The Incredible Power of Simple Service

The Incredible Power of Simple Service

The Incredible Power of Simple Service

My work connects me with some interesting folks…

Meet Bill Mulligan. Bill had reached out to Shepherd Press with the idea of telling his story, an account of how he came to suddenly get let go of (for my non-American friends, “let go of” means “be made redundant.” We felt it wasn’t really a Shepherd Press book, but Bill took up the conversation with me privately. How could he get his book published?

So I told him about one of my initiatives, Great Writing Publications, and we came to an arrangement in which I would help him publish his book.

I loved the story straightaway, but I won’t give you any spoilers. Let me just put it this way:

With wit and wisdom, Bill Mulligan tells the story of what happened after his job suddenly came to an end . . . and how, in a most unusual turn of events, he learned joy and contentment in serving others.

Table of Contents

Cleveland Fall Technical Conference
The Big One: “You Are from Where?”
Be Careful What You Ask For
Terminated, Canned; You’re Fired
The Reality of “What Next”: Instacart?
The Beauty of Simplicity
Are You My Customer?
Recovering Patient(s) on River Road in Wilkes Barre
The Mansion on the Hill
The Woman Behind Moe’s
“Dad, The Grocery Guy Is Here!”
My Doctor Told Me to Change My Diet
“Do You Do Any Driving?”
Smoky and the Neighbor
“Is This 17 West Ross Street?”
Thinking About Instacart
What is Service, Anyway?
Gotta Serve Somebody
Why Serve?
What Is My Purpose?

Bill Mulligan spent the greater part of his career selling and servicing his clients in the print and packaging industry. After spending twenty-five years on the road, he is now enjoying spending more time in his home office, allowing for new ventures including, but not limited to, the writing of The Incredible Power of Simple Service. He and his wife, Rosemary, live in Clarks Summit, PA, and have one son, a beautiful daughter in law, and the two greatest grandkids on the planet.

Posted by Jim Holmes in Networking, Publishing Books Today, Windows on My Work, Writing, 0 comments
Heritage Classics Press

Heritage Classics Press

Heritage Classics Press

“I’d like to introduce you to a longstanding friend,” announced my good friend and colleague, Carl Dobrowolski. “Meet David Dooley…”

As is so often the case these days, our introductions and networking take place on Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, or similar portals. On this occasion, David disappeared from the screen almost as soon as he had made his appearance, but his voice didn’t cut out, so the meeting between him, Carl, and me proceeded.

“I want for us to be able to reprint those great, classical books from the past, books that can be beautifully bound, a joy to hold and handle. I want for people to read the old books, and to enjoy possessing heirloom classics, books they can pass on to their kids and grandkids.” David’s tone was earnest, and the sense of enthusiasm between the three of us grew as we considered, under God, what we might be able to do.

A series of outcomes developed in rapid succession.

  • The inception of a publishing company geared to this project
  • The vision for a series of beautifully produced reprints
  • The strategy to introduce such publications to people all over the world
  • The participation of a reading audience to help establish the priority of which books to produce first
  • The opportunity for people to buy in to the print run ahead of the actual production and release of the books
  • The commitment to financially supporting a missionary partner from revenues that are generated


The mission statement of Heritage Classics Press states:

Heritage Classics Press delivers unique, elegant, durable, leather-bound, heirloom-quality books from the Church’s strong Christian heritage. Enjoy beautiful typographic designs and engaging historic illustrations. An audio version accompanies each book. Revenue from sales of our books supports Christian charities.

The promotional webpage invites readers to consider a range of books and also to take a one-question survey.

Visit Heritage Classics Press HERE and follow HCP on Facebook HERE.


Books Initially Under Consideration for Publication


Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther 

In one of the most important books of the Reformation, Luther carefully explains that mans nature is fallen and incapacitated, thus fully reliant on the grace of God and His sovereignty to free him.  Written in 1525, this books still speaks volumes today.   


Select Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon

This treasure from the Prince of Preachers contains some of the most beloved writings and prayers of C.H. Spurgeon: According to His Promise. The Prayers of C.H. Spurgeon, The Letters of C.H. Spurgeon, Words of Cheer for Daily Life, and Words of Wisdom for Daily Life. 


Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms (of the Protestant Church)

Starting with the ecumenical creeds, this title incorporates the key confessions and catechisms from the Reformation onward: Augsburg Confession, Westminster Confession, Geneva Confession, Helvetic Confession, Canons of Dordt, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Confession and (Larger and Shorter) Catechism, Savoy Declaration, The 39 Articles, London Baptist Confession of Faith, Luther’s Catechism, Spurgeon’s Catechism.


Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, John Foxe 

This classic text written in the seventeenth century chronicles the deaths of martyrs of that time and in centuries before.  A challenging book that leaves a testimony behind of dear saints sacrificing their lives for the Savior.   


Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan 

An allegory penned by John Bunyan, a Reformed Baptist preacher imprisoned for his faith, has entranced and encouraged the lives of millions of believers since its release in the 1600s.  It is the most published book in history–apart from the Bible.  


And while you are here, why don’t you take the survey? It won’t even take one minute!


 

Posted by Jim Holmes in Creativity and Aesthetics, Heritage, Networking, Publishing Books Today, Spirituality, Westminster Standards, Windows on My Work, 0 comments
In the Shadow of the Shahs

In the Shadow of the Shahs

In the Shadow of the Shahs

This is the engaging title of a book just released by Lion Hudson in the UK.

The story goes back a few years…

Farifteh Robb, the author, wished to write her memoirs. When she sent me the early draft of a couple of chapters, because it was so engaging to read, I could see how publishable it was.  I encouraged her in the process, guiding her as best I was able, and ended up helping her to publish the book through my publishing operation, Great Writing Publications.

After we published her book, I found myself describing it in these terms:

It has been a joy to work with the author on this project! Farifteh Robb writes with eloquence, passion, grace, and humour. Readers will love her gentle style, her insightful comments, the deft touches she uses to establish atmosphere and setting, and her gentle appreciation of the spiritual world. She writes in a natural way of the transitions her life has made, from 1950s and 1960s Europe, through pre-Revolution Iran, the British Isles, the Iranian Revolution itself, and, for the greater part of her life, in the United Kingdom.

Upon publication, the book proved a success, so we began to dream bigger dreams. Might we find a more established publisher, one that would take on her story and so achieve larger market penetration, especially in sectors not in immediate reach, such as UK retail outlets? One thing led to another and, via friend of a friend, we made a connection with Lion Hudson.

Folks there have been good to work with. They overhauled some of the earlier work and designed an attractive new cover.

The table of contents alone makes for interesting reading:

Introduction
Baba and Mami
Childhood Memories
In the Shadow of the Shahs
Academic Interlude
Love
The Secret World of God
Perfect Joy
Chaos
Rising from the Ashes
Into the Light
Motherhood and a Scottish Mullah
Four Last Things

Would you like to order a copy? Here are some links:

Order from Amazon!

Order your copies from Amazon–UK, HERE

Order your copies from Amazon–USA, HERE

 

Order your copy from Eden HERE.

Order your copy from Waterstones HERE.

Order your copy from Blackwell’s HERE.

 

 

 

Posted by Jim Holmes in Family and Friends, Publishing Books Today, Windows on My Work, 0 comments
What Is More Dangerous Than Covid-19?

What Is More Dangerous Than Covid-19?

What Is More Dangerous Than Covid-19?


A guest post by my friend, Ian McNaughton. Ian is a retired minister in the UK (so he writes with a British perspective), author of several books, and an encourager of the right use of Christian literature wherever there are readers!


To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a)

As a nation we have fallen away from the Christian foundations fixed in this continent over 2000 years.  It is now a time of social upheaval and spiritual anarchy, fear and bankruptcies; what is to be said?  Spiritual anarchy is a dangerous plague of the 21st century in UK and Europe and it is even more dangerous than Covid-19.  You’d better believe it!

The World Today

God’s laws are being rejected and His holy righteousness is abhorrent to this generation.  The rejection of the Ten Commandments as a rule of life and in politics is a clear example of how far we have transgressed as a western society.  When whole societies rebel against God and truth then there is a waiting for judgment.  Remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah?  Remember Pompeii?  God is not mocked.  Remember the Old Testament prophets especially Jeremiah, who preached against the sins of Israel warning of coming chastening?  The outcome of unbelief and anarchy is seen in God’s purifying judgments throughout human history.  Nor are the churches immune from God’s loving discipline (cf. 1 Peter 4:17; Rev. 2: & 3).

