Life And Doctrine

In My Bag at the Moment...

2011-11-05T23:23:00.002-04:00

I'm checking back in after over one year off (it's difficult to blog when I'm not on sabbatical I guess) to share the abundance of good reading that I've been enjoying of late...

To read more about each title, simply click on the book's title to be taken to the Amazon.com bookstore page for that book. There you'll find reviews of others who have read the book as well as other books in similar categories.

Building Below the Water Line by Gordon MacDonald

From the cover material...

In this important work, Gordon MacDonald gives the reader a blueprint for leading a life that is at once powerful and humble, productive yet unhurried, focused yet expansive. By telling stories from his own life and sharing wisdom of people like Henri Nouwen and Richard Foster, he takes us step by step through the interior processes and qualities necessary to be able to lead others effectively.... This book is not just for pastors. It is a powerful manual for anyone who answers God's call upon their life and says, 'take me.'

Thirsting for God by Gary Thomas

From the cover material...

This fascinating and easy-to-read journey into the insights of Christian leaders from centuries past will help you...set meaningful goals for your spiritual life, overcome temptation and develop authentic holiness, survive and even thrive in desert times. Discover what Christians through the ages have learned--a truly relevant Christian walk has nothing to do with fads and styles and everything to do with a life that's centered on God.

The Effective Pastor by Peter White

From the cover material...

The Effective Pastor is a book for both trainee and experienced ministers. ...'Christian ministers, old and young alike, have needed material to which they could turn regularly and with confidence for wise counsel, encouragement and biblical direction in their immensely demanding calling'l Few authors have risen to the challenge but in 'The Effective Pastor' ministers now have a friend to help them.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian

Possibly my favorite cover of all.

From the cover material...

During a year of great turmoil, Pastor Tchividjian discovered the power of the gospel in his own life. Sharing his story of how Jesus became more real to him, Tchividjian delves deeply into the fundamentals of the faith, explaining the implications of Christ's sufficiency--a revelation that sets us free and keeps us anchored through life's storms.

Lit by Tony Reinke

There are two of these books in our home. I ordered one copy for Gretchen and one for me. When the books arrived, we settled into our inner "book geek" modes and read the Table of Contents aloud, one to another before moving on to the reviews written by other writers that are printed on the first few pages. Imagine our excitement about a book devoted to the Christian's endeavor of reading books.

From the cover material...

"I love to read. I hate to read. I don't have time to read. I only read Christian books. I'm not good at reading. There's too much to read."

Chances are, you've thought or said one of these exact phrases before because reading is important and in many ways unavoidable. Learn how to better read, what to read, when to read, and why you should read with this helpful guide from accomplished reader Tony Reinke. Offered here is a theology for reading and practical suggestions for reading widely, reading well, and for making it all worthwhile.

The Prayer Coach by James Nicodem

From the cover material...

In Prayer Coach, James Nicodem, begins with a frank discussion about the obstacles of prayer, and then offers practical suggestions and basic principles on how the reader can strengthen his or her prayer life and bring depth to this spiritual discipline. As readers apply the methods taught in this book, they will learn to approach the throne of God with passion, fervency, and confidence.

The World-Tilting Gospel by Dan Phillips

From the cover material...

The first generation of Christians were not popular. They were ridiculed, persecuted, yet according to Acts 17:6-7, they "turned the world upside down." As a result, their message was communicated louder and clearer than any message before or since. Even with today's social medias, big-name celebrities, and shiny evangelism techniques that add glitz and glamour to the gospel, today's Christians fail to communicate as effectively as the first followers of Christ. Simply put, the early church turned the world upside down, but today's church has been turned upside down by the world.

What He Must Be...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham

This is what we are currently studying in Sunday School.

From the cover copy...

...God has given us a clear picture of the role of the husband/father in the home, and in [this book] Voddie Baucham breaks this picture down into ten desirable qualities. Not only should parents seek these qualities in a son-in-law, but parents of young men should strive to cultivate these qualities in their sons.

As you can see, my bag is full but the reading is rich! I hope you've got a good book in your bag.

Where I Worshiped - The Fourth Sunday

2010-09-27T21:12:00.001-04:00

Yesterday morning The Wright Family had the privilege of attending worship together -believe it or not- for the first time this month as a whole family. The three previous Sundays one or more of us were separated. So, we woke up early, got ready and left the house shortly after 8:00 a.m. (a miracle in itself), and made our way back to the outskirts of Cleveland Ohio and worshiped at Parkside Church.

Their senior pastor, Alistair Begg was ministering in Scotland, so the sermon was given by Mickey Aquilno. He preached a very practical, exegetical sermon from 2 Chronicles 14 on the life of King Asa. The music was led by a special guest artist/worship leader named Nathan Tasker. Everyone enjoyed the worship time, and it was so nice to sit together as a family. (To read about Molly and Katie's take on their experience, check out my wife's blog here).

