My take on 'Lent'

Shadow of the Cross
I reviewed this book by Walter Chantry back in 2008 for a Lent suggestion, and feel it's worth revisiting. At this Bookshop we don't observe Lent, but feel that Christ's death and the benefits from it that flow to sinners are cause for humility, self examination, and repentance all year round. And equally the light shining from the cross of Christ, leading to joy and peace in believing, is not confined to Easter alone (thankfully). However, this book may supply a theme that is uppermost in your thoughts right now.
Jeremy

Lent

Lent. Passing over the issue of its justification, is it only for 40 days in the year that Christians should think about self denial? More positively 2 Corinthians 5 v 15 shows that not living unto ourselves is fundamental to faith. Self and Christ cannot share our hearts. One must end up dominating. It is a sobering thought, and one which Walter Chantry takes up well from a Reformed perspective. I have found this book helpful, and if you wanted to do some one thing which gave a nod towards Lent, then examine yourself whilst reading 'The Shadow of the Cross'. It's not a new book, but still available at £4.50 (£3.50 for the first copy sold mentioning this blog!) There are good chapters applying the subject to such things as Christian liberty, marriage, the ministry, and prayer. If the teaching were followed, then the lifestyle of many christians would be seriously challenged - and yes, I start with myself.
Jeremy

New Banner of Truth Books

I was interested to see 'Raising Children God's Way' (p/b, £5.50) amongst the new Banner titles. This is an extract from Lloyd-Jones' popular Ephesians series. 'Life in the Spirit, in Marriage, Home and Work' is the sixth book in the series and covers Ephesians 5:18 to 6:9. It is a book I read a good few years ago and one I would highly recommend. This extract covers Ephesians 6:1-4 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.'


Walter Chantry is another author I have enjoyed reading in the past (His book 'The Shadow of the Cross' also published by Banner of Truth (£4.50) is an excellent little paperback on self denial) and therefore 'David: Man of Prayer, Man of War' (h/b, £12.50) is a book I am likely to be picking up sometime soon. Let me quote from the introduction to whet your appetite...

The one constant with David in every condition was expressed in Psalm 16:8: 'I have set the LORD always before me.' In all the rapid alterations of his life David thought of the Most High God and expressed his devout feelings toward his Maker and Redeemer. When he wept in shame for his loathsome sins, his tears were poured out before the Lord. When he felt the exhilaration of triumph, he shouted to the Lord who was his strength. Perhaps this most of all explains the vast variety of David's life experiences. The Lord made him into the Psalmist for all the saints in all subsequent ages. In his youth he knew a peaceful, tranquil walk with God; in later years he both walked upon the heights and fell into the depths, and thus was enabled to compose prayerful songs for every condition of life... We love this man for showing us how to pray from every point of life's compass. We love him for showing us how, in the midst of spiritual failure, we too can draw near to the Lord again in trust and devotion.

Also newly published are:

'The Life and Times of George Whitefield' by Robert Philip, £10. First published in 1837 this is a reprint of what is reckoned to be the best single volume biography of Whitefield and uses much of his own journals, letters and sermons.

'Let Christ be Magnified' by J H Merle D'Aubigne, £5.50. Another reprint, this was first published as 'Calvin's Teachings for the Present Day' in 1867. It includes a brief sketch of Calvin's life and work.

Lorna