way either. In his down-to-earth style, Dave takes the concept of ambition from the “reject” pile of Christian vocabulary and reminds us that it is desirable, no, it is a gospel imperative to be ambitious for the right reasons and the right goals. In Rescuing Ambition Dave shows us how to transform our self-centered aspirations into something for God’s glory and our good. His arguments are not psycho-babble, either, but grounded in scripture, theologically sound, and intensely practical.  Tim Witmer, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

You also have the opportunity to read certain book excerpts [Foreward by C. J. Mahaney, Introduction, and Chapter 8], listen to “Ambition” audio, and other audio from Dave Harvey, which you can find… HERE!

This title is not due for release until May 2010, but if you pre-order it NOW, you can be blessed with 35% off!  Instead of paying $14.99, you will ONLY pay $9.74

To make the most of this deal today, check out the following link… HERE!

If you are really interested in purchasing this title, wisdom would seem to encourage you to do it now, as over a third of the retail price is certainly reasonable!

Readeeming the Time

Jonny

H/T: The Gospel Coalition on Twitter

I could rabbit on about the details, but here is the news from the source… a Press Release…

New online Christian bookstore

In February the Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship launched ‘Catalyst Books’: an online bookstore stocking high quality books in the area’s of Christian living, study and work. Primarily aimed at resourcing students and graduates, but available to the wider church in New Zealand, the site has was launched in earlier this month.

The bookstore is one part of Catalyst – TSCF’s ministry to graduates in the workplace, postgraduates and academics.  One of the stores unique features is that it focuses on providing a range of books helping Christians relate the gospel to their study and work.

With a growing number of books on a wide range of professions including architecture, agriculture, linguistics, law, sciences, sport and much more.  There are books at different levels for those just starting to think about these issues, as well as those who want to really dig deep into issues surrounding the gospel and their work – everyone can find a good book here!

The team at TSCF have worked hard with people around the world to review and select some of the best books on these subjects, so although the range of books might be smaller than other Christian bookstores  - these books have been tried, tested and recommended.

But Catalyst Books isn’t just a bookstore, the website will enable customers (who want to) to connect with others who have read the same books, allowing those who want to, to start conversations around these subjects.  These conversations will allow reading to be more than an individual activity, and to be shared with others with similar interests.  These dialogues have the potential to develop into valuable networks, reading groups or professional groups.

Mark Grace (Catalyst Team Leader) has three more reasons why you should take a look at Catalyst Books: ‘First is price– thanks to our partners we can offer amazing value to students and graduates.  The second reason is delivery is free, and the third is that this is a Kiwi initiative, so the books we have in stock are in New Zealand, so we can deliver them to your door in just a few days.’

Check out the bookstore at catalyst.ac.nz/store

If you didn’t pick it up in the details, what is particularly significant about this bookstore, which may be the first of its kind with such comprehensive coverage, is their selection of titles, arranged in a number of vocational disciplines/contexts, which seeks to encourage the Christian to Gospel-centre their context, thinking through such implications for the glory of God!

Not only this, but it is also cheap… skate, which is further encouraged with FREE SHIPPING!

While this store is only available for those in a “kiwi” context, the job that has been completed, in sourcing these titles, is definitely catalytic in world-wide context, as anyone can search this site, finding an appropriate title, in a chosen discipline, which one can subsequently purchase from a book-selling-source, in one’s neck of the woods!

If I may get a little autobiographical… I have had a little bit to do with the “grunt” work behind the scenes, so I am aware of the time, effort, and commitment that has been involved in getting this site up and running, which you should definitely redeem… and spread!

This is the place to head… NOW!

catalyst.ac.nz/store

Readeeming the Time

Jonny

Challies introduces his post this way…

The subject of reading has been much on my mind lately. I love to read but often receive emails from people who struggle to read and struggle to enjoy reading. Thus I thought it might be beneficial to piece together a list of tips to read more and to read better. I hope you find it useful.

This leads him so you can read him, to reference his maybe top ten ideas to read forth and bookaply (just so you’re not confused… think “go forth and multiply”).

Here they are, with a little taste and see that reading the rest would be good…

1] Read – We start with the obvious: you need to read.

2] Read Widely – I’m convinced that one reason people do not read more is that they do not vary their reading enough.

3] Read Deliberately – Similar to reading widely, ensure that you read deliberately. Choose your books carefully. If you neglect to do this, you may find that you overlook a particular category for months or years at a time.

4] Read Interactively – Reading is best done, at least when enjoying serious books, when you work hard at understanding the book and when you interact with the author’s arguments.

5] Read with Discernment – Though books have incredible power to do good, to challenge and strengthen and edify, they also have the power to do evil. I have seen lives transformed by books but have also seen lives crushed.

6] Read Heavy Books – It can be intimidating to stare at some of those massive volumes or series of volumes sitting on your bookshelf, but be sure to make time to read some of those serious works. A person can only grow so much while living on a diet of Christian Living books.