After the service, we took the children to the church's bookstore/cafe, where the children enjoyed the well stocked children's section.

Their father also enjoyed perusing the New Release section,

while Molly did gymnastics in the "Common Area" just outside of the bookstore.

You'll notice that though we were merely visiting this church, our stop in the bookstore caused us to be among the last folks to leave the church, as is our habit!

After we left the church, we drove through McDonald's for Molly and Kate's lunch, and then took Cole and Megan to Gretchen's favorite fast food place...Chipotle.

There is much to learn by visiting and worshipping with other church families, however, we are so anxious to rejoin our own church family this coming Sunday for worship.

Look out First Baptist! Here we come!!

(Check back in a few days for a wrap up of my sabbatical.

And then for continuing posts in the future.)

Where I Worshiped - The Third Sunday

2010-09-22T21:41:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, as part of my participation in the Weekender, I worshiped at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, a thriving congregation located just blocks from the Capitol building. The dynamics of this church family were truly unique from any other I've ever experienced. Everything that the so-called "church growth" experts say you must have to grow a church, this church doesn't exhibit. Yet, nearly 75% of their congregation is under 40.

Before the morning service began, I attended the "core seminar"(Sunday School) called "Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church". Morning worship lasted approximately two hours, and when it was finished, no one was in a hurry to leave. The congregational singing, accompanied only by a piano and a guitar, was arranged in such a way that you could hear everyone singing and it was fantastic. Scripture reading, several different prayers, intentional pauses of silence and congregational preparation music were also included as part of the liturgy.

The sermon was entitled "Jesus Paid Taxes" (click here to hear it for yourself) from Mark 12:13-17. I was thrilled to discover that in attendance at the Weekender was the author of an excellent book I read last year:

Collin Hansen, author of the above book, writes a great blog post about Sunday's service at Capitol Hill Baptist in which he says:

While Dever may serve a church on Capitol Hill, he does not commonly address issues of Christianity and government so directly. But as an expository preacher working his way through the Gospel of Mark, Dever obligated himself to address Jesus’ teaching in Mark 12:13-17. In these days of overheated rhetoric and protest rallies, I pray that evangelicals will set aside 70 minutes to listen to Dever’s sermon. Much of the wisdom expressed here echoes the forthcoming book City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New Era, written by Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner, with a foreword by Tim Keller. We need to hear from the best evangelical thinkers about a faithful, biblical approach to politics.

You can read the blog in its entirety here.

As part of the Weekender, I also attended the evening service and the church's business meeting, called the "members meeting" which followed, both gatherings had hundreds of members in attendance. The evening service was a "prayer and praise" service with a totally different structure and feel than that of the morning service. This service lasted approximately one and a half hours, with a ten minute break before the members meeting which also lasted approximately one and a half hours.

After the "members meeting" concluded at about 9:30, the "Weekenders" gathered in the fellowship hall for dinner and a "debriefing" of all that was experienced on the Lord's Day.

Everything that I was privileged to experience made a lasting impression upon my life and ministry. I cannot wait to share more about everything that I learned from my time in Washington D.C. with the gracious staff and members of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

Heading to D.C.

2010-09-17T15:06:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Washington D.C.!

Early this week, Gretchen and I returned from our retreat in Walnut Creek, Ohio, gathered the children, and began to get back to the "normal" to which we are becoming accustomed this month. Just when we got back in the swing of things, it was time for me to pack up again and head to our nation's capital to attend an event called "The Weekender" (click on colored words to link to the event site) at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

(Pictures in this post are from article on Capitol Hill Baptist Church in the

Christian Science Monitor--click here for more pictures.)

The trip to Washington D.C. was a far cry from what I experienced in the Amish countryside last week as traffic made my progress into the city itself, a creeping, crawling trial! Upon arrival I joined my fellow "weekenders" (there are 75 attendees this time instead of the normal 50) in a "behind-closed-door" elder's meeting that was to prove fascinating. The meeting lasted three and a half hours and was something to behold. I'll share more on that topic after I've had more of a chance to gather more information about the "whys and wherefores" of it all.

Today the schedule of activities is packed full and there's much to learn and observe. The sample schedule of the weekend is here.

Have a super weekend!

I'll be worshiping here...

...this Sunday.

I'll be encouraged to hear of my own church family worshiping together this Sunday as well!

I pray the words of Paul in Colossians...

that [your] hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge....For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:2-3,5

I'll post more from D.C. as my weekender continues.

Where I Worshiped - The 2nd Sunday

2010-09-13T17:42:00.002-04:00

Today Gretchen and I left the "peace and comfort" of our hotel room and made the 90 minute drive through winding roads and interstate to Parkside Church outside of Cleveland Ohio to worship with Alistair Begg and his church family.

This is a view from the backside of the church property.

Here is the worship center.

