John Calvin at Pol'-e-store

New at Pol'-e-store
Calvin, John

Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life By John Calvin, translated by Henry J. Van Andel / Baker "Who says that Calvin never wrote a manual on spirituality? This mini-classic sums up a number of the themes from his larger Institutes (obedience, self-denial, the significance of the cross), emphasizing an everyday piety rather than a contemplative, ascetic otherworldliness." 96 pages, softcover. Baker.

Calvin & The Calvinists " In this pioneering study Paul Helm shows that the substantial claims that Dr. Kendall makes in 'Calvin and English Calvinism to 1649,' concerning Calvin's alleged theological departures, cannot be supported from Calvin, but rest on distortions and misunderstandings. Since 'Calvin and the Calvinists' was first published in 1982, further scholarship has confirmed its claims. This careful and clear exposition remains of abiding value, not only for the scholar but also for all Christians who are concerned to evaluate their own theological heritage."

Calvin's Commentaries, 22 Volumes By John Calvin / Baker "A towering figure in the Reformation and prolific scholar and theologian, John Calvin authored not only his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion, but commentaries on twenty-four books of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament except for 2 and 3 John and Revelation. These classic commentaries continue to be valued exegetical reference works for pastors and serious students of the Bible today."

Calvin: Institute of the Christian Religion, 2 Volumes--Library of Christian Classics By J.T. McNeill, ed.; F.L. Battles, trans. / Westminster / John Knox "The definitive English-language edition of one of the church's monumental works. Here Calvin expounds his theology in its most systematic and detailed form. Features for the first time in any English edition: chapter headings; footnotes; bibliographies; Scripture, author, and subject indices; and more. Essential to any study of Calvin's theology or Reformed theology." 1734 pages total, two hardcovers from Westminster/John Knox.

Given For You: Reclaiming Calvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper By Keith Mathison / P & R Publishing " Is the Lord's Supper, a time of communion with our Lord and with his people, a high point in our lives? What thought do we give to biblical teaching on this sacrament? In this book Keith Mathison seeks to "encourage prayerful reflection and discussion about this now neglected sacrament." He introduces, explains, and defends "a particular understanding of the Lord's Supper"-->

History of the Reformation in the Time of Calvin, Four Volume Set By J.H. Merle D'Aubigne / Hartland Publications "This set, originally an 8 volume work, is reprinted in these 4 volumes. The renovation of the individual, of the church, and of the human race, is the theme. If the Holy Ghost kindles the lamp of truth in man, it is (according to Calvin) to the end that the entire man should be transformed. In the Kingdom of Christ, he says, it is only the new man that flourishes and has any vigor, and whom we ought to take into account. This renovation is, at the same time, an enfranchisement; and we might assign, as a motto to the reformation accomplished by Calvin, as well as to apostolical Chiristianity itself, these words of Jesus Christ: The truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

John Calvin: His Life and Influence By Robert Reymond / Christian Focus Public " Why is it that in the modern media the word "Calvinist" is always accompanied by "stern," "dour" or "strict"? Most of the people who use the terms together have next to no knowledge of what Calvinism is--and know even less about who Calvin was. An old-style reactionary? A hard-line ayatollah, raging at the world without any thought? Or is there more to this man than uninformed contemporary critics would have us believe? Robert Reymond brings us John Calvin the man. A reality quite different from the caricature often painted today. Here is man of deep spirituality with a real love for his fellow man and God. Whether the moniker "stern Calvinist" is applicable or not--his life has much to teach us."

The Life of John Calvin By Theodore Beza, edited by Gary Sanseri / Back Home Industries " Whether you adore Calvin or dislike him, you need to know about the man. Original source materials should be used to study famous people. This biography is commended to readers as a first-hand account written by Calvin's personal associate and friend, Theodore Beza. This edited version retains the original text, but breaks lengthy sentences and paragraphs into a more manageable size for the modern reader. Added graphics bring the story to life. Each chapter includes questions for study and discussion."

John Calvin: God the Creator, God the Redeemer By John Calvin / Bridge-logos Publishing " John Calvin's God the Creator and God the Redeemer are the first two books of his Institutes of the Christian Religion. One of the most famous theological books ever published, the Institutes was written and repeatedly refined over time by this significant Reformer. Calvin's system of doctrine and polity has shaped more minds and entered into more nations than that of any other reformer. The present volume also includes John Foxe's biography of Calvin, A Defense of Calvinism by C. H. Spurgeon, as well as an index."

Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview

New at Polemos
World View
Books

Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview
By Israel Wayne / Wisdom's Gate

CBD Says: "There are many reasons why people decide to educate their children at home, not the least of which is to instill young minds with a biblical worldview. Written from a homeschool graduate's perspective, this book teaches you how to think biblically and how to pass that mindset on to your children. Chapters include "Keeping an Eternal Perspective," "The Importance of Reason," "Multiculturalism," and more." 159 pages, softcover from Wisdom's Gate.

Thinking and Teaching in World View Terms

We are all passing on a World View on to our children whether we realize it or not, but what sort of world view are we passing on to them? Are we teaching them that the Scriptures are just another part of life or are we teaching them to view all of life through the Scriptures? Are teaching them to look at the glasses or through the glasses?

Don't miss this must-hear message from Kevin Swanson as he discusses World Views and interviews Israel Wayne on Generations Radio.

• Why Most Homeschoolers Aren't Worldview Savvy
  -Missing the Critical Element
  Kevin Swanson interviews Israel Wayne

Off to the Fire!

The Perpetuity of the Sabbath

New at Polemos
Lord's Day, The
Audio Links

While riding the subway too and fro far beneath the crowded streets of New York City I had time to listen to a number of good sermons on my mp3 player. One of them was this message on the perpetuity of the Christian sabbath in the observance of the Lord's day by an old acquaintance of mine, pastor Mark Chanski.

