Great Deal on Church Dogmatics

One of the most important works of Christian theology is Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics.  I have been reading it and am very much enjoying it.  Christian Book Distributors has an incredible deal on this set.  You can pick up the entire fourteen volume hardcover set for only $99.99 (at the time of this post).  Is that a deal?  The list price is $995 and so that is a saving of $895.01.  I would say that is a deal!  You can pick this up by clicking on the link below.  By the way, purchasing through this affiliate link goes to help support Hope's Reason Ministries.

Church Dogmatics, 14 Volumes By Karl Barth / Hendrickson Publishers Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics is, arguably, the most important theological publication of the 20th Century. Reacting against a prevailing Enlightenment project (German Idealism), Barth sought to articulate an expression of Christian belief that nevertheless took seriously, and yet overcame the critique of Christian doctrine brought forth by 19th Century Protestant Liberalism, and the unsatisfactory re-construal of Christianity by rationalism's close relative, "Natural Theology". Most believe he succeeded wildly, and in doing so re-established Theology's ability to speak positively and confidently about faith, reason, and God in Jesus Christ.Since its publication in the United States the Dogmatics has remained relatively inaccessible to pastors, students, and even many professors due to its cost. Hendrickson Publishers, with its publication of the 14-volume set of the Church Dogmatics, has overcome this obstacle. Hendrickson is reproducing the original 14-volume set edited by T.F. Torrance and G.W. Bromiley first published more than forty years ago by T&T Clark. The Hendrickson edition will contain the entire 14-volume set and all its contents, or the entire Church Dogmatics as it was originally published by T&T Clark. This set is ideal for pastors, students, and scholars who have wanted to read Barth, but have been heretofore limited by the cost of such an endeavor. It is also an excellent opportunity for those who have had little exposure to Barth to become more familiar with a theologian who is increasingly influencing our understanding of the Trinity, Christology, Creation, Ecclesiology, the Christian life, ethics, biblical interpretation, and Christian interaction with culture and politics. In short, it is must reading for all students of theology and Scripture no matter their background or theological perspective. As Calvin's Institutes was the most influential theological masterpiece of the Reformation, there is little doubt that Barth's Dogmatics(if it has not done so already) will emerge to a similar status in relation to its own cultural and historical context. Note: As many of you know a 31vol. study edition of Barth's Dogmatics is now available. It is important to note that Hendrickson edition is not the same as the study edition. Moreover, the Hendrickson edition does not include translations of Greek, Latin, and other languages found sporadically throughout the Dogmatics.

Message in a Bottle

Here is another one by Jon Gomm, this time a great cover of the Police's Message in a Bottle.

An Amazing Song

I had never heard of this guy but this is an amazing song.  I urge to watch this video.  The song is called Passionflower and it is by Jon Gomm.

Autism is Tough

I try to make it a habit to not complain.  But I want to tell you that life with autistic kids, as rewarding as it often is, is sometimes pretty tough.  Logan got out of the house today.  While Amanda and I were making breakfast, Logan moved a chair over to the door, unlocked it and made a run for it.  Most often we discover this right away and catch him within minutes.  This time he had enough of a head start that by the time we noticed, he was no where in sight.  Thankfully, Amanda found him.  He had gotten quite far away, even crossing a busy street (speed limit 80 km/h).  Thank God he was not hit and that someone found him.  Logan would not get in their car (smart kid) but they stayed with him driving slowly behind him to make sure he was safe.  A part of autism for many people is a lack of understanding of danger.  Anything could happen.  That is a bit of life with autism.  Thankfully, the new house we are moving into has sight of both doors from the kitchen.  It is a good time to move.

Check Your Snopes

I frequently get emails from well-meaning Christians such as this one:

Removal of 20 pastors, including Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah and other pastors from the airwaves.

An organization has been granted a Federal Hearing on the same subject by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, D.C. Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave the way to  stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, on the airwaves of America.

They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand!   If this attempt is successful, all Sunday  worship services being broadcast on the radio or by television will be stopped..


The email I received had may names "signed" on the petition.  First of all, email "petitions" will never have an influence on anything.  Secondly, this is a hoax.  RM-2493 actually went before the FCC 1n 1974 and was turned down in 1975.  You can find the Snopes article on this hoax here.  God bless people for being concerned, but check your Snopes before passing on such emails.  

House Update

You might be wondering where we are at with our move.  To update you, our Meaford house is still sold, we do not have a new house yet and we move in 23 days.  Did I mention we need prayer?  I think we have exhausted our leads in Cambridge and are looking beyond there.  Amanda has been gone all day searching and will be going again tomorrow.  Please pray for her as she travels and for our family as we look for the right home for us.

