Hello everyone! This weekend I prepare to travel to Grantham, PA and the 2007 Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference. Really looking forward to the teaching, learning more about John Calvin, enjoying fellowship and of course rummaging through stacks and stacks of books. I plan to pick up blogging on Tuesday as time permits out East and updates throughout the week. Looking forward to meeting some of the TSS readers out East as well. We’ll see you next week from Grantham. Blessings! Tony
This year I’m planning to attend two new conferences. The first is the Sovereign Grace Ministries Leadership Conference in April and the other is the Banner of Truth pastors’
conference in May. I’ve heard about them but never seen them for myself. Lord willing, this spring I will attend them both.
As you may have guessed, one of the major reasons I am spending so much time in John Calvin these first months of 2007 is to prepare for the upcoming Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference entitled “Set Apart for God.” The conference runs between May 29th and 31st on the campus of Messiah College in Grantham, PA. Speakers will include two of my favorites, Derek Thomas and Walt Chantry (Chantry wrote the excellent book, The Shadow of the Cross). I look forward to Dr. Thomas’ trio of presentations on holiness, especially as they relate to Calvin’s Institutes. It is encouraging to see emphasis on Calvin’s understanding of the Christian life (as I think he has much to offer here). Dr. Thomas wrote an excellent book on Calvin’s understanding of the book of Job which has recently become one of my favorites. We’ll look more at this book on Friday.
UPDATE 3/14: Walt Chantry will not be available to speak this year. Instead, Sinclair Ferguson will be taking his place.
But for more information on the pastors’ conference you can download the newly-released conference PDF here and you can register here. Should be a fun time. And from what I’m told, Friends of the Shepherd’s Scrapbook will get an exclusive tour of the Banner of Truth warehouse in Carlise, PA as an added bonus!
“To see a slave beaten and corrected, it argues a fault committed; but yet perhaps the demerit of it was not very great. The correction of a son argues a great provocation; that of an only son, the greatest imaginable. Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful and full of provocation, than when the burden of it was upon the shoulders of the Son of God. God having made his Son, the Son of his love, his only begotten, full of grace and truth, sin for us, to manifest his indignation against it, and how utterly impossible it is that he should let the least sin go unpunished, he lays hand on him, and spares him not.”
– John Owen, Communion with God from The Works of John Owen (Banner of Truth), 2:96.
“Blank Interlinear” contest
Winner: Joshua G. (Indian River, MI)
Runner-Up: Dallas P. (Las Vegas, NV)Joshua, your testimony is very powerful. You were the clear winner of the “Blank Interlinear.” This bible is the very one we built and photographed on this site (and to my knowledge it is the only completed copy of its kind). Thank you for loving the souls of your people enough to endure the difficulties! I really appreciate that you had such a clearly defined need for the bible. This blank interlinear will be useful and a great encouragement towards your future faithfulness to God’s Word and His people. (Collectively, the four-volume set also doubles as a shield to protect you from drunk women). Dallas, your commitment to making this bible for your pastor is a noble gesture. I’m certain it will encourage him. I am sending you a copy of the interlinear with the binding removed and sized blank pages ready to be inserted and bound. Congratulations!
“Blank Valley of Vision” contest
Winner: Philip N. (Cumming, GA)
Runner-Up: Bill W. (Laguna Niguel, CA)What can I say, Philip? Jonathan Edwards spoke, the Spirit of God moved, and you did what many pastors could never do – act upon conviction, not comfort. By leaving a church of 7,000 members because of
conviction, you modeled for us the depth of carefulness and prayerfulness we should bring to the direction of our lives. Someday I want to read the notes you take in this “Blank Valley of Vision” because I know they will be thoughtful and profound and will cause you to consider your ways carefully. Thank you for your testimony! Bill, how God used the words of David Brainerd on the sovereignty of God to shift the center of your life off of yourself and onto God was truly amazing. Understanding deep theology – especially the sovereignty of God – saves marriages. Amazing! Thank you for your testimony. As runner-up you win a 7-disc audio version of the Valley of Vision narrated by Max McLean. Thanks to the Banner of Truth has donated free copies of the Valley of Vision to the three other finalists (Scott N., Midland Park, NJ; Allen M., Amherstburg, Ontario; Jeff C., Sumas, WA).
Thank you to everyone who submitted essays. Each finalist carried an important message that we can all learn. I would encourage everyone to read all of the essays for the “Blank Interlinear” and the “Blank Valley of Vision.”
Blessings,
Tony
Christmas Book Recommendation:
An Earnest Ministry: The Want of the Times by John Angell James
Early this year, my friend Charlie recommended this book to me. It has become one of my favorites. Published by The Banner of Truth, An Earnest Ministry, aims to keep pastors urgent in their tasks. Earlier this year we quoted from it many times. Read those quotes here. A little-known book that makes a great present for pastor-friends!
Hello, everyone. We are in the process of completing our second “blank bible.” At the same time it was proposed that we should try building a “Blank Valley of Vision” (a wonderful book of Puritan prayers). And so we did. There are few details I can add to the blank bible posts so I’ve decided to post a photo gallery of the process taken to create the “Blank Valley of Vision” (here).
[Tim Challies has recently, and accurately, poked fun at my photo-nerdiness =) ]
Next Tuesday we will be giving away one “Blank Valley of Vision” to one of you (Sorry, those who have publicly pointed out my nerdiness do not qualify). You can buy the Valley of Vision in paperback, leather or in audio CD format from The Banner of Truth. In my opinion, it’s one of the most edifying and most versatile Christmas presents available!
Tony Reinke 