November 2012 Ordained Servant

Having raised the question of education several issues ago, I thought it would be helpful to explore J. Gresham Machen’s views on scholarship and education. Dariusz Bryćko applies his own excellent scholarship to shed light on this topic that Machen cared deeply about, and thankfully, on which he wrote extensively. Part two will be published next month.

In light of our national day of thanksgiving taking place this month, it seems appropriate to explore the place of thanksgiving in our regular worship and devotional lives. Pastor Jeff Wilson challenges us to comb church history in order to cultivate more thanksgiving in our churches in “Giving Thanks—the Neglected Prayer.” On this subject we have two poems; “When Bradford and Company Landed” explores the background of the first American Thanksgiving, and an inspired—divinely that is—poem, Psalm 136, which makes excellent reading before Thanksgiving dinner.

We have three interesting reviews this month. Ross W. Graham reviews A Vision for the Aging Church, a subject for young and old alike, especially as we baby boomers cross the threshold from middle age. Darryl Hart, reviews Covenant College professor Ken Stewart’s new book Ten Myths about Calvinism. Finally Pastor Andy Wilson presents a review article on the popular book by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

Blessings in the Lamb,
Gregory Edward Reynolds

Ordained Servant exists to help encourage, inform, and equip church officers for faithful, effective, and God glorifying ministry in the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its primary audience is ministers, elders, and deacons of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as well as interested officers from other Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Through high quality editorials, articles, and book reviews we endeavor to stimulate clear thinking and the consistent practice of historic, confessional Presbyterianism.