John Piper Transition One Step Closer

Last night the Elders at Bethlehem Baptist Church announced by way of a unanimous vote that Jason Meyer would become the candidate for Associate Pastor of Preaching and Vision.  Leading up to this vote has been a long process by the Succession and Transition Team and then by the Search Committee.
Some of the process details can be found at BBC website.

Jason Meyer, is currently professor of New Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary.

Read the blog announcements from:
Desiring God
Between Two Worlds - Justin Taylor
Bethlehem Baptist Church
Bethlehem College and Seminary

"The Purpose of the Parables" D.A. Carson

The Gospel Coalition has recently posted "The Purpose of the Parables" the Carson preached on October 29, 2009. During the chapel service at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Carson worked in Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35. Go to the link to the blog posting and you can listen to the audio.

I am Living Vol. 01 - Free Album Download

Found this blog through twitter. I downloaded the album "I Am Living Vol. 01" and at first glance the blog Come&Live looks good. Why not give a listen today. I love the Intro to the album. Good job

adrianwarnock.com: Billy Graham Newsreels From The 1950s

adrianwarnock.com: Billy Graham Newsreels From The 1950s

Watching the newsreels and seeing the throngs of people running to get a glimpse of the "Evangelist" made me wonder what a newsreel if it had existed in the days of Whitefield would have reveled.

I think of the story from Whitefield's biography of a farmer in the field hearing his preaching near by gathered his wife and threw her on his horse and rode as hard as the could to hear the word. When the horse got tired the farmer dismounts and tells his wife to go on as he runs the remaining distant. As they approach the field where Whitefield will preach he sees such a cloud of dust and horses from the thousands who have gathered. Oh for more of Christ, to long to hear the word and to be transformed by the living Word.

Evangel the blog for First Things magazine.

The Evangel blog has a good archive of past issues of First Things’s has hit the web with the launch of Evangel.

Contributors:

• Matthew Anderson
• Hunter Baker
• Collin Brendemuehl
• Jared Bridges
• Joe Carter
• Kevin DeYoung
• Gene Fant
• Sarah J. Flashing
• James Grant
• Amy Hall
• David T. Koyzis
• Russell D. Moore
• Roger Overton
• Jeremy Pierce
• John Mark Reynolds
• Fred Sanders
• Frank Turk
• Justin Taylor
• Jared C. Wilson

Complete with an online store this blog will make for some interesting reading. Check it out.

With Calvin in the Theater of God

For years I have volunteered at the Desiring God National Conferences. This year is the first in an official capacity as Events Manager. What a joy to serve attenders. We had a 148 volunteers, 11 countries represented. Our International Outreach department had a great display in the exhibit hall which promoted "Packing Hope" as a way to get resources into countries all around the globe.

As I reflect on the conference this passage comes to mind. "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

A special micro site Theater of God has all the blog postings, photos, video, and audio. In the next week or so the sign language for each session will be posted.

R. C. Ryle Quotes

I found this blog R.C. Ryle Quotes through Justin Taylor's tweet. Here is an example of the kind of quote you will find:

“Next to praying there is nothing so important in practical religion as Bible reading. By reading that book we may learn what to believe, what to be, and what to do; how to live with comfort, and how to die in peace.”

“Happy is that man who possesses a Bible! Happier still is he who reads it! Happiest of all is he who not only reads it, but obeys it, and makes it the rule of his faith and practice!”

~ J.C. Ryle

Practical Religion p. 97

Another blog that has Ryle mp3's is Reformed Audio . Enjoy this giant of the faith.

From John Pipers Twitter

That every nail sinks in wood by God's decree has never made me doubt the value of hammers. Or preaching (Acts 13:48) - June 22nd.

This quote caught my eye in relation to the the title of this blog and were Hammer & Nail got its start with the quote from A.W. Pink. "Repeated blows of a hammer on the head of the same nail are necessary if it is to be driven in deeply, and one nail securely fixed is better than three of four loosely attached."

Thank God for Hammers and Nails!

Reformation Scotland

I have recently been reading a biography about the Scottish Reformer John Knox. The book is titled "The Plain Mr. Knox" by Elizabeth Whitley. It has sparked my interest in finding out more about the Reformation in Scotland and in the investigation I stumbled on a very good web site called Reformation Scotland. I would invite you to check it out. They have many good articles and a number of lectures that you can download.

