Down by the Bay

Spotlight on Autism

2012-02-03T12:47:00.000-05:00

When it comes to autism, the more knowledge the better, especially for those caring for families dealing with autism. Christian Book Distributors has a selection of books on autism. I will admit that I have not read any of these books and so cannot endorse any of them. Still, it is always worth seeking more knowledge. You can purchase any of these by clicking on the links below.

Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reasons for Hope and Guidance for Help

By Lynn M. Hamilton / Random House, Inc

Don't let autism have the last word---improvement is possible! Discussing 10 things you can do to help children fight for their future, Hamilton explores the impressive results of Applied Behavior Analysis; explains cutting-edge biomedical treatments and additional therapies; shows how dietary intervention can have a positive impact; and more. 361 pages, softcover from Waterbrook.

Autism's Hidden Blessings: Discovering God's Promises for Autistic Children

By Kelly Langston / Kregel Publications

Autism's Hidden Blessings offers encouragement and inspiration for special needs families. Through the story of her own ongoing struggles and victories raising her autistic son, Kelly Langston brings to light God's promises for exceptional kids and highlights covenants that assure special-needs parents of their children's potential and beauty. Paperback.

Finding Your Child's Way on the Autism Spectrum: Discovering Unique Strengths, Mastering Behavior Challenges

By Dr. Laura Hendrickson / Moody Publishers

Finding Your Child's Way on the Autism Spectrum is a guide for parents struggling to communicate and manage behavioral challenges with their autistic child. Dr. Laura Hendrickson, a psychiatrist and biblical counselor, is the mother of a grown son who recovered from autism. She offers compassionate, practical advice on raising your child into adulthood and helping him function as the person God created him to be. Paperback.

The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Autism, 2nd Edition

By Adelle Jameson Tilton & Charlotte E. Thompson(Ed.) / Adams Media

Life with a child with autism can be challenging, exhausting, and--ultimately--very rewarding. For parents, even daily activities like getting dressed or grocery shopping can become daunting exercises. Children with autism require special strategies, and parents must learn how to think with their child instead of against him.
This comprehensive guide offers practical advice, reassurances, and real-life scenarios to help families get through each day. You'll discover how to:

Communicate effectively with their child
Find a school that meets their child's needs
Handle meltdowns in public or private
Learn about assistive devices
Find intervention and support groups

Full of useful information, expert advice, and positive techniques, this guide is the valuable tool you and your family need to make the most of every day--one interaction at a time!

Gravity Pulls You In : Perspectives on Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum

By Kyra Anderson / Woodbine House

Homeschooling the Child with Autism: Answers to the Top Questions Parents and Professionals Ask

By Patricia Schetter & Kandis Liighthall / Jossey-Bass

Homeschooling the Child with Autism answers parents' questions about teaching children with autism spectrum disorders at home. Homeschooling is a big decision that impacts the entire family. This book addresses social, behavior, and organization skills and contains tips, suggestions, and resources from real-life parents who have successfully homeschooled their children with ASD. Paperback.

The Autism Transition Guide : Planning the Journey from School to Adult Life

By Carolyn T Bruey, Psy.D.,BCBA / Woodbine House

A Practical Guide to Autism: What Every Parent, Family Member, and Teacher Needs to Know

By Fred R. Volkmar & Lisa A. Weisner / John Wiley & Sons

Filled with useful advice for parents and caregivers of children exhibiting autistic characteristics,A Practical Guide to Autism provides easy-to-access, reliable information regarding the selection of doctors, schools, services, insurance, and day-to-day living in the family, school, and community. Thorough and insightful, it presents lists of resources, both in print and on the Web - compiled by experts and reviewed by parents. Paperback.

Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More

By Chantal Sicile-Kira / Perigee Books

No matter where your child falls on the autism spectrum, Autism Life Skills will help you teach your child essential life skills including communication, safety, self-esteem, social relationships, self-advocacy and earning a living. Paperback.

Autism in Your Classroom : A General Educator's Guide to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

By Deborah Fein, Ph.D. / Woodbine House

Spotlight on Four Views

2012-01-28T08:32:00.001-05:00

One of the best ways to learn is read a number of different perspectives rather than just one interpretation. A number of books have been published that present four views on an issue and include interaction between the different authors. I have read a number of them and have enjoyed them very much. Here is a selection of some of the four view books. By purchasing them from Christian Book Distributors through the links below, you will be supporting Hope's Reason Ministries.

Four Views on Hell

By Edited by Stanley N. Gundry & William Crockett / Zondervan

Is hell literally a place of eternal smoke and flames? Does God annihilate wicked souls rather than punish them endlessly? Ideal for comparing and contrasting, this forum evenhandedly presents, critiques, and defends the literal, metaphorical, conditional, and purgatorial views on hell. Contributors include John Walvoord, William Crockett, Zachary Hayes, and Clark Pinnock. 190 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism

By Edited by Andrew David Naselli & Collin Hansen / Zondervan

An engaging conversation among four scholars representing distinct facets of American evangelicalism. The latest edition in the Counterpoints series includes presentations by Kevin Bauder on fundamentalism; Albert Mohler on conservative/confessional evangelicalism; John Stackhouse, Jr., on generic evangelicalism; and Roger Olson on postconservative evangelicalism. Each contributor also critiques the strengths and weaknesses of the other three views. 208 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Understanding Four Views on the Lord's Supper

By Edited by John H. Armstrong / Zondervan

It's the central sacrament of the church---so why do various denominations view and practice communion so differently? Exploring the major positions on this important question, Armstrong looks at the beliefs of four respected contributors who defend their stands on memorialism (Baptist); spiritual presence (Reformed); consubstantiation (Lutheran); and transubstantiation (Roman Catholic). 208 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Understanding Four Views on Baptism

By Edited by John H. Armstrong / Zondervan

Featuring the classic and thought-provoking Counterpoints forum of presentation, critique, and response, this insightful discussion explores the four prominent viewpoints on Protestant baptism. Baptist, the Christian Church/Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Reformed scholars debate both the meaning and practice of one of the church's central and most spiritually significant sacraments. 208 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Perspectives on the Sabbath: Four Views

By Edited by Christopher John Donato / B&H Academic

Perspectives on the Sabbath presents in point-counterpoint format the four leading perspectives of the Sabbath. These perspectives, all of which arise from the church's diverse interpretation of the Sabbath throughout history are also the most prevalent views in the contemporary church.

Contributors and Their ViewsSkip MacCarty (Andrews University) defends the "Seventh-day" view which argues the fourth commandment is a moral law of God requiring us to keep the seventh day--Saturday--holy. Adherents readily assert that Christians, like Jews, are bound to practice the Sabbath only on this day.

Jospeh A Pipa (Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary) argues in favor of the "Christian Sabbath" view which holds the resurrection of Christ is the basis for the day of rest, and that the Christian Sabbath ought to coincide with that event as a weekly celebration of it. Thus, the Sabbath is to be held on the first day of the week, not the last.

Craig L. Blomberg (Denver Seminary) supports what is known as the "Fulfillment" asserting that only in Christ has the true Sabbath rest come into the present and that on this basis the Sabbath as constituted in the commands of the Old Testament are no longer binding on believers.

Charles P. Arand (Concordia Seminary) upholds the "Lutheran" view that the Sabbath commandment was given only as an act of Law and therefore does not concern Christians. Rest and worship are required, but they are not tied to a particular day or to particular forms of celebration.

Four Views on Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology

By Edited by Stanley N. Gundry & Gary T. Meadors / Zondervan

In 2005 A.J. Jacobs attempted to spend one year following Scripture, both Old and New, as literally as possible. Predictably, some of the results turned out to be as absurd as is the attempt. Yet, Jacobs' attempt points out how difficult it can really be to translate the Bible from original intent to practical practice today. Academia, with its emphasis on the original meaning and context in many ways has not helped this process but only made it more difficult to treat the text as it is a living, powerful, and life transformative reality.

In this book Four Views On Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology major Evangelical scholars Walter Kaiser, Daniel Doriani, Kevin Vanhoozer, and William Webb, all grapple with this difficult subject in their own ways suggesting ways we can get beyond a text that simply tells us something, to making those texts become living realities. Highly recommended for Biblical Interpretation courses of all kinds, especially those wishing to encourage good interpretive principals and theological development, as well as Pastors.

Four Views on the Book of Revelation

By C. Marvin Pate, ed. / Zondervan

Four Views on the Book of Revelation focuses specifically on the book of Revelation and the primary ways in which it is read and understood today. It looks at four interpretations of Revelation, and why those particular interpretations are held. The four interpretations are: the preterist, idealist, classical dispensational futurist, and progressive dispensationalist. Each is presented by a leading proponent in an interactive, dialogue format.

Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views

By Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. / Zondervan

Are the gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing for today? No, say cessationists. Yes, say Pentecostal and Third Wave Christians. Maybe, say a large sector of open-but-cautious evangelicals. What's the answer? Is there an answer?
Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? takes you to the heart of the charismatic controversy by providing an impartial format for comparing the four main lines of thinking: cessationist, open but cautious, third wave, and Pentecostal/charismatic. The authors present their positions in an interactive setting that allows for critique, clarification, and defense. Through this dialogue, you'll find guidance to better understand your own position and the positions of others.

Four Views on Eternal Security

By J. Matthew Pinson, ed. / Zondervan

In this book four theologians explain and defend their approaches to perseverance in salvation: Classical Calvinism--perseverance is based on unconditional election and the irresistibility of grace; Moderate Calvinism--"once saved, always saved" denies strict, 5-point Calvinism, yet clings to the fifth point; Classical Arminianism--believers can cease believing and hence fall from grace--but only by a decisive act of apostasy; Wesleyan Arminianism--believers have the freedom to reject Christ and can lose their salvation through unconfessed sin and/or apostasy through unbelief.

Four Views on Divine Providence

By Edited by Stanley N. Gundry & Dennis Jowers / Zondervan

Questions about divine providence have preoccupied Christians for generations: Are people elected to salvation? For whom did Jesus die? This book introduces readers to four prevailing views on divine providence, with particular attention to the question of who Jesus died to save (the extent of the atonement) and if or how God determines who will be saved (predestination). But this book does not merely answer readers' questions.

Four Views on Divine Providence helps readers think theologically about all the issues involved in exploring this doctrine. The point-counterpoint format reveals the assumptions and considerations that drive equally learned and sincere theologians to sharp disagreement. It unearths the genuinely decisive issues beneath an often superficial debate.

Volume contributors Include:

Paul Helseth (God causes every creaturely event that occurs)
William Lane Craig (through his 'middle knowledge,' God controls the course of worldly affairs without predetermining any creatures' free decisions)
Ron Highfield (God controls creatures by liberating their decision-making)
Gregory Boyd (human decisions can be free only if God neither determines nor knows what they will be)

Introductory and closing essays by Dennis Jowers give relevant background and guide readers toward their own informed beliefs about divine providence.

Show Them No Mercy: 4 Views on God and Canaanite Genocide

By C.S. Cowles, E.M. Merrill, D.L. Gard & T. Longman III / Zondervan

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, brought us face to face with the stark reality of jihad. But holy war is neither new nor the invention of Islam. The Old Testament writings record what amounts to Canaanite genocide in the name of Yahweh. How do we reconcile this with the teachings of Jesus, who commands us to love our enemies and overcome evil with good? If our theology bears its fruit in our behavior as Christians, then we cannot ignore the question of violence in the Bible. Is there continuity or discontinuity between the Old Testament concept of holy war and New Testament ideals? Do we serve the Lord of Hosts or the Prince of Peace - or is God both? How should our actions reflect his character in these dangerous desperately needy times? The four views presented in Show Them No Mercy are quite different, yet all lie squarely within the evangelical tradition. This book gives each view a forum for presentation, critique, and defense. It allows you to compare different perspectives on holy war, divine judgement, and the use of deadly force to arrive at your own conclusions on what the Bible teaches.

Predestination & Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty & Human Freedom

By Edited by David Basinger & Randall Basinger / Inter-varsity Press

If God is in control, are people really free? The Basingers present four views on this thought-provoking question: Bruce Reichenbach on God's self-limited power, John Feinberg on God's control through foreordination, Clark Pinnock on God's self-limited knowledge, and Norman Geisler on God's control by foreknowledge. 179 pages, softcover from InterVarsity.

Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views

By James Beilby / Inter-varsity Press

Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views provides a unique venue for well-known proponents of four distinct views in the openness of God debate to present their case. Paul Helm of King's College, London, presents the Augustinian/Calvinistic view. David Hunt of Whittier College contends for a simple foreknowledge view. William Lane Craig of Talbot School of Theology argues for middle knowledge, or Molinism, and Gregory A. Boyd of Bethel College presents the openness view.

Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: Four Views

By Edited by Bruce Ware / B & H Publishing Group

Focusing on biblical, theological, and historical issues, this engaging point-counterpoint discussion examines common views on the doctrine of God---and evaluates each in light of Scripture. Paul Helm presents the classical Calvinist position; Bruce Ware, the modified Calvinist perspective; Roger Olson, the classical Arminian view; and John Sanders, the open theist approach. 320 pages, softcover from B&H.

The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views

By Edited by James Beilby & Paul R. Eddy / Inter-varsity Press

Jesus died for our sins, but how to understand and appropriate his saving death is still much debated. Here four leading positions are outlined and defended: Gregory A. Boyd on Christus Victor, Thomas R. Schreiner on penal substitution, Bruce R. Reichenbach on healing, and Joel B. Green on a kaleidoscopic view. 190 pages, softcover. InterVarsity.

Women in Ministry: Four Views

By Bonnidell Clouse & Robert G. Clouse, eds. / Inter-varsity Press

May women teach or exercise authority over men? Should they be ordained? Questions like these rage in the debate over women in ministry. Four committed evangelicals, Robert Culver, Susan Foh, Alvera Mickelsen, and Walter Liefeld, explain their positions and respond to the others, making for a lively exchange of ideas. Paper from InterVarsity.

Four Views of Salvation in a Pluralistic World

By Dennis L. Okholm & Timothy R. Phillips, eds. / Zondervan

This book presents four perspectives on salvation by their major proponents. Each contributor not only presents the case for his view, but is also given the opportunity to critique and respond to the critiques of the other contributors. The four perspectives are Normative Pluralism: All ethical religions lead to God, by John Hick. Inclusivism: Salvation is unversally available, but is established by and leads to Christ, by Clark Pinnock. Salvation in Christ: Agnosticism regarding those who haven't heard the Gospel, by Alister McGrath. Salvation in Christ alone: by R Douglas Geivett and W Gary Phillips. The COUNTERPOINTS series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views - both Christian and non-Christian - on important theological issues.

