Opportunity to help a faithful brother: Ed Komoszewski

by Dan Phillips

You may or may not instantly recognize — much less be able to vocalize — the name Ed Komozsewski. As to the latter, it is pronounced comm-ah-CHEFF-skee.

As to the former, Ed has brought us several books including his byline, of which I reviewed and recommended one called Reinventing Jesus some time ago. If you read it, you profited by it; it's quite a good book.

But also if you have read and profited from The World-Tilting Gospel, published by Kregel, you have Ed to thank. Ed is the man who sold Kregel on taking a chance on unpublished me and my baby, and helped nurse it and me through the process. Valerie and I have had the pleasure of meeting and dining with him, as well as a continued occasional correspondence.

What you pretty surely do not know is that Ed has been very, very ill for some time. His medical bills have become unmanageable, his health continues to decline, and his needs deepen.

I'd like to encourage you to help the brother out at this GoFundMe site. You will find there much more explanation from scholars Dan Wallace and Rob Bowman.

I'll let you read the details at that site. Ed's a good brother, and I hope you'll help him and his family out.

---

Join me for Jersey Fire this weekend

by Dan Phillips

Howdy there, friends and neighbors, Dear Readers all. I hope you'll be able to join me and an assemblage of brothers this weekend AT...

What's more natural than having a Pyromaniac speak at a conference called "Jersey Fire"?

Heretofore I've only been in NJ long enough to wait for our connecting flight to Scotland, and enjoy my first Smashburger. This will definitely broaden that experience.

I'd love to meet you and hope you can come. For my two talks, I'll speak on the meaning, the matrix, and the movement of discipleship. If you've been homeschooled, you will realize that that totals out at three, which is both a different and a greater number than two. So we'll see how I cram three into two. Add to that the fact that, in those three talks, I aim to get Bibley about everything. Fast listening may be required.

Here's the details. Do join us!

---

Week off

by Dan Phillips

Area flooding is threatening at least our timing, but we're supposed to be doing some local vacationing this week. So I myself am...

Back next week, Lord willing.

---

Things To Come

by Dan Phillips

(Not the book by Pentecost, but, you know... things to come!)

My "things to do" list has well passed my "things done" list. When that sort of thing happens, blogging is a thing that gives. But I thought I'd tell you of some things in the works:

What it does and doesn't mean to walk in the Spirit. I've mostly written on the second aspect (doesn't mean), but mean to do some writing here, in addition to what's in TWTG. I've preached about it, more than once, but it remains to put it in a blog post.

A review of Matt Harmon's Mentor series commentary on Philippians. Absolutely wonderful commentary, a rare combination of scholarship and devotion. Enthusiastically recommend it, expect it to be used for years to come.

A review of Logos 6, particularly the Reformed package. I was a beta tester. Love it, recommend it.

A review of BibleWorks 10. Also beta tested this, also love it, also recommend it. Every pastor or serious Bible teacher should have this. In fact, I'm to be talking about it on the Theotek Podcast this Friday, Lord willing.

So, when I can, you'll see this. And an SHST this Friday if I can.

In the meanwhile if you've any interest, last Sunday I preached on that theme dear to our hearts: the glory of God.

---

How to search for articles on Pyromaniacs

by Dan Phillips

We get asked to find old posts for folks often enough that I conclude the following not to be common knowledge. So, I share.

Google has a terrific feature that lets you search sites. Basically, you just enter whatever terms you want to search, applying normal search rules, then a space, then site:{blog URL}. As simple as that.

So it looks like this. If I want to find that post that has something to do with paper pastors, and know that's an exact phrase in the post, I would do and receive the following:

If you enclose in quotation-marks, it will search the exact phrase. If you don't, it will search all the words. Just like normal Googling.

You're welcome. And thank you!

PS — I've now added a link to this on the Sidebar. Because otherwise, one day you'll think, "I want to find an old Pyro article. Let's see... they did a post on how to do that once... um... somewhere..."

---

And... we're live: TeamPyro's Sufficient Fire conference — January 23-24, 2015

...we're putting the band back together!
And we want you to be there!