Community Turkey Dinner

First Baptist Church Meaford will be having our annual Community Turkey Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 pm.  This is our way of giving back to our community.  The dinner is free, although people are welcome to bring a donation of food for our local foodbank if they wish.  We always have a great time and you can then just head down town after dinner to enjoy the Meaford Santa Claus parade.  The tickets are free but seats are limited so please RSVP at 519-538-2533.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today would have been my dad's 82nd birthday.  Unfortunately he died in 2004.  George Bedard was a great man who was as good of a dad as you could get.  He was extremely generous and although he was not free with his words, he showed love in his own may.  I miss dad very much.  Happy birthday dad.

Temple Grandin

This Saturday (Nov. 19, 2011) at 2 pm, First Baptist Church Meaford will be showing the movie Temple Grandin.  It is the inspiring movie of a person who has autism and overcame many obstacles and has made a major contribution to society.  Come and join us.

Let Go, Let God

A great song by a great Canadian band.  I enjoyed a number of Hokus Pick concerts years ago.

Moving On

Well, it finally happened!  The sold sign went up yesterday at our house in Meaford.  This is something that we have been praying for and have had many people praying with us.  We are very thankful.  But I must confess that I have some other emotions as well.  This was the first house that we ever owned and there are many memories here.  This is the only house that Justus, Emma and Faith have ever lived in.  The next house we get will be our first that Abby has not lived with us.  It will be hard to say good bye but great to move closer to Abby.  Now the prayers can be directed at getting us a new house.  Amanda is on her way to Cambridge right now to find something.  We know God will continue to provide.

Old Testament Commentary

Christian Book Distributors has the respected Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament (ten hardcovers) on at this time for only $69.99.  You think $69.99 is a lot?  Not only is it only $6.99 a volume, the list price for this set is $695.  Saving $625 is a pretty good sale!  Click on the link below if you are interested.

Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, 10 Volumes: Updated Edition By C.F. Keil / Hendrickson Publishers A triumph of rigorous scholarship and sound theological judgement, Keil & Delitzsch remains one of the most popular Old Testament commentaries available. This commentary set includes a discussion of the nature of Old Testament literature, introduces each book of the Old Testament, and offers in-depth analyses of the Hebrew text. While the content is unchanged, its format has been updated, and some errors from the original have been corrected. This edition is newly typeset in modern, easy-to-read type, Arabic has been transliterated, biblical references have been changed from Roman to Arabic numerals, and long paragraphs have been broken into shorter ones so that the work is easier to read. Finally, please note that this edition does not include a CD-Rom. Other features include: Proofreading of all Greek and Hebrew words Modernization of abbreviations A custom-designed font that is more readable than the original Standardized formatting for each volume (the original had different formats in each volume) Movement of the commentary on Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther from volume three to volume four (to make each volume a more consistent length) Continuous pagination in each volume, with a separate table of contents for each volume **Please Note: This edition of the Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary does not come with a CD-Rom.**

A Thankful Husband

As you may know, this has been a hectic time for our family.  We are in the process of selling our house in Meaford and moving to Cambridge or Guelph.  Both selling and buying are very stressful activities.  Amanda has been doing the work on this.  Added to this that much of the activity has been while I was in Nova Scotia at Acadia Divinity College.  Amanda has done an incredible job communicating with two different real estate agents in two different cities, driving down to check out houses and endlessly checking out MLS listings.   I just want to take this opportunity to thank Amanda for her hard work.  Meanwhile, our family still needs prayer as we continue in this process.  

We Remember

Today is Remembrance Day, a day for us to remember those who have served in the past and the present, who have lived and died for our freedom.  As a child, I always loved everything to do with the army.  I watched every war movie I could, read army comic books (mostly Sgt. Rock) and supplied the neighbourhood's kids with toy guns so we could play war.  It was just a game.

But it is not just a game.  Real men and women have put their lives on the line for us.  As a pastor of an older congregation, I have heard many stories from World War 2.  One man told me a story of being assigned to pick some guys.  When he arrived at the house where they were, he put his hand on the door knob, heard a high pitched whine and the house was gone from the bomb dropped on it.  Another man told me of landing at Juno beach.  He was dropped off in very deep water with very heavy equipment.  All he could do was sink and then jump for air when he hit the bottom, all as bullets were flying everywhere.  That war is long finished but much has happened since then, including our present involvement in Afghanistan.  I have had a number of friends, including some close family, serve in Afghanistan.  I am very proud of them.  I understand that war is very controversial.  But even if you are the most dedicated pacifist, you are still living with the benefits of other people's service.  You may not agree with war (no one but arms dealers really want war) but we must all be thankful for what people have done for our freedom.