The worship team did a fantastic job of blending traditional and contemporary music together. Their music has a very Irish feel to it. If you would like to take a listen, click on the link below.

Here is a view from our pew.

Pastor Begg preached a terrific sermon from Romans 8. Click on the link below to hear him read the scriptures in his Scottish accent.

If you are interested in hearing the sermon, you can access it for free by clicking here: Parkside Church and then clicking on the play button on the picture on the right side of the page.

It was a wonderful time of worship, and definitely worth the drive. One of my favorite parts was being able to worship and sit beside my wife for an entire service.

Dialogue, Date, Depart

2010-09-10T21:13:00.000-04:00

Today is day two of my time away with my wife. Wednesday we delivered two of our children to Grandma. Yesterday the other two were delivered to Mamma. Then off we went for our get away. We decided to stay somewhat close to home and opted for the Amish Country. Far enough to feel like we are out of town, yet close enough to not be weary after a long drive.

Our time away reminds me of a principle that Gretchen and I learned early on in our marriage, and have to this day, tried to practice. Sometimes more successfully than others. Long time pastor Ed Young taught us many years ago that in order to have a successful marriage, you must "dialogue daily, date weekly, and depart quarterly". Gretchen and I have not been alone for an extended period of time together since May, so this is our quarterly departure.

We have a couple of other descriptions for it, like: white space, margin, quiet, rest, and a time to reconnect. The Amish Country is a perfect place to "depart". This morning there was no extra noise. Just the sound of horses moving down the road. There are no cell phone signals. Just me, my wife, a quiet room, and our books. Pastor Young knew what he was talking about when he gave his prescription for a successful marriage. Thank you Pastor Young for the great advice, and thank you to those who made this "departure" possible.

Read-O-Rama

2010-09-08T22:17:00.000-04:00

I spent day eight of my sabbatical focusing solely on reading and note taking. Cole's football game, the holiday weekend, and my travels left me behind a little bit in my reading schedule. So today, instead of splitting my study time between reading and working through some pastoral training material, I immersed myself in some fantastic books. I read and took notes on eight different books. To see what I am reading look to the right of today's post. Tomorrow Gretchen and I hit the road together for a few days without the children. Stay tuned for more updates.

Where I Worshipped Last Sunday

2010-09-08T09:18:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday (September 5th) I left home at 5:50 am to make the drive to Covenant Life Church (click on church name to go to its website) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I chose to attend Covenant Life because I've been blessed by writings and sermons by the church's former pastor C.J. Mahaney and its current pastor Josh Harris. I recently recommended a book by Josh Harris to our church family called Dug Down Deep. It's well worth your time!

It took about 4 hours to reach Gaithersburg but it was a perfect morning for a nice quiet drive. Jane, our family's GPS, took me right to the front door of the church.

I arrived a little early for the second morning service. After finding a parking place (the parking lot was almost full), I had a chance to look around and check out the church facilities. Shortly after the first service ended, it was time for the second service to begin, so I made my way to the sanctuary, which seats almost three thousand people.

The service lasted approximately two hours, and was filled with music, scripture reading, prayer, and expositional preaching. It was a lively service, and I was glad I made the drive. It was well worth my time and effort.

Following the service, the lobby was filled with tables full of fresh brewed coffee, and couches and chairs for people to sit and share together. At the back end of the lobby, the church has a wonderful bookstore, where all of the titles in the store are handpicked by C. J. Mahaney. After perusing the store for a while, I made my way to the cash register to pay for my ~~treasures~~ books.

While there, I had a conversation with the lady checking me out. She found out that I was a pastor visiting the church on my sabbatical, and she gave me two John Owen books that I had chosen for free! Worth my trip to church--ha!

The people at Covenant Life Church were so warm and kind. The music was terrific, the preaching was enriching, and the bookstore was spectacular. If you are ever in the Gaithersburg, Maryland/Washington D.C. area, you should worship with this church family.

Tomorrow I hit the road again...stay tuned for more updates.

Day Three

2010-09-03T20:57:00.000-04:00

Today I listened to disc three of a pastor training series that I started on Wednesday. The teaching covered The Pastor and his Faith, The Pastor and his Family, The Pastor and his Flesh, The Pastor and his Friends, and The Pastor and his Frustrations. There were many great principles and questions to reflect on.

I also continued reading "The Trellis And The Vine", as well as several other books I have started since Wednesday. So far, most of my reading has dealt with the ministry of the pastor, and the ministry of the church. My potential reading list is long, and covers many more topics. I will probably be adding more books into the reading cycle in the next few days.

These first few days of sabbatical I have spent at home. Here are a few observations from "being at home" all day:
1. My wife deserves a sabbatical.
2. I miss out on Kate saying very funny things throughout the course of the day when I'm at work.
3. Molly is very quiet and can bring destruction very quickly.
4. Cole needs a brother.
5. Megan is a fantastic big sister.
6. Sony headphones plugged into the computer block out a great deal of noise.

