pardoned.net

90 days in Tokyo, 90 Robert Murray M’Cheyne sermons. Many more to come!

I have never made theology a study. The great doctrines of depravity and repentance and justification and regeneration and of the judgment and final award, I have preached with all the clearness of my mind and all the unction of my heart. I have never tried to show a congregation the difference between evangelical and legal repentance. I have never discussed whether depravity was total or partial, or simply developed. I have never tried to prove there was a God, or that Christ was divine, or that there was a heaven or a hell. I have made these things, not an objective point, but a starting point. They have furnished the basis for all I have said, and they are either the inspirations of my hopes, or the ground-works of my fears. I have left the proof of the inspiration of the Bible, the demonstration of the fact that there is a God, the settlement of the question as to heaven and hell, to those who make a specter of such things and then speculate upon them, to the “muddy physicians.” My idea has always been that Christ meant what he said when he said, “Preach the Gospel,” not defend it; “Preach the Word,” not try to prove the Word is true.
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The finest compliment I have ever had was in the second year of my ministry, when a little son of one of my members said: “Father, will Mr. Jones be returned to this circuit next year?”
The father replied he hoped so, and asked his son, “Why?” “Well,” said the boy, ” I want him to come back, because he is the only preacher I ever listened to that I can understand every thing he says.”
I believe it is possible to preach our best thoughts and highest conceptions of God and truth so that children may understand us. The fact that they do not understand us is better proof that we are “muddy” than that we are high, for truth is like the water of the River of Life—clear as crystal.

-Sam P Jones, 1887 (from Sam Jones’ Own Book, pp.34-35, 36-37)

I have been very blessed recently by reading the testimony of Sam P Jones, 19th century Methodist Evangelist and Revivalist. One of the great things I’ve found out about on the internet is Google books, so partly for my own reference, but also your edification I have copied links to the following wonderful books containing Sam Jones’ sermons and writings. If I ever see any of these for a small amount of money on bookfinder I’ll probably pick them up.

Sam Jones’ Own Book: A series of sermons collected and edited under the author’s own supervision. 1887 - 539 pages

Thunderbolts: Most earnest reasonings, delightful narratives, poetic and pathetic incidents, caustic and unmerciful flagellation of sin, together with irresistible appeals to the higher sensibilities of man to Quit His Meanness and Do Right. 1895 - 584 pages

Sam Jones’ Gospel Sermons: Delivered by the Great Preacher Rev. Sam. P. Jones. 1898 - 334 pages

Popular Lectures of Sam P. Jones. 1909 - 127 pages

Not digitized but highly desirable is the 507 page long book of Sam Jones sermons titled, ‘Quit Your Meanness.’ Published in 1886 by Cranston & Stowe.

I have one Sam Jones book ordered, although this could become a costly habit, so for now, I’ll read from these online if I need any inspirtation.

Sorry, no Moravians until tomorrow. But until then, I must share with you that I had a wonderful conversation with Mark Ramquist, a former missionary to Japan. Over lunch he shared with me his passion for acting and screenwriting –and I suggested a subject for a powerful movie, the life of Henry Opukaha’ia. I had actually been thinking about a Henry Opukaha’ia movie before, when I read his memoirs I was left breathless –they are so incredibly powerful and they would be great as a movie.

I think people must be tired of hearing me talk about Henry Opukaha’ia; I’ve shared his story with so many people –especially my Hawaiian friends. This has got me thinking, I’m going to make a concerted effort to outline the plot and write a script for a movie about his life and the effects that it had on Hawaii. How God used one boy to change an entire nation. I think this is a good project for me to take up as I consider graduate school.  More to come. 

Last night I made my near weekly rounds of Half Priced books in the University District. There are other bookstores in the University District with more extensive sections of religious books, but I’ve been very lucky finding gems at this shop. I got my copy of ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ for 32 cents, and a copy of Spurgeon’s ‘All of Grace’ for 25 cents. Last night I was on a mission to get a copy of Oswald Chambers’ ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ for a friend who doesn’t have it, when I saw it.

James Earl Jones reads the Bible. Now the title is subtly deceptive in that Mr. Jones only actually reads the New Testament, but for $20 it wasn’t a hard sell. Half way to my car I had already ripped off and disposed of the plastic wrapping. Out came the trusty Keith Green and in went Jones. That voice. ‘This is CNN.’ So far I’m rather enjoying listening to Mr. Jones read the bible, even if the audio engineering isn’t particularly great. For the price I paid I really can’t complain –it was much less tedious than downloading an audio bible off of the internet and burning it onto CDs.

The only problem that I’ve had so far is trying to shake that voice away from its most recognizable character.  Luckily there is no oxygen tank sound, so eventually I’ll probably stop imagining that it’s Darth Vader reading God’s Word.

On another note, I picked up a nice little NIV Paragraph New Testament, it was only like $2 and it’s in very good shape. I’ve never owned a paragraph bible, so I’m looking forward to seeing if there is any difference in the reading experience. Oh, and I succeeded in finding a very nice copy of Utmost for my friend, hardback in new condition for $5. Mission Complete.