I have so much to talk about and so little time to say it (I suppose this is better than having a lot of time to write with nothing to say). … The list of excellent books published in 2007 will continue to grow in the second half of the year. Fans of Puritan John Owen are in for a special treat this Fall. … This year our friends from Reformation Heritage Books have published a trio of noteworthy books. Later this month I hope to get two reviewed: a book of the best letters written by Jonathan Edwards and another book on the mystical union with Christ in the writings of Puritan John Flavel. Both are excellent! … With a newborn infant in the home, I am reminded frequently that he – not book reviews – are the priority now. If you have some extra time, I would recommend listening to the first TSS podcast. Our interview of internationally known artist Thomas Fluharty will push you closer to the Cross to view the graciousness of God. And finally, here is a new picture of Bunyan Breckenridge sporting his TSS infant-ware. Blessings, everyone!

Hello everyone! Monday afternoon at 2:30 Karalee gave birth to our son Bunyan Breckenridge (8 lb. 14 oz.) here in Minnesota. He was born with dark hair, long fingers, long toes, a very quiet and relaxed disposition. He is the mini-me. Baby and mom are strong and in excellent heath. Thank you all for your prayers for us as we awaited our precious gift from God! -Tony

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OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST

The love of Christ, poor I! may touch upon;
But ’tis unsearchable. O! there is none
Its large dimensions can comprehend
Should they dilate thereon world without end.
When we had sinned, in his zeal he sware,
That he upon his back our sins would bear.
And since unto sin is entailed death,
He vowed for our sins he’d lose his breath.
He did not only say, vow, or resolve,
But to astonishment did so involve
Himself in man’s distress and misery,
As for, and with him, both to live and die.
To his eternal fame in sacred story,
We find that he did lay aside his glory,
Stepped from the throne of highest dignity,
Became poor man, did in a manger lie;
Yea, was beholden unto his for bread,
Had, of his own, not where to lay his head;
Though rich, he did for us become thus poor,
That he might make us rich for evermore.
Nor was this but the least of what he did,
But the outside of what he suffered?
God made his blessed son under the law,
Under the curse, which, like the lion’s paw,
Did rent and tear his soul for mankind’s sin,
More than if we for it in hell had been.
His cries, his tears, and bloody agony,
The nature of his death doth testify.
Nor did he of constraint himself thus give,
For sin, to death, that man might with him live.
He did do what he did most willingly,
He sung, and gave God thanks, that he must die.
But do kings use to die for captive slaves?
Yet we were such when Jesus died to save’s.
Yea, when he made himself a sacrifice,
It was that he might save his enemies.
And though he was provoked to retract
His blest resolves for such so good an act,
By the abusive carriages of those
That did both him, his love, and grace oppose;
Yet he, as unconcerned with such things,
Goes on, determines to make captives kings;
Yea, many of his murderers he takes
Into his favour, and them princes makes.

— John Bunyan