Introducing Parakaleo Posts: As Far As The Clouds

Welcome to Parakaleo Press and to Parakaleo Posts! In this first post I want to introduce Parakaleo Posts and what to expect here.

One of the things we love here at Parakaleo Press is the history of the saints. Who are the saints? Christians are the saints - those who have given their life to Jesus and have spent it for Jesus. Many have gone before us since the early church we read about in the New Testament. There have been many martyrs for the sake of Jesus Christ, starting with the early church and continuing even to this very day. There have been saints who have dedicated their lives to Jesus who lived very difficult lives of suffering and persecution, both physically and socially. Some have used the spoken word and some have used the written word to minister where God has placed them. There are also those who have been written about by other saints who admired their lives and felt compelled to share their stories so that others might be encouraged to live the lives that God has called them to live for Jesus. These are the writings we love and the world is secretly full of them! You just have to dig them up.

Nothing replaces the Bible as our first source of truth, hope, and peace. Jesus used parables and stories to teach and bring hope. Over the generations many saints have done the same through their lives and through their writing. Our culture seems to continuously discard or repress the rich Christian history in our world so that current and future generations do not come upon the truth and value of biblical character qualities of righteous living by the power of Jesus Christ. But the Lord, in His sovereignty and grace, has preserved these things for us in the most interesting and sometimes surprising ways.

Dr. Mark Hamby of Lamplighter Ministries demonstrates how true it is that these hidden treasures exist. These works are not just in the form of biographies, but also in fictional stories of excellent Christian characters. Lamplighter finds great books from the 1600’s, 1700’s, and 1800’s, and reproduces them to share with the world in classic bound form. And yet still there is more to find! You might even find something in your local library, thrift store, or even online.

Today, as we begin this chapter of Parakaleo Press, I want to take you back to Montreal, Canada, in 1841. History will tell us that that was the year that The Act of Union went into effect by the British Parliament to form the Province of Canada or “United Canada.” That was the time when a responsible government first came to Canadian colonies. I can imagine it was a difficult and yet an exciting time. There was much unrest in the colonies that led up to this point. There was political rebellion, fighting, and bloodshed. Even the Americans were trying to help the Canadian colonies break free from British control. Once things settled down, I imagine there was a shared feeling that they needed to remind themselves where their real freedom and hope comes from. It is not in our political freedoms, but rather in Jesus Christ.

I found a periodical from this era in a very surprising place, the archives of news.google.com. In 1841, the Christian Mirror periodical published its first paper on August 12th. There is a poem by John Dunmore Lang (the first item on the first page) from which I draw some comfort for today:

(Presenting it as closely to original form as possible with some translation added)

HYMN.

From The German of Gellert.

Gott, deine Güte reicht so weit, So weit die Wolken gehen, &c.

[God, your kindness reaches as far as the clouds go (see Psalm 36:5)]

By John Dunmore Lang, D.D.

O God, they goodness doth extend

Far as the loft sky;

They loving-kindness knows no end,

And thou art ever nigh.

My Rock, my Fortress, and my Tower!

Great is the mercy as the power :

Then hear me, O Most High!

I ask not for the heaps of gold

The worldling may enjoy :

A little may I humbly hold,

And usefully employ.

But grant me wisdom, Lord, to know

Thee and the gifts thou dost bestow

On sinners such as I.

I ask not honor nor renown,

All glorious though they seem :

A spotless character's fair crown

Of higher price I deem.

To gain Thy praise, to do they will–

Be these my chief ambition still,

And a true friend's esteem.

Nor do I ask for length of days,–

If wealth my lot should be,

O make me humble, God of Grace!

Patient, if poverty.

And as my times are in the power,

O grant, in death's decisive hour,

They mercy, Lord, to me!