Resources for Dads (and Moms)

Donald Whitney is the author of several helpful books on spