Hey everyone. It’s been a crazy couple weeks in the SBC blogosphere between the convention and other “discussions”. I personally am taking a brief hiatus from the blogosphere for the month of July (and maybe August). The hardest part won’t be skipping writing and commenting, but keeping myself from reading everything going on out there in the up-to-the-minute nature of blogging. I add that just to let some of you know that I haven’t died or joined a cult or anything.
Anyways, I thought I’d leave you guys with something to talk about. Summer. Great time for reading. Great time for activities. so…
What is 1 book and 1 activity that you’ve enjoyed this summer and would recommend to others?
Now, that’s 1 of each. I’d love to here some of the creative activities many of you engage in outside the cyber-world and of course, I’m always interested in hearing about books that have shaped others.
So have fun answering the question. I hope it will be profitable for all!
(and note, for those cold legalists out there, I’m not sure when this will post on Voices but I did write it before my little “hiatus” so don’t call me out on that!)
Dave Miller (87)
Debbie Kaufman (54)
Rick Patrick (49)
Bart Barber (30)
Chris Roberts (29)
Bob Hadley (28)
Christiane (28)
Frank (28)
Greg Harvey (26)
William Thornton (25)
A book I’ve really enjoyed and would recommend to others is Jim Cromarty’s big biography of Hudson Taylor entitled It is Not Death to Die. A very well-written and spiritually-inspiring story of a man mightily used by God to plant dozens of churches throughout China in the latter 1/2 of the 1800′s.
An activity I’ve really enjoyed this summer is grilling over charcoal. I’ve cooked on a gas grill for years, but not until this summer have I experiemented with charcoal. It requires more time and skill than gas grilling but makes you feel more in touch with your frontiersman side.
Read “Mere Churchianity” by Michael Spencer and go watch a minor league baseball game.
My activity:
visiting in Charlemont, Massachusetts, my Aunt’s home.
, driving up Hawley Road to see the ski-lifts (now barren of snow, but beautiful views, praise God); swimming in the cold mountain lakes where I swam as a child long ago (exhilarating);
visiting a mountain side restaurant where they serve ‘emu’ which they raise on the grounds (I get seafood instead);
shopping in the little village of Shelburne Falls and visiting the world famous ‘Bridge of Flowers’, visiting cousin Jan’s chalet on the side of a mountain, and hoping to catch sight of wildlife (not too wild, mind you, assorted birds, deer, but very small shy bears only). Going to nearby Deerfield to see the Academy and visit family. Going to Northampton to see cousin Anne and the art galleries and shops.
WONDERFUL . . . . oh and can’t forget the nearby Butterfly Conservatory and the Yankee Candle Factory on the way (great restaurant there, folks) . . . .
Not a bad way to spend time: the Mohawk Trail is
‘wicked beautiful ‘ in summer.
Reading Why We Love the Church by DeYoung & Kluck and being in Orlando with our CBC Youth for mission trip and SBC annual meeting.
I REALLY want to l read “Why We Love the Church!”
I reread “An Army at Dawn” by Rick Atkinson. I love WWII history.
As for activities, I use the summer to try and get stuff done around the house. I’m getting ready run power/water out to my shop and install windows and heat vent out there as well.
I reread and would highly recommend Ashamed of the Gospel by John MacArthur. It is perpetually relevant. My wife and I coach little league softball and we’re just starting all star season. What a great way to have fun, influence young ones and build relationships with parents.
I highly recommend “Whosoever Will” by Lemke and Allen. Great book full of Bible truth and great insight into deep doctrines.
I enjoyed wearing my Speedos and no shirt to the beach in Florida, where I sung “Country Boys Will Survive,” except I didnt use the cuss word thats in the song. I sang it off of a karioke(sp) machine. It was great. A great crowd gathered around and cheered. What a great time!
David
It’s Biblical truth depending on interpretation, or if you wanna blast Calvinists haha.
David,
I almost did that EXACT same thing…
I read, “Chosen by God” by RC Sproul, walked around in my zebra-print speedos (no shirt, of course), and I sang “The Real Slim Shady” and I emphasized the cuss words.
It was an awesome experience.
ha!
“I highly recommend “Whosoever Will” by Lemke and Allen. Great book full of Bible truth and great insight into deep doctrines.”
(The Squirrel starts to say something, then shakes his head, laughs a little, and walks away…)
lol… I wonder what he was going to say?
