Darryl Dash's Blog, page 75
August 13, 2019
J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life
I’ve always been perplexed by verses like 2 Corinthians 1:5: “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” And this one too: “In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Colossians 1:24).
Sure, Paul suffered a lot. But how could he say that he shared abundantly in Christ’s sufferings? And how can he say that there’s anything lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Jesu...
August 10, 2019
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Make Sunday Mornings Uncomfortable
These rules make our Sundays less comfortable, but more rewarding. If you’re tired of comfortable, you might want to give them a try!
3 Reasons Drifting From the Faith Starts With Drifting From the Church
We must not abandon the church if we want to persevere in the faith. We must keep going to keep ourselves going.
Most Growth Will Be Slow Growth
Today’s Scripture reading and praying, today’s confessing and repenting,...
August 6, 2019
How to Grow Anniversary and Giveaway
This week marks the first anniversary of the release of How to Grow: Applying the Gospel to ALL of Your Life. To celebrate I’m giving away three copies, as well as reflecting on the book and listing some of the most popular quotes.
ReflectionsWriting How to Grow was a blast. I learned lots about how I work best at a bigger project, and about the publishing process. I can’t say enough about my agent, Steve Laube, or my publisher, Moody. I love how Moody invests in people they believe in, even...
August 3, 2019
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Being a Pastor Isn’t ‘Just a Job’
If you’re one of those who thinks pastors whine too much and work too little, I want to share with you some reasons you may not have considered that pastoral work really is different.
When Your Sermon Feels Like Trash
My sermon is not about me. It’s not about the effectiveness of my sound or my appearance. It is about God’s word being faithfully preached.
The Enduring Witness of a Normal Life
As culture—even Christian c...
July 13, 2019
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
What I Miss Most (and Least) About Being a Pastor
There are aspects of pastoral ministry only those in it get to enjoy, and I really do miss those aspects. And then there are aspects of it I definitely don’t miss.
8 Shackles Every Pastor Should Shatter
Before I became a pastor, I had no idea that the greatest ministry challenge a pastor faces is not a “trouble person,” but a troubled heart — and that heart belongs to him.
July 9, 2019
Summer Reading List
A week from today, God willing, I will be lying on a beach with my Kindle. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to read books, including the ones that I read for pure enjoyment.
Here are some books that are on my list for my upcoming vacation and for the rest of the summer.
J-Curve: Dying and Rising With Jesus in Everyday Life [image error]Paul Miller is one of my favorite writers. I loved his book A Praying Life. I’ve already started reading J-Curve, and I’m loving it. This falls under the c...
July 6, 2019
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Some have wondered if I realize what we could have done with over $8 million dollars. My answer is always the same: “Nothing that would have brought us nearly as much joy as we’ve found in giving it away.”
Enjoy Your Summer Vacation — Just Don’t Vacate The Church
Here are five reasons why I believe we should all make church a priority not only for the summertime but throughout the year.
July 2, 2019
My One Sermon
In his memoir Preacher, Eugene Peterson recounts a conversation with his son.
“Dad, novelists only write one book. They find their voice, their book, and write it over and over. William Faulkner wrote one book. Charles Dickens wrote one book. Anne Tyler wrote one book. Ernest Hemingway wrote one book. Willa Cather wrote one book.”
A few days later, he said, “Remember what I said about novelists only writing one book? You only preach one sermon.”
Peterson was shocked. “I don’t repeat myself in...
June 29, 2019
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Want Gospel Opportunities? Embrace Opposition.
Would you accept more hostility toward the gospel if it meant more openness to the gospel?
Why We Need More Pastors Like Augustine
Here are three admonitions that emerge from his pastoral practice, offering a wise way forward in a new pagan age.
3 Sources of Joy in Preaching Weekly
As I reflect on the great honor I had to serve as the primary preacher in our church, I keep coming back to three main sources...
June 25, 2019
The Pastor: A Memoir
I first heard of Eugene Peterson when I was a seminary student. Michael Haykin, one of my professors, recommended that I read Working the Angles. I did, and I’d never read anything like it.
As I began ministry, I’d occasionally return to Peterson. I appreciated his voice, but I always felt a tension between his prescriptions and my experience.
When Peterson’s memoir The Pastor came out in 2012, I devoured it. I needed a clearer picture of what ministry Peterson’s kind of ministry looks like,...
