Darryl Dash's Blog, page 20

When Life Falls Apart (Lamentations 3:20-21)

Big Idea: Expect that your life may fall apart. Express the pain to God. But then count on his character and his promises that will not change even when you can’t see it.

What do you do when your life falls apart?

I used to think, if you are a follower of Jesus, that your life would never fall apart. I guess I believed in a subtle version of the prosperity gospel. I knew we’d still experience problems: our cars would break down, we’d get stuck in traffic jams, that kind of thing. But I didn’t real...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

3 Waves That Have Shaped Evangelical Churches (and a 4th on the Way)

I want to describe these three waves and then point to the possibility of a fourth that’s picking up speed today.

Can We Forgive When the Offender Doesn’t Repent?

Some theologians argue it’s wrong to forgive an impenitent offender, while others say it’s wrong not to. Let’s review the arguments for both options and see if we can find a solution.

7 Powerful Lessons Paul Teaches the Church About ...

To Love a Place

Stuart McLean was a Canadian radio broadcaster best known for his show The Vinyl Cafe. His show featured stories about Dave, as lovable but hapless owner of a second-hand record store, along and his family. The show ran on the radio for years, and McLean also published books based on the stories. You can still listen to many of the stories, and hear the background between them, in a podcast called Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe.

McLean didn’t just record the show in a studio. He took his show on the...

God’s Original Design for Men and Women (Genesis 1-2)

Big Idea: Men and women have dignity and differences that are designed for our good and our joy.

Living in Liberty Village is very interesting. We see a lot of new condos being built. What I’ve noticed is that the initial stages of building a condo go slowly. They dig and they dig. They start by laying foundation piles, which are long, slender columns of steel or concrete that transfer the building's load to a deeper, more stable layer of soil or rock. And only then do they begin to build up. Lay...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

A Church Is a Dangerous Place to Be

Contrary to many churches that try to communicate to its worshippers and visitors, I would argue that a church is first and foremost a dangerous place to be for anyone.

The Universal Experiences of Preachers

My ministerial colleagues and my homiletics bookshelf attest to the non-uniqueness of each of these moments.

A Coward’s Guide to Evangelism

I'd like to offer seven suggestions for you to keep in mind as you consider how to...

A Thought, a Quote, and a Resource

A Thought

In every church I’ve known, at least one or two people set the pace. They may or may not be official leaders in church. Usually, they are older. They are known for being godly and encouraging. They are spiritually mature and help others grow.

Sometimes I visit churches and ask, “Who are the godly men and women in your church, the kind of person you hope to be one day?” I've found two things. First: one or two names quickly rise to the surface. Second: people light up when they talk about...

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...