IT'S COMING: Together Again, for the First Time

by Dan Phillips

Today, we snap aside the veil and show you what we've got ù so far. What could we possibly do that's never been done before?

It's the first Pyromaniacs conference! as you pretty much guessed.

Details are still being firmed up, and we'll let you know as matters are finalized, but This Is Where We're At Right Now:

Speakers:

Phil Johnson

Frank Turk

Dan Phillips

...and maybe a surprise guest speaker:

(We're also looking into some music)

Dates:

January 23-24, 2015

Place:

Houston, Texas

Working Theme:

Sufficient Fire

(The sufficiency of Scripture, ablaze)

What difference does it make when you really, truly believe that Scripture is sufficient? It makes all the difference. We'll show you.

A whole lot more should be available within the next month, Lord willing. But we did want to let you know the basics early, so those who want to come can start planning.

This is the first time we've all spoken at the same conference. But you know it isn't the first time we've been together.

Join us! Tell your friends.

 

...then hurry on out, y'all.

---

ANNOUNCEMENT — from the "Well, It's About Time!" Department

by Dan Phillips

Fond of long introductions as I am not, I shall cut straight to the chase...or at least to its opening sequence:

Keep calendars and budgets clear for 
January 23-24, 2015

Price flights to 
Houston, Texas, USA, Earth

(Some) details to follow... Thursday.

---

Alone, outgunned, and hopelessly outnumbered

by Dan Phillips

In other words, "A target-rich environment."

When Frank told me some time back of his thoughts of hiating from The Intarwebz, I first thought to do the same. Since entering fulltime pastoral ministry at CBC here, I found that my time was more taken up, and even more that my "itch" was more scratched. I didn't have the same driving need to use blogging to get out the Word, since I had done it via books and now was doing it in The Real Thing, a local church. And a very dear one, at that.

And then there was the need to get out two scheduled posts every Tuesday and Thursday, which isn't always easy to wedge in. However, there are still things I want to do. There are a number of books I want to review, and still topics I want to dive into and truths I want to uncage from this platform.

That said, then, here's The Fewchah as we're looking at it:

1. We all know about Phil. Snif.
2. Frank is hiational, but the door is always open, in case someone on the internet is so wrong that only Frank can fix it.
3. Monday will be Spurgeon, and Friday will be Best-of, or Greatest Hits, now spanning amongst the three of us.
4. I'll post as inspiration strikes or need arises on the remaining days.

There y'go.

Phil's departure was a big loss to the intrawebs, but at least there was Frank. But now for a time, you won't have Frank to kick [you] around. I thought and think that the both of them do what no one else is doing, and what badly needs to be done. But God is God, and those brothers have better things to put their hands to at present.

So in the meanwhile, I'll endeavor to persevere, and maybe even...

---

Pyro and me: philosophy of strategery

by Dan Phillips

Candidly, I'm not writing this because I think it can possibly be of any great interest to anyone. It's more of a bookmark, for my own future use and reference — as in "See my explanation here." I may even give it one star myself. (On re-read, I may give it 2 or 3 for the neologisms alone.)

However Phil or Frank saw or sees their role (respectively), I have always viewed my role here as semi-pastoral, in this sense:

1. I have some Biblical essentials to communicate which I think are vitally important.
2. Many of these essentials are communicated too seldom, too unclearly, too timidly, too ineffectively, too zombily, and/or too vaguely.
3. I mean to communicate them as directly, clearly, forcefully, effectively, memorably, mark-leavingly and fruitfully as I can.

Though this will be a "duh" to long-timers, it actually does place me in a different category from many other high-traffic bloggers. You've noticed it: the writers impart some cybergold nuggets — fine men that they are. Then they wander off to do important, big-name-guy things... and allow unmoderated metas to go straight to Hades.

Which I just won't.

My aim has never been to host an open-ended PoMo discussion group, with sofas and tie-dye T's and foo-foo drinks. I view this as more akin to a Bible study, where I am responsible for leading the discussion in a specific direction — and making sure it gets there and stays there. Participation is welcomed, appreciated, and encouraged; but it is also moderated and directed. This isn't a democracy.

