The Silent Holocron

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. So, it is with great pleasure I bring you two Weekend Wonderings as we move more fully into summer!

First, new SBTS professor Jim Hamilton writes a post that shivered me timbers. In Reading the Greek New Testament, he said:

If you decide to read through the Greek New Testament, be careful. The things in that book got most of its authors killed, and when people have taken it seriously in the history of the church, crazy things like the reformation have happened and some folks even got themselves burned at the stake.

The Greek New Testament is decidedly unsafe. If you embrace it, you will be hated (see John 15:18-20). To paraphrase Lester De Koster: there it is, throbbing on your desk, the living word of God.
(HT: Said at Southern)

Man, I do love me some Greek.

Second, Gordan Runyan of the aptly titled Reformed Mafia writes Top Ten Small-Church Pastor Challenges (Part 1), and in so doing hits the nail squarely on the head about bivocational pastors like me. He says:

1. Time.

There’s never enough of it. I’m sure this is true of all pastors, but it is particularly true for small-church pastors. There aren’t enough hours in the day. (You should hear a little whiny tone as you read the following sentence…) It is even more true for bivocational pastors.

It’s become fashionable and accepted as an axiom among exegetically-minded preachers that you should do one hour of sermon preparation for every minute you intend to preach. I generally shoot for about 30 minutes on a Sunday morning. (I know, that makes me a light-weight to all you hardcore Reformed giants out there.) But then on Sunday evenings, it’s generally closer to 40 minutes or so.

If I’m to follow the axiom here, that adds up to 70 hours worth of sermon prep time during the week, on top of 40 at my “day job,” on top of hoping to be a decent husband and father before all of that.

It’s the first time I’ve actually sat down and put numbers on it, but I’ve got to tell you, now I understand why I’m so sleepy all the time.

To be honest, I’m just an average middle-aged guy, fighting Dunlop’s Disease and watching my hair go away, and I simply can’t do all of that, not all the time. So what gets trimmed back? What suffers, time-wise? Well, sadly, all of it, except my day job, which can demand time and threaten consequences for not meeting the demand.

I don’t spend the time with my family that I’d like to spend. I don’t get enough hours of sleep every night. I don’t get enough “alone” time where it’s just me and the Lord. I don’t get enough book-time in sermon prep. I hardly do any visitation at all. I don’t get enough exercise. Yikes. What I do get is exhausted. Got plenty o’ that, thanks.

Now, keep in mind that I work 3rd shift at UPS, in management, and perhaps you might grimace. Gordan’s post is a good example of what I call Stephen’s First Law of Ministry: only the pastor’s family sees what really happens in the pastor’s life as a result of ministry. I will be spending the day alone with my wife today for that very reason. That’s right, alone. Grace is going to Grandma’s for the day.

Enjoy your weekend, and go have a cookout somewhere.

This week’s Weekend Wonderings will be a smorgasbord of links. It’s been a long time since I blogspotted things that have interested me, so I felt it would be appropriate to do so. There’s been a lot of great blogging taking place over the past couple of weeks, so I’d like to direct you, gentle readers, to some great blogging by folks whom I have come to enjoy and admire.

My friend Ryan Hall will be ordained as an Episcopal priest soon and very soon! Congrats to him!

Megan Abraham writes about planning meals for a month and includes some recipes. Tricia and I need to do this!

John Piper pens some powerful pieces on: 6 aspects of humility; letting Judas shake you; and the leniency of excommunication.

Dustin Benge makes my favorite post this week about how a church should love its pastor; he’s also started a series that resonates with me about “Bridging the Gap Between Seminary and the Local Church,” which can be read here: Part 1 and Part 2.

Joe Thorn unveils a fantastic paradigm for church life that is simple and uncluttered and can be done by any kind of church. If we could do stuff like this instead of the Purpose-Driven drivel, I wonder if churches and their pastors would be much happier and healthier.

Daniel B. Wallace reveals that 47 New Testament manuscripts, including at least 34 that have never been catalogued, have been discovered and photographed in Albania. Don’t you just love how the New Testament is the most documented book in existence?

Timmy Brister, Jason Meyer, and Matthew Wireman have been doing a series on evangelism at work. You can read this riveting series here (there is still one more installment coming):

• Witnessing at Work: Sacred vs. Secular
• Gospeling at Work: Part 1, Part 2
• A Christian Education and Witnessing at Work
• Churches, Affirm the Importance of Work and Mission

Jason Robertson at Fide-O starts a big discussion about mixed martial arts (MMA) that boils over onto several blogs and exposes a lot of silly, sloppy thinking about martial arts by Christians. Here’s a recap of what I’ve seen thus far:

• Owen Strachan: Part 1 and Part 2
• Reid Monaghan: Consumed by MMA
• Dan Paden addresses and clears up many “Christian Myths” about the martial arts here. This alone is worth reading.

