Jared C. Wilson's Blog, page 60
January 10, 2014
Your Best Links Now – 1/10/14
Former Pastor Experiments With Atheism for a Year
Ryan Bell, 42, led Hollywood Adventist Church until March of last year, when has was asked to resign over his increasingly liberal views and his disagreements with Adventist theology. Bell says that he expressed support for female ordination and the inclusion of homosexuals, and took issue with the literal six-day creation outlined in Genesis.He told reporters this past week that his forced resignation partially fueled his decision to experiment with atheism this year.
How to Replace a Music Minister by Shaun Groves
I didn’t understand half of this (the music stuff), but I liked pretty much all of it.
Frozen Niagara Falls is Beautiful
These photos are breathtaking. (Link is to Buzzfeed; beware of tacky comments and sidebar links.)
Pizzeria Offers Python Pizza
Count me in for one of those Everglades Specials, which includes alligator, python, and frog. Of course this is in Florida. They still have dinosaurs down there.
January 9, 2014
Your Best Links Now – 1/9/14
Top 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to be a Christian
Christian martyrdoms doubled in 2013. (The United States isn’t on the list.) “The purpose of the report is to ‘create effective anger,’ leading people to pray and act on behalf of persecuted Christians…It creates awareness and it requires a strategic response. And great research is the only way that effective anger can be produced.”
Sofia the First and George Orwell
Of princesses, principles, and philosophies. One of those moralistic comic strips.
The Boy Scout Sleeping Outside for a Year (In Minnesota)
“Rudy, a 17-year-old Life Scout from the northern Minnesota city of Hermantown, is nearly 200 nights in to his quest to sleep outside for 365 nights in a row. Any Boy Scout living in Miami or Maui could pull off that feat, but Rudy lives in Hermantown, a suburb of Duluth, where tomorrow’s high temperature is 5 degrees. By the weekend, it could get down to minus-18. Consider that as you sip your hot cocoa by the fire this week.”
A TED Talk About Why TED Talks Don’t Work
“TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. To me, TED really stands for Middlebrow Megachurch Infotainment.” Later: “More Copernicus; less Tony Robbins.”
Are You Ready to Go to Heaven? Colton Is.
My cousin Steve shares about a touching exchange with his fourteen year-old son Colton, who was born with spina bifida. Some of my readers may remember some of Steve’s journal entries from when he and his wife were expecting Colton appeared in my book Your Jesus is Too Safe covering their struggle of faith and doubt when it was recommended they terminate the pregnancy. I’m glad they chose life. And I’m glad Colton has chosen life too.
January 6, 2014
Your Best Links Now – 1/6/14
New Year, New You? by Brett Derr
A snippet:
At the end of my time at the gym this morning, I had a meeting with one of the trainings – this is routine. During this time they tried to convince me to sign up for a personal trainer (big bucks!). This guy threw out every pitch he could think of plus some. He created a schedule, drew a workout plan or even developed a dietary pyramid. At the end of the time, these words came out of his mouth: “You will be unstoppable!” . . . But there is only one that is unstoppable.
The Congressman Who Went Off the Grid
I found this Politico profile of former congressman from Maryland Roscoe Bartlett fascinating. Convinced a disaster or attack that will wipe out the U.S.’s energy grid is inevitable, he has spent years building and developing a grid-free homestead in the mountains of Virginia. Amazing guy whose resourcefulness, intelligence, and ingenuity remind me of a few Vermonters I know.
10 Lifehacks from 100 Years Ago
As seen in the covers of antique matchbooks. You may not care about storing eggs in a wooden salt box but I bet you’d want to know how to light a match in the wind.
When Joy Returned to My Ministry in Rocky New England by Godwin Sathianathan
“Those first few months were wonderful: my ministry initiatives were generally successful; lots of energetic congregants flocked to my planning and training meetings; we ate well. I became excited to dig in and partner with this church. Rocky soil? Please. Then the honeymoon wore off . . .”
January 3, 2014
Your Best Links Now – 1/3/14
Duck Dynasty and “Happy Blacks”
This piece by Jemar Tisby at the Reformed African American Network should be considered by all interested in the recent A&E/Phil Robertson controversy.
All of John Howard Yoder’s Books Will Now Contain an Abuse Disclaimer
“A church publisher will front all future books by one of its denomination’s most-famous theologians with an unusual acknowledgment: the pacifist author’s ‘long-term sexual harassment and abuse of women’.”
