I didn't know exactly where to put this but here is where I settled on; I apologize if another forum is better suited for it. Anyway, I am just about 19 and I have two great loves: law enforcement and theology. I won't be going to seminary for a while because I am going to work at a jail and then as a deputy sheriff (my main ministries); therefore, I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a list of books, studies, articles, etc. that would give me insight into theology (any and all aspects), the Christian life, and the Word of God in general. Of course, I study the Bible itself for the most part but what books, perhaps from most suggested to less suggested, would you suggest for someone who wants a seminary education without being able to go to seminary for many years?

I appreciate your input, brothers and sisters.

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Andrew Thornquist My Photo Album
Calvinistic Baptist
Ukiah, California
To follow Christ was the best decision God made for me!

Hey Andrew,
Here is a link that may be helpful: RTS Recommended Reading List
It is a recommended reading list put out by RTS. I haven't tackled much of this reading yet because I'm in a similar position you are. I'm a 20 year old junior engineering student, so I don't have a lot of time for extra reading, but I love reading theology and would like to go to seminary sometime in my future. Anyways, I hope this helps. Nice to meet you by the way It's nice to come across other people my age who love reformed theology.

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Dan Dorman
Member of Pilgrim OPC in my hometown-Bangor, Maine
Currently attending Christ the King OPC in Longview, Texas, where I am a college student

“The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted” -Jonathan Edwards
What is meant by "Christian Hedonism"?

I have two lists, one a commentary guide for the layman, and the other a post talking about all the other kinds of theology books for the layman.

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Rev. Lane Keister
Teaching Elder, PCA, North Dakota (working out of bounds in a CRC and an RCA church)
http://greenbaggins.wordpress.com
http://brahmsgreenglove.blogspot.com
http://accenttranslation.blogspot.com
Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Lane's lists are good. Much could be said here because it is a pretty open-ended question.

Some books that I would want to highlight for sure are (many of which are available online in the links forum):

* Metrical Psalter
* Westminster Standards
* Three Forms of Unity
* Directory of Family Worship
* Robert Shaw's Exposition of the Westminster Confession
* John Brown of Haddington's Exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism
* Zacharias Ursinus' Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism
* John Calvin, Institutes
* Wilhelmus a'Brakel, The Christian's Reasonable Service
* Commentaries on the Bible (Calvin, Henry, Poole, Spurgeon on the Psalms, etc.)
* John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress
* Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory
* William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour
* Lewis Bayly, The Practice of Piety
* Henry Scudder, The Christian's Daily Walk
* Augustine, City of God
* Augustine, Confessions

Suggested Reading
Suggested Library - Resource List

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Andrew

Thank you all very much for the suggestions. I should have enough reading for...a very long time

And I'm glad to meet you, Dan And I concur! I live in the middle of nowhere so it's indeed refreshing to be reminded that there are like-minded folk my age. It doesn't happen all too often, unfortunately.

Here are some free on-line resources you may find of interest:

American Colonist's Library

Cheers,

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Adam B., Wine Country, California, PCA

"He who drinks much beer, sleeps well. He who sleeps well, does not sin. He who does not sin, goes to heaven." Martin Luther

Let's see: I was 19 in...1971 . I think we need a "depressed" smiley...

Where is Kelseyville? I'm a life-long native Californian and I don't think I've ever heard of it.

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Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.alexandermaclaren.wordpress.com
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.spurgeonswords.wordpress.com

There is no resting place for conscience but at the cross - Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), on June 7, 1863

It look like you need an entry point into all this solid reading material; may I suggest the Westminster Confession of Faith with a good guide like Robert Shaw's commentary. On the practical Christian life, one cannot go past the the Shorter and Larger Catechism answers expounding the Ten Commandments and Lord's Prayer, with Thomas Watson's exposition illustrating the details.