Would be-derailers and snipers tend to find that out quickly. Guys who sit at the back of the classroom and make sniggering, snide little derailing snipes for their own smug amusement, not only refusing to learn but doing their best to prevent others from learning, encounter reality in due time.

Remember, too, that I am not postmodern. I don't think that truth is in the eye of the beholder. If I'm making the case that the Bible is sufficient and the Canon is closed, that is what I am earnest that readers take away. I am not timidly raising a flag to see who will salute it; I am not nambipambily floating a trial-balloon with the intent of tremulously taking a poll afterwards. My goal in life is not to be lauded by as "careful" by RBP types. I am teaching, I am aiming to inform and persuade.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as all the brain trust posts, which are of a totally different nature. But seriously, think about it: I've been at this in earnest for well over thirty-nine years. That's longer than many of you have even been alive, let alone saved. Does it mean I'm right? Mercy, don't I wish! But, friend, in earnest: if I haven't come up with something to say with conviction and force in that time... I've been doing it really, really wrong.

So it's with that conviction that I write. And for most of you, that's actually why you come here. If you had wanted to see timid, dainty, precious, raised-pinkie reeds shaken by the wind, there were lots of high-traffic sites you could go to. This is not that.

(If any of this surprises anyone, donde esta frijole? — which is Spanish for "Where you been?")

Pyromaniacs (to my mind) never has been and never will be simply a clearing-house for that great howling wasteland of insanity that gibbers and prances under the loose canopy of "evangelicalism." Pyromaniac wasn't, and Pyromaniacs isn't. I see Pyromaniacs at its best as a beacon and a lighthouse, a haven and a place of instruction and direction. Not a bloggy Bedlam.

Clear enough?

Keeping it that way, with open comment threads, is actually a lot of work. And it places quite an obligation on me, given my self-assigned role. I can't just throw something out and then allow the subsequent conversation to be captivated by what I think are harmful false teachers, who throw out irresponsible and devastating distractions and delusions, beguiling and ultimately damaging the souls of my readers. I feel that responsibility very keenly.

All this has its parallel in the thought of Titus 3:8-11. As he has done many times in the epistle, Paul urges Titus to insist that sound faith must issue in God-honoring actions (v. 8). Those opposed to sound faith will want to come in with endless arguments and debates, hoping to start a discussion that will whirl about in repetitious circles for their own amusement and aggrandizement — but the net outcome of all such exercises is both unprofitable and foolish (v. 9). Therefore, Titus is to take decisive action: confront the divisive ones decisively, and then show them the door, leaving them to the miseries they've chosen for themselves (vv. 10-11).

I feel a responsibility like that for what I'm doing here, for the reasons detailed above. Of course, many who've been shown the door would argue that their perspective was vital and wonderful and needed and all. To that, my politest and (I think) inarguable response would be, "Then that's what your blog is for."

Now, add another pressure to maintaining all this. As you (should) know, this is not my paid job. It isn't what feeds, houses and clothes my family. I love this ministry dearly. I thank God for it. But my priority is God, my family, and my local church pastorate. Any of those things "trump" this ministry.

Frankly, I've found that my pastorate has had more of an impact on blogging than I anticipated. Perhaps that was naive of me, but there we are. I still aim to keep on blogging, and am in fact keeping it up, but it's being more of a challenge than I expected.

So one of the impacts of that reality is in metas. To take two extreme poles, I simply cannot spend hours and hours babysitting a meta that has turned into a ridiculous free-for-all for passing barking-loon drive-bys, OR accepting the role of chief and sole debater in a long ongoing series of barrages that would require one-man research assignments and (again) hours of ongoing participation. Just can't do it.