Video Venues Are a Barrier to Most of the People We Want to Reach
Bob Hyatt writes a guest post at Ed Stetzer’s blog reflecting on recent LifeWay research on people’s perceptions of church video venues. Briefly: “more than a third of respondents who would be completely turned off by a video sermon, with another third expressing a preference against them.”
The Confessional Protestant Coalition
2014 will include, Lord willing, my third visit to preach at Lancaster Bible College, a school whose students and faculty I am more and more impressed with and blessed by. This Confessional Protestant Coalition is the theological brainchild of several folks connected to LBC, students and graduates, and the material is top-notch. I would add their blog to my subscriptions, if I were you.
Famous Cartoons and Their Celebrity Doppelgangers
Abraham Piper at 22 Words with another diversion for your daily mental checking-out. The Lion-O/Carrot Top pairing is especially inspired.
Cardboard Stories
This presentation of testimonies from the Austin Stone Church in Austin, TX is a few years old but still moving.
Cardboard Stories from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.
January 2, 2014
Milestones in Ministry (Seminary Can’t Prepare You For)
Well, maybe it can. I never went to seminary. But while all my studies have contributed toward my (still) becoming “thoroughly equipped” in and by the word of God, there are some “first times” in pastoral ministry that no amount of book learnin’ could prepare me for experientially. For example:
- The first time I went with church folks to bail a family member out of jail.
Similarly:
- The first time I went to court to support a woman seeking refuge from an abusive husband.
- The first time I became vividly aware of demonic presence in a counseling session.
- The first time I felt my life was in danger from an angry person.
- The first time I preached the funeral of someone who’d committed suicide.
- The first time I dealt with someone actively teaching heresy in the church.
- The first time I had to initiate church discipline on a friend.
- The first time I shared the gospel with a man on his deathbed who rejected the news.
- The first time I held the hand of a dying saint.
- The first time I was at the crime scene of a homicide.
And shortly thereafter:
- The first time I sat with a mother while she waited to identify her son’s body.
These were all experiences of varying difficulties, and the Spirit was very strong when I was very weak. And while I did not feel particularly prepared for any of these “first times,” I do feel as though they have perhaps served to prepare me for “first times” still to come.
It is good for pastors to stay in over their heads. That is where the Lord’s mercy seems to shine through most clearly. I do think that a comfortable ministry is the most dangerous kind.
Your Best Links Now – 1/2/14
Zach Nielsen on How to Guard Against Mission Drift in 2014
“Leading any organization is hard work,” Zach writes. “Staying aligned to our core calling to make disciples takes continued focus.” Read his good instruction on preventing the drift.
Biblical Archaeology’s Top Ten Discoveries of 2013
Really cool stuff here, including the mysterious stone pyramid discovered underwater. ” Tentatively dated to around 2000 BC, or earlier, it may be connected to a nearby excavated site called Khirbet Kerak. Underwater archaelogists hope to begin studying the rocks to see if they can discover why they are there.”
My latest piece in Tabletalk on The Ninth Commandment
How telling the truth about ourselves and our neighbors is being honest about God.
What happened to all the passenger pigeons?
The New Yorker‘s review of naturalist Joel Greenberg’s new book surveys his exploration of how the most prevalent bird species in North America went extinct.
When Worship is Wrong by Skye Jethani
Earlier this week, I tweeted this:
Jethani’s piece is a great elaboration of what I had in mind. The bigger/better/flashier of the weekly worship experience production becomes envisioned as a dispenser of spiritual feelings, of a “release” or high of some kind that gives diminishing returns. Like porn. Or, in Jethani’s post, like a drug:
This pursuit of transformation by consuming external experiences creates worship junkies who leap from one mountaintop to another, one spiritual high to another, in search of a glory that will not fade. As one church member interviewed for the University of Washington study said, “God’s love becomes … such a drug that you can’t wait to come get your next hit. … You can’t wait to get involved to get the high from God.” In response, churches are driven to create ever-grander experiences and more elaborate productions to satisfy expectations. But if lasting transformation is our goal, mountaintops-even God-ordained ones-will never suffice.
And you should read Jethani’s book The Divine Commodity for a more in-depth and increasingly relevant indictment of the attractional worship paradigm.