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Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

I thought I was the only one who loved these two subjects. I'm considering the Border Patrol. I don't know if you have to be 21 and over, if not I would recommend it to you. You become a federal agent, have time to go to college, and can then transfer to almost any other DOJ job. If your try military before a Federal Job I would recommend the Air Force. Intel Analyst would be the best if you score high enough on the ASVAB. Get the GI Bill with it. I would recommend a technical degree such as Technical Communications Mankato (B.S.), Information Technology (B.S.), Criminal Intelligence from APUS -- Requirements (B.S.), or Computer Science. I would recommend Lectures on Calvinism by Kuyper, Theonomy in Christian Ethics by Bahnsen, Lex Rex by Rutherford. I would recommend for theology Thomas Watson's Body of Divinity, Lord's Prayer, and 10 commandments, Ursinus Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, John Gill's Doctrinal & Practical Divinity, Turretin's Elenctic Theology, Chrstian's Reasonable Service by a Brakel, Always Ready, Van Til's Readings & Analysis, and the Practical Apologetics audio series by Bahnsen. For law enforcement in particular I would recommend the following: Unmasking the Face by Ekman & Friesen, Crime Reconstruction by Chisum & Turvey, Criminalistics by Saferstein, Criminal Profiling by Turvey, and any information on the Facial Action Coding System and NLP eye accessing cues.

Oh yeah, anything Andrew recommends, even if you have to sell a kidney or two, buy them. I would also recommend TNARS.

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Chris Thomas | SBC-Founders | Fairbanks, AK

"Whatever the cause, the Calvinists were the only fighting Protestants. It was they whose faith gave them courage to stand up for the Reformation. In England, Scotland, France, Holland, they,... did the work, and but for them the Reformation would have been crushed... If it had not been for Calvinists,... and whatever you like to call them, the Pope and Philip would have won, and we should either be Papists or Socialists." ~ Sir John Skelton

It's in northern California; from here it takes 3 1/2 to 4 hours due south to get to San Francisco and 1 3/4 to 2 hours due south-east to Sacramento. Kelseyville is right next to Clear Lake, the largest nature lake in California. It's in between highway 101 and I5. Hope that gives you an idea of where I am.

Thank you for the link, Mr. Brink; I'll be sure to look around that site.

And thank you for your suggestions, Rev. Winzer. As you said, I do need an entry point of sorts.

What I don't really know at this point is how I am going to remember that massive amount of information in so many of those books...

Edit: Oh, is that right, Chris? Looks like you've really thought that all through. I've decided to not go through the military, actually. There are a number of reasons but the biggest of all is that I just don't feel the Lord leading me to it. If He was, I certainly would go Thank you for your suggestions on what to study, by the way. And you know, I have heard of TNARS from several sources now; I think I'll seriously consider it.

The easiest way is to develop your own mental organization scheme. Organize by subjects I find to be the best. Also using the technique known as mental mapping is quite useful. It allows you to see how various pieces of information relate to each other. You might also examine the species - genus breakdown used in logic.

Good suggestion! And, of course, memorising the Shorter Catechism provides a kind of filing scheme for your thoughts.

Come on! Man up! Memorize the LARGER catechism!

Forgot about that idea. Excellent idea!

Yep, that gives me a pretty good idea. I'm at the opposite end - about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. I envy you...

First things first!

It is possible to memorise the Larger Catechism; the problem is that you can easily get muddled up with the Shorter's phraseology.

You could also try the Air Guard. While military, it's not the "real" military. It would still give you the option of Intel Analyst which would give you a good foundation in basic technical writing, research, and analysis. Very small chance of going overseas in the Air Guard. If not, then with no college degree I would recommend Border Patrol. Check out their site for testings in your area. CBP.gov - home page

Larryjf works with TNARS.

hey,

I recommend that you pick up Geerhardus Vos' Biblical Theology as well as his Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos: Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation ed. by Richard Gaffin. Reading Vos' work is very illuminating and also very edifying. I suggest you begin with his inaugural address (you can find an online version here).

Biblical theology is so great, and Vos is the master.

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Andrew Tucker
Member, Aestus Church
Renton, WA
1st Year M.Div. Student -- Northwest Theological Seminary

"God hath yet more light to break forth from his word...We have more until Jesus comes.. more and more and more and more; can you plumb the length and breadth and height and depth of the love of God for his church?" --John Robinson/James Dennison