I’m a martial artist myself (albeit a lapsed one) so these posts strike a chord with me. Let’s just say I think every Christian should learn self-defense.

I’d like to close this Weekend Wondering by asking you to join me in praise and prayer for fellow Tennesseean Steve Weaver. Steve has resigned as pastor of West Broadway Baptist Church in Lenoir City, TN and accepted a pastorate at Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort, KY. Steve will also be pursuing a Ph.D. in Church History/Historical Theology at my alma mater, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary here in Louisville. Those of us who’ve followed his blog over the past year have seen his desire to go back to school to pursue his love of church history, as well as his passion for the local church. Farmdale Baptist is getting a superb pastor and an even more superb man.

Thank you for sharing in my blog reading! Don’t forget to spend the Lord’s day in his house with your brothers and sisters in Christ!

Much to my surprise and delight, there is a book publisher out there who shares my views on the content of the vast majority of “Christian” book stores. From Sprinkle Publications:

A visit to most “Christian Book Stores” reveals the vast wasteland of “fluff” currently available in the theological section and “reinvented” history in the historical section. (emphasis added)

Who knew? A book seller with discernment.

The only thing I would add to that is after the word “theological” I would include “and Christian Living.” The theology and Christian living sections of pretty much every Christian bookstore is so terrible that toilet paper would refuse to be touched by it.

The moral of this random rant? We as a church need to get back to reading good books that actually teach us how to live like Christians and books that actually teach us what doctrines the Bible contains.

To that end, I have included a Books page that will be dedicated primarily to places where you (and I) can find good Christian books, hopefully at a discount. I include Christian Book Distributors and Amazon.com by default, since they provide regular specials on said good books despite the “vast wasteland of fluff” they contain.

Enjoy a good book soon, and I hope you will join me and many others in taking up the Puritan-a-Month Challenge for 2008!

This was my devotional this morning as I worked through Ephesians 1 in my new blank Bible:

15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

I was thinking about Paul’s prayer here, how he is thanking God for the Ephesian believers’ faith and for their love for other Christians. How exactly did Paul thank God for them? By asking that God add to the blessings he discussed in verses 3-14. “Okay,” I thought to myself, “how much more can God add to what he has already given us in Christ?”

Then I realized, while reading v. 17-23, that the gift of Christ is a gift that never stops giving. Just look at it! Paul wants the Ephesians — and by extension modern Christians — to be given wisdom and a deep knowledge of God himself. Not only that, Paul wants this wisdom and revelation of God to enlighten our hearts. The phrase he uses here is “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened.” (Insert “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord” music here)

Paul is wanting the Ephesians, and us, to know something very important about God not just in our heads, but deep in our hearts. What is that? Paul wants us to know:

• The hope God has given us to aspire to;
• The riches of the inheritance Christ has won for us; and
• The incredible, unfathomable power of God as it is working in our lives.

Look carefully at that list. Paul doesn’t talk at all about the first two points. Granted, he has already talked about the second one, our inheritance, in the first part of chapter 1. But then he takes a seemingly odd tangent. After talking about what Christ did for us, suddenly he talks about what God did for Christ. And then I read verse 22-23.

You see, Paul says back in v. 19 and the early part of v. 20 that the power of God directed towards believers is the same type of power that did all these things for Jesus. And since we are the body of Christ, all of those things done to Christ are seemingly a part of our inheritance. You see, verses 19-20 and 22-23 are bookends. Paul is still talking about what God is doing for us even though he is talking about Jesus. That means:

• We have been raised from the dead with Christ (as Scripture says elsewhere, of course);
• We have been seated at the right hand of God through Christ;
• We have had all claim on us from anything and anyone not of God utterly removed, that is, we are now untouchable to this world; and
• We have been restored through Christ to our original position as the head of creation.

I sat in my seat dumbstruck and massively humbled. Deep in my heart, I knew instantly that I was not a person worthy of such an elevation in status. “You mean you did all that?!?!?” I exclaimed. “You didn’t just raise me from the dead, but through your son you sat me down at your right hand; you fixed it so that you alone have any claim on me; and you restored me to the crown of creation? No! I’m not worthy! I’m a sinner! I sin! I’m a royal screw-up! I don’t deserve to sit at your right hand! I don’t deserve to have you as my only claimant! I don’t deserve to be the pinnacle of your creation!”

