The arguments of the book evolve, in one way or another, from Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 4, particularly verse 6 which reads, “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.”

Here are some things that I highlighted:

• The sin of judging is negatively evaluating someone’s conduct or spiritual state on the basis of nonbiblical standards or suspected motives.
• Since you cannot know with certainty what is in your own heart, how could you possibly think that you can discern what is in the heart of another?!
• Everyone knows that murder, adultery, hate, lust, and other common sins are wrong, but few are aware that it is equally wrong to judge another Christians.
• Jesus Christ is the only One fully qualified to judge some things and the only One fully capable of judging some things.
• The Bible teaches that there are some things about others that we can and should judge, and that there are some other things that we cannot and should not judge.
• We should withhold judgments not only on that which is outside of Scripture, but also on that which is inide of man.
• We can and should judge what people say about their beliefs, whether it is consistent with the Bible or not. But we must be very careful not to ascribe bad motives to them.
• Cross-Examine Your Judgements:
  • Is this opinion based firmly on Scripture, or on my ideas and preferences?
  • Does the formation of this opinion include any judgments about the person’s thoughts of motives?
  • Am I missing any facts that are necessary for an accurate evaluation?
  • How would I want this person to think of me if the roles were reversed?
  • How can I show the grace of the cross to this person?
• Legalism: creating moral standards beyond what the Scripture has revealed.
• The study of spiritual issues can actually produce bad results if it is divorced from the love for God and others.
• Knowing that God accepts us in Christ keeps us from fabricating human ways to earn acceptance with Him.
• When it comes to issues not directly addressed in the Scriptures, God will be looking primarily at the reasons and responses of the heart.
• In ourselves we are more sinful than we ever dare to admit, but in Christ we are more loved and accepted than we ever dare to hope.

The above excerpts are often paraphrased slightly for reasons of brevity. They are solely to capture your interest in order that you might lend yourself to purchase the book for your own reading.

Swavely wrote this book to help us make more decisions that are grounded in God’s Word. The first half of the book is dedicated to how we should not make decisions. The second half is on how we should make decisions. It is very, very practical. At the same time, it convinces with solid Biblical evidences.

Dave Swavely is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was founding pastor of Faith Church in Sonoma, California.

Here are some things I highlighted:

• “Needs theology” has infiltrated the church – the idea that our needs must be met first before we can really reach out to others … this is unbiblical.
• When faced with a choice, remember the old saying that the road to JOY is Jesus, Others, then You – in that order.
• When we give little or no thought to God in our decisions, we are disobeying the command in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and failing to fulfill the very purpose of our existence.
• Extra-biblical revelation is not only spurious, it’s downright dangerous. It invariably leads you astray, away from the truth of God. Your curiosity and your fascination will take over, eclipsing the authority of the Scriptures.
• The fact that God speaks today only through his Word is a blessing, not a handicap.
• Discontentment with the wisdom of the Word and the presence of the Spirit is looking for “something more” than what God chose to give.
• You need to understand that the Bible uses the terminology “will of God” to express two different concepts: the sovereign will of God and the moral will of God.
• From God’s perspective, he knows all our choices ahead of time and actually has planned for us to make them. But from our perspective, we do not know his plan until it happens, so it is our responsibility to make our decisions based on the commands and principles revealed in his Word.
• God’s sovereign plan will go on undaunted.
• Feelings and impressions are not always a good indicator of a godly choice.
• God’s providential plan is a part of the “secret things” that belong to him alone. We must focus on what he has revealed in his Word.
• The terms for prayer in Scripture are never used of God. We talk to God through prayer; he talks to us through his Word. So the idea of “listening to God in prayer” reflects a misunderstanding.
• God accomplishes his sovereign will through our desires, and his moral will reveals that sometimes he gives us guidance through our desires.
• Psalm 37:4 seems to not be saying that God will grant the desires of your heart, but that God will implant them into you (when you are following him).

The above excerpts are often paraphrased slightly for reasons of brevity. They are solely to capture your interest in order that you might lend yourself to purchase the book for your own reading.

The author, T. David Gordon, has identified a problem that affects all churches today. It is a result in the shift of dominant media forms which have unfortunate consequences when it comes to preaching. The subtitle says it all, “The Media Have Shaped the Messengers.”

Gordon is a professor of religion and Greek at Grove City College, where he has also taught in the humanities and media ecology.