7] Read Light Books – While dense books should be a serious reader’s main diet, there is nothing wrong with pausing to enjoy the occasional novel or light read.

8] Read New Books – Keep an eye on what is new and popular and consider reading what other people in your church or neighborhood are reading.

9] Read Old Books – Do not read only new books. I cannot say this any better than C.S. Lewis: “It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones. Every age has its own outlook.

10] Read What Your Heroes Read – A couple of years ago, while at the Shepherds’ Conference, a young man who was in ministry but had not had opportunity to attend seminary asked John MacArthur what he would recommend to this man so he could continue learning and continue growing in his knowledge of theology.

Just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t judge this post by this brief cover-ing!

Therefore, to go and read the rest, I need to send you thus… HERE!

Readeeming the Time!

Jonny

Anyway, as part of this event, Crossway Books sponsored a lecture, and at this event, the lecture was given by one Don… Dr. D. A. Carson!

His topic of someone’s choosing is worth you opening your flaps, putting down your landing gear, and coming in for a smooth landing as you listen-out-loud to what this man has to say!

You can listen to the audio… next!

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

However, Man of Spin being the book fiend… or is that friend?… Moving on… what I am affirming is that I believe that such a lecture has provided the motivation, or at least affirmed the reality for this up-coming title, which, on a certain page, includes a panel of moving pictures, where you can watch the lecture, and not just listen to it!… We will get there!

Here is a little about this title…

What defines today’s evangelicals? Are they people who fit an empirical, social-science profile? Have historical roots in the Reformation? Hold to certain theological priorities or fall within particular parameters? Is the term evangelical even useful anymore?

D. A. Carson responds to all of these questions and more in Evangelicalism. Carson defines and upacks the term, advocating a biblical/theological foundation that is built on the description of the gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15. First establishing that evangelicalism is Christological, biblical, historical, theological, apostolic, heraldic, and personal, he proceeds to demonstrate its continuing relevance and our need for its scripturally defined boundaries. Carson then critiques Mark Noll’s book Is the Reformation Over? and draws examples from Catholic doctrine, Christian experience, and modern scholarship to illustrate that the issues at stake in the Reformation are not settled.

Carson’s book will be welcomed by readers concerned about the future of evangelicalism and thinking about evangelicalism’s place in today’s religious forums.

As this title is not scheduled for publication until Sept. 30th, 20-10, you have plenty of time to save!

However, to view the Crossway page where this book is detailed, where you will also find the video to the lecture… Go HERE!

Readeeming the Time!

Jonny

If you head to this page… HERE… you will find the information for pre-ordering, which includes the opportunity to download a chapter for FREE, that being Chapter 11, Worship: God Transforms… however, if you also go to the soon-to-be-named link, you can download-read Chapter 9, Resurrection: God Saves… HERE.

However, the fun has only just begun, as if you pre-order this title, you will also get a FREE Resurgence T-Shirt, from… HERE!

Still, I continue to make it rain with more on offer, as you can also listen or view this series, which was first preached at Mars Hill, by heading to this page… HERE!

Now that you have been feed with free stuff, here is a little more about the book…

The Description…

Doctrine is the word Christians use to define the truth-claims revealed in Holy Scripture. Of course there is a multitude of churches, church networks, and denominations, each with their own doctrinal statement with many points of disagreement. But while Christians disagree on a number of doctrines, there are key elements that cannot be denied by anyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus.

In Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe, Driscoll and Breshears teach thirteen of these key elements. This meaty yet readable overview of basic doctrine will help Christians clarify and articulate their beliefs in accordance with the Bible.

The Blurbs…

“An interesting, clear, practical, biblical, and remarkably insightful guide to the main doctrinal teachings of the whole Bible!”— Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, Arizona

“Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears have written a remarkably insightful treatment of central biblical teachings, with a few surprising but welcome choices. Doctrine is meaty, well-researched, clearly written, interesting, and refreshing—a rare combination. Those who know that truth matters will relish this book. If you don’t know that truth matters you should read it anyway, and enjoy watching your mind and heart change.”— Randy Alcorn, Author of Heaven, Safely Home, and Deception

“Christianity is ineradicably doctrinal, and, contrary to popular instincts, doctrine unites, as Paul makes clear in Romans 16:17. The question for church leaders, therefore, is how to communicate Christian doctrine in a clear, faithful, and winsome way. It is therefore a pleasure to commend this book, an excellent primer in basic Christian teaching. It will serve as an introduction for new Christians, a refresher for church members, and a good text for Sunday school classes. Highly recommended.”— Carl R. Trueman, Academic Dean and Vice President, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Sadly, many Christians think that doctrine is terminally boring and inherently divisive. Driscoll and Breshears blow that stereotype out of the water as they tackle thirteen core doctrines with uncommon grace and penetrating clarity. This addition to my personal library will undoubtedly become well-worn.”—Larry Osborne, Pastor and Author, North Coast Church, Vista, CA
“This valuable resource will help Christians clearly understand and articulate their beliefs while igniting a deeper love and passion for Christ.”— Craig Groeschel, Founding Pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of Confessions of a Pastor

