Having commended the poetry of Frank Stanton, here is one of my favorites from him which might be useful for a Monday and comes to my mind since my travel plans this weekend were interrupted by a snow storm. 🙂 “A Country Philosopher” The cold has killed the corn off an’ blighted all the wheat; …
Here is another excerpt from Adam Nicolson’s, God’s Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible. Here Nicolson is describing the widespread attentiveness to Scripture and the in depth, intense preaching of the day. Something to aspire to: “…week after week, preachers would occupy their pulpits analysing texts, pursuing moral and theological arguments, exercising the …
I have commented several times here on the value of poetry. One poet I particularly appreciate is Frank L. Stanton (1857-1927), who was the first poet laureate of Georgia. His poems are primarily a celebration of the simple pleasures of life rooted in the rural South. I recently acquired a book of his poems which …
Adam Nicolson, in God’s Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible, contrasts the careful, rich use of language found in the King James with the more recent New English Bible. I think he is absolutely right. “The flattening of language is a flattening of meaning. Language which is not taut with a sense of …
Adam Nicolson, in his book, God’s Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible, describes Puritans this way: “A puritan ate and drank the word of God. That word was his world.”Âť (123) Nicolson does not intend this as a compliment, and there were errors of various sorts associated with various ones known as”Puritan.”Âť However, …
Henry Barrow was a 17th century Puritan pastor imprisoned and eventually executed for his faith. After three years of imprisonment in despicable conditions, having not been outdoors in that time, Anglican officials visited him to convince him of his errors. Being unsuccessful he bishop quipped that Barrow should enjoy his opportunity for solitude. In response, …
Continue reading ‘Sweet Harmony of Grace in the Congregation’ »
B. J. Maxwell posted a wonderful section from William Still’s book, The Work of the Pastor. I have pasted only a portion below. I encourage you to go on to Maxwell’s site to read the rest. “God has caused you to become pastor to some souls here who are as valuable to Him as any …
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible. It is unfortunate that for so many people today mention of the KJV summons up only negative impressions- argument over using only the KJV, specter of unintelligible language, etc. In fact, the production of this translation is a …
Several years ago I began keeping an annotated list of every book I read each year. It has been a very useful discipline and resource for later. As part of my own review of this past year I will post here what have been the best books I have read this past year. Included in …
Here is wonderful 17th century Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt which expounds the meaning of the Incarnation. This is hymnic gospel proclamation! Let us take great comfort in the work of Christ, God come to get us. All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices; “Christ is born,”Âť …