Work Matters

One of the most common pastoral issues that pastors face is seeking to counsel people who are struggling with their work.  Many who are in work suffer the Sunday evening blues and those out of paid work wishing they had the Sunday evening blues.  Many have a sense of dissatisfaction and frustration in work and have a disjointed view of work.  This 2011 publication from Crossway publishers from the pen of Tom Nelson will both equip the pastor to counsel and counsel those who need counselled.  The basic premise of this book is that we need to be able to reconnect what is happening in our lives on the Lord's day and what we do the other six. As you would expect this Christian book on work starts at the start ie Genesis showing why we work and why it is so frustrating. Each of the ten chapters are well thought through and applied.  There is much here that will encourage any believer in their work place.  My only criticism is that although the writer roots our work in the character of God a fuller covenantal view of work is rather lacking.  That said this is a very useful book.  It would be a great book for group discussion.  Much here too for the pastor wanting to do some teaching on work.  The big challenge that I found was teaching people that what they do in their work is valuable and important and not to speak in a way that gives the impression that the only work that is important is the life of the church.  Nelson is basically saying that our daily work is to be an extension of all that we are as the people of God.

What do you think of me?

This volume by Ed Welch has the sub title, Why do I care? As the title and sub title suggest this is a book designed for the young. But this "not so young" minister found it challenging because let's face it we can care too much what others think no matter what our age. Like much of the material published by CCEF staff it is published by New Growth Press. After two introductory chapters identifying the problem and then a further six on getting to the reason why peoples lives are lived looking for approval Welch then plots a path out of the maze by studying who God is, who we are and who everyone else is.  This is a superb book that will help counselling those struggling with peer pressure, low self esteem, co dependency etc. it is designed to be an interactive study though to be honest a briefer accompanying study booklet might be more beneficial.  This book has all the thorough Biblical exegesis and careful pastoral direction that we have come to expect from Ed Welch. A super read and well worth it's place on your counselling shelf.

No dummies in the pulpit please

Jesus cried out is not about the agonising cry of the Lord from the cross but how He preached.  John gives a summary of His preaching in John 12v44-50 and he begins that summary with this profound statement.  His preaching was filled with passion, with emotion, with heart as well as head.  He wasn't simply delivering a message from God but did so in a manner that was in keeping with solemn, serious, eternally weighted message that He was proclaiming.
In the course of preparing to preach I listen to a multitude of preachers and am increasingly surprised at how many can have all the content but appear to be missing any emotion.  I have preached 1000s of times now myself and I have to say with Baxter of old, "I marvel how I can preach slightly and coldly, how I can let men alone in their sins."
Bruce Milne in his commentary on John writes with wisdom and great balance on this matter, "Preachers with cold hearts will never warm and awaken the consciences of their hearers....False emotionalism and unrealistic dramatization of the message do not honour God and tend only to alienate non Christians further.  But there is a true engagement of the heart in preaching... which is stamped with sincerity and which is an authentic reflection of the heart of the God whose gospel we proclaim.  God is looking today for preachers who, like His Son, will cry out."

James Martin, Pioneer Medical Missionary in Antioch

This short and well written missionary biography recounts the life and work of Rev. James Martin a minister and missionary of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland.  His life spanned the 19th and 20th centuries.  While I was reading this book I was preparing to preach on John 12v24 "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit."  James Martin was a 12 24 man. His life was a burning example of what it means to be a radical follower of the great Radical Jesus Christ.
This little bio is well written, concise, clear and full of the life of a man whose heart was devoted to serving his Lord and Master.  The book recounts the witness of a man sent by a small Irish denomination to reach the lost and needy of Syria and Lebanon.  It is a fascinating, challenging and encouraging read.  One question was constantly in my mind - where are the men of this calibre today? Where are the men who will preach to the unreached, plant churches, set up schools and set up dispensaries displaying the mercy of the Lord?  James Martin could have been an exceptional pastor in the home church or a leading medic - but his heart was in tune with God's plan for the world - to reach those who had not been reached.  O that the Lord would put the same mindset into the hearts of 21st century pastors to go where His great name has not been heard or little known.
Any theological students reading this blog - you simply must read this.  Any young person reading this blog - you must take up and read and pray that the Lord of the ends of the earth might raise up more men with such a love for the Lord Jesus.  Read and fall into the earth yourself and die so that there might be some fruit from your short life.