Spotlight on Alister McGrath

Alister McGrath is a very talented theologian and apologist.  As a former atheist, he is very good at responding to the new atheism.  Here is a selection of his books from Christian Book Distributors.

Why God Won't Go Away By Alister McGrath / Thomas Nelson An accessible discourse written by a trusted expert and scholar critiquing the new atheism on its own merits and claims. The rise of the new atheism, which includes the manifestos of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, has created a public willingness in today's marketplace to talk about God and religion. Yet the debate up to this point has focused largely on rebutting the new atheist critique of Christianity. Why God Won't God Away moves into new territory by challenging the new atheism on its own grounds. Chapters include discussion on: What is the new atheism The problem of religion The problem of human nature Believing only what can be proved Dealing with imagined worlds and myths The new humanism and the new enlightenment Violence and dogmatism This book written by Alister McGrath a theology professor, Christian philosopher, and leading intellectual of his generation, has written extensively including best-selling books rebutting the new atheist critique of Christianity and has debated Richard Dawkins in Oxford, Christopher Hitchens in Washington, and Daniel Dennett in London.

The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind By Alister McGrath / Inter-varsity Press Whatever our endeavors, aspirations, and goals may be, the best preparation is to encourage a life of the mind. A carefully cultivated mind will lead to sound reasoning, critical thinking, responsible actions, and an intentionally developed understanding of wisdom. Finally, a sound intellect in the Christian life is, as Paul would tell us (Rom 12), is a fundamental element to our discipleship in Jesus Christ. As Christians we need a passionate intellect that is set on fire by the reality of God, engaged with the world he created, and excited to wrestle with God in the endeavor of understanding our humanity, and God's word. Alister McGrath, one of the most prominent theologians and public intellectuals of our day in The Passionate Intellect explains how Christian thinking can and must have a positive role in shaping, nourishing and safeguarding the Christian vision of reality. With this in our grasp, we have the capacity for robust intellectual and cultural engagement, confidently entering the public sphere of ideas where atheism, postmodernism, and science come into play. This book explores how the great tradition of Christian theological reflection enriches faith. It deepens our appreciation of the gospel's ability to engage with the complexities of the natural world on the one hand and human experience on the other.

Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth By Alister McGrath / HarperOne In Heresy historian and theologian McGrath believes that heresy has become fashionable. More than that, contemporary Western society considers it radical and innovative, perhaps even cool. This attitudinal change he sees reflected by the renewed surge of interest in atheism and especially by the popularity of the so-called new atheists Sam Harris, Daniel C. Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens and their best-selling antireligious books. McGrath studies the complicated relations between heresy, orthodoxy, and power, and discusses the unprecedented popularity of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code (2003), placing the novel in the context of a postmodern suspicion of power and the Catholic Church, in particular. He explains the nature of faith, the origins of the idea of heresy, and the diverse roots of Christian heresy from its earliest forms (Ebionitism, Docetism, Valentinianism) to its later, classic formulations (Arianism, Donatism, Pelagianism). Also, he inspects the cultural and intellectual motivations for the existence of heresy. A penetrating examination by an intellectual powerhouse.

Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution- A History From the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First By Alister McGrath / HarperOne "McGrath has the expertise to tell a story stretching from the Reformation's origins in the 16th century to today. The dangerous idea was Luther's: that individual believers could and should read the Bible themselves. The most readable introduction to the history, theology and present-day practices of Protestantism,"---Publishers Weekly. 552 pages, softcover. HarperOne.

Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life By Alister McGrath / Blackwell Publishing Richard Dawkins, proponent of secular humanism, evolution and cultural Darwinism, gets a book-length response to many of the theories he champions. Alister McGrath, Oxford professor of Historic Theology, brings a vast wealth of information to bear in his delving into the mindset, foundations and worldview of the outspoken scientist and author. Opening windows into prior theories - both for and against natural selection - McGrath follows the path that many have trod on their journey away from faith. Giving vent to thinkers and ideas such as Thomas Huxley, who coined the term "agnosticism" to describe his religious tendencies, William Paley (the popularizer of the teleological "watchmaker" analogy), Gregor Mendel (the "father of genetics"), Lamarckism (basically, the theory that traits that have changed during the lifetime of an organism can be directly passed on to the organism's offspring) and the concept of awe, McGrath covers much territory. His coverage of memes (cultural replicators) and mimetics (a theory of cultural change) is intriguing, as it illustrates in Dawkin's own terms the types of problems Dawkins dismisses from theologians but has no problem believing outside of the religious sphere. While not a full refutation of Dawkins' material and influence (which would take volumes), Dawkins' God serves to redress the questions raised in that material and demand better answers than those already put forth. The inadequacies of his existing answers should spark the seeking mind to question the words of Hawkins'; among them: "Evolution has been observed. It's just that it hasn't been observed while it's happening."

Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith By Alister McGrath / Inter-varsity Press In a world filled with skepticism, even our faith is affected by misgivings! What's a Christian to do? McGrath asserts that our doubts are not a sign of spiritual weakness---they're evidence of growing pains! He explores our qualms biblically, personally, and culturally---putting them in perspective and showing us how to handle them. 168 pages, softcover from InterVarsity.

The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World By Alister McGrath / Random House, Inc In this bold and provocative new book, the author of In the Beginning and The Reenchantment of Nature challenges the widely held assumption that the world is becoming more secular and demonstrates why atheism cannot provide the moral and intellectual guidance essential for coping with the complexities of modern life. Atheism is one of the most important movements in modern Western culture. For the last two hundred years, it seemed to be on the verge of eliminating religion as an outmoded and dangerous superstition. Recent years, however, have witnessed the decline of disbelief and a rise in religious devotion throughout the world. In The Twilight of Atheism, the distinguished historian and theologian Alister McGrath examines what went wrong with the atheist dream and explains why religion and faith are destined to play a central role in the twenty-first century. A former atheist who is now one of Christianity's foremost scholars, McGrath traces the history of atheism from its emergence in eighteenth-century Europe as a revolutionary worldview that offered liberation from the rigidity of traditional religion and the oppression of tyrannical monarchs, to its golden age in the first half of the twentieth century. Blending thoughtful, authoritative historical analysis with incisive portraits of such leading and influential atheists as Sigmund Freud and Richard Dawkins, McGrath exposes the flaws at the heart of atheism, and argues that the renewal of faith is a natural, inevitable, and necessary response to its failures. The Twilight of Atheism will unsettle believers and nonbelievers alike. A powerful rebuttal of the philosophy that, for better and for worse, has exerted tremendous influence on Western history, it carries major implications for the future of both religion and unbelief in our society. Alister McGrath is Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University and Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is a consulting editor at Christianity Today, the general editor of The NIV Thematic Study Bible, and the author of numerous books, including The Journey, Theology for Amateurs, To Know and Serve God, and A Journey Through Suffering. He lives in Oxford, England.

Christian Spirituality By Alister McGrath / Blackwell Publishing This text meets the need for a clear, informative, helpful and well written introduction to Christian spirituality, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Evangelicalism. It introduces this area as a serious and exciting area of study to those encountering it for the first time. It builds on the huge success of earlier texts in the area of Christian thought and practice by the same author, and is based on seven years' experience of teaching its themes.

Spurgeon's Sermons

One of the greatest preachers of all time was Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  He was the Prince of Preachers and his sermons continue to inspire.  Christian Book Distributors have a five volume hardcover set of his sermons for only $29.99 (at the time of this post).  I have read many of these sermons myself and they are worth the read.  Click on the link below to purchase this set.

Spurgeon's Sermons, 5 Volumes By Hendrickson Publishers Tap into a wealth of life-changing words from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon! Featuring over 250 of Spurgeon's finest sermons, this comprehensive collection also includes indexes of texts and subjects, so you can easily find what he had to say on a particular verse or topic. An invaluable resource---at an incredible price! 4328 pages total, five hardcovers from Hendrickson.

Good Samaritans Still Exist

Last Sunday I did something stupid.  After church, I put my iPad and Bible on the roof of the van while I was getting the kids in the van.  Satisfied that they did what they were supposed to do, I drove home feeling happy after an enjoyable church service.  When I got home I realized what I had done.  I had never taken my iPad or Bible off the roof.  I rushed back to the church.  I saw my Bible on the road right near the church but my iPad was nowhere to be found.  I actually walked from home to the church looking for it carefully with no luck.  While I was away at Acadia Divinity College, Amanda received a call that someone had found my iPad.  They had seen it fly off my van and had stopped to get it.  Amanda went and picked it up from their house and offered them money but they refused to accept it.  They simply handed over my iPad.  While it was a stressful few days, it was nice to see that there are still some good people around.  Thanks!  And I will stop putting my iPad on my van.

Movember

This November, I decided to celebrate Movember.  What is Movember?  It is an opportunity for men to grow moustaches to increase awareness and raise money for men's health.  I have not had a moustache since grade 13, so this is kind of weird for me.  If you would like to donate to the cause or even learn more about Movember or men's health, go here.  I will post pictures of my glorious moustache.