“We used the unpublished manuscript of Doctrine as a textbook at ChangePoint. In short, the students loved it! They found it easy to read and very practical. Most are looking forward to buying a copy for their personal libraries. Our church has already benefited from Mark and Gerry’s latest effort. Buy the book! Use it with your leaders and watch a deeper understanding of doctrine change their lives.”— Dan H. Jarrell, Teaching Pastor, ChangePoint Church, Anchorage, Alaska

“God is raising up a new generation of Christ-followers who long to know him and his missional ways in a theologically-robust manner. This latest book by Driscoll and Breshears is certain to play a major role in forming such doctrinally-sound Christians. Besides covering all the major theological topics, they address deep doctrinal issues in a clear and understandable way. And, as in all their books, they help us grasp what difference these doctrines can and should make in our lives and churches.”— Gregg R. Allison, Associate Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“I like Doctrine very much. It is a relatively short, clear, and accurate topical summary of biblical teachings, focused on the practical application of doctrine. There is much here to aid readers who have thought in the past that theology was too complicated, uninteresting, or irrelevant. This book is none of those things. It takes off on wings of eagles. It is so important today that believers understand and become committed to all that God’s Word says. This book is a wonderful tool to help them do that.”— John M. Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

“Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears have accomplished the unusual: they have written a book on doctrine that is both interesting and substantive! Doctrine is rigorously biblical and theologically faithful. It lays out with clarity the great truths of the faith, showing their essential character and practical import. This is a good gift for the body of Christ. I will be happy to commend to it to the seasoned saint and the new believer.”— Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“I offer my unlimited limited endorsement of Doctrine. It’s limited with respect to acknowledging that not everyone needs to agree with every point of doctrine outlined in the book in order to benefit from the fair-minded treatment that Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears give to each of the Christian doctrines examined. In areas where Christians are known to hold differing views, Driscoll and Breshears respectfully outline options before clearly stating their own beliefs. It’s unlimited with respect to wholeheartedly embracing the clear ambition of the book. In an age when people, even Christians, place such high personal value on internal experience, we desperately need to look outside ourselves—to the doctrines of the Bible—to truly hear and receive the good news of Jesus Christ.”— James H. Gilmore, author, The Experience Economy and Authenticity

“I listened to the sermon series that preceded this book and was very excited to hear they were putting it all into print. Doctrine should not be a dirty word in the church. Right now the need for Christians to hold fast to biblical truth is greater than ever, and this book is a solid, sleek, no-nonsense resource that is perfect for equipping every believer with the knowledge of essential biblical doctrines.”— Dustin Kensrue, singer and guitarist, Thrice

“Whenever a new book comes across my desk I always ask What am I going to do with this? The answer is not always immediately clear. But with this book, I knew within the first few pages: I’m going to buy a number of copies, give them to our leaders, and tell them to give the copies to young Christians to read. Breshears and Driscoll have done us all a huge favor in writing Doctrine. Foundational truths are explained in clear and accessible terms. This is doctrine taught as doctrine should be taught: biblically, thoroughly, accessibly, clearly, and practically.”—Steve Timmis, Director, Porterbrook and Acts 29 Western Europe

“When my friend Mark Driscoll says he has written a book about what Christians should believe, I believe him, and here he has. Mark writes like he preaches: clear, direct, and commanding of your attention. This resource is a challenging yet easy-to-understand guide to the major doctrines of Scripture. I commend it to you as a companion to your study of God’s Word.”— James MacDonald, Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel; radio teacher, Walk in the Word

“At the beginning of the 20th century when many sought to redefine the church in terms of emotional experience and loose ecclesiastical unity, Gresham Machen courageously defended biblical orthodoxy, with the following words: ‘It is only as Christ is offered to us in the gospel—that is, in the “doctrine” that the world despises—that Christ saves sinful men.’ At the beginning of the 21st century, against similar adversaries, Driscoll and Breshears brilliantly, comprehensively, and without compromise restate the absolute importance of doctrine, without which there is no Christ and no Christianity.”— Peter R. Jones, Director, truthXchange, Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor, Westminster Seminary California

“In this helpful and accessible book, Driscoll and Breshears lay out the key doctrines of the Christian faith. Doctrine defines the core beliefs that make up biblical Christianity in a readable, understandable, and authentic way. Furthermore, I am encouraged that it consistently points the reader to God’s mission to redeem the world through his Son Jesus Christ.”— Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research

NOW IT IS UP TO YOU TO GO BUY IT, READ IT, AND APPLY IT!

Readeeming the Time!

Jonny

Therefore, let me put it this way, if in the process of reading a given book, it becomes apparent that for all the words-to-pages you have read-to-date, that you are still none the wiser than you were at the time you read the back cover blurb, do you keep on reading?  If such reading experiences causes you to succumb to giving into the temptation of putting the book down and relegating all that is in your reading title, to the dust-bin of personal inculcation, you need to read the following food-for-thought!

