Darryl Dash's Blog, page 15

The Glory of Good Work

I first experienced it when watching It Might Get Loud, a documentary featuring the career and music of rock guitarists Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack White. The three guitarists met on a Los Angeles soundstage, talked about music, and played each other’s songs. I’m not a musician, but I shouldn’t have loved it, but I did. Watching three great musicians talk about their craft is enthralling.

I’ve noticed the same reading Bruce Springsteen’s memoir Born to Run and Steve Van Zandt’s memoir Unrequit...

The Persecuted Church (Revelation 2:8-11)

Big Idea: When persecuted, take courage because Jesus knows, Satan is limited, and your suffering will be worth it.

The numbers are staggering. Over 365 million Christians face significant persecution and discrimination for their faith, according to Open Doors. 1 in 7 Christians around the world are persecuted worldwide. Last year, almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith. Almost 15,000 churches and Christian properties were attacked. Over 4,000 Christians were detained.

Because it’s ha...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Does the Bible Say Anything about Going to Church?

Does the Bible say anything about going to church? Let’s explore seven different answers to that question.

Elisabeth Elliot, the Valiant

I, for one, am deeply encouraged by holy men and women whose stories are full of “ironies, contradictions, inconsistencies, imponderables.”

10 Diagnostic Questions for You and Your Spouse

What are some other questions that can help diagnose the health of our marital life? Here ...

That You May Be Glorified in Him

Sometimes a phrase in Scripture jumps out at me even though I’ve read it many times before.

One of them is 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12:

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Most of this prayer, which is part of the opening to the letter, is typic...

The Church That Lost Its Love (Revelation 2:1-7)

Big Idea: The sign of a faithful church is enduring love for Jesus.

I don’t know if I have a favorite church in the Bible, but if I did, it would probably be the church in Ephesus.

Let me tell you what I like about it.

Here’s what we know about the church in Ephesus. Ephesus was the fourth-largest city in the Roman Empire. When John wrote Revelation, the population would have been about 225,000. It was an urban center, a world-class city.

It was a major financial center, and home to the Pan-Ionian g...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Clearing Up Confusion About Humility

Don’t get high. Don’t put yourself in the center. Instead, put others there. Get low and off-center.

How (and Why) to Greet like Paul

Here’s how (and why) to greet like Paul.

Why Gen Z Men like Me Are Staying in Church

At church, Gen Z men are still being called to sacrifice in a culture that taught them to live for themselves.

Grief and Gratitude When a Church Ends

Not every ending is a failure because longevity may not be God...

Failure Happens Slowly Before It Happens Suddenly

In 2017, I ran a bunch of races: 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons. I had a blast. I’d finally trained well and was enjoying my new hobby.

Near the end of the season, I bought a new pair of running shoes. Soon after, I found myself injured. I went to the physiotherapist. “How did this happen?” I asked. I figured she would blame the new pair of shoes. Instead, she told me the truth. “This injury has been slowly developing for the past 50 years.” The injury revealed itself suddenly, but it had been slo...

What's Happening in the World? (Revelation 1:9-20)

Big Idea: To really understand what’s happening in the world, we need to see the presence of the risen and glorified Jesus.

What’s really going on in the world? It really depends on where you get your news.

I follow an account on social media called All Sides. The tagline is, “Tired of media bias? Expose yourself to different perspectives.” It covers news stories, and then gives examples of how the left, right, and center cover those stories. It’s fascinating to see the same news stories, the same...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Lessons from Mark Dever’s 30 Years at Capitol Hill Baptist Church

Asked what his vision for ministry was, Dever gave an answer that has become a staple of his ministry: preach, pray, love, and stay.

Is There a Better Way to Respond When Sin Is Exposed?

When someone we esteem sins, it’s okay to say nothing online. In fact, it is usually better when we don’t. Instead of posting, pray.

The Complexity of Calling

I find it very helpful to think of our "calling” as Ch...

Slow and Costly in a World of Fast and Cheap

First, the algorithms took over.

Some algorithms are beneficial. I enjoy seeing Amazon’s recommendations based on the purchases I’ve made. Sometimes I discover new accounts I want to follow. The algorithms are a serendipity machine, sometimes allowing me to discover things I wouldn’t have on my own.

However, we have lost something valuable within the algorithms. We’re not seeing what we’ve chosen to see. We’re seeing what social media wants us to see, and it’s not always beneficial.

Now, A.I. is ta...