Gospel

Apr

2020

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

Jan

2020

“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.

Jan

2020

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.

Jan

2020

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!”

Dec

2018

The Discipleship Process: How Iron Can Sharpen Iron

A Post I Prepared for Through the Lens of Scripture

(For more info, see HERE)

I remember when I was in Bible school how a visiting chapel speaker made this point one day in the form of a leading question: “Did Jesus say that we are to go into all the world and get people to make decisions?”

His thesis was that we are to make disciples, and not just converts. A disciple is, in essence, a learner or a student, as the origin of the Greek word for disciple presses us to understand it. Jesus had twelve such learners or students around Him, and He, the God-Man, discipled them in a wonderful way for three remarkable years as He spoke to them—and demonstrated their application—words of grace and truth.

Disciples or Decisions?

Monty Sholund: A picture probably taken in the 1980s.

“The discipleship process is a continuum,” remarked Monty Sholund, then principal of the Bible college I mentioned above. “You have not demonstrated your own discipleship until you have yourself made disciples. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 2:2,” he instructed as he leafed through his well-worn, leather-bound copy of the Bible. His head inclined at a slight angle, he spoke with a tone of gentle urgency: “You guys are emphatically not a part of that continuum until you have done what the apostle Paul said Timothy should do. Do you see it in the text?” His finger jabbed his Bible for emphasis. “It is in this process of not only being a disciple but forming other disciples that you will be blessed in the demonstration of your obedience to the Savior. And in the measure that you are responsive to introducing new converts—disciples—into the church, that is the measure of your success in demonstrating your obedience to the Great Commission as articulated by Jesus in Matthew 28.”

Monty’s words resonated strongly with me, and they do so nearly four decades later. Of course, our primary influence is with people is often in a face-to-face context, usually as we are in at least an informal relationship with them.

But the transfer of information, insight, knowledge, wisdom, convictions, values, and passion—and so much more—via the medium of writing comes in a significant second place to that which is primarily relational and personal and face-to-face in character. Books are wonderful facilitators of the disciple-making process!

Printed Media Has a Long Shelf Life

I love anecdotes such as how a scrap of paper that had been used for wrapping some food (and on which had been imprinted some catechism questions and answers) led to the “coincidental” conversion of the reader who just “happened” to be eating the food—and then there is the story of how a piece of literature that lay in the dust and darkness of an attic for over a generation was instrumental in blessing the eventual reader with the knowledge of God’s way of salvation, through repentance and faith, in the light of day when the attic was being cleaned out.

So, how can writing, editing, and book production further the process of disciple-making? Well, think with me of Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, who made these three comments:

Reading makes a full man;
Writing makes an exact man;
Conference (discussion) makes a ready man.

The first two in the triad suggest the deliberate use of words in the formation of character. We might like to paraphrase Bacon as saying something like this: “By reading the right kinds of materials, you will gain a breadth of knowledge and insight that is way beyond that of others, and that will be of benefit to you in your worldview and in the way in which you navigate the pathways of life; writing is similarly valuable: if you take the discipline seriously, you will consider carefully the meaning and value of words, and you will harness their power and effectiveness for communicating with laserlike clarity, economy, and efficiency.”

One of the titles for Jesus is the Word, the point made so emphatically by John in the opening comments of his Gospel. The words of the wise are as goads (Ecclesiastes 12:11). A goad is an instrument of prodding to propel others forward. Words used rightly can have the most amazing outcome with respect to motivation for behavior and transformation of values and character.

So, to join some dots together, think of it this way: In the continuum of discipleship, it is desirable that the learner make progress—progress in grace and knowledge of Christ, in particular (2 Peter 3:18)—progress in sanctification, becoming more like Jesus (the goal of our salvation), gaining greater understanding of how God’s Word and ways guide us along the pathway He has prepared for us, increasing in understanding of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), becoming more discerning with respect to error and heresy (often so prevalent in Christian circles these days) and becoming increasingly useful in practical things like parenting, being a godly spouse, being an effective employee in the workplace, and an instrument of God’s grace in bringing the knowledge of the gospel to people in darkness, ignorance, and confusion.

And what better a way to facilitate this wonderful process of transformation than through words—words of godly people who themselves have imbibed God’s Word, and who have been equipped by Him not only to explain the content and concepts of that Word, but also to draw clear lines of application from the body of Scripture to the real circumstances of life, whether in helping shape attitude or transform behavior!

