Friday, July 10, 2009

Enter to Win "John Calvin A Heart for Devotion Doctrine & Doxology

Did you know that it's been 500 years since John Calvin, the reformer, was born?

In commemoration of his life my husband donated a copy of this book from his library for this give-a-way. The good news is that he had two copies so don't worry, the one we're giving you is shrink wrapped and is brand new!

An excerpt from the book, "John Calvin A Heart for Devotion Doctrine & Doxology":

"John Calvin excelled in every ministerial duty he ever set his hand to. He stood out in his own generation for the sheer power of his preaching and his amazing command of Scripture. His skill as an exegete and biblical commentator surpassed anyone the church had ever seen. His proficiency as a teacher of theology was likewise superior to all who came before him. His influence as a discipler of young men bore fruit that is still multiplying today. His competence as a church leader, his forcefulness as an apologist for the truth, and his remarkable ability to educate and motivate others were all highly renowned. In the words of William Cunningham, "Calvin was by far the greatest of the Reformers with respect to the talents he possessed, the influence he exerted, and the services he rendered in the establishment and diffusion of important truth." (Phil Johnson, Pyromaniacs)

To enter the contest simply leave a comment on this post. That's all you have to do! To double your entry, simply blog and/or put it on your website, facebook, twitter, or any other networking site you have. Then leave the link below. Contest is open through July 26th 2009, winner will be announced on Monday July 27th!

Did you know that Calvin regarded the disregarding of evangelism as inconsistent with saving faith? He believed that the greater a man's eminence (prominence or superiority)...the more diligently he was to labor:

And shall say, Come. By these words he first declares that the godly will be filled with such an ardent desire to spread the doctrines of religion, that every one not satisfied with his own calling and his personal knowledge will desire to draw others along with him. And indeed nothing could be more inconsistent with the nature of faith than that deadness which would lead a man to disregard his brethren, and to keep the light of knowledge choked up within his own breast. The greater the eminence above others which any man has received from his calling so much the more diligently ought he to labour to enlighten others. (John Calvin, Comments on Isaiah 2:3)

Calvin urged his people to preach the gospel with such diligence that it would be unstoppable and that's how we should be as Christians--unstoppable!:

"Now we know that God prizes nothing above his honour, which lies mainly in men's knowing him and poor souls' being brought to salvation. So let us not be surprised if our Lord wants his gospel to be proclaimed with such diligence that nothing can hinder its course. For the only way men can come to salvation is through instruction in what the Bible teaches. Now since this is God's will, let us follow it." (John Calvin, Sermons on Acts 1-7 BOT p325)

51 comments:

Jason and Vanessa said...

oh me me me, pick me! i would like to win, so here is my comment.

also posted on my twitter: http://twitter.com/jXd/status/2566002935

& posted on my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jason.e.delgado

soli Deo gloria!

jason d.

p.s. today only Ligonier Ministries is giving this away for a donation of ANY amount: http://rymoffer.com/

t. said...

Hi Trish,

you probably won't be able to remember me, but i was the guy translating for Ray when you were in Munich, Germany for the Oktoberfest / pedestrian precinct evangelism. My wife, Angelika, and i have ever since been using the "Way of the Master" to witness to the people we know and work with.Working as a youth counselor at a German school and there is not a month passing by in which i don't use one of the illustrations i have learned from the DVDs and the Evidence Bible to share the truth of the Gospel with these kids.
Since i study theology at a "as-liberal-as-you-can-get" university, i am eager to get my hands on a book like the one you are giving away here to receive sound and God-glorying doctrines, as a change to the stuff i normally have to fill my head with.
We are praying for the whole Way of the Master team and please let us know if any of you ever come through here that we may serve you in what ever way needed.

Gottes Segen in Christus unserm Herrn,
t.

Thomas Berber
ThomasBerber@gmail.com

Misty*Dawn said...

I'd like to win this one :) servingchrist@altiusbb.com Thanks Trish!!

Euaggelion said...

Sign me up!! payton.dooley@gmail.com

It's also blogged at:
http://www.calledbygrace.com/

Facebooked at:
http://www.facebook.com/Euaggelion

and Twittered at:
http://twitter.com/euaggelion

stranger.strange.land said...

Sign me up, Trish.

This week's posts on my blog are all devoted to the legacy of God's faithful servant, John Calvin. Not only was he instrumental in bringing the true gospel back into focus in the church's teachings, but he was a wonderful example as a soul winner. (I've also linked to this post)

My email and a link to my blog are on my profile.

Craig

Unknown said...

Trish, I would love to have this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

jarod.todd@gmail.com

Marcus Pittman said...

I wish I could say I deserve this, but the only thing I do deserve is Death, followed by an eternity in Hell.

But I really do want it.

http://www.twitter.com/LawGrace

Anonymous said...

oooh that book looks good Trish! Amanda american_angel17@Hotmail.com

Sharp Virtual Yard Sale said...