Four Views on the Apostle Paul

By Michael F. Bird / Zondervan

Spotlight on John Polkinghorne

2012-01-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

One of the most respected scholars who deals with faith and science is John Polkinghorne. Here are a selection of his books. You can support Hope's Reason Ministries by purchasing these books from Christian Book Distributors through these links.

Testing Scripture: A Scientist Explores the Bible

By John Polkinghorne / Brazos Press

John Polkinghorne, both an accomplished scientist and theologian within the academy and the church is one of the world's leading authorities on issues of science and faith. In Testing Scripture: A Scientist Explores the Bible, he provides a fresh, honest look at key themes of the Bible from an analytical and rational perspective, offering a series of insights that have helped him in his own engagement with Scripture.

Polkinghorne tackles the questions modern Western thinkers tend bring to the Bible, including issues of Scripture and authority, contradiction and ambiguity, and the debate over human origins. He also addresses theological challenges presented by the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the writings of Paul.

Polkinghorne himself states about this book:
"I have written this little book in the hope that it will be helpful to those who are seeking a careful and thoughtful engagement with the Bible in their quest for a truthful understanding of the ways of God and the nature of spiritual reality," writes Polkinghorne. His nuanced approach will be appreciated by any reader with an open and inquiring mind who is interested in the intersection between science and Scripture.

The Polkinghorne Reader: Science, Faith, and the Search for Meaning

By John Polkinghorne & Thomas Jay Oord(Ed.) / Templeton Foundation Press

Faith of a Physicist- The

By John Polkinghorne / Augsburg Fortress

"I do not find that a trinitarian and incarnational theology needs to be abandoned in favour of a toned-down theology of a Cosmic Mind and an inspired teacher, alleged to be more accessible to the modern mind."

Many would likely disagree with the idea that a trinitarian and incarnational theology is palatable to the modern mind, for it is thought that science and the modern mind are in conflict with traditional theology. But physicist and theologian John Polkinghorne strongly believes that a trinitarian and incarnational theology is tough, surprising and exciting enough to truly stimulate the modern mind.

The Faith of a Physicist comes out of the invitation given to Polkinghorne to give the Gifford Lectures at the University of Edinburgh, on the topic of "The Knowledge of God". Polkinghorne chose to build his lectures on phrases from the Nicene Creed. Combining those phrases and his scientific experience, Polkinghorne offers illuminating insights into the nature of humanity, our search for knowledge, the way to speak of God in light of science's understanding of creation, the believability of the accounts of the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the role of the Holy Spirit, and eschatology. Thoroughly versed in science, and equally adept in Scripture, Polkinghorne offers his lucid explanation of why he feels it is reasonable to be both a Christian and a scientist. Fascinating, and well-written, Faith of a Physicist is sure to stimulate your mind, and broaden your knowledge and horizons. Polkinghorne will not compromise his views on the trintarian nature of God or the incarnation, and he proves that modern science does not require this, nor has modern science proved a trinitarian and incarnational theology to be false. An excellent reminder to take all thoughts captive to Christ.

Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship

By John Polkinghorne / Yale University Press

Truth-seeking in science and theology is not that different, says Polkinghorne, who discerns similarities between perplexities in quantum physics and the problem of evil; the drive for a unified theory and Trinitarian theology; the way quantum theories and Christological controversies emerged historically. 128 pages, softcover. Yale University.

Theology in the Context of Science

By John Polkinghorne / Yale University Press

"Polkinghorne, like C.S. Lewis, displays a simplicity of style, accessibility to the general reader, and a deep learning in his chosen field of expertise lightly set forth,"---Commonweal. Makes for a fruitful, cross-disciplinary exchange on topics such as evolution, epistemology, space and time, objectivity, relativity, etc. 208 pages, hardcover. Yale University.

From Physicist to Priest: An Autobiography

By John Polkinghorne / Wipf & Stock

In From Physicist to Priest, John Polkinghorne tells his remarkable life story in a direct and modest yet profound narrative. He looks back on his journeys into both disciplines from a human angle, including the formative experiences and key relationships he experienced as a child, an undergraduate, graduate and beyond into university teaching, family life, priesthood and writing. He describes his developing thoughts and understanding of the value and interdependence of each of the major disciplines and, by so doing, brings a down-to-earth touch to the big questions that each approach raises. Paperback.

The Way the World Is: The Christian Perspective of a Scientist

By John Polkinghorne / Westminster John Knox Press

From the 2002 Templeton Prize winner! "There are thinkers whose achievement lies in opening new vistas. There are thinkers whose achievement lies in showing us the true value of what has gone before. With contributions in physics and Christian theology, Polkinghorne succeeds in both,"---Christianity Today. 144 pages, softcover. Westminster/John Knox.

Science and the Trinity: The Christian Encounter with Reality

By John Polkinghorne / Yale University Press

Most often, the dialogue between religion and science is inflated by the discoveries of modern science - big bang cosmology, evolution, or quantum theory, for example. In this book, scientist-theologian John Polkinghorne changes the discussion. He approaches the dialogue from a little-explored perspective in which theology shapes the argument and sets the agenda of questions to be considered.

Books I Read in 2011

2012-01-20T19:53:00.000-05:00

This list does not include books I read to my children or devotional books completed. You will get a sense of interests.

Patricia Walters, Assumed Authorial Unity of Luke and Acts
Rob Bell, Love Wins
Arthur Patzia, Making of the New Testament
W. Warde Fowler, Religious Experience of the Roman People
William Barclay, Letters to the Seven Churches
Paul Hughes (ed.), Think and Live
Craig Evans, Luke
N.T. Wright, The Challenge of Jesus
Hugh Bowden, Mystery Cults of the Ancient World
Eugene Peterson, The Pastor
Joel Green (ed.), Methods for Luke
William Lane Craig, On Guard
William Paley, Evidence of Christianity
Hank Hanegraaf, Has God Spoken?
Reginald Bibby, Beyond the Gods & Back
Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace?
Reginald Bibby, Restless Churches
Christopher Hitchens, God is Not Great
Virgil, Aeneid
Norman Geisler & Frank Turek, I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist
Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
Bart Ehrman, Forged
Reginald Bibby, Emerging Millennials
Francis Beckwith & Greg Koukl, Relativism
Tripp York, The Devil Wears Nada
Montague Brown, Restoration of Reason
Mark Noll, Whatever Happened to Christian Canada?
Gavin Hyman, A Short History of Atheism
James Thrower, Western Atheism: A Short History
Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation
David Lamb, God Behaving Badly
Peter Kreeft, Between Allah and Jesus
Ross Anderson, Understanding the Book of Mormon
Paul Edwards, Our Legacy of Faith

Spotlight on John Lennox

2012-01-13T11:45:00.000-05:00

I very much enjoy the work of John Lennox. Here is a selection of his books. You can support Hope's Reason Ministries by purchasing these books from Christian Book Distributors through these links.

Gunning for God: Why the New Atheists Are Missing the Target

By John Lennox / Lion Adult

* For hundreds of years, atheists have been blaming the world's problems on religion. Lennox says not so fast! Tackling well-known skeptics Hawking, Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, and Onfray, he pinpoints fallacies in the New Atheists' approach, arguing that their irrational, unscientific methodology is no better than the unreasoned claims offered by religious dogmatists. Accessible and wide-ranging! 248 pages, softcover from Lion.

God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? New Updated Edition

By John Lennox / Lion Books

If we are to believe many modern commentators, science has squeezed God into a corner, killed and then buried him with its all embracing explanations. Athiesm, we are told, is the only intellectually tenable position, and any attempt to reintroduce God is likely to impede the progress of science. The final word has not been written, and in this book God's Undertaker, John Lennox makes a forceful argument that science has not buried God and that holding to belief in him is not only rational but a superior intellectual position.

Seven Days That Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science

By John C. Lennox / Zondervan

What did the writer of Genesis mean by 'the first day'? Is it a literal week or a series of time periods? If I believe that the earth is 4.5 billion years old, am I denying the authority of Scripture?

In response to the continuing controversy over the interpretation of the creation narrative in Genesis, John Lennox in Seven Days That Divide the World: The Begining According to Genesis and Science proposes a succinct method of reading and interpreting the first chapters of Genesis without discounting either science or Scripture.

With examples from history, a brief but thorough exploration of the major interpretations, and a look into the particular significance of the creation of human beings, Lennox suggests that Christians can heed modern scientific knowledge while staying faithful to the biblical narrative. He moves beyond a simple response to the controversy, insisting that Genesis teaches us far more about the God of Jesus Christ and about God's intention for creation than it does about the age of the earth. With this book, Lennox offers a careful yet accessible introduction to a scientifically-savvy, theologically-astute, and Scripturally faithful interpretation of Genesis.

God and Stephen Hawking: Whose Design Is It Anyway?

By John C. Lennox / Lion Hudson

Oxford mathematician John Lennox examines the flaws in scientist Stephen Hawking's claims that the law of physics brought the Universe into being, rather than God.
In lively, layman's terms, Lennox guides us through the key points in Hawking's arguments, with clear explanations of the latest scientific and philosophical methods and theories, and shows that instead of proving there is no Creator God, they make his existence seem all the more probable.

Those Dam Kids

2012-01-09T21:23:00.001-05:00

No, I am not trying to be rude (I hope everyone gets the pun!). I am talking about the program for kids called Beavers. Tonight I took Justus to check out Beavers and see if it was something that he was interested in. I still remember when my mom took me to Beavers for the first time. Scouting in general became an important part of my life as I moved through to Cubs and Scouts. It brought back a lot of memories to be there with Justus. Justus was pretty shy at first and I thought he was going to ask me to take him home. He reminds me of me. But as I encouraged him, he stick with it and had a great time. He wanted me to buy his uniform tonight and wanted the program every night. I am excited for him as he begins this new stage. Now to find something for the girls...

A Great Day!

2012-01-03T17:30:00.000-05:00

This has been a great day. Quite ironic since it started with a dentist appointment. To begin, we slept in til 6:30 am. Yes, I said slept in. Logan has been getting up very early and this is the latest he has slept in a long time. In addition, that is the latest we could have slept as I was supposed to be at Abby's at 7:00 am and she lives a half hour away. I had to be at Abby's because she was getting dental work today and they needed to put her under, which meant a parent was supposed to be present. I was glad to be there. These are the reasons we moved, to be more involved in her life and to be there with her for such times. Abby did great and it was a pleasure to give her a piggy back down stairs after her recovery, being still very groggy. It was great being with Abby, even for a dentist appointment.

In the afternoon, we took the kids tobogganing at their new school. It was looking scary at first as Logan did not want to go. Amanda did not give up, and with the help of Halo, got Logan to the school. They have some nice hills behind the school. Amanda talked Logan into going down once and then he could go home. He went down once and he was hooked, going down the hill over and over. The smiles and giggles from Logan was worth all the difficulties. Halo did a great job staying at the top of the hill, even though he really wanted to run down the hill. The rest of the kids had a great time as well. This was the first time we ever took them tobogganing. In fact, the last time I went tobogganing, Amanda was pregnant with Logan. It is definitely something we will do again. All in all, a very good day!

Year in Review

2011-12-31T18:21:00.000-05:00

Ever since we got married, Amanda and I have been waiting for that quiet and uneventful year. This was not that year. Here are some of the things that took place in 2011, some good and some challenging.

I began the process of joining the Canadian Forces as a chaplain in the reserves. Hit an obstacle that has now been overcome and hopefully things will fall into place in the new year.

I started my Doctor of Ministry program at Acadia Divinity College and took my first course on Canadian Context of Ministry with Reg Bibby.

I finished writing a book on Jehovah's Witnesses that should be out sometime in the new year.

I had my first experience as a retreat speaker at Camp Iawah. I brought Emma and Faith with me and had lots of fun.

Our family had some challenges that I don't want to go into here. I will just say that I am thankful for Amanda and her courage. I am also thankful for our churches who gave me the time off that was needed.

Logan went to summer camp and was sent home the next day because they were not sure how to deal with his autism. Lots of paternal anger and defensiveness. Awakened a desire to advocate for special needs kids. Still not sure what that will look like.

Amanda went on her first mission trip. She went to the Czech Republic and had a great time. Very proud of her!

We had a hard time being away from our daughter Abby as we were so far away from her. Prayed hard about this.

Our churches gave me permission to move closer to Abby while remaining their pastor. Thankful for Woodford and First Baptist Church Meaford.

We put up for sale and sold our house in Meaford. This was the first home we ever owned and there were many memories there. A hard decision.

After a long process, we found and bought a house in Cambridge. Thanks go to Amanda who worked extremely hard to find a house, plus doing almost all of the packing up of the house.

We are getting settled in our new home. It works well for us and I have already seen Abby twice, including a visit she paid to our home for Christmas. It was definitely the right thing for our family.

That is short summary of 2011. Still looking for a quiet and uneventful year. Maybe 2012?

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2011-12-30T08:08:00.000-05:00

Last night Amanda and I went to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Toronto. I had heard of the TSO but knew almost nothing about them. It was a last minute decision for us and I was just happy to go on a date. The show was amazing. The TSO is a progressive rock band/orchestra with a bit of 80's hair rock in there as well. I have been to some pretty big concerts by bands like Pink Floyd and U2 but I have never seen a stage show like this. The lights and pyrotechnics were amazing. We were in the nosebleeds and our faces still felt the heat from the flames on stage. I did not know most of the songs, but I still loved the show. They had 30 second tribute to Rush (presumably because they were in Toronto) and a song by Charles Wesley, so they had me. I appreciate Amanda setting this up. If you get a chance to see the TSO, make sure to do it.

Thinking of Mom

2011-12-27T05:44:00.000-05:00

Today would have been Mom's eightieth birthday. Christmas in general makes me think of Mom, but only more so because her birthday is so close. I hate to confess that for her birthday, I usually just held back one of her Christmas presents. The holidays always make me miss Mom. Even after we moved away from St. Catharines, we always saw her at Christmas, usually for an extended visit. She was a great lady who loved her family and friends and demonstrated that love in many ways. I am so thankful for the years that I had with her. Her legacy lives on in so many ways. Miss you Mom!

Why It's All Worth It

2011-12-26T16:18:00.000-05:00

Why would we move the week before Christmas, especially when it means we give up a beautiful home overlooking Georgian Bay and adding a two hour commute to work? Abby. Today we had our daughter Abby join us for a Christmas visit. She is in a group home just a half hour from us. She was brought to our home for us to celebrate Christmas together. This was her first home visit since the summer. It went fantastic. Being so close to where she lives, there was no long drive to get the visit off to the wrong start. We had a great time together. She enjoyed being around her brothers and sisters and they enjoyed being with her. There were lots of hugs between Logan and Abby. It was definitely the highlight of our Christmas. In the times when I think a two hour drive is seeming long, all I have to remember to the face of my wonderful daughter that I will be able to see much more often.

