Shepherd the Flock

If you are unfamiliar with ShepherdTheFlock.com, then maybe you do not know about the ‘Weekly Recommendations‘ page of this site.

Updated roughly every 7-10 days, this page features a quote, a podcast download (always free), and several blog articles that I personally find very edifying and worth further circulation. Each update features a new round, with the old recommendations still available on the archive page.

This week, I have so thoroughly enjoyed the recommendations that I will post them here as well as on the Recommendations page. Please take a moment and consider some of these great resources.

As always, I welcome comments on these things, –particularly if you found something through here that ministered to you in a special way. Or, feel free to comment on the archive page as well.

May 4th, 2007:

Quote of the week:

“The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will truth Him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more childlike will be our faith.” - J. Gresham Machen

Podcast of the week:

• Gene Cook over at The Narrow Mind has done a three-part series entitled, ‘Basic Refutations of Jehovah’s Witnesses‘. I have listened very closely to this series, and it is excellent. Gene takes a layman-type approach in dealing with the favorite bible verses of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, going through each one in detail. Gene’s advice on dealing/talking/debating with the JW’s is sprinkled with much wisdom from his many encounters with them. This series is highly recommended for men, women, and even children. Lord-knows that it is only a matter of time until they knock on your door. Are you prepared? Part one, part two, and part three.
• SPECIAL: Free Audio Book: The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter. One of the most convicting, challenging books out there. I have never even read this completely through, but just the portions of it I am familiar with have convinced me that I will never have what it takes (apart from God’s radical grace) to ‘Shepherd a Flock’, and it also sadly shows how painstakingly few ‘pastors’ now days actually fulfill their duty. If you don’t have this book, GET IT. Normally $22.98, you can download it for free during the month of May by using the coupon code, MAY2007.

Some Links of the week:

• What is man’s chief end? John Piper has sure done his part to convey his opinion on the matter. However, “Our Puritan forefathers have told us that the chief end of man can be found in glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. Many would like to remake that phrase by telling us that the key is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever. I may be simplistic in my thinking, but I have for some time rejected such reductionism. I have rejected it on two basic grounds…” Excellent post by Jim Savastio over at Reformed Baptist Fellowship, and well worth a serious consideration by those so influenced by ‘the key’ to the successful Christian life.
• Joel Osteen Said What? And who is surprised?
• Registration for the 2008 Together for the Gospel Conference is now open. Lord-willing, I will be there along with thousands of other like-minded believers. Register now before it is too late.
• Already in the short life of this blog, I have been challenged by some to be tolerant of what I would consider as false teaching. TeamPyro had some good thoughts on this issue recently.
• I was actually going to post on this subject one day in the future, Tim Challies got to it before I did, –and brought much better clarity to the topic than I could have: Is Error in Doctrine Always Sin?