Happy Friday Trish! Greetings from humid, sticky central Florida. I'd like to toss my hat in the ring for the book on Calvin. (Why is it whenever I see "Calvin" I think of the little boy with the big imagination and the stuffed tiger?)

wrsharp ~at~ bellsouth.net

Guillermo said...

thanks for this great giveaway.

Guillermo

gmgodmade@yahoo.com

Doug Tollett said...

Thanks for all you do, Trish!

Jess Caylor said...

posting a comment to enter this contest. I do not know much about John Calvin and I am interested in reading this book about him.

Thank you.

jesscaylor@hotmail.com

jc said...

Please enter me 2 times into this awesome giveaway.

1 entry for this comment

and

2nd entry for my blogpost about this book giveaway. My post is here.

Thank you!!!

wretchedsinner-savedbygrace said...

Thanks Trish!
lograce15@yahoo.com
Leah

jc said...

Trish,
In my last email, I forgot to leave my email address. So here is my post again.

1 entry for this comment
2nd entry for my blogpost about this giveaway.

I can be emailed here .

By the way, when will the drawing of the winner be?

Unknown said...

lightbringer10@bellsouth.net

Timothy Glass said...

Thanks Trish!!, Sounds like a good book.

http://www.deliveringevangelism.com

jacob said...

If you want to read about John Calvin from the Jewish perspective and his assault against the true messiah of Israel Marcus Julius Agrippa read Stephan Huller's blog entry at http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com entitled 'the Day of John Calvin the accursed, may his bones be ground into the dust.' It will help round your opinion of this accursed man.

May his bones truly be ground into dust.

Jacob

Unknown said...

Would love to enter thanks!

Bobby said...

Hi Trisha,
It's Bobby from Athens, Georgia. Hope all is going well and my family continues to pray for your church and ministry.
I would love to win this.

bmccreery3@gmail.com
facebook--Bobby McCreery

God bless and thank you!

Brazen Hussey's said...

Hello, Trish!

It's James Hussey from Brazenhusseys.com

I'll post about this giveaway there, and thanks!

brazenhusseys@gmail.com

bell said...

No pick me..Please..
Isabel Lebron
bell917@yahoo.com

Fish With Trish said...

Thomas, of course I remember you! What a blessing that you're on here. Please tell your wife, Angelika, hello. I have such wonderful memories of that whole trip...

I would do it again in a minute. :)

Thanks for all your help while we were there!

crenshaw said...

Would love to win this book, thanks.

Heath The Blogless said...

Hi Trish

I would love to win but I take it that it is only for people in the USA (I'm in Australia). I am going to the Ambassadors Academy at the end of August though.
Any way keep up the good work.

heathpithouse@hotmail.com

Dorothea Mawhinney said...

Dear Trish: Last Sunday the minister at my church, a Presbyterian Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland, made a commentary on the life of John Calvin. He described the executiion of a heretic, carried out with Calvin's positive approval. Apparently, in those days they didn't try to evangelize lost souls: they simply killed anybody who didn't subscribe to their exact views on Christianity. The minister explained that burning at the stake brings about death by suffocation, because the flames consume all the oxygen in the air surrounding the victim: they are dead long before they are actually burnt to death. This reminds me of the martyrdom of Joan of Arc, who died as a mere teenager at about the age of 19. In this particular case, the English hated her so much that they put water over the wood at the funeral pyre. It seems that damp wood produces white smoke instead of the usual black smoke, and this prolongs death by suffocation for as long as possible, making the victim suffer the most agonizing death imaginable under the circumstances. The play, St Joan, by George Bernard Shaw, brings the situation to life. In any case, the Presbyterian minister thought that it was all right for John Calvin to approve the heretic's execution, because "that was just the way they thought back in those days." In my opinion, Calvin was just exactly like the Apostle Paul before his conversion -- a true carbon copy, carrying out the active persecution of the church. Then called Saul, Paul was caught alive standing in passive approval of the death of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was actually holding the cloaks of those who were throwing the stones. Stephen did not burn at the stake, but he died a gruesome death all the same, and Saul was a source of encouragement of the same. So was John Calvin, for all intents and purposes, a vile murderer.

Unknown said...

I look forward to the drawing.

MSchlipp@ec.rr.com

bassicallymike said...

Put me down twice!
bassicallymikeATyahoodotcom
plus I added a link on my Facebook page.

Thanks to Emilio!

Heath, great news mate! Give er a go!

grits said...

I would love to have this!
Thank you!
Rachel
gritsrus at gmail dot com

L R Caudill said...

This sounds like good reading and learning. Count me in. Thanks.

Bobbie C (wife and mommy) said...

I am ready to win!!

I also posted on my facebook account

www.facebook.com/bobbie.conover

Christo van Wyk said...

This sound like a wonderful book...

stranger.strange.land said...

Dorothea brought to our attention the fact that even those who we recognize as mighty servants of God have their flaws, sometimes very serious ones.

She probably wasn't aware of the fact that when Calvin knew that Michael Servetus was headed for Geneva, he was hoping to engage him in public debate. His hope was disappointed when he was told that Servetus had been arrested and would be burned. I wish Calvin had come up with a stronger objection than, "Isn't there a more humane way of executing him?" but he didn't.

