Some brief history: Last September I had spinal fusion of L4/L5 due to spondylolisthesis and fracture of the L5.  This initially helped tremendously with the pain I was experiencing down my legs and in my lower back due to the disc being compressed and bulging on the nerves.  At about the 6 month point, following surgery, I began to experience greater pain, very similar to what I had before surgery.  After pursuing some treatments/exercises, etc and following some various methods of diagnosis, it was determined about 2/3 weeks ago that the disc between L4/L3 was bulging and pressing on the nerves.  The obvious question is, “Why didn’t you have that taken care of with your previous spinal fusion”?  Well, good question.  The answer to that is that we didn’t think that it would be a problem so quickly after surgery.

Current status: Last Wednesday I received an epidural steroid injection (link will show a video of the procedure) whose purpose was to move “medicine” to the inflammation and provide some relief.  The results were to be seen in 3-7 days.  I am happy to report that the pain is lessening in my lower back.  The pain/tingling/burning in my legs is lessening somewhat but still irritating.  I now have pain in my mid to upper back, but that feels like I am out of adjustment – and I will be contacting my chiropractor to see about having that corrected.  The good news is that I am “feeling different” and prayerfully, headed in a direction of ridding my back of pain.  I know that this does not solve the problem of the bulged disc, but I may be pursuing different methods of dealing with that – other than surgery.

I have been over and above pleased with the care I have received at Ft.Wayne Neurological Center.  Dr.Canavati and Dr.Lutz have demonstrated amazing interest and compassion for my condition.  They have aggressively moved in directions to find relief from my pain.

I want to just let everyone know that I really am appreciative of your prayers and inquiries into my health.  I am willing also to listen to tips, ideas and suggestions on back care.  I may not take your advice – but I am finding that one must be willing to pursue a vast array of information to be a better patient.  Feel free to ask any clarifying questions – I’ll be happy to answer if I can.

Question: When you experience general back pain, what provides you with immediate relief?

“Be Still, My Soul”
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Question: What are some of your favorite hymns/songs to listen to when going through a rough time?

In Baxter’s second chapter, The Oversight of the Flock, he breaks it down into 3 sections.  I will post my thoughts on section two: The Manner of This Oversight, here and my thoughts on section three: The Motives to the Oversight of the Flock in a future blog post.

As I read through this section, I felt I was reading some relevant, contemporary church leadership manual instead of the work of a Puritan who was born almost 400 years ago.  Baxter listed 15 things that every pastor should maintain as he oversees the local assembly God has called him to.  I certainly will not do justice to this list in this post, and heartily recommend it for your own reading.  I will, however, list each and give briefly my thoughts (one or two) on each:

• The ministerial work must be carried on purely for God and the salvation of souls, not for any private ends of our own.
  • As soon as I make this “job” about me, I am doomed.  I cannot be tempted or swayed by the comments or kindnesses of my congregants, nor the ridicule or rebukes.  I must be eternally focused on doing God’s work, for his glory.
  • As Baxter says, “Self-denial is of absolute necessity in every Christian, but it is doubly necessary in a minister, as without it he cannot do God an hour’s faithful service”
• The ministerial work must be carried on diligently and laboriously, as being of such unspeakable consequence to ourselves and others.
  • Baxter in twitter-type fashion states, “Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow”!
  • Many pastors abuse the flexibility and openness of their schedules.  Lack of accountability only feeds this slackness.  The ministry can be the easiest job you’ve ever had…or, if done correctly, the most difficult ever experienced.
• The ministerial work must be carried on prudently and orderly.
  • The Gospel must be primary to all of my work.  It is the foundation on which all else is built.
  • I cannot haphazardly approach my study, my teaching or preaching as to ignore this truth.  How can I expect to encourage others to build a life that honors Christ, if they have never accepted him in the first place?
• Throughout the course of our ministry, we must insist chiefly upon the greatest, most certain, and the most necessary truths, and be more seldom and sparing upon the rest.
  • I must know my congregants.  I have to know what they need.  This will keep me from dabbling in the fringe and unnecessary items of life.
  • This too proves to be profitable to those whom I minister.  While it might not be always what the congregation “wants”, if they are given opportunity to feed on what they “need”, they will grow through the gracious work of the Spirit.
• All our teaching must be as plain and simple as possible.
  • How we discuss this here at Calvary Baptist!  If I am not communicating in an easy to understand manner, I might as well be speaking French.
  • The speaking of truth in a simple and easy to understand manner does not retract from the message at all.
• Our work must be carried on with great humility.
  • What a temptation there is on a daily basis to become filled with pride because of the work we are to do.
  • Grace comes to the humble, the opposition of God to the prideful.
• There must be a prudent mixture of severity and mildness both in our preaching and discipline…
  • If we are predominantly severe – we simply are lording our authority over our congregations
  • If we are predominantly mild – we will not be taken serious in times of rebuke and reproof
• We must be serious, earnest and zealous in every part of our work.
  • I cannot take for granted the message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that I am proclaiming to others
  • The task looms large before me on a daily basis – it demands I work hard…as to the Lord.
• The whole of our ministry must be carried on in tender love to our people.
  • This was probably the section that spoke the most to me.  It goes back to that pithy saying, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
  • When I am genuine in love for the people to whom I shepherd, I think they would be more receptive of the instruction I give them from the Word because they sense I desire what is the best and most beneficial for them.
• We must carry on our work with patience
  • This one is fairly self-explanatory.  Ever pulled a splinter out of toddler’s hand?  ‘Nuff said.
• All our work must be managed reverently, as beseemeth them that believe the presence of God, and use not holy things as if they were common.
  • Be honest.  How many times did you read that sentence.  Holy mackerel – I had to break out some Puritan dictionaries for that!
  • Here is the low-down on what Baxter is saying here: it may be more self-pleasing to “entertain” people with funny anecdotes, illustrations and a light-handed approach to Scripture, but it certainly does not allow the “holy reverence of the name of God” to affect them
• All our work must be done spiritually, as by men possessed of the Holy Ghost
  • It was in this sub-section that Baxter handled the topic of using other outside resources in our ministries.  He hammered the fact that we must see the sufficiency and authority of Scripture in our interaction with others
  • “Let all writers have their due esteem, but compare none of them with the Word of God” – that’s sage advice right there
• If you would prosper in your work, be sure to keep up earnest desires and expectations of success
  • This sub-section also spoke to me greatly.  Why would we not expect that God would work, and labor toward that end in the lives of our congregants?
  • I think what pastors need is a holy dissatisfaction of lack of response in the lives of the people they preach to.
• Our whole work must be carried on under a deep sense of our own insufficiency, and of our entire dependence on Christ.
  • The prayer life of a pastor must be one that is ever expanding – in intensity and duration.  I am finding this out on a daily basis it seems.
• We must be very studious of the union and communion among ourselves, and of the unity and peace of the churches that we oversee.
  • While we must be tending to our own flocks, Baxter exhorts the pastor to also not be divisive and cliquish in our assemblies.
  • I think he is right on here as we must determine what is determining our fellowship with other believers.  They may not be “the same stripe” as us, but are they so doctrinally different that we cannot associate with them?  I think the rifts and camps that were formed a generation ago, must be re-examined as to their viability.

I know that if you made it to this point of this post you are a treasured & valued reader of Grace Dependent.  Richard Baxter covers so much ground in this section of the oversight of the flock – and does so in such a concise manner – that one really needs to read this chapter on their own to fully appreciate it’s value.

Question: of these 15 listed necessities for today’s pastors, what would rank as the top three?

Previous posts on the Reformed Pastor:
Introduction to the project of co-blogging through the Reformed Pastor
The schedule of the posting
Part one – the Hippopotamus review; Part one – Grace Dependent
Part two – Grace Dependent
Part three – the Hippopotamus

Take some time and check out Friend of the Blog and consider joining.  There are a good many resources that will make it worth your while!

Question: Are you familiar with Mark Driscoll?  What are your thoughts regarding his ministry?

Below is a quote from the Piper as he discusses how he views “relevance”.  I would echo his thoughts:

As a preacher, I think a lot about relevance.  Why should anyone listen to what I have to say?  Why should anyone care?

I want to say things that are really significant for your life whether you know they are or not.  My way of doing that is to stay close as I can to what God says is important in his word, not what we think is important apart from God’s word.

My job as a pastor is to deal in what matters most, and to stay close to the revealed will of God in the bible (so you can see it for yourselves), and to pray that, by God’s grace, [all of us], will see and feel the magnitude of what God says is important.

Nothing is more important than the glory of Christ personally seen and savored in the kingdom of God with all the countless number who have believed in his name.

If you pick up no other book of John Piper‘s, this book would be the “must-read”.  In it he encapsulates much of his other teaching.  I encourage you to read this book and discuss it others.  (you can download this book for free from Desiring God’s website here.  There also is a sermon series from Piper that inspired the book)

Question: What are some practical ways that you think pastors can be “relevant” (preach sermons that make a significant difference in the lives of their congregations) and still hold to a “Gospel-centered” message?

Sometimes I just want to say that I didn’t sign on for all this difficulty!  Pastors keep telling me to be joyful…how do I do that in the middle of my pain?  Peter deals with all these emotions and responses and he keeps guiding us back to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We’ll make the connection (between joy, salvation & suffering) Sunday night.  I hope that you come and are encouraged!

