Summertime

There is so much going on this summer. I'm excited and a little scared. I'm preaching on whole books this summer starting this Sunday with Genesis. Yep. The whole book of Genesis in 20 minutes. I haven't been this excited about a sermon in a long time. I think the excitement comes from having the opportunity to show people that the Old Testament is a boring prelude to the New Testament but a vital piece to understanding just how awesomely unbelievable God is and how we don't have to flip pages until we get to Matthew to see Jesus. Stephen Covey said to begin with the end in mind in his best-selling book and that's what I get to do in Genesis. Exciting, I tell you!

Today I launched a new newsletter for the church that I had a blast planning out and designing. Still need a good name for it, but it was fun to write nonetheless.

I'm starting a DMin program called Beeson Pastor Program in August. Well, technically I've already started. I had 16 weeks to read 19 required books. I'm on my way toward completion and I've got two classes I'm taking from July 29-August 24. Can't wait.

Good Friday

I got all my stuff migrated over to Hover and Squarespace this morning and am loving the new setup. Great companies.

It is Good Friday and, as someone wrote on Twitter, the entire state of Arkansas is talking about a sin instead of the Savior who came to free us from the penalty and power of sin in our lives. May we all look to Christ for our forgiveness and salvation.

For today, it really would be worth your time and attention to read this wonderfully written account of the crucifixion from the perspective of the centurion who said, "Truly, this is the Son of God." It was written by a seminary classmate and is creative and moving.

Sunday's coming!

Sermon and Preaching Links

Here are some links I've gathered over the last few months about preaching and sermon preparation/development. If you have any others feel free to leave a comment so I can add them to my pinboard.

It Is Finished

For real.

O Death, Death, He is come.
O grounds of Hell make room.
Who came from further than the stars
Now comes as low beneath.
Thy ribbèd ports, O Death
Make wide; and Thou, O Lord of Sin,
Lay open thine estates
Lift up your heads, O Gates;
Be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors
The King of Glory will come in.

- Gerard Manley Hopkins

There's lots, lots more in his catalog. Lots.

It's 100 Degrees Outside

For a number of reasons I have neglected to write as often as I set out to when I restarted this blog. Mostly because, doggoneit, ministry has been hectic. Here’s three links while I try to polish up some things I’ve been writing and haven’t edited yet.

• The world lost a major voice in the proclamation of the Gospel yesterday. May we humbly and boldly pick up John Stott’s mantle.


• J.D. Walt on why spiritual disciplines often miss the point.


• My friend, Lenny Luchetti, has a book coming out next year on preaching. I can’t wait to read it and benefit from it’s wisdom.

Some Thoughts Upon Reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to My Daughter

In the opening chapter of Umberto Eco's book Foucault's Pendulum, a young couple is described by the character Casaubon, having watched them barely breeze by an amazing piece of art and physics, like this: "A moment later the couple went off - he, trained on some textbook that had blunted his capacity for wonder, she, inert and insensitive to the thrill of the infinite, both oblivious of the awesomeness of their encoutner - their first and last encounter - with the One, the Ein-Sof, the Ineffable. How could you fail to kneel down before this altar of certitude?"

This is one of my very favorite sentences in the English language because it describes the way I and many others encounter God: our capacity for wonder blunted, inert and insensitive to the thrill of the Infinite.

O may I be like Lucy Pevensie!

"And Lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still."

Links are What You Share

When you just haven't been able to finish a bunch of the stuff you've been working on. It took me nearly two months to write up - ever so briefly - my Acts 29 experience and it's been nearly a month since I attended the Gospel Coalition Conference in April so look for that in June.

Links I Liked Today:

• Your Praise isn't the Boss of Me by Jared Wilson. Neither is your criticism, which is a hard, hard lesson for me to get.


• When the Church is a Mistress. We talked about this some yesterday. I didn't get it. I do now.


• And on a similar note. You'd think that after 10 years of marriage and 34 years of life I'd know a thing or two about picking up after myself - both literally and figuratively. You'd be wrong.


• Good advice from Mark Beeson.

That's just today. So far. I haven't even gone through Instapaper yet.

Site Update

I've added a page called "RECOMMENDATIONS" that I hope to update regularly with books and music suggestions that have been significant to me. It's not an exhaustive list, but it is some of the best stuff I've been reading or listening to. Both of the music recommendations are awesome and hope you'll take the time to at least preview them.

Sunday Links - Easter 2011

CHRIST IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

Here’s some Easter Sunday links for you. I’m definitely taking a nap this afternoon so enjoy these while I sleep.

• This is so good I printed it out for the prayer guide I made for our church on Good Friday. The -ations of the cross.


• Sin creates discontentment. Here are some of the lies sin tells us .


• There’s lots to agree with here, but not all of it. The overall point, that we need to be careful in our social media interactions, is spot on. Pastors and Social Media.


• I really wish I had a coffee shop close by. I’d work there. Lots.


• This is mostly true. 10 things you might not know about pastors.

Ok, so it was a thin week link-wise. Holy Week was full of activity and almost all of it great. Thank you, Jesus, for dying and rising.

New Book

I haven't written a review of a book yet, but I'd like to go ahead and promote a book I just started yesterday because it's good and because the content is important.

One of the great things about studying at Asbury Theological Seminary was the Bible classes. (I would say it was the best thing, but I met my wife there so that was the best thing about ATS.) They were all modeled on the inductive method and I learned a ton from those classes. Sadly, I never learned the method as thoroughly as I would have liked but I believe that was due to my own brain and attention and not the professors or the method. I had some great teachers and some great classes. In fact, Exegesis of Jeremiah is still probably one of my favorite classes of all time both because of the content and the teacher.

My very first Bible class was in the Gospel of Matthew and was taught by David Bauer, one of the authors of a new book I'm reading on the inductive method. What I love about this book so far is that it has clarified some things for me that I didn't pick up 12 years ago when I took that class. Dr. Bauer is a 3rd degree inductive black belt and I was just happy to be wearing the uniform. This new book is helping me tremendously and I believe will aid me in becoming the Bible student I want to be and in becoming a better preacher. I'll do a full review when I've completed the book, but until then I recommend you go and buy it.