So that leaves me with several choices, none of them perfectly happy:

1. Stop blogging. (Won't.)
2. Close comments altogether. (Would rather not.)
3. Moderate comments and just don't allow the more de-raily, reading-comp challenged, wheel-reinventing endless-do-loop ones. (Do.)
4. Do my best to allow comments and participate, but close the meta if I am unable to meet what I believe is my responsibility as "discussion-leader," given the accountability I feel for my readers. (Also do.)

So there you go. And if you feel really cheesed off about all this, I'm sorry, but I'd just take this occasion gently to remind you, not for the first time, what your monthly fees are for this service.

---

Today-only: God's Wisdom in Proverbs for 60% off

by Dan Phillips

With budgets so tight, I thought this worth a word: today-only (until midnight), you can get a copy of God's Wisdom in Proverbs for 60% off at the Kress website. That means that, instead of the normal price of $24.99, you would pay only $10.

IN FACT, all of Kress' books are on sale for 60% off, today only.

I thought you'd want to know because a number of you pastors, leaders and teachers have found it useful. This would be great to buy copies for a class, or a late graduation gift, or a going-off-to-college gift. Or others of you whose curiosity has been piqued by reviews and Tweets from readers — taking the leap has just gotten a whole lot less costly.

But remember: only until midnight.

---

...and hello, Houston!

by Dan Phillips

[continued from here]

Several months ago, I was contacted by regular reader Sir Aaron, whose church had begun looking for a pastor. Was I interested? "Sure," I said. "Where is it?"

"Houston," he answered.

"Doesn't that get awfully hot?" I asked. (I know that isn't deep, but it was the first association I had.)

"Only outside," he replied.

Thus began a process of conversation between the gracious folks of Copperfield Bible Church. After we'd asked each other a lot of questions and done our own investigations, they flew my family and me out for a week's visit.

For my family and me, it was an exhilarating joy. To say that they treated us warmly or friendly wouldn't come near to capturing how we felt. They welcomed us like long-lost, dearly-loved family. Though we were far from home, we felt as if we were home. We went through a number of group meetings and individual suppers, among many other activities. I preached twice (you can find those sermons here), led three other meetings, and participated in an evangelistic outreach. It simply was a joy.

So when they invited me to bring my family and serve with their elders in pastoring the church, my family was delighted for me to accept.

So I begin "on the clock" as pastor today, and am to preach my first sermon as pastor next Sunday.

Now you know why I've been busy, and why I'll be busy. You all know it isn't easy for a Calvidispiebaptogelical to find a home, but by God's grace I found one.

I just had to come a long, long way to find it!

I'm looking forward with great eagerness to get to know, to love, to teach and lead these folks, in the company of the good brothers who are my fellow-elders. I am thrilled at the opportunity to exalt Christ by preaching and teaching the Word emphatically and passionately, living it by God's grace, and bringing it to bear in pastoral discipleship.

Your prayers for them, me and my family would be deeply appreciated.

---

How my day started (thanks, Doug Wilson)

by Dan Phillips

My day began as usual. First, the all-important task of starting The Coffee going. Then ablutions and garb-donning. Then a reading from Spurgeon's Chequebook of Faith, from Frame's The Doctrine of the Word of God, from Jeremiah 52, and from 1 John.

In the latter, I was really encouraged by verse 9's bold assertion that God is faithful and righteous to forgive believers our sin as we confess. One might have expected other words, such as gracious and merciful, or good and kind. But God is faithful in that He has promised to forgive believers and may be relied upon to deliver on that promise; and He is just in that His Son has made full satisfaction for their sins, and it would be unjust for the Father to refuse to forgive them (2:1-2). Glorious, wonderful, life-and-sanity-saving truth. So then I prayed, and thanked God for that reality.

Pause: if you don't want to hear anything about me or my literary firstborn, spare yourself the irritation of reading further, and, sincerely, have a great day.

Then in my email I find a note from Albert Garlando, who has put TWTG to good use, alerting me to, of all things, a review by pastor Doug Wilson.

Now, I'd had an inkling in mid-February:

It was a bit of a jaw-dropper to me. I had no idea that I, much less my little tome, were anywhere on Pastor Wilson's radar-screen. But such a gracious word from such a gifted writer... well, it didn't ruin my day.

