Archive for February, 2008

Live Blogging, 8000 miles away

by Hugh on February 25, 2008 in Faith with No comments

The Resurgence conference starts today in Seattle (probably about 8000 miles away, maybe not quite that far… a long way anyway!)… would have been fun to go, but know matter, because of the wonders of technology I can sit at home and watch the sessions streamed live! Which means in theory I could live-blog about them… just one snag, we’re 8 hours ahead, which means I would have to stay up till 3am to catch the final session… maybe not.

I have a feeling that Jonathan Thomas of proGnosis is there and making a video diary which you can see on their Youtube page… so look out for those if they appear.

40 Tips for Ministry

by Hugh on February 22, 2008 in Faith with No comments

Came across this little guide, 40 tips for ministry, aimed at young pastors (by Craig Groeschel):

Life is short. Make every day count for God�s glory.
Don�t take yourself too seriously.
Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.
Jesus cares more about the church than you do.
You can�t please everyone�so why try?
People will criticize you. Quit whining. Get used to it.
Three months from now, you won�t even remember most of the things that are bothering you today.
You can�t do it all. Stop trying.
God called you because He is good, not because you are.
If you blame yourself for the bad results in ministry, you�ll likely also take credit for the good results.
Become close friends with other pastors in your town (as many as you can).
Your kids will be grown before you know it. Don�t sacrifice them on the altar of ministry.
Your ministry isn�t your god. God is your God.
You know how to give and how to minister to others. If you don�t learn how to receive, you�ll burn out and/or die.
Studying for sermons doesn�t replace your personal time with God and in His Word.
Err on the side of generosity.
Believe in people that others overlook.
If you�re going to reach people that others aren�t, you�ll have to do things that others won�t.
Your integrity matters more than you can imagine.
Hire staff members that you like.
When you have a tough decision to make, but you know it�s right, make it immediately. (Like pulling off a Band-Aid: do it fast, and all at once.)
Hire slowly. Fire quickly.
You can�t change people. Only God can.
Don�t criticize others� ministries. Yours isn�t nearly as perfect as you think it is.
Take care of yourself. Eat right. Rest. Exercise. Take time off. No one else can do that for you.
If you don�t take much time off, it�s because you�re proud, and you think you�re more necessary than you really are.
Don�t just delegate responsibility. Delegate authority.
Laugh frequently.
People will leave your church. People you love and trust will leave your church. Don�t take it personally.
When you suffer and hurt because of ministry, worship Jesus all the more.
Talk about Jesus every time you preach.
Be careful what you say. You�re being watched (and recorded).
Don�t return emails when you�re angry.
Check to make sure your microphone is turned off before you use the bathroom. Double-check.
Check to make sure your zipper is zipped every time before you preach. Double-check.
Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus� bride, not yours.
Always be caught speaking well of others.
Compliment, encourage, and build up your staff and volunteers.
Hand write thank you notes.
Smile and look people in the eyes when you talk to them.

Driscoll on preparing to preach

by Hugh on February 21, 2008 in Faith with No comments

Next week is the Resurgence conference, Text and Context – Driscoll, Piper, Mahaney etc. hopefully there’ll be some audio to discuss then… but for now here’s MD on preparing to preach…

What does the scripture say?

What does the scripture mean?

How or why do we resist the word?

How does it apply to our mission – personal and corporate application?

Why are the best conferences so far away?

by Hugh on February 21, 2008 in Faith with No comments

Firstly, New Word Alive – which I am very excited about is a 7-hour car journey away, or an 8-hour LDV minibus journey! But the States is where it’s at for conferences really Resurgence, Desiring God, Gospel Coalition, New Attitude, Band of Bloggers, Together for the Gospel, Ligonier Ministries… and the latest one I came across is called Dwell, an urban church planting conference with Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller and CJ Mahaney (described as having more hair than pride!). Redeemer church and Mars Hill are the most ‘successful’ church planting churches in the States.

I do have a little pipe-dream to spend a month travelling round North America checking out some churches and conferences… maybe next year! However, I shouldn’t moan too much, the New Frontiers conference with Mark Driscoll this year is only a 20 minute walk from my house

Critiquing Driscoll

by Hugh on February 21, 2008 in Books, Faith with No comments

A lot of people don’t like Mark Driscoll – shock horror! But most of the flack doesn’t come from non-Christians, emergents or liberals, but rather from reformed evangelicals (of which he is one). Basically, many people don’t like his use of language, he doesn’t swear but does use words and phrases that if we’re all honest we may not use in front of our mothers.

