Feeding the Soul and Mind

Date March 25th, 2011 11:26 by Craig

Our flock was privileged to hear and meet William Mackenzie and his wife Carine. Together they founded Christian Focus Publications because of a love to put good solid material in the hands of Christians.

In our conversation, William noted that one of the great lacks today is Christians who read challenging, nourishing, edifying books. I listened to him talk and heard the passion in his voice.

How true it is that while we primarily need to read the Word – we should also supplement it with some of the great works of the faith that will nourish our souls and stretch our faith.

Many years ago I heard As Howard Hendricks give this advice to ministers – Your flock want to drink from a running stream not a stagnant pond.

While this applies particularly to ministers – it applies to our own hearts. We live in a tough world that draws our hearts away from the Lord. The challenging biography, the book looking at the glory of the cross, the wise advice for strengthening marriage – they give remind us of why we are here and how we should live.

If you don’t know where to start many have put together lists of books that will help you in your Christian walk. Here is one example.

http://www.tms.edu/LibraryBooklist.aspx

In no particular order – here are others from a variety of genres that will help you grow in godliness and Christlikeness.

1. Pilgrim’s Progress- John Bunyan

2. Christian Institutes- John Calvin

3. Knowing God- J.I. Packer

4. Knowledge of the Holy- A.W. Tozer

5. Pursuit of God- A.W. Tozer

6. On the Mortification of Sin in Believers & On Temptation- John Owens

7. Glory of Christ- Owens

8. Holy Spirit- Owens

9. George Whitefield- Dallimore (Biography)

10. Holiness- Ryle

11. Narnia series-Lewis

12. Mere Christianity- C.S. Lewis

13. Screwtape Letters- C.S. Lewis

14. Religious Affections- Jonathan Edwards

15. Chosen by God- Sproul

16. Holiness of God- Sproul

17. 5 Reformers- J.C. Ryle

18. A Call to Spiritual Reformation- D.A. Carson

19. 20. Through Gates of Splendor- Elizabeth Elliot

21. Ashamed of the Gospel- John MacArthur

22. The Gospel According to the Apostles- John MacArthur

23. Decision Making and the Will of God- Friesen

24. Desiring God- Piper

25. Don’t Waste Your Life- Piper

26. Let the Nations Be Glad- Piper

27. Future Grace- Piper

28. The Doctrine of God- Frame

29. Trusting God- Bridges

30. Pursuit of Holiness- Bridges

31. Practice of Godliness- Bridges

32. Cost of Discipleship- Bohnehoffer

33. The Diary of David Brainerd

34. Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret- Taylor

35. Systematic Theology- Grudem

36. The God Who is There/He is There and He Is Not Silent- Schaeffer

37. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

38. Thoughts for Young Men- Ryle

39. The Exemplary Husband- Scott

40. The Excellent Wife- Peace

Led in Paths of Righteousness

Date March 1st, 2011 16:42 by Dave

As we memorise Psalm 23 this term, my family has been going through Phillip Keller’s little book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. He has this to say about verse 3,

“Sheep are notorious creatures of habit.  If left to themselves they will follow the same trails until they become ruts; graze the same hills until they turn to desert wastes; pollute their own ground until it is corrupt with disease and parasites. Many of the world’s finest sheep ranges have been ruined by ignorant shepherds.

Casting my mind’s eye back over the years that I kept sheep, no other single aspect of shepherding commanded more of my careful attention than this moving of sheep….Whenever the shepherd opens a gate into a fresh pasture the sheep are filled with excitement, often kicking up their heels leaping with delight at the prospect of a fresh feed and being led onto new ground.

It is no whim on God’s part to call us sheep!  We are stiff-necked and left to ourselves, make ruin of our pasture. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each one turns to his own way….” (Isaiah 53:6)  Just as sheep blindly, habitually, stupidly follow one another along the same little trails unto ruinous waste, so we humans cling to the same habits that we have seen ruin other lives.  ”There is a way that seems right to a man, but the way leads to death” (Prov 14:12)

How we need Christ, the Good Shepherd, who comes gently and says, “I am the way, the truth, and the Life….I have come that you might have abundant life” (John 14:6 and 10:10)

Praise God our Shepherd is Good, that He leads us in paths of righteousness!  Whatever is for His name’s sake is ultimately for the good of His sheep.  O that we would follow Him!