Then it hit me, quietly and surely: “No, you sure don’t. But my son did, and he died for you. Obey him and give me glory!”

At that moment I looked up from my prayer and saw verses 11 and 12:

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

He chose me to give him glory. He has a purpose in choosing me. I — a mere fallen man, a Deaf man, a man with many temptations and failures — was set aside before time began to be a praise to his glory. My heart experienced enlightenment anew.

Now think of what just happened to me today in terms of yourself. If you believe in Christ, God has done all of these things to you. God has chosen you to be a praise to his glory. I don’t know how any of us could stand in the presence of such an amazing grace. Today, determine to be a praise to God and his glory, and commit to make that your attitude each and every day.

Soli Deo Gloria!

As an update, I recently received a providential gift: we got our camera working again! Didn’t even have to pay for it. Our camera (Kodak EasyShare P850) was for some reason refusing to read memory cards. We couldn’t afford to have it repaired even under warranty (which has since expired), so it has sat in its case for most of this year. In an ironic turnaround of Murphy’s Law, this week I was fiddling with it while preparing to try and transfer the pics on its internal memory. On a whim, I swapped out memory cards, and wonder of wonders it read the card! Usually Murphy shows up after the warranty expires. Joy and relief flooded our apartment, since now we won’t have to budget a new camera or beg/borrow/steal one to document our Baby Newell experiences. God was gracious. So you can expect more photos to be appearing on a Silent Holocron near you.

With this weekend’s Wondering, I bring you a photo snapped by my wife’s Sidekick II while on her uncle’s houseboat. We went to Cumberland Lake at the end of July and had a very restful and fun weekend with my in-laws.

And now, with no further ado, the picture Tricia took:

I seem to be in a nostalgic frame of mind the past few days and weeks. Before the wife and I go to a family get-together this weekend, I thought I’d post another song from my teen years, namely the one that started the whole revolution in the ’90s. This song got many of the white kids away from rap music…at least until Eminem came around. It gave a whole subculture of kids who still lived in the 80s their own sound and attitude, and brought my generation fully into postmodernism. You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize our music is the foundation of an “Emergent” generation.

So with no further ado, I present to you Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. Lyrics follow.

Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It’s fun to lose and to pretend
She’s overborne and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello
With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mulatto an albino
A mosquito my libido
yay

I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello
With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mulatto an albino
A mosquito my libido
yay

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard it’s hard to find
Oh well whatever nevermind

Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello
With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mulatto an albino
A mosquito my libido
A denial

This weekend is the beginning of my vacation. That’s right, a whole week where I will have nothing to do! Granted, I will be doing something, but I will be doing what I want to do and not necessarily what I have to. We aren’t planning to go anywhere, since Tricia has to work, so I will take advantage and rest up.

First up on my list of things to do is to get rid of my old car. I’ve been calling around looking for a salvage company who will take it. Some of you may remember last September’s flooding that claimed my car as a victim. Well, we have recently acquired a ’96 Toyota Avalon XLS to serve as a worthy replacement until such time as we are financially stable enough to afford a new car. God answered a prayer there, my dad was able to find the vehicle and get it for us, right when I was about to finance a Dodge Neon at Carmax and go further into debt. And no, we didn’t really have a choice at that point — Tricia was starting a new job this past Monday, and we absolutely had to have a second car by then. I like the Toyota. It’s easily the nicest car I’ve ever had, not counting my first one back in high school, and that one was almost brand-new. Runs like nobody’s business, it does.

Second, I am planning to blog, and to blog prolifically. I’m going to get caught up on my sermons — I only have 8 left to post. I’m going to finish this church deal. And I hope to come back and finally address the topic of infant salvation that I began back in January. Then I will seriously consider joining other SBTS bloggers in blogging through the Abstract of Principles, the confession of faith of my alma mater, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Abstract has been something that, alongside the Baptist Faith and Message, has helped to shape my theological worldview. I think this is going to happen after vacation, so this week is a good time to try and close up some of the loose ends that are pervasive on this blog.

Third, I’m planning to read, and read prolifically. I have a couple of books I want to finish, and a book or two I want to start. I am currently working on John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life (click here for the Study Edition) as well as Thoughts on Family Worship by J. W. Alexander. I want to finish those and then tackle either Jonathan Edwards’ Freedom of the Will or Piper’s Desiring God. I will also be doing some sermon work so there will be some supplemental reading on Romans involved this week. I’d like to try and get a couple of sermons ahead of myself so that I can really bear down and focus on the message. You can see where I am in the series at the top of my right sidebar.