Here are some things I highlighted:

• Seven minimal requirements that are essential to every sermon: Textual Fidelity, Unity, Evangelical Tone, Instructiveness, Movement, Point, Order.
• With regard to sermon lengthiness: When we experience a thing that is well done, we get caught up in it, become lost in the movement, and lose any sense of the passage of time. [On the other hand,] bad preaching is insufferably long, even if the chronological length is brief.
• Sermon length is not measured in minutes; it is measured in minutes-beyond-interest, in the amount of time the minister continues to preach after he has lost the interest of his hearers.
• Those who write compose their thoughts more successfully than those who do not; they commit fewer “sentence farts” (where one begins a sentence, partway through realizes that it cannot be successfully completed, and therefore begins again).
• Many ministers today read for information or for amusement, but they do not read because they cherish the aesthetic pleasure taken in something that is well written.
• We are swamped by the inconsequential, bombarded by images and sounds that rob us of opportunity for reflection and contemplation that are necessary to reacquaint ourselves with what is significant.
• At least two disadvantages to technological developments: (1) We can hear people whom we do not see. (2) We do not compose our thoughts as frequently or carefully as we once did.
• We have become telephone babblers, unskilled at the most basic questions of composition.
• Preach Christ, and you will have morality.
• If theocracy didn’t work in Israel, where God divinely instituted it, why do people insist on believing it will work in places where God manifestly has not instituted it?
• The pulpit is the place to declare the fitness of Christ’s person, and the adequacy of both his humiliated and exalted work for sinners.

The above excerpts are often paraphrased slightly for reasons of brevity. They are solely to capture your interest in order that you might lend yourself to purchase the book for your own reading.

The truth is, I’m just not good at writing reviews. Corner me in my office or sit down with me over some Kung Pao Shrimp and it’s another story. I can talk all day about books. It’s the systematic scripting that scares me. Nevertheless, I am so convinced that the following book is needed for today’s Christians, that it is time for me to suck it up and get to typing. I only hope that you can get passed my dull writing.

One thing that I have had trouble settling in my mind is the matter of Spiritual guidance. Many of us will say things like “God is leading me …” or “God is telling me to …” or something similar. I’ve wondered how this fits in with the belief that God has said all that He intends to say to us and enclosed it in the Bible. I was reading a blog post from Phil Johnson on the subject when referenced a book by Dave Swavely. I quickly purchased the book online and put my nose into it once it was delivered. While it did speak directly to the matter of my interest, the book was about making godly decisions.

Decisions, Decisions: How (and How Not) to Make Them.

Ephesians 5:15-17 reads, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” In 1 Corinthians 10:31, we find the command to, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Evidently, every decision we make, even those that we call trivial, should glorify God. Isaiah teaches us that we were created for this purpose (Is. 43:7).

Let me first say that Dave speaks directly to my initial concern and he does so in a very practical way. He points out some dangers in extra-biblical revelation. It not only brings about poor decisions, it also leads us away from God’s Word. To the contrary, he promotes the blessing of God speaking to us only through the Bible.

Personal conversations with God was only one of the ways we should not make decisions. Seeking supernatural signs was another. These two spearheaded the first section of the book. It was divided into two: How Not to Make Decisions and How to Make Decisions. He did well in the first section by explaining what the Bible calls the “will of God.” Here is what he says:

“The first thing you need to understand is that the Bible uses the terminology ‘will of God’ to express two different concepts. One is commonly called the sovereign will of God (also known as the ‘secret’ or ‘decretive’ will). The other is called the moral will (also known as the ‘revealed’ or ‘preceptive’ will).” (p. 44)

Understanding the difference between the two can make a world of difference. I won’t ruin it for you who want to find out. I’ll only say that if you want to make godly decisions, you will need to know what God plans to happen and what God wants to happen.

Also within the first section (How Not to Make Decisions) is some practical instruction on the role of feelings and impressions, circumstances, counsel, desires and prayer. All of these things do have a role in our decision making, but they are not to be our decision makers. For example, how did Jesus feel about His coming crucifixion while praying the night before? What difference would it have been had He submitted to the feelings He had while sweating blood?

Sometimes, getting to the godly decision is not that easy. Feelings and circumstances can sometimes get in the way. However, there is a way (otherwise, Dave would not have written the book!). And, in the second section of the book, he describes a biblical, and therefore practical, way to make decisions pleasing to God.

I’m tempted to spell it out here but then you not need to read the book. My aim in this review is that you do rush out and purchase the book in order to read through all of this yourself. I give it little justice.