Anarchy is the rebellious child’s response to good advice and caring love and it is more dangerous than any earthly plague.  However, God is love and all he does is out of caring and kindly love.

To define love is to define God our Creator and Father in heaven.[1]

‘Who is the Lord?’

There was a plague in ancient Egypt–sound familiar?  However, it took ten plagues from God to break the hardened stubborn heathen heart of Egypt’s despot ruler.  God’s self-revelation in Scripture and in nature is clear for all to behold but our leaders need to listen.  Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice?’’ in a retort to Moses the servant of God (Ex. 5:2).  This God, whom Pharaoh disbelieved in, is our God and Savior.  There is a call to the nations during this pandemic; it is a call to repentance. But who will blow that trumpet so it is heard?  The mainline churches and their leaders are running silent.  Until a voice is raised up to broadcast this important point ?we can expect hardened hearts to harden more; unbelieving hearts to blaspheme more; confused and mislead professing Christians to remain unregenerate.

Pray for a Conviction of Sin

Why is it that we ‘Moderns’ think ourselves free from the judgment to come and suppress the fear of God the Almighty?  Christians want the best for all citizens but the gospel churches are mocked.  God’s people want eternal life‘s blessings for their neighbors but they ignored the good news that Jesus has risen from the dead and offers life in all its fullness.  Believers pray for a conviction of sin in the hope of revival of true religion in the soul and throughout the land.  However, the lost are insensible to the fact that to neglect true spirituality, found only in Jesus Christ and his gospel, is to be lost forever.  To deny the reality of God and the free offer of eternal life from God who loves us is to live a lie.  To reject Christ Jesus’ free offer of free salvation found in the gospel is to live without hope.  What more can we say?  I end with a borrowed comment (from a friend) that needs to be heard:

‘Christianity does not offer a remedy for Covid-19.  Christianity offers a remedy for sin, “the blood of Jesus Christ his (God’s) Son cleanseth us from all sin”, (1 John 1:7).  It offers a remedy for death, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25 & 26).  This is Christianity’s unique and glorious message.’[2]

Abide in the Vine

“My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2)

This parable is telling us God is looking for holy fruit from our lives. He has blessed us and helped us and kept us and provides and been very patient too. But have we been thankful? Have we worshiped? Have we witnessed? The branches that are barren are pruned to remove or stimulate growth so that fruit is produced. The Gardener does it: God does it. Jesus is the Vine. This is how God works and this is what he is doing during this pandemic.  He prunes, ‘that it may bear more fruit’. History records epidemics, pandemics, disasters, and judgments in the providence of God. Remember the great London plague of 1666 (c.100,000 died). In the Spanish ‘flu’ pandemic of 1918, millions died.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (v.6).


© Rev. Ian S. McNaughton

revi@talktalk.net

[1] Let me know if you would like my tract ‘God’s love’.

[2] http://spimomder.blogspot.com/

Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Friendship, Gospel, Sickness, Worldview, 0 comments
When Life Turns Upside Down

When Life Turns Upside Down

When Life Turns Upside Down

I’ve mentioned my friend, John A. (Jay) Younts once or twice before (you could read the post HERE) and it’s a special delight that he resides not too far away from where I live in the upstate of South Carolina. Jay has contributed extensively to the Shepherd Press blog over many years. He and I share much the same kind of worldview, seeing all of life as belonging to God, and the direct involvement of God in day-to-day events.

With what we are now thinking of as the new normal, the advent of the corona virus, I was in discussion with friends at Shepherd Press about how we might be able to provide a resource that would meaningfully address this situation. Enthusiastically and unhesitatingly, Dr. Tedd Tripp saw the importance of the idea. “Ask Jay,” he guided me. “He could do this.” An email or two later, and Jay had confirmed that he would do it, requesting prayer for the project. And it made good sense for Tedd to contribute the foreword to the book!

