Anyone who works with people will face frustration. How much of this Jesus faced with his disciples! We preachers should not try to avoid frustration by handing over unpleasant things to others so that we can concentrate on our preaching ministry. Facing frustration is part of our preparation for penetrative preaching.Ajith Fernando, Jesus Driven Ministry, p26.
Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp
UPDATE 10.30.12: Use coupon code PASTORS and get the hardback book for $4.60 (80% off!).
I watched this video today (below) for Paul David Tripp's new book, Dangerous Calling. I immediately went searching for my wife so she could watch it with me. By the end she was tearing up a bit and then we had a 30 minute conversation about the last 8 1/2 years of pastoral ministry and the struggles and pain we've experienced in our family & relationships. It was very difficult to be this honest, but it was very fruitful.
I'm buying Dangerous Calling right now, as well as the conference DVD's (10 - 25 minutes sessions | grab the free leader's guide and discussion guide). WTS bookstore has great deals for the next 6 days: hardcover $12 (48% off, or 5 for $10 a piece) and conference DVD's $15 (62% off). Kindle is out on October 31st.
Dangerous Calling from Crossway on Vimeo.
5 Characteristics of Gospel Renewal Preaching
I listed the three basic traits of frontline prayer yesterday from chapter 6 of Tim Keller's Center Church. Chapter 6 is "The Work of Gospel Renewal." Today, from the same chaper, Keller's five characteristics that define preaching for gospel renewal. He explains all five in some detail, so pick up the book.
- Preach to distinguish between religion and the gospel
- Preach both the holiness and the love of God to convey the richness of grace
- Preach not only to make the truth clear but also to make it real
- Preach Christ from every text
- Preach to both Christians and non-Christians at once
(Center Church, pages 77-79)
Lots-o-Links 10.23.12
The 4 G's: Four Videos for the 4 G's | "In Tim Chester's book You Can Change he identified four liberating truths about God. He suggested that underlying all our sinful behavior and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith. These four liberating truths offer a great diagnostic tool for addressing sin in our lives and in the lives of others."
Dutton Books: How to Open a New Book | make sure you limber up that binding!
Josh Reich at Resurgence: A Simple Time-Management Principle | "You need to know the implications. When you say yes to something, you say no to something else, maybe multiple things, but it happens every time."
Why Mako Fujimura left NYC for the Country | "Makoto Fujimura, after many years of working in and for New York City as an artist and creative catalyst, has moved his home and studio to an old farmhouse outside of Princeton, New Jersey, which he has come to call Fuji farm."
Three Basic Traits of Frontline Prayer
In chapter 6 of Center Church, Tim Keller discusses "The Work of Gospel Renewal." The first means of Gospel renewal Keller mentions is Extraordinary Prayer. There he lists the three basic traits of frontline prayer (as contrasted with "maintenance prayer")...
- A request for grace to confess sins and to humble ourselves
- A compassion and zeal for the flourishing of the church and the reaching of the lost
- A yearning to know God, to see his face, to glimpse his glory
Keller then states, "If you pay attention at a prayer meeting, you can tell quite clearly whether these traits are present."
Use these 3 traits as a guide when you lead times of focused prayer in your church, small group, and prayer meetings. As Keller writes, "To kindle every revival, the Holy Spirit initially uses what Jonathan Edwards called 'extraordinary prayer' -- united, persistent, and kingdom centered."
(Center Church, page 73)
"Satan In The Suburbs" by Seth McBee
Seth McBee has written a helpful article called "Satan in the Suburbs." You'll have to read it to figure out why the photo fits. Here's how he opens the article...
Satan. Lucifer. Beelzebub. The devil. Whatever you want to call him, most of us treat the adversary as though he is a biblical fairy tale. Historically, it seems as though Satan gets too much play or none at all. We either blame everything (including burnt toast) on him, or nothing. Rarely have we dealt with him in the middle, knowing he’s against us, but understanding our Father is greater.
For my life, I’ve mainly dealt with the devil as an afterthought. I have believed in Satan because as the song goes … the Bible tells me so, but I have never believed that he influences my everyday life. He’s there, but don’t mention him.
Here is what I have found out, practically, about the devil as I have tried to live out the mission of making disciples in my suburban neighborhood:
- Satan attacks disciple making.
- Don’t be surprised when he attacks.
- God is glorious, so we don’t have to fear others, including the devil.
Go read "Satan in the Suburbs" as Seth fleshes out those three points with specifics of how Satan has been at work in his family and neighborhood.
Music Monday 10.22.12
- Titus Andronicus: Local Business
- Charles Mingus: The Jazz Workshop Concerts, 1964-1965
- Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man | Pitchfork 8.4/10
- Daphni: Jiaolong | from the dude who does Caribou, worth cranking up
- Benjamin Gibbard: Former Lives | $5
- Stephen Miller: Hymns
Interstates: 3=4 Live
I got a couple of tweets at me this week from folks trying to push Interstates. I knew nothing about them. I should say that I've probably been told about them, but ignored them anyway. And I'm more likely to ignore the tweets of people I don't know. But just for fun I checked them out and like it a lot. Watch this live video of Interstates playing their new album, 3=4. Leave it on in the background while you work. Let me know what you think, and check out all of Interstates' music.
Orionid Meteor Shower LiveStream
Yep, seriously. NASA has a live UStream video of the meteor shower. I'm not sure how many people would sit and look at this, but it's pretty cool they are doing it. (origin)
Tim Keller Speaking LIVE on Center Church
Livestreaming now! 2pm on Friday, October 19th...
