Archive for June, 2009

“Michael Haykin puts today’s financial uncertainties in perspective with a helpful blend of historical and biblical  insight.  This is a tremendous word of encouragement for anyone seeking a sure anchor in these tumultuous times.” John MacArthur

“Difficult financial times remind us that we need to seek the true, eternal wealth that can’t be corrupted by moth or rust – and doesn’t evaporate when Wall Street has a setback. Michael Haykin points the way in this wonderfully encouraging, informative, and easy-to-read booklet.” Phil Johnson

In God We Trust? is available from Audubon Press for $2.79 (30% off retail).  You can order online or call toll-free 800-405-3788 (M-F 9:00-5:00).

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin was recently interviewed by Paul Butler on Moody Radio’s Prime Time America about the “Calvin for the 21st Century Conference” sponsored by the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI, August 27th – 29th.  The part with Dr. Haykin begins at about the 1:50 mark.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

My son Nigel graduated this evening from Highland High School in Dundas, Ontario. What a privilege to have such a son. What changes he has gone through in the past couple of years. I praise the Lord for giving me such a son.

Pray for him: he is a Christian and will be studying history and classics next year at McMaster University, following in the same academic pathway that his sister Victoria has trod.

Though he told me a year ago that the history of the eighteenth century was quite boring—he preferred Roman history at the time—he is currently fascinated with British imperialism, especially the American Revolution, Banastre Tarleton and James Cook.

One of the most poignant historical reflections that I have ever heard came from a dear friend named Bob Shaker, literary enthusiast extraordinaire and a one-time deacon of Jarvis Street Baptist Church. Bob happened to visit his pastor, T.T. Shields—who, though married twice, never had any physical children—in 1949, when many of those whom Shields had mentored and taught—great future Canadian Baptist leaders like Jack Scott, Hal MacBain, Arnold Dallimore, and Tom Carson (D.A. Carson’s father)—took a different ecclesiological position than Shields and a cleavage occurred between Shields and them. Without a doubt Shields contributed to the resulting division between these brothers in Christ, but he told Shaker sadly, “All of my children are leaving me.” How utterly sad!

On the flip side, though, there are those words of the aged Apostle John in 3 John 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” It was with these Johannine words ringing in my ears that I read the following post by Baptist pastor John Bell, whom I have had the incredible privilege of teaching at Toronto Baptist Seminary (though I would never presume to think of Pastor Bell as a son in Christ–but I was so encouraged to read this): “Sharing the Gospel in the Gay Village” on Tim Challies’ blog.

I was recently asked by a dear Irish brother for a plan of reading when it came to the works of Andrew Fuller. The following is what I suggested.

Without being self-serving, I hope, begin with the Armies of the Lamb. There is nothing like getting into a figure by reading his letters.

Then I would suggest his circular letters, those written for the Northants Association, in chronological order. These give you some idea of Fuller the churchman in the midst of connectional links and associational network of friends and fellow pastors.

Then read some of his sermons, esp. the ones on the ministry, justification, and soteriological issues.

His Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation is his most important controversial work. After it, read his Letters on Sandemanianism.

Finally, read his Memoirs of Pearce. What he includes in that work says so much about his piety.

There are a few blogs I read regularly: most of them are listed on my old site of Historia ecclesiastica. One of them is Kirk Wellum’s Redeeming the Time. In part, I read Redeeming the Time because Kirk is a dear friend. But it is also because he has a sharp theological mind that I deeply appreciate. I said a hearty amen, for instance, to this recent post on “Preaching and Beyond” (June 16, 2009).

Dr. Haykin serves as co-editor, along with Joel Beeke, of the Reformation Heritage Book series “Profiles in Reformed Spirituality”.  The newest volume in the series is by Thabiti Anyabwile and focuses on the piety of Lemuel Haynes.  To promote this volume and the series of which it is a part, Reformation Heritage Books is randomly giving away five free sets today to those who sign up at Challies.com.

This is a great set.  The volumes are multifunctional. That is, they are the perfect, non-intimidating introductions to people, doctrine, and practice of the reformed tradition. They make excellent short readings for stimulating thought and devotion. They are also good for class texts for giving students an affordable entry point into a given person and time period both primary and secondary treatments in one small book.

If you don’t win the set, You can order the complete set or individual volumes at Reformation Heritage Books.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Dr. Michael Haykin has reviewed the new book Heroes by Iain Murray.

In this new book from a veteran Reformed biographer and historian, Murray looks at the faith, lives, and thought of a number of well-known figures like Jonathan Edwards and Charles H. Spurgeon, as well as some lesser-known persons like Robert Kalley and William Hewitson (both of whom had a tremendous ministry on the island of Madeira among Portuguese Roman Catholics).

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.