This weekend I will begin traveling. Stay tuned....more to come.

Day Two

2010-09-02T22:09:00.000-04:00

When I began planning to take this sabbatical, one of the most fun, yet most challenging tasks was choosing the books that I would read. Over the summer I got a Nook e-reader with September in mind.

This nifty gadget is able to hold up to 1,500 books at a time and is roughly the size of a 5x7 photograph. The screen is much easier to read from than reading on a computer and it is much easier to carry a Nook about with me than to lug all of my books!

As of yesterday, I have 41 books loaded on my Nook and 11 "paper and ink" books stacked on my the kids' school table.

Today I began reading a book that, upon its release at the end of 2009, met with spectacular reviews.

Mark Deaver is one of the pastors whose church I will be visiting this month and he had this to say about this challenging book:

I've read a few chapters and already my thinking has been very challenged. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what the authors of the book have to say.

Finally, did you know that today is the opening day for college football season? Enjoy it. We actually observed a moment of silence in our home this evening in honor of the season that is to come! (It was mostly a silent moment...as silent as it ever gets around here anyway!)

Day One

2010-09-01T15:36:00.001-04:00

I begin this time of rest, reflection, and refueling with some very vivid pictures of my church family that I will hold in my mind while I'm gone from them. This Sunday was an important one for many reasons: Molly's dedication and my final Sunday in the pulpit for a four week period. My family and I were blessed to be able to ask a dear friend, a member of our church family, and a fellow minister of the Gospel to perform Molly's dedication.

What a blessing to have Pastor Jay as a part of our church body. He did a super job and we are grateful for the sincere words he shared with us and the church family during the dedication.

Another picture that I cherish from last Sunday is of the congregation. During the sermon, I said something to the effect of "look at verse..." and as I looked out at the congregation the majority of the family wasn't looking at me they had all dropped their gazes to their Bibles in unison! I was so excited to see my church family in the Word together. I wish you could have seen it along with me. There were also many who shared kind words and testimonies that I continue to reflect on even today.

I spent this morning listening to audio CDs of one of my mentors. The topic was "The Pastor's Fatigue." One of the most helpful things I learned was that fatigue causes you to "go through the motions" of ministry, and when you "go through the motions of ministry" you lose your passion. When you lose your passion in ministry and for ministry you are in trouble. I am once more reminded of the privilege of this sabbatical season which will help me to combat such struggles as I rest and learn.

I close this post today with a quote that was shared in the lesson from a counselor to a pastor: "Everything you do you do to give away, you don't keep anything for yourself, and if you are always giving, you have to have time to replenish. When you open a book every page has margin, when I look at your life I see no margin, there are words everywhere." A good reminder for us all.

Quotes From The Pastor's Conference

2010-06-01T22:49:00.000-04:00

Recently I attended a Pastor's Conference featuring Alistair Begg, John Shearer, and Sinclair Ferguson. As I have been thinking about the conference, I realized that I had many great thoughts to reflect on. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes with you.

John Shearer:

"Pastoring Is The Greatest work in the world."

"The minister of the word of God is to minister the word of God."

"We are as godly as we want to be."

"We can't keep on giving out, if we don't keep taking in."

"We must be aware of being sermon machines."

"In instructing others, wee must digest the truth ourselves. We must master the art of feeding ourselves."

"If you preach the bible you will never run short of seed to sow."

"Some may preach the gospel better than others, but there is no better gospel."

"Hold lightly to things that are temporary, and hold tightly to things that are eternal."

Sinclair Ferguson:

"When you know who you are in Christ, you don't need to pretend any longer."

"When Christ is preiminate, thankfulness reigns in our heart and life."

"When I understand what has happened to me, I become more sensitive to sin, because I see it in its true light."

Alistair Begg:

"The three c's of the pulpit: candid - so there is no concealment; clear - so there is no ambiguity, and confident - to speak without fear of the consequences."

"The message of the cross is not about something that we must do, but about something that has already been done."

"The complexity of human wisdom cannot deliver what it promises, but the simplicity of the cross can."

Basics Pastor's Conference - Day One

2010-05-10T23:25:00.027-04:00

I am away this week at a Pastor's Conference entitled "Basics". (Click on the word BASICS to go to the conference website.) This conference is hosted by Alistair Begg, the pastor of Parkside Church, and the bible teacher of "Truth For Life" heard on radio stations all across the country and around the world. This is the eleventh year for this conference, and it is my third year in attendance.

I'm so thankful that the church Family so graciously gives me two weeks a year to go to conferences or training of some sort. Up until a few years ago, Gretchen and I would travel down south to The Timothy-Barnabas pastor/pastor's wives conference as one of my weeks of training. Then a few years ago, I stumbled onto this conference from a recommendation of a friend. I gave it a try, and the rest is history. It has become one of my favorite conferences, and I place it on the calendar every year.
The first year I attended this conference by myself. Last year, Gretchen and our, at the time, nine month old Molly joined us. This year, Gretchen and I shipped off the children to two different Grandparent camps and are enjoying some much needed time together.

