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Highlands Study Center news archives 2008News and reads for the weekend. If you are subscribed to our Kingdom Notes e-newsletter, then you should be familiar with one of our latest features, "Ask R.C." We have now created a new page with your questions and R.C.'s answers, the Ask R.C. a Question page. Right now you can find a few answered questions on that page, with more to be added weekly. Click the bold text above, or find the link in the left index under "Reads." In other news, we are now starting to put up information about our next annual conference and the 2008 Reformation Celebration, which will be happening together this year, running from October 30 through November 3, 2008. Get a brief glimpse of what is coming by going to the Annual Conference and Reformation Celebration pages. Have a blessed weekend. Kingdom Moments with R.C. Sproul Jr. — Reformation Celebration More Kingdom Moments here. Coming Soon
The Basement Tapes #75: Knowledge Puffs Up A little knowledge, we all know, is a dangerous thing. So too, according to Paul, is a great deal of knowledge. He warns us that knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. In this conversation we seek to explore that danger, and the particular manifestation of that danger that haunts our own Reformed camp. What is it about knowledge, or us, that give rise to this danger? And how might we best fight against this propensity? Join us as we seek to know what we ought, how to do rightly, to love wisdom, and to walk humbly with our God. Click on the graphic to view this CD and hear an audio sample.
Kingdom Notes Jesus Meek and Mild Tuesday Night Bible Study and third Sunday picnics. Tuesday Night Bible Study resumes tomorrow, April 15 at 7:00. This will be an 8 week study on the life of Jesus. Go to the Bible Study page for more details. The Saint Peter Third Sunday picnics resume this month, with our first picnic on the fourth Sunday of April at Steel Creek Park in Bristol, TN. We'll provide more details before the date arrives. Photos for the weekend
After a lot of pleading and a little free time, we have finally got the Reformation Celebration 2007 photo gallery online. Our most ambitious effort to date, this gallery features almost 150 photos from the packed 5 day celebration. It just may take you all weekend to view them. Great news is, we are doing it again this year. More details on this next celebration will be coming very soon. Click the photo, the photo gallery link, or the bold text above to see this massive gallery.
Kingdom Notes Anyone? Anyone?
We packed up the entire basement. Now that all our Basement Tapes are on sale for $3, there have been some requests to package them for easier purchase. Here you go. All 74 Basement Tapes in one click for $220. It's a full basement, with bath. Soap not included. Click the cover on the left to purchase the whole lot.
Birthdays, photos, and Kingdom Notes ... Today, April 4, is Dante's birthday. Dante is also your webmaster here. Me. My birthday is no matter of greatness worthy of note on our website, but this birthday, I am taking the day off. That means that I will not be answering the phone or any emails, or filling any orders today. We hope you don't mind. But we will not leave you without any reason to stay a while. We have some new photo galleries available for your perusal. Not one, not two, but three photo galleries. You can find the first two at our Overflow Gallery page. There, you will find a bunch of pictures from the trip R.C. Sproul Jr. and Doug Jones made to Myanmar, which is some other country over the pond from us and through the woods from Vietnam. The second very short collection is from R.C. Sproul Jr.'s trip to Orlando for Ligonier's national conference. The third gallery has been provided by one of our Spring 2008 Couples Campers, Mr. Ethan Post. Knowing how slow I am in getting galleries up (I am almost done with the Reformation Celebration 2007 gallery, I promise!), Mr. Post has put together a gallery of pictures he took over that weekend. You can find that gallery right here. And to round out your weekend, read the latest web posted Kingdom Note below. If you are subscribed to our Kingdom Note e-newsletter, you would have gotten this note some weeks ago. If you are not on our free e-newsletter list, please do. Just email us and ask for it. See you on Monday. Have a blessed weekend. Blessing Upon Blessing My friends Dan and Kimberly Smythe have a new son, Simeon Jedidiah. Born last night at a whopping 9 pounds 13 ounces, he is a welcome addition to what is already a prodigiously productive family. He is Smythe child number twelve. It goes without saying that both the world, and that which is of the world finds this to be loony. What surprises me is how often we miss some fairly obvious corollaries. While the Sprouls have not yet been blessed with twelve children, we do have seven. And we have been known to take them out in public. We get plenty of delightful and encouraging responses. We get precious few negative comments. But we get most often some variation on this theme: "Wow, seven kids? I can't keep my sanity with only two." Why is it, I wonder, that so many large families, like my own, are eager for more children, while so many small families regret the ones they already have? My guess is pretty simple — could it be the children themselves? [Keep Reading ...]