Valuable Values

With respect to Shepherd Press, the kinds of authors we love to see investing into writing and publishing books that will enrich the continuum of discipleship are those who embrace the three core values of the publishing mission of Shepherd Press. This means that whatever is seriously considered for publication should be:

Life changing
Heart driven
Gospel centered

Publishing occupies the remarkable position at the intersection of the two disciplines of reading and writing. I so appreciate the words of the godly Richard Baxter, a Puritan pastor, who made the point that it was not in the reading of many books that benefit was to be found, but in the careful reading and consideration of the right ones.

At Shepherd Press, being involved in the publishing process provides remarkable opportunities to envision—and to think through—how the material that is being considered for publication, and is subsequently in the process of developmental editing, will challenge and enrich the minds and hearts of readers.

I often make the point that the publishing process is incomplete until the books have… wait for it… not merely been produced, and, no, not even been sold with money in the bank to prove it, but have actually reached into the hearts and minds of the readers they are meant for.

Please pray for us at Shepherd Press—and pray for all publishers committed to the model of preparing and presenting excellent, scripturally based materials—not just for the success of the publishing process, but to the end that Christ might be glorified, sinners saved, and a robust paradigm of Word-based discipleship might come about as a result.

Are you a disciple-maker? Suggest two or three areas in your calling (whether at work, at home, or at school / college / university) in which you could naturally foster a disciple-making mindset with potentially good outcomes.

Jim Holmes is a freelance publishing consultant who serves Shepherd Press in editorial and related matters. You may find out more about him at www.blogspot52.com or follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jameswholmes1

Thanks to Shirley Crowder of Through the Lens of Scripture (for whom this post was originally prepared) to share this on my own site.

Sep

2018

The Writing Apologetic Ministry of Edgar Andrews

The Writing Apologetic* Ministry of Edgar Andrews

*Apologetic: Here meaning having to do with the defense of, or reason for, the faith that one holds.

I first met Professor Edgar Andrews in 1999. I recall him, distinguished, articulate, erudite—in many ways, just what you might expect a professor to be. At the time, he was chairman of Evangelical Times and Evangelical Press. I had just relocated to England and was finding my feet in a new climate, adjusting to a new work situation, meeting new friends, discovering the joys of navigating around English traffic roundabouts (“Who gives way to whom, or do you just pray and take a chance?”) and experiencing many other new things. Our pathways would cross at occasional board meetings and when he would come to the Faverdale office in Darlington to oversee the production of the monthly paper.

We enjoyed good interactions whenever we met. I knew Prof. Andrews was much more than a brain on legs, but I always felt somewhat in awe of his great intellect—a man who knew so much about the science of materials, and yet who was at home with English literature, history, theology, ancient Greek, and many other disciplines.

I had first known of him through various of his writings, and in South Africa had enjoyed selling his books in several of my sales initiatives through Reformation Heritage Trust, subsequently renamed Barnabas Book Room. Always solid in their content, always clearly written, always with modern application, his books resonated with me and with the reading clientele Sue and I served…

So when Edgar contacted me again some years after I moved to the USA, I was delighted to have the opportunity of working with him again on some new projects. One of his earlier publications, Who Made God?, had captured the imagination of the reading public, selling tens of thousands of copies. “I’ve been working on a new book, one on the origin of man, titled What is Man—Adam, Alien or Ape?—do you think you could help promote it?” Edgar asked me. His explanatory email was predictably through in his description of the text and his plans for promoting it internationally. Of course, I was delighted to do so, and once it was in print, it was my pleasure to review it in these words—which you may read on Amazon HERE. (It’s a very good book—as I think you will see from my review notes.)

My Amazon Review Notes

A sequel to his bestselling book, “Who Made God?”, Edgar Andrews’ book “What is Man?” is a carefully thought-through, well prepared, wittily and engagingly written piece.

The author’s background in both arts and science (he is a well-rounded intellectual) eminently qualifies him to write both at length and in depth in areas of science, philosophy, literature, art, and the Christian faith—the latter from a well-informed perspective of faith. He engages robustly with some important minds along the way.

While Professor Andrews might be described as a “brain on legs,” he is a very capable communicator, taking complex concepts and subjects, breaking them down into bite-sized examples, making judicious use of illustrations to simplify them (yet without being simplistic) and then drawing lines of application to modern life and especially in challenging the thinking of people who may have mistakenly and uncritically imbibed the presuppositions and worldview of a generation who have more often been informed by talk-shows and TV than by well-reasoned scientific disciplines and carefully considered theological and philosophical conclusions.