A friend of mine, Dr. Bob Kellemen, finished a book review of James MacDonald’s book, When Life is Hard.  I invite you to read the review and obtain a copy of this book for your own reading.  Dr. K has also produced a great resource for dealing with hardships in life, “God’s Healing for Life’s Losses“.  This can be picked up locally at the Tree of Life cafe’ on Grace College campus or ordered through his website.  If you cannot afford a copy, I have one in my office for you to borrow.

In this eloquent account of her current struggle with physical pain, Joni Eareckson Tada offers her perspective on divine healing, God’s purposes, and what it means to live with joy. Over four decades ago, a diving accident left Joni a quadriplegic. Today, she faces a new battle: unrelenting pain.

The ongoing urgency of this season in her life has caused Joni to return to foundational questions about suffering and God’s will. A Place of Healing is not an ivory tower treatise on suffering. Its an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God.

Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her. Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes and heartbreaking no and find new hope for thriving in between.

You may also pre-order the entire download for only $2.98 at ChristianAudio’s website.  (Savings of $10)

Updates on Joni’s current battle with cancer.

When affliction comes, whatever it is, you do not murmur; though you feel it, though you make your cry to God, though you desire to be delivered, and seek it by all good means, yet you do not murmur or repine [to express dejection or discontent; to complain], you do not fret or vex yourself, there is not a tumultuousness of the spirit in you, not an instability, there are not distracting fears in your hearts, no sinking discouragements, no unworthy shifts, no risings in rebellion against God in any way: This is quietness of spirit under an affliction…when the soul is so able to bear an affliction as to keep quiet under it.

And that is quite the sentence to meditate on…

Recommended; 135pp, softcover

From the comfort of the coffee shop comes incredible truths and application regarding the church.  John Crotts writes Loving the Church from the viewpoint of five different individuals, all who met in a coffee shop, in various stages of life and ministry as believers.  All had, initially, various views of the necessity of the church in their own life.  What transpires in their ensuing conversation is a personal study of understanding what God’s family is and how one should fit in that family.

The goal of this book is to help you see how glorious God’s family really is, and then to see the countless ways you and your family can flourish within it.

The fact that many Christians are not involved heavily in their churches is a documented reality.  The fact also remains that these Christians aren’t necessarily leaving the church, but remain heavily involved in Christian organizations and “para-church” type organizations.  One factor leading to this trend is that there are many “bad” churches: churches that do not represent a “vibrant, God-centered, biblical church“.

From the very start, this group of five individuals begin studying what the bible has to say about the church and their involvement in it.  They discover that the church (that local assembly of believers) has value:

• The church is designed for the glory of God
• Jesus is building the church
• Jesus loved the church and died for it
• Jesus is the foundation of the church
• The church is made up of precious building materials
• The metaphors of the church reveal its worth
• The church is the pillar and supporter of the truth
• God designed the church to spread his glory to the nations
• God designed the church for your spiritual life, growth, and health

This group that Crotts wrote of would define the church as being invisible, yet visible and universal, yet local.  The group explored what the bible had to say about leadership of the church, “who’s the boss?“.  Christ, the head, the elders, deacons, and Crotts delved into how the body should be built, or equipped.  A brief discussion of the importance of spiritual gifts and their implementation followed the chapter on church leadership / equipping of the body.

The second section of the book, “How You Fit into God’s Family” began by speaking to the commitment to the body that believers should have:

• Be a committed part of a local church
• Seek to be part of a church that conscientiously acknowledges that Jesus is boss
• Be part of the most biblical church you can find
• Make sure that the Bible is the means of ministry in your church
• Sometimes you must choose Jesus over your church family
• Sometimes you must choose the church family over your own family

Crotts then proceeded over two chapters to give great advice on how church members can interact with church leadership: elders and deacons.  He spoke to the advantages that both these offices hold to the church member, how to take advantage of these God-given resources and how church members could encourage them in return.  John would go on to develop how the local body of Christ could develop maximum benefit from the regular gatherings of the body.  He would go on to wrap up his book by discussing the damage that is being done by church members failing to interact biblically with other members at regular gatherings of “the church”.

Forsaking the church is a serious matter.  The implications are far more serious than many people first realize.  The good news is, however, that Jesus died for church forsakers.

John Crotts ends his book with a wonderful reminder of the amazing grace found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The gospel that the church is to promote, spread and live out on a daily basis.  He offered a number of other resources written by other authors that speak to the necessity of being involved in a local gathering of the body of Christ.  This chapter in and of itself is worth the total price of the book.