Our Class-iest Basement Tape yet, now available. Basement Tape #74 Class is in the mail to our monthly supporters. The CD is also now available at our Online Store for the special April price of $3. Click the CD cover on the left to read more about it, listen to an audio clip, and purchase the CD or MP3.
Kingdom Moments with R.C. Sproul Jr. — Jacob's Ladder More Kingdom Moments here. Spring Couples Camp in full swing.
Our 2008 spring Couples Camp started yesterday, March 27. Nine couples, from accross the country, including two Saint Peter couples, joined R.C. Sproul Jr. in his basement for the beginning of a very full, and hopefully edifying, weekend. Part of our weekend also includes a folk dance, tonight, March 28, at 7:00 at the Mendota Community Center. Everyone is welcome, so feel free to drop in and enjoy a fabulous evening with us.
Tuesday Night Bible Study tonight. We will be finishing our study on the Beatitudes tonight, March 25, at 7:00. Even if you have missed the first seven talks, please come. One Beatitude understood is better than none. Go to the Tuesday Night Bible Study page for all the details and directions to the study. For the weekend.
Gippetto Creation, one has to believe, must be a plenty cool thing. The angels, I'm sure, took their seats with a level of anticipation we can
only imagine, as they waited for the curtain to go up. God said, "Let there be light, and there was light." Oh His stars that must have
been something. The radiance broke forth, and the heavenly chorus sang. Glory! R.C. Sproul Jr. at Ligonier's 2008 National Conference Ligonier's 2008 National Conference, Evangelism According to Jesus featured a talk by R.C. Sproul Jr. entitled "Evangelizing Your Children," a subject R.C. is very passionate about. He apparently did well, as many people came to the Highlands Study Center booth to take home all our free stuff, ask lots of questions, and get R.C. to sign lots of books. The second edition of Bound for Glory sold better than expected for Ligonier, as they ran out of copies long before the conference was over and had to quickly get more. Most importantly, many people learned important truths about how we are to evangelize and disciple our children. For that, we are glad. If you missed R.C. speaking at the Ligonier conference, Ligonier has made available the notes as well as the webcast of the conference. Here is the link to watch R.C. Sproul Jr.'s talk on webcast (scroll down to Thursday's sessions), and here is the link to Ligonier's blog on R.C. Sproul Jr.'s talk as well as notes from the talk. Tuesday Night Bible Study tonight. We will be continuing our study on the Beatitudes tonight, March 18, at 7:00. Go to the Tuesday Night Bible Study page for all the details and directions to the study.
3-13-08 The newly reprinted (in fancy hardback) Bound for Glory is on its way to our "You Get Everything" supporters. Those who also pre-ordered the book are also getting theirs shipped today as well. The book is now on the shelf ready for purchase for only $14 for a limited time. Don't forget, if you become a "You Get Everything" supporter during the months of March and April, you will also get this book. Click here to learn more about becoming a monthly supporter. click the book to go to the store page to read more about the book and to purchase. Thanks again to our friends at Tolle Lege Press for printing this book. FINISHED!
Tuesday Night Bible Study tonight. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be teaching tonight, March 11 at 7:00 at the usual place. He is continuing the series on the Beatitudes. Go to the Tuesday Night Bible Study page for all the details.
Bound for Glory is on its way. Pre-order now! After much anticipation, the 2nd edition of Bound for Glory is on its way here. It will be at least a week before we are ready to ship out the first orders, but you can go ahead and order now. (Expect your order to be fulfilled by March 14.) But wait, there's more. All of our "You Get Everything" supporters will receive this book for their support of the Highlands Study Center. We are extending this offer to all who "Join the Conversation" as a "You Get Everything" supporter during the months of March and April. Click here to learn more about being a monthly supporter and to "Join the Conversation." CLICK HERE to take you to Bound for Glory to learn more about this book and to purchase it.
60 Basement Tapes and counting.
The Basement Tapes #73 Maturity now available. This latest CD was sent out to our
"you get a tape" and "You Get Everything" supporters
yesterday, March 5. Some of our supporters have already received this as an MP3 download. This CD is now available for purchase at our
Online Store for $6. Click on the cover to the left to get there.