Fourth, I plan to try and get my office in order.  I will be moving the old computer to the church and seeing if it can be made feasible in the room I am using for an office.  If the room can be made to work (and it is large enough to work nicely), I will seriously consider moving all of my books to the office.  Something in me rebels against that thought.  I like having my books close by where I can pick one up when I want.  On the other hand, having my library at church could force me to do my reading there, where I will certainly have no distractions.  I would have no visitors, no internet, no television, no dog begging for attention, etc.  I could get a lot of work done there.  Hmm, I must think on these things.

Fifth, I’m going to get back into karate. I’m planning to visit a local Goju-Ryu dojo where I am thinking about becoming a student. I was in Isshin-ryu for 3 years while in college, but have fallen off as school intensified, I moved to Louisville, and it became difficult to find a dojo and make time to attend.

With Ben Cole’s half-serious resolution on gluttony that he submitted to this year’s Southern Baptist Convention, the fact that I work 3rd shift (an ungodly and unhealthy shift), and impending developments within my family, it is time for me to step up to the plate and start taking my cuts again. I haven’t been in shape or anything resembling in shape since high school, or more recently since I last regularly attended a karate dojo. It’s time to get back into it. As a goal, I want to return to my high school baseball playing weight of 220 pounds. That’s right, I’m on record as stating I want to lose at least 50 pounds. My doctor says I actually need to be lower than 220, but we’ll see about that once I reach 220. I’m sure Tricia would enjoy having her man look hotter than Tom Welling. Bald and fat don’t go well together, but bald and cut….

Last but not least, I am going to play golf tomorrow.  Yep, the very game that back in the Puritan day was considered a vice by some.  I will be meeting a couple of men from our church, a couple of fellow Deaf ministers, and a good group of men for a rousing Kentucky Deaf Golf Association tournament. I don’t get to play very often, so it will be nice to get back on the links. I played varsity golf in high school, but ever since I have not been as good as I was back then. I regularly shot low to mid 80s, and have broken 80 3 times, but since graduating high school I have not been anywhere near breaking 90. I’m out of practice.

Well, with no further ado, I retire to continue enjoying my vacation. Grace to you and peace. Spend the Lord’s day in His house with the rest of the Body of Christ, like you’re supposed to!

I love Tominthebox News Network. Ever since Purgatorio went on (permanent?) hiatus, I have had cravings for good Christian humor. Third-rate stuff like Mark Lowry and Dennis Swanberg, as chuckle-inducing as they can be, just doesn’t do it for me. Tominthebox has filled that gap nicely.

So it is with a side split wide open, tears of laughter flowing freely, and a drink spit all over my desk that I present to you the first of this weekend’s Wonderings. No excerpt will ever do it justice. All I’m gonna say is that, if it is the real thing, human gullibility has just reached a hilarious new low. Just go read it here and try not to wake the dead.

A second Wondering is from the distinguished president of the seminary of which I am a graduate. Dr. Albert Mohler tells us about a book I wish I had as a kid, The Dangerous Book For Boys. I would have loved it. I spent many a night staying up past my bedtime reading (cover to cover, of course) my Boy Scout Handbook and similar books. I may just order it this weekend for Stephen III (who will be affectionately known as Trey).

This week’s offering is the actual “Google quote of the day” that appeared on my Gmail. Enjoy.

“Whoever loves not women, wine and song remains a fool his whole life long.”

                                                                      –Martin Luther

For this week’s Weekend Wonderings, I submit to you Joe Thorn’s post on a subject that has touched many of us: So You’re Thinking of Being a Pastor? In this post Joe gives 10 items of advice to those considering becoming a minister, and a pastor in particular. He also includes what he feels is required reading for those considering the pastorate. His ten points:

1. Don’t.
2. Go to a liberal arts college.
3. Get the best theological and ministry training possible.
4. Check with your wife.
5. Check with your church.
6. Determine your calling.
7. Pray.
8. Talk to pastors you respect.
9. Read. A lot.
10. Get Real.

Go read Joe’s post to see how he fleshes out each of these points and the required reading included. To see his follow-up post in which he clarifies some misconceptions some readers had, read this: Called to the Ministry?

This is good blogging fodder, and I think it will make for a couple of posts in the next week. Few people understand the season in my life when I struggled with “the call.” Perhaps it would be good for me to “explain myself.” Meanwhile, enjoy the post, and spend the Lord’s Day in fellowship with other believers at the congregation in which God has placed you!