To sketch the book by way of overview, Professor Andrews takes readers, as it were, by the hand (never condescendingly) and guides them page by page, step by step, idea by idea, through a maze of considerations considered within three categories: Man and the Cosmos, Man and the Biosphere, and Man and the Bible.

Under the first part, (Man and the Cosmos) the author gives consideration to key concerns such as the identity of humankind, the impossibility of the universe being self-creating, the willful conjecture of the media in inventing and embellishing highly detailed “facts” when there is no undergirding evidence, the habitability of the world (what he refers to as a fine-tuned universe) and the difficulties posed by the conceptualization of a multiverse.

Part 2 (Man and the Biosphere) considers people as unique creatures, traces the ramifications of the complexity of genetic mapping, spends some time on speculations that have arisen in light of fossil research and dating, and rounds off with some philosophical and ontological sketches with respect to human consciousness.

The third part of “What is Man?” (Man and the Bible) begins to draw many of the ideas heretofore explored into a unified conclusion, and provides a probing analysis of worldviews, the historicity of the fall of our first parents, the imago dei, Christ as the Second Adam, and the undeniability of the resurrection of Jesus.

Is this a “preaching, condescending kind of book”? I didn’t find it so. The author’s calm writing style, his eloquence, his gentle wit—these are all engaging features. In it all, I felt he was letting his readers come to their own conclusions at their own speed. Truth is compelling. Truth has the power, under God, to be life-transforming. This is the kind of book most people will easily be able to read. Be sure you are one of them and get one—and an extra one or two, too, for a family member or work colleague whom you might like to challenge to rethink some aspects of life!

Other Writings of Professor Edgar Andrews

I have worked with Edgar in lightly editing, reformatting, and republishing his most helpful book on Galatians (EP Books used to have it in the Welwyn Commentary Series—though Great Writing Publications it is titled Free in Christ—The Message of Galatians for Today) (more about that in another blog entry another time) and it’s on my radar soon to have his excellent commentary on Hebrews—A Glorious High Throne—back in print, also in the Great Writing Publications imprint.

Sep

2018

Everything Says, “GLORY!” (Jim Albright)

Our pathways crossed some years ago when I was introduced to Jim Albright and helped him get his first book into print. We kept in contact, and some months ago, he reached out to me and mentioned he was ready to do his second book–and would I help him to do so? Well, the pleasure was all mine!

In the book, Jim Albright really does a great job to undermine and demolish some of the axiomatic beliefs of evolution. And what is so useful about it is that he uses many “insider” quotes from the evolutionists themselves in pointing out the weaknesses and inconsistencies of their assumptions and conclusions. As the blurb on the back cover of the book puts it,

In seven articulately written chapters, Jim Albright persuasively pinpoints and exposes the pseudo-scientific tenets of macro-evolutionary thinking. Replete with quotations from scientists across many disciplines, this is a book that every Christian should own. Missionary Keith Jones is right, “The best part of this book is that it will provoke you to a whole new level of worship!”

The book comes with several compelling endorsements, such as

“. . . a staggering number of relevant (often shocking) quotations from scientists and researchers.”—Professor Don Whitney
“Albright makes the case in a way that causes you to say, ‘How could it be possible to believe in evolution?’”—Pastor Jim Elliff
“. . . utilizes scientific and logical evidence to expose the lie that evolution is.”—Professor Jim Ehrhard
“My advice, dear reader, . . . sincerely contemplate what you find in these pages.”—Pastor Lance Quinn
“. . . your tongue and heart are loosed to speak what you know is true with confidence and assurance.”—Missionary Alan Johnston
“A great resource for the church . . . a layman’s synopsis.”—Pastor Brad Vaden
“. . . a treasure of quotable science.”—Pastor Dow Welsh
“Read this book closely; think deeply; observe inquisitively; worship passionately.”—Pastor Doug Richey
“The best part of this book is that it will provoke you to a whole new level of worship.”—Missionary Keith Jones

Peacock and Poppycock

My colonial and English background make me rather like the word “poppycock.” Jim uses it to good effect in some descriptive text. There is a peacock motif that runs through the book. That was really why the cover was so important to “get right.” Below is the text from some early matter in the book:

About the Cover

So, why the peacock feather on the cover? Because Charles Darwin hated it. He wrote, “The sight of a feather in a peacock’s tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me sick!”^[i]

The obvious problem was that he did not know how to plausibly explain this large, mathematically patterned, jewel-colored, gratuitous display of beauty in evolutionary terms. A peacock tail can stand five feet high. And all those cumbersome feathers are most inconvenient regarding the chief survival-of-the-fittest issue—namely, not being eaten. This was no small dilemma for Mr. Darwin.

