Darryl Dash's Blog, page 50
February 12, 2022
Saturday Links
Podcast: I enjoyed talking to Brian Sanders about his book The 6 Seasons of Calling on Gospel for Life podcast.
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Why Christians Should Care About Apostasy Laws
We should consistently champion religious freedom for all people, not just Christians.
If There Wasn’t a Sermon About It, Does Your Pastor Even Care?
Christians may share the same convictions and yet differ on the tactics to best achieve their aims.
February 8, 2022
Character Matters
What do you want in a pastor?
I suspect most churches want someone who’s impressively gifted. They look for someone who’s a good preacher, good leader, and who’s good with people. They also want a godly person, but this can be assumed.
Primarily, though, we need pastors who are godly.
I’ve seen books that work through the character qualifications of elders. They highly emphasize that most of the qualifications are character qualifications, emphasizing the importance of godly character t...
February 5, 2022
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
If God approves of my life, I don’t much care what anyone else has to say.
We all have limits, and we cannot ignore them. They’re not a sign of our sin, but of our humanity — a gift from a loving Father.
How Nooks and Spaces Can Help You Read More … and Better
How do you read so much?
What suggestions do you have for increasing reading speed and comprehension?
How do you decide what book...
February 1, 2022
Hero on a Mission
For some, Donald Miller is the man behind StoryBrand and Business Made Simple, a guide who helps business owners learn how to grow their businesses. For others, he’s the author of Christian books like Blue Like Jazz. No wonder Carey Nieuwhof imagines people asking, “Wait a minute, Business Made Simple Don, Blue Like Jazz Don, are they actually the same people?”
It’s taken a while, but I’m getting used to Business Made Simple Don. So, evidently, is Donald Miller himself. “I’ll take this ve...
January 29, 2022
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Fewer Pastors and Churches Take Steps to Help Pastors Stay in Ministry
Certain measures can help pastors maintain a long, fruitful ministry. Unfortunately, fewer pastors and congregations are making those steps a priority.
How to Survive the First 5 Years of Church Planting
I want to offer 10 keys for surviving, by God’s grace, the first five years of church planting.
3 Uncommon Habits Pastors Need to Build Friendships
Developing healthy ...
January 25, 2022
The Sweet Spot
I recently watched Bruce Springsteen’s appearance on David Letterman’s show in 1993. “Wow, that was a long time ago!” my wife commented when I showed her. Contrast how Springsteen looks and performs now. Which is better? “I think I like the older Springsteen better,” Char continued.
As a young man, I thought about hitting that sweet spot: the ideal time of life when one enjoys both the benefits of youth and the benefits of wisdom. I guessed it might be in one’s thirties, although I couldn...
January 22, 2022
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Leaders are heaping blame either upon themselves, others, or God. This precarious pile of guilt isn’t healing but crushing for the soul.
How to Turn Your Pastor’s Grief Into Joy
If your pastor is a faithful man who labors to love Jesus, love the Word, and love people, then make it your ambition to complete his joy.
Who in the World Am I Preaching To?
Answering the ‘who in the world am I preaching to?’ question is of cen...
January 18, 2022
Becoming an Encourager
Michael Bungay Stainer is an author and speaker who lives in Toronto. I subscribe to his email newsletter, which always ends with the same signature: “You’re awesome and you’re doing great.”
Totally corny. He really has no idea how I’m doing. And yet I find that even a somewhat generic encouragement makes me smile. We’re so starved for encouragement that we sometimes don’t mind getting it through an email blast.
I have a friend who has consistently encouraged me. I went through a h...
January 15, 2022
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
3 Practical Steps for Reaching the Mission Field in Your Neighborhood
Three practical steps will help you reach the mission field in your backyard.
6 Lessons for Tending Your Time
What can us schedulers learn from farmers and gardeners?
Yes, You Need to Talk to the Manager
When strivings for justice lose hope, they become weaker, not stronger.
How Charles Spurgeon Promoted Meaningful Membership
How did Spurgeon practice meaningful m...
January 11, 2022
A Personal Update
Since 2015, I’ve had the privilege of serving as director of Advance Church Planting Institute. It’s a part-time role alongside my role as pastor and planter of Liberty Grace Church in Toronto.
Advance is a training ministry of FEB Central Church Planting. In my ministry with Advance, I assess church planters, train them in an initial multi-day event, lead almost-monthly training sessions, and do some coaching.
FEB Central has some big plans for church planting. They want to plant 300 ...