A New Chapter Begins

2011-12-23T06:54:00.000-05:00

This time of year is normally pretty hectic for pastors with all the extra services and events related to Christmas. This has been a particularly hectic time for us as we have just experienced a tremendous change. After just over eight years living in Meaford, we have now moved to Cambridge. The house we had in Meaford was the first home we ever owned and was filled with memories. However, it was more important that we move closer to Abby. We now live only a half an hour away from Abby. I had a great visit with her yesterday and it was nice to be so close. Part of the change is a new schedule for work. You can find the details of what that looks like here. We would like to thank everyone who helped us, both in moving out of Meaford and moving into Cambridge. We would also like to thank our churches who have supported us and have given us tremendous flexibility. So far things are going well as we settle in, while still trying to get ready for Christmas. We are looking forward to the New Year with the kids starting at their new school and as we all get used to this new chapter. We are thankful for all that God has provided in all of this.

Hugh Ross and Asperger's Syndrome

2011-12-19T10:43:00.000-05:00

Christian apologist Hugh Ross, president of Reasons to Believe, speaks about his experience with Asperger's Syndrome.

I Need a New Name!

2011-12-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

No not my personal name, I need a new name for this blog. In two days I will no longer live down by the bay, so there is no point in this being called Down by the Bay. Any suggestions on what I should call this blog?

Thankful for a Great School

2011-12-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

As we prepare to move at the end of this week, one of the hardest things has been wrapping up things at the school the kids have been attending. Logan, Abby, Justus and Emma have all attended St. Vincent Euphrasia School. Only Faith has not had the chance to attend. We have been blown away with the care and love we have received from the school. The teachers have been top notch. Many of them were introduced to autism through our kids appearing in their class and did a great job both learning and teaching. The educational assistants have been incredible, making things extremely positive for our children. We are not an easy family and we have always had challenges come our way. SVE has continually come along side us and have blessed us. They have gone far beyond just providing an adequate education, they have provided a welcoming and nurturing environment for our children to grow. This includes the other students at the school as well. You never know how children are going to react to other students with special needs. We have seen many of the children at the school embrace Logan and Abby. There have been some genuine friendships that have developed. Thanks SVE for blessing our family and may God bless you and your work with young students and their families.

Christmas Services

2011-12-06T11:58:00.000-05:00

As we approach Christmas, you may find yourself interested in attending some special church services to celebrate the birth of Christ. If you are in the Meaford area, here are some upcoming services that Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Meaford are participating in:

Dec. 11 at 11 am - Blue Christmas (an opportunity to acknowledge the emotions that go with the loss of loved ones) at First Baptist Church Meaford
Dec. 11 at 7 pm - Candlelight Service at First Baptist Church Meaford
Dec. 20 at 7:30 pm - Candlelight Service at Woodford Baptist Church
Dec. 24 at 6 pm - Combined Christmas Eve Service at Cook St Pentecostal Tabernacle
Dec. 25 at 11 am - Christmas Day Service at First Baptist Church Meaford

Two Weeks Today

2011-12-02T07:08:00.001-05:00

In two weeks we will be moving into our new home in Cambridge. Yes, we finally found a house! Yesterday was my first time seeing it, although we had already bought the house based on Amanda's recommendation. I must say that Amanda (and Justus who accompanied her) did a great job. The best part of it is the layout. We have had lots of trouble with Logan escaping and it is hard to relax anywhere. Yesterday we were there with Logan and I felt safe. I was never wondering where Logan was and it was easy to keep an eye on both doors. It is in a nice neighbourhood and should work great for us. Best of all, it is only half an hour from Abby! While the house inspection was going on, I took Logan for a visit to Abby's. Being with her only convinced me that we must be this close to her. Not being able to see her regularly has been difficult and has affected our relationship. I look forward to being closer and rebuilding my relationship with Abby. Prayers are welcome as there is a lot of work needed in the next two weeks.

Great Deal on Church Dogmatics

2011-11-29T07:02:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-28T21:23:00.000-05:00

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

An Amazing Song

2011-11-28T21:15:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-24T09:54:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-23T17:22:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-23T17:16:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-11-18T09:38:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

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

Moving On

2011-11-17T10:39:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-15T18:40:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-15T17:44:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-11T10:02:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-09T18:02:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-09T16:56:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-06T18:56:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-04T20:19:00.000-04:00

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.

Spotlight on Martin Luther

2011-10-31T17:36:00.000-04:00

Since today is Reformation Day, I thought I would include some links to books written by Martin Luther. You can purchase any of these books from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on the links below.

Martin Luthers 95 Theses

By Martin Luther / P & R Publishing

To combat abuses in the church of his day, the young German monk drafted nearly one hundred propositions for public debate. Martin Luther posted these "theses" on the church door in Wittenberg, an action that helped to give birth to the Protestant Reformation. Although most people have heard of the Ninety-Five Theses, very few have actually read these propositions. In response, Stephen Nichols has prepared this edition with an illuminating introduction, explanatory notes, and several illustrations to provide readers with access to this Christian classic.

Large Catechism of Martin Luther- The.

By Augsburg Fortress

By 1529, the year of publication of Luther's Large Catechism, parishioners took the Gospel for granted. Many had forgotten at what great peril the freedom of their faith had been won. In the large Catechism Luther set out to inculcate the centrality of the Gospel that was largely neglected and whose freedom was frequently abused. Whether Luther is therefore dealing with the Ten Commandments or the Lord's Supper, the dynamic of the Word of God as Gospel provides the cutting edge for what he says. To obscure the Gospel is to lose everything; to illuminate it is to gain all it promises.

Reading the Psalms with Luther

By Concordia Publishing House

Study Israel's prayer book through the eyes of the great Reformer. Luther introduces and classifies each psalm; then, emphasizing a Christological perspective, applies the meaning of the text to a life lived under the cross. Throughout, the English Standard Version has been coupled with classic prayers.

The Freedom of a Christian: The Luther Study Edition

By Martin Luther / Augsburg Fortress

Perhaps no other work so captures the revolutionary zeal and theological boldness of the great Reformer as The Freedom of a Christian. Here he defends that key doctrine of justification by faith. This special new translation (aimed at students) includes notes, an introduction, headings, a glossary, and a bibliography. 128 pages, softcover. Fortress.

The Table Talk of Martin Luther

By Martin Luther / Dover Publications

Three Treatises

By Martin Luther / Augsburg Fortress

Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the church door at Wittenburg in 1517. In the three years that followed, Luther clarified and defended his position in numerous writings. Chief among these are the three treatises written in 1520. In these writings Luther tried to frame his ideas in terms that would be comprehensible not only to the clergy but to people from a wide range of backrounds. 316 pages, paperback, from Fortress Press.

Through the Year with Martin Luther: A Selection of Sermons Celebrating the Feasts and Seasons

By Martin Luther / Hendrickson Publishers

Fifty of Martin Luther's most significant sermons, selected and organized with the lay reader in mind, reflect the heart of his thoughts on the Christian faith and his ideas for its practice. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of Luther's thinking on topics that are still relevant today. An excellent addition to any church library. 504 pages, hardcover from Hendrickson.

And the Journey Begins

2011-10-26T21:14:00.000-04:00

This week has been the beginning of my journey as a Doctor of Ministry student. I am studying at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. My first course has been "The Contemporary Canadian Ministry Landscape" taught by Reginald Bibby. I have very much enjoyed the course so far. My brain hurts, but it hurts with all the new knowledge that is being crammed in there. That is a good thing. It has been great getting to know my fellow students, people from different traditions and stages of their studies. I am looking forward to continuing my studies over the next few years and how what I learn will impact my ministry. I want to especially thank my wife Amanda for holding down the fort with the kids. I know from experience that taking care of four kids by yourself is not easy. But Amanda is doing a great job and I am so thankful that she is making my studies possible.

Spotlight on Mark Noll

2011-10-26T19:33:00.000-04:00

One of the most respected Christian historians is Mark A. Noll. Here is a selection of his books that you can purchase from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on the links below.

Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, Second Edition

By Mark Noll / Baker

What do the destruction of Jerusalem, the Diet of Worms, the French Revolution, and the Edinburgh Missionary Conference all have in common? According to the leading evangelical historian Mark Noll, they are among a select number of pivotal events in the two-thousand-year history of Christianity. Organized around thirteen key moments in the history of Christianity, this popular introduction to church history provides contemporary Christians with a fuller understanding of God as he has revealed his purpose through the centuries. A study section has been added that includes questions and application challenges for today's church, making the second edition of this book more useful for students of church history and church study groups.

A History of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada

By Mark Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

From the lively severities of the 17th-century Pilgrims and Puritans to the ebullience of the televanglism age, the Christian experience in North America is rich and varied. Noll covers it all in this superb narrative survey. Tracing the growth of Christian belief and institutions and their interactions with culture in the U.S. and Canada from the colonial period to the present, his approach is broad and comprehensive. Many biographical profiles add a personal dimension to the narrative. 576 pages with over 200 illustrations, softcover from Eerdmans.

Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind

By Mark A. Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

In The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1994) Mark Noll offered a forthrightly critical assessment of the state of evangelical thinking and scholarship. Now, nearly twenty years later, in a sequel more attuned to possibilities than to problems, Noll updates his earlier assessment and charts a positive way forward for evangelical scholarship.

Noll's new work Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind shows how the orthodox Christology confessed in the ancient Christian creeds, far from hindering or discouraging serious scholarship, can supply the motives, guidance, and framework for learning. Christian faith, Noll argues, can richly enhance intellectual engagement in the various academic disciplines--and he demonstrates how by applying his insights to the fields of history (his own area of expertise), science, and biblical studies particularly.

In a substantial postscript Noll candidly addresses the question How fares the "evangelical mind" today? as he highlights "hopeful signs" of intellectual life in a host of evangelical institutions, individuals, and movements.

The Rise of Evangelicalism

By Mark A. Noll / IVP Academic

Winner of a Christianity Today 2005 Book Award in Church History, and now available in paperback, is Mark Noll's masterpirce The Rise of Evangelicalism

In this, the inaugural volume of the A History of Evangelicalism series, The Rise of Evangelicalism charts the the embryonic and ealiest stages of Evangelicalism's rise from its precursors in the Anglican Church, to the movement's explosive revivalist powerin the American Colonies under the leadership of Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, and John and Charles Wesley.

Mark Noll, a renowned historian and sociologist, tells the story of Evangelicalism's beginings in England, and follows it eventual spread and remarkable expansion in the embryonic American republic. Noll considers a myriad of subjects within his striking historical narrative including theology, hymnody, gender, warfare, politics and science.

Nevertheless, it is the charismatic personalities of Edwards, Whitefield, and the Wesleys, the dramatic events they participated in, and their social influence that drive Noll's narrative, and shaped the now global Christian Evangelical movement.

Moreover Noll emphasizes, particularly, the mid-eighteenth century revivals in Britain and North America that proved to be foundational in the development of the movement, its ethos, beliefs and subsequent direction. In these revivals, the core commitments of evangelicals were formed that continue to this day. In this volume you will find the fascinating story of their formation, their strengths and their weaknesses, but always their dynamism.

Confessions and Cathechisms of the Reformation

By Mark A. Noll / Regent College Publishing

Both by his choice of confessions and by his judicious and scholarly introductions, Mark Noll has made [the major Reformation confessions and catechisms] available in a form that is sure to deepen and enlighten doctrinal discussion and confessional awareness and that will therefore contribute to solidly evangelical and hence soundly ecumenical theology.

Mark Noll has ably introduced these still living confessions to a modern audience more prone to forgetfulness than any since the sixteenth century. This collection will be useful not only for classes in historical and systematic theology, but also to pastors and lay readers who wish better to understand their Protestant heritage.

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind

By Mark A. Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

In this treatise on the state of the intellectual status of the evangelical movement, Mark Noll reminds us that 'modern evangelicals are the spiritual descendants of leaders and movements distinguished by probing, creative, fruitful attention to the mind' and challenges us to reclaim that heritage. Noll combines passion and his own impressive scholarship, arguing that if Christians are to serve God with their minds, they must do their homework, and think intellectually.

What Happened to Christian Canada?

By Mark A. Noll / Regent College Publishing

On September 15, 1959, Georges Vanier, Canada's Governor-General soon-to-be, began his acceptance speech with the following invocation: "Mr. Prime Minister, my first words are a prayer. May Almighty God in his infinite wisdom and mercy bless the sacred mission which has been entrusted to me by Her Majesty the Queen and help me to fulfill it in all humility. In exchange for his strength, I offer him my weakness." Fifty-six years later, on September 27, 2005, Michaklle Jean became Canada's 27th Governor-General. In her acceptance speech, by contrast, Jean referred to how Canadian history "speaks powerfully about the freedom to invent a new world," and made no reference to the deity. What happened to the Canadian religious conscience, as illustrated by the speeches of these two luminaries, in the approximately fifty years between then and now? Why might have church and synagogue attendance fallen from 67 percent after World War II to less than 20 percent in 2000? In What Happened to Christian Canada?, renowned church historian Mark Noll investigates these and other related questions, and makes timely observations about one of the more prominent sociological shifts in modern North American history.

The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith

By Mark A. Noll / IVP Academic

A compelling assessment of global Christianity in light of the American experience. Surveying the changes in the worldwide body of Christ over the past century, Noll examines 19th-century evangelical identity, power, and culture; presents the U.S. view from 1900 to 2000; and reflects on the impact of American evangelicalism on the international development of Christianity. 250 pages, hardcover from InterVarsity.

God and Race in American Politics: A Short History

By Mark A. Noll / Princeton University Press

"This book, which originated as a set of endowed lectures at Princeton University, received the 2009 Christianity Today Award of Merit in History/Biography. Noll argues that race figured prominently in all but the third of the four main eras of U.S. history. A sobering story, brilliantly told,"---Christian Century. 209 pages, softcover. Princeton University.

The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity

By Mark A. Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Providing a superb look at Christianity's growth in America, a leading church historian explores the contrasts between European religious tradition and its innovations and evolutions upon the North American continent. Painting broad outlines of major events and developments---including those of indigenously generated denominations---Noll elucidates the remarkable vitality and diversity that typifies new world Christianity. One of the foremost historians of religion here chronicles the arrival of Christianity in the New World, tracing the turning points in the development of the immigrant church that have led to today's distinctly American faith. Taking a unique approach to this fascinating subject, Noll focuses on what was new about organized Christian religion on the American continent by comparison with European Christianity. In doing so, Noll provides a broad outline of the major events in the history of the Christian churches that have filled North America with such remarkable vitality and diversity. He also highlights some of the most important interpretive issues in the transfer of the hereditary religion of Europe to America.