Still, I’ll leave you with this small note. In order to make godly decisions, you should be continually walking in the Spirit, recognizing God’s sovereignty and praying for wisdom. Then you should ask yourself, “What does the Bible say about it?” If the Bible is silent on the specific matter, you are free to choose based on the wisest choice and your desire. All the while, you are considering counsel.

I’ve said too much. Actually, I think I said to little. Some of you lazy guys are not going to read the book thinking that you now have the jest of it. Think again. I’ve only given you an outline. There is much to unpack and it will be worth you time. Trust me.

Maybe after you read Dave’s book, you can tell me if I made a good decision by writing this review, inferior as it is. I hope that it leads many to read: Decision, Decisions: How (and How Not) to Make Them.

Resources:

• Purchase on Amazon or ChristianBook.com
• Dave Swavely’s Blog
• Tim Challies’ 5 Great Books on the Will of God

This is not a strange idea to churches across the world, but it is trivialized to some degree. Sometimes, it is reduced to bumper-stickers and t-shirts. One adage says “Honk if you love Jesus!” while the driver of the car turns angrily, breaking the law and flashing obscene gestures. To some, this is the extent of glorifying God. This should not be so.

We cannot glorify God with aphorisms and symbolism – even if we are decent drivers. God is far too majestic. To glorify is to make clear the glory of God. It is to give honor to God, to admire and display His greatness. It is to put God on display in a way that esteems His nature. This is what we ought to do.

We should glorify God because He created us. “It is He who made us” (Ps. 100:3). Paul added, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36). Moreover, God made everything to give Him glory. This was why He made everything. “The heaven declare the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1). “The wild beasts will honor me” (Is. 43:20). When Jesus was born, the angels said, “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk. 2:14). Nature, animals and angels glorify God. And yes, even unbelievers glorify God, too (Ex. 14:17). Every created thing will glorify God, willingly or unwillingly.

For Christians, glorifying God is a willful act – or should be. So we must do it in ways that are right and biblical. We should concern ourselves with these ways so that we can glorify God in all of our life. So, how should we glorify God? Here is a list of ways that the Bible teaches:

• Receive the Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Phil. 2:9-11)
• Make it your aim in all things. (1 Cor. 10:31)
• Confess your sins. (Josh. 7:19)
• Trust God. (Rom. 4:20)
• Bear fruit, do good works. (Jn. 15:8)
• Give praise to God. (Ps. 50:23)
• Endure suffering. (1 Pet. 4:14-16)
• Be content. (Phil. 4:11-12)
• Pray according to God’s will. (Jn. 14:13)
• Proclaim God’s word. (2 Thess. 3:1)
• Lead others to Christ (Eph. 1:12)
• Avoid sexual sin. (1 Cor. 6:18-20)
• Seek unity. (Rom. 15:5-6)

Adapted from John MacArthur’s The Keys to Spiritual Growth: Unlocking the Riches of God published by Crossway, 2001. Get you copy at Amazon or Christian Book Distributors.

I love to read. I have numerous Bible versions and even far more books about the Bible than I can count. This is no exaggeration. I am known to pack my recent reads before my change of clothes. Books are a priority to me. I even have a monthly budget for them, right next to groceries.

But the love for reading is not my problem. For the longest time, my problem has been retention. In any given week, I am reading 4-6 different books. Often they vary in subject matter, literary form, page number, chapter size, bounding, color, cut and thickness. For me, variety is good, but it can bully the mind. I get mixed up. I confuse story lines. I forget prior chapters and principles. This is the problem.

How do I make my reading habits better? How can I retain more while reading just as much and as often? How can I get the most out of my full reading schedule? I answered this dilemma with what I call contextual reading.

Have you ever noticed that particular times of the year stimulate particular emotions in you? For example, when Spring has arrived, the air is cool and thin, the sun is bright, the trees are sprouting buds and the flowers give off refreshing aromas. These experiences bring back a number of memorable feelings and attitudes.

I have learned that these experiences are not restricted to just seasons of the year. Rather, we have them quite often. When we walk into our church sanctuary, there might be a measure of excitement or solemnity. When we walk into our bedroom, there might be a sense of rest and tiredness. When we sit outside in a swing and the wind chimes sound to a tune altogether different from the birds chirping. Yet they seem to be unified and appropriate together. These are experiences that move us one way or another. They stir up feelings and attitudes.

These experiences naturally trigger certain feelings. They put our mind in a certain frame. They are more or less contexts in which we enter and exit. And, since they are naturally changing us, why not use this to our advantage?

This is what contextual reading is. It is consistently reading in an intentional context. I believe it brings better retention by applying consistent experiences.

Put a book by your bedside. Make sure that is not too academic that you will require additional reference material. Then read it before you go to bed only. Likewise, put a book in your car to read while you sit in waiting rooms. Put a book in the nearest restroom or on your office table. Put a book next to your computer. Put a book at the kitchen table or next to the couch.

The point is to create a context for your books. Create an experience for your reading. This way, your mind can enter and exit the context that is appropriate for the book that you are reading. And hopefully, as you enter the context, your mind returns to where you left it.

Put books with short chapters in the places where you have little time. Put the devotional books in places where you tend to be during morning or evening hours. Be creative. Associate literature with times of the day, places in the house, schedules that you have, people that are around.

You know your schedule best. Put it to work.

By doing so, I have been able to read through books more quickly and retain their subjects more accurately. I have even noticed that it is sometimes easier to convey the books’ subjects while in the context which they are read. It is amazing how the mind and body works this way.

I immediately did some research online thinking that I could simply find a poster of the Resolutions to purchase. However, I could not find one poster even remotely related to the Resolutions. But this was not as big of a problem for me as it might be for others, for I’m a graphic designer by vocation.

What is interesting to note is that over the last few years I have sensed a leading by the Lord to work in some sort of ministerial way by preaching and teaching the Word of God. I have cherished every opportunity to pursue this calling, and each has been uniquely fulfilling because Bible study is my passion.

As I continued in my pursuit of biblical knowledge, I discovered that Ligonier Academy offered a distance learning program, which appealed to me greatly since I work full-time and have a family of six. Best of all, the school allows me to bring fellow believers with me as we pursue a deeper understanding of God’s word. I was thrilled by the notion that a band of brothers and I could study together; however, our funds would not permit us to attend quite yet. But this was not as big of a problem for me as it might be for others, for I’m a disciple by desperation.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that my disappointment in not finding a poster of the Resolutions may well be God’s blessing in disguise. By designing a poster of the Resolutions and making it available for all to purchase, perhaps I could use the proceeds to enable my fellow brothers in Christ and myself to attend the academy. I passed the idea by a series of trusted colleagues and advisors and decided to jump on it.

On Monday, April 4, 2011, The Resolutions Poster officially debuts, and all proceeds from the sales of this poster will be used to send fellow believers through biblical training at Ligonier Academy.

My life has been deeply touched by the 70 Resolutions, and in ways I am sure the author could never imagine, but it seems The Author of Life has once again taken something ancient and brought new life and purpose to it. He is, after all, the Great Redeemer, and I am blessed to witness how He has yet again made a way where there seems to be none.

I pray you enjoy your poster and that it helps you live a life of purpose, as it helps your fellow brethren do exactly the same.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved,so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
   
2. Resolved, To be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.
   
3. Resolved, If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.
5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. Vid.July 30.
9. Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
11. Resolved, When I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder. xxi
12. Resolved, If I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13. Resolved, To be endeavouring to find out fit objects of liberality and charity.
14. Resolved, Never to do any thing out of revenge.
15. Resolved, Never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.
16. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, That I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, To live so, at all times, as I think is best in my most devout frames, and when I have the clearest notions of the things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour before I should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
22. Resolved, To endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigour, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, Frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs, and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the fourth Resolution.
24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25. Resolved, To examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, To cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, Never wilfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, To strive every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
31. Resolved, Never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of christian honour, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said any thing against any one, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this Resolution.
32. Resolved, To be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Prov. xx. 6. ‘A faithful man, who can find?’ may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, To do always what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without an overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.
34. Resolved, In narrations, never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, Whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call to it. Dec. 19, 1722.
37. Resolved, To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,—what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also, at the end of every week, month, and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.
38. Resolved, Never to utter any thing that is sportive, or matter of laughter, on a Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
39. Resolved, Never to do any thing, of which I so much question the lawfulness, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, To inquire every night before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
42. Resolved, Frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism, which I solemnly renewed when I was received into the communion of the church, and which I have solemnly re-made this 12th day of January, 1723.
43. Resolved, Never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s; agreeably to what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12th. Jan.12, 1723.
44. Resolved, That no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan. 12, 1723.
45. Resolved, Never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.
46. Resolved, Never to allow the least measure of any fretting or uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved, to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye; and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving, and sincere, temper; and to do, at all times, what such a temper would xxii lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have so done. Sabbath morning, May 5, 1723.
48. Resolved, Constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, That this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, That I will act so, as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, That I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, To improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
54. Resolved, Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavour to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
56. Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.
58. Resolved, Not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness, and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, When I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.
60. Resolved, Whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.
61. Resolved, That I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it—that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, &c. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
62. Resolved, Never to do any thing but my duty, and then, according to Eph. vi. 6-8. to do it willingly and cheerfully, as unto the Lord, and not to man: knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall be receive of the Lord. June 25, and July 13, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, To act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14, and July 13, 1723.
64. Resolved, When I find those ”groanings which cannot be uttered,“ of which the apostle speaks, and those ”breathings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the psalmist speaks,Psalm cxix. 20. that I will promote them to the utmost of my power; and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and Aug. 10, 1723.
65. Resolved, Very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness of which I am capable, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him, all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance, according to Dr. Manton’s Sermon on the 119th Psalm,. July 26, and Aug. 10, 1723.
66. Resolved, That I will endeavour always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking, in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
67. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them; and, what I might have got by them.
68. Resolved, To confess frankly to myself, all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.

