The Library will be open our normal schedule through Dec. 14 (see link at left).  Thereafter we will operate as follows:

• Dec. 15-17 (Tu-Th) – 8 AM to 5 PM
• Dec. 18 (Fr) – 8 AM to 4 PM
• Dec. 19 – Jan. 3, 2010 -  CLOSED ENTIRELY

Student materials are due for return or renewal on Dec. 15th.  (All inter-library loan books must be returned.)

Should you return books Dec. 21-23, you will have to leave them with the seminary receptionist.  We will re-open on Mon., Jan. 4 at 8 AM.

An interesting quarterly publication online is Knowing & Doing from the C.S. Lewis Institute.  Most issues contain a profile of a major Christian figure (the Winter 2009 issue focuses on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones), in addition to other articles in the general tradition of C.S. Lewis.  The Library also receives a paper copy if you want to peruse it that way.  (BTW, this publication is not indexed in ATLA, so it will not show up there.)

New tool for our online databases!  Now you can access ATLA and other tools with your Blackberry, iPhone, or other mobile devices.  You connect using the link http://search.ebscohost.mobi/ and use the same login information as with a computer.  More support information can be found at http://support.epnet.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=4431 .   Even full text articles can be read on your device (PDF), so for our mobile fanatics, check it out!  (If you need the password, stop in the Library or give us a call.)

Man returns library books 50 years late: http://tinyurl.com/yzc5yfo

The Library will open the following Saturdays to accommodate end-of-semester study needs:

• Nov. 21st / 9 AM – 1 PM
• Dec. 5th / 9 AM – 1 PM
• Dec. 12th / 9 AM – 1 PM

We will be closed entirely Nov. 26-29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Please remember to bring your library card if you need to check out materials (it is NOT the same as your student ID – you must come get one in the Library).  Thanks.

With just 2 & 1/2 weeks until Thanksgiving, time to complete research for papers is quickly slipping away.  In particular, if you need articles or books from other libraries, you need to place your requests before Thanksgiving.  After that we cannot guarantee you’ll receive the materials before the semester ends.  Let us know how we can help you.

VanDrunen, David. A Biblical Case for Natural Law. Acton Institute. 2006. 75p. index. ISBN 978-880595-23-0.   Contributed by Michael Farrell, Associate Librarian, RTS-Orlando.

Using Scripture itself, VanDrunen attempts to prove that the Bible does not provide specific instruction for all areas of life.  Rather, the Bible points humanity toward “natural law,” a commonly held set of moral guidelines that are known apart from God’s Special Revelation.  Well-established in Roman Catholic thought, natural law has its detractors in many Protestant circles.  VanDrunen makes the case that natural law is rooted in Biblical teaching and in the thought of Protestant giants such as Calvin and Luther.  Basing much of his thought on man’s creation in the Image of God, VanDrunen succinctly exegetes other Scripture relevant to the natural law debate. He carefully explains St. Augustine’s “two kingdom’s theory” which he believes provides the structure in which people can use natural law.  VanDrunen would agree with Kuyper that there is not a square inch in the universe over which God does not claim sovereignty.  However,  unlike some of Kuyper’s followers, Vandrunen would also say that God rules different parts of that universe with different means.  God rules his church through the means of grace and most specially the preached Word of God.  God in general rules history and the physical universe with natural law.  Both the Bible and natural law are divine in origin, both are gifts from God that people must follow in order to “function properly.”  When we try to use Scripture when we should be using natural law, we will run into trouble; and when we try to use natural law when we should be using Scripture, we will run into a very similar trouble.

Congratulations to Moses Nickerson and Steve Thompson who each won a Calvin 500th anniversary mug for making book suggestions for the Library.  Thanks to the others who participated as well.  Several book titles have been ordered based on the suggestions, so everyone will benefit.  Don’t the rest of you wish you’d had a shot at those mugs?  Until October  2010…

Students in the ARP History class have just read about a controversy in 18th century Scotland around a book, The Marrow of Modern Divinity, concerning the free offer of the Gospel.  The book itself is in the library, but Dr. Sinclair Ferguson has given 3 excellent lectures on it that greatly clarify the doctrines in question and make application in our time.  Go to www.misterrichardson.com/ferguson.html and scroll down for the links (of course, the rest of his material is wonderful too).

Added note: There is now a Facebook group for ‘Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine’ if you’re interested in a forum to learn more.

Just a reminder to our students – send us your book purchase selections and/or book reviews soon!  Theological Libraries Month is coming to a close.  On Thursday, Oct. 29 we will show the old but good movie on the life of Martin Luther (creatively titled, ‘Martin Luther’) around 4:00 PM.  There is an unsubstantiated rumor that food may be allowed in the library during the movie…