There are so many things that make this conference great. First, there is the bookstore.

It is loaded with many of the best books in print today, as well as a fantastic used section of books containing some very rare finds.

As part of the conference brochure, there is a ten page section containing a recommended reading list.

Then there is the service. Everything at this conference is first class. From the food, to the service, to the organization, to the laid back schedule, to the friendliness of the staff.

Did I mention the food? The above picture is of Parkside Church's Commons area. It is beautiful and is set up for dinner in this shot.

Finally, there are the breakout sessions, the music, and the teaching and instruction. I am challenged every year by the teaching, and this year has proved to be no different. But that is for another blog. For now, let me leave you with some great quotes that were interspersed throughout the conference brochure.

"... to be a preacher is one of the most deeply humbling experiences in the world. Preaching drives us to our knees, puts gigantic butterflies in our stomachs, and makes us cry out, 'Who is sufficient for these things?'" ~Christopher Ash

"We might preach till our tongues rotted, till we should exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless there were mysterious power going with it - the Holy Ghost changing the will of man...O Sirs! We might as well preach to stone walls as preach to humanity unless the Holy Ghost be with the word, to give it power to convert the soul." ~Charles Spurgeon

My favorite spot so far.

Where I can find Gretchen at any given moment.

(The coffee shop within the bookstore within the Commons area within Parkside Church!)

My Life Shorteners (the May edition)

2010-05-02T22:54:00.000-04:00

At the beginning of Sunday's sermon, I mentioned that there were two projects in particular that were "looming large" in our home these days because of their desperate need of FINISHING. For those of you who may be wondering what in the world is causing such angst in the house, the two projects are as follows...

This is what Cole's basketball hoop should look like when I finish it. It's been waiting for my attention for about 6 months. Talk about a life shortener! Every time I step over it I'm filled with a sense of failure to finish.

The second unfinished project in our home is a grand cause of stress because it must be maneuvered around in our basement in order to reach the freezer. Each time Gretchen asks one of the children or me to retrieve some frozen item, we have to step over the parts and pieces of the unboxed yet unassembled...

...filing cabinet.

It's an Ikea model which means huge amounts of assembly required. It not only cries out to me to assemble it, it sings of promises of improved organization.

We learned somewhere along the way that the various "life shorteners" we deal with in our lives actually take a toll on our health and our general sense of well being. When a "life shortener" is completed in our lives, we happily give it a new name. We call it "a personal victory" and celebrate its completion. What we are really celebrating is the end of the stress that the unfinished task was creating. Instead of the expected dread, we experience a sense of victory and accomplishment.

The sermon today was ultimately not about life shorteners, but about the Life Giver who requires strong finishes from His followers. He doesn't want us to get bogged down with spiritual life shorteners like ingratitude, bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness, pride, or any others for that matter. As this new week awaits us, I urge you to deal with the spiritual life shorteners that may be stealing your joy in the Lord. Would that we like Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

As for me...I'm off to put a file cabinet together!

Humility: True Greatness

2010-04-28T14:45:00.000-04:00

At the end of the sermon Sunday, I made reference to a book by C.J. Mahaney called Humility: True Greatness . This book is a small one, having only 176 pages and merely 7 inches by 5 inches. What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in its message.

The author says of his experience writing the book,

“Given pride’s pervasive presence in my life, I come to this book in holy fear, yet inspired by God’s promises to be humble and sobered by his warnings to the proud (Isaiah 66:2b, 1 Peter 5:5b). Scripture reveals to us that, while pride was the first and most serious sin, God is decisively drawn to humility and is specifically supportive of the humble. Only Christ has fully obeyed Isaiah 66:2b (“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word”), yet He did so as our representative! How marvelous that in our daily battle against pride we can rely on God’s grace, through the gospel, and thus bring honor and glory to God.” —C. J. Mahaney

In a the first part of the book, Mahaney looks at the sin of pride. In the next section, humility is defined and the final part of the book gives practical application on how to cultivate humility in one's life. This small is filled with such practical, useful information and inspiration, you may find that you want to keep it handy to make reference to frequently.

I found Humility: True Greatness to be a very readable book. I especially appreciated the appendix that is included at the end of the book that lists all the practical suggestions which were made in the book. If you happen not to be "a reader", this book would be an excellent place to begin with its very quick moving flow, logical reasoning, and a grounded Biblical base. It is a great read about a vital topic to every Christian!

(For further information about this book and its author, simply click on the picture of the book. It will take you directly to http://www.amazon.com/ )

Devoted...Resources for Your Walk

2010-01-14T16:10:00.002-05:00

A few Sundays ago, I spoke about using a good devotional book as a tool for personal devotions. The following are some of my favorites. (Click on the title of the book to get more information from Amazon.com.)

Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. A reading for morning and, as you might imagine, one for evening.

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, a classic which lives up to its label.

Come Before Winter and Share My Hope by Charles "Chuck" Swindoll. This is one of many by this prolific pastor who shares his thoughts in a very down-to-earth manner.

Great Days with the Great Lives also by Charles "Chuck" Swindoll. In this daily devotional, Swindoll draws from the lives of biblical characters and shows us how God can use ordinary men and women to do very extraordinary things.

Drawing Near by John MacArthur. Daily readings to draw us deeper into our faith by a pastor who is celebrating his 41st year in ministry.

A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent. I gave this book to Gretchen last Christmas. I chose it because of a review, written by a mother with young children who loved The Gospel Primer because of the meaty content delivered in short "bursts" which was perfect for the time constraints of mothering. Gretchen really likes it too for all of those reasons and more.

And finally, Glorifying God by Thomas Watson. Watson is the man who greatly influenced Charles Spurgeon. This is the book I am using daily in my own devotional time. Its rich content is based on Watson's favorite theme: "man's chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Twelve Things I've Learned. . .

2009-11-13T23:39:00.003-05:00

Twelve lessons I've learned in ministry from good examples who are traveling ahead of me.

1. "Stay close and clean." ~Pastor Johnny Hunt

    “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.” 2 Corinthians 6:3

2. "Swallow the big frog first." ~Dr. Jay Strack

This principle says that as you get the biggest, most difficult thing in your life accomplished (swallowed); the rest of your day, week, etc. will go down a lot easier.  Remembering this principle helps you plan what is important, not just what is pressing. This principle helps you accomplish what matters most not that which is making the most noise.

3. "You'll never miss anything you give away." ~John Garner

“So let each one of us give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

4. "The devil doesn't mind waiting a few more years on you." ~Evangelist Junior Hill

"Be sober be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

This passage teaches that our enemy is constantly on the prowl, looking to destroy our testimony and our lives.  This principle teaches that our enemy doesn’t mind letting our notoriety get bigger, so that when we fall, he can do more damage to God’s kingdom.

5. “I’ve been around the block a few times and I’m convinced that our two greatest needs are: to be real and anointed.” ~Dr. Adrian Rogers

Be real. You can't live like the devil all week, and then think you can come to church on Sunday and everything is OK. Are you the same in public as you are in private?

Be anointed. We need simply to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit and quit operating our lives on our own power.

6. “An unguarded strength is a double weakness.” ~Oswald Chambers

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

There is no coasting in the Christian life. We must always be on guard. Our attitude must be one that says, “It can happen to me.”

7. “It takes six years to become the pastor."~ Homer Lindsay

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” Psalm 78:72

This principle teaches that you must earn trust, and it takes a while to do that. It also reminds me that ministry is a marathon.

8. “If you read 15 minutes a day, at the end of the year, you will have read 20 books.” ~ Dr. Jay Strack

9. "Leadership is Integrity.” ~ Dr. Johnny Hunt

“The righteous man walks in his integrity, His children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7

This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture.  It reminds me that God must do something in me before He can use me to influence others. It also teaches me that how I live my life will affect my family.  My heart’s desire is to be a good leader; to lead my wife, my children, and lead others to God

10. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ~ Mark Meadows

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.” 1 Peter 5:2

11. “Make sure Jesus is on the road before you go down it.” – Ron Dunn

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus; giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:15-17.

12. “In the Christian life, it is not how you start that matters, it is how you finish.” ~Steve Farrar

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

This principle encourages me because it offers hope. Some of us have had a slow start, some have had a rocky start, but everyone can have a strong finish.  When our life is over, people will remember more of how we finished life than how we started it.

Finish strong friends.

No Pressure

2009-10-08T21:43:00.000-04:00

A few reasons to take sermon preparation seriously. . .

No pressure...

Please don't think that we think the kids "have arrived",

they do "normal" stuff during the sermon too . . .

(Cole's team's record of wins and losses last season.

Always handy to have there beside your sermon notes, for reference of course.)

Sometimes There Are Distractions. . .

2009-09-30T23:22:00.000-04:00

I've been studying a bit at the kitchen table these days. Even in the midst of three wriggling kids "doing school" and a wriggling one year old "doing life" I'm able to get more done there than I'd ever have imagined.

Gretchen says I get so much accomplished because I have to concentrate so hard not to get distracted by the circus going on around me. She may have a point.

I've discovered, though, that there are some priceless benefits of distraction. . .

Hamburger 101

2009-09-10T23:19:00.004-04:00

When in the course of family events it becomes necessary to make an emergency fast food run, the choice for our gang is usually McDonald's. Gretchen and I, though fond of the sweet tea at this establishment, are usually disappointed, let down, and irritated by the quality of the burgers we receive in meager exchange for the dollars we fork over.

