I think we have discussed this before, but times change, and our audience may be different than it once was. Plus, I can't find it. We see on this blog people who have been traditionally educated by seminaries, non-traditionally educated, and a few of us that are not really educated at all, formally, in the work of the ministry. So, as a semi-0pen discussion, what would be your answer to this question: If you were going into an English-language area to provide training to pastors, both new and long-serving, who had no access to formal education, what five books would you take? Would … [Read more...] about SBCVoices Forum: Books for Ministers
Archives for 2013
I’m Offended That Someone Might Be Offended
“It’s as though all human encounter were one big sore spot, inflamed with opportunities to give, and truculently receive, offense.” So wrote Robert Hughes in his 1993 book, The Culture of Complaint. Twenty years later Hughes’ statement is even more accurate. I’m a child of this little experiment of changing our world through changing our words. For as long as I can remember we have been fighting a war against those dastardly words of black and white. It seems that today we cannot handle the cold reality of concrete words. Orwell was correct: If you simplify your English, you are freed … [Read more...] about I’m Offended That Someone Might Be Offended
Can I Be a Preacher?
“Can I be a preacher someday, Pastor Ben?” said the smiling little 9-year-old boy across the desk from me. One of my joys every Sunday morning is having some of the young ones come say good morning to me there in my office. They usually want to show me their outfit, new toy, or doll, but on this day, I had one wanting to preach! The question certainly brought a smile to my face, but inside, my wheels were turning as to how I should answer. I quickly decided on my answer. “Well, there are four things it takes to be a preacher.” I know: leave it to a preacher to enumerate an answer to a … [Read more...] about Can I Be a Preacher?
Excited about the Destination! Lessons Learned by a Weary World Traveler
The last 24 hours have been a brutal inconvenience. An hour and a half drive to the airport in Omaha. A flight to Minneapolis on a smaller jet. Hanging out, killing time in MSP until we board our 3 hour flight to JFK in New York. Then, things got interesting. We thought we had about 6 hours to kill, but we had not accounted for dealing with El Al security - that is no joke, folks. Some really invasive questioning and another trip through security. Then, we finally boarded a 747 for a ten hour flight to Tel Aviv. Without going into specifics, they do not engineer those seats for people who are … [Read more...] about Excited about the Destination! Lessons Learned by a Weary World Traveler
An SBC Voices Forum: Making Announcements without Messing Up Worship
Making announcements at church is a big, fat pain in the...uh...well...neck! In my nearly 3 1/2 decades of service to churches, I have been involved in about 3,345,972 discussions of how to handle announcements and ministry promotions during our worship services. We've talked about eliminating them completely, and just ask people to read the bulletin, look at the web, or whatever other electronic or printed means of dissemination are available. But the problem is that people don't often do that, don't know what is going on, don't show up, then complain that we didn't make the … [Read more...] about An SBC Voices Forum: Making Announcements without Messing Up Worship
When the Local Prostitute Thinks She’s a Christian
She’s the most notorious sinner in town. When you think of the type of woman that you want your little boy to avoid when he grows up, she is the first person that comes to mind. She exemplifies the Proverbs 7 woman as she mocks your Proverbs 31 ambitions. This is why you are shocked to get a phone call from her. First, you wonder who put your number in bathroom stall as a joke. Then you realize that this woman has hit rock bottom and she is crying out for help. You learn that she got your number from a mutual friend (which kind of makes you wonder how you share a friend). You set up a lunch … [Read more...] about When the Local Prostitute Thinks She’s a Christian
Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor: October Weigh-in Time!
Here is your "Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor" devotional thought for the day! Israel had no shortage of great warriors, who accomplished great deeds in battle; with David, perhaps, the greatest of these. He defeated Goliath and many other foes during the years he led Israel. When he ascended to the throne, he made them musical directors in the house of the Lord. They knew him and his work. And, in Psalm 44:6-7, they said these words, words which I’m sure reflected David’s beliefs and practices. “For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory. But You give us victory over our … [Read more...] about Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor: October Weigh-in Time!
Off to Israel!
First thing in the morning, I'm headed to Omaha, to fly to Minneapolis, to fly to JFK to fly El Al airlines to Tel Aviv, Israel. I will be returning on October 11. I have been excited beyond words about this trip. About thirty pastors are joining Frank Page, Fred Luter and a few others to tour the Holy Land.* I have no idea how much internet access I will have, or how much time I will have to write posts. I plan to post as much as I can at my Facebook site to keep friends and family apprised about our travels. But I'm not sure if I will have time or interest in writing posts for … [Read more...] about Off to Israel!
Scalia, Kuyper, and a “Christian” View of Economics and Politics
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia recently gave a lecture (together with a subsequent Q & A session) at the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas. on the following topic: “Is Capitalism or Socialism More Conducive to Christian Virtue?”—(the lecture can be viewed in its entirety here). Interestingly, he is both a devout Roman Catholic and a convinced fiscal conservative. And though I am neither a Roman Catholic nor quite so convinced a fiscal conservative as he, I find much common ground with him in what he has to say in this lecture. In spite of the checkered historical legacy of … [Read more...] about Scalia, Kuyper, and a “Christian” View of Economics and Politics
How to Shepherd Your Child When He/She is Exposed to Bad Teaching
Little Jimmy comes home with a smile on his face. (It’s always little Jimmy, isn’t it?) He has spent the weekend at dad’s, as he has since the divorce, and he is pretty jazzed up about the church service that he went to. As a faithful mommy you are excited that he is excited about church. Trying to contain your grin you ask him what was so cool about church. Little Jimmy explains, Mom it was so cool! We were singing songs, then the preacher said something about snakes and faith…I can’t really remember what…but then Pastor Jenkins hopped out of that place where people get babatized (cause … [Read more...] about How to Shepherd Your Child When He/She is Exposed to Bad Teaching