Over the next few days, as he was writing the first draft, we kicked around some prospective titles, soon settling on When Life Turns Upside Down: Finding Stability through God’s Comforting Peace. The table of contents maps out nicely what is in the small book:

Foreword: An Upside-Down World
Introduction: Prayer Keeps Life Right-Side Up
Who Controls Tomorrow: Do Humans Control Tomorrow?
When Life Turns Upside Down: The Power of the Earthquake
The Fear Factor: Fear and Emotional Protection
The Dangerous Blame Game: The Game That Comes Naturally
Understanding the Fall: The Groaning Creation
Perspective: Throughout History, God Remains Faithful to His Promise
When Upside Down is Really Right-Side Up: So There Is Good News!
The Gospel is Your Anchor: The Lord Renews Your Strength
Your Future Is Secure: Death Is Swallowed Up in Victory
Appendix 1: Teach Your Children to Live Right-Side Up
Appendix 2: Comfort for Your Community

It was an interesting exercise figuring out what kind of cover design would work best for the project. Thankfully, there were various people on Facebook who shared what they liked, or did not like, about various proposed cover options!

My view is that this is a vitally important little resource to put in people’s hands. It’s available as an eBook, and coming soon–within a week or so–as a mini-book paperback of 88 pages. It’s easy enough to read in one sitting of under one hour, but also full of biblical content and application to life. Get one for you and your family, and several copies for your neighbors, friends, and work associates. Be sure to check out the Shepherd Press site to find out more about the book and the discounted offers HERE or read some pages from the book HERE.

Endorsements

Over the years, Jay Younts has been my personal Gandalf, my Mr. Miagi, my Paul. With fatherly wisdom and genuine care, Jay offers us this prayerful life-guide, showing us how to live life from God’s perspective and not our own, keeping us right-side up in a world that feels upside down.
Kirk Cameron: Actor, Film Producer

Younts turns our attention to hope found in the mercy of God and the provision he has made for mankind in the sinless life and sacrificial death of his Son, Jesus Christ. This book will provide encouragement and hope in these scary times.
Dr. Tedd Tripp: Author, Pastor, Conference Speaker


About Jay Younts

John A. (Jay) Younts is the author of this book as well as other materials on parenting and the Christian life. He is an experienced blogger, having served Shepherd Press in this capacity for several years. He has been teaching and speaking on current issues for over thirty years. He serves as a ruling elder at Redeemer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Moore, South Carolina. He and his late wife, Ruth, have five adult children.

Follow Jay on Social Media
YouTube Channel: EverydayTalk 24/7
www.everydaytalk247.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.younts
Twitter: @wordsmatter247
jayyounts@gmail.com

 

Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Gospel, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Windows on My Work, Worldview, Writing, 0 comments
Where Shepherds Meet

Where Shepherds Meet

Where Shepherds Meet

It’s been several years since it was last opportune for me to attend the Shepherds’ Conference, an annual event held at the Grace Community Church (pastor-teacher, John MacArthur) just outside of Los Angeles, but it happened again this year. A book that guided through the editing and production process for Shepherd Press, Seven Key Principles for Effective Ministry (subtitled Nurturing Thriving Churches in a Postmodern Culture) was selected for promotion and giveaway, and so the publisher was invited to attend and also make available other resources on offer.

At the last minute, my good friend Anthony Russo, also from Greenville SC, was able to attend, so we had a blast as we traveled, encouraged each other along the way, engaged with others, shared the gospel, and enjoyed the fine hospitality of the members and friends of Grace Community Church.

Being the year 2020, it seemed fitting that the conference theme picked up on the idea of having perfect (2020) vision–in a nutshell: Doctrinal Clarity for a Confused Generation. The mission statement provides a succinct generic introduction to the event:

The mission of the Shepherds’ Conference is to provide the opportunity for men in church leadership to be challenged in their commitment to biblical ministry and to find encouragement as together we seek to become more effective servants of our chief Shepherd.

Anthony and I enjoyed meeting with hundreds of men who minister not only in North America, but around the world. Enjoy viewing the dozen or so pictures below!

Posted by Jim Holmes in Friendship, Memories, Networking, Publishing Books Today, Reflections, Spirituality, Windows on My Work, 0 comments
Rudolph W. Giuliani on Leadership

Rudolph W. Giuliani on Leadership

Rudolph W. Giuliani on Leadership

He faced the camera, his poise one of confidence, giving me, a viewer, a sense that he was in charge of the post-9/11 cleanup operation—and what an operation that was. That was my first impression of Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York City as I watched my TV in Darlington, England. Subsequent views of the same man confirmed my impression that here was a man of competence, a leader, someone inspiring confidence in the stark face of deep trauma, a trauma that was felt by not only New Yorkers, but by people all round the world.

