Everyone, thank you for coming today. If
you can uh kind of find a spot under a
tree or a spot on a chair, we'll move
forward at this time.
I want to welcome you to this
groundbreaking ceremony for the
expansion of the J. Oliver Boswell Jr.
Library. The groundbreaking for the
original library occurred when I was a
student here, not so many years ago. I
remember it now. For those of you who
are students, hopefully embedded in your
memory somewhere will be this
groundbreaking of what we trust will be
another building used for many years for
the glory of the Lord. The fact that we
are both in need of this expanded
facility and that God has provided the
means for us to do the expansion are
both evidences of his wonderful grace.
And as we recognize that, it is fitting
that we begin our time by praying to the
Lord, thanking him for what he has done,
and asking his blessing on all that is
ahead. Would you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, we recognize humbly
that you are the God of all truth,
whose simplicity is wiser than the
wisdom of men, whose truth endures
forever,
who enables us to be born again by the
living and enduring word of God. Because
of these things that are true of you, we
ask your blessing as we begin the
foundation work for expanding this
library facility.
We begin with the recognition that this
work is futile if it is not dedicated to
that faith that is built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets
with Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone.
We pray that you would keep those who
study and teach here faithful to that
apostolic faith true to the inherent
witness of scripture committed to the
legacy of orthodoxy entrusted to us by
faithful generations preceding.
keep us deeply in love with Jesus, our
savior, and all that happens here. We
are deeply aware of the vagaries of men
and how easily we can be swept away by
every wind of doctrine.
May this place be a bastion against the
assaults of secularism, refuge against
the philosophies of this or any other
age, a place of reflection upon the
limitations of all human wisdom,
including our own, so that we will trust
ever more what your word proclaims
rather than what our minds devise.
May the study done in this place be used
to confirm your truth rather than to
extol the imagination of finite minds.
And may that truth so instill in us the
wonders of the gospel that more and more
would be compelled to tell the world how
great and gracious you are. We thank you
for the sacrifices of prayer and giving
that have enabled this work to begin.
You bless your people here and around
the world and generations yet unborn by
the vision of those who have provided
for this work. and we praise you for
them even as we would ask you to make
those of us who teach and study here
faithful stewards of the mysteries of
God.
May those who use this place always be
willing and enabled to tell the next
generation the praiseworthy deeds of the
Lord, his power, the wonders he has done
for the glory and the grace of our
savior in whose name we pray. Amen.
The words I will tell the next
generation, the praiseworthy deeds of
the Lord, his power and the wonders he
has done are in some ways what a
seminary is about. Taking the gospel not
just across geography but across
generations. And one of the blessings
that we have this day is having the son
of the man for whom this library is
named with us. The library is named for
J. Oliver Boswell Jr. Now, not all of
you will still recognize that name and
his significance. James Oliver Boswell
was initially in ministry an army
chaplain serving in World War I, awarded
the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for
bravery and courage under fire. When he
returned to the United States, he went
into ministry and ultimately became the
third president of Wheaten College.
He had some trouble times in standing
for the inherency of God's word. He was
ultimately defrocked by the mainline
Presbyterian Church for refusing to
continue support of what was then the
denominational missions board and
becoming a part of establishing the
independent board for Presbyterian
missions. The concern was this. In the
main line, people were going out as
missionaries, no longer infirming that
God's word was true. Not saying that the
virgin birth was necessary to be
believed, nor the atoning death of Jesus
Christ, nor the actual physical
resurrection. J. Oliver Buswell could not
stand for that and sought missions of
another sort for which he was ultimately
defrocked for standing for the word of
truth in that denomination. Ultimately,
he not only became a lever, but a
cleaver of wonderful new denominations
that were standing for God's word. He
was elected moderator of the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church, nominated by
Cornelius Van Till, succeeding Jay Gresham
man, first moderator of the new
denomination, the Bible Presbyterian
Church. He came here in 1956 after being
president of Wheaten College. Uh at an
older age in his life, he became the
dean of the faculty, particularly the
graduate school of what was then on this
campus, Covenant College and Covenant
Seminary. And then when the college
moved, he stayed here with the seminary,
becoming chair of the systematics
department. And some of you will still
study his systematic theology book that
he wrote as part of his study. and
really amazement of gazing in wonder at
the glory that is in Christ Jesus. It's
a wonderful statement of pastoral
theology even as it's a systematic
theology and we are so thankful that his
testimony continues and one of the ways
that we see that is in John Buswell III
being with us today. John Buswell was 49
years in various forms of pastoral
ministry, serving in pastors around the
country, being a chaplain at Quarryville,
the Presbyterian Retirement Center, but
also being a professor of practical
theology, a dean, and even an admissions
director at a place in St. Louis called
Covenant Seminary, where for 11 years he
was also part of the legacy passed to
us. Not only is John Boswell III here,
but his daughter Liz Boswell Stortz, wife
of Rodney Stortz. Now, I'm going to
introduce Rodney in just a little bit,
and he at that point will become the
husband of Liz, but for this moment, I
wanted you to know that it is wonderful
to see the next generation telling the
praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his
power, and the wonders he has done. May
God give wonderful blessing. As I was
reading the history of the Buswell
family, I went through four generations
of pastors and spouses of pastors and
said, "How wondrous that God has so
worked." I'm going to ask that you
rejoice with me in this legacy and
ministry and prayer for its continuance
as you read with me this responsive
litany for a groundbreaking ceremony. Uh
the president has a role, all of us
together, students, professors, and
staff. And at one point, Dr. Buswell as
well. So we all have a role. Let's read
responsively.