Tuesday Night Bible Study resumes tonight. Our Tuesday Night Bible Study kicks off again tonight, March 4, at 7:00. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be taking us through the last four beatitudes. Visit our Tuesday Night Bible Study page for all the details.
The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival Photo Gallery It took five months to get it done, but we now have the SAICFF gallery up. It isn't much, but it is a glance and what took place in San Antonio last October. Click the Alamo on the left to see the gallery, and visit the Photo Gallery page for the rest of our pictures.
Shared Life My friend and co-laborer Laurence Windham is good at what he calls "diagnostic questions." These are questions that on their face seem rather innocuous, but that have a shocking ability to reveal our souls. Be careful when you're with him. As I am typing, not far from me, another friend and co-laborer, Mark Dewey, is speaking at our Pastors Camp. His title, which to be fair I imposed on him, is "The Anti-Christ, How Programs Destroy the Church." He has been arguing that whatever the good intentions that bring into our churches nurseries and Sunday Schools, Awana and the Golden Agers, Youth Group and Women's Circle, that these are destructive in the end. [Keep Reading ...] Basement Tape sampler FREE MP3 download. We now have our Basement Tape sampler available as an MP3 download. This sampler is still given out with our Information Packet (which also comes with a sample issue of Every Thought Captive as well as some other goodies), but if you are curious about us but don't want to trouble us for an infopack, by all means, enjoy 75 minutes of samples from our Basement Tape collection. Click on the "Basement Tape MP3" link to your left to get it. 75. We must not grow discouraged with our spiritual growth. It is an optical illusion that the Serpent is more than willing to exploit. He knows all to well that if we are in Christ, we will grow in grace. We will bear the fruit of the Spirit. We will find sin more and more repellant. Our moral vision will grow less clouded with each passing day. That, for us, is the good news. It is also, however, the source of the illusion. The trouble is that the more we grow in grace, the more like Jesus we become, the more our sin becomes apparent to us. As our eyesight clears, suddenly we become aware of sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions that once passed by unnoticed. The better we get, the worse we seem to ourselves. [Keep Reading ...] From R.C. Sproul Jr.'s new book. Kingdom Moments with R.C. Sproul Jr. — Jacob and Esau More Kingdom Moments here. The Quiet Game I love my children, and strive at most times to be honest with them. I must confess, however, that there are times when
pragmatism overwhelms principle. Suppose, for instance, that we are driving to Florida to visit the grandparents. This involves
12 to 14 hours of driving, with seven children in the car. My scruples about Hollywood shrink a tad, and we plug in videos for
hours on end. But as the end of the trip approaches, I'm not above playing "The Quiet Game." Here the parent, in all honesty,
jerks the chain of the children. We disguise our desire for quiet in the van by turning it into a game.
Every Thought Captive in the mail. If you haven't received this issue already, you should within the next couple of days. If you don't get it shortly
(give it a couple weeks for our international subscribers), then call or email us so we can get you a new issue in the mail. If you are
not already subscribed to ETC, give it a whirl. It is only $20 a year for six packed issues of wholesome goodness. Visit our
subscription page for all the details.
Coming Soon. Click the cover above to view this CD and listen to a clip. Tuesday Night Bible Study resumes March 4. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be starting the second half of our study in the Beatitudes next Tuesday, March 4, at 7:00. You can read the details at our Tuesday Night Bible Study page. R.C. Sproul Jr. preaching in Montana in March. R.C. will once again be preaching at Christ Covenant Reformed Church in Billings, Montana on March 2. See R.C.'s Speaking Schedule for all the details.
50 Basement Tapes and counting ...
Get your Basement Tapes by MP3. Guilt by Association In a week or two we will be recording another one of our Basement Tapes, this one on the work of G.K. Chesterton. My assumption is, or should I say my hope is, that no one, at least outside of John Robbins, upon hearing the grateful things we have to say about the man will determine that I must be a closet Roman Catholic. After all, I have been known to associate with G.K. Chesterton. Add to that that I have written more than once for Chronicles magazine, edited by Thomas Fleming, a known Roman Catholic. I have spoken more than once for the Separation of School and State Alliance, an organization led by my friend Marshall Fritz, another known Roman Catholic. [Keep Reading ...] Forgiveness is in the mail. Forgive us for the delay?
