Introduction to Systematic Theology by Cornelius Van Til

Tony Reinke BR > P&R, Systematic theology, Van Til

Book announcement

“Cornelius Van Til’s Introduction to Systematic Theology is one of his two or three most important books, certainly a must-read for anyone who is trying to understand Van Til. And it is important for Christians to understand Van Til today, as never before. He challenges Christians to think in a distinctively biblical way. That biblical way opposes and challenges all religions and secular philosophies, all ideologies that place the ultimate source of truth and value in human beings rather than in God.” – John Frame

Download the table of contents and intro as PDF here.

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Tozer on the Gentleness of God

Tony Reinke A.W. Tozer, Grace

tss-pop-can-large.jpgA.W. Tozer writing on Psalm 18:35 (“your gentleness made me great”):

“God is easy to live with. Satan’s first attack upon the human race was his sly effort to destroy Eve’s confidence in the kindness of God. Unfortunately for her and for us he succeeded too well. From that day, men have had a false conception of God, and it is exactly this that has cut out from under them the ground of righteousness and driven them to reckless and destructive living.

Nothing twists and deforms the soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God. Certain sects, such as the Pharisees, while they held that God was stern and austere, yet managed to maintain a fairly high level of external morality; but their righteousness was only outward.

Instinctively we try to be like our God, and if He is conceived to be stern and exacting, so will we ourselves be. The truth is that God is the most winsome of all beings and His service one of unspeakable pleasure.

The fellowship of God is delightful beyond all telling. He communes with His redeemed ones in an easy, uninhibited fellowship that is restful and healing to the soul.

He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust. He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is.”

— A.W. Tozer in The Root of the Righteous, pp. 13-16. As quoted in the newest Banner of Truth Magazine (issue 531; Dec. 2007).

Self-editing

Tony Reinke Writing

The most difficult feat of human concentration is walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope during a windstorm. The second most difficult feat of human concentration, editing your own writing! Only because of sin can we be so blind to our own errors.

And both of these feats of concentration are impossible without practice. So for all the writers out there who are never done tweaking, and changing, and shifting, and adding and deleting words and ideas to your writing (like me), this new book — The Artful Edit: On the practice of editing yourself by Susan Bell — looks very promising.

For more information, see Evan Sparks’ short review at The American titled, “Edit Thyself: A Maxim for the New Media”.

Savior CD from Sovereign Grace Music

Tony Reinke Bob Kauflin, Music, Musical Worship, Sovereign Grace Ministries

Of all my favorite worship CDs I would rank Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man from Sovereign Grace Music as one of my favorites (along with Songs for the Cross Centered Life and Valley of Vision). Savior was released in time for Christmas last year, though I found myself listening to the record all throughout the year.

Our good friend Bob Kauflin explains more about the project in this video.

More information about the Savior project can be found here.

And some bloggers qualify for a free copy of the CD. More info here.