5 Things I’ve Learned About Ministry After 10 Years in the Pastorate
The end of August marked my 10-year anniversary of serving as pastor at New Life Presbyterian Church in Yorktown. As I reflect on the mistakes I’ve made and the fruit that has been borne from my ministry, I offer five things that I’ve learned about pastoral ministry during the time God has graciously given to me to serve as shepherd of God’s people. This of course is not all there is to be said about pastoral ministry; these are simply things that stand out as lessons that are easy to overlook:
If You Believe in Inerrancy, You Are a Calvinist
It is very common for evangelical Christians to believe in the doctrine of inerrancy when it comes to their view of Scripture. In fact, some might say that you must believe in inerrancy to be a full-blown evangelical. But evangelicals are very divided when it comes to the doctrines of Calvinism. There are many evangelicals who strongly object to the high view of sovereignty contained in the system of doctrine called Calvinism. My contention is that you basically are a Calvinist if you believe in inerrancy.
Album Review: U2’s ‘Songs of Innocence’
Reviewing a new U2 album is a difficult task. The reason is because U2 is almost like a brother or child to me. I don’t have a son, but I can imagine what it must be like to evaluate your own son’s performance at some task: he’s your son, so you want to think the best of him, and you want him to excel, but since he’s your son, you also expect a little more out of him. Maybe sometimes it’s hard to be entirely pleased?
5 Recommended Books on the Goodness of Earthly Existence
This Sunday I will be completing a short sermon series called “What is Christianity,” in which I have attempted to explain the four major epochs of redemptive history – creation, fall, redemption, and glory. It’s a new start for our church as we have been adjusting to a new sanctuary, so it seemed appropriate to go back to the basics and review what the Christian faith is all about.
6 Things to Consider As You Think About the Mark Driscoll Situation
As many of you probably know, Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill in Seattle has agreed to step down from his position for six weeks as charges against him are being evaluated.
Movie Review: “God’s Not Dead”
Christians have been delighted to discover lately that movie theaters have been featuring an unusually high number of films with overtly spiritual or Biblical themes. Among them have been “Son of God,” “Heaven is for Real,” “Noah,” and “Mom’s Night Out.” In December, we will see the release of a movie on the Exodus, with Christian Bale playing Moses, and there is reportedly another movie in production on the life of Mother Teresa.
3 Things I Love About Our New Sanctuary
This Sunday (Aug. 10) is a very big day in the life of New Life Presbyterian Church. On this morning, we will conduct our very first worship service in a brand new sanctuary that was begun all the way back in November 2012. There are at least three things I love about this new facility, which I share with you now:
10 Great Books on Preaching
While it’s true that the only way to actually improve as a preacher is to preach – over and over again – it is true that reading about preaching can also provide considerable help in sharpening one’s skills. So, with that in mind, I offer, in chronological order, the following recommendations, each with a sample quote from the book:
Book Review: “Unapologetic”
One thing that can be said about Francis Spufford’s book, “Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense,” is that it is utterly unique. I don’t know of any book quite like this. Lots of books seek to make a case for the Christian faith, but few (if any) do it in such gritty, earthy and edgy prose.
Album Review: Sun Kil Moon Tackle Death on ‘Benji’
Woody Allen once commented that he was not afraid of death – it’s just that he doesn’t want to be there when it happens. It’s a witty remark that captures the way many of us deal with death: we laugh at it. We make jokes. Because, let’s face it: there is nothing more certain in this life than the fact that it will all end in death. The obituary section of the local newspaper will one day include your name, with your place of birth, calling hours and an address where the grieving can send flowers.
Movie Review: ‘Short Term 12’
I am a pastor in the PCA. I am also a fan of independent films. Never did I think these two worlds would cross, but they did this summer, and the topic they had in common was child abuse.
Why Bother With Annual Denominational Meetings?
You will be reading news reports this week, if you haven’t already, explaining that “Presbyterians” have decided in their annual General Assembly meeting to allow gay marriage.
Are Fathers Necessary?
This Sunday is Father’s Day. Millions of people will buy gifts, make phone calls, secure dinner reservations, and devote considerable time and thought to making sure their fathers know how much they are valued and appreciated.
10 Recommended Documentaries
As The Economist seems to concur, there has been a rise recently in the popularity of documentary films. It is true that documentaries can suffer when they fall prey to the temptation to misrepresent facts, to be voyeuristic, or sometimes to be just plain boring, but a well-crafted documentary can be fascinating, educational and inspiring. They tend to confirm the cliche that truth is stranger than fiction, and they often expose the very real and visceral effects of life in a broken and fallen world.
The Value and Importance of Personal Spiritual Retreats
A few years ago, I decided to start working into my schedule a personal spiritual retreat, where I withdraw for a few days, away from the church and away from the family, to devote myself to reading, prayer and planning. I have found these retreats so helpful that I now recommend them to everyone engaged in full-time vocational ministry.