However, one evening a package arrived at my doorstep. I was expecting it. Sort of. After ripping through the cardboard and plastic, I held in my hand a rather tough book to find just a few weeks prior. I opened it to be surprised by a handwritten message to me. I don’t know this for a fact, but I think I blushed.

A few weeks before this moment, I received an email from the Master’s College announcing a new commentary on James unlike any others before it. Subtitled, A New Perspective, it really grabbed my interest. I was in the middle of writing a number of articles on the same book of the Bible and I found myself a tad bit afraid of what I was putting together primarily because I was not discovering the same things that many preachers and commentators of my past found.

For example, I was taught that James wrote a series of unattached, wisdom lessons with little difference from the proverbs. I also heard that his letter was empty of theology and rich with practicality. When I began studying it, I found the epistle to be quite unified. Though not like Paul’s typical style of writing, it is anything but choppy and loose. It is full of theology. The most upsetting thing was that it is the book of Jacob, not James, as read in the Greek.

Sure, it is probably self-seeking. But I found great comfort knowing that I could grab a book from an honorable professor who took these things into consideration. The extended title of the book told me so: A Linguistic Commentary Applying Discourse Analysis. And it came with ample recommendations.

The book was still not on the shelves in the bookstore, not even the virtual ones. So I asked my assistant to sniff out the source until we could get a copy. Nearly a month later, a phone conversation happened. My assistant on one end and the author on the other. They talked briefly and somehow my name was dropped as the creator of The Preacher’s Library. The author acknowledged that he was aware of the software and decided to mail me a free copy of the book.

All of this was in my mind as I opened the book for the first time. It was quite an experience. I know that it may sound cheesy to you. (It does to me.) But it was really a memorable experience. Maybe I’m shallow or a big book nerd. I don’t know. I know this, if the book was not so academic, I would continue to blush each time I turn a page reading. Thank God it makes me think so deeply. My wife might get jealous!

But enough about me.

The book is called, The Book of James: A New Perspective. It is written by Dr. William Varner, a Professor at the Master’s College and Director of the college’s IBEX study program in Israel. Varner applies what he calls “discourse analysis” which, in layman’s terms, means the context of the entire book. You can think of it as one added step to what is commonly called The Historical-Grammatical Method of interpreting Scripture.

My plan here was not to review the book, but to let you in on a little personal experience. I’m still reading it and plan to do a number of writings that you might consider as reviews. But those will be written in the weeks to come.

So what is the point here? I’m not really sure. But maybe this attests to the idea that personal gifts can make a special impact on those who look up to us. Varner is a professor at one of the most dignified Christian colleges I know. This makes him a hero to me. Even more so now that I have the book. If nothing else, personal gifts might make them blush.

His friend took a step back thinking that this evangelism effort would be harder than he once assumed. He said quite assuredly, “It is true. I would not a lie to my good friend.” The one with the shocked look on his face walked off and with his cell phone to his ear. He said with deep urgency, “Mom, I thought I was born first!”

We sometimes use words to convey a number of things in order to save time. In the example of the two Spanish friends, one fellow was talking about Jesus, the Son of God as explained in the Bible. But, to his surprise, his friend had his little brother in mind who was named Jesus (pronounced “hey-zeus”). They were both thinking of Jesus, but they were not thinking of the same Jesus.

This happens a lot today, especially since Christian doctrine has become so diverse. I can refer to God as a Triune God meaning that God eternally exists as three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), that each person is fully God, and there is only one God. Of course, this takes more time to say than if I would just say that I am a Trinitarian. But depending on the hearer’s perception, he might think that I am referring to a belief in three gods. The reason for this, is that we have a variety of definitions for the words we speak and hear. This is especially true with the word, “Calvinism.”