We gather to break ground for major
expansion of the J. Oliver Buswell
Library.
God has brought us to this place and to
this moment.
>> Without God's help, we cannot proceed.
Today we move from planning to
realization.
This process will bring difficulty as
well as joy.
>> May God grant us grace and wisdom and
bless our efforts to use this space to
his glory.
We rejoice for servants of the Lord
Jesus who have gone before us,
>> who by God's grace advanced learning, a
devotion to Christ and his church. May
we carry forward their vision with this
library.
>> Shall those who enter this place use it
well? Shall they find help in doing so?
they do by God's good sh.
>> May the grace and peace of God always
rest on this place. Would you join me in
singing a cappella all for Jesus as we
commit our purposes and the purpose of
this place to him?
All for Jesus. All [singing] for Jesus.
All my beings ransom powers.
All my [singing] thoughts and words and
all [singing] my days and all my hours.
Let my [singing] hands perform his
bidding. Let my feet run in his ways.
Let my [singing] eyes see Jesus only.
Let my lips [singing]
speak forth his praise.
Worldings prize their [singing] gems of
beauty cling to gilded toys of dust.
Boast of wealth [singing] and fame and
pleasure.
Only [singing] Jesus will I trust.
Since [singing] my eyes were fixed on
Jesus, I've lost sight of all bide.
So [singing] in chain my spirit vision,
looking [singing] at the crucified.
Oh what [singing]
wonder how amazing
Jesus glorious king of kings
[singing] who call me his beloved
let me [singing]
rest beneath his wings.
Our librarian Jim Packa will read the
scriptures to us.
Let us hear the word of the Lord from
the Old Testament book of Proverbs. I'll
be reading from the New Jerusalem Bible.
Selections from chapters 8 and nine.
Is not wisdom calling? Is not
understanding raising her voice on the
heights overlooking the road? At the
crossways she takes her stand by the
gates at the entrance to the city. On
the access road, she cries out, "Accept
my discipline rather than silver
and knowledge of me in preference to
finest gold, for wisdom is more precious
than jewels, and nothing else is so
worthy of desire.
I wisdom share house with discretion. I
am mistress of the art of thought.
Blessed whoever listens to me, who day
after day keeps watch at my gates to
guard my portals.
For whoever finds me finds life and
obtains the favor of the Lord.
But whoever misses me harms himself. All
who hate me are in love with death.
Wisdom has built herself a house. She
has heuned her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her beasts, drawn
her wine. She has laid her table. She
has dispatched her maid servants and
proclaimed from the heights above the
city. Who is simple? Let him come this
way. To the fool, she says, come and eat
my bread. Drink the wine which I have
drawn. Leave foolishness behind you and
you will live. Go forward in the ways of
perception.
The first principle of wisdom is the
fear of the Lord. What God's holy ones
know. This is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied
and your years of life increased. May
the Lord bless unto us the reading of
this his holy word.
Now, let me tell you about
Elizabeth Buswell Stortz,
daughter, granddaughter,
great granddaughter of pastors,
wife of a pastor who's about to talk to
us.
But as we recognize in Liz's life a
testimony of faithfulness from
generation to generation, it is what so
much I trust we are honoring as we
gather here today. Not simply a
building, not simply a foundation, but a
legacy of faith that is passed along.
Liz is really as a mother, as a
wonderful friend of my wife, as a as a
leader in a church of what it means to
be a Christian woman supporting a
husband, leading women, teaching
children, leading choirs, a wonderful
example of how Christian faithfulness is
passed from generation to generation. As
I stand before a building named in honor
of her grandfather, I continue to honor
my God who works in covenant families
and keeps his testimony alive through
the faithfulness of his people. This is
what Liz Buswell Stortz
shows me as she has supported her pastor
husband in Pittsburgh, in Muny, Indiana,
in St. Louis at Covenant Church and now
Twin Oaks. She stands for this. and this
is her husband, Rodney.