America's God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln

By Mark A. Noll / Oxford University Press

"A notable achievement in narrative history, made even more persuasive by the prodigious research that undergirds each step of the argument, as well as by the comparative judgments that situate the American experience in the larger transatlantic world. Remarkable,"---Christian Century. 622 pages, softcover. Oxford University.

Autism, There's an App For That

2011-10-23T21:47:00.000-04:00

Television show 60 Minutes had a segment on apps for autism and how iPads are a great help. You can watch it here. Logan is natural with my iPad but so far has not taken to language programs.

Spotlight on John Piper

2011-10-22T19:42:00.000-04:00

Since I am listening to the audiobook of John Piper's Think, I thought I would include links to some of John Piper's other books. I appreciate his bridging of the scholar and the pastor. You can purchase any of these books from Christian Book Distributors by going to any of these links.

Don't Waste Your Life

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

In this provocative work Pastor Piper challenges us to set aside the trivial pursuit of self-fulfillment so that we can develop a deeper passion for God. Piper believes that if we passionately submit the sufferings we endure, the risks we take, and the goals we set to the pursuit of God's glory, then not one moment of our lives will be wasted. Don't miss this opportunity to rekindle your passion for the cross of Christ and the glory of God.

Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist

By John Piper / Multnomah Books

Strengthen your relationship with God simply by enjoying him and his creation. Piper compellingly reveals why your deepest and most enduring happiness can only be found in God. Laying biblical foundations for a life of celebration, he describes how to glorify the Lord by truly desiring and enjoying him. Includes a discussion guide. 320 pages, softcover from Multnomah.

Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

In Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God John piper shows us the intricate continuity between the Christian faith and intellectual development. Focusing on the life of the mind helps us to know God better, love him more, and care for the world around us in thoughtful ways.

While we must value the experiential an emotional elements of our faith, the intellectual aspects are far too often neglected and as Piper says in this book, we also need to practice careful thinking about God. Piper contends that "thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God." So how are we to maintain a healthy balance of mind and heart, thinking and feeling?

Piper urges us to think for the glory of God. He demonstrates from Scripture that glorifying God with our minds and hearts is not either-or, but both-and. Thinking carefully about God fuels passion and affections for God. Likewise, Christ-exalting emotion leads to disciplined thinking.

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

The most important questions anyone can ask are: Why was Jesus Christ crucified? Why did he suffer so much? What has this to do with me? Finally, who sent him to his death? The answer to the last question is that God did. Jesus was God's Son. The suffering was unsurpassed, but the whole message of the Bible leads to this answer.

The central issue of Jesus' death is not the cause, but the meaning - God's meaning. That is what this book is about. John Piper has gathered from the New Testament fifty reasons. Not fifty causes, but fifty purposes - in answer to the most important question that each of us must face: What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?

When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

"It is utterly crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise, strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength to hold him."
---John Piper
Even the most faithful, focused Christians can encounter periods of depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay just out of reach. It can happen because of sin, satanic assault, distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes. In When the Darkness Will Not Lift, John Piper aims to give some comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness.
Readers will gain insight into the physical side of depression and spiritual darkness, what it means to wait on the Lord in a time of darkness, how unconfessed sin can clog our joy, and how to minister to others who are living without light. Piper uses real-life examples and sensitive narrative to show readers abundant reason to hope that God will pull them out of the pit of despair and into the light once again.

Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

Genocide. Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far from dead, is unity amidst diversities even remotely possible?

In Bloodlines: Race, Cross and the Christian John Piper shares from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South thoughtfully exposing the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hope--teaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God. He focuses on specific biblical passages and shows how biblical doctrine rejects racism entirely.

Learn to pursue ethnic harmony from a biblical perspective, and to relate to real people different from yourself, as you take part in the bloodline of Jesus that is comprised of "every tongue, tribe, and nation."

Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry

By John Piper / B & H Publishing Group

Should a church be run like a business? Piper says no. In this provocative critique, he takes aim at the widely held managerial/therapeutic model of ministry---warning that Christlike traits such as childlikeness, tenderheartedness, and dedication to prayer clash with the secular "professionalism" we mistakenly seek to emulate. Sure to spark lively debate! 304 pages, softcover from B&H.

Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions, Third Edition

By John Piper / Baker Academic

Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions is a modern classic in missiology. A trusted guide for thousands of missionaries, pastors, churches leaders, and laity, it provides a biblical basis for missions, the expansion of the Gospel, and for worship. The third edition has been expanded to include new material critiquing the prosperity gospel and its presence in the church and in missions.

The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God's Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin; softcover

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

The lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin reveal the glory and grace of our perfect God in the imperfect lives of his faithful servants. While we admire these men for their greatness, the truth is that Augustine grappled with sexual passions. Martin Luther struggled to control his tongue. John Calvin fought the battle of faith with worldly weapons.
Yet each man will always be remembered for the messages he declared---messages that still resound today. Piper explores each of these men's lives, integrating Augustine's delight in God with Luther's emphasis on the Word and Calvin's exposition of Scripture. Through their strengths and struggles, we can learn how to live better today. As we consider their lives, we behold the glory and majesty of God and find power to overcome our weaknesses. If you're ever complacent about sin, lose the joy of Jesus, or become dulled by the world's influence, the lives of these men can help you recapture the wonder of God. Book 1 in The Swans Are Not Silent series.

The Supremacy of God in Preaching, rev. ed.

By John Piper / Baker

Countless books teach the craft of preaching, but not many discuss its fundamental requirement: the piety of the preacher. In this newly revised classic, Piper focuses on Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon as prime examples, noting how their spirituality enabled them to speak the truth with joy and to appeal earnestly for a response. 120 pages, softcover from Baker.

A Hunger for God

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

Have Sunday worship services, small group meetings and a full slate of Christian activities failed to satisfy your hunger for God? If so, best-selling author and noted pastor John Piper has just the remedy: the ancient Christian practice of fasting and prayer. In this helpful guide Piper will explain the biblical foundations of fasting and provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate fasting into your life. Don't miss this opportunity to develop a deeper Hunger for God.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles

If you want to know Jesus you do not need to go to seminary or embark on a tour of the Holy Land. All you need to do is to read the gospels with an open heart. In Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ Pastor Piper will help you explore Jesus' deity, power and wisdom. Once you have "Seen" Jesus for who he is and have "Savored" his beauty, goodness and truth, you cannot help but be changed.

Anniversary Service

2011-10-20T09:40:00.000-04:00

First Baptist Church Meaford will be having their anniversary service this Sunday, Oct. 23 at 11 am. Woodford Baptist Church will be joining us for this service (there will be no Woodford service this Sunday). Our special guest speaker will be Rev. Paul Hansen, our former (and longest serving) pastor. Come and join us! There will be pizza and refreshments after the service.

The Book Depository

2011-10-13T16:57:00.000-04:00

Do you like to buy books? I have recently become an affiliate with the Book Depository. One of the great things about this online bookseller is that it offers free shipping in most countries. It is worth checking out. If you would like to support some of the apologetic work I do, feel free to click here and search for whatever interests you. Thanks for your consideration.

What I'm Thankful For

2011-10-10T18:31:00.000-04:00

Being the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I thought I would share some of the things I am thankful for. I am thankful for my family, both the family I grew up in and my family that I have now. I am thankful for Amanda, who is a fantastic wife and mother. I am thankful for all our kids, Logan, Abby, Justus, Emma and Faith. I am thankful for my two great churches, Woodford and First Baptist Church Meaford, who support our family in so many ways. I am thankful for being a Canadian and all the freedom we enjoy here. I am thankful for the health I enjoy and all of the physical blessings. I am most of all thankful for God, for adopting me into his family, forgiving my sins and offering eternal life through Christ. I am truly a blessed man and for that I am thankful!

A Different Thanksgiving

2011-10-06T19:35:00.000-04:00

Thanksgiving weekend is a time to spend with family. However, Thanksgiving is going to look a little different for us this year. I will be taking Emma and Faith away with me, while Logan and Justus will be staying with Amanda. The reason for this is that I will be speaking a Thanksgiving family retreat at Camp Iawah. I will be speaking on the topic of "Becoming a Confident Christian," looking at our confidence in the existence of God and who Jesus is. This will be the first time I have gone away like this with the girls. It should be a fun time and I am looking forward to some daddy-daughter time. Please pray that we have a safe trip (it is about a six hour drive), that God would use my words and that we would have some great family time, even if our family is split in half for a few days.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist

2011-10-04T10:49:00.000-04:00

I have started reading a great book that I would like to recommend. It is I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norm Geisler and Frank Turek. As a former atheist, I wish I had this book as I was moving from skepticism to faith. The authors treat the topics comprehensively and respectfully. You can pick up the book from Christian Book Distributors from the links below.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

By Norman L. Geisler / Crossway Books & Bibles

Norman Geisler and Frank Turek show, first of all, that truth is absolute, exclusive, and knowable. From there, they proceed to demonstrate that the cardinal Christian doctrines are true beyond reasonable doubt, all convincing for you as a Christians to believe, but requiring a leap of negative "faith" if an atheist is to disbelieve them.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist - eBook

By Norman L. Geisler & Frank Turek / Crossway Books

Norman Geisler and Frank Turek show, first of all, that truth is absolute, exclusive, and knowable. From there, they proceed to demonstrate that the cardinal Christian doctrines are true beyond reasonable doubt, all convincing for you as a Christians to believe, but requiring a leap of negative "faith" if an atheist is to disbelieve them.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist - Audiobook on CD

By Norman Geisler / eChristian Inc.

All worldviews,including atheism, require faith. But some belief systems are more reasonable than others! Geisler and Turek make the case that Christianity requires the least faith of all because so much evidence points toward the existence of God and the reliability of Scripture. An engaging, easy-to-follow defense for Christians and skeptics. Unabridged. Read by Kate Reading.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist - Audiobook on MP3-CD

By Norman Geisler / eChristian Inc.

Faith is a necessary element of all worldviews, and, as atheism is definitely a worldview, it necessarily requires faith to be an atheist. Oddly enough, the atheist belief system requires more assent to seemingly unbelievable tenets than Christianity does. Arguing that Christianity contains the least amount of essential but incredible features, Geisler shows interested readers how few things Christians actually need to take 'on faith' compared to other religions and beliefs. Geisler writes with clarity, wit and wisdom to bridge the imaginary hurdle of the impossibility of Christian belief. Unabridged. 15 Hours. 2 MP3-CDs. Read by Kate Reading.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist - Unabridged Audiobook [Download]

By Norman Geisler & Frank Turek / christianaudio.com

On the Market

2011-09-29T10:19:00.000-04:00

Our house is now on the market. You can find our MLS listing here. We are excited to have it on the market as that means we are that much closer to getting near Abby. But this was our first house. This February, it will be seven years that we have lived in this house. It is filled with memories. Logan and Abby were quite young when we moved in. We had no idea that Justus, Emma and Faith were on the way. My mom would come for visits from time to time and we even hoped to have her move in with us. Every room I walk into, there are memories. Little jobs I worked on with Justus. Rooms I chased the girls around. The room I first heard Logan speak clearly in. We will miss this house. But as much as we will leave behind, the memories come with us. I think often of the house I grew up in and in my mind I can walk through it, knowing where everything was. But those memories have come with me as well. We look forward to selling this house, moving to a new place and creating new memories for our family. Please pray that our house sells quickly.

Jeff Clarke

2011-09-28T06:24:00.000-04:00

From time to time I like to highlight blogs of friends of mine. Jeff Clarke is someone I know from our time at McMaster Divinity College. He has also done an article for us in Hope's Reason: A Journal of Apologetics. His blog looks at spiritual issues in society as well as general thoughts on theology. I especially enjoy his Pentecostal perspective (as a former Pentecostal myself). You can check out his blog here.

Outdoor Service

2011-09-19T10:25:00.000-04:00

Woodford Baptist Church will be having our annual outdoor service on Sept. 25 at 3:30 pm (please note there will be no morning service). Our guest speaker will be our former pastor Rev. Cliff Rummenie. There will be a potluck following the service. Everyone is welcome to join us for this special service. It is rain or shine, as we can move inside in case of bad weather. See you there!

A Big Change

2011-09-18T19:10:00.001-04:00

A week ago, I handed out this letter to our churches Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Meaford.

Dear Church Family:

We are now entering our ninth year of journeying together in ministry and Christian service. We have been able to support one another through this time. We appreciate your prayers for our family, even as we continue to pray for you and your family.
At this time, I come to you with a request, a request that I do not make lightly and one that is driven by circumstances close to my heart. As you know, just over a year ago our daughter Abby went to live in a group home near Acton, Ontario. This was an answer to prayer, as the situation at home was very difficult and this group home has been very good to Abby. The problem is that Abby now lives 2.5 hours away from us. While a tolerable drive for us as parents, it has become too much for Abby to come visit us and very difficult for our other children, who really want to see their sister. Part of our agreement with the government is that Abby come home for visits twice a month. Because of the distance, we have not been able to do that. More importantly, we miss Abby very much and are not seeing her near enough, for all our sakes. This has brought us to a difficult decision.
I have enjoyed my ministry at Woodford and First Baptist Churches and I would like to continue in this ministry. However, I also need to live closer to Abby and become a greater support to her. Therefore, I would like to ask the church’s blessing to allow me to continue as your pastor but at the same time allowing our family to move closer to Abby, likely the Guelph area.
How would this work? I would like to propose that I work three full days plus the Sunday morning services. This would be Tuesday to Thursday most of the time, but would be adjusted when there are special services or events that needed to be taken into account. How would this affect the congregation? Bible studies, meetings, visitation and other events would continue on without disruption. Pastoral emergencies on off days would result in me coming up immediately, while I have another pastor support the person or family until my arrival. I would keep my cell phone with its present Owen Sound number and so people in the congregation could get a hold of me without having to pay long distance. I am aware of the weather challenges with regard to making it for Sunday services. I will watch the weather closely and will come up earlier on occasion if needed. I would work closely with the deacons’ board regarding accountability and any issues that arise due to this change. I will meet with the deacons’ boards of both churches at six months to assess how the plan is working. I would like to make clear that this is not a transition from full-time to part-time. I would continue to work forty hours, it would now be compressed into three days plus a Sunday. This plan will start, pending your approval, once our Meaford home is sold and we have moved to our new location.
I understand that this is a big change and I would not ask unless I believed that my daughter’s well being depended on it. However, since this is such a change, I have agreed with the deacons to commit for one year. At the end of that year, if you or myself discover that this arrangement is not working, I will agree to find a placement elsewhere.
Amanda and I have discussed this at great length. We are both convinced that this is the best plan for our entire family. Our greatest emotional strain is our distance from Abby and we know that we need to be closer. We pray that you will sympathize with our situation and will give this proposal your consideration.