Fast forward nearly two decades: When I saw a secondhand book by Rudolph W. Giuliani in a thrift store in Greenville, I was tempted to buy it, but thought of the many other books at home clamoring for my attention. But I yielded and went back a week later and purchased a copy: Leadership

Written in three parts, the table of contents asserts several propositions about leadership, as below, which the author then engagingly develops in just under 400 pages.

1 September 11, 2001

2 First Things First

3 Prepare Relentlessly

4 Everyone’s Accountable, All of the Time

5 Surround Yourself with Great People

6 Reflect, Then Decide

7 Underpromise and Overdeliver

8 Develop and Communicate Strong Belief

9 Be Your Own Man

10 Loyalty: The Vital Virtue

11 Weddings Discretionary, Funerals Mandatory

12 Stand up to Bullies

13 Study. Read. Learn Independently

14 Organize Around a Purpose

15 Bribe Only Those Who Will Stay Bribed

16 Recovery

Giuliani’s childhood was shaped by strong Roman Catholic values, a love for history, an optimistic sense of what it is possible to achieve in this world, and, at times, being egged on to a good display of streetwise behaviors that helped him in his adult years to face down bullies and crooks.

The author’s can-do spirit breathes optimism through the book. At times, I found myself disagreeing with some of his faith values—I am protestant to the core—but I found myself loving his sincerity and zeal for faith as he knows it, and especially his commitment to a Judeo-Christian worldview and its outworking in the form of faith, family, and a good, solid work ethic—typical of a classical conservative. His treatment of the so-called squeegee men in NY is classic—Charge them for jaywalking, was his take on it. Nobody had thought of that!

At times a little self-congratulatory, Giuliani nevertheless charms the reader with his love for life, his love for doing the right thing, and for being a fighter to this end. And there is much in this book for ordinary people who are striving for excellence even within their own relatively minor circles. There is a feast in the chapter titles alone. I read this book over the course of a few months in bite sizes at occasional times of the month—in waiting rooms, waiting for a kettle to boil, and at other spare moments. The takeaways, for me, are largely in the propositions in the table of contents. There are many action points to be derived from these. I’ve seen too much blithering leadership in my circles—whether church, publishing, or charity work—over the years. Would that many leaders and prospective leaders would take on board some of Giuliani’s ideas and principles!

Featured image from www.biography.com/.image/t_share/MTQyODE5Nzc1NDczNTI2NTU2/rudy-giuliani-gettyimages-470786844_1600jpg.jpg
Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Reflections, Worldview, 0 comments
“My Name Shall Be Great Among the Nations”

“My Name Shall Be Great Among the Nations”

“My Name Shall Be Great Among the Nations”

The quote is from Malachi 1:11, a declaration by the LORD (Jehovah) of Hosts–the God of the armies of heaven and earth. It’s a declaration of certainty and fact, not a wish or a whimper. It’s as certain as certain can be!

When I was approached late last year by a representative of The Master’s Academy International with a view to helping produce a book of daily readings, I was immediately excited and energized by the prospect. The ministry has numerous staff and graduates in far-flung parts of the world, and each with a conviction and burden to make Christ’s name great in the location in which he serves.

Enjoy reading and reflecting on the reading for January 10 from a brother serving in South Africa


January 10

Kind in Heart, Humble in Spirit

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit
1 Peter 3:8

David Beakley: Christ Seminary | South Africa

Loving and caring for others is a difficult task. It is even worse when it is a command and the “others” don’t particularly care for your love. But when it is done out of joy, the world takes note. When Peter told his readers “to sum up” in this verse, he was summing up his instructions that were very pointed and directed toward fellow believers in submitting to bad governments, bad employers, and bad marital relationships. And, if that were not bad enough, Peter gave this call of submission to people who were already suffering and experiencing persecution for their faith! How is this possible?

South Africa is a very complex country, with a complex history that has been checkered with oppression, strife, and hypocrisy—largely in the name of the “state” church, which at the time was professing evangelical. In 1994, the government changed and the servant was now the master. Needless to say, there was a backlash against “White Christianity.” But, when a student-pastor from Christ Seminary understood these words from Peter, and saw a converted “enemy” from the previous regime, he went to meet his foe only to discover a brother. After they discovered and rejoiced in their “unity of mind,” they both preached together in a Township church to a full house.

