Darryl Dash's Blog, page 50
April 9, 2022
Saturday Links
Podcast: I enjoyed talking to Jed Coppenger about his book 21 Days to Childlike Prayer on the Gospel for Life podcast.
Curated links for your weekend reading:
One of the dangers for us as churches, pastor and people is that we assume our place is a generic place.
An Open Letter to the Christian Disheartened by Ongoing Temptation
Persons who are living for the Lord represent prime targets for the evil one because they are doing damage to his dismal interests.
April 5, 2022
Struggling on Your Behalf in Prayers
It may be one of the most overlooked ministries we can perform for others: to struggle on their behalf in our prayers.
The idea comes from Paul’s description of Epaphras in Colossians 4:12-13: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.”
Intense. Many ...
April 2, 2022
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Our Disagreements Are Different From the World’s
We disagree on entirely different terms than the world.
What Lent Teaches Me About the Vices of Time
Fasting resists our society’s expectations about efficiency and instant gratification.
I thought I would share some pet peeves of mine when it comes to preaching, because I think they are shared by others as well.
March 29, 2022
Good and Local
I just got back from Portland. I only had a short time there, but I loved finding local coffee shops, restaurants, and food trucks that served amazing food but that weren’t known outside of the immediate neighborhood. Almost every meal I had was amazing even though the people that served them would never be famous. They’re great in a particular place, and unknown everywhere else.
I avoided the chains. The closest I came to a chain was Salt & Straw, an ice cream shop with locations in three St...
March 26, 2022
Saturday Links
Podcast: I enjoyed talking to Asheritah Ciuciu about her upcoming book Prayers of REST on the Gospel for Life podcast.
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Habits as the Muscle Memory of Our Worship
Habits are the muscle memory of our worship. They are the natural reflexes that reveal the object(s) of a person’s love and devotion.
The problems we face today will probably be hard to remember in twenty years.
The Manly Virtue of Magnanimity
Bear...
March 22, 2022
An Ounce of Compassion
It happens more than you’d think. Someone goes through an unexplained trial — a sickness, a wayward child, a job loss, or some other hardship — and the response is judgment or silence.
On one level, I understand. We don’t always know how to respond to the trials of others. Sometimes, not knowing all the circumstances, we wonder if the person may have contributed to their own misfortune. We’re all wired differently, and some of us naturally show compassion, while others struggle to know how to...
March 19, 2022
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Are You Principled or Just a Contentious Jerk? (part of a new 9Marks Journal)
I am calling on you to say the right things in the right way. To set your sights on honest unity instead of bludgeoned conformity.
Two Hundred People Left Our Small Church
We called our missing sheep, and found four main reasons that suggest four actions.
Our usefulness in ministry is inextricably tied to our delight in Christ.
March 15, 2022
The Pastor with a Side Hustle
I once went to a physiotherapist who was also a chiropodist and chiropractor. He also dabbled in a few other things. While treating me, he’d share his opinions on other topics too. He was somewhat effective, but I didn’t know how much to trust someone who didn’t seem to know how to stick to his core business.
I’ve seen the same thing with pastors.
Pastors must know God well and love people. We’re called to do a lot of things: preach, provide pastoral care, and do some administration. Many ...
March 12, 2022
Saturday Links
Podcast: I enjoyed talking to Blake Long about his book Gospel Smugness on Gospel for Life podcast.
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Go Ahead. Pray for Putin’s Demise.
The imprecatory psalms give us permission to push boldly against evil.
Praying the Lord’s Prayer for the Ukrainian Church
Here’s how you might pray the Lord’s Prayer for the Ukrainian church as they grapple with the conflict with Russia.
Living an obedient life in Christ has nothing ...
March 8, 2022
Pastors Aren’t the Brand
We’re told these days how important it is to develop a personal brand.
A brand represents who you are and what you stand for. A personal brand is what makes you stand out from the rest and is what people remember about you. It helps you develop an online platform, and it’s what people expect from a leader.
And it’s exactly what pastors don’t need.
I’m intrigued by the pressures that Paul faced in Corinth. We know that Corinthians valued wisdom and desired a certain kind of leader: a goo...
