Having watched the Paul Washer message you posted and after reading the first chapter of “A Sure Guide to Heaven”, I can’t help but draw amazing corellations between the two. It’s a long story, but essentially I’m new to reformed theology and have only understood the essentials of it and Calvinism for a little more than a year.

Frankly, I think its a miracle anyone in our country is saved. It makes me want to scream! If it weren’t for the Grace of God drawing us to himself no one could understand the Gospel message and its implications. In our materialistic, post-modern culture not only do we have to believe a message that to the unregenerate appears ridiculous, but through the Holy Spirit led theological study of the Word we have to debunk the very American style Christianity that surrounds us.

For years, I leaned on an early profession of faith and a sense of sincerity even though it was in direct contradiction to elements of my life and understanding. Until recently I couldn’t reconcile my uneasiness between what the bible seemed to be saying and what I was witnessing in my life and around me by other Christians. Why wasn’t I able to lay some of my sins aside? Why couldn’t I maintain my Christianity?

God help me. And praise God. I’m still stripping away the old paradigm, but I’m absolutely comfortable giving God all the glory. I understand better that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I understand better the need to live a life of repentance and to take captive every thought and lay it at the cross. I’m one of the comfortable American Christians that needed evalgelized and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I just thank God that He didn’t give up on me and instead helped me through the haze.

Timmy, that you for this forum. I’ve enjoyed the Reading Challenge this year. I can’t claim to have read all of them, but I’ve read enough to know that I’ll probably read them on and off for the rest of my life. God Bless you and may God bless the furtherance of His Gospel.

Ed,

Amen!

Thanks to God’s providence I can join in this month’s reading. Praise God!

Tom: May y’all (and me) NEVER recover from reading “The Reformed Pastor”

“Brethren, I desire to deal closely with my own heart and yours. I beseech you consider whether it will save us to speak well of the grace of humility while we possess it not, or to speak against the sin of pride while we indulge in it?”

Our church staff read thru “The Reformed Pastor” a few years ago and we’re still recovering. Talk about a blood bath!

Praise God for faithful, biblical challenges from men of God.

Have you ever read any of Samuel Bolton’s stuff? One word: Awesome!

First, let me say thank you for your organizing this reading schedule. I have been blessed and challenged each and every month as I have daily read from these Puritan divines.

I have been delinquent in posting from my reading, but I hope to have both a conclusion to Baxter’s “Reformed Pastor” as well as some introductory thoughts on Alleine’s book later this evening or tomorrow. I have been blasting through “Sure Guide to Heaven”, it is so rich and devotional, and need to slow down and post some comments on it.