I cannot tell you how many times I have ruined conversations by calling myself a Calvinist. One person even thought it meant that I belonged to a Satanic cult. This is because many of us have a different understanding of what it means to be a Calvinist.

So I have learned my lesson. Unless it is defined clearly, I call myself a Christian and then explain the doctrines of grace from the Bible the way a Calvinist would.

In recent weeks, I have been thrown into the middle of the debate of Calvinism and Arminianism. Not voluntarily, I should add. I tend to not run toward these traps. But I will rarely run from them. What I have discovered in these occurring arguments is that Calvinism is generally depicted wrong.

One person said to me, “I cannot believe that God forces us to sin.” Another one said, “God doesn’t make us do what we don’t want to do.” Yet another said, “I am not a robot, I have choices.” To all of these statements I nod my head and agree. They are usually taken back by my response.

The truth is, the Bible teaches God’s absolute sovereignty and man’s free will. How they work together is sometimes hard to nail down but there is no reason to object to them coexisting. They do not contradict each other if they are correctly set in their biblical context.

Just today I heard an argument against Calvinism that stated that God would never manipulate His own creation in order to force the creatures to do what He desires despite of their desires. To put it more plainly, God would never force people to do something they hated to do for His own sake. And this is why Calvinism is wrong.

The same argument against Calvinism just a few days prior was spawned by the movie, The Adjustment Bureau. It held the same objection but with a positive spin. The explanation suggested that God knows all of the possible choices of man and makes changes to His plan based on what people choose to do. But, He doesn’t know what choices will actually be made. In other words, if people want something other than what God planned and they want it bad enough, God will be “inspired” to change His plan in order that they might have their way.

The movie suggests such a thing. In it, a cosmic “Chairman” designed a plan that his angles are committed to see fulfilled. By adjusting the actions of man in order to guide them to certain choices, the angels assure the plan’s completion. By doing so, they never adjust the will and desires of the people, only the things that occur.

For example, David Norris was not suppose to meet Elise Sellas on the bus one morning, so the angel of the Chairman was there to spill David’s coffee on his pricey suit in order that he would spend enough time in the restroom to miss the bus and therefore, miss the opportunity to sit next to Elise. The angels do whatever it takes to get the job done, but the will of man was off limits.

What these objections fail to do is keep all of God’s nature in mind. If God is absolutely sovereign over His creation, then He is sovereign over man’s desires just as much as the events that occur since man’s will is part of His creation.

They also fail to consider God’s wisdom and knowledge. If God knows how everything will happen before He made anything at all, then He can certainly make everything in a way that it will happen exactly the way He plans. Is that heavy or what? It might be. But it is worth understanding. We don’t want to put God in a human box in order to defend human will. This would put us on the wrong side of the argument. We want to defend the Lord at the expense of man. Still, if you think this thru, you will not have to surrender your free will. God’s sovereignty and man’s will coexist, but never at the expense of God’s nature. It’s like baking the cake and eating it, too.

Let us set God’s nature in the right light before we set our own.

God is omnipotent (Ps. 115:3; Heb. 1:3) and omniscient (Ps. 147:4-5; Acts 15:18). He knew absolutely everything before anything was made. Nothing that happens surprises Him. Moreover, He ordained everything to happen the way it has and will happen (Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:11). This is a prerequisite since He knows what His creatures will do before He makes them and then makes them the way He does.

I’ll put it like this. If you knew that the car you were building would never work, would you still make it? If you you could make the car differently to assure that it would always work, would you make it? If you made the car to always work and it stopped working some time in the future and you were surprised, then you either did not know the future or did not have the ability to make the car correctly. This is the dilemma we must reconcile. God knows all and God can do all and God still created. Either God is not God or He has a purpose in mind (this is another discussion though).

Does this mean that you have no will of your own? Not at all. He made your will to function on its own. But remember, He made the will and the functions of the will. One professor was arguing with another professor over this matter. He said with great passion, “I came into this office by my own free will. I wanted to come here.” The other professor responded to him, “Exactly! God made it that way.”

You make your choices and will be held accountable for them. But God’s sovereignty does not end at the threshold of your desires. He works it all for His own pleasure. His plan is completely fulfilled as it was first laid out before anything was made. And it is and will be fulfilled through the free choices of man. God is not scrambling to get things back on track. Everything is happening according to plan (Job 42:2).