Pastor Appreciation Month

Logos Bible Software is offering deals this month (October) for pastor appreciation month. I noticed there is a free Spurgeon book called The Pastor in Prayer. Click here to get it FREE for Logos.

How to Honor the Lord in Your Study: Practical Help

The Stupid Things You Do at Work (and How to Fix Them)

Books: Out with the Old?

C.S. Lewis wrote "There is the strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amatuer should content himself with the modern books... This mistaken preference for the modern books and this shyness of the old ones is nowhere more rampant than in theology...It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another one till you have read an old one in between."

I would also argue that this mistaken preference for modern books is rampant in Youth Ministry as well. I am trying to decide which books to use for a number of discipleship groups this year and Idon't want to overlook the classics. Last year I used both Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer and The Mortification of Sin by John Owen and our youth thoroughly enjoyed it. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd also like to hear what newer books you might suggest as well.

Text-Critical Resources

Part of the shepherd's "tool box" are resources to further equip himself. Thus far in my ministry, I've lost count of the types of questions asked in such areas as OT and NT Introduction, and Textual Criticism.

Below is a link for iTunes for "The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts." This is being led by Dallas professor Dr. Dan Wallace. What is helpful about this are their "bite-size" videos on various topics within the field of T.C.

The topics range from: Pioneer's in T.C.; T.C. Praxis; Various examples of key passages affected by T.C., etc. After listening to them, it has been good to refresh some of these principles but also have, under evidentialist presuppositions, more confidence in the current text that we have.

If you have people in your ministry asking these types of questions, if you feel you are under-qualified to discuss some of the T.C. issues, I whole-heartedly would sit with them to watch these videos with no reservations.

Pro's:

1. Small and simple to refresh thinking

2. Instills further confidence in the written text

3. Simple enough for the layman

Con's:

1. In two to three areas, Dr. Wallace's T.C. decisions were influenced by his underlying historical critical ideology and Markan primacy.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/institution/center-for-study-new-testament/id416966041

"Divided" Documentary - FIC Biased Propaganda??

I know that there has been some discussion here regarding the Family Integrated Movement. Evidently they have produced a "documentary." I would like to watch it at some point. But I did see this review by Challies today and he blasts it. And if what Challies is saying is true about "Divided," I would have to agree with him.

Link to Challies' review: http://www.challies.com/dvd-reviews/divided-the-movie#more

Link to "Divided" website: http://www.dividedthemovie.com/

Ministry Hedges: "Ministering with/to the Other Gender"

So, what are your hedges? To what level do you minister with and to other women in your church? Here are some categories:

What are your hedges when...

Counseling

Preparing for an event

At an event without your wife

Another woman - teases or flirts with you?

You get cornered for a "quick" question.

What is your plan to stay safe from yourselves and above reproach?

"Tolerance is the virtue of the man who has no convictions" - author unknown