"Boomer in the Pew" celebrates one year of blogging.

Crossway the publisher of the English Standard Version (ESV) has many excellent print editions and free ESV audio that you can listen to. You can read it on line at the ESV official web site or listen to passages at the Crossway site.

My pastor John Piper uses the ESV from the pulpit and we have it in the pew. Did I say pew? That makes me think of a great blog that is celebrating its 1st birthday. Check out Boomer in the Pew now you won't be disappointed. Boomer in the Pew is another great resource of a Christ centered blog that has great links and blog entries that will encourage your soul.

As David Porter celebrates his first year of blogging, he is giving away a free ESV Bible. Check out the rules for his drawing at Boomer in the Pew. You can view the special edition of the ESV that he will give away at his blog.

Scripture Memory Blog

I just learned of a new blog that is helpful in memorizing scripture. It is based on the Fighter Verse program. I have trouble retaining a verse for an extended period of time. So when I found Tyler Kenny's 7x7 program for retaining verses I just had to start memorizing using this system. You can find this blog at FighterVerse.com and frequent it often.

Make God your greatest treasure! Hide his work in your heart. Start today!

Do you like Christian music from the 70's and 80's?

If you were alive int he 70's and 80's then you will want to check out this blog. At the blog Jesus Rocks, a lot of the text is in another language with some English in the comment area. You can listen to some great music from the early forerunners of contemporary Christian music like Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill. Greats like Phil Keaggy and Keith Green and many, many others. If you know of any other blogs that have a similar theme please leave a comment with the site address or name.

Having gone to college during this period I found this a walk down nostalgic lane. Take the walk with me. I think that you will enjoy it.

Faith by Hearing

I came across this great ministry blog that helps the reader download great MP3's from a reformed perspective. The blog is Faith By Hearing in which the creator invites the Ipod user to redeem the commute. I have had a number of evenings downloading great sermons and interviews. People like John Piper, Iain Murry, Martin Lloyd-Jones, Mark Dever, and the list goes on and on. Try it out and let me know if you liked it.

Billy Graham turns 89 - Happy Birthday

Billy Graham turns 89 and the CT blog has a post titled "Happy Birthday, Billy Graham" and "Billy Graham's 89th Birthday Caps Year of Transition " on the PRNewsire. We wish Mr. Graham a happy birthday and many thanks for pointing us to God and His son Jesus Christ. Praise be to God! Spreading a passion for the supremecy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

Systematic Theology

Today as I was looking at the Desiring God Blog a new posting titled Trinity 101 by Justin Taylor came up. It caught my eye because he was talking about Wayne Grudems Systematic Theology which I have been using this year in my devotional time. I have gained a great appreciation for Grudem because histicle style in teaching theology is devotional. The book is a bit heavy in weight but a must have for any student of the Word.

I urge you to take a look at this article which will give you a small taste for Systematic Theology. Also there are some wonderful links for MP3's of Bruce Ware and other resources on the trinity.

Questions to Engage Your Child in Spiritual Conversation

At the Desiring God National Conference, John Piper made refererence to questions he had heard to ingage you child in spiritual discusssion. Justin Taylor has posted them on his blog Between Two Worlds.

Books, Books, Books

I love to read and the have just come across some great ideas on reading books by Al Mohler on his blog. Add a new dimension to your reading and make your own plan.

Medved on Huckabee

Medved writes that Huckabee may be the real deal at the Townhall website.

Hammer & Nail 1 Year Anniversary

It hardly seems like a year has past since I started this blog. It has been a very enjoyable learning experience for me. I have found other great blogs along the way and added links to my favorites. In all of the fun I have tried to "Spread a passion for the supremecy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."

I love to read and have found that biographies have been a great help in encouraging me. To see how God has dealt with a Spurgeon, Whitefield, Pink, Edwards, Wesley .... on and on brings me great encouragement and joy.

May the year ahead be one in which the reader of Hammer and Nail will go hard afte God. May you be satified in Him alone as you greatest treasure.

Girl Talk Blog

Girl Talk blog is about "Conversations on Biblical Womanhood and other fun stuff" This blog is put together by Carolyn Mahaney and her three daughters. Recently they interviewed Noel Piper.