>> Thank you, Brian. It certainly is an
honor to be able to be here with all of
you today. And I want to tell you of a
story in the book of acts where the
apostle Paul was standing before king
agrippa and governor fesus and he was
giving an impassioned testimony of how
Jesus Christ appeared to him in a
brilliant light on the road to Damascus.
And after he told them about this he
told them how Jesus had died on the
cross for their sins. He told him how
Jesus had rose again from the dead on
the third day. And then he told him how
he ascended into heaven. And there from
that heavenly place he appeared in a
bright light and appeared to the Apostle
Paul. And that impassioned speech was
interrupted by Governor Fesus. When
Governor Fesus said, "You're out of your
mind, Paul.
Your great learning is driving you
insane."
Now, the Greek word translated learning
is the word grammar.
That's not southern for grammar.
That's Greek for grammar. And it means
the study of books. In other words,
Fesus was saying, "You're out of your
mind, Paul. Your intense study of books
is driving you mad." Reminds me a little
bit of what Solomon said at the end of
Ecclesiastes when he said of of making
many books there is no end, and much
study wearies the body. You know what
he's talking about, don't you?
Perhaps
you'll feel that way come December when
you're studying books for finals and
reading those books to get done those
final papers before the end of the
semester. And you're going to wonder why
you were here today celebrating an
expansion to a library that's not only
going to provide more space for study,
but is also going to provide more
books for study.
The King James translates the governor's
words, "Thou art beside thyself. Much
learning from books doth make thee mad."
Well, contrary to Fesus's words, much
learning from books won't make you mad.
It will make you glad that you are
adequately prepared to defend the faith
articulately, to preach the word of God
creatively, and to equip your people
effectively.
Paul's response to the governor is my
favorite. There in Acts chapter 26, Paul
says, "I am not insane, most excellent
Fesus. What I am saying is both true and
reasonable.
Christianity is true and reasonable.
Christianity is not warm fuzzies you
feel inside and it is not an irrational
leap in the dark. Christianity is truth
and it must be searched out through
grappling with the meaning of scripture
using the insights of other authors from
books.
And Christianity is reasonable. So those
truths must be grasped by your mind
before they will penetrate your heart
and books will help you to hone your
skills of reasoning and understanding
the word of God. So let me encourage you
all today to read, read, read that you
might preach and teach and prepare your
saints that God puts under your care.
Chuck Swindoll wrote, "Send me a man who
reads
is no longer the clarion call of
industry or management or sales for that
matter.
Nor is the professional person
necessarily known today as he once was
for its breadth of knowledge that
includes much to my disappointment the
clergy." He goes on to say, "Few current
tragedies pay me more. It is now a fact
that one half of the students who
graduate from college will never read
another book.
But as he says, reading sweeps the
cobwebs away. Reading increases the
power of concentration. Reading makes us
more interesting to be around. And
reading strengthens our ability to glean
truth from God's word.
Christianity is true and reasonable.
Now I think the apostle Paul must have
been an avid reader. Few weeks before he
was martyred in Rome. He was sitting in a
dark and damp prison awaiting his
execution. And he wrote a letter, his
second letter to a young pastor, a young
pastor who was pastoring the church at
Ephesus at the time. His name was
Timothy, his spiritual son in the Lord.
And among his last words as he wrote to
Timothy, he wrote these words. When you
come, please bring the coat that I left
with carpass. Must have been cold there
in the dungeon. And don't forget my
books,
especially the parchments. I am sure the
apostle Paul would have agreed with the
words of John Wesley who wrote years
later as he wrote to young pastors
training in the ministry. He said,
"Read, read, read. Either read or get
out of the ministry."
An avid reader himself, Charles Haden
Spurgeon, challenged young ministers
with these words, "The man who never
reads will never be read. A man who
never quotes will never be quoted. He
who will not use the thoughts of other
men's brains proves he has no brain of
his own.
Brethren,
ministers of the truth must read.
Christianity is true and reasonable. And
reading many books will not drive you
insane.
It will prepare you for life. It will
make you interesting to people. It will
equip you for ministry to the lost and
dying world. And it will help you to
effectively interpret and communicate
God's word, which is why this seminary
is here.
And I though the man whose name appears
on this library wall behind me, J.
