Reading on J. Gresham Machen

I recently finished up a book that Matt surprised me with a few months ago on the life and thought of J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937) . Before I read this book I barely knew who he was so I was very impressed that Matt was able to pick this book out all by himself (well done honey!). The book was divided into 4 topics. The first was a short biography of MAchen's life, the second was on his writings on theology and the Bible, the third was on his writings on culture and the fourth was on his writings on the church and his sermons. This book was a very good introduction to Machen who was a professor at Princeton, a NT scholar, and a pastor. He wrote a number of books, articles, and essays, the most famous of which is the classic work "Christianity and Liberalism." Machen stood firm in the truth and fought hard for the gospel when Princeton and the Presbyterian Church USA went liberal and stopped holding to orthodox Christianity. Machen eventually started Westminster Seminary and the OPC branch of the Presbyterian Church. Most of the major events in Machen's life happened in the 20's and 30's and I found it very interesting to read about what was going on in America during that time. I especially liked reading about Machen's service with the YMCA during the last year of World War 1 in France. Machen was a thoroughly gospel centered man who knew the improtance of doctrine. I found his views on almost all matters to be what I have come to believe myself. I really enjoyed his teaching on the Christian and culture where Machen rejects a Christianity that subordinates itself to or accommodates the culture and the other extreme where Christianity withdraws from the culture. Instead Machen proposes a Christianity that consecrates the culture. This is such a hot topic presently in the evangelical world that it was very interesting to read about Machen's writings on this from almost one century ago. I also really liked how MAchen understood to the Christian's role in politics and his view on education. Something that was very impressive to me about Machen was that though he was a high up academic he did not hide in academia but really lived out his faith serving God in all kinds of ways. I am thankful for Machen and men like him that God has raised up in the church to encourage us all. I hope to read a number of his works that I read about in this book.

Reason for God Sermons

There is a new book out by Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, called "The Reason for God." This is a book I most definitely want to get my hands on for a read or as I suspect a number of reads. It is not as easy to get books over here as it is in the states. I mean I can order any book and have it shipped here but it is expensive and unfortunately I am not made of book money. This being the case I am forced to wait for the price to come down or my birthday- which ever happens first!

In the meantime while I wait to get this book I have been able to listen to 7 sermons by Keller that are similar in content to the book. They can be downloaded for free at http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=29

I have listened to a little bit of Keller in the past and thought he was ok. After listening to these sermons and a few others I have quickly come to admire his preaching. The topics of many of his sermons may sound like nothing special but he really brings fascinating things out of the text. He has a brilliant mind and teaches with clarity. I have learned much from him already and wish more preachers preached like him. I would love for the unbelievers and believers at churches to be exposed to this kind of preaching regularly.

I highly advise you to follow the link above to listen to Keller. You will be very glad you did!

Bread Baking

Living in Europe we have made a number of adjustments in our lifestyle. The two biggest have been not owning a car and walking everywhere or taking the bus and the other is no longer owning our own 4 bedroom house but instead renting a one bedroom apartment. Some of the smaller adjustments have been having a dorm-room-sized refrigerator and not having many of the kitchen gadgets I am used to like my kitchen aide and bread machine. I absolutely love baking bread and I used my bread machine just to mix the dough, taking the dough out after the mixing and kneading was through. I mean who in their right mind makes bread from scratch and kneads their own dough in this day and age, right?! Well, times have changed and I am in Europe making bread from scratch, kneading and all, by hand. It's not that they do not have bread machines here but I hate buying things I can't keep and since we only plan to be here for a few years (God willing!) I refuse to buy things I can't take home when I go. And if it doesn't fit in the suitcases that came over with me it's not going home with me.

Anyway, I have been making some bread from scratch over here and am no longer deathly afraid of kneading. I am doing ok but I am looking to soar in my bread making. Tonight I stumbled across a neat website called The Fresh Loaf with many great bread recipes and some fabulous bread lessons that I have to share with you. For those of you who want to start making bread but are intimidated fear not, you will be on your way in no time. For those of you who already make bread these lessons will also be helpful to you as there is much useful information and many great tips.

Lesson 1: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/yourfirstloaf
Lesson 2: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/addingmore
Lesson 3: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/timeandtemperature
Lesson 4: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/glazing
Lesson 5: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/tentipsforbetterfrenchbread

ENJOY!

Run the Race, Fellowsheep!

A friend of mine sent this photo in an email recently with this caption:
"Run the race, fellowsheep!"