Some would take the line that his use of risque language should disqualify him from ministry, on the basis of verses like Ephesians 5:4 – “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”

I think there’s always a balance, when you preach the gospel you should be relevant and contextualise to best communicate the truths of the gospel to the audience. For Driscoll in his demographic, his cool, informal, slang style is entirely appropriate. There is certainly a danger he can go too far, and I’m sure he has.

Tim Challies is never overly enthusiastic about Mark Driscoll, but he has written a fair and well-balanced critique in the midst of many unhelpful and self-righteous comments from others. TC seems quite discerning… might have to read his book “The Discipline of Spirtual Discernment“

Boy Meets Girl

by Hugh on February 20, 2008 in Books, Faith with 2 Comments

Much has been written over the years about this book and the others in the Joshua Harris series… I myself was annoyed when JH wrote yet another book about dating, called ‘Stop Dating the Church’ – I later found out this wasn’t actually about dating! Anyway, I read this a couple of months ago…

A lot that has been spoken and written about this book and his other one (I kissed dating goodbye) has been a bit negative I think, particularly in the UK. I think that’s because we come with a basic misunderstanding about the book, that is we think “this is Josh Harris telling us how to do relationships the right way”, and also I guess people will have been told by their churches or families “read this book, this is the right way to do relationships”. I think we come with the wrong view, JH makes it clear that the book is advice based on personal experience, not a one-size-fits-all or legalistic approach… and if we’re not convinced then he makes the point again on his blog.

There is an issue I have with the book however, courtship as he describes doesn’t work here, or isn’t easy, unless you want to marry the girl next door – how are you supposed to ask someone’s parents permission before you know if they’re interested? Anyway, I think the courting model does work in home-school, Christian-right, parts of the USA… but probably not here.

What I do like however is the stories, after all it is a personal book, JH shares his story of how he got together with his wife as well as other stories about friends… I guess at heart I’m a bit of a romantic, I love the story of the little drummer boy in Love Actually for one, and the stories in this book, there’s one about ‘Rich and Christy’ which makes me get a little bit emotional, for about 10 seconds before my manliness kicks in again! Some of JH’s personal stories seem a bit over the top, a bit legalistic, but you can see that he’s all about doing the right thing, honouring God, respecting his sisters in Christ and not entertaining even a hint of immorality.

Personally I prefer a model of Christian dating, or ‘Dourting’, which is a bit more realistic to a more ‘normal’ situation – which Mark Driscoll has explained in his latest sermon along with some good humour (see Christian dating bubble), you can see that sermon here.

I still have a bit more to read, but I think the last bit is more aimed at engaged couples. Another book on a similar vein that I’m going to read is ‘Married for God‘, by Christopher Ash, it’s being plugged at church at the moment for �7.99 – fortunately I got a free copy at EMA!

Encouragement in the Ordinary

by Hugh on February 19, 2008 in Books, Faith with No comments

Here’s a book that I’d like to read… Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and reflection of Tom Carson

Picked this up on Justin Taylor’s blog who quoted CJ Mahaney on this book. Here’s a few quotes from CJ…

“For pastors like myself with average gifts…” <- CJ is a humble guy

“this book will provide us with an eternal perspective of pastoral ministry”

“May every pastor and Christian who reads this book aspire to pass on such an �ordinary� legacy.”

…and here’s a quote from the end of the book

When he died, there were no crowds outside the hospital, no editorial comments in the papers, no announcements on television, no mention in Parliament, no attention paid by the nation. In his hospital room there was no one by his bedside. There was only the quiet hiss of oxygen, vainly venting because he has stopped breathing and would never need it again.

But on the other side all the trumpets sounded. Dad won entrance to the only throne room that matters, not because he was a good man or a great man�he was, after all, a most ordinary pastor�but because he was a forgiven man. And he heard the voice of him whom he longed to hear saying, �Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.�

If I’m ever one of the finest Biblical scholars of my day, or have enough skill and credibility to get a book published maybe I’ll write a book about my dad… think he’s probably safe from that dubious honour of me writing a book about him!

