New year, new book

My dear one, 

The new year is almost upon us. I love new beginnings. As a child I always eagerly anticipated a new school year, with its new notebooks, new pencils, and new textbooks. As a teenager I would often rearrange the furniture in my bedroom for a fresh take on decorating. This past summer I was so happy to move into my new apartment where I could implement changes that were on my mind for quite some time. And looking ahead to the new calendar year, I find myself with fresh resolve as I consider my priorities, goals, and wishes.

In addition to a few health/fitness goals, I have also made some financial decisions and am giving myself the challenge of memorizing Ephesians. I'll recycle my yearly goal of reading 50 books (roughly one a week), one of which I'm particularly excited to begin! The Good News We Almost Forgot is a study of the Heidelberg Catechism.

My first exposure to this historic catechism came when I was studying the theology of J. S. Bach, in a book called "My Only Comfort," the title itself taken from the first catechism question. The catechism follows the pattern of salvation as laid out in the Letter to the Romans - man's misery (guilt), man's deliverance (grace), and man's response (gratitude) - and is structured around the church year with 52 weekly portions. So I'll read the book at that slow pace in which I can absorb the rich truths of this historic catechism.

DeYoung writes at the beginning of this commentary, "All of us - kids and adults - can have our faith strengthened, our knowledge broadened, and our love for Jesus deepened by devoting ourselves to reading rich truth like the kind found in the Heidelberg Catechism."

“I wrote this book,” he continues, "so that others might be drawn into the same gospel ocean that has refreshed me. The gospel summarized in the Heidelberg Catechism is glorious, its Christ gracious, its comfort rich, its Spirit strong, its God sovereign, and its truth timeless. You can meet Christ here, if you will simply come and see."

Will you join me on this journey through the Heidelberg Catechism in 2014?