Then there was this, and now this.

Anyone who hasn't had a book published shouldn't be expected to understand how an author feels towards his oeuvres. It's a little like being a parent: you want your child to do well. The difference is that a child is capable of taking what you've labored to give him and going far beyond what you'd hoped and dreamed, with his own God-given efforts... or he can turn it all to shame and pain. A book, on the other hand, has just what you've put into it. Then it's up to God, marketers, reviewers, readers.

Those who love what the book is and does naturally want to see others discover and enjoy and profit from what they've found. Others just don't want to hear of it anymore. It's hard to understand how folks blame authors for being excited and invested; after all, if you weren't passionately-committed, why would you bother to go through the hundreds (thousands?) of hours of effort to produce it? Yet some do.

All that to say, for Doug Wilson to speak as kindly and enthusiastically as he does — that doesn't ruin my day. As Wilson himself graciously notes, we're not carbon-copies of each other doctrinally. But Wilson is a remarkably gifted writer and speaker, and a sharp thinker. Some of his sallies with Christopher Hitchens, for instance — the analogy of the tree; two soda cans fizzing — were so effortlessly brilliant that they're in my memory and arsenal for as long as I have either.

I guess it's like having Alton Brown say you served him a darned fine dinner at your restaurant, and then hearing him go on to say that all his fans ought to go give it a try.

Wilson chooses TWTG to be his first Book of the Month, and says

This is a really good book. Even if you are not in a position to read it right now, authors like this need to be encouraged. Buy it right now, and read it as soon as you can.

How kind of him. What can I do but say thanks to all of you who have graciously talked-up TWTG and now to Doug as well, and thank God, and pray that God uses his encouragement to raise visibility and spread the ministry of my little paper emissary?

Thanks for indulging me as I bubble, and I hope you don't blame me too harshly

---

I am semi-hiatusing

by Dan Phillips

I think I'm the only Pyro who hasn't hiatused very seriously. I've never wanted to. I don't really want to now, so I'm not exactly sure how serious this one will be.

But my time will be limited, something has to give, and this is that something. So I'll only be able to make my usual Tuesday/Thursday deliveries if something bubbles up almost full-formed in my available spare moments.

Which, obviously, hasn't happened yet today.

If you really want you some DJP, you know there are around 650 of them, and they go back for years. So you might check them out.

For those who care, it's all good. I have a really heavy-duty (happy!) project that should take up most or all of my usual spare post-composition time for around a month. After that, I expect to be back, though of course with the usual DV-proviso.

Of course, you know what this means. To Tom Chantry, anyway.

Behave yourselves. Well.

---

Book notes: international availability, study guides, electronic, and autographs

by Dan Phillips

Happy Reformation Day, boys and girls. While we're all waiting for Spurgeon, Phil, or (preferably) both, I need to squeeze these in briefly and oh-so-bumpably:

1. International shipping. Readers in Canada, Australia, the UK and elsewhere have often asked how to get The World-Tilting Gospel and/or God's Wisdom in Proverbs internationally (A) at all, and (B) without getting buried beneath shipping costs. Thanks to a BibChr reader named Margaret, I can tell you that The Book Depository has both available, and they say free shipping to anywhere. Nice discounts, too. So check them out as follows: The World-Tilting Gospel, and God's Wisdom in Proverbs. Thanks for your interest!
2. Study guides for TWTG. Several churches are using or planning to use The World-Tilting Gospel as an opportunity to dig into Scriptural teaching about a Gospel worldview. They have asked if there are study guides. Not yet, and not yet planned. When I asked in early days, I was told that it depends on sales. That's all I know at present; I'll let you know when I know more.
3. Electronic versions of God's Wisdom in Proverbs. I'm told that's in the works, no timeline at present. If you want my opinion, the book has so many footnotes (yes! footnotes! not the execrable endnotes!) that it mightn't be best for Kindle. Take advantage of the 50% off sale, have one you can hold and mark up with highlights and smilies and frownies. But when I know more, I'll tell you.
4. Autographs. Believe it or don't, explain it or can't, many asked how to get autographed copies of one or the other book. My response has always been the customary inarticulate gurgle. No more! First: I love guest-speaking, and would love to be invited to guest-preach, but of course that's not always possible for a host of reasons. So I have made a way, by renting a post office box. I'd ask you to email me, and I can give you the address. You would snail-mail the book(s) to me with any instructions about the autograph, using a package I could re-use and including full return postage (or hel-lo thrift store!).