When The Darkness Will Not Lift

by Hugh on February 19, 2008 in Books, Faith with No comments

I know it’s sin to dislike “joyful Christians”, but sometimes it’s hard not to, particularly when occasionally you do meet the ‘Ned Flanders’ type who is constantly rejoicing, always joyful – maybe I’m too English and reserved, maybe I should be seeking some experience to give some joy, maybe I’m just a grumpy old man, maybe I’m typical, maybe I’m in need of some more sanctifying…?

Sometimes I really dislike John Piper also… “God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in him”… he makes joy, and satisfaction in God sound easy and normal. Really? Maybe it’s just me but I find it hard to be joyful a lot of the time… life is stressful, sometimes I wonder if God is gonna answer my prayers, sometimes sin just gets in the way, sometimes sin seems more attractive than God,

On a side note there’s some interesting discussions about JP’s theology and the subject of Christian Hedonism in the blogworld, Ed Goode has given some thoughts with a few other references here.

However, before I slate Piper too much, he does also write books to flesh out his ‘slogans’, they kindof explain and defend his ‘brand’ of Christian Hedonism. I just read this little book ‘When the Darkness will not lift’, which as I understand is pretty much the last chapter of a slightly bigger book ‘When I don’t desire God’. It’s thinking about the topics of depression and suffering and how we can find joy in the midst of these.

Piper clearly and concisely takes us through a variety of what I guess you’d call ‘stumbling blocks’ to joy. Depression, suffering, sin – Piper takes these and honestly and helpfully shows us the issues, gives us some encouragement from scripture and helps us to see that joy is attainable because it rests not on our feelings but on the grace of God ministered through Christ. Although Piper can be blunt as well, in one chapter he says “Do your duty”, basically just get on with life… not quite that blunt, but he’s right isn’t he, apathy and idleness is a place for sin and temptation, whereas getting on with life, getting on with serving and worshipping God (even when we don’t feel like we want to, when we don’t feel joyful) is how we can fight for joy – and in that to pray that God would give us joy.

This is a small book, and JP recommends obviously his bigger version as well as some big old books for further reading such as; Lloyd-Jones – Spiritual Depression, John Owen – Overcoming Sin and Temptation, Richard Sibbes – Bruised Reed, Richard Baxter – The Cure of Melancholy, and some others…

Interestingly the end of this book includes the story of William Cowper, who was deeply encouraged by the ministry of John Newton who shared his life and the grace he had found in Christ with him. Right up until his death Cowper was troubled by depression and attempts at suicide, but authored many hymns testifying to the grace of God.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

from ‘God moves in a mysterious way’

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

from ‘There is a fountain filled with blood’

I say it’s interesting that the book concluded with this testimony because not long before I saw his story here…

Reason for God

by Hugh on February 18, 2008 in Books, Faith with 3 Comments

Keller - Reason for God Tim Keller’s book came out last week. Looks really good.

Check out the ‘Reason for God‘ website, there’s a little video interview with TK explaining the book and also some links to some audio available for free.

I’ll have to grab a copy some time, although Wesley Owen didn’t even have TK in their database, because they are rubbish… on a side rant 1) WO failed to deliver my books in time, got lost in the post or something… 2) WO is full of awful books, they are all about selling books and seem to have no discernment in what they stock, the best sellers includes lots of Osteen, Meyer and other bad books… not good!

Are you called?

by Hugh on February 18, 2008 in Faith with 2 Comments

I think it was Spurgeon who said something like “If you can’t preach, then you’re not called to preach”… that’s true, I don’t think the preach yesterday was that bad, I think it went ok.

On the recommendation of Si-Fi I listened to a little series of 3 sermons by Dave Harvey of Sovereign Grace Ministries, the series was entitled ‘Are you called?’… originally I thought this was some calvinistic thing, are we ‘called’ in the Romans 8:28-30 sense of the word, so I wasn’t going to bother listening… but no, it’s actually about the call to ministry.

I would recommend these to anyone either in or considering full-time gospel work. They are excellent, the point that stuck for me was the idea of ‘character before gifting’ – you may be an good preacher, a dynamic communicator, a clear teacher, a biblical scholar… but if you don’t have the character (as in 1 Tim 3), then you’re not called.

Get talks at Sovereign Grace website