The result was a testimony that resounded throughout the country. A secular and polarized culture was now hearing—and intrigued by—the gospel message of peace from two unlikely brothers.

How might you demonstrate loving submission, kindness of heart, and humility of spirit to those around you today?


Did you enjoy reading this excerpt? You may purchase the physical book on Amazon HERE or the Kindle version HERE.


Featured Image: A beautiful landscape panorama that has been used for the cover of the book.

Posted by Jim Holmes in Gospel, Guest Post, Publishing Books Today, Reflections, Spirituality, Windows on My Work, Writing, 0 comments
God, Evil, and Suffering: The Crucifixion

God, Evil, and Suffering: The Crucifixion

God, Evil, and Suffering: The Crucifixion

The post below is excerpted from God, Evil, and Suffering: Understanding God’s Role in Tragedies and Atrocities, a mini-book written by Dr. David A. Harrell, and published in the Compact Expository Pulpit Series, an imprint of Great Writing Publications and joint venture with Shepherd’s Fire Ministries.

Dave is currently the senior pastor-teacher of Calvary Bible Church where he has served since 1994. After attending the Moody Bible Institute, he graduated from Grace College, Grace Theological Seminary, and the Omega (formerly Oxford) Graduate School where he earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Integration of Religion and Society. He is a former Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling at the Master’s University, Santa Clarita, CA., and founder of Shepherd’s Fire, the mass communication arm of his ministry. He and his wife, Nancy, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Many thanks to Dave for contributing this post. Readers are welcome to share this provided they include the content at the beginning and end of this post.


The Tragedy and Atrocity of the Crucifixion of Christ

Reflecting once again upon my short conversation with the Sunday School class, it was obvious to each of them that indeed the crucifixion of Christ was the greatest of all evils; that God was more, not less, glorified because of it and, as a result, sinners are able to experience more, not less, happiness. But several in the class struggled, and understandably so, with the idea of God’s providential working in the lives of evil men who, by His sovereign decree, independently chose by their own free will to act wickedly in participating in heinous acts. Most indicated that they had never thought about it that way.

Obviously, none of what happened caught God by surprise nor were the choices of those wicked men a violation of His sovereign will. This was evident in the prayer of Peter and John when they stated, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:27).

Every Christian would do well to remember that the Father’s wrath of judgment against sin was poured out upon His Son and our substitute, Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding the responsibility of wicked men who cried out for Him to be crucified, Peter made it clear that God ordained His murder when he said, “this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:23).

What an amazing concept: Jesus willingly chose to suffer and die on a cross because God ordained Him to do so. He was delivered up by the “predetermined plan.” The word predetermined is the Greek word horizo, meaning “to mark out a boundary beforehand,” from which we get our English word horizon. The word plan translates the Greek word boule used in Scripture to describe God’s will of purpose; that which He has designed, ordained, or decreed in eternity past. Sometimes this is referred to as His decretive or sovereign will. So Peter is literally saying that our sovereign God decreed that Jesus would die on the cross; it was His predetermined plan.

Furthermore, he attributes His sacrificial death to the “foreknowledge of God.” The word foreknowledge is the Greek word prognosis meaning “to foreordain”—a meaning that far exceeds the English concept of merely knowing something ahead of time. Moreover, grammatically speaking, since the term is in the instrumental dative case, it must be understood that Peter was actually saying, “It was God’s foreknowledge (foreordination) that was the sole cause or the means by which the men nailed Him to a cross.” Stated simply, Jesus did exactly what God ordained Him to do, yet those who called for His death and hung Him on the tree were responsible for His murder. Here again we see not only the mysterious convergence of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, but also God deliberately ordaining an evil event to exist as a part of His plan and purpose to glorify Himself—the greatest act of evil in all of history: the murder of Jesus Christ.

Unlike the misguided musings of the Sunday School class, the testimony of Scripture plainly reveals that God is indeed sovereign over His creation. And though He is never responsible for sin, He does bring it about through the voluntary choices of men and He holds them accountable for their actions. Moreover, not only is God removed from actually doing evil, but never do we find an instance in Scripture of any act of evil surprising God and requiring Him to react with a “Plan B.”