Radical Together, David Platt

Having read the rave reviews I had to buy and decide for myself.  Even the subtitle gets you going in the direction of the slim volume, "unleashing the people of God for the purpose of God."  While written  primarily for a North American audience the point of the book transfers well this side of the pond.  This is obviously a follow on from Platt's best seller, "Radical."  In the book Platt sets out six key ideas to spur the Christian on to live a radical life together in the church.  These are all good and helpful in themselves and well summarised in the titles and subtitles of the chapters:
1. Tyranny of the good - One of the worst enemies of Christians can be good things in the church.
2. The gospel misunderstood - The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work.
3. God is saying something - The word does the work.
4. The genius of wrong - Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people.
5. Our unmistakable task - We are living and longing for the end of the world.
6. The God who exalts God - We are selfless followers of the self centred God.
The book has a helpful study guide at the end which would assist the reader not only for personal study but in discussing with others.
While I enjoyed the book and found it challenging I had that sense that something was missing - God's covenant with God's covenant people binding us to Himself and each other - that is the key truth that makes us radical together.

The Gospel and Sexual Orientation

Well what could you get packed into 67 pages on such a subject?  Basically everything you need to know on the matter of sexual orientation and the Bible.  At least that is what Michael Lefebvre the editor of this masterly volume has managed.  The booklet is the work of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America as they attempted to give guidance to the congregations they served.  "Compassionate scholarship" is the style of this booklet that should be in every Christian home in the western world.  The booklet comprises six main chapters.  The first chapter helpfully sets out the terminology stating clearly where all the words come from. In chapter two the writers set out clearly what the Bible says about the doctrine of man.  The third chapter deals sensitively and sensibly with present day pattern of speaking of gender patterns. The matter of principles for handling the Bible texts is addressed in chapter four before the main chapter five where the various passages are clearly and accurately expounded.  The book ends with a sixth chapter offering pastoral counsel and an extended bibliography.
For too long too many Reformed Christians have been in the dark on this matter.  That need no longer be the case.  Buy in bulk and give to your congregation.

Preaching the Psalms, McCann & Howell

Over the years I have noticed this book mentioned in various footnotes of other books on the psalms so thought that it might be worth a read. The book comprises three sections: Preaching the psalms - why? Preaching the psalms - how? Preaching the psalms - what?  While there were a few interesting comments here and there throughout the book over all it was a bit of a let down.  For me it was a "broadening my horizons read" as many of the people quoted would not be my usual favourite writers.  The main failing of the book in my opinion is missing the fundamental point that these songs of Zion are Christ's songs - His Spirit breathed them out, they are full of His person and work and He sang them.
Out of ten - I am afraid a humble 3.

JC Ryle Matthew

I just couldn't resist the £15 ministers set of JC Ryle's Expository thoughts on the Gospels.  And now I have finished volume 1 - Matthew.  Just the next section each morning as part of the daily devotions.  Better than any daily Bible reading note.  Ryle had that knack of feeding the people of God winsomely and wooingly.  This was a man who loved Jesus Christ and it just flowed from him.
Can't wait to get started on the next volume.
It is not too late to get the set for someone for Christmas.  Not sure if the minister's discount is still in operation  so you can but it for your minister but you can get the set for £55 at any decent bookshop.  This is just a must as far as Christian reading goes.

Not quite Mr. Obama

What was that you said Mr. President?  As the president gave an emotional address following the recent  atrocity in an American school he left the nation with the misquoting of Psalm 147. No doubt many were moved as he called the nation to their duty of giving help and comfort to those who mourn.  But then in an attempt to quote the Bible he omitted the most important word in the text. He said, in the words of Scripture - heal the broken hearted.  But the psalmist says that this is only what God can do - HE heals the broken hearted.  No president no nation, not even the mighty US can bind up the broken hearts of the grieving parents of twenty brutally murdered children.  The only one who can bring the comfort that such a trauma brings is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes He uses means and the comfort that we have received from God is to be an encouragement to others - but the rock bottom is that only Him who is God can give grace for such gaping wounds.  Only the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ who knows what it is like to have a son brutally murdered at the hands of the wicked can help. And because of that horrific death God can welcome all who call on Jesus in repentance and faith.
Just in case Mr. Obama reads this blog (Not!) here is the psalm in full for you to read sir. Bow and worship, love and adore.

iPraise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars;

he gives to all of them their names.

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

his understanding is beyond measure.

6 The Lord lifts up the humble;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on xthe lyre!

8 He covers the heavens with clouds;

he prepares rain for the earth;

he makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He gives to the beasts their food,

and to the young ravens that cry.

10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders;

he fills you with the ifinest of the wheat.

15 He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

16 He gives snow like wool;

he scatters lfrost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;

who can stand before his cold?

18 He sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

19 He declares his word to Jacob,

his pstatutes and rules to Israel.

20 He qhas not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his rules.

rPraise the Lord!