For the life of me I cant understand all the confusion on this subject or why so many professing Christians would be reluctant to dedicate one day of seven wholly unto the Lord. The Church at large aught to give this subject a little more serious thought before flippantly throwing out the prevailing historic view of the protestant Church.

• 1689 Confession Ch. 22: Perpetuity of the Sabbath
  Mark Chanski
  

World View

New at Polemos

• World View

Another Bite of the Big Apple

That’s right I had another eight-day tour of duty in New York City (ten days when you include travel and getting snowed in at the Cincinnati Air Port, but that's another story).

Even though I almost became a pedestrian fatality statistic on several occasions I’ve got to admit most of the New Yorkers that I spoke with were much friendlier than I was expecting, it’s the ones in the cars you got to watch out for (they seem to confuse the brake pedal and the horn).

I also noticed that although a lot of the people there had trouble with the English language they could usually say the F word with great clarity, and in defiance of all rules of grammar many of them even used it as a conjunction (you remember the old School House Rock song?: “Conjunction Junction what’s your #@*&tion).

Even though I spent all of the day light hours working again I did try to make it to a few more of the sights this time, they were just a little harder to see in the dark.

I went to ground zero one night but couldn’t see very much because they had most of it blocked off for the construction of the Freedom Tower. This is probably the best picture of it I could get, it looks like a really big hole in the midst of some very tall buildings. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have been there when they fell.

I did get a couple of good pictures of the Vesey Street staircase, or the Survivors Stairway as they call it; the last remaining above ground structure that was part of the towers.

I also stopped at Battery Park and got a few pictures of The Sphere which used to stand in the Trade Centers plaza area. It's hard to see just how beat up it is in these photos.



I also made it up to Grand Central Station this time. I had been at the subway stop beneath it many times on my last trip but this time I made it a point to crawl out and see what the station actually looked like.



It looked just like in the movie (Madagascar).

Last of all I really wanted to get some pictures for the kids from the top of the Empire State building looking down but they wanted nearly $20.00, which I didn't even have at the moment, for fifteen minutes of time so I opted for some pictures from the bottom of the building looking up.

Treason Against Society

"Because the state is steadily encroaching on the two basic social responsibilities of the family, the custody of property and of children, the state is relegating adultery to the realm of things peripheral and relatively unimportant. Not until the authority of the family in this area is re-established will adultery again become a menace to society rather than a form of entertainment. At present, adultery is seen as a personal matter and as an aspect of personal experience and pleasure, nothing more."

In all cultures where the family's authority over property and children has existed, or has been re-established, adultery inescapably becomes one of the most fearful crimes, and there is a long history of brutal tortures and reprisals against offenders. The relationship is inescapable: where an offense is treason against society, there particularly severe penalties are imposed.

The Biblical answer thus is to re-establish the family in its functions, protect it in its integrity, and then penalize its offenders. In a healthy society, treason is a rare crime. In a truly Biblical law-order, adultery will also be rare...."

-R.J. Rushdoony from The Institutes of Biblical Law

Is Time Longer When You're Shorter?

I was only gone to New York for nine days but it must have seemed like forever to my four year old daughter. The day after I returned home she took me by the hand and said "I'll show you where my room is, it's the pink one upstairs".

I remember how time used to go so slow when I was younger but now it flies by at unforgiving speeds. Time seems to go much faster as you get older, kinda like things that are falling seem to be traveling fastest just before they smash into the ground.

Freedom

Freedom Is Not a Product of the Ballot Box
R.J. Rushdoony
Posted on Doug’s Blog

Adultery: The Central Social Offense

Some Good Quotes
Family
Sex
Marriage


"Clearly then, Biblical law is designed to create a familistic society, and the central social offense is to strike at the life of the family. Adultery is thus placed on the same level as murder, in that it is a murderous act against the central social institution of any healthy culture. Un­punished adultery is destructive of the life of the family and of social older. On the part of the wife, it is treason to the family and introduces an alien loyalty to the home, as well as alien seed. On the part of the husband, it is also treason and disloyalty, and in addition undermines his own moral authority. A morally clean husband is confident of his confident of his authority and exercises it in God-given confidence. A guilty man is less able to exercise authority and veers between arbitrariness and a surrender of authority. The law-order of the family is of a piece, and the person who breaches it at one point inevitably surrenders it at all other points."

R.J. Rushdoony
The Institutes of Biblical Law

New York, New York

Work has kept me away from the computer as I've been in New York City for the last couple of weeks. It sure is good to be back home!

I grew up on the west coast and I've lived in numerous places around the Midwest but I had never been to New York City before, I feel like I just came back from a different planet. It was a neat place to visit for a little while but I sure wouldn't want to live there. I didn't make it to Central Park so I don't believe I saw any grass or trees the whole time I was there. The traffic was terrible, the Taxis were frightening and the parking sure left something to be desired!

The subway was horribly crowded for the most part but every once in a while we got to sit down. One afternoon we even had a little Mexican band come through our subway car and serenade us for a few minutes as we flew through Queens on the elevated track.


Work kept me very busy but I did find the time to go visit Time Square at night, now that was interesting.

Even the bums in New York were different, I found one holding a cardboard sign on which he had scribbled the words "Can you spare a beer?"; very direct and to the point. When I tried to take his picture he put his sign down and asked me for money first. Needless to say I wasn't about to give him money just to get a picture; "if any would not work, neither should he" drink beer (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

A co-worker saw another bum holding a cardboard sign on which he had scribbled the following: "Father killed by Ninja, need money for karate lessons". Now thats some creative bumming!