To help challenge what may be your presuppositions that will inform your practice, firstly, think on how much you will both miss out on reading-learning from failing to read-on with the resources that stretch your reading repertoire, which means you could very well be limiting the extent to which you can have your intellectual horizons broadened in this venture of our lifetimes, that will subsequently impact on the practice of your life.  Secondly, such a position may also affirm that your expectation and interpretation of the reading process should be challenged, and maybe even reconsidered, which would provide you with the perspective to tackle tough titles, and persevere to the better, not bitter, end!

Mortimer Adler has some thoughts to help you!  Here is how he introduces some thoughts to help you read hard things…

I find that more and more people have an urge to pry into such difficult subjects as science, philosophy, religion, economics, and political theory. One clear sign of this is the widespread circulation of the serious books that are now found everywhere in paper-back editions. Decidedly, people want to go further and deeper in their thinking about many things which we used to feel were the monopoly of specialists and scholars.

More often than not, however, this urge soon dries up. People find that the book which they open with high hopes of enlightenment turns out to be beyond their grasp. They think that the subject must require more background than they have, and they quit.

Actually, any book intended for the general reader can be understood if you approach it in the right way. What is the right approach? The answer lies in one important–and paradoxical–rule of reading. You should read a book through superficially before you try to master it.  (Emphasis Mine).

I think the emboldened final line is a prescient point in the reading process, and one which we are often fraught to fail in, as we too often approach reading like a race, than a journey!

Read the rest of Adler’s piece HERE, and maybe even, practice what he preaches!

Readeeming the Time!

Jonny

You can always read better!

If we are going to be reading people, who take the time to read regularly and voluminously, then we should all be mindful and motivated to read well, and as such, any resources to further foster growth in such areas, should be readeemed!

In a post titled, Stop cleaning the kitchen and read a book: For homeschool mothers, educating themselves is a revolutionary act, Susan Wise Bauer, introduces her ideas in this post with a critique of the modern culture of learning…

When I teach college freshmen, the hardest thing I have to do is convince them to talk back to me. They sit nicely and write down what I say, but they’re afraid they might say the wrong thing if they talk back to me. They are not accustomed to conversing with any sort of give and take. And why should they be? They’ve spent most of the previous twelve years sitting and being lectured to. They have become passive learners. Most of us were taught to accept this as a primary method of learning.

In order to embark on the project of classical education— not just for our children, but also for ourselves—we have to rediscover a much older way of thinking. For us to really enter into the project of classical education, we have to change our perspective from “I could be educated if I could go through school again” or “I could be educated if I had time to enroll in a graduate program” to “I can educate myself.” We have to think about how we will enter into classical education along with our children.

In order to get educated, we do not have to go to graduate school. We have to read, take notes on what we read, and discuss ideas with our friends.

The first step in classical self-education is to turn away from the classroom and turn towards reading…

To fulfill this reality, after some further reflection, Bauer introduces her answer:

So what are those skills?
Start here: Reading is a three-level process.

I encourage you go read the whole article and read through this three-level process, which you can find… HERE!

You could also take a look at J. Taylor’s post, where this post you are reading, was sourced from, which is a nice synthesis of what Bauer’s article entails… HERE!

Readeeming the Time!

Jonny

To help you think through what this entails, which will help you to be enabled, there is an up-and-coming title that Man of Spin wanted to inform you about, which is marked for availability on April 15, 20-10!  Given that this is some two months away, such a warning provides you plenty of time to prepare for the ordering.

Written by Greg Gilbert, with a foreward by D. A. Carson, such will be the newest addition to the IXMarks series.  Here is a description of this title…

This newest addition to the IXMarks series presents a clear, straightforward statement of the gospel, the third mark of a healthy church.

What is the gospel? It seems like a simple question, yet it has been known to incite some heated responses, even in the church. How are we to formulate a clear, biblical understanding of the gospel? Tradition, reason, and experience all leave us ultimately disappointed. If we want answers, we must turn to the Word of God.

Greg Gilbert does so in What Is the Gospel? Beginning with Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel in Romans and moving through the sermons in Acts, Gilbert argues that the central structure of the gospel consists of four main subjects: God, man, Christ, and a response. The book carefully examines each and then explores the effects the gospel can have in individuals, churches, and the world. Both Christian and non-Christian readers will gain a clearer understanding of the gospel in this valuable resource.