In Christ,

Steve Bedard and Family

Today both churches voted on our proposal and it passed. What does this mean? It is not my resignation to the churches. I believe I can do a better job parenting Abby and be a good pastor at these churches. What this means is that we will be putting our house in Meaford up for sale and once it sells, will look for a house in Guelph. Then I begin a one year trial period of being a travelling pastor. I do not intend on resigning at the end of the year, but I will seek the churches' feeling on the matter at that point. It is an exciting but scary time for our family. I am super excited about being closer to Abby but nervous about selling and buying houses. However, God has been faithful and we are confident the details will work out the way they need. Your prayers for our family are welcome. I want to take the time to thank both churches for their support of our family. You are awesome congregations!

Logan is Amazing

2011-09-18T13:57:00.000-04:00

For most of Logan's life we have seen him have a rough time in the summer. He seems to get stressed out. At first we thought his autism was regressing his development again. But September would come and Logan would be way past where he was in the spring. Well, it is September and Logan is doing amazing. When he needs to go to the bathroom, instead of just doing a dance or mumbling "baffroooom," he now says in a very clear voice "I need to go to the bathroom." This afternoon Logan came down stairs and I said 'hi' to him. He waved to me and said 'hi' and then turned to Amanda and said 'Hi, mom.' Not bad for a non-verbal kid. Yesterday, the kids were watching Star Wars and Logan took a straw and started using it as light sabre, even making the special effects. That is from a kid who has shown almost no imaginative play. We have caught Logan lately playing appropriately with toys. It is all very exciting. Another reason why September is my favourite month.

What's So Amazing About Grace?

2011-09-16T19:06:00.000-04:00

Religious people often speak about grace but are not near as often known for grace. The Bible is overflowing with teaching on grace but the church has sometimes found it often to focus on rules, to point fingers and to condemn those they disagree with. Philip Yancey understands the contemporary evangelical church and has witnessed first hand some of its ugliest moments. But there is hope. God's grace is working in the hearts of his people. We catch glimpses of grace and are challenged to go deeper. In this modern Christian classic, Philip Yancey looks at the many sides of grace. If you have tried church and were burned, check out this book and rediscover grace.

What's So Amazing About Grace?

By Philip Yancey / Zondervan

Grace is the church's great distinctive. It's the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world.
In What's So Amazing About Grace?, award-winning author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. What is grace? If grace is God's love for the undeserving, then what does it look like in action? If Christians are its sole dispensers, how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? In his most personal and provocative book ever, Yancey offers compelling, true portraits of grace's life-changing power. He searches for its presence in his own life and in the church. He challenges us to become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know What's So Amazing About Grace?
Winner of the Gold Medallion Book Award, the Christian Book of the Year Award, and the Retailers Choice Award.

Spotlight on John Dickson

2011-09-15T18:27:00.000-04:00

You can purchase any of these books by apologist John Dickson from Christian Book Distributors by clicking the links below.

Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love and Leadership

By John Dickson / Zondervan

Humility, or holding power loosely for the sake of others, is sorely lacking in today's world. Without it, many people fail to develop their true leadership potential and miss out on genuine fulfillment in their lives and their relationships. Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership shows how the virtue of humility can turn your strengths into true greatness in all areas of life.

Through the lessons of history, business, and the social sciences, author John Dickson shows that humility is not low self-esteem, groveling, or losing our distinct gifts. Instead, humility both recognizes our inherent worth and seeks to use whatever power we have at our disposal on behalf of others.

Some of the world's most inspiring and influential players have been people of immense humility. The more we learn about humility, the more we understand how essential it is to a satisfying career and personal life. By embracing this virtue, we will transform for good the unique contributions we each make to the world.

The Best-Kept Secret of Christian Mission: Promoting the Gospel with More Than Our Lips

By John Dickson / Zondervan

This book comes out of years of reflection, failures, and some successes in the task of reaching out to others with the gospel. Many Christians think of the task of mission as an entirely verbal activity, when perhaps the best kept secret of New Testament teaching about mission is that it involves a whole range of activities that explicitly promote Christ to the world and draw others to him, and only a few of them involve speaking.

Without diminishing or downplaying the importance of speaking the gospel, John Dickson shows that, on the other hand, downplaying the range of activities that promote Christ to the world has its own set of problems. It can make those who are not confident about speaking---of anything, let alone Jesus---feel inadequate and self-conscious in the task of reaching out to others. Equally, it can make those who do have a flair for speaking feel as though they are fulfilling Christ's mission just by talking.

But the reality is that the Lord wants our whole life, not just our lips, in the task of bringing the gospel to the world. Every facet of our lives can be used by God to promote the news of his power and mercy. In this practical guide to the biblical art of sharing your faith, John Dickson offers refreshing insight into the ways that all Christians can and should be involved in spreading the good news of Jesus. While not all Christians are called and gifted to become evangelists, we are all called to promote the gospel through a wide range of activities---prayer, financial partnership, good deeds, godly lives, public worship, daily conversation, etc.---with and without our lips.

As readers engage with this book, grapple with its arguments and hear the stories of people coming to faith, they will be inspired to see the whole of life as significant for bringing the gospel to the world, and they will be liberated out of guilt and self-consciousness in evangelism into becoming perfectly natural promoters of Jesus Christ.

Life of Jesus: Who He Is and Why He Matters

By John Dickson / Zondervan

What really happened back in the first century, in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee, that changed the shape of world history? Join historian John Dickson on this journey through the life of Jesus. This book which features a self-contained discussion guide for use with the Life of Jesus DVD, will help you dig deeper into what is known about Jesus' life and why it matters.

Christ Files: How Historians Know What They Know about Jesus

By John Dickson / Zondervan

Uniquely among the world's religions, the central claims of Christianity concern not just timeless spiritual truths, but tangible historical events. At the heart of the of the Christian faith are things that are meant to have happened in Palestine between 5 BC and AD 30. It's as if Christianity happily places its head on the chopping block of public scrutiny and invites anyone who wants to come and take a swing.

Some of Christianity's claims are so spectacular that they provoke a firestorm of questions, scrutiny, debate, and misinformation whenever they are discussed. The popularity of The Da Vinci Code and the frequent airing of TV documentaries delving into the darker uncertainties of Christianity show that such skepticism flourishes in the Western world today.

In The Christ Files you will learn how historians know what they know about Jesus. Historian John Dickson embraces the need to examine Christianity's claims in the light of history, opening readers to a wealth of ancient sources and explaining how mainstream scholars---whether or not they claim Christian faith personally---reach their conclusions.

Christianity arrived on the historical scene at a time of great literary activity. While many texts penned by ancient philosophers, historians, poets, and playwrights can reliably inform us about Jesus himself and about the culture in which he lived, others are not so credible. Dickson skillfully highlights both types of sources along with the historical methods used to study Christianity's claims.

He also shows how historians asses the reliability of available data, and provides an honest but informed perspective on where historical issues are clear-cut and where personal faith comes into play. The Christ Files is a must-read for those looking to expand their understanding of early Christianity and the life of Jesus.

Investigating Jesus

By John Dickson / Lion

A fascinating introduction to the life of Christ and his world! Exploring the historical basis for Christianity, Dickson draws on the latest research on the Gospels, ancient pagan and Jewish writings, and contemporary sources to present a solid case for the historical reliability of the New Testament.

A Spectator's Guide to Jesus: An Introduction to the Man from Nazareth

By John Dickson / Lion Books

The aim of A Spectator's Guide to Jesus is to provide readers with an introduction to the major portraits of Jesus found in the earliest historical sources. John Dickson attempts to present Jesus in such a way that is strictly historical, without fogging him with skepticism or religiosity. Using biblical and extrabiblical resources, Dickson contends that Jesus is utterly unique and cannot be neatly fit into one categorical box; he is Teacher, Healer, Christ, Judge, Friend, Savior, and much more. Who was Jesus? Dickson attempts to tell his story.
John Dickson is a historian, musician and best-selling author. He is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia), and he also teaches a course on World Religions for the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute. John is currently co-director of the Syndey-based Centre for Public Christianity.

Jesus: A Short Life

By John Dickson / Lion Books

Recent controversies and fictional creations have blurred the image of Jesus for ordinary people. The popular imagination has been captured by conspiracy theoriesproposed by accounts that are loosely connected to Gnostic writings. Modern culture needs a straightforward account of Jesus, rooted in scholarship and the Gospels, the most reliable documents we possess.In eleven chapters-which cover the historicity of the New Testament, Jesus' birth and family, his historical context, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection, and subsequent appearances-John Dickson clears away the mists of speculation and fantasy, revealing the founder of Christianity in sharp focus. In the epilogue he considers the real significance of Jesus for thetwenty-first century.

A Spectator's Guide to World Religions: An Introduction to the Big Five

By John Dickson / Lion Books

More of a gazetteer of the world's major religions than an apologetic for Christianity, this Spectator's Guide, written by a Christian, examines each faith in the light of the author's Christian faith. But what he does is to approach each religion on its own terms, making this book different from others that either treat them in Christian terms or else put all religions on the same level (including Christianity). Each religion is dealt with in multiple chapters, thus letting each aspect to take the space it needs to accurately inform the reader.

If I Were God, I'd End All Pain

By John Dickson / Matthias Media

In If I Were God, I'd End All The Pain, John Dickson, a popular Christian author in Australia and the U.K., looks honestly at the question of suffering, and provides some compelling answers. He examines the alternative explanations for suffering provided by Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Atheism, before turning to what the Bible says about God, justice and suffering.

If I Were God, I'd Make Myself Clearer

By John Dickson / Matthias Media

Written from a Christian perspective, this books struggles honestly with a dilemma facing 'believers' and 'unbelievers' alike: With so many religions on offer, can one of them be considered true? Or are they different paths up the same spiritual mountain? And how can any one person sort their way through the maze of claims?

The Narthax

2011-09-15T18:14:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine named Andrew Scholl has an interesting blog called the Narthax. Andrew is one of our deacons at Woodford Baptist Church and does some preaching for me as well. He is currently doing his MA in English Lit through the Mythgard Institute. I suggest you check it out his blog.

Contagion

2011-09-13T19:22:00.000-04:00

Last night, Amanda and I went to see Contagion. It had some pretty big names in it and sometimes we worry that is a mask for a really bad story. That was not the case in this movie. It was a great story with great acting. The basic premise is that new super bug is spread around the world leading to a devastating plague. What made this movie scary was not special effects (there were no heads exploding or anything) but rather how realistic it was. It looked like something that could actually happen. If you are looking for a good solid movie that will really grip you, I recommend Contagion.

Happy Birthday Abby!

2011-09-12T09:24:00.000-04:00

Today is our daughter Abby's ninth birthday. This is hard for me as I will not see her today. One of the hardest parts of our life is that fact that we had to send Abby to a group home over a year ago. We went down on Saturday to see Abby and to give her birthday presents. It was great to see her. We wish we could see her more often. With her living 2.5 hours away makes that very difficult. Our prayer is that one day we will be in a position to be a greater presence in her life. Abby, we love you very much and love you lots! Happy Birthday!

Ten Years Ago...

2011-09-11T08:39:00.000-04:00

September 11, 2011. I was trying to get myself ready to go to work. It was a hectic morning as a bird had gotten into our house and we were trying to get it out. I just about had myself together when Amanda started to talk to me in an excited voice. But what she was saying didn't make sense. She was saying that a plane hit the World Trade Centre. The only thing that I could figure was that a private plane accidentally clipped one of the towers. But the smoke billowing from the tower looked like more than that. Then I saw a replay of the massive plane smashing into the tower. It took me a moment to realize that I was not seeing a video replay but was watching live as the second plane made its impact. It felt like a nightmare. Was this really happening? Not only were we witnessing the death of thousands, we were watching the transformation of a worldview. It is not with exaggeration that we speak of a post-9/11 world. We have all been touched by this tragic event. While Canada was not as directly affected as the United States, many Canadians also lost their lives. This event has brought us closer to the United States, to the point where our troops have been fighting side by side. I have had family sent to Afghanistan and at this time, I have three friend serving with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. How should we respond to the events of the past ten years? We need to pray. We need to pray for the families of the victims. We need to pray for those working to protect us from further acts of terrorism. We need to pray for the groups that have been responsible for the terrorism, that their minds and hearts would be opened to the errors of their ways. But we must also fight fear with hope. The point of terrorism is not to create damage but spread terror. We must live in hope and not fear. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18 NIV) May God continue to be with those in the United States and around the world who were touched most deeply by the events of 9/11.

Sarcastics Anonymous

2011-09-09T20:40:00.000-04:00

Study Bibles

2011-09-08T17:09:00.000-04:00

Study Bibles can be a great help, both for new Christians and those who have been around for a while but want to dig deeper. Here are a selection of Study Bibles that you may be interested in and that you can purchase below from Christian Book Distributors.

ESV Personal-Size Study Bible-hardcover

By Crossway Books & Bibles

The ESV Study Bible, Personal Size compresses nearly all the features of the award-winning ESV Study Bible into a smaller size for easier carrying. This Personal Size edition retaina all of the original's 25,000 study notes, 240 full-color maps and illustrations, charts, timelines, and introductions—more than 2 million words of Bible text, insightful explanation, teaching, and reference material. To conserve space, some of the extensive articles have been removed from this more compact edition and moved online for free access. Enjoy the comprehensive resources of the internationally best-selling ESV Study Bible, now in a convenient and portable smaller size!

