Listening to the Giants

The author, Dr. Iain D. Campbell, is from Scotland. But where is lives is not as important as who he is. Dr. Campbell is a pastor and as a good preacher, his small book harmonizes the theological and practical in a seamless way. In the introduction, the premise of the book is clear: The seven ‘I AM’ sayings of the gospel of John are unique to the other gospels and therefore are worthy of exclusive study.  So just like a good sermon, Campbell provides an introduction, seven chapters and a brief conclusion. In my opinion, this is 122 pages of pure delight. Each chapter begins with a brief historical sketch of the particular ‘I AM’ saying. Understanding the context is crucial to interpretation and in a winsome way the Scottish preacher diligently transports the reader back to the ministry of Jesus through the eyes of the apostle John. The most excellent example of this is found in chapter two, Jesus the Light . The author states, “The other feature of the Feast of Tabern...

**This excerpt is taken from John Piper's mini biography on David Brainerd                    Brainerd struggled to love the Indians. If love is known by sacrifice, then Brainerd loved. But if it is also known by heartfelt compassion then Brainerd struggled to love more than he did. Sometimes he was melted with love. September 18, 1742: Felt some compassion for souls, and mourned I had no more. I feel much more kindness, meekness, gentleness and love towards all mankind, than ever (181). December 26, 1742:  Felt much sweetness and tenderness in prayer, especially my whole soul seemed to love my worst enemies, and was enabled to pray for those that are strangers and enemies to God with a great degree of softness and pathetic fervor (193). Tuesday, July 2, 1745:  Felt my heat drawn out after God in prayer, almost all the forenoon; especially while riding. And ...

David Brainerd Quotes: "I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the necessity I am under of self-denial in many respects." "The all-seeing eye of God beheld our deplorable state; infinite pity touched the heart of the Father of mercies; and infinite wisdom laid the plan of our recovery." "Once more, Never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace." "I love to live on the brink of eternity." "Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time."

David Brainerd died at the young age of 29. Early death in itself is not unusual, but might the young missionaries’ death been preventable? Jonathan Edwards (author of Brainerd’s diary) explains, “Another imperfection in Mr. Brainerd, which may be observed in the following account of his life, was his life, was his being excessive in his labors; not taking due care to proportion his fatigues to his strength.” Yet I would encourage the reader to not be too critical of Brainerd’s imperfection. I believe there are three reasons for Brainerd’s recklessness. Life was short at that time. I have dealt with this issue in a previous post, addressing the grim realities for John Calvin and most humans in the last two millennia.   “It is hard for the 21st century Christian to truly grasp the regularity of death for the 16th century person. Most children did not make it to adulthood (Calvin’s only son died two weeks after birth) and therefore, time for Calvin was against him an...

The author of Man Alive  is a smart guy. Dr. Morley graduated from Harvard, Oxford and completed a stint at Reformed Theological Seminary. Yet he is better known for the ministry he created, The Man in the Mirror , which strategically focuses on biblical masculinity. He begins this book with one of his many inspiring stories, directing the reader to his thesis statement: Every man has seven primal, instinctive needs (each need is unpacked within a specific chapter). Morley believes that most men they lead “lukewarm, stagnant, often defeated lives”. Because these primal needs are neglected, men default into physical isolation and spiritual indifference. This book grandly proclaims that it will bring hope, healing and practical help for such a man. I am pleased to state that Dr. Morley succeeds in his literary purpose. Each chapter is embedded with sagely advice and anecdotal offerings. In addition, each of the seven primal needs are addressed with levity and simplistic l...

David Brainerd Quotes: "All my desire was the conversion of the heathen... I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world." "First, Resolve upon, and daily endeavour to practise, a life of seriousness and strict sobriety." "If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world." "I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts."

In reading The Life and Diary of David Brainerd , I observed that Brainerd wrote often about his daily, personal struggle with sin. Here are three examples of his sin-focused entries: Lord's day, June 13: Felt something calm and resigned in the public worship: at the sacrament saw myself very vile and worthless. O that I may always lie low in the dust. My soul seemed steadily to go forth after God, in longing desires to live upon him. Thursday, May 13: Saw so much of the wickedness of my heart, that I longed to get away from myself. I never before thought there was so much spiritual pride in my soul. I felt almost pressed to death with my own vileness. Oh what a body of death is there in me! Lord, deliver my soul. I could not find any convenient place for retirement, and was greatly exercised. Lord's day, May 2: God was pleased this morning to give me such a sight of myself, as made me appear very vile in my own eyes. I felt corruption stirring in my hea...

It might surprise you that the journal of David Brainerd has encouraged hundreds of thousands of Christians and missionaries over the last 250 years. Though he never intended it to be read by anyone, Jonathan Edwards gave a gift to Christendom by publishing his experiences, his hurts, his sorrows and his victories. In other words, Brainerd’s journal resonated with fellow Christians because is a brutally honest account of his journey to the Celestial City. Brainerd was a man of great highs and great lows. In future blog posts, I will examine with more exactness his bouts of melancholy, but here I wanted to simply show some examples of his legendary journal. Wednesday, May 18. “My circumstances are such, that I have no comfort, of any kind, but what I have in God. I live in the most lonesome wilderness; have but one single person to converse with, that can speak English. Most of the talk I hear, is either Highland Scotch or Indian. I have no fellow-Christian to whom I might ...

Organic Outreach for Families: Turning Your Home into a Lighthouse is the last book of the trilogy written by Kevin and Sherry Harney. This reviewer had not heard of nor previously read any of Pastor Harney’s works, so my review is without bias or agenda. In the introduction, the authors are helpful is sketching out the book’s direction, which is challenging Christian families to pursue gospel moments through the use of their home in a natural, organic and relational way. Part one focuses on helping parents reach their children and extended family with the love of the gospel in practical ways. In part two, the Harney’s share their life experiences and proven methods of how they encouraged their kids to live out the Great Commission. Finally, the last section of the book focuses on the home itself: how to build a lighthouse, how to make it shine and how to avoid the dimming or covering of its light. One of my first impressions of the book is that it is an easy read . The generou...

Unfortunately, we do not know much about the younger years of Mr. Brainerd except this account, which is firmly established in church history lore.  “And it once happened, that he and two or three more of these intimate friends were in the hall together, after Mr. Whittelsey, one of the tutors, had been to prayer there with the scholars; no other person now remaining in the hall but Brainerd and his companions. Mr. Whittelsey having been unusually pathetic in his prayer, one of Brainerd’s friends on this occasion asked him what he thought of Mr. Whittelsey; he made answer, “He has no more grace that this chair”. One of the freshman happening at that time to be near the have (though not in the room) over-heard those words. This person, though he heard no name mentioned, and knew not who was thus censured, informed a certain woman in the town, withal telling her his own suspicion, that he believed Brainerd said this of someone or another of the rulers of the college. Whereupon sh...