Personally I saw great advantages to this book in our own local church.  As a pastor, I have already recommended this book for reading and purchase.  Especially after our church is finishing its summer study of What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever, this book would be a great follow-up to that study.  I highly recommend this book for reading and study.

John Crotts is Pastor at Faith Bible Church in Sharpsburg, GA.  He has also authored other books, such as: Craftsman: Christ-centered Proverbs for Men, Tying the Knot Tighter, and Mighty Men.

Stuart Townend shares the process behind the writing of this wonderful worship song:

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.

What a task this is for us today!  To “freely submit & delight in” God’s work in our lives…”in every condition”.  Let us encourage one another in this task.

WAKE FOREST, NC, July 13 /Christian Newswire

Author Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC, has released the GriefShare edition of his new book for people facing loss and grief.

Christian counselor Dr. Robert W. Kellemen and BMH Publishers have released the GriefShare edition of “God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.” GriefShare, a network of thousands of grief support group ministries worldwide, is excited about the hope-filled, relevant help this book can bring to people experiencing loss and grief.

In 2006 GriefShare selected Kellemen to be a featured expert in its new GriefShare video series. GriefShare grief support groups bring respected Christian counselors, authors and teachers into local churches to help grieving people via weekly videos. Participants receive comforting, foundational teaching from Robert Kellemen, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Dr. Paul Tripp, Dr. David Powlison, Dr. Edward Welch, Anne Graham Lotz, H. Norman Wright, Dr. Larry Crabb and over 35 others.

With the release of Kellemen’s new book, Steve Grissom, founder and president of Church Initiative, GriefShare’s parent ministry, is optimistic that even more people will benefit from Kellemen’s insights. People who’ve heard Kellemen’s teaching in the past will enjoy even more in-depth, encouraging counsel through “God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.” Readers will find comfort and hope as they discover God’s active role in their healing. They’ll learn how to experience deep healing and lasting peace in a world of suffering and pain.

The big idea behind Kellemen’s book is that it is possible to grieve with hope without denying the reality of suffering. As such, “God’s Healing for Life’s Losses” gives readers permission to grieve and offers a pathway toward healing.

Grissom explains GriefShare’s decision to endorse Kellemen’s book: “People in grief can be voracious readers, looking for anything to ease the pain. And unfortunately, many popular self-help books are filled with advice that is inconsistent with the Bible, which will ultimately hurt them more. ‘God’s Healing for Life’s Losses’ is a biblically consistent, solid resource that can be read and recommended with assurance.”

To learn more about GriefShare, visit www.griefshare.org. To purchase “God’s Healing for Life’s Losses,” visit the GriefShare Personal Help Store and look in the Grief Recovery section. Or purchase your copy at Dr. Kellemen’s RPM Ministries Bookstore.

1 Peter 4:19 (esv) Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Here are some basic thoughts I’ve started with, and would encourage your response to:

• “those who suffer” – understandably in the context of persecution here.  What are the other hardships that we also might consider “suffering”?  Relationship struggles, provision struggles, physical disabilities and struggles, financial burdens, etc?  Can you identify with “suffering”?  Most can, and if not right now, either have in the past or will in the future.
• “those who suffer according to God’s will” – think about this: God is orchestrating, allowing, permitting, bringing about the very hardship that you are enduring.  What does this say about our God?  Is he cruel and sadistic?  What is his purpose in bringing us into hardship?  He is sovereign.  He could have sovereignly kept us out of the hardship as well – so, the hardship must be for a purpose, his purpose: His glory, our good.
• “entrust their souls” – those in the midst of suffering under the sovereign control of God himself should…trust.  They should give their very person, their entirety, for safekeeping.  Many times in the midst of suffering we pull ourselves in and erect walls of self-protection.  Peter is explaining that we need to entrust ourselves to something, Someone, else for safekeeping.
• “to a faithful Creator” – Who can you trust?  You can trust your very existence to a faithful God.  God has always fulfilled his promises to his children.  He is ever present, ever faithful, ever loving.  The faithfulness of God is one of his most comforting characteristics.  This is the One whom you can trust in the midst of hardship!  Why did Peter go on to describe God as “Creator” in this passage on trust during suffering?  Creator implies intimate knowledge.  God knew us before we were conceived, created our physical being in the womb and knows every detail of our lives.  What impact does this have on my being able to trust him during my suffering?  The One who intimately knows who I am, my make-up and limitations, knows how much I can “handle” in the suffering; he knows my strengths and weaknesses; he is never going to allow more than I can handle!  Praise Him…Trust Him!
• “while doing good” – What an odd way to end this thought.  I would have ended the verse at trusting God, the Creator.  Peter goes on and says, “Keep on doing what is right even in the midst of your hardship”.  There is no time to sit on the sidelines!  The temptation, naturally, is to focus on self during suffering.  Peter says that we should rather, trust God with our being, in the midst of suffering, acknowledging that he is in control, faithful and ever-aware of our situation, and…keep doing good at the same time.  Keep the focus outward.  Focus on God, focus on others – (I am not suggesting that caring for one’s self during hardship is forbidden, let the reader understand) – do not yield to the temptation to be self-seeking during your suffering.