As we arrived in Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago, we drove by a Fuddruckers restaurant. In our "married without children" days in Durham, NC we frequented this restaurant chain occasionally and remembered the hamburgers. Hamburgers made with juicy beef. Hamburgers made with lots of juicy beef on pillowy soft kaiser buns. Don't even get me started about the melted cheese...

Pointing out the window at this wonderful hamburger joint, I told the kids that we'd be back...back to show them what a real hamburger looked and tasted like. I told them that they'd never want another McDonald's burger again (wishful thinking I know).

Meg agreed.

Cole agreed.

Kate really agreed.

Molly, unable to get anyone to share a bit of their hamburger with her,

was forced to settle for some very big french fries.

Sorry McDonald's. It was unanimous. I'm building an imaginary Fuddrucker's next to my imaginary Chick-fil-A up at the Highlands!

Suggestions For Reading

2009-08-14T00:20:00.002-04:00

Here are some tips on reading that I gleaned from Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Louisville Kentucky.

1. Maintain Regular Reading Projects. (Develop different categories of reading)

2. Work through major sections of scripture.

3. Read all of the titles of some authors.

4. Get some large sets and read them through.

5. Allow yourself some fun reading, and learn how to enjoy reading by reading enjoyable books.

6. Write in your books. Mark them up and make them yours.

TV and Your Family

2009-08-11T21:24:00.002-04:00

Josh Harris, pastor of Covenant Life Church in Maryland, has a great summary of a blog about TV watching and its affect upon the family. Click here to check it out.

The Pastor's Kids

2009-08-03T21:52:00.003-04:00

Gretchen and I decided to take a poll among the children.

The big question was:

What's cool about being the "Pastor's Kids"?

1. We get to play for a long time after church while Dad talks to people.

2. We have a seemingly endless supply of chewing gum and band-aids.

3. We get invited to eat out alot.

4. Sometimes we get to travel with Dad to meetings and conferences.

5. We get lots of birthday cards.

6. We like cheesecake too!

7. "Is Ben C.'s daddy a pastor?"

"No."

"Good. I want to be in that family because they have more brothers there."

The Cure For Everything

2009-07-08T22:37:00.002-04:00

I happen to believe that there is a cure for everything that "ails" you. What is that cure you ask? Is it tylenol? No. Is it cough syrup? No. Is it vick's save ? No, even though Gretchen's grandma would disagree. Is it windex? No, even though the father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" would disagree. Aren't you dying of curiosity? Well, wait no longer. The cure for everything that ails you is ice cream!!!
After having a very stressful day, where nothing seemed to go right, I was preparing to conclude Wednesday evening Bible Study (well, we were almost done), when Gretchen came in to tell me that once again I had exceeded the specified time limit. Along with this announcement came an invitation from the children's director to join the children downstairs to for homemade ice cream, in honor of national ice cream week.
After visiting with several friends, I made my way to the fellowship hall to partake of this special opportunity.
It has been my experience that the whole world looks different after a great big bowl of ice cream!

Dads And Daughters Part 2

2009-07-07T22:17:00.002-04:00

How does a dad know he's been too busy with his schedule? A conversation with his four year old daughter will reveal the truth.
Several days ago, I was getting ready for work when Katie, my four year old came into the bathroom sporting a new outfit. I told her how beautiful she looked, and asked her if she would go out on a date with me. With a big smile and giggles, Katie responded by saying that she would go on a date with me, and asked if she could ride in the truck (one of her favorite modes of transportation).
As she was making her way down to the basement, with a new stride in her step I hear her say back to me, "It's been a long time since we have been on a date daddy. We used to go on dates all of the time. I remember when we used to go on dates daddy. I really liked those dates."
Ouch!! Never ask a question to a four year old, unless of course you want to hear brutal honesty!
I think it is time to grab the daytimer and schedule a date with my daughter.

The View From My Perch

2009-06-28T01:13:00.009-04:00

Hi, it's me "the pastor's wife", hijacking the blog for just a moment. It's 1:15 am Sunday morning. Darrin wouldn't want me to report that the sermon is finished, or rather has just been finished. He'd want you to think that it was finished at about 4:30 this past Thursday afternoon. That simply wasn't the case this week, however. Some weeks are just like that.

It seems to have been a struggle to get this particular sermon down on paper, both figuratively and quite literally.

All weekend, sermon prep has been going on around the fringes of "real life". Real life being ball games, meals, playing outside, all those things that tend to jump into the middle of one's attempts at completing a project. The end was finally in sight this evening at about eleven o'clock yet, just as things were coming together on the page Darrin's pen blew up...exploded...all over him. Ink actually splattered all the way up to his elbow.

My pastor often says that God causes him to "live" the sermon the week before it is to be delivered. This week I guess he had to "wear" it too!!