The Immanuel Mantra
I love this from my friend Ray Ortlund, pastor of Nashville’s Immanuel Church. We have “stolen” it for use at Middletown Church too, and our folks love it.
Immanuel Mantra from Immanuel Nashville on Vimeo.
January 1, 2014
Jonathan Edwards’s Resolutions
I wonder how the resolutions of us donut-eaters might stack up to these from Jonathan Edwards.
(Category headings are by Matt Perman.)
Overall Life Mission
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.
Good Works
11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
Time Management
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
50.Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51.Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
Relationships
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 2, and July 13.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.
Suffering
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.
Character
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.
47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14 and July 3, 1723.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
Spiritual Life
Assurance
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
The Scriptures
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Prayer
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
The Lord’s Day
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
Vivification of Righteousness
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.
44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12-13, 1723.
Mortification of Sin and Self Examination
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23 and August 10, 1723.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
Communion with God
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26 and Aug. 10, 1723.
Aug. 17, 1723
And here is a good article on Edwards’s resolutions from Stephen Nichols at Ligonier.
Your Best Links Now – 1/1/14
How to Read the Whole Bible in 2014
Bible-reading New Year resolvers, Justin Taylor’s got your back with a host of helpful resources.
Is it Really Loving to Teach Doctrine to the Poor?
20 Schemes’ Mez McConnell is one of my new favorite pastor-thinkers. McConnell, who pastors among the urban poor in the “housing schemes” of Niddrie, Scotland, is often thinking through (as a practitioner) many of the assumptions made about mission in poor, post-Christendom areas and finding many of them lacking. This piece is just one example. Truth always matters, and the Bible always matters, no matter the cultural context.
How the Church Makes the Trial of Infertility Better (or Worse)
If the gospel is true, it must speak to the fearful parts of our lives such as these. As my wife and I have been through our own reproductive difficulties and as I am pastor to a few couples who have struggled with infertility, I am thankful for thoughtful articles like this one from Jeff Cavanaugh. It is a real source of grace and a good help to those in ministry.
Atheist Comedian Raises Money for Tornado Victim Simply to Make Christians Mad
Not to help her, he says, really. Just to make Christians angry. No word on whether any Christians are actually angry about this. This dude reminds me of the Lewis line: “I did not believe in God and I was very angry with God for not existing” (par.). You mad bro?
December 31, 2013
Urban “vs.” Rural Ministry
Earlier this year at The Gospel Coalition national conference, I had the privilege of sitting down with my friends Collin Hansen and Stephen Um to talk about the differences and similarities in mission in urban and rural contexts.
Don’t Hate on Rural Ministry from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.
Your Best Links Now – 12/31/13
Dale Coulter at First Thoughts runs down The Eight Kinds of Commenters in the Christian Blogosphere
But none of these are you, dear reader. Your comments are always appreciated, even when they sting and/or make no sense whatsoever. Comment away, and defy Mr. Coulter’s wild stereotyping. (smiley face)
Scotty Smith offers a Prayer for New Year’s Eve
Looking to the new year with joy? Or fear? Or both? “Father, it’s because of your love for us in Jesus that I can also own my sadness,” Scotty writes. Make his Christ-centered prayer your own and offer up your days to the Lord in humble trust.
When a Child’s Furby Turns Nasty
Our girls got Furbys for Christmas from a relative. I didn’t know they had this capacity. If they pull any of this stuff in our house, I have a fire pit ready.
John Piper’s further thoughts on Ghostwriting and Research Assistants
The dishonesty happens because of pride and greed, Piper says. And he encourages celebrity preachers tempted to use ghostwriters to instead boast in their weaknesses.
Memo to New England Patriots haters: It’s Time to Drop the Whole “Spygate” Thing
This is an older piece, but since this is the charge that never seems to die — because jealousy is a cruel mistress, nudge nudge — Sean Crowe’s article will still be relevant. He doesn’t argue that violating league rules was okay, he just argues that most people don’t know what the Patriots (and other teams) actually did and what it might have actually affected. Anyways, read the thing. It’s interesting. Then you can go back to hating the Patriots for other irrational reasons.
Steve Green: “A Mighty Fortress” A Capella
I am not generally a fan of Green’s music, but this performance of Luther’s hymn gives me goosebumps. It was especially enjoyable during this Christmas week as I thought about the God-Baby Jesus.