Planting for the Gospel

This small book written by Graham Beynon and published by Christian Focus is a little primer to church planting.  It comprises 120 pages divided into six chapters:
1. Reasons for planting a church
2. Different models for planting a church
3. Deciding on a model
4. Different methods for church planting
5. Key issues in church planting
6. The early days of planting
I can't say that I benefitted greatly from this book as what he covers is stated elsewhere. Like most church planting books it lacks Scriptural rooting throughout.  The final chapter recounts brief historical sketches of a host of different types of plants.  These are quite interesting.  Though one point did irk me - that someone had a "prophetic word" about the growth of City Church in Dundee. Seems to me that Jesus made all the prophecy about church planting that we need - I will build My church.
In conclusion save your £4.00 for something better and more Biblically rooted.
When will someone write something useful on planting - like Church planting in Acts - that would be worth buying.

The Last Enemy

Michael Wittmer's book subtitled "Preparing to win the fight of your life," is to help the believer die well.  Since every single person reading this post is dying you should read this.  The book comprises twenty three short chapters filled with Scripture and pastoral insights.  It is winsomely written, clearly connecting with the big issues around the theme. It is candid and compassionate, clear and concise and above all Christ centred.  All of these things make is so very suitable for the believer who has been sent and arrow from heaven to say that they will soon be required in the Master's house.
This is the book that you can give to that Christian friend who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  But more than that read it yourself and live in the light of it.
I can't recommend this little volume too highly.  A master lesson in pastoral theology.

Dangerous Calling

This the the latest book from the pen of Paul Tripp.  The subtitle reveals what the dangerous calling is about - confronting the unique challenges of pastoral ministry. The book comprises three main sections: examining pastoral culture; the danger of forgetting who God is; and the danger of forgetting who you are.  The book is obviously written in Tripp's unique conversational preaching style.  In each chapter it is as if you are in his counselling room as he downloads a lifetime of pastoral experience and expertise. In this book the writer is shockingly open about the dangerous life of the ministry and the sins that so easily beset us.
If you are a minister and want to finish the course you simply must read this.  If you are training for the ministry you must take this deep into your heart and life or you will so easily become one of the ministerial casualties that sadly pepper every denomination.
This should be compulsory reading at every seminary.

The Works of John Flavel Volume 1

It was a bit of a marathon but well worth effort.  Volume 1 of Flavel has the title, "The fountain of life, A display of Christ in His essential and mediatorial glory." 42 wonderful sermons on the person and work of Christ.  Flavel is relatively easy to read and not given by and large to endless sub points.  These sermons are theologically stimulating and heart warming.  Some of the earlier sermons you could read through in one sitting, others need to be broken up.  The clearly demarcated headings help in dividing up to read.
Well worth the effort.  Just five more volumes to go.

Lessons with Flavel

Commenting on Isaiah 53v7 John Flavel says that one of the uses of this is to press on us Christlike patience in our sufferings.  He suggests by way of practical application that in our sufferings we ought to look in various directions for help.
1. Look upwards when tribulations come upon you: look to the sovereign Lord that commissionates and sends them upon you.  You know that troubles do not rise out of the dust nor spring out of the ground, but are framed in heaven.
2. Look downward - cast your eye downward and see those who lie much lower than you.  Can you see none on the earth in a more miserable state than yourselves.  What is your affliction? Have you lost a relation. Others have lost all....
3. Look inward, cast your eye into you own hearts: consider either the corruptions or grace that are there.  Cannot you find enough weeds there that need such winter weather as this to rot them
4. Look outward - and see who stands by and observes your carriage in trouble.  Are there not many eyes upon you.
5. Look backward,  consult the multitude of experiences past and gone...Is this the first strait that you have ever been in.  If so you have reason to be quiet, yet to bless God that hath spared you so long when others have had their days filled up with sorrow.
6. Look forward to the end of your troubles..... they shall not be everlasting troubles.
7. Look to the right hand  and see how you are shamed, convinced and silenced by other Christians... and yet can not only patiently bear the afflicting hand of God but are blessing.
8. Look to your left hand and there you will see a sad sight..... there you may see a company of wicked graceless wretches carrying themselves under their troubles, but too much like yourselves.  What do they more than fret and murmur; despond and sink... It is time for thee to leave off, when thou seest how near thou art come to them.
...... above all thine eying the great pattern of patience, Jesus Christ; whose Lamb like carriage, under a trial, with which thine is not to be named the same day, is here recommended to thee.  Oh how should this transform thee into a lamb for meekness also.

Church Planting is for Wimps, Mike McKinley

Light and easy read.   More of a biographic study of church planting than a how to manual.   Not the last book you will read on church planting but one that contains many principles whatever your experience of church planting.  What I really liked about this little volume was the honesty of the writer.  The author has a warts and all philosophy.  The open and honest humble approach of the writer is a ray of light amidst the super hero impression given by many who write on this sphere of church life.  While the setting is clearly North American and the numbers on a a grand scale there is much here from which anyone interested in church planting will prosper.