Oliver Buswell Jr. would agree with
that. When he was living here on campus,
he lived in the home where David Jones
now lives. and the the whole lower level
was filled with his library. In fact,
when
the college moved from this campus,
leaving only the seminary here, his
library was bigger than the seminary
library itself.
And I never knew Dr. Boswell in his
prime when he used to chop wood for
recreation in the afternoons. I only
knew him after his stroke. But when Liz
and I would go to visit him at Coryville
Retirement Center and see him there in
the convalescent unit, many times when
we would walk into the room, his wife
was usually sitting by his bed and
reading him a book.
But there's one other thing that I know
that he would strongly emphasize if he
were here today.
And that is of all the books in his
library,
of all the books in this library,
and of all the books in the library on
your shelf at home, the one book that
must not be neglected.
The one book that must be foundational
to all others. The one book that needs
to be the capstone of all other books is
the word of God itself.
And remember when I quoted from Solomon
before talking about books and studying
making the body weary, let me tell you
that he prefaced those words in the same
verse by saying this. But the words of
the wise
are like goats.
Their collected sayings are like firmly
bedded nails given by one shepherd. And
we know who that shepherd is.
And he ends by saying, "Be warned of
anything
in addition to them." The contrast in
Solomon's minds of all the books of the
world, and he's written at least a
couple of himself, and the word of God
was that there was no comparison. The
Bible is the book that is above all
other books. It is the book that has
been written by him who sits upon the
throne. And Dr. Boswell did read a lot
of books. And one of the treasures that
I was able to get is some of the books
from his library after he died. And I
had Calvin's institutes and it was fun
to take Calvin's uh institutes here at
Covenant Seminary and use his book. He
underlined many things. And uh when I
got in a rush, I at least just read the
underlined parts. I figured it must be
pretty good.
But he read a lot of books,
but he memorized the Bible.
In fact, on one occasion, it is told
that he memorized the book of Romans in
Greek.
One of the phrases Liz remembers most
from the lips of her grandfather is a
saying that he repeated frequently. It
was the Lord is still on the throne. And
I remember going into the room one time
at the convalescent unit and we walked
into the room and he would sit up and
his face would light up and one of the
first words out of his mouth is the Lord
is still on the throne.
And yes, this morning we acknowledge
that he is still on the throne, King of
Kings and Lord of Lords. and his word is
still enthroned and is to be exalted as
the book of books and the word of words.
Thank you, Rodney. Again, I was a
student here when we had the memorial
service for Dr. Boswell and my
recollection is that this Dr. Buswell
spoke and told us actually that
occasionally your father would take long
hikes and when we'd come back he'd have
another chapter of the Bible memorized
in Greek. And uh I remember that point
thinking that's impossible [laughter]
but it's a a marvelous testimony of one
committed to the faithfulness of God.
Thank you Rodney for your words. Dr. Dr.
Buswell, it's not in the plan, but uh
as Liz and I move toward the shovels,
would you for your father's sake and the
Lord's sake pray for our establishment
of this new building? Would you pray
right here now? And Liz, would you come
with me and we'll walk toward where your
father will join us just shortly.
Let us pray together.
God of wisdom,
you gave us your revelation of yourself
supremely in Jesus Christ
and then you gave us the revelation in
writing. We come before you and praise
your wondrous grace and love and mercy
and giving us all of these riches in
Christ Jesus.
Now we seek to ask your special blessing
on this place, on this building, on all
the ministries of students and faculty
and all who will come here. Feed each
one with your truth. Enrich and fill
each life
with increased nurture, growth, truth,
and blessing.
In this world of chaos and unrest,
fill each life with your peace and with
your love and with your glory because
there's growth going on here in the
lives of those who are leading, in the
lives of those who will lead. many to
know you as gracious Lord and Savior.
So your blessing. Thank you father in
Jesus name. Amen.
you'll remember for a lot of years.
Mickey Roer, would you pray for us there
at the mic as the alum who's praising
God for this work [clears throat] today?
>> Dear heavenly father, we are so humbled
by your glory today.
Lord, we praise you for the teaching. We
praise you for providing the training,
Lord. We thank you for your grace,
for providing men dedicated to learning
and teaching others.
We know God is responsible.
He has
seen us and has followed his lead
on our
financial sacrifice so that others can
have the privilege of learning.
Lord, we pray that we continue to be
obedient, that we are in his will, that
we are following his lead.
Lord, keep this seminary, keep this
faculty, keep these students faithful.
Keep those here safe.
Lord, keep the builders safe. And let
this be an opportunity Lord for them
also to learn who you are that they
might be shown your grace and your love.
In Jesus name we pray these things.
Amen.