The Sabbath

2009-06-13T21:43:00.010-04:00

Tomorrow is the Sabbath. Some refer to it as the Lord's Day. Taken from the early church who would gather on the first day of the week for fellowship, worship, and instruction. It is a day that is to be set aside for rest, reflection, and worship. From a pastor's perspective, it is a day of worship and work.

Sunday for me begins on Saturday. At some point in the afternoon pre-message syndrome sets in. If you were to ask my wife about it, she would say that a hazy look comes over my face, and I begin to "zone out". The message begins to way heavily on my mind and heart. As evening approaches, we try to get all of the children cleaned up and in bed on time, with their clothes and accessories for Sunday picked out, hanging on their bedroom doors and ready to go. Then, I do the same with my suit, shirt, and tie for the next day, getting the final okay on the combination from Gretchen (so I don't have to change in the morning). I rarely sleep well on Saturday night, because I am thinking about what will happen the next day. I usually rise early on Sunday and try to have some "quiet time" before everyone else begins to stir. During this time, I pray for the service and for those who will be there, and I also pray through my sermon. Finally, I read some devotional thoughts and passages of scripture to prepare my heart and mind for worship.

Once everyone begins to wake up and come downstairs, the pace picks up. Breakfast must be served, and teeth brushed. Dresses must be put on, and the girls must be cued up to get their hair done. Cole has the easy job on Sunday mornings, and is pretty self-sufficient. Once Gretchen opens the beauty shop, I turn over the kids and begin to get myself ready. My two oldest daughters always come into the room as I am tying my tie to give their approval or disapproval of my ensemble.

All ready, we get into the car and head down the hill to church. The oldest children are looking at the clock in the van and discussing how late we are. You would think that living so close to the church we would make it one time. However, I am a firm believer that Satan comes and visits our house on Sunday morning, and thus we are rarely on time.

As we arrive at church, I begin to look forward to Sunday School and Worship Service. We love our Sunday School class, and we think we have the best worship leaders and praise team in Wheeling. So Sunday School and worship are always a delight.

I learned from some of my mentors many years ago that it is vital for a pastor to make the most of Sunday's. Therefore, after worship, our family (and those loving volunteer child-wranglers) stay to speak to everyone who wants to talk or visit, many Sundays for 45 minutes or so. Visiting with our church family has become one of the highlights of our day.

When we leave church, we usually grab something to eat, and spend the afternoon as a family. Gretchen says that after I eat, I am pretty much worthless for the rest of the day. Her exact description is that I have the "personality of a rock" on Sunday afternoons.

While Sunday is not really a Sabbath for me, I would not trade it for anything. I get to go to church with my family whom I love, I'm privileged to worship with the church that I love, I'm allowed to do what God created me to do, and I'm humbled to shepherd the people that I love. I understand why the writer of Hebrews wrote, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Dads And Their Daughters

2009-06-09T21:28:00.005-04:00

The dreaded moment that every dad hopes he will never experience happened this past weekend. The day that your daughter is embarrassed to be seen with you. Life has been very busy for me lately (well busier than normal), which has caused me to get behind on yard work. So, on Saturday morning after putting the finishing touches on my sermon, I changed clothes and headed outside to work in the yard. After mowing the grass twice, I was sitting on the porch with my family eating lunch and discussing our plans for the rest of the day. Gretchen had been working on some projects of her own, so I volunteered to take Katie to the birthday party she had been invited to. After volunteering to take Katie to her party, I hear Katie say, "You're not going to wear that are you?" I was blind-sided. I was used to being asked that question by my wife, but not by my four year old! I thought that I had at least four or five more years before I would experience such a question from one of my daughters, but I was wrong. After regaining my composure, I asked, "Why Katie? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?" It has been three days since that discussion and I am still waiting on her answer! It is a hard pill to swallow when you realize that your daughter doesn't think you are as cool as you think you are.

Watch Your Life And Doctrine

2009-06-06T07:50:00.000-04:00

In the spring of 2006, I had the privilege of attending the "Together For The Gospel" conference. One of the messages given at the conference was by a pastor I had never heard of before, C.J. Mahaney. He spoke from 1 Timothy 4:16 on the subject of "Watching Your Life And Doctrine". This message was very powerful, and made a great impact on my life. Since the conference back in 2006, I have listened to this message many times. In fact, the message by C.J., and the scripture taken from 1 Timothy 4:16 have served as the inspiration for the title of my blog.

I can think of nothing more important than watching our life and doctrine. I believe the key to finishing our race on this earth well is found in these two pillars. If our lives are not right, we will be disqualified. If our doctrine is not right, we will be derailed. So, it is imperative that we give careful consideration to both how we live, and what we believe.
Now you know the theme and history behind my blog. As I write, I will be sharing and reflecting on those two twin pillars of life and doctrine, and how we can persist in them. So, as Paul says we will be able to "save both yourself and your hearers".