I know the one-star haters loathe posts like this, but these are all responses to repeated questions. Thank you! to all who have asked, I appreciate it from my heart.

Now you know all that! In case anyone asks!

---

"God's Wisdom in Proverbs": What's the Deal?

by Dan Phillips

I realized that I haven't actually told you much about God's Wisdom in Proverbs, beyond the fact that it's coming and it's pre-orderable at 50% off. Realizing this, I'm truly all the more humbled and grateful to the many of you who have pre-ordered the book, regardless. Thank you so much; please know that I never, ever take it for granted.

Perhaps others would like a sneak-peek at what's in it, and such like? In that case, I'm here to serve.

Because the 50%-off price is, seriously, a terrific deal, if you ever think you'd be interested in this book. (For that matter, I'm tempted to order a bunch of copies myself!)

For starters, here's the...

Table of Contents Preface......................................................................................................xv Acknowledgments......................................................................................xx Chapter One Essentials for Understanding Proverbs...........................................................1 Chapter Two The Stated Design of Proverbs.....................................................................35 Chapter Three The Foundation of Wisdom..........................................................................65 Chapter Four WISDOM: Seeking and Finding..................................................................107 Chapter Five Relating to God by Trust and Worship.........................................................127 Chapter Six Skill in Godly Relationships........................................................................161 Chapter Seven Skill in Godly Marriage...............................................................................187 Chapter Eight Skill in Godly Child-training........................................................................243 Epilogue A Word to the Wise.....................................................................................307 Appendix One Who Wrote Proverbs, and What Difference Does It Make?..........................317 Appendix Two Words Related to Teaching in Proverbs.......................................................337 Appendix Three Proverbs 22:6—Promise…or Threat?...........................................................353 Appendix Four Preaching and Teaching the Book of Proverbs............................................381 Bibliography..............................................................................................397 Index of Major Subjects..............................................................................403 Index of Scriptures.....................................................................................404

What that doesn't show is that each chapter is followed by a series of study questions for consideration. This will make the book more useful for Bible studies, Fellowship groups, electives, college/seminary courses.

Now let me tell you a bit more about what is in God's Wisdom in Proverbs — though I will mostly let others do the talking. How can I? We sent a penultimate version of the manuscript to a broadly-selected group of readers who included PhDs, moms, pastors, and others of varying levels of theological education. The following quotations are from their responses to a series of questions about their experience in reading the manuscript.

Style. God's Wisdom in Proverbs is rather different from The World-Tilting Gospel. TWTG is conversational in tone. While one hopes that it is evident that the author did his homework, the muscle is kept largely "under the hood." There are relatively few academic-type footnotes, and what Greek and Hebrew notes are included are phonetically transliterated.

In God's Wisdom in Proverbs, by contrast — to use a math metaphor, which, my dear wife will confirm, is pretty funny for me to be caught doing — I "show my work." Hebrew, Greek, scads of footnotes, pages of bibliography, charts, graphs, arguing with previous writers, the whole nine yards. A fair bit of exegetical, expository, theological, and applicational nuts and bolts are provided for your edification.

On the other hand, it's still by me. It's still my style, or one of my styles. The intent is to reach as wide a spectrum of readers as possible with some of the best work in Proverbs that I'm capable of offering. My desire as always is to be of use to as many as possible — in fact, to absolutely anyone who wishes to understand the Word better. That is my life-goal, under God. So the most technical information is in the footnotes, while the main text is kept more flowing.

