n.   pl. mis·cel·la·nies  [pronounced:  mis-uh-ley-nees] – a collection of various items, parts, or ingredients, especially one composed of diverse literary works.

One of the greatest minds the church has ever known was an American pastor-theologian named Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).  Edwards was a deep thinker – a pastor who often spent up to 13 hours a day in his study – reading, writing, and shepherding his flock in Northampton, Massachusetts.  His ultimate passion in everything he did was to “glorify and enjoy God.”   This blog is inspired by Edwards – and other pastors of his ilk who love their congregations so much that they spent many hours in study because they take seriously the task of providing spiritual guidance for God's people.  

Many of Edwards works were written for publication.  However, he often jotted down notes when he studied and wrote brief opinions on miscellaneous topics found in Scripture that were never intended for publication.  Following his death, with the permission of his son, a Scottish theologian named John Erskine who was greatly influenced by Edwards began editing these notes and in 1768 published them under the title “Miscellaneous Observations on Important Theological Subjects.”  They became known as Edwards “Miscellanies.”  They are now available on-line at the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University.  

Like Edwards, I am a pastor.  And though I cannot pretend to write with the same stroke of genius – nor do I expect my thoughts will ever be preserved at a distinguished center for research, I do hope that my miscellaneous scribbles will help those in my flock (and others who may stumble upon them) “enjoy and glorify God” even more on the journey.