The last of the 2008 "you get a tape" cases, along with the latest Basement Tape
on forgiveness went in the mail today, February 14. As usual, for our monthly supporters,
if you do not receive this handsome case with your copy of "Forgiveness" inside, call or email to let us know.
So where's my Basement Tape?
Right here, but heading out the door to your mailbox. This month, our "you get a tape" and "You Get Everything" supporters will receive the latest Basement Tape as well as the 2008 "you get a tape" case to hold all their CDs for the year. This is the largest mailing we do all year, so these will be going out in waves over the next few days, with the anticipation of being finished by Friday, February 15. All of our supporters should get their 2008 cases with Basement Tape #72, "Forgiveness" by the end of the month, just a few days before the next CD is set to arrive. 72. We must seek always to see Christ. Neil Postman, in his compelling book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, argues that we have moved as a culture from one wherein the printed word drives us, to one wherein the image drives us. With the advent of the printing press, we became better able to think in abstract terms, to follow arguments, and to reach conclusions. Now, in a world driven by television, we think less and feel more. Now we emote on the basis of images, rather than think on the basis of arguments. We are more likely to be moved, than we are to be persuaded. [Keep Reading ...] From R.C. Sproul Jr.'s new book. The More Things Change It was a wise man who first noted that there is nothing new under the sun. Sadly, Solomon seemed to sigh his way through this observation, wistfully longing for something new. We, if we were wise, would rejoice in this truth. That there is nothing new under the sun, while it won't probably be found in any of the great classic works on biblical interpretation, is a critically important principle of sound biblical interpretation. [Keep Reading ...] From R.C. Sproul Jr.'s monthly article for Tabletalk magazine. Bible Study tonight. February 5, 2008. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be finishing part 4 of the study on the Beatitudes tonight at 7:00pm. Visit the Tuesday Night Bible Study page for all the details. Kingdom Notes.
Rejoice, Again I Say Rejoice
Past the halfway point. Kingdom Notes from way back in November.
All Believers New Kingdom Notes page. Every week we send out an email to folks called the KIngdom Notes. In these notes, we feature a short piece from R.C. Sproul Jr. on everyday living of the Good Life, or, how God reminds him and us that his broken lawn mower is part of God's sovereign plan. Now those notes are being made available online, at our new Kingdom Notes page, located on the left navigation bar under "Reads". These notes are not up to date, but if you want to catch these as R.C. writes them, sign up for the free weekly e-newsletter here.As with our Basement Tape MP3s, there are a lot of Notes to put up online, and it will be sometime before we get caught up. What that means for you is that there will be new notes to read everyday for a while, so check back here frequently. Bible Study tonight 7:00pm Tonight, January 29, R.C. Sproul Jr. will finish part three of four on the first half of an eight part series on the Beatitudes. Go to the Bible Study page for more details and less confusion. R.C. Sproul Jr. on the radio in February (date correction).
Scenes from Pastors Camp, January 21-23.
MP3s are now here. The first 32 Basement Tapes now for sale. In preparation for our launch of MP3 downloads, we have finally put the first three volumes of The Basement Tapes up for individual sale. Go to The Basement Tapes page at our Online Store to purchase. Coming Soon.
When we speak of the gospel too often we get bogged down in theological debates. These,
when they clarify, are a blessing. When they obscure, however, they are a curse. At the end of the day
the good news, the heart of the matter, it's about forgiveness. God, because of Christ, forgives us our sins.
And God calls us to forgive those who sin against us. In this heartfelt conversation we consider the
blessings of forgiveness, both for those who give and for those who receive. We remember the grace of God,
and once again, we rejoice. Please join us as we seek the face of God, the face of forgiveness. Highlands Academy classes start tomorrow, January 16. If you haven't signed up yet, call or email Dante. 877-878-2238 or info[at]highlandsstudycenter[dot]org. Go to the Other Events page for more details. Tuesday Night Bible Study Tonight, January 15. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be continuing on the Beatitudes at 7:00pm at the Bristol parish. Visit the Tuesday Night Bible Study page for more details. Weekend Prayers
70. We must practice a judgment of charity toward others. "Judge not," Jesus preached in His Sermon on the Mount, "lest you be judged" (Matthew 7:1). There are, typically, two reactions to this potent warning. Those outside the kingdom of God, despite refusing to bow the knee to Jesus, here cheer Him on. This is, without question, the favorite text in all the Bible amongst those who don't heed the Bible. These folks find here a blanket condemnation of all judging in all circumstances. Those inside the church, however, have a slightly more sophisticated understanding of the text. [Keep Reading ...] From R.C. Sproul Jr.'s new book. In the mail and for sale.