On the Crossway site, there is also a short video from the author Greg Gilbert…

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Okay, so this Man of Spin has given his sense that this title is worth your purchasing-to-reading, but what about some other more weightier opinion?  Here are the blurbs…

“Greg Gilbert is one of the brightest and most faithful young men called to serve the church today. Here he offers us a penetrating, faithful, and fully biblical understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no greater need than to know the true gospel, to recognize the counterfeits, and to set loose a generation of gospel-centered Christians. This very important book arrives at just the right moment.”
—R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Two realities make this a critically important book: the centrality of the gospel in all generations and the confusion about the gospel in our own generation. What Is the Gospel? provides a biblically faithful explanation of the gospel and equips Christians to discern deviations from that glorious message. How I wish I could place this book in the hands of every pastor and church member.”
—C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

“Greg Gilbert contends that the current evangelical understanding of the gospel is lost in a fog of confusion. He burns away that fog by shining fresh light on an old subject. Gilbert writes in a clear, concise, and colloquial style that will especially appeal to young adults. What Is the Gospel? will sharpen your thinking about the gospel, etching it more deeply on your heart so you can share the good news of Jesus Christ with boldness. It will leave you pondering the extent to which the gospel has impacted your own life. It will cause you to cry out with thankfulness to God for what Christ has accomplished.”
—James MacDonald, Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel; radio teacher, Walk in the Word

“A wonderful telling of the old, old story in fresh words—and with sound warnings against subtle misrepresentations. As the old gospel song attests, and as is true of Greg Gilbert’s fine book, those who know the old, old story best will find themselves hungering and thirsting to hear this story like the rest.”
—Bryan Chapell, President, Covenant Theological Seminary

“Greg Gilbert is someone I have had the honor and privilege of teaching and who is now teaching me. This little book on the gospel is one of the clearest and most important books I’ve read in recent years.”
—Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington DC; President, 9Marks

“For good reason, Christians love the word gospel. Tragically, however, multitudes of Christians fail to grasp what the gospel fully is. In doctrinally sound and down-to-earth ways, my good friend Greg Gilbert shows just how important it is to understand both the theological nature and the functional necessity of the gospel. We can only hope and pray that this is the first of many books from Greg.”
—Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor, New City Church; Author, Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different

“What is the gospel? This short but powerful book answers that question with a clear and concise presentation. It is a superb treatment of the good news. Read it and then pass it on.”
—Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Greg Gilbert, with a sharp mind and a pastor’s heart, has written a book that will be helpful for seekers, new Christians, and anyone who wants to understand the gospel with greater clarity. I’ve been waiting for a book like this! As a sure-footed guide to a surprisingly controversial subject, it clears up misconceptions about the gospel, the kingdom, and the meaning of the cross.”
—Kevin DeYoung, Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan.

“What Is the Gospel? demonstrates in a sensitive and intriguing way that the gospel is indescribably profound as well as eminently describable—clear enough for anyone to comprehend.”
—Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“There is no greater challenge in an age of doubt and pragmatism than making the glorious gospel clear. This is the greatest need for the seasoned Christian and skeptic alike. In this thoughtful but accessible work, Greg Gilbert clearly answers the most important question ever asked.”
—Darrin Patrick, Founding Pastor of The Journey Church, St Louis, MO

“Greg Gilbert cuts through the confusion by searching Scripture to answer the most important question anyone can ask. Even if you think you know the good news of what God has done in Christ, Gilbert will sharpen your focus on this glorious gospel.”
—Collin Hansen, editor at large, Christianity Today

“This book will help you better understand, treasure, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. And if you think you know enough about the gospel already, you might need it more than you think.”
—Joshua Harris, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland

“Amidst a contemporary Christian culture characterized by rampant confusion regarding the central tenets of our faith, Greg Gilbert has given us a portrait of the gospel that is clear for those who have believed and compelling for those who have yet to believe. Word-saturated, cross-centered, and God-exalting, What Is the Gospel? will capture your mind’s attention and ignite your heart’s affection for the God who saves us by his grace through his gospel for his glory.”
—David Platt, Pastor, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama

“Greg Gilbert has called the church back to the source of her revelation. In a simple and straightforward manner, he has laid bare what the Bible has shown the gospel to mean.”
—Archbishop Peter J. Akinola, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion

“Clarity on the gospel brings both confidence in the gospel and conviction concerning core gospel truths. This excellent book is wonderfully clear and biblically faithful, and will repay reading with renewed gospel focus.”
—William Taylor, Rector, St. Helen Bishopsgate, London

“When I think of the centerpiece of my Bible, my heart immediately embraces the gospel. I know many people who love the gospel, but I’m always open to loving it more and understanding it better. Greg Gilbert has written this book to help us to know and love the gospel more.”
—Johnny Hunt, President, The Southern Baptist Convention

“What makes this book profound is its simplicity. Perhaps the greatest danger in Christianity is making assumptions about what the gospel is without hearing the Bible’s clear and definitive voice. It is not an overstatement to say this may be the most important book you’ll read about the Christian faith.”
—Rick Holland, Executive Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California

“‘Gospel-centeredness’ has become the new, vogue term for pastors and churches. Greg Gilbert does a masterful job in this book explaining what that gospel actually is. He shows us that many well-meaning churches have distorted the gospel through false teaching, and others have abandoned the gospel because of embarrassment or simply neglect. This is a profound analysis of the gospel, expressed in a poignant, relevant way. I am very grateful for Greg’s prophetic call to return to the straightforward message of the cross.”
—J. D. Greear, Senior Pastor, The Summit Church, Durham, North Carolina

I know, just one or two!