Features

Smaller, more portable size
Single-column Bible text (7.7-point type) double-column notes (6.3-point type)
Black letter text
25,000 study notes
240 full-color maps and illustrations througout
80,000 cross-references
Complete introductions to every Bible book
Extensive concordance
Printed on finest European Bible paper
Smyth-sewn binding
Free access to the ESV Online Study Bible.
8.25" x 5.75" x 2.00"

NIV Archaeological Study Bible, Hardcover

By Zondervan

An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture, The NIV Archaeological Study Bible sheds new light on the Bible. From the beginnings of Genesis to the end of Revelation, this new study Bible is filled with informative articles and full-color photographs of places and objects that will open your eyes to the historical context of the stories you read and the people you meet in Scripture. From kings and empires to weapons of war to clay pots used for carrying water, the archaeological record surrounding God's Word will help contextualize and inform your personal study.
Features:

4-color interior throughout
Bottom of page study notes highlight and add further explanation to passages that speak onarchaeological or cultural facts included in the Scripture
Articles (520) covering one of the following five categories:
- Archaeological Sites (Hazor, Ugarit, Arad, Ephesus)
- Cultural and Historical Notes (ancient seals and scarabs, perfume and anointing, the missionary journeys of Paul)
- Ancient Peoples and Lands (the Persian empire, the history of Egypt)
- The Reliability of the Bible (the question of the Psalm superscripts, the reliability of Judges, the ending of Mark)
- Ancient Texts and Artifacts (the Mesha Stone, the Prayer of Confession)
Approximately 500 4-color photographs interspersed throughout
Detailed book introductions that provide basic, at-a-glance information
Detailed charts on pertinent topics
In-text color maps that assist the reader in placing the action
8-point text
Single-column format
Side-column references
Section headings
Book introductions
Timelines
Hardcover

Holman Christian Standard Bible Apologetics Study Bible, Hardcover

By B & H Publishing Group

Real Questions. Straight Answers. Stronger Faith. The Apologetics Study Bible will help today’s Christians better understand, defend, and proclaim their beliefs in this age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading. 2240 pages, from Broadman & Holman.
The Apologetics Study Bible features valuable contributions from a who’s-who of modern apologists such as Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, J. P. Moreland, and Phil Johnson.
Other features include:

The full text of the popular Holman Christian Standard Bible® translation
Two-color page layout
Introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics
10 point text
Double-column format
Book Outlines
Translation Footnotes
Articles on ethics, science, archaeology, philosophy, and non-Christian belief systems
Study notes that explain "problem" passages
Sidebars on Scriptures misused by cults
Profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C. S. Lewis
Plan of Salvation
Hardcover
6 3/4" x 9" x 1 1/2"

NLT Life Application Study Bible - Updated Edition Hardcover

By Tyndale House

One of today's best-selling study Bibles—the Life Application Study Bible—has been updated and expanded. Over 300 new Life Application notes, nearly 350 note revisions, 16 new personality profiles, updated charts, and a Christian Worker's Resource make this best-seller even better.

New Features:

Over 300 new Life Application notes and significant revisions to nearly 350 others
16 new Personality Profiles
Most charts revised to clarify meaning and importance, plus eight all-new charts
New information on the intertestamental period
Christian Worker's Resource, a special supplement to enhance the reader's ministry effectiveness, includes:
- How to Become a Believer,
- How to Follow Up with a New Believer,
- Mining the Treasures of the Life Application Study Bible,
- So You've Been Asked to Speak,
- Taking the Step to Application

All this is in addition to the excellent collection of features that have made the Life Application Study Bible a best-seller.

Thousands of Life Application notes help explain God's Word and challenge readers to apply the truth of Scripture to life
Personality profiles highlight over 100 important Bible characters
Book introductions provide vital statistics, overview, and timeline to help readers understand the message of each book
200 thumbnail maps highlight important Bible places and events
260 charts help explain difficult concepts and relationships
Cross-references
Harmony of the Gospels built right into the text of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Dictionary/concordance
Words of Christ in red letter
Daily reading plan
Additional features:
- Presentation Page
- Family records section
- Single Column Format
- Side-column cross references
- Index to Notes
- Index to Charts
- Index to Maps
- Index to Personality Profiles
- Dictionary/Concordance
- Scripture Text: 8 Point
- Notes: 8 Point
- 16 pages of color maps & diagrams
- 6 3/4" x 9 1/2" x 2"
- Hardcover

Zondervan NIV Study Bible, Personal-Size--Hardcover

By Zondervan

The Zondervan NIV Study Bible is the #1 bestselling study Bible in the bestselling NIV translation. And now it includes for 2008 a 25% revision to the over 20,000 in-text study notes and a library of study resources at your fingertips.  This edition also includes a 130-page topical index for more in-depth study. Excellent for home school use.

The NIV Study Bible’s 20,000-plus study notes and other features have been updated and improved. Unmatched in any other study Bible, these notes have been crafted to reflect the most current conservative Bible scholarship. Other study features place at your fingertips a treasury of instant commentary from today’s top evangelical scholars. Icons highlight notes of special interest in the areas of character study, archaeology, and personal application. Simply put, you won’t find study notes as complete, up to date, helpful, and easy to use anywhere else.

Features include:

Over 20,000 in-text notes
75 in-text maps and charts
Comprehensive book introductions
Icons that highlight notes concerning:
- Archaeological information
- Personal application
- Characters and people groups
NIV comprehensive concordance
NIV topical index
Words of Christ in red
Notes index
7-point type

NRSV New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha, 4th Edition

By Oxford University Press

The premier study Bible used by scholars, pastors, undergraduate and graduate students, The New Oxford Annotated Bible offers a vast range of information, including extensive notes by experts in their fields; in-text maps, charts, and diagrams; supplementary essays on translation, biblical interpretation, cultural and historical background, and other general topics.

Extensively revised—half of the material is brand new—featuring a new design to enhance readability, and brand-new color maps, the Annotated Fourth Edition adds to the established reputation of this essential biblical studies resource. Many new and revised maps, charts, and diagrams further clarify information found in the Scripture text. In addition, section introductions have been expanded and the book introductions present their information in a standard format so that students can find what they need to know. Of course, the Fourth Edition retains the features prized by students, including single column annotations at the foot of the pages, in-text charts, and maps, a page number-keyed index of all the study materials in the volume, and Oxford's renowned Bible maps. This timely edition maintains and extends the excellence the Annotated's users have come to expect, bringing still more insights, information, and perspectives to bear upon the understanding of the biblical text.

Features

The renowned New Revised Standard Version Bible translation, the scholarly standard for study of the Bible
Wholly revised, and greatly expanded book introductions and annotations
Annotations in a single column across the page bottom, paragraphed according to their boldface topical headings
In-text background essays on the major divisions of the biblical text
Essays on the history of the formation of the biblical canon for Jews and various Christian churches
More detailed explanations of the historical background of the text
More in-depth treatment of the history and varieties of biblical criticism
A timeline of major events in the ancient Near East
A full index to all of the study materials, keyed to the page numbers on which they occur
A full glossary of scholarly and critical terms
36-page section of full color New Oxford Bible Maps, approximately 40 in-text line drawing maps and diagrams
10-point type

Classic but not stodgy, up-to-date but not trendy, The New Oxford Annotated Bible: 4th Edition is ready to serve new generations of students, teachers, and general readers.

Labour Day Memories

2011-09-05T18:52:00.000-04:00

For most holidays, it really does not matter where I live. Christmas is Christmas. Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving. But for me, Labour Day is not the same away from Merritton. Labour Day weekend was always a highlight of the year. We would all go to the carnival, which was right across from the tracks where we lived. We would often work the hot dog stand at our church St. James Anglican during the Labour Day parade. I am sure if I went back, I would find things different, probably smaller than my memories. I am thankful for the memories. You can never go back. But you can build new opportunities for memories. For those of you who live in Merritton, hope you had a great weekend!

Outdoor Service

2011-09-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

First Baptist Church Meaford will be having an outdoor service and barbecue on Sunday, September 11 at 11 am. This is an informal, relaxed service on the property beside the church with a barbecue to follow. If you are in the Meaford area on that day, you are welcome to join us.

Thankful for Halo

2011-09-01T20:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we had a mini-family reunion yesterday for Amanda's family. I must confess that I was a bit nervous, especially for Logan. Logan easily gets stressed out, even at Nana and Papa's house. With extra people there, I was not sure how that would go. We decided for the first time to bring Halo to Amanda's parents house. It was amazing to watch. For practical reasons we could not have Halo in jacket or the two connected for the entire time. But even just having Halo out of jacket, laying at the feet of Logan made a huge difference. He was way calmer than he usually is. Of course we did put Halo to work and had a nice walk, but Halo's benefits go way beyond what he does in jacket. We are thankful for Halo and for National Service Dogs that brought him to our home.

Spotlight on Darrell Bock

2011-08-30T09:55:00.000-04:00

I really appreciate the scholarship of Darrell Bock. Not only is he a top notch scholar, he is one who helps bridge the gap between the academy and the church. His work is at the same level as the best of scholars but he also writes to equip the average Christian. Here are some of his books. You can purchase any of them through Christian Book Distributors through the links below.

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [BECNT]

By Darrell L. Bock / Baker Academic

Following his authoritative two-volume commentary on Luke in the acclaimed BECNT series, Darrell Bock now provides a substantive yet highly accessible commentary on Acts in this latest addition to the series. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, Bock leads readers through all aspects of the book of Acts---sociological, historical, and theological---to help them better understand and explain this key New Testament book.
As with all BECNT volumes, Acts features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text. This commentary admirably achieves the dual aims of the series---academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility---making it a useful tool for students, professors, and pastors. The user-friendly design includes shaded-text chapter introductions summarizing the key themes of each thought unit.
Darrell L. Bock (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of many books, including the two-volume commentary on Luke in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series, Jesus according to Scripture, and Studying the Historical Jesus.

Luke: NIV Application Commentary [NIVAC]

By Darrell L. Bock / Zondervan

Darrell Bock, author of Luke [NIVAC], is a cutting edge and very popular Evangelical scholar known for strong conservative stances on biblical authority, historicity of the Gospel accounts, and traditional understanding of church history. He has also written several major commentaries on both Luke and Acts. Thus, he is the perfect person to draw out the powerful theme of Christ brining reconciliation with God throughout this work on the second gospel. Well researched but readable and directly applied to the Christian life this is an excellent resource for studying Luke.

About The NIVAC Series:

Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from the twentieth century to the first century, and along the way involve us in any number of valuable discussions. But sometimes, we feel like something has been left out. While we want to know the background of the biblical text, we also want help determining what it means for today.

The creators of the NIV Application Commentary series believe that if we remain in the ancient world and don't translate the Bible into our world, the task of biblical interpretation remains incomplete. Thus the NIVAC series provides both the historical-exegetical meaning of the text, while also providing a bridge from the ancient world to the Bible's relevance today.

Furthermore, the format of the NIVAC reflects its content by clearly denoting when it is discussing ancient context, the interpretive process that allows us to understand the text in our own setting, and when it is applying interpretations of the text to our daily life. This obvious nature of the format makes it exceptionally easy for the reader to know exactly where they are in the commentary itself, the interpretive process, as well as in the biblical book.

In addition to its unique reader friendly format, the NIVAC is directly pinned to the NIV translation of the Bible making it, once again, exceptionally easy for non-specialist readers to follow the thoughts and direction of the commentator. While authors will, at times, work with the original languages full descriptions about any such terminology are given in non-technical language. Moreover, each author fluidly translates complex elements and interpretive matters into language the average lay person can fully understand and easily apply.

Finally, the NIVAC series is highly recommended as a guide for Bible teachers of all kinds, and is an excellent resource for research, preaching, garnering theological understanding, advanced devotional reading, and life application.

Key Elements

Commentary Type: Non-Technical
General Persepctive: Main Stream Evangelical
Audience: Written by Scholars for Pastors, Students, & Laity
Scripture: Inspired
Theological Tradition: Mixed
Knowledge of Hebrew and/or Greek is not necessary for using this series.

Dethroning Jesus: Exposing Popular Culture's Quest to Unseat the Biblical Christ

By Darrell L. Bock & Daniel B. Wallace / Thomas Nelson

New York Times best-selling author Darrell Bock teams with Daniel Wallace to help lay readers separate fact from fiction and help from hype in the recent best-selling Jesus books and television specials.

There is a quest going on. It's the quest to reduce Jesus to a mythic legend or to nothing more than a mere man. Scholars such as Elaine Pagels and James Tabor are using such recent discoveries as the Gospel of Judas and the Gospel of Thomas to argue that the Christ of Christianity is a contrived figure and that a different Christ-one human and not divine-is the "true" Christ.

In his trademark easy-to-understand style Darrell Bock takes on these attempts to redefine Jesus in a convincing, winsome way that will help readers understand that the orthodox understanding of Christ and his divinity is as trustworthy and sure as it ever was. Joining Bock for the first time is fellow scholar Daniel Wallace.

To the Jew First: The Case for Jewish Evangelism in Scripture and History

By Edited by Darrell L. Bock & Mitchell Glaser / Kregel Publications

Since the first days of the early church, the Jewish people have been much of the focus of evangelism. History bears out the fact that the Church has long had a special place in its heart for Israel. Divided into three parts, covering New Testament responses to the conundrum of Israel, the theology surrounding the reality of the Gospel for the Jewish people, and the missiological sphere. Bringing together many experts to lend their voices, editors Darrell Bock (former president of the Evangelical Theological Society) and Mitch Glaser (a Messianic Jew and president of Chosen People Ministries) add layers of depth and insight to this issue.

Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods

By Darrell L. Bock / Baker

Interest in the historical Jesus continues to occupy much of today's discussion of the Bible. The vexing question is how the Jesus presented in the Gospels relates to the Jesus that actually walked this earth. This book is an introductory guide to how one might go about answering that question by doing historical inquiry into the material found in the Gospels. Darrell Bock introduces the sources of our knowledge about Jesus, both biblical and extra-biblical. He then surveys the history and culture of the world of Jesus. The final chapters introduce some of the methods used to study the Gospels, including historical, redaction, and narrative criticisms. Bock, a well respected author, provides an informed evangelical alternative to radical projects like the Jesus Seminar. His audience, however, is not limited only to evangelicals. This book, written for college and seminary courses, offers an informed scholarly approach that takes the Gospels seriously as a source of historical information.

Luke 1.1-9.50 & 9.51-24.53 Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [BECNT], 2 Vols.

By Darrell L. Bock / Baker

Bock's in-depth examination of the Greek text and extensive overview of the historical and cultural background of the time makes this set one of the most thorough explorations of Luke ever published. Includes an introduction to each section of the text, a discussion of sources and historicity, verse-by-verse exegesis, and detailed notes. A sensational price! Approx. 3000 pages total, two hardcovers.

Jesus According to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels

By Darrell L. Bock / Baker Academic

Do recently discovered documents outside the biblical narrative really refute the New Testament's representation of Jesus? Discover what the skeptics are ignoring with apologist Bock's scholarly yet accessible defense of the Gospels! Foundational in its proof of the reliability of Scripture, it's a must-have for believers who take God's Word seriously. 704 pages, softcover from Baker.

Key Events in the Life of the Historical Jesus: A Collaborative Exploration of Context and Coherence

By Edited by Darrell L. Bock & Robert L. Webb / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Written by a team of internationally respected evangelical scholars, this book uses a carefully defined approach to historical Jesus studies and historical method to examine twelve key episodes in the life of Jesus.

Focusing on six events from Jesus' ministry at large and six from his climactic activity in Jerusalem, the authors together probe into Jesus' life and work, from his baptism by John in the Jordan to the claim of his resurrection through the empty tomb and appearance accounts.

