A Body of Divinity

Title: A Body of Divinity
Author: Thomas Watson
Publisher: Banner of Truth, reprint 2008
Pages: 316
Begun: August 23, 2009
Completed: November 14, 2009


A Body of Divinity, first published in in 1692, is a compilation of sermonic treatises on several questions/answers from the Westminster Catechism. Some of the questions that Watson expounds on are:

What is the chief end of man?
What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
How does Christ execute the office of a king?
Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?

Basically, Watson covers key doctrines in his expositions of the questions. Most of his discussion focuses on Christology, soteriology, anthropology, and theology proper. Though not extensive, Watson gives good overviews of these doctrines.

Watson's writing style is simple, straightforward, and highly accessible compared to other of his Puritan contemporaries, Specifically John Owen and Thomas Brooks.

This work was a blessing and highly recommended.

The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist

I just finished reading the book tonight with Grandma. It is all about sister bear who has a loose tooth. They go to the dentist for Brother Bear and for Sister Bear. Brother bear says that the Dr. Bearson will yank out sister's tooth but he really just pulls it off very softly. After Dr. Bearson pulls out sister's tooth, she puts it under her pillow. She goes to sleep that night. The next morning, she finds a dime under her pillow. She whispers down to Brother Bear and he just says ok and goes back to sleep. Then she runs into Mama and Papa's room and tells them.

I think my cousins would like this book and should read it.

Posted by Patience

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

Title: Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God's Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People

Author: Jim Cymbala

Publisher: Zondervan, 1997

Pages: 185

Date Read: October 30, 2009

An easy read. I read it in one day. Ate it up. My soul needed the reminder that there was such a thing as Pentecostal power and that our God is a prayer-hearing God. While this book is about prayer it is really a story about the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York. Cymbala tells about their very humble beginnings, his lack of theological training, and his inexperience in ministry. When things were as low as they could possibly get he and his wife began to cry out to God and lead their tiny congregation in prayer. The stories of God's blessing are thrilling and convicting.

Cymbala is Pentecostal, but he must not be stereotyped as a typical mega-church Charismatic preacher who is irresponsible with theology and God's truth. In fact, I was impressed with his strong conviction, his commitment to his principles, and his well-spoken antipathy for the church growth "expertise" that is so popular in American evangelicalism. Truly, his singular passion in this book is to get people to realize that God is jealous for His Name and wants His people to be a people of prayer.

As is often the case when someone is trying to make a very important point, Cymbala occasionally overstates his case, sometimes sounding as if he diminishes the importance of preaching. Since I believe so strongly in the centrality of preaching it is tempting to react too strongly in my mind and shut down his influence, but the truth of the matter is that my heart yearns for God to work and I know that prayer is vital.

One story was particularly touching to me. Cymbala shared how he had lost touch with his daughter because of the huge growth of his church and how she rebelled. God used this to break him and he could not -- his soul refused to -- accept that his children would be lost to the Devil. He humbled himself before his congregation and they prayed (Cymbala describes their congregational praying times as groanings and cryings) and God brought his daughter to spiritual repentance.

This is not a book about prosperity and health. This is a book about seeing God radically change lives, break hearts, and have their souls liberated from sin. This is about a church that really believes that prayer is a Christian's method to help save people from their sins. Powerful. I needed it. I'm praying so much more now too.