In keeping with his general approach to science, Darwin concocted a story. Give the man credit. He knew how to weave a narrative. This is, of course, the foremost skill of his disciples. Storytelling is far less bothersome than engaging in the exacting rigors of real science.

Darwin proposed a theory of sexual selection. That is, peahens prefer peacocks with the best tails. Best meaning, the biggest and most colorful. The gaudier the tail, Darwin surmised, the better the peacock would fare with the peahens, and consequently pass on more of the flamboyant plumage genes to male offspring.

Oops. Yeah, this doesn’t actually happen. This is where storytelling, as opposed to truly doing science, puts one in a bit of a bind. A “seven-year study that observed 268 matings”^[ii] conducted by scientists seeking to confirm Darwin’s theory, found that peacock sexual selection based upon the coolest tail, is, and sorry, I couldn’t resist borrowing Ph.D. David Catchpoole’s quote, “poppycock.”^[iii]

The “tail tale”^[iv] is the perfect parable of Darwinian evolutionary theory. It’s all just unsubstantiated anecdotes. Regarding the macro-Darwinian hypothesis, there is no hard data. Zero. But oh, what a fanciful myth of unparalleled imagination has been fabricated for the incurious and unwary!

Darwin hated the peacock feather. It makes no evolutionary sense. Exactly!

[i] Charles Darwin and Francis Darwin, The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, including an Autobiographical Chapter, Vol. 2 (New York: D. Appleton, 1911), 90-91.

[ii] Catchpoole, D., Peacock tail tale failure, creation.com/tale, 2008. (Creation 31(2):56–Jun 2008).

[iii] Catchpoole, D., https://creation.com/peacock-poppycock (Creation 29(2):56 – Mar 2007).

[iv] Ibid.

My Coffee-Cup Meditations

It All Started with a Phone Call…

I was driving at the time. Roger Ellsworth had emailed me and shared the idea of publishing some short topical articles he had written over the years for local newspapers in towns where he had ministered. His thinking was that a book of thirty or so Bible-themed reflections might be worth publishing.

Roger & Sylvia Ellsworth

“Roger, I cannot talk for long as I am driving,” I recall telling him, “but I think the readings you emailed me are brilliant. I think we should pursue these for publication. Do you think you could write more than the thirty or so you have sent me to take a look at?”

“Well, sure I could,” came his answer, his modest tones a little muffled against the background noise of my old Volvo as I drove toward Bob Jones Academy to pick up my son at the end of his school day. “Are you thinking we could make a short series?” he inquired.

“Yes, that’s the idea,” I responded as I eased my car onto Rutherford Road. “And I think we need to find a way to give the books a catchy look and feel. It’s likely that there won’t be too much of a response just to a one-off or two-off book of devotions. I think we have to make the books connect and engage.”

A day or two later, Sue and I were discussing the idea further. “We need something that will connect with the culture,” she said insightfully. “Something like coffee; could you brand them with that kind of idea?”

Well, that’s how it all started. My Coffee-Cup Meditations. We found a way to get some really nice graphics, and Roger, careful and disciplined writer that he is, soon had many more topics lined up that he could write on.

We defined the series right at the start with a strong and clear mission:

My Coffee Cup Meditations are short, easy-to-read, Bible-based devotions to help you consider God’s greatness, the wonderful gospel of Jesus, and be better equipped for life here and hereafter.

I think the series is achieving this. We are not much more than a year on from when we started, and already there are nine books in print. The final three are presently in editorial preparation and expected to release in November this year!

There is a dedicated website (another of my projects) to tell you much more about this delightful series. Visit www.mycoffeecupmeditations.com for much more information!