What I would also note about those who have given their seal of some-sort-of-approval, is that there is somewhat of a divergence of theological tradition involved, which, when you think about it, should be the Gospel reality for those in the family of God!  This should be further encouragement to purchase this title!

For the source of this information, which you can order this title from, head along to the Crossway site… HERE!

Readeeming the Time

Jonny

IVP: How did the idea for the ACCS arise?
Thomas Oden: I think it came to me when I was preparing a sermon on a text. I suddenly realized that what I had been doing as a theologian, working on my systematic theology, could be applied to preaching. That it would be possible to go back to the Fathers of the Church series, look up the Scripture reference and find all kinds of material for that particular text. So that was an “aha!” experience for me.

IVP: What confirmed in your mind that you should proceed with the project?
Oden: I believe it did not come until the Washington, D.C., feasibility consultation in December 1993. The project had been brewing in my mind for several years, my Ph.D. students were excited about it, and I wanted to gather together the best people I could think of and ask whether it could and should be done, and whether we had the resources to carry it out. Drew University brought together top patristic scholars from around the country. We seriously evaluated the positives and negatives, and there grew out of that body a very strong consensus that this was something we could and should do.

IVP: There has been a considerable amount of pre-publication enthusiasm for the ACCS. Do you think the time is particularly ripe for the project?
Oden: Almost everyone I talk with about the project responds positively–wondering why this was not done fifty years ago or more. I do think this is a ripe time, but it is somewhat different among the several different audiences–Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant evangelical–and for different reasons.

Among Roman Catholics there has been since Vatican II a fixation on the documents of Vatican II, so much so that they have tended to forget their patristic grounding. If you go back to RC scholarship of fifty and one hundred years ago, you will see constant reference to patristic writers. Now I’m very pleased with much that Vatican II did, but I think that they have tended during this period of opening the windows to the modern world–aggiornamento–to lose something of their exegetical roots.

The Orthodox have always been interested in patristic exegesis, but they have generally focused on Eastern exegesis. They’ve had such riches in the Eastern tradition that they have not felt a need to go into Western tradition. I thinking there is a growing awareness of the Western tradition on the part of the Orthodox, and they are ready to look further into the history of exegesis.

The evangelicals have entered into the world of historical-critical scholarship in a fairly healthy way, but it has left them hungry, with a sense of something essential missing. I think there is a growing awareness among them that the work of the Holy Spirit in the period between Augustine and Luther, and even before Augustine in the Eastern tradition, is largely a closed memory.

Among each of these three audiences there is a hunger regarding a long-delayed project that has not matured. The resources for doing scholarly work in this area have diminished greatly in the last two centuries and that is part of the reason why there is a readiness for this project.

IVP: You have made some critical comments regarding modern biblical interpretation of Scripture. What do you think has gone wrong in biblical interpretation that needs to be set right?
Oden: The heart of the answer is an ideological captivity to the assumptions of the Enlightenment. By those assumptions I mean naturalistic reductionism, autonomous individualism, hedonic narcissism and absolute relativism. These describe the two-century hegemony of the ideology of modernity. And there is an inordinate dependence of historical-critical scholarship on that ideology. Twenty-five or thirty years ago, when I was a young theologian and a Bultmannian, it seemed like the assumptions of modernity would go on forever.

But the worldview of modernity is now suffering an intense inward collapse. I strongly commend good historical scholarship. But I would argue that a great deal of modern biblical scholarship needs to be freed from the assumptions of modernity.

IVP: The ACCS is not aimed primarily at the guild of biblical scholarship, but how do you hope it will be used and perceived by biblical scholars?
Oden: I think it is targeted to some of the guild of biblical scholars, especially those who have experienced the demoralization of contemporary ideologically-bound historical scholarship. I think the guild is already becoming aware of the vulnerability of its own assumptions. And in that sense the ACCS is pertinent to the crisis faced by the guild. Many scholars who have faithfully come through the way biblical studies has been taught over the past 40 or 50 years are now ready to delve into the history of exegesis, which has not only been largely inaccessible to them but–or more strongly–systematically excluded from them. In other words, most biblical scholars wouldn’t think of going back to Origen or Theodore of Mopsuestia or Theodoret–that would never occur to you if you were exegeting a difficult passage, say on Luke. Your training has provided you with the assumption that modern historical-critical method is all you need in order to properly exegete the text. So I believe there are lots of scholars who are ready for some fresh air from the history of exegesis. They really haven’t had a chance at it yet because the texts have not been available to them, at least not in an easily accessible form.