Tullian Tchividjian on Glorious Ruin
I've enjoyed getting to know Tullian a bit over the last couple of years, and I'm looking forward to reading his new book, Glorious Ruin. He was on Fox & Friends talking about it...
Tim Keller | New City Catechism
Tim Keller posted on his blog today about New City Catechism...
One of the reasons to develop intermediate catechisms like New City Catechism is to fill a gap between children’s catechisms and the longer and more extensive older ones. New City Catechism is short—52 questions and answers, one for every week of the year. It is based on Calvin’s Geneva, and the Westminster Catechisms, and perhaps most of all on the Heidelberg. As such it gives people a strong dose of each, introducing them to the practice of catechesis, and developing in them an appetite and capacity for going deeper. It can therefore be used by church leaders as a bridge toward teaching members the older and more extensive catechisms of their respective denominations.
Read Dr. Keller's post "Why Write New Catechisms" as well as his previous post "Why Catechesis Now?" I'd also love to hear from those who have started using New City Catechism. What do you think about it?
Benjamin Gibbard: Former Lives is $5
Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie has a new solo album out: Former Lives. It's $5 right now. I wasn't sure I would buy it. I'm not a huge Death Cab fan, though I've enjoyed some of their stuff. But I've listened to this and so far really like it. It reminds me of the sort of Death Cab songs I like the most. For $5, you should check it out for sure.
Joe Thorn: 25 Marks of a Backslidden Christian
Joe Thorn has a good post up today about backsliding, how it's not something we talk about much nowadays, and what are the marks of it. Here are some of the marks (from Richard Owen Roberts) that Joe lists. Read the whole post.
3. When the biblical knowledge possessed or acquired is treated as external fact and not applied inwardly, backsliding is present.
9. When aspirations for Christlike holiness cease to be dominant in your life and thinking, backsliding is there.
15. When the slightest excuse seems sufficient to keep you from spiritual duty and opportunity, you are backslidden.
18. When there is no music in your soul and no song in your heart, the silence testifies to your backsliding.
25. When your tears are dried up and the hard, cold spiritual facts of your existence cannot unleash them, see this as an awful testimony both of the hardness of your heart and the depth of your backsliding.
Tim Keller: The Meaning of Marriage | $2.99 on Kindle
The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller is $2.99 on Kindle. (It's now $12.99...hope you didn't miss the deal! But still, a good price for a great book.)
No idea how long this will last. But I own the physical copy & multiple other copies to give away (and use for marriage counseling). And I still bought this for Kindle. You should too. This may be the most important book written on marriage (or that will be written on marriage) for years to come.
Grab it, and tell others!
PLNTD Conference | Gospel Leadership (25% off)
The World's Greatest Explorer
Dude. This. Is. Awesome!
Keller's Five Questions
- How can I praise him?
- How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
- If this is really true, what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions or false attitudes result in me when I forget this? Every problem is because you have forgotten something. What problems are you facing?
- What should I be aspiring to do on the basis of this text?
- Why are you telling me this today.
Music Monday 10.15.12
- Titus Andronicus: Local Business
- Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man
- Civil Twilight: Holy Weather Remix EP
- Patrick Wolf: Sunlight & Riverdark
WORTH CHECKING OUT - FREE
- Redeemer Kansas City: Spirit of the Psalms
- Tame Impala: Lonerism
- Stephen Miller: Hymns
- Dum Dum Girls: End of Daze
- Gungor: A Creation Liturgy Life
SOMETHING NEW
"Baby It's Cold Outside" by Sharon Van Etten & Rufus Wainwright - Like this a lot. Though listening to Chrismas music in October is crazy, it's worth checking out. Sounds like the whole album is worth checking out, Holidays Rule, which is due out at the end of October. Artists on the album include The Civil Wars, Andrew Bird, Punch Brothers and more. Listen...
Giveaway | Stephen Miller: Hymns
WINNERS! We have our five winners.
Jacob Young
Danny Poyner
Matthew Robbins
Joshua Crabb
Richard Campeau
Congrats guys! Email coming soon.
By the way, the total number of songs on my iTunes is 14,045. Closest, I believe, was WhyArtwork.com with 13,856. How's that for a free plug for your website! :)
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One of the great joys I get as an audiophile with a blog is the opportunity to get some great albums before they release. Since it's better to give than receive, I especially LOVE the opportunity some artists give me to give away their albums.
Stephen Miller, worship leader at The Journey church in St. Louis, releases his new album, Hymns, Tuesday. But I'm giving away 5 digital downloads today! Yeah, five.
It's already getting regular play in my house. Miller gives accessible music updates to several beloved hymns like "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," "I Surrender All," "How Deep the Father's Love For Us," and "Be Thou My Vision." He also offers his versions of "Behold the Throne of God Above" and "In Christ Alone." For good measure he adds "Kyrie, Eleison." There are a total of eleven songs. It's a solid offering to the growing list of young artists making good worship music. It's good for my soul and will be a blessing for my church.
Here's how you enter to win a FREE download...
1. Tweet (or post to Facebook if you aren't on Twitter, or do both!) without the quote marks: " Want to download Stephen Miller's album, Hymns, free? RT & comment at Reformissionary to enter: http://bit.ly/T3FNbJ "
2. Comment below (so I can confirm you did step 1) with your real name and real email (kept private) and For Fun guess the exactly number of songs iTunes says I have. It's more than 1 and less than 20,000.
*I'll use random.org to pick the 3 winners sometime after 5pm, and I'll announce the winners on the blog & send out emails. May the odds be ever in your favor!