Each essay examines the case for a particular event's authenticity, explores the social and cultural background to provide a better understanding of its historical significance, and looks at how it can help shape our overall understanding of who Jesus was and what he did.

Though each chapter is the work of a single author, all of these essays, emerging from a decade-long collaborative research project, have been shaped and strengthened by stimulating discussion and debate among this remarkable group of historical Jesus scholars.

Contributors

Craig L. Blomberg
Darrell L. Bock
Craig A. Evans
Donald A. Hagner
Brent Kinman
I. Howard Marshall
Scot McKnight
Grant R. Osborne
Klyne R. Snodgrass
Robert L. Webb
Michael J. Wilkins

Jesus in Context: Background Readings for Gospel Study

By Edited by Darrell L. Bock & Gregory J. Herrick / Baker

A proper understanding of Scripture must include a knowledge of the historical, cultural, and religious context in which the Bible was written. Since two millenia has passed since the life and teaching of Jesus, obtaining this knowledge is not an easy task. For instance, the controversy over Jesus' healing on the Sabbath must be understood against the backdrop of the Mishnah's detailed list of forbidden Sabbath activities.
In this study, Darrell L. Bock and Gregory J. Herrick identify and compile into one handy volume the key extrabiblical texts that provide the necessary cultural background for understanding passages in the Gospel narratives and add brief comments at the beginning of each selection, noting its relevance to the biblical text.

Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News

By Darrell L. Bock / B&H Academic

The gospel is "good news" of a restored relationship with God. But according to Bock, today's proclamations seem more a therapeutic call or political polemic. Here he traces themes from Scripture to rediscover what the Bible says about the revelation of Christ and the role of the cross in a spiritually bereft world. Includes discussion questions. 176 pages, softcover from B&H.

Luke: IVP New Testament Commentary [IVPNTC]

By Darrell L. Bock / IVP Academic

About the Series: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series
Pastors with a passion for sound exposition and scholars with a heart for pastoral leadership have joined forces to produce this exciting, accessible, and informative commentary series.

Each volume, informed by the best of up-to-date evangelical scholarship, presents passage-by-passage commentary based on the NIV along with background information on authorship, setting, theme and various interpretive issues. A unique format allows the main commentary to focus on the vital message of the New Testament book being studied for today's church, while bottom-of-the-page notes include valuable scholarly information to support those who use the volumes as a resource for preaching or teaching preparation.

Who Should Use it?The series is accessible to all people who wish to use it for biblical study whether they are pastors, students, or laity. Christians new to Bible study may find it challenging as a starting point for biblical study, but should be able to adapt to it with the help of a Bible study teacher. Those who have used Bible study guides in the past will find this series particularly helpful in taking the next step into deeper biblical study.

About: Luke

In Luke's vivid narrative, Jesus comes into Galilee proclaiming "good news to the poor . . . freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind." More than any other Gospel, the Gospel of Luke shows Jesus' great concern for the downtrodden, the oppressed and the marginalized--including women and children and even those outside the house of Israel.

Darrell Bock shows why Luke's Gospel is "tailor-made" for the world we live in--a world often divided along ethnic, religious, economic and political lines. After all, the Jesus portrayed by Luke is a source of unity for his disciples and for believers from every walk of life. Tax collectors, Roman soldiers, prostitutes, city officials, religious leaders, widows and fishermen were among the diverse group brought together in the early Christian church.

Bock's dual focus on understanding what Luke wanted to communicate to his original readers and on how that message is relevant for today makes this an excellent resource.

Lay Pastors Training Program

2011-08-26T09:34:00.000-04:00

If you are a Christian living in southern Ontario and are looking to be more involved in your church or may even be looking to be a lay pastor of a small church, there are some options for you. There is a program called the Lay Pastor Training Program that may be of interest to you. It is a two year program, recognized by the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, that provides pastoral training for lay people. Graduates have gone on to pastor churches, lead ministries in their own churches or just become better trained Christians. Here is some information about the program:

Lay Pastors Training Program (now in our fourth year) is due to begin this September at Westview Baptist, London. This year we welcome two new instructors: Dorman Quinton, Pastor of Centre Street Baptist, St Thomas, who will be teaching the course on Worship in the winter semester and John Lambshead, pastor of First Baptist, Listowel, who will teach the course on Biblical Introduction. David Stead, pastor of Westview Baptist and Keith Sweeting, Pastor of First Baptist, Owen Sound will return this fall to teach the courses on Call to Ministry and Pastoral Practice respectively. Rev Dr. David Smith has also agreed to join us as educational consultant and instructor.

Registration for this year has been extended to September 7. For more information, please go to their web-site www.laypastor.ca.

Autism and Communication

2011-08-26T07:28:00.000-04:00

I found an article on communication issues with regard to autism. If you are interested, you can find it here.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

2011-08-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

This has been a summer with a great number of movies that I have wanted to see. With all of the superhero movies that came out, Rise of the Planet of the Apes did not even make my top five what I wanted to see. I was actually a big Planet of the Apes fan when I was young. I watched the movies and the television series and even had action figures. But I was disappointed in the Tim Burton remake from a number of years back and was content to just treasure my old memories.

I was finally drawn by previews and by word of mouth to give Rise of the Planet of the Apes a try. I loved it! It had everything that I like in a movie. There was an interesting story, great acting, good characterization, humour, emotion and of course lots of action. It is interesting that there was little swearing, no nudity (except the apes I guess) and very few people were killed and yet it was still a great movie. Hint, hint to movie makers! What a great way to start a new series, setting up the intelligent apes and the downfall of humanity. I hope they continue with the sequels. If you have not seen it yet, I would encourage you to do so.

The Bible and Tattoos

2011-08-19T13:07:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while, I strongly consider getting a tattoo. While I have not yet done that, it is still a consideration. Some Christians have strong feelings against getting tattoos. The question is: does the Bible condemn tattoos? I think Mark Brown does a good job of working through this.

Proud of Amanda

2011-08-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

For the past week and a half, Amanda has been in Czech Republic. This was not just a vacation, although I am sure she has seen some fantastic sights. Amanda participated in a mission trip that taught an English camp. Each day I looked forward to Skype or Facebook chat to catch up with how things are going. We all missed Amanda a lot. Each of the kids made it clear that they missed their mommy. Yesterday Logan was very emotional and was crying. As soon as I brought the computer in with Amanda on Skype, he was back to normal. I certainly appreciate all that Amanda does here with the family and I am glad that I don't have to do it on my own for long. But more than this, I am proud of Amanda for this step that she has taken. She had never done anything like this before but believed this is what God wanted her to do. It took courage and strength and I am glad that she has accomplished this. Amanda, I am proud of you and love you and look forward to seeing you today.

Logan and Bumblebee

2011-08-15T09:56:00.000-04:00

If you have seen any of the Transformers movies, you will know there is an autobot named Bumblebee. Bumblebee speaks by scanning his car radio and sampling words or phrases to get his message across. Bumblebee reminds me a lot of Logan.

In general Logan does not communicate in sentences. But one of the ways that he does communicate is by sampling lines from movies. Logan has a great memory and memorizes all the lines from movies quickly. When he really wants to communicate something, he will take a line from a movie to get his message across. Sometimes he takes a line that has the exact wording that he needs. Other times he takes a line that expresses the emotion of what he is feeling, even if the words don't fit. For example, if Logan is frustrated, he might start yelling "Swiper, no swiping!" We understand what he means. It is an amazing thing to watch how the human brain works.

Media.Faith.Culture

2011-08-13T15:48:00.000-04:00

My Arrow class-mate Brett Ullman has a book out that I would like to recommend. It is called Media.Fauth.Culture. Brett is a popular speaker around Canada and the United States and you can find out more about his ministry here.

Wow!

2011-08-13T15:35:00.000-04:00

I just had a conversation with Logan! Normally if he speaks at all, it is one word statements and even then it is rare. He just told me "I need to go to the bathroom." When he was done, I asked if he was going back outside. He replied "I'm going upstairs." Shocked, I said "Logan, listen to you talking." He responded by saying "Thanks, Dad!" Not bad for a nonverbal autistic kid!

Spotlight on U2

2011-08-13T06:45:00.000-04:00

A little while ago, Amanda and I went to see U2 in concert. As it worked out, we actually got a chance to see them twice during the same tour. I really respect U2, in their musical ability, showmanship, pursuit of social justice and biblical influence on their lyrics. I thought I would share some CDs and books that I would recommend if you like U2 as well.

Camp Stuff

2011-08-11T21:33:00.000-04:00

As you may know, a few days ago I was not too happy with Logan being sent home from camp. You might have gotten the idea that I was now the number one critic of that camp. That is not the case. I received a call tonight from the director of the camp, and he acknowledged that there had been a miscommunication and offered to bring Logan to camp next week. He was very gracious and sincere and I appreciate that. I am not sure about sending Logan back, not out of bitterness, but just because Logan does not do well with changes of plans and he has had enough changes. I do appreciate the offer though, and I still see this camp as having an important ministry.

What I was trying to get at in my blog post was my frustration in general within the Christian church as to the role for special needs children, or even adults. What Jesus teaches on the importance of the neglected and outcast does not come naturally to people, not even to me. But being a father of two autistic children and someone who cares for the Christian church, I will continue to push Christians to look at special needs people with Jesus glasses.

Spotlight on Greg Koukl

2011-08-11T13:18:00.000-04:00

I really appreciate the ministry of Greg Koukl and Stand to Reason. Here are some resources by Greg Koukl that you might be interested in. You can purchase them from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on the links below.

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

By Gregory Koukl / Zondervan

Discuss your Christian convictions to others with grace and confidence. Learn to gracefully negotiate those awkward moments when others challenge you with oft-repeated arguments against the Christian beliefs. Professor Greg Koukl has successful defended the Christian faith under fire and he wants to show you how a few relatively easy tactics can help you as well.

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions - eBook

By Gregory Koukl / Zondervan

Discuss your Christian convictions to others with grace and confidence. Learn to gracefully negotiate those awkward moments when others challenge you with oft-repeated arguments against the Christian beliefs. Professor Greg Koukl has successful defended the Christian faith under fire and he wants to show you how a few relatively easy tactics can help you as well.

Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air

By Francis Beckwith / Baker

Writing from years of experience in defending Christian values, Beckwith and Koukl offer a critique of moral relativism. They explore the inconsistencies inherent in the relativist position, suggest specific approaches that can be used in the course of dialogue, and consider the everyday implications of relativism, especially in relation to important issues such as: abortion, homosexuality, multiculturalism, political correctness, and tolerance. Paperback.

Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air - eBook

By Francis J Beckwith and Gregory Koukl / Baker Books

Engaging Logan

2011-08-09T19:07:00.000-04:00

As I write this, I am watching Justus, Emma and Faith play with Logan. I don't mean they are playing individually in the same area. I mean together playing a sort of full contact, tackle game of tag. Unfortunately it is a few minutes before bed and it is not doing much to settle them down. My thoughts are, however, that the three younger kids don't know there is something "wrong" with Logan. Adults, who are more mature and educated would know better than to try and interact with Logan. But the kids, in their immature ignorance, pull Logan out of his own world. The look on his face shows how present he is in the game. Sure, he does not fully understand the rules or his own strength. But I know that all four of the kids are giggling like crazy. I know that when I went to pick up the three younger kids from preschool day camp, it was his buddy Logan that Justus ran to hug and not me. I am so thankful for the relationship these children have and for the fact that they don't know better.

Disappointed

2011-08-08T10:36:00.000-04:00

Last year, Logan attended a local Christian camp. He had a blast. We went for the last meeting and could see in the expressions on his face that he was enjoying what was taking place. He might not have been able to participate in the same ways a other kids, but he obviously had fun. I brought Logan to the same camp yesterday for the start of two weeks there and bumped into one of the counsellors from last year. She was excited to see Logan again as he was so much fun.

Last night, the camp called and asked me to come pick up Logan. Despite assuring Amanda that they could provide one on one help for Logan, they were not comfortable doing that this year. Also they were concerned about Logan's lack of participation in the activities and lack of interaction with the campers. During the meetings, he made some noise. Logan hums quite a bit and they had to hide him away in the sound booth.

I am angry. I am trying to be understanding but my paternal indignation is in full force. Logan is not a mindless vegetable. He is a real kid with real feelings who understands far more than people realize. We have been telling Logan about going away to camp and about how much fun he was going to have. It makes me sick (literally) to have to pick him up less than twenty-four hours after dropping him off. Logan's autism was not a secret and they knew him from last year. If they did not have the staffing, they should have told us out right and we would have left camp out of our plans. But there is more to this.

As a religious professional, I understand where they were coming from. Quality ministry takes place in the context of excellence. Frankly, special needs children do not add to excellence. They take away from what the counsellors are doing and the other children might not enjoy having them around. If you want to have a rocking ministry event with lots of excitement and fun, better leave the special needs kids at home. It is not that special needs kids are unimportant, but you can get more ministry bang for your buck focusing on typical kids.

As I say, I understand that from the perspective of a religious professional. However, even setting aside my fatherly disappointment, I have some problems from a Christian perspective. If Jesus did ministry with modern ministry sensibilities, his work would have looked much different. If Jesus knew what we know, he would have realized that fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes and other sinners do not have the makings of "excellent" ministry. Jesus should have focused on respectable people who would attract other respectable people to the movement, people with gifts and resources and abilities that would be of use. Focusing on the outcasts and rejected just does not fit with what we know about effective ministry.

What have we lost with the pressure to fill our churches and get as many decisions for Jesus as possible? What have we sacrificed on the altar of excellence? I can't help but think of the parable of the sheep and goats from Matthew 25. When we stand before Jesus, what is the measure of judgment? Is it how rocking and excellent our ministry activities are? Or is it how we have reached out to the "least of these"?

Bringing this back to camp, what did I really expect? I do take seriously their staffing limitations. But as I said, they should have given us the heads up rather than letting Logan's hopes get lifted and then dashed. What about Logan's lack of interaction or ability to get something from the meetings? I will say that Logan has much more going on on the inside than what people see on the outside. A few hours is really not enough time to get to know Logan or what he is capable of. What about Logan as a distraction to others? He does not scream or yell. He just hums. It is how he deals with stressful situations. But couldn't this be a distraction to other children who need Jesus? It depends on how you define the Gospel. Is the Gospel completely limited to praying a prayer and moving from hellbound to heavenbound? Or could the Gospel be also about having a transformation of worldview, relearning what has value and seeing people through God's eyes? Is this beyond children's abilities? Not if the excitement I saw from some of Logan's school mates when they saw Logan at camp is any indication.