IVP: Not having done any serious work in patristics myself, I have been struck by the fact that a good deal of material that exists in line-by-line patristic commentaries is not available in English translation. How much exegetical material would you say has not previously been brought into English in any form?
Oden: A lot of this is just sitting in Latin and Greek. It’s there in the Migne patrology. There are very important commentaries, or at least extracts of commentaries by, for example, Theodore of Mopsuestia and Theodoret, as well as huge amounts of Cyril of Alexandria that remain untranslated. And there are many minor Latin authors and significant line-by-line commentaries that have remained untranslated. There is a German translation, Pauluskommentare aus der griechischen Kirche (“Pauline Commentary from the Greek Church”), published in 1933 by Staab, that has commentaries or segments by Didymus the Blind, Eusebius of Emesa, Severian of Gabala, Gennadius of Constantinople, Acacius of Caesarea, Apollinaris of Laodicea. This was never translated into English, but in Gerald Bray’s ACCS volume on Romans, for example, significant portions of this material will be available in English.

Exactly how much material remains untranslated? One way to answer that is to look at the 379 volumes of the Migne Patrologia Graeca and Patrologia Latina and ask what proportion of the biblical comment in those volumes is translated into English. I believe it would be less than half of the total. If we ask about translation into other modern languages, I imagine sixty or seventy percent, maybe seventy-five percent has been translated.

IVP: I can distinctly remember in my first year of seminary being attracted by the catalog write-up of a graduate-level course called something like “Historical Exegesis of Scripture.” It promised to explore ways of utilizing patristic exegesis. However, in the years that followed, I never had any significant encounter with patristic exegesis, and that included a few years of graduate work in biblical studies. Perhaps I should not have transferred to another seminary! But now I’m glad for the present opportunity as an editor to be taking the course. How would you advise those who hold the keys to seminary curriculum to remedy this matter? Already the three-year curriculum is chock full, isn’t it?
Oden: Remedying the deficiencies of seminary curricula is a difficult question because of all kinds of vested political interests long at work in the building of any curriculum. But I think the most promising answer is to begin to include patristic studies and patristic exegesis in courses in pastoral care, in ethics, in homiletics, and not simply to rely on the historians and the biblical scholars to make these resources available.

I think there are an increasing number of people teaching in pastoral care, for example, who are beginning to realize that there is a great viable tradition of therapeutic wisdom in the classical tradition. Similarly with respect to ethics, the moral teachings of the ancient Christian writers is being gradually rediscovered. I think the ACCS volumes will be used in homiletics courses. Why not? I think they will also enter into the study of questions of ethics with regard to particular passages that pose questions of moral responsibility and social justice. So I believe our project is going to have an impact on curricula but it will be very incremental, very slow. Maybe twenty or thirty years from now there will be in biblical studies a normative assumption that if you are going to study Romans or Genesis, you’ve got to study the history of exegesis of these books.

IVP: I have been lately impressed by the fact that the Reformers were very conversant with patristic interpretation and obviously prized patristic insight for their own exegesis. Where or when, in Protestant interpretation, did patristic interpretation fall into neglect?
Oden: It was well intact in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. If you look at Luther’s knowledge of Augustine, Calvin’s knowledge of Ambrose, Bucer or Melancthon’s knowledge of the ancient Christian writers, you will see that they were very solidly rooted, particularly in the Western patristic writers. In the seventeenth century you even see a deepening of that interest in the Fathers on the part of Lutheran and Reformed Protestant scholastics, as they are sometimes called. And your can see it in Puritan writers like John Owen or Richard Baxter. By the eighteenth century there still was significant patristic scholarship, since scholars then still knew how to read Greek and Latin.

But in the nineteenth century, as the Protestant intellectual tradition became more liberalized, it became less capable of even reading the Greek and Latin sources. I track this beginning with Schleiermacher, Strauss and Hegel–I think the fall of Protestant hermeneutics goes through that sequence. Our ability to read, understand and appreciate patristic writers fell into neglect to the extent that we fell into the Hegelian assumption of progress in history–which gave a glow to modern ideologyand Schleiermacher’s focus on individual religious experience and the assumption of Strauss and others on objective historical knowledge as the important aspect of historical inquiry.

IVP: As I have been reading the manuscripts of these initial volumes, I have sometimes envisioned the setting of Bill Moyer’s recent PBS series on Genesis. There various scholars and intellectuals from a variety of perspectives would gather to talk about a text from Genesis. I see a parallel thing happening in these commentaries, though all within the ambit of consensual Christianity. I envision the fathers gathered in a circle and commenting on a text from Mark or Romans. An engaging Bible study ensues in which not every comment is of equal value to me. But through the whole conversation, new and unexpected vistas on the whole of Scripture unfold. And the entire conversation raises my perception of the text to a level that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Oden: Yes, as I look at the patristic comments, not all of them are of equal value to me either, nor do I think they have been of equal value in the historical tradition. Some of them have been historically more central than others.

I think from your analogy we can observe that there are great varieties of interpretation that are indeed shaped by various cultural challenges and situations. Under the umbrella of orthodoxy, of ecumenical consent, there is still a great deal of room for variety of interpretation. There is not simply one way of reading a text, and of reading it authentically within the frame of the mind of the believing church. So one thing we learn from the patristic writers who span over seven centuries, is that there can be–without heresy–honestly different approaches, methods and metaphors that can be drawn out from or applied to a particular Scripture text.