What a goldmine this verse is!  There is so much to be unpacked and discovered.  Continued meditation on it yields even more personal application for me.  How about you?  As you think through this passage, what nuggets of truth are you finding that would apply to your situation?  Encourage one another as we interact through this wonderful epistle!

I would like to lay them out numerically, as Richard Baxter does, in his text:

1. Take heed to yourselves, for you have a heaven to win or lose, and souls that must be happy or miserable for ever; and therefore it concerneth you to begin at home, and to take heed to yourselves as well as to others.
2. Take heed to yourselves, for you have a depraved nature, and sinful inclinations, as well as others.
3. Take heed to yourselves, because the tempter will more ply you with his temptations than other men.
4. Take heed to yourselves, because there are many eyes upon you, and there will be many to observe your falls.
5. Take heed to yourselves, for your sins have more heinous aggravations than other men’s.
6. Take heed to yourselves, because such great works as ours require greater grace than other men’s.
7. Take heed to yourselves, for the honour of your Lord and Master, and of his holy truth and ways, doth lie more on you than on other men.
8. Lastly, take heed to yourselves, for the success of all your labours doth very much depend upon this.  If the work of the Lord be not soundly done upon your hearts, how can you expect that he will bless your labours for effecting it in others?

Some thoughts on these “motives to this oversight“: (these bullets will follow the order above)

• I, again, appreciate the “finger to the chest” to the reader that Baxter provides.  It has given me pause to consider that I, or other pastors, might be desirous to proclaim the wonders of the Gospel and fail to have it realized in our own lives.  I enjoyed Baxter’s comment on the fact that God is not partial to anyone, “…he saveth not men for their coats or callings; a holy calling will not save an unholy man…”  What to do with such admonition?  2 Corinthians 13:5 – Test yourself.  I spent time examining my own life determining if the Gospel had penetrated further than the brain…and made it to my heart.
• It is easy as a minister of the Gospel to be tempted to think that we are somehow “superior” to our flock in the areas of temptation.  How deceptive Satan is!  We begin to believe that we are spiritually stronger and fail to live in dependence on the Spirit and the Word.  I am currently studying the life of Christ and am “stuck” in Matthew 4 spending time meditating and musing over the temptation of Christ and how that relates to my own life.  How silly for me, as a pastor, to think that I would be superior in resistance than my Savior!  This point has driven me to my knees in realization of my own prideful heart and it’s dealing with temptation.
• Being on the “front lines” in spiritual warfare does allow for more “heat” it seems.  Satan is a determined foe as he attempts to cause leaders to fall, attempting to destroy the Church.  This is all the more reason to renew the call for pastors to be vigilant in every area of life!  “…You shall see neither hook nor line, much less the subtle angler himself, while he is offering you his bait…”  Laziness, unfaithfulness, coveting, these are a few of the areas that Baxter calls out for ministers to pay heed to.
• We, as pastors, live in glass houses, don’t we?  And that is a good thing.  I think of generations past that have sought to cover and hide both struggles and sins – to the detriment of their self, families and flocks.  But this fact should spur us on to understand the necessity of living pure lives.  When we sin, we give credence to the temptation, permission – as it were – to those in our congregations watching us.
• The very fact that we are placed in positions of biblical knowledge and understanding lead us to understand the “heinous aggravations” we commit as compared to others.  How can we trample underfoot the grace that has been extended to us?  We speak weekly, if not daily, to our flock about the dangers of yielding to temptation – how much more “odious and damnable” our own sins are as we selfishly choose evil over holiness.  Brothers, engage the enemy!
• Watching over men’s souls, as it were, is not a task to be undertaken lightly or with careless thought.  For this reason we should doubly be aware of our “weak areas”, places where the defenses need shored up.  We will wade into the cesspool of men’s sin, and as the Apostle writes, we would be wise to “look to [ourself], lest [we] too be tempted”.
• “O take heed, brethern, of every word you speak and of every step you tread, for you bear the ark of the Lord – you are entrusted with his honour!“~Baxter.  All sin devastates and destroys, brings about death.  When pastors are weak and not giving heed to their own spirituality, thus falling into sin, it can wreak havoc in the flock – both personally and corporately.  How easy it is to discourage young believers.  How simple it is to crush the forward progress of fellow laborers.  I am challenged to live a life of repentance…daily repentance.
• God can use anything to accomplish His will.  Of this, I am sure.  He used Balaam’s ass, and in His grace He has seen fit to use me – a broken and (very) simple vessel for His glory.  I struggle with the fact that God can even use some ministers and pastors that are not yielded to Him, that are self-seeking and self-serving, using the pulpit to command personal gain and personal glory.  I do not want to be that man.  I want the Lord to bless my efforts because they are in line with His desires for our congregation.  I want to be a open and free conduit of Truth, both in word and in practice to those God has entrusted to me.  “…Do you think it is a likely thing, that he will fight against Satan with all his might, who is himself a servant to Satan?”  God, make me thorns in the eyes of the enemy!  Keep me sensitive to temptation and sin in my own life, that I may live yielded to You – and thereby be used of You in ways that will make a difference to those whom I minister to!

