Thoughts of a Pastor-Historian

WWDMLJD? = What would D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Do?

From Michael McKinley:

If you missed it, the “DMLJ” test is this: would what I am doing make Martyn Lloyd-Jones want to rip off my arm and beat me with the bloody shoulder socket?  If the answer is “yes”, don’t do it.

Hilarious, and a very good test for men in pastoral ministry.

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For more information see here.

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One of Dr. Haykin’s many responsibilities is to serve as the series editor for a new series “Studies in Baptist Life and Thought” published by B & H Academic.  The first volume of this series was published this past year and it features a collection of essays on the life and legacy of John A. Broadus.  W. Madison Grace II, a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has recently reviewed this volume for their Baptist Theology website.  Be sure and check out the review as well as the many other valuable resources available on this website devoted to the study of issues related to Baptist life.

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The chapel schedule for the Spring ’09 semester at Southern Seminary has been posted online.  Highlights include six messages by President R. Albert Mohler, Jr., three messages from School of Theology Dean Russell Moore, messages by SBTS faculty/staff such as Denny Burk, Timothy Beougher, Hershael York, Dan Dumas, and Chuck Lawless, messages by special guests James Merritt, Mark Dever, and Hughes Oliphant Olds, Geoff Hammond, Gene Mims and Calvin Wittman.  If you’re unable to attend these chapel services, you can listen to the MP3s online that will be posted at this site the same day as the messages are preached.

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Dr. Haykin’s latest book, The Christian Lover: The Sweetness of Love and Marriage in the Letters of Believers, has just been released by Ligonier’s Reformation Trust publishing arm.  In this volume, Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin declares that “reading expressions of love from the past can be a helpful way of responding to the frangibility of Christian marriage in our day.” To that end, he brings together letters from one or both parties in twelve significant relationships from church history. The correspondents include such notables as Martin Luther (writing to his wife Katie), and John Calvin (expressing to friends his grief over the death of his wife Idelette). Lesser-known writers include Helmuth von Moltke, who wrote to his wife as he faced execution as the hands of the Nazis in 1945. The contents range from courtship communications to proposals of marriage to final words before dying, but most have to do with the events of everyday life. Dr. Haykin provides an introduction to each set of letters and draws practical applications for today’s believers based on the expressions of love made by the correspondents. In the end, The Christian Lover is a celebration of marriage, an intimate window into the thoughts of men and women in love with both God and one another.

To view the Table of Contents and read a Sample Chapter click here.

The book retails for $15.00 and is available for a 20% discount ($12.00) from the publisher.

The book is available from Amazon.com for $10.20.

Westminster Bookstore is offering the volume for $9.90 (34% off).

But the best deal is available from Reformation Heritage Books, where they are offering a 50% discount ($7.50) until tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 pm.

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Michael Ives is making a great offer on his blog:  West Port Experiment”.  He is offering a chance to win a free copy of John Mackay’s Thomas Chalmers: A Short Appreciation. For more information see below:

One main purpose of this blog is to  facilitate renewed interest in Thomas Chalmers, the great 19th century Scottish preacher, churchman, and social reformer.  I am convinced that he needs to be rediscovered again, especially in the place of his spiritual birth - the Reformed community.

As a small contribution to getting the word out, I’ve decided to make a special offer.  I am going to give away 5 copies of W.M. Mackay’s Thomas Chalmers: A Short Appreciation randomly to church leaders or those preparing for the ministry.  For the next two weeks, from today until January 21, anyone who would like to get a free copy can enter the drawing by e-mailing me (michael@reformedparish.com) with your name & e-mail address.  If you are selected, I’ll let you know on Jan. 22 and will then request your mailing address.

If you aren’t a church leader, feel free to check back in a week.  If I don’t get many responses, I’ll open it up to anyone.