The other thing I want to pick up on is this wholeness idea that you have mentioned. Classical Christian tradition wants to read each text according to the whole. Katholou, “according to the whole,” from which we get our word “catholic,” carries with it the idea trying to see that text in relation to all other texts and the whole experience of the Christian community. A truly catholic reading of Scripture is a reading carried out with the mind of the early church. We have a very bad Protestant habit of assuming that I take my Bible into my closet and it is just between me and God and nobody else. And I don’t have to listen to any other voices.

I believe that one of the reasons for the hunger in Protestant hermeneutics is precisely this, that we have missed the correctives of other voices–of other historical periods and cultures. Part of what we are doing when we read Scripture with the Fathers is expanding our cultural vision, the metaphors through which we can understand the Scripture text. We are also seeing the text more according its wholeness, that is according to the wholeness of the truth of the Christian faith and of Scripture. To see how the Holy Spirit has worked through that wholeness is one of the great gifts that comes from this kind of exercise.

This part of my life is devoted to enjoying that great conversation, being a part of it, sharing in it and mediating it to colleagues in the modern period. And I must say it’s a profound privilege to be able to sit at that table.

Readeeming the Time

Jonny

Okay, that might be slightly over-selling things, but if I mark-it-to-maybe, it might be underselling this up and coming title.

Justin Taylor, a.k.a., the Source, has described it this way…

I suspect this will be one of the most important books published in 2010

Ooooh, the anticipation grows!

Taylor is want to be on the publishing ball, as it comes with his job-territory, so don’t take my word for it, when you can very well take his!  Where is the trust-love?!

Here is how the product description encapsulates this title…

The call to make the world a better place is inherent in the Christian belief and practice. But why have efforts to change the world by Christians so often failed or gone tragically awry? And how might Christians in the 21st century live in ways that have integrity with their traditions and are more truly transformative? In To Change the World, James Davison Hunter offers persuasive–and provocative–answers to these questions.

Hunter begins with a penetrating appraisal of the most popular models of world-changing among Christians today, highlighting the ways they are inherently flawed and therefore incapable of generating the change to which they aspire. Because change implies power, all Christian eventually embrace strategies of political engagement. Hunter offers a trenchant critique of the political theologies of the Christian Right and Left and the Neo-Anabaptists, taking on many respected leaders, from Charles Colson to Jim Wallis and Stanley Hauerwas. Hunter argues that all too often these political theologies worsen the very problems they are designed to solve. What is really needed is a different paradigm of Christian engagement with the world, one that Hunter calls “faithful presence”–an ideal of Christian practice that is not only individual but institutional; a model that plays out not only in all relationships but in our work and all spheres of social life. He offers real-life examples, large and small, of what can be accomplished through the practice of “faithful presence.” Such practices will be more fruitful, Hunter argues, more exemplary, and more deeply transfiguring than any more overtly ambitious attempts can ever be.

Written with keen insight, deep faith, and profound historical grasp, To Change the World will forever change the way Christians view and talk about their role in the modern world.

I have noticed that Taylor has completed some Jedi blog-trick, and has some more information from the Oxford Press, which is really a fuller description than the previous portion that you have just read, which in Taylor’s flow, this previous section, forms the final few paragraphs.  Moving on, here are a few blurbs, noting the Tim Keller Hat Tip to this title…

“How should Christians act in the world? The dominant answer in America today seems to be: through politics. But the major model of Christian political action, visible most obviously but not exclusively in the Christian Right, has been a politics fuelled by resentment and a sense of victimization, actuated by a strong will to power, and a propensity to demonize its opponents. This politics is a capitulation to the worst elements of the contemporary culture it claims to be redeeming. Hunter offers an acute end penetrating analysis of this paradoxical and distressing phenomenon, and carefully charts an alternative course for contemporary Christians, a form of ‘faithful presence’ within culture and society. The book is brimful of insightful challenges to our conventional understanding of things, and of inspiring suggestions for a new departure.”
– Charles Taylor, author of A Secular Age

“For anyone interested in American Christianity, whether believer or observer, this is an extraordinarily important and valuable book. Hunter’s analysis of culture and the capacity of Christians to influence it (or not) is the most sophisticated and subtle I have ever seen, explaining why most treatments of the subject are gravely inadequate. His treatment of religion and power in the American context is similarly illuminating. Finally his theology of faithful presence offers a promising alternative to most of the approaches on offer today whether from liberals or conservatives. The encounter of social science and theology has often been vapid; Hunter shows how vibrant it can be.”
– Robert Bellah, co-author of Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life

“No writer or thinker has taught me as much as James Hunter has about this all-important and complex subject of how culture is changed.”
– Tim Keller, author of Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

You can check out more on this title at JT’s  (can I call you that… and a H/T to you for the hook-up) blog… HERE… and you can find the details to purchase this book on Amazon… HERE!

Readeeming the Time!

Jonny