This post is not about starting a smear campaign against this camp. There is a reason I have not mentioned the name. I know they do some good work. The leaders had limited time to make a decision and they did what they thought was right for the most amount of people. That was their responsibility and not mine. However, as a father who loves his son very much and as a Christian who is being challenged on the nature of the Kingdom of God, I am disappointed in their decision. What I do know is that I get two more weeks with one of the best kids in the world and because of that, I am far more blessed than the camp.

Czech List

2011-08-05T08:08:00.000-04:00

Today I am taking Amanda to the airport. She is heading out to Czech Republic for a short-term mission trip. We would appreciate your prayers for her and the rest of the Baptist Women on the team. This is a great experience as they make connections through teaching english. Pray for safe travels and good relationships. You can also pray for Logan as during this time he will be off at camp with Word of Life. He had a great time last year and I am sure he will again. Finally you can pray for me as I have "only" three children to look after while attending to my pastoral duties. It is an exciting time in the Bedard household.

Cygnus X-1

2011-08-03T10:22:00.000-04:00

This song is Justus' favourite song right now and he even has the girls "rocking out" to it. Thankfully it is one of my favourites as well. Too bad Amanda absolutely hates it.

Spotlight on Lee Strobel

2011-08-02T21:41:00.000-04:00

One of the best examples of an author able to make apologetics accessible on a popular level is Lee Strobel. Here are some of his books that you might be interested in. You can purchase them from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on the links below.

The Ambition

By Lee Strobel / Zondervan

An unputdownable thriller from the best-selling author of The Case for Christ! Drawing on his years as an investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Strobel weaves a gripping insider's tale of power, politics, and payoffs set in a gleaming suburban megachurch, a big-city newspaper struggling for survival, and the shadowy corridors of political intrigue. 320 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.

The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus

By Lee Strobel / Zondervan

A seasoned journalist chases down the biggest story on record in The Case for Christ. Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, former Chicago Tribune legal editor Lee Strobel cross-examines a dozen experts with tough, point-blank questions in search of credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was positively the Son of God. This riveting quest for the truth about history's most compelling figure reads like a captivating, fast-paced novel, yet it's anything but fiction! An ideal paperback for skeptics!

The Case for Faith

By Lee Strobel / Zondervan

Skeptics of Christianity are everywhere, boldly asking tough questions in order to disprove the faith. Doubt no more! Get your hands on The Case for Faith and take heart! Author Lee Strobel, a journalist, investigated the toughest objections to Christianity and found solid answers. Whatever intellectual or emotional objections one has to the Christian faith are directly refuted by Strobel's honest and thorough discoveries.

The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ

By Lee Strobel / Zondervan

You see it on all the networks magazine covers: Who is the Real Jesus? Usually, he's not the man they present. Apologist Lee Strobel examines the biblical Jesus, comparing him to the user-friendly version presented by the secular press, the man without the deity. In The Case for the Real Jesus, you'll be armed with the truth to defend Christianity in an increasingly hostile world.

The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God

By Lee Strobel / Zondervan

From evolutionary icons to the uniqueness of planet Earth, from irreducible complexity to the kalam cosmological argument, Lee Strobel gives full rein to his keen analytical mind in addressing these issues and more. But don't expect an inaccessible tome of arcane scientific terms; Strobel's years of newspaper reporting give the book a conversational style. Relying on transcriptions of his interviews with experts in the pertinent fields, he tells the incredible stories about the hard science behind what some have termed creationism. Extensively researched, this book should be a classic apologetic text for years to come.

Struggling to Be Christian

2011-08-02T14:06:00.000-04:00

I do not struggle to be a Christian, that is to believe in God and trust in Jesus for my salvation. But sometimes I struggle to be Christian, that is to live up to the ideal of what Jesus presents to us in the Gospels. An example for you. When I arrived at the church office today, this is what I found on our church sign:

To be completely honest, I did not greet this sign with a deep Christ-like love for the people responsible. I was angry. Very angry. I knew that Jesus taught us to love even those who do wrong, but I did not feel love. However, I also know I cannot stay there. I must forgive. I do forgive. This is likely the work of some bored teenagers, who have loads of emotional and spiritual issues. They need Jesus. I hope I can share Jesus. Help me to love like Jesus.

Top Ten Albums

2011-08-01T20:33:00.000-04:00

If I was on a desert island with a solar powered CD player and could only have ten albums. These are what I would choose. Warning, I am not very well rounded.

Movie Day

2011-07-31T21:37:00.000-04:00

This summer has been a crazy summer for movies that we have wanted to see. Not including the children's movies I have taken the kids to see, we have seen Thor, X-Men, Transformers, and Harry Potter. I wanted to see Green Lantern but did not get a chance. I am looking forward to seeing Planet of the Apes. Yesterday, Amanda and I went to see Captain America and Cowboys and Aliens.

Captain America was a great movie. While I was a comic book collector, I was never a huge Captain America fan. Still, this was one of the best comic book movies out lately. I particularly enjoyed the early parts of the movie with the skinny but brave Steve Rogers. It was not a typical superhero movie. It was not so much the super powers as the inside character of the hero. As a childhood fan of Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, it was neat to see some of them in the story. It was a good solid action movie that blended special effects and characterization. It is definitely worth watching the preview for the Avengers after the credits.

After dinner, Amanda and I went to see Cowboys and Aliens. I liked the concept of this movie. In the sci fi genre, we generally think of aliens appearing in the present. But why not have them show up a hundred and fifty years ago? This was a great blending of the western and sci fi genres. I knew that with Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig that we would get good acting at least. I was not disappointed. It was not the deepest movie ever. Don't expect Apocalypse Now or 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was good, solid summer action fun. It kept my interest and I was not disappointed that I had seen it. If you have not seen either of these movies, I would recommend both of them.

Spotlight on John Stott

2011-07-31T17:02:00.000-04:00

As John Stott has recently gone to be with the Lord, I thought it would be good to spotlight some of his books. These are only some of his books as he was a prolific writer. I very much appreciated his scholarship. I really believe he was able to bridge the gap between scholarship and the needs of the local church. I share his passion.

The Letters of John: Tyndale New Testament Commentary [TNTC]

By John Stott / IVP Academic

The degree to which the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series fulfills its stated goal, "to help the non-technical reader to understand his Bible better" has been shown uniformly excellent throughout the series. Despite being non-technical commentaries, Tyndale Commentaries are nevertheless exegetical and discuss the major issues that scholars are concerned with in ordinary language.

John's affection for the recipients of his letter is clear: "They are his 'dear children', his "dear friends"," as John Stott points out. He continues, "[John] longs to protect them from both error and evil, and to see them firmly established in faith, love and holiness. He has no new doctrine for them. On the contrary, he appeals to them to remember what they already know, have, and are..Whenever innovators trouble the church, and ridicule whatever is old or traditional, we need to hear and heed John's exhortation, to continue in what we have learnt and received, and to let it continue is us."

Basic Christianity

By John Stott, foreword by Rick Warren / Inter-varsity Press

If Jesus was not God in human flesh, Christianity is exploded, writes John Stott. John Stott's clear, classic statement examines the historical facts on which Christianity stands. Here is a sound, sensible guide for all who seek an intellectually satisfying explanation of the Christian faith.

The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling

By John Stott / IVP Books

A brilliant capstone to the ministry of a leading 20th-century evangelical churchman! In what is likely to be his last book, Stott offers a lifetime of wisdom about eight aspects of Christianity that are too often overlooked---nonconformity, Christlikeness, maturity, creation care, simplicity, balance, dependence, and death. Includes Stott's last public sermon. 144 pages, hardcover from InterVarsity.

The Cross of Christ: 20th Anniversary Edition, with Study Guide

By John R.W. Stott / Inter-varsity Press

The work of a lifetime, from one of the world's most influential thinkers, about the heart of the Christian faith.
"I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?" With compelling honesty John Stott confronts this generation with the centrality of the cross in God's redemption of the world---a world now haunted by the memories of Auschwitz, the pain of oppression and the specter of nuclear war.
Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today?
Now from one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of our day comes theology at its readable best, a contemporary restatement of the meaning of the cross. At the cross Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed.
More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and the twentieth century. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission.
Destined to be a classic study of the center of our faith, Stott's work is the product of a uniquely gifted pastor, scholar and Christian statesman. His penetrating insight, charitable scholarship and pastoral warmth are guaranteed to feed both heart and mind.
John R. W. Stott is known worldwide as a preacher, evangelist and communicator of Scripture. For many years he served as rector of All Souls Church in London, where he carried out an effective urban pastoral ministry. A leader among evangelicals in Britain, the United States and around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). His many books, including Why I Am a Christian and The Cross of Christ, have sold millions of copies around the world and in dozens of languages. Whether in the West or in the Two-Thirds World, a hallmark of Stott's ministry has been expository preaching that addresses the hearts and minds of contemporary men and women. Stott was honored by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today

By John R.W. Stott / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Where are the powerful preachers today? Stott responds to what may be a generation of preachers who have lost confidence in the Word of God. He reaffirms the relevance of the gift of preaching by exploring its history and theological foundations, the contemporary objections to preaching, and how it can bridge the gap between the biblical and the modern worlds. 351 pages, softcover from Eerdmans.

Your Mind Matters: The Place of the Mind in the Christian Life

By John Stott / Inter-varsity Press

The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor

By John Stott / IVP Books

At the 150th anniversary of the dedication of his church, John Stott gave voice to his dream for All Souls, London, and all souls everywhere: "I have a dream of...

a biblical church
a worshiping church
a caring church
a serving church
an expectant church

Reflecting on his more than sixty years of service at All Souls and a worldwide ministry that led Time magazine to acknowledge him as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World," Stott alerts a church that is in transition to the marks of a church that is living.

The Living Church is the full articulation of Stott's dream for the body of Christ in the world today. To the people of God who inherit the global church he has helped to build for the past sixty years, he bequeaths this calling:

There is such a thing as goodness: pursue it. The postmodern mood is unfriendly to all universal absolutes. Yet the apostle says there is such a thing as truth: fight for it. And there is such a thing as life: lay hold of it. May God enable us to make an unabashed commitment . . . to what is true, what is good, and what is real.

Baptism and Fullness: The Work of the Holy Spirit Today

By John Stott / Inter-varsity Press

"The Christian life is life in the Spirit," writes John Stott. "It would be impossible to be a Christian, let alone to live and grow as a Christian, without the ministry of the gracious Spirit of God. All we have and are as Christians we owe to him."
The Holy Spirit continues to be at work around the world, as numerous renewal movements attest. Yet much confusion and controversy remain regarding the Holy Spirit's activity. In this classic study, John Stott provides clear biblical exposition on the promise, the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He offers particular guidance on the nature of "the baptism of the Spirit" and whether certain spiritual gifts and experiences should be normative for all Christians. Always irenic and gracious, Stott points the way to both greater biblical understanding and deeper fullness of spiritual life.

Understanding the Bible

By John R.W. Stott / Zondervan

Respected teacher and scholar John Stott gives students, lay leaders, and new Christians an essential grasp of theBible's message in the context of its georgaphical, historical, and ancient Jewish religious settings in this foundational introduction to the Bible. More importantly, Stott enlarges our vision of Christ by revealing him as the focal point of the entire Bible. Stott answers the basic questions "Who wrote the Bible?" "What is its message?" "Why is it thought to be a holy book?" and places Jesus inthe geographical, religious, and historical setting in which he came to earth. Also includes maps and focus questions at the beginning of each chapter.

Tomb of St. Philip

2011-07-29T10:10:00.000-04:00

It is being reported that the tomb of St. Philip has been discovered in Turkey. You can read the story here. This would be great if it was true. The news story does not offer evidence. It simply says that "The structure of the tomb and the writings on the wall proved it belonged to St. Philip." I can't imagine how the structure of the tomb would prove that it was the tomb of an apostle. I suppose there could have been something about it that indicated that some early Christians used it as a place to venerate Philip. It is hard being a skeptic! I would love to find more information about this.

John Stott

2011-07-27T15:32:00.000-04:00

I just found out that John Stott died from this announcement at Christianity Today. John Stott was one of the most important Christian leaders of the twentieth century. He brought a balance to academic research, pastoral compassion, cultural interaction and missions/evangelism. I heard John speak about ten years ago when he was preaching at a number of churches here in Ontario. He had an incredible grasp of the Scriptures as well as a great love for God and people. After one of the talks, I went up to him to shake his hand and thank him for his ministry. I always feel strange doing such a thing. What amazed me is that he did not treat me as the poor ignorant Christian while he was the famous, brilliant scholar (some do that unfortunately). He was incredible humble and it felt just like to brothers in Christ greeting each other. I still appreciate John Stott's ministry. May God raise up more people with that same vision.

Mythgard Institute

2011-07-25T19:13:00.000-04:00

Are you a fan of Tolkien? Do you wish you could study Tolkien and related literature formally? Now you can, online and from top notch scholars. The Mythgard Institute offers both a certificate and an M.A, in English literature. It is worth checking out.

A Glimpse of Autism

2011-07-23T15:54:00.000-04:00

People ask me what it is like to have autistic children. Well, there are some challenges, challenges you would not expect. We have a red ant problem in our backyard. To me it feels like someone is sticking a needle in my feet. They are nasty suckers. Our son Logan feels pain in a different way than we do. He seems amused by it. He picks up the red ants and puts them on his leg to let them bite him, leaving a whole leg full of welts. We have even caught him sitting on a hill of red ants. So there you go, there is your glimpse of autism.

Hitler Defends Rob Bell

2011-07-23T12:49:00.000-04:00

I don't hate Rob Bell's work and I think there are things we can learn from him. Still this video of Hitler weighing in on Rob Bell vs Francis Chan was well done.

Update on Abby

2011-07-22T19:16:00.000-04:00

Often people ask us how Abby is doing. As many of you know, almost a year ago Abby had to go into a group home. It was an extremely difficult decision for us. After about a year, we can say in confidence that we made the right decision. Not only is our home life better with us better able to care for our other four children, Abby is doing very well where she is. Abby is thriving and we are seeing some great gains for her. We have awesome visits and the relationship between Abby and her siblings is much better. It is hard for us to know that the circumstances required this decision, but we do not second guess ourselves. We are thankful for the way God has provided this place for Abby to live and we are thankful for our better relationship with her. The picture below was taken where Abby lives while we were visiting her today. We had a great time together. We love you Abby and you will always be an important part of our family!

Baptist Humour

2011-07-20T20:20:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: Baptists are not really this bad (not quite).

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump. I ran over and said: "Stop. Don't do it." "Why shouldn't I?" he asked. "Well, there's so much to live for!" "Like what?" "Are you religious?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?" "Christian." "Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?" "Protestant." "Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" "Baptist." "Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" "Baptist Church of God." "Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God." "Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?" He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915." I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.