Darryl Dash's Blog, page 19

Why Char Loves Me

I sometimes ask Char why she loves me. She gives me the most frustrating answer: just because.

My looks? Not surprising, but that’s not the reason Char loves me. My bank account? Don’t make me laugh. My ability to bring a smile to her face? I don’t think that hurts, but it’s not the main reason she loves me. The fact that I try to listen and care for her? She appreciates that, but it’s also not the primary reason she loves me.

She loves me just because.

One day I complained to her about this answer...

The Gospel of the Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27)

Big Idea: God freely gives us what we need most as a gift, and it will satisfy us for eternity.

One of the most important questions we can ever answer is this: what is the gospel? What is the good news for sinners like us that the Bible gives us? This is a crucial question that each of us must answer personally. We need to understand and receive the message of the gospel. It’s also crucial for us as a church. It’s essential that we’re clear about the gospel.

In 2008, I went to The Dwell Conference...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

The Weighted Vest of Pastoral Ministry

This is what pastoral ministry is like. It’s like living with a weighted vest on. All the time. And every now and then, usually on Sundays, someone slips an extra weight in there.

Pastoral or Academic Ministry? How a Pastor-Theologian Can Balance Two Loves

There’s a spectrum of valid ways a pastor-theologian’s dual love may be expressed.

The Best Day of the Week

I love Sundays, and here are five reasons why I think you shou...

Daniel Looked on These Lions

If you visit the prestigious Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, you’ll discover one of the nicer neighborhoods of the city. You may walk past a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, or the former home of the Obamas. You’ll probably come across the University of Chicago, and if you do, you may walk past the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC)], formerly named The Oriental Institute. But you may have a hard time believing what’s inside the walls of this small museum.

We visited last w...

God’s Name on You (Numbers 6:22-27)

Big Idea: God has given you his name. He owns you; he bought you; you represent him.

One of the most significant events of your life took place without you having much to do about it.

One day, a long time ago, someone gave you a name. You were just lying there. They looked at you and made a decision about what you would be called from that point on. Maybe they’d already decided. Maybe they chose a name that was already meaningful. Maybe you reminded them of a certain name. But on that day, they ga...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Mental Illness Is Not a Sign of Immature Faith

Mental illness is a result of the Fall, not because it is a sin, but because it is caused by the effects of sin.

Respond to Conflict like Francis Schaeffer

The way we handle conflict among Christians is supposed to attract people to Christ.

Regulative Discipleship: Why a Full Calendar Doesn’t Necessarily Produce Mature Church Members

If Scripture doesn’t command certain events, then we can encourage members to parti...

I'm Just Starting to Understand the Bible

I drove up to the United States border guard. I have a Nexus card, so I didn’t expect much of a problem.

“Purpose of visit?”

“I’m attending a study week.”

“What are you studying?”

“Just the Bible.”

“Just the Bible?” he exclaimed. Point taken: there is no “just” the Bible. It is a book unlike any other, not even a book but a collection of books. Even if you’re not a Christian, you have to admit it’s amazing. But as a Christian, I see it as much more than a book. It’s my bread and nourishment. There’s ...

Wellbeing in the Wilderness (Numbers 6:22-27)

Big Idea: It may not feel like it, but we can experience God’s blessing even in the wilderness.

I want to take you back with me some three thousand years.

You are in the desert. You’re one of 600,000 people trying to get by in a very inhospitable place. It’s like the worst camping trip ever. I love camping as much as anyone, but one of the best parts of camping is going home and enjoying the comforts of home.

But this is like the camping trip that never ends. The trip was supposed to be two weeks l...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

How to Make Better, More Careful, More Persuasive Arguments

I want to suggest two ways we can make our arguments harder, which in this case means better, more careful, and more persuasive.

A Response to John MacArthur’s Statements on Mental Illness From a Family it Has Misjudged

I primarily write this to those navigating mental illness in their child.

Institution Building Requires Virtue

Unfortunately, during times of fear and turmoil, it is very easy for us to ...

Holiness Here

There are two kinds of books on holiness.

One is the kind of book written by R.C. Sproul, J.C. Ryle, or Jerry Bridges. These are good and important books, possibly even life-changing, but they’re also challenging. You can expect a bit of a workout, and it may even feel like you’ve entered a gym that really isn’t for people like you.

And then there’s the kind of book written by my friend Karen Stiller called Holiness Here: Searching for God in the Ordinary Events of Everyday Life. It’s the kind of ...