I first got introduced to the scariest moustache in the world about two years ago through the work of CCEF. So, I thought I would take the time to review one of Paul Tripp’s most popular books, seeing as it is standard reading for those working within Niddrie and for 20schemes. I have to say […]

Part IV: War, Princeton, Death & Other Stuff All the drama of Edwards’ life was being played out amid the backdrop of worldwide upheaval. In 1754, the international scene was becoming very unstable. On the home front, Benjamin Franklin met with leaders from seven other colonies to discuss the French intentions in the frontiers. The […]

Part III: Sacked, Yet More Opposition, Indians & Other Stuff In the public arena, at least, the ‘Northampton Controversy’ of 1749 was concerned with Edward’s supposedly ‘new’ view on Communion and Baptism (he denied the charge that it was new). Edwards wanted to restrict communion to believing members only and restrict infant baptism to full […]

Part II: Snappy Book Titles, More Revival, Opposition & Other Stuff What I particularly like about this biography is that it never seeks to paint Edwards in a sinless light. His weaknesses are laid bare, not least his tendency for hyperbole in some of his writings, but also his penchant for ‘editing’ the opinions of […]

A sizeable 615 pages (the last 100 or so being footnotes and appendices), this is the sort of book that strikes fear into all but the most avid of readers. It looks unwieldy and intimidating, but I think that it is so good that it merits a long review over 4 parts. . . . […]

So my Assistant Pastor bought this for me last week with the quip: “Saw this and immediately thought of you.” He wasn’t laughing so much as I pushed him out of the nearest window when he wasn’t looking. So, the book. First off, great title or what! I immediately liked the look of it just from […]

The first thing I would say about any book on marriage is that I feel a sense of conviction and belief about what is being written when I know the couple are mature and have been in “the fight” for many decades. It’s why I body swerved a certain Mark Driscoll’s book in favour of […]

This book was a New York Times best seller, and charts the ministry of Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest and founder and director of ‘Homeboy Industries’. Their mission statement sums up what they do far more adequately than I could hope to: “Our Mission: Jobs not Jails: Homeboy Industries assists at-risk and formerly gang involved […]

I picked up this book for two reasons: (1) the title intrigued me, and (2) because I was going through a phase in my life when I began wondering if I would be happier by having a change of scenery. It’s the curse of most pastors, I suppose (the honest ones anyway). If you stay […]

As regular readers of this blog know, this site is dedicated to issues largely relating to church planting within the housing schemes of Scotland. However, there are thousands of places similar to ours up and down the UK. Wales is an example of a country that was once swept up in gospel revival but is […]