Sep

2018

Counsel for the Heart

Connecting with Heart Issues

A significant measure of my time is devoted to serving Shepherd Press. Shepherd Press started a few decades ago because Tedd Tripp’s doctoral thesis from Westminster Theological Seminary–written on the nurture of children–was proving so popular the librarian was being requested to make multiple copies of the doctoral thesis. No publisher at the time really wanted to take on the book for publication, so Tedd and his wife, Margy, decided to self-publish it as Shepherding a Child’s Heart. So was born Shepherd Press.

I love the story–how they thought just a few thousand copies would be enough to satisfy the interest and demand.

But it turned out to be one of those paradigm-shifting books that incisively change people’s thinking. Since those days, more than one million copies have sold.

Shepherd Press publishes books for the heart. The books have to be gospel centered, heart focused, and life changing. And so it is that a new category or imprint has been established, a range of books that are very specific in the application of the gospel and the whole counsel of God to the hearts of individuals. As we thought and prayed about this, it seemed good to define the category in this way:

Resources for Word-Based Transformation and Practical Discipleship

We’ve kicked off with three books so far–one by Paul Tautges, Discipling the Flock, one by Joel James, Counsel with Confidence, and an important book written by two ladies, Sue Nicewander and Maria Brookins, titled Treasure in the Ashes–Our Journey Home from the Ruins of Sexual Abuse.

Each of these books is significant in its own way. Paul’s addresses the nurture and care of the flock is an urgent appeal to return to authentic discipleship; it is a call to shepherds to be tenacious in their preaching of the whole counsel of God, and tender in their application of its truth to the lives of God’s sheep through their personal ministry. There is more info HERE.

I’ve also known and respected Joel for a long time. I first met him at the commencement of his ministry in South Africa, so, when he presented the idea of a book of applied Bible references to guide counselors, I was immediately excited! The book is described briefly in these terms: a book to guide counselors and church leaders in being well informed and to help them bring about heart-based change in the lives of the people they counsel, through the right application of Scripture. Find out more HERE.

Sue Nicewander & Maria Brookins

Sue and Maria are deeply caring authors who write with insight and compassion on a difficult topic. Their book is soon to be released. Here is a short description of it:

Treasure in the Ashes is an interactive book that gently leads readers on a biblical journey through the grueling questions and doubt, emotional turmoil, and relational fallout that follow sexual abuse. It encourages honest and thorough Christ-centered discipleship through the aftermath of sexual abuse, addressing hard questions and painful issues that are feared and often denied by the Christian community. People using this resource will…

Learn to push against shame by giving voice to their stories in a safe setting;
Address doubts and questions they harbor about God, and learn to consider Scripture’s rich, bold worldview on the subject;
Apply the gospel of Jesus Christ and learn the importance of His character and grace-filled sacrifice to them personally;
Be introduced to a biblical self-image, and challenged to gain hope by defining themselves and their purpose in Christ;
Learn how to apply the gospel to their relationships with four basic biblical principles;
Learn to embrace their story as part of the larger story of redemption and reach out to others with the hope of Jesus.

Find out more HERE.

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Sep

2018

Thinking About Christmas in September

“May I Wish You a Merry Christmas Right Now?”

“No, it’s too soon,” I think I hear you respond.

Really? Why’s that? Aren’t you concerned to celebrate the wonder of

th’eternal, contracted to a span
incomprehensibly made man

(the couplet is from a hymn by Wesley)? God was revealed in the flesh. Do you know that? Do your neighbors know that? Do your fellow workers understand the implications of that? Do your family members have it in their brains that Christ “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8)?

In 2016, Roger Ellsworth and I consulted on some writing he had done on the Christmas theme, and together we came up with the idea of The Twelve Days of Christmas–Morning and Evening Thoughts on Immanuel: God with Us. We edited and compiled it into twenty-four readings on Bible-based themes woven into short, easy-to-read chapters, and people love them!

Customization and Special Price Deals!

The project is run in affiliation with SermonAudio.com. We describe the mission of the project in these words:

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a small, easy-to-read book written in short sections. Its aim is to help the hearts and minds of believers to focus on the wonder of the incarnation, as well as to encourage unbelievers to come in repentance and faith to Christ.

This is the third year we are running this promotion, and, to celebrate our third anniversary, we are adding some different covers to choose from, and we are also making the whole offer online so you can choose exactly which cover or covers you would like to get, and which underlying Bible version quotes should be used in the books you order. Check it out on the designated website, www.twelvedaysofchristmas.net.

Gospel

When Life Turns Upside Down