He has inspired poets, and papists, artists and agrarians, Lewis and Logres. And down in the basement,
we kind of like him too. G.K. Chesterton wrote fairy stories, detective novels, biographies, apologetics, histories,
all while making history, winning souls, enriching lives, unlocking mysteries and entering into wonder. In this conversation
we just scratch the service of this larger than life man, made such perhaps because he walked through God's world as a child.
Join us as we delight in his delight, as we highlight his highlights, as we seek to climb on the broad shoulders of this giant,
and see what we can see. Our Monthly Supporters will be getting their copy in a few days, and you can purchase this CD at our Online Store for just $6. Click on the CD cover to take you there. Highlands Academy classes resume January 16. Starting Wednesday, January 16, R.C. Sproul Jr. will be teaching two Academy classes, one on The Thought of C.S. Lewis, and the other on the History of the Church. See our Other Events page for all the details on these classes as well as other ongoing events in our community. Tuesday Night Bible Study starts tonight at 7:00pm We will be going throught the first two beatitudes, blessed are the poor in spirit and blessed are those who weep. See the Bible Study page for all the details. Updates on Blake.
The outpouring of prayers and support for Blake and Brett have been encouraging, overwhelming,
and a blessing. It is nothing short of a glimpse of glory to see the body of Christ come together from
all over to lift up one another. We have been able to purchase a plane ticket to get Brett home to Texas.
Blake has recieved many clothes and a new hat, several items have already been replaced, with folks making
commitments to send more. R.C. Sproul Jr. to preach in Texas, January 13. 10:30am, Weatherford Texas. New Tuesday Night Bible Study. For Such a Place as This.
I'm always quick to point out that the hardest thing about being a pastor is watching the sheep you love act foolishly and self-destruct. The greatest thing about being a pastor is watching the sheep do well. There are few people at Saint Peter Presbyterian Church of whom we are more proud than Blake Saunders. He is an outstanding young man. The other day when I had the occasion to meet his older brother, in town for a visit, I asked him, "Has Blake told you how much he is loved here? You should know that everybody is terribly grateful for him." Blake is giving to a fault. He is gracious and humble. He is as funny as his laugh. He is a talented musician, as well as a diligent worker. He is just the kind of man I pray my daughters will one day marry, and my sons will one day become. Blake woke up this morning to the sound of someone pounding on his door. A stranger driving down this rural Mendota road saw the house on fire, and wanted to be sure it was empty. It wasn't. Blake, and his brother Brett woke up, and escaped with their lives. Everything else is gone. Brett suffered burns to his hands, but has already been released from the hospital. Blake came out with his health. On this, the coldest day of the winter, they walked away with only the clothes on their backs. My joy in the midst of this hardship isn't, however, because of what a fine man Blake is. It is instead due to the outpouring of love for Blake and Brett by the whole congregation of Saint Peter. I went to visit Blake charged by my children to not come home until I had persuaded Blake to stay with us. I had to arm wrestle a whole army of other families to earn that privilege. The phone lines across southwestern Virginia are burning not with gossip, but with questions — what size shoe does Blake wear? Does he need a ride to work? Can I tend to Brett's bandages? What can we do? How about food, do they have a place to eat? Please tell Blake we're praying for him … Blake is a godly man. And he lives in a community of godly men, and women, and children. These are lead by godly pastors, men like Laurence Windham, Pito Hayes and Jay Barfield. All of us together labor to live godly lives, to the glory of our gracious Father. Please join us as we pray for peace for Blake, a swift recovery for Brett, but also as we pray in gratitude for godly young men, and as we thank God for such a place as this. R.C. Sproul Jr. Many of you know Blake. If you have any questions, or would like to help Blake, feel free to call or email us. 1-877-878-2238, info[at]highlandsstudycenter[dot]org. Yeah, there's a huge gap between here and 2005. We'll fill in some of the blanks over time, just for fun. |