Does the extensive reference to Hebrew make the book unusable to a non-Hebrew-reader? Hear one such pre-reader speak to just that question: "I definitely found the use of Hebrew to be appropriate, and certainly understood why it was there. After all, we’re studying a book written in Hebrew, let’s get to the language. ...Dan’s obvious familiarity with the language boosted my confidence in his treatment of the text."

Another, who had studied some Hebrew previously, said, "I found [the use of Hebrew] helpful, because Dan explains his terms. He explained his terms well enough that a serious student who may be ignorant of Hebrew could easily manage his way through his book and benefit greatly from it."

Does the fact that it's more "show-my-work" than The World-Tilting Gospel make God's Wisdom in Proverbs any less accessible?

"I found this book’s style highly engaging. ...I found the book to be a page-turner. Loved the warmth, wit and obvious love for God’s word and concern for the reader" (grandmother) "Yes, Dan has an easy 'let’s chat about' this style...." (PhD/professor) “Yes hard to put down. ...Very encouraging. Too many OT works in general, and works on the poetic books in particular, get lost in theory, diagramming, and seem to lose application and spiritual vigor” (PhD/pastor) "Dan has done a really superb job in keeping the material accessible" (associate pastor)

Usefulness. Who could make use of God's Wisdom in Proverbs? My intent was that it be useful to as many sorts of people as Lady Wisdom summons in the streets (Prov. 1:20-33). Here are the folks the pre-readers felt it would reach:

• Pastors
• Pastors in training
• Seminary students
• Bible college students
• College students
• Bible study leaders
• Biblical counselors
• Discipleship trainers
• SS teachers
• Parents, specifically home-school parents and parents of struggling or wise teenagers
• Young parents who want to start their households off on the path of wisdom
• Single parents
• Grandparents
• Serious-minded Christians
• Pretty much anyone who is serious about studying the Proverbs
• Anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of Hebrew or understand how intricately translations affect understanding and application
• All kinds of people from all kinds of walks of life
• Home school co-op teachers

But don't take my word for it. Before we did the final edit, we ran the book before readers from all walks of life. Here are some of their impressions:

"I enjoyed and benefited immensely from this book, as a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, counselor, and most of all as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a great read, as evidenced by how much I ruminated on it and looked forward to getting back to it when I had to lay it down. ...The material was accessible; although the work is plenty academic, the language was direct and real, and never stuffy. I very much enjoyed Dan’s sense of humor even as he was speaking pastorally. ... will heartily recommend this book to friends and fellow church members. I believe it’s an important book that can fill a huge need in the church." (a grandmother) "Spiritually convicting, helpful, pastoral." (PhD/pastor) "...it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It was engaging to the point I would seriously think about teaching through the book of Proverbs with a class or congregation" (Bible teacher/ employee in Christian org.) "Without exaggeration, this book will become a 'go-to' resource for Proverbs... I especially thought that [the introductory material is] worth whatever may be the price of this book. Dan’s discussion of Solomonic authorship and intent, the structure and unity of Proverbs, as well as interpretive guidelines were exceedingly helpful in cutting through the higher critical presumptions on Proverbs, many of which have unfortunately infiltrated the evangelical pew and necessitate treatment by any pastor or teacher. "Dan’s strength is not just the exhaustive treatment (and interaction with other literature and commentaries), but the accessible manner in which he treats them. It is a rare-find to have a book that deals with all the necessary issues in a readable fashion. Dan very much exemplifies a model for teaching Proverbs to pastors and teachers and I do not believe I have yet to encounter another work on Proverbs that is this accessible, thorough, and helpful.  Furthermore, Dan’s applicational comments are both relevant and suggestive to how one may preach and apply Proverbs to our contemporary context and churches. ...I believe I would go so far as to say that if you own only one book on Proverbs for teaching and preparation, this is the book." (Associate pastor)

Of course, as the author, to see both "accessible" and "academic" applied repeatedly to the same book does not ruin my day. To say the least.