In light of all this, it is obvious that no example can be found supporting the Arminian notion that God merely allowed the possibility for evil to exist in order to give His creatures freedom of choice, thereby guaranteeing that man’s choices would always be meaningful, as some would suggest. Instead, we see a sovereign God orchestrating His universe through the use of both good and evil.


This excellent little book (and several others in the series) may be purchased from online vendors such as Amazon HERE or directly from the author HERE.

Posted by Jim Holmes in Gospel, Guest Post, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Theology, Windows on My Work, 0 comments
He To Rescue Me from Danger Interposed His Precious Blood

He To Rescue Me from Danger Interposed His Precious Blood

It’s a delight to share the labors of faithful authors. Roger Ellsworth is one such author, gifted with the ability to write seriously yet simply, and opening the Scriptures in a way that children as well as adults can understand. This guest post draws material from Roger’s Big Book of Coffee Cup Meditations, a book recently published, and available from bookstores or Amazon worldwide. More info HERE.


“He, to Rescue Me from Danger,
Interposed His Precious Blood”


From God’s Word, the Bible…

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
1 Peter 1:17-20

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood. . .
(Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson, 1758)

These words take us to the heart of Christ’s saving work on behalf of His people. It was a matter of Jesus interposing His blood! That act of interposition makes His blood precious to every believer.

More about that in a moment! First, let’s think about that word “danger.” Frightening word! When we hear the word “danger,” we tend to think of the people and the things that threaten our wellbeing and happiness in this world. There is no shortage of them.

There is, however, another type of danger which is much worse than any posed by this temporal realm. It is the danger of experiencing the wrath of God in eternity. People these days like to play down that danger, but no fair reading of the Bible will allow us to do so. All are agreed that the Old Testament places a heavy emphasis on the matter, but we must not think that the teaching of God’s wrath is confined there. The same teaching is evenly distributed throughout the New Testament. It is in the Gospels (Matt. 3:12; 7:13-14; 22:13-14; 23:33; 25:30,41,46; Mark 9:42-29; Luke 16:19-31; John 3:36), in the epistles of Paul (Rom. 1:18-19; 2:5; 3:5; 4:15; 12:19; Eph. 2:3; 5:6), and in the other epistles as well (Heb. 10:27; 12:25-29; James 5:9; 1 Peter 4:17-18; 2 Peter 2:4-9).

It is the dominant theme of the book of Revelation (Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:10,19; 15:1,7; 16:1,19; 19:15; 20:11-15; 21:8; 22:11,15).

And for those who blissfully say: “Just give me the loving God of John 3:16,” the wrath of God is powerfully present in the word “perish” which is mentioned in that very verse.

We will never understand Christianity until we realize that it is all about rescuing people from this danger! Jesus came to this world for the express purpose of dealing with that danger.

God is holy. He cannot merely ignore our sins as if they never happened. He has to pronounce a sentence on them and also has to carry out that sentence. What is His sentence on our sins? It is His wrath, which is eternal separation from Himself in hell.

The glory of Christianity is that Jesus on the cross took the wrath that we deserve for our sins. There He “interposed” or inserted His blood between the wrath of God and guilty sinners. The word “blood” means that He poured out His life in death. To say He interposed His blood is to say He interposed Himself. On the cross He took the position between the wrath of God and guilty sinners. The wrath fell on Him, and there is now no wrath left for all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. John 3:36 puts it perfectly: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

But how could Jesus in the space of the six hours that He was on the cross (from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon) receive an eternity’s worth of the wrath of God for all sinners who believe in Him? The answer lies in the special nature of Jesus. He was no ordinary man. He was the God-man, fully God, fully man at one and the same time. As God, He was an infinite person, and as an infinite person, He could receive in a finite length of time an infinite measure of wrath. In other words, Jesus as an infinite person could receive in a finite measure of time what we as finite people would receive in an infinite measure of time.

When we truly understand what Jesus did on the cross for sinners, we gladly respond to Robert Robinson’s phrase “precious blood” with a hearty “Yes!”

Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Friendship, Gospel, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Reflections, Spirituality, Theology, Windows on My Work, Writing, 0 comments