Dorothy also may not have realized that Calvin's influence over the actions of the Geneva government was not all that great. The city council forbade the use of bread and wine at the church's communion service, and even once expelled Calvin from the city.

Dorothea said...[The Presbyterian minister]described the executiion of a heretic, carried out with Calvin's positive approval. Apparently, in those days they didn't try to evangelize lost souls: they simply killed anybody who didn't subscribe to their exact views on Christianity.

"...they simply killed anybody who didn't subscribe to their exact views on Christianity"?! This statement sounds like it came straight from a Watchtower publication. Not true. The Reformed church in Geneva didn't kill anyone. It's academy trained missionaries to go out and evangelize lost souls by preaching the gospel. Many of those missionaries were themselves martyred.

Dorothea went on to say that in her opinion Calvin, (like Paul before his conversion) "was carrying out the active persecution of the church," and was " for all intents and purposes, a vile murderer." (another statement strikingly similar to those of the Jehovah's Witnesses)

The execution of Servetus was a black mark on the history of the Reformation and on the legacy of John Calvin. No doubt about that. Calvin devoted his life to service to God, yet he was a sinner just like the rest of us. He needed God's mercy.
__________________________________

Dorothea,

Do you believe that you have not perfectly kept all the commandments of God, and in fact, daily break them in thought, word, and deed?

Do you believe that your every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come?

Do you believe that to escape the wrath and curse of God due to you for your sin, God requires of you faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance? And that you make diligent use of the Word, sacraments, and prayer? And do you believe that these are made effectual to the elect for salvation?

Do you believe that you, like Calvin, ...have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God? But are...justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.?

Craig

Joe Byrd said...

God Bless You

Jessy said...

thehyles@gmail.com

Melanie said...

Melanie Acker!!!!!
melroseacker@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I think God for the stand you take without hesitation.

Lisa
llbrown1@charter.net

Brazen Hussey's said...

@ Dorothea:

It's funny how you didn't respond to Craig's defense and explanation, but there is a bit that Craig left out.

If you are concerned that "they didn't evangelize back then" but merely burned those who disagreed with them at the stake, I guess for starters you have a problem with our holy God, who instituted the death penalty for all mankind in the first place for Adam's sin?

I suppose you'd calumnize the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God, because if a priest or anyone merely went in there without the sanction of God, they'd die?

I suppose furthermore that the mere fact that "the soul that sins shall die" and "the wages of sin is death," both God's idea and law, are vitriol against His holy character?

Lastly, I suppose you didn't do your homework, because at the burning of Servetus, guess who was there calling the man into repentance?

Oh, right. Calvin.

See, he was one of the most missional and evangelistic people this side of the Twelve: he was right there by his side calling him to repent.

Is that evangelistic enough for you?

Please don't miss my point: capital punishment is Hell writ small. Eternal damnation doesn't make God a monster any more than the Genevan civil (not ecclesiastical, mind you, but CIVIL) magistrate's death sentence calumnized Calvin.

Unless, of course, you simply have no idea what on earth happened, and you just want to parrot some gossip. In which case, if I were you, I'd repent.

Megan said...

Who's this Calvin fellow anyway?

Just kidding, would love to win the book!

Chad S.
cmswitz@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'd love it!!! Count me in Trish!!
Misty at servingchrist@altiusbb.com

John Howell said...

I am a new presbyterian as well as a youth director. I was looking into what John Calvin might have said regarding Stephen the Martyr and came across this blog.

Looks like a really great resource!

Johnhowell@hopefamily.com

johndhowell@gmail.com

Curtis said...

Good comment Craig. Calvin, as myself, sinned openly and deserved God's wrath, thanks be to God, that what was evil, God used for good in transforming and likely fueling Calvin to take scripture so seriously. When ever someone points to the sins of a brother and says, "comdemned, how could God save him!?" I think of Paul, chosen of Christ, prepaired, and set apart for the holy work of Christ. Praise God that He is sovereign, even over our sin. Happy Lords day!! God bless.

terri rosales said...

Hope I win!!!:)
joywithin@netzero.com

jochebed1 said...

hey i would love to win this! yeah!

Lisa Godin said...

Hi Trish, This looks like a great book. Thank you for your example of women out there sharing the gospel. I am encouraged. I need to restock my bag with some more Living Waters tracts. Blessings on your ministry. Lisa

KatieHoffman.org said...

Yes I would love to win this!!!!

KatieHoffman.org said...

Yes I would love to win this!!

bell said...

can't wait to hear who wins.. hopefully me. wink wink
bell917@yahoo.com
isabel lebron

Fish With Trish said...

Hi Rachel (Grits),

Congrats! You're the winner of the Calvin book!

Thanks for entering the contest.

Shoot me an email at email [at] fishwithtrish.com with your shipping address and your book will be in the mail!

God bless you, sis!

Trish

grits said...

WOW! I can't believe it! woohoo! Thank you so much!!

bassicallymike said...

Congratulations Grits!