I hope that's helpful in telling you whether this sounds like a book for your library. In the days to come, I am thinking of putting up an excerpt or two. Maybe I'll tease you with a bit from Appendix Three, concerning which Dr. Kevin Zuber said it might make some readers "take that old 'cross-stitch verse' off the nursery wall."

But if you have any interest in it at all, I sincerely encourage you to take advantage of the 50% off deal that is currently being offered. When Amazon has it, I can't imagine they're get anywhere near that price.

Publication date is targeted for September 1, 2011. Soon!

Readers outside of America: the person to contact is Tonya Waycaster, at tonya.waycaster, then @, then stl-distribution.com. Ask her any questions you have about coupons, delivery, all the rest. Thanks for your interest!

Kindle? Logos? Audio version? All that probably depends on sales of the hardcover edition, and that is what this post and meta are about.

---

Asking a favour of my United Kingdom friends: Ashford Bible Conference

by Dan Phillips

I will bump this post myself later, but you brothers and sisters in the UK are awake and about long ahead of most of my other readers. So I speak unto you.

This September, I am to come to your lovely shores to join with two brothers in opening up the grand subject of...

This conference, the third annual Ashford Bible Conference, is to be held September 17, 2011, in (as you might guess) Ashford, England. My efforts will be joined with those of pastors Tom Drion and Anthony Forsyth.

My own assigned conference talks are an introduction to Messianic prophecy in the OT, and then a focused session on Messiah in Genesis. I'm looking forward to being instructed afterwards by the sessions with brothers Drion and Forsyth. The next day, I plan to preach on Christ and Proverbs. Plus, if I can figure out how to do it and DV, we may have some World-Tilting Gospel and the then-brand-new God's Wisdom in Proverbs for anyone who's interested, and who may want me to scrawl my "X" (tilted or non-tilted) on their copy.

In my first talk I plan a unique approach. I don't want to give it away, but I plan a frontal approach to our Lord's insistence that the OT was sufficient to condemn anyone who did not embrace Him as Messiah. I mean to open up and expound the truth of His convictions, to the best of my ability, and in a manner different than any I've seen to date in one talk. In other words, is Messiah all over the OT, or do we need special NT spectacles to see Him? Or is He not even there until we put Him there?

My session on Genesis will similarly be a bit off-path in that I do not plan to focus on familiar ground, but rather will highlight other significant ways in which Moses points us to Christ.

"You said something about asking us a favor favour," you say, uncomfortably, at this point. Yes, that's right.

Please help me get the word out.

I'm not there, and this is the best I know how to do. Here's what I am asking you: of course, most of all, come if you can. I would love to meet our readers, it is one of the facets I'm personally most looking forward to.

But if you can't come — and please, let's not fill this meta with folks explaining why they can't come — I'm just asking you to tell those who maybe can come if they only knew about it. Put it out there for them. Reach out, if you could, to non-Pyro/BibChr readers. If you don't mind, put up a word on your blog. Tweet it. Google-plus it. "Like" the Facebook page and share it. Email some friends. If you're a pastor and don't mind doing so, maybe put a word in the bulletin.  Or if you can come, better still: bring a group, make it a church activity.

From everything I've heard, the folks who run this conference are very gracious hosts, and a good time of Christian fellowship in the Word is enjoyed by all who come.

And before, during, and after, please also pray for the conference and for all of us involved. Nothing I've heard makes me think that the UK doesn't need more proclamation of the Christ of the entire Bible. You share that in common with us. I gladly come to add my mite to the labors of the faithful sisters and brothers already bearing witness to the best of their abilities, and hopefully to add an item or two to their arsenal.

Plus: I am a great believer in the usefulness of Bible conferences. I think they've done a lot of good here in the Colonies. For the tradition to take hold in the UK, events such as this need support. I'm really not persuaded by the naysayers; it isn't about creating "rock stars," it's about believers enjoying fellowship with each other, confessing their faith, and being built up. In fact, my dear wife and I count our time at Together for the Gospel in 2008 as one of the best things we've ever done, best times we've ever spent, together.

Thanks in advance, for everything you can do. I am grateful, and I do not take the least tiniest bit of it for granted.

---