Darryl Dash's Blog, page 35
April 15, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Finishing well means finishing with the fewest regrets.
Guidance for a Middle-Aged Pastor
A pastor I know recently prayed to the Lord for guidance. He was eager to be useful, he was aware that time was short, and his desire was to be faithful and fruitful in the King’s service.
How to Build a Theological Library on a Budget
Here are some tips for building a library when you lack both cash and shelf space.
Over...
April 11, 2023
Uncle John
Everyone needs a model in ministry. One of mine is my mother’s younger brother Uncle John.
John Crocker served as a pastor for over 40 years. He first served as senior pastor of three churches in Indiana, California, and Illinois for 33 years. He then became the interim senior pastor of six churches in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska for 7 years. He’s also written a very helpful book on the Lord’s Prayer. He’s now retired.
I’ve been watching him for a long time, and his example ...
April 9, 2023
Hope When We Face the Worst (Psalm 27)
Big Idea: Desperate is normal. We can turn to God in our desperation, and we can find hope — resurrection hope — even as we face the worst.
In 2010, for one of the first times in my life, I felt anxiety. I felt afraid. I don’t remember feeling that way before, and I don’t think I’ve felt that way very often since, but I felt it then, and it bothered me. I knew I needed to take some corrective action.
And I did. I began to regularly visit with a counselor and spiritual director. I took three months...
April 8, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
American Bible Society is in its thirteenth year of conducting State of the Bible, asking American people their opinions and practices relating to the Bible.
Like the early church and the church throughout the non-western world, congregations in the West must learn to create their own porches or forecourts where people can enter a relational process and be prepared to hear and understand and perhaps embrace the...
April 7, 2023
Jesus’ Purpose and Our Response (Mark 14-15)
Big Idea: Jesus purposely went to the cross, and we must respond.
So much can happen in a short time. It only takes a very short time for everything to change, for our worlds to be turned completely upside-down.
In Mark 14 and 15, we have what’s called the Passion Narrative of Jesus Christ. They record the events that took place the night before and the day of Jesus’ death.
This is the climax of Mark’s gospel. Mark moves at a brisk pace as he records his account of Jesus’ life, but it’s as if he sl...
April 4, 2023
Lessons From a Bookseller
One of the habits I try to practice is reading for pleasure at the end of the day. In bed, before I go to sleep, I pick up books that I enjoy reading whether or not they serve any utilitarian purpose.
One of the books I’ve enjoyed recently is Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell, although it’s got me reading some of his other books as well. Most of his books follow a similar format: daily diary entries that describe the ordinary days of his life. Written with wry humor, I’ve not only enjo...
April 2, 2023
The Leader We Need (1 Samuel 1-24)
Big Idea: We need godly leaders, especially One who will rescue us from our enemies.
We do it a lot. The United States is doing it right now as they prepare for 2024. The City of Toronto is doing it as we look for a new mayor. We do it in government, in business, in not-for-profits, and pretty much in any human organization.
We’re on the lookout for a leader. We want, we need someone to lead us. We know the difference that a good leader makes. If you’ve ever experienced great leadership, you know ...
April 1, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Help! I Can’t Find Time as a Mom to Read the Bible
I’m a busy mom, and I have trouble finding time to read the Bible. Where do I start to carve out time for this?
How to Respond to Deconstructionist Social Media
How do we who’ve been charged with shepherding younger generations respond to this new reality and the threat it poses to those in our care?
Failing is inevitable in ministry. Here are two suggestions that will help.
March 28, 2023
Want to Grow? Pay Attention to These Three Things.
I’m fascinated by the topic of spiritual growth. I’ve even written a couple of books on the subject. How do people mature in their faith? What habits and disciplines matter most? How can we help others grow? Why do some people grow and others seem to stall? The answers to these questions matter to every believer and every church leader.
But it’s not enough to know how to grow in general. In his book A Short Guide to Spiritual Disciplines: How to Become a Healthy Christian, Mason King argues that ...
March 25, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
‘Lord, Do It Again’: Tim Keller on Revival
Revival is like an avalanche. You get a few sleepy Christians waking up, a few nominal Christians getting converted, and a few really interesting dramatic conversions from the community. And if there’s a real support of extraordinary prayer, those first little pebbles can turn into an avalanche.
There is Something Better than Never Suffering
He will be your strength in the midst of your suffering, with sustaining grac...