Taken up to Heaven, Derek Thomas

Having been asked to preach at a young people's conference day on the Ascension of Christ I thought that this book by Derek Thomas would throw some light.  I wasn't disappointed.  The book consists of eight chapters each one dealing with some dimension of the work of ascension.  As the author admits the material had it origins in a series of sermons preached on the subject.  Derek Thomas has done a good job in the translation of the sermons into this written format. The material is well set out and thoroughly applied throughout.  Useful to use as part of daily devotions.

The Next Story, Tim Challies

This is probably the best and only book that you will need to read on the impact of the digital era but read it you must.  The chances are that you have read this blog page on your laptop, smartphone or iPad.  Great tools to thank God for.  But like many good things they can come to control our lives and even weaken them if not used correctly.  Challies covers the while spectrum here - Facebook, surfing, texting, information at your finger tips.  What I like about his thorough approach is that he is not saying - bin your devices - any nutter could do that. Challies goes deeper.  He gets to the Word and applies the Word to the digital world we live in.  If you do Facebook you need to read this.  If you send emails you need to read this.  If you surf the net you need to read this. If you google you need to read this. Get the point - you need to read this.  I guarantee that you will be blessed and challenged.
It made me think.  Why do I need to check my email so often?  Why do I always have my mobile in my pocket?  What does my search history reveal about me?  Why am I so tempted to turn on my computer as soon as I get up?
So as far as repentance goes - I am no longer turning my macbook on first thing.  My email won't be checked so often - once a day will do fine.  I will master my new iPad and not be mastered by it.
Footnote - I saw a man on the beach yesterday who needs to read this book.  He had obviously taken his ten year old boy to the beach for a time of fun together.  As he kicked the ball back and threw a stick for his dog all the time he had his phone in his hand.  I thought catch yourself on mate - you are not the prime minister or the president of the US.  And neither am I - so don't expect instant messages back - I may be with someone more important than the both of us.

The Pleasures of God. John Piper

The publishers state on the cover "voted one of the century's top 100 books by World Magazine." It would be easy with such a build up for a book then to be a real let down.  Thankfully it wasn't. In fact I think that this was the John Piper book that I enjoyed the most to date.  It was first published in 2001 and many of the themes in the book appear in his other volumes.  The book comprises 10 chapters:

The pleasure of God in His Son

The pleasure of God in all He does

The pleasure of God in His creation

The pleasure of God in His fame

The pleasure of God in election

The pleasure of God in bruising His Son

The pleasure of God in doing good to all who hope in Him

The pleasure of God in the prayers of the upright

The pleasure of God in personal obedience and public justice

The pleasure of God in concealing Himself to the wise and revealing Himself to infants

One of the many things that I enjoy about reading John Piper is that you have to think, but more than that, you have to pause to worship the living Lord.  Another factor by which I judge a book is how often I say during the read - I need to preach on this.  It is safe to say that this thought appeared as I read each chapter.

Thoroughly recommended.  Even for the appendix, "Are there two will in God?" it is worth the money

Andrew Murray Men of Faith

While the majority of the population of the UK was applauding the tennis player I picked up this bite size biography of Andrew Murray the 19th century S. African pastor and evangelist.  This Murray was born and bred within the confines of Dutch Reformed Church.  He was a presbyterian who was heavily influences by the Holiness movement.  His deep devotion for the Lord Jesus shines through in every detail that the biographer records.  He was a man blessed with many gifts and graces and appears to have been one of those men with broad shoulders and endless energy for the kingdom of God.  Like most greatly used servants of the Lord this man faced many struggles in his efforts to serve his Saviour. While there is much to stir and challenge in the life of this godly man there are some things that seem a little confusing.  Thankfully the God that Murray served is bigger than our small thoughts of Him and His work with His servants.  One phrase stuck in my mind from Linder's account of Murray's life.  When God gives you a heart for His work expect His blessing.  So plod on.

A Praying Life, Paul Miller

Been reading through this book on prayer over the last few weeks and have had a love hate relationship with it.  I wanted to read it because I had read a few rave reviews and also the personal need to develop my private prayer life.  So what do I dislike about it?  I guess it's just one of my pet hates  - but why do American evangelical feel that they have to quote nuns and monks?  Now with that out of my system let me thoroughly recommend that you read this book.  If you are a normal Christian you lament that you don't pray as you ought.  This book doesn't come with a magic wand and hey presto perfect prayer life, but it will inform you, encourage you and help you to see that it really is possible to connect with God in a distracting world.
The book comprises five main sections: Learning to pray like a child; Learning to trust again; Learning to ask your Father; Living in you Father's story and Praying in real life.  There are 32 chapter in total each about a 15 minute read.  The author writes in a warm personal style letting you into his home to see how he and his wife learnt to pray amidst the business of a family life.
If you have a shelf for books on prayer this should be one of them.