You may read more of this effort in co-blogging through The Reformed Pastor at:

• The Hippopotamus – fellow blogger/pastor Garry started this effort
• My thoughts on the first section of Baxter’s work
• The “schedule” of posting

There are 10 songs on this album.  I’ve listed them below and given my short thoughts on them as well:

• Fight Another Day
  • Great song to encourage you when you’re facing a difficult time-when you’re finding it hard to keep going.  Great reminders to “…have a little faith when the walls cave in, [to] pray for strength to fly against the wind…”
• Change in the Making
  • So far this is my favorite tune on the entire album.  I like both it’s sound and message.
  • This song speaks to the ongoing work that Christ is performing in us.  “…this is redemption’s story / with every step that I’m taking / every day / You’re chipping away / what I don’t need / this is me under construction / this is my pride being broken / and every day I’m closer to who I’m meant to be / I’m a change in the making…”
• This Little Light of Mine
  • One of the songs that I really don’t care for.  The music is catchy – the message is deceiving, in my opinion
  • “…there’s a little flame inside us all…don’t forget whose child you are” and “…there’s a little light inside us all…” – these lyrics tied to the relationship we experience with Christ in the song can present a serious problem.  The truth is that there is not “a little light inside us all”.  The reality is that there are believers and unbelievers – those that accept Christ and those that reject him.
• Won’t Let Me Go
  • What an encouragement this song is!  The absolute trust that we can put in Jesus Christ when our life turns into whirlwind of disaster!
  • “…even when my heart breaks / and everything’s shaken / I’m left alone in the rain / you won’t, you won’t, won’t / you won’t let me go / when life’s insane / and everything’s crazy / you carry me through the pain / and you won’t, you won’t, won’t / you won’t let me go
• Need You Now
  • A terrific song that encourages the listener to stop trusting in self and realize their need to be totally dependent on Jesus Christ.
• Show Me Life
  • Forgetting what lies behind, I press on for the prize… that’s the message of this song.
• Don’t Wait
  • One of the songs that I find myself playing “air drums” and “air guitar” to.  Love this tune!
  • The message is a sobering, speaking to the loss of a friend.  The realization that we cannot squander life, but we need to live today because it is the time we are given.  Don’t Wait…live life with no regrets.
• Where it all Begins
  • This song speaks to the writer being “twenty-nine” – I don’t even remember 29!
  • It is a good song that speaks to the reality doing the “gut check” and making sure we are living as we are supposed to.
• Who I Am in You
  • Living a life dependent on the grace of our Lord and Savior is a scary proposition.  This song speaks to the desire…and the fear…that might accompany someone who desires to be “grace dependent”.
  • There is intense satisfaction in being who God wants us to be – when we realize that, we realize that everything else was just “…pulling me under, in too deep…”
• My Story
  • A prayerful song expressing desire to follow God wholeheartedly and solely – to remain un-distracted from all the other “opportunities” out there.

Overall I would highly recommend this album for your consideration.  I like the sound of Addison Road and I appreciate their message overall.

Questions to consider:

1. What is your favorite Addison Road song?
2. Have you purchased the album “Stories” yet?

Baxter starts this work on shepherding by addressing the shepherds themselves.  First impressions were, “Why was Baxter so passionate about reminding pastors to ensure their own salvation before preaching to others?”  Afterall, aren’t all pastors believers?  This is what brought me pause as I read this first chapter.  The very fact that Baxter, in the early 1600′s, thought it necessary to address the salvation of shepherds both sobered and frightened me to consider that there might be men, “pastors”, who are shepherding the flock of God who have not participated in the Gospel of Grace, found only in Jesus Christ.  And so, as the Apostle challenges us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, let us examine ourselves, “to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!“

Though there is a promise of shining as the stars, to those who ‘turn many to righteousness’, that is but on supposition that they are first turned to it themselves. ~Baxter, Reformed Pastor, p.53

Moving from salvation to sanctification, Baxter then encourages pastors to see that this right doctrine (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) is played out in every day life.  Right doctrine should lead to right behavior; however, it does not ensure right behavior – thus the need to be exhorted to examine our behavior as well as our belief.