Squirrelly,
Have you actually read the book? Or, do you make this comment out of your bias?
David
David,
I’ve not read the book. However, I have listened to the messages delivered at the John 3:16 conference which, as I understand it, where the basis for the book. They were grossly unbalanced examples of the worst “axe-grinding” “scholarship” I think I’ve ever heard.
I was going to buy a copy for the purposes of doing a critique until I saw the price…
Squirrel
Squirrel,
You’re right. If you’ve heard the conference, you’ve read the book.
On the recreational side, I’m currently reading David Weber’s latest is his “Honor Harrington” series, Mission of Honor. It is military science fiction (talk about a specific genre!) and is, I believe, the 12th novel in the series.
All have been excellent, and this one is living up to the others so far.
As far as activities go, I’m going to try to do some hiking this summer. It has been a few years since I’ve traveled the back-country trails in Glacier National Park.
Squirrel
Recently finished up Why We Love the Church, and Practice Resurrection… both were outstanding reads.
Also kicked off the summer w/ a seven day, 4000 mile, 70-hours in the car, 6 hotel, road-trip blitz of Glenn Canyon Dam, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park w/ a buddy. In that span, we hit up those 4 np’s in Utah and Colorado and did 26+ miles of hiking in right about 32 hours.
The best part of it was the hike to Angels Landing in Zion, ’cause there’s just something about standing on a 3ft wide ledge w/ a 1000 ft drop on either side when you’re not a big fan of heights that just makes you appreciate God’s sovereignty all the more… oh, and the fact that it provided some absolutely beautiful views of creation!
Brandon,
Have you actually read the book?
Squirrelly,
I dont know about the conference, but the book is not theological axe grinding. Lol. It’s always funny that if a scholarly, Bible based book is written that doesnt go along with YOUR point of view, that it’s somehow flawed, or just people with an axe to grind, or whatever else negative you can think of to just dismiss it. lol
David
PS. Read it. It’s very, very good. I have talked with many others, who have read it, and they say the same thing. It’s excellent, scholarly, and Bible based.
David,
Tell you what; I’ll get a copy this summer, read it, and review it for my blog.
We can pick this conversation up again then. Deal?
Squirrel
Deal, Squirrelly. That’d be just fine.
David
David,
I was thinking about this a bit more while I was mowing the lawn. Howabout, while I’m reviewing Whosoever Will, if you read and review James White’s The Potter’s Freedom or Mark Dever’s 9 Marks of a Healthy Church?
Squirrel
Note: I’ll be reviewing Whosoever Will regardless.
If I owned them, or had some way to borrow them I would. But, right now, I’m finishing “Whosoever Will” and reading “Grace” by David Jeremiah. Although, I’ve read Dever’s basic thoughts on the 9 Marks website. But, I would come more close to reading something by Dever, than I would by White. I really dont care for White’s “views and attitudes.” Although, I did like his book on the KJV. I believe he’s the one who wrote that book on the KJV only crowd. It was good.
David
David,
Yes, The King James Only Controversy is, I believe, the book you are thinking of. Excellent work. His other books, at least the ones that I’ve read, and I’ve by no means read them all, exhibit the same level of detailed scholarship.
And as for “views and attitudes,” you’re asking me to read_ not just skim over, but read and meditate on, and honestly interact with_ “views and attitudes” with which I disagree. Fair is fair, now.
Squirrel
David,
E-mail me your address, and I’ll get you a copy of The Potter’s Freedom if you will read and meditate on, and honestly interact with White’s position in a review. If you don’t have a blog of your own, I will post your review, unedited, on my blog. Heck, Matt may even agree to post it here. My e-mail is ShinarSquirrel@hotmail.com
Squirrel
Yes, when I was an Arminian and I still shocked at the axe-grinding towards Calvinism. Patterson and Allen were the most hard to stomach. The conference was played up to be about evangelism and turned out to be a look at how stupid Limited Atonement is in their view.
So, Brandon, you haven’t read the book, then. Brandon, I could also tell you about the aggressive, obsessed, 5 pointers at my seminary that tried to ram Reformed Theology down my throat. I could tell you, in turn, about how I heard about 5 point Calvinism, and was strongly encouraged to become a “Believer” back when I was in seminary. Thus, I could say that I dont need to read anymore Reformed books due to this. But, you know what? I read books by Reformed Theologians. As a matter of fact, I use John MacArthur’s Study Bible when I’m preparing sermons.
But, anyway, Brandon, if you dont want to read it….well, then dont read it. But, I’d really encourage you to not make uninformed comments about books, etc. when you dont know what they say. Read it. You may be surprised.
David
David,
I’m not one to make uninformed comments. I thought I was clear that I read it as an Arminian and was shocked even then by both the book and conferece. I will agree, though, that it is well-written from the Unlimited Atonement view.
You are also correct in saying that Calvinists are arrogant at times, but so is every theological group in spots. That said, it is no way an excuse because someone else does it. You do not repay evil with evil.
Are you saying that there is no Calvinism blasting in the book?
Yarnell spends an entire chapter warning against Calvinism using stereotypes about church polity and mission (as if these perceived weaknesses make the Calvinist interpretation wrong).
Allen uses the cop-out at Limited Atonement hinders evangelism, which is totally untrue about Calvinist thinking (besides, perhaps, some of the uber-Presbys).
Patterson goes after Total Depravity by somehow stating that we are totally depraved, but can be lifted out of it by the call of God, but then we can resist Him because of our depravity even though Patterson states that we are lifted out of it. Patterson reaches to debunk the “T” in TULIP just because he disagrees with Calvinism… If you’ve been at or around SWBTS (as I have and know people who have), he is very militant toward Calvinism.
Just to name a few.
Brandon,
This book hasnt been out that long; has it? So, you just converted to 5 point Calvinism here lately? Like in the last month, or so??
Brandon, I’m not sure what you’re trying to say with your last two statements. I was just responding to what you said about Dr. Patterson and Dr. Allen constantly talking about 5 pointers, or about how stupid it was to believe limited atonement. I was letting you know that it cuts both ways, and that’s really no reason to “convert;” lol. Believe me when I tell you that I honestly, sincerely considered becoming a 5 point Calvinist…due to my friends at Seminary, and due to the profs, who were promoting it. The reason I did not “convert” was because I just couldnt see it lining up with Scripture. I believe that it falls short of a good understanding of the Bible, as it dwells on one side of the coin too much.
But anyway, I really got turned off of Reformed theology and 5 point Calvinism due to the attitude of most of the ones that I knew. Their attitude seemed to be that anyone, who was not a 5 pointer, was a) intellectually unable to grasp it like them, being the geniuses they were; b) not spiritually mature enough to accept the 5 points; or c) a wicked Arminian, who was semi Pelagian, who was misleading people to hell. I got all I could take of that condescending attitude, and then it continued out of seminary with just about every 5 pointer that I met.
I will say that I’ve met some 5 pointers with better attitudes in the last few years, and many of them are my friends.
David
BTW, I’m not an Arminian. I’m a Biblicist. I just believe the Bible. Now, that makes me Calvinistic and Reformed like…true. But, I am not what you’d call a 5 point Calvinist, nor a pure, Reformed person. Just thought I’d let you know that I’m not one of those awful, Arminian, semi Pelagian heretics that preach a works salvation.
David
Again, you somehow I think I’m a liar.
The conference was in 2008, while I was still a Methodist youth pastor. The book came out this April but most of the essays were already written or based off of the messages at the John 3:16 Conference before they were compiled into the book. I have been a convinced 5-point Calvinist for less than a year, and Whosoever Will was something I read as I was still leaning heavily against the “L” of TULIP. I came to full TULIP because, honestly, I believe that atonement must be limited if God predestined and elected. Some Calvinists disagree with the “L” saying that God predestined to election but the atonement is still POSSIBLE for all.
I apologize if I come off as arrogant, I am just sensing that you think I am being dishonest, which would be entirely false.
I dont think you’re being dishonest. Just wondering how long ago it was that you “converted” to Calvinism. I knew the book had not been out too long at all. That’s all.
I used to be Methodist, too. Back when I was a boy.
Anyway, I haven’t read anything in the book that would be considered “Calvinists Bashing.” lol. I do think that they present a whole different view in a scholarly fashion.
David
Agree to disagree on the bashing.
My apologies that I have on been writing at SBC Voices for a week and have already been kind of a jerk. Hope you like my posts as they come, and I’m sure we will talk again!
Reading “Radical” by David Platt , and getting to some much needed family time away from ministry.
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