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Nathan Finn has posted at Between the Times about a new issue of The Journal of Baptist Studies:

The 2008 edition of The Journal of Baptist Studies has now been published. JBS is an autonomous, peer-reviewed scholarly journal in Baptist history and historical theology that was launched in 2007. JBS is an online journal that is published once a year, normally in early December. JBS is part of a broader website titled Baptist Studies Online, which also includes Baptist primary sources, links to Baptist study centers and archival repositories, and announcements related to the field. Southeastern Seminary provides financial support for Baptist Studies Online and JBS.

The Table of Contents for the 2008 edition of JBS is listed below:

The Journal of Baptist Studies
Volume 2 (2008)

Editorial

Articles

“Service is Not Slavery: A Review of Recent Literature on Women in the Southern Baptist Convention”
By April Armstrong, pp. 2-15

“Southern Baptist Faith in Black and White after World War II: An Examination of Recent Monographic Literature”
By Edward R. Crowther, pp. 16-26

“The 1919 Statement of Belief and the Tradition of Confessional Boundaries for Southern Baptist Missionaries”
By Jeffrey R. Riddle, pp. 27-43

Book Reviews

Chute, Anthony L. A Piety Above the Common Standard: Jesse Mercer and Evangelistic Calvinism, by Steve Weaver

Flynt, Wayne. Alabama Baptists: Southern Baptists in the Heart of Dixie, by John A. Nixon

Nettles, Tom J. By His Grace and For His Glory: A Historical, Theological and Practical Study of the Doctrines of Grace in Baptist Life, by Tony Chute

Shurden, Walter B. Not An Easy Journey: Some Transitions in Baptist Life, by Nathan A. Finn

Stricklin, David. A Genealogy of Dissent: Southern Baptist Protest in the Twentieth Century, by Aaron Weaver

Thompson, James J. Jr. Tried as by Fire: Southern Baptists and the Religious Controversies of the 1920s, by Mark Rogers

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Dr. Haykin has posted a review of the activities of the Andrew Fuller Center in 2008 and anticipated happenings with the Center in 2009.  A lot was accomplished in 2008 and there is a full slate for 2009.  Get the scoop here.

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It looks to be another busy year in 2009.  I still have all the same responsibilities from 2008.  As a student:  I will be taking three doctoral seminars this Spring (along with the required colloquium).  These courses essential require a book a week, so I’m looking at about 30 scholarly books that will need to be read in the next four months.  For the Andrew Fuller Center:  There will be a journal to publish, a couple of conferences to plan, and projects to accomplish.  As a pastor:  I am going to be preaching a short four part overview series on the book of Genesis in January, to be followed by a more in-depth series on Exodus.  On Sunday nights, I will be teaching through the Baptist Faith and Message (2000) toward the end of having it adopted by our church.  I will also be leading a devotional study of the book of Psalms on Wednesday nights.  By God’s grace, I am still married and still have five children.  This is where I need to make the most adjustments in the new year.  I have come up with a schedule which will actually allow me to spend more time with my family in 2009 while also (hopefully) allowing me to accomplish more in 2009.  Increased responsibilities provide me the opportunity to tighten my schedule, cut out wasted time, and be more purposeful with how I spend my time.

I’ve made the following commitments to God, my family, and myself.

• To make sure I’m home at least three nights a week for supper and to spend the evening with the family.
• To have a “date” with my wife and each of my five children once a month.
• To have at least a one night family night a week with the kids playing games and/or watching a movie.
• To put our three boys to bed every night.
• To wake up at 5:00 am each day to get reading, studying and writing done to free up evenings with family.
• Read through the Bible (OT once, NT twice, Psalms twice).
• Read at least 52 books (maybe 100).
• Read the Greek New Testament daily.

First Books to Read in 2009

The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards Steven Lawson

The Baptists (Vol. 2) Tom Nettles

Baptist Ways Bill Leonard

Richard Sibbes Mark Dever

The Advent of Evangelicalism ed. Michael Haykin and Kenneth Stewart

Augustine as Mentor Edward Smither

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