This is the sanctification of your studies, when they are devoted to God, and when he is the end, the object, and the life of them all. ~Baxter, p.58

Baxter then exhorts the reader with five primary areas to examine:

• Preach to yourselves the sermons which you study, before you preach them to others.
  • I have found that the sermons that have the most passion when I preach are those that impact me the most when I prepare.
  • If I maintain the attitude of “how does this change me?”, I then can be better prepared to preach, “This is how the text can change you”.
• Do not let your example (my living) contradict my doctrine (my preaching)
  • This is as simple, yet challenging, as saying, “Your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks”.
  • Pastors that fail to heed this will find great challenges in impressing the need for righteous living to their congregants.
• Be zealous for good works
  • “Maintain your innocency and walk without offence.” – Even when you are free to participate in an activity, you very well may yield to a greater wisdom that allows you to remain above reproach before your congregation and God.
  • “…abound in works of charity and benevolence”.  – I have been particularly challenged this year in our church to increase my participation in benevolent giving.  The amounts may be meager in the entire scheme of things, but I know that my participation in our own benevolence programs has been infinitely rewarding and I am growing as a result of being more sensitive to these areas of life.
• Do not live in the sins which you preach against in others, lest you be guilty of that which you daily condemn.
  • A great reminder to all pastors!  It is easy to speak the condemnation outwardly without ever turning it inwardly.  I have been personally challenged in this area.
  • Daily repentance is a necessity in my life.
• Do not be found wanting in the qualifications of being a shepherd
  • How easy it is to be a pastor and fail to remind oneself frequently of the qualifications of being a shepherd
  • If the Lord were to do an annual review of your ministry based on the qualifications of being a shepherd – how would that review go?

Questions for consideration:

1. Are you, as a pastor / teacher, allowing the text to guide your own heart & life in the sanctification process – before you preach to your congregation?
2. How are you involved in being zealous for good works?  What are the tangibles of the Gospel in your life?
3. If you were to have a “job review” today with the Lord, based on the qualifications of a shepherd in 1 Timothy 3 & Titus 1, how would your “job performance” be ranked?
4. As someone in our congregations, do you pray for your pastor, that he would live a life of integrity?  Are you committed to challenge and encourage him in his own weaknesses?  Please take an opportunity to discuss with your pastor how you can pray for him and encourage him in this way.

The Reformed Pastor, a breakdown of the book:

• Chapter One, The Oversight of Ourselves
  
  • Section One -� The Nature of This Oversight
  • Section Two – The Motives to This Oversight
• Chapter Two, The Oversight of the Flock
  • Section One – The Nature of This Oversight
  • Section Two – The Manner of This Oversight
  • Section Three – The Motives of This Oversight
• Chapter Three, Application
  • Section One – The Use of Humiliation
  • Section Two – The Duty of Personal Catechizing & Instructing the Flock Particularly Recommended
    • Part One – Motives to This Duty
      • Article One – Motives From the Benefits of the Work
      • Article Two – Motives From the Difficulties of the Work
      • Article Three – Motives From the Necessity of the Work
      • Article Four – Application of These Motives
    • Part Two – Objections to This Duty
    • Part Three – Directions for This Duty
      • Article One – Directions for Bringing Our People to Submit to the Exercise
      • Article Two – Directions for Prosecuting the Exercise with Success

The scheduling allows each of us to blog through approximately 20 pages at a time.  We will make personal and corporate application as we blog through Baxter’s book.  I would encourage anyone who has a copy of the Reformed Pastor to join with us.  We would love to interact with any questions or comments you might have.

If I could get a hat like Baxter’s, I would so wear it.

A little while back, a friend and I discussed the possibility of reading through The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter, and live blogging our discussion. There are several reasons behind this, first is for basic accountability. The Puritans are hard for me to get through. It’s the equivalent of ministerial key-lime pie. We live in a day and age where our syntax is much more stream-lined. The Puritans believed in unwrapping every point carefully (and sometimes ponderously). We may consider that to be a disadvantage, but we forget that there are truths that demand slow careful examination. Since the Puritans don’t pull many punches, it is almost like operating on yourself without anesthesia, in slow motion. Let me hasten to add though that the pages seem to ring with a savage bitter-sweetness. They don’t make any excuses as to their own failures, or even propensity to fail. Everything that is touched by the hands of man is hopeless corrupted, including ministry. Yet, hope constantly shines forth as God is quite capable of glorifying Himself through anything, including the shoddy efforts of fallible man. It is difficult for me to approach such writing with anticipation. It is good to have a brother-in-Christ who will be nudging me along.

I’m also looking forward to simply interacting with my friend on these issues. Mark, who posts on Grace Dependent is an old acquaintance, who has turned into a good friend over the last few years. I look at him with a combination of jealousy and pity—jealousy that his beard is better than mine, and pity for his coffee addiction. It has been an incredible encouragement for me to hear how God has been shaping him, and continuing to do so. While his thinking is consistently Christ-centered, it is usually 45 degrees to mine so it will be invaluable for me to interact with a godly brother on the same subject who approaches things differently.

I hope you all enjoy this experiment. See what convicts pastors. Chime in with a thought. Grab some popcorn. It is all good.

One of the main reasons why I would like to review the Reformed Pastor is that I spend a lot of time reading and reviewing “newer” authors.  There is something to be said about a work that has stood the test of time – such as Baxter’s work.  I agree with Garry that the accountability will be great, our interaction beneficial to not only each other but our respective congregations, and our posts will give great insight into the way we think and pastor.

Having said that, I’m off to figure out if Garry meant I’m mentally off-balanced by his comment of my thinking being 45 degrees off his own.  I pray you’ll enjoy the upcoming series!

Calvary Baptist Bible Church – Peoria, IL
Calvary Baptist Church – Leesburg, IN

Recommended

“Jesus promises that life will be filled with losses” – that’s how Dr. Kellemen begins his latest work, God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.  Exuding hope, this book becomes a wonderful resource that compassionately directs the reader to find healing for life’s losses in Christ and with Christ.

How do we face such losses and crosses?  How do we handle life’s strains and pains?  [We need to] answer such candid and confusing questions honestly and biblically. (p.3; God’s Healing for Life’s Losses)

Dr. Kellemen patiently directs the reader through an honest examination of the world’s model of the grief process: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.  Identifying the limitations of the world’s model describing the typical grief process, Kellemen then offers a biblical approach to grieving and growing (8 stages):

• Candor: Honesty with myself
• Complaint: Honesty with God
• Cry: Asking God for help
• Comfort: Receiving God’s help
• Waiting: Trusting with faith
• Wailing: Groaning with hope
• Weaving: Perceiving with grace
• Worshiping: Engaging with love

I appreciate this work on suffering and loss as it deals plainly with the reality of hurt and grief in our lives.  Dr. Kellemen has included, at the end of every chapter, a list of questions for the reader to work through.  In these questions they can work through the truth they have just read and practically apply the truth into their personal journey of suffering.  These questions make this book a wonderful resource for biblical counselors.

Dr.Kellemen writes, not as one unacquainted with grief, but openly relates his own personal journey of loss and suffering, and how the truths that he writes impacted that time in his life.  He recognizes that while the reader’s journey might be vastly different in style, substance and duration, the truths of Scripture apply to every situation:

Grief is never a nice, neat package.  Finding hope when you’re hurting follows no outline.  Whatever “process” there is, it is uniquely personal.  And that process is more like two stages forward and one stage back.  Perhaps even more realistically, you may find yourself in several stages at any one time. [...] The colors and contours may not seem to make any sense whatsoever.  But because God’s Word is sufficient and relevant, you can be confident that through Christ you are weaving a beautiful tapestry.

I encourage you to purchase a copy of God’s Healing for Life’s Losses for your own personal journey, and perhaps, a second copy for a friend or family member going through a time of loss, suffering or grief.  This book would also be a valuable tool for a support group as they work through the grieving process.  You can currently read a sample chapter at RPM Ministries website, as well as purchase the book with a 33% discount.  Please click here for details.

Over the next week I intend to use Twitter and tweet short excerpts from God’s Healing for Life’s Losses – I will be using the hashtag: #GH4LL.  If you are a user of Twitter, please follow along.

Would you like to receive a complimentary copy of God’s Healing for Life’s Losses?  Dr. Kellemen has offered to make 12 copies available to 12 random people who leave a comment on the blog at which they read the book review.  Leave a comment below to give yourself an opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.

From Christianaudio:

A follow up to the profound message of Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan offers a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two?

To explore who Francis Chan is, as well as the message of Forgotten God – please check out his website (complete with video clips of Chan explaining Forgotten God).

From Chan:

God put His Spirit in us so we could be known for our power. Sadly, most believers and churches are known for talent and intellect rather than supernatural power.  What’s worse is that we’re okay with it.

In Forgotten God, breakthrough author Francis Chan returns us to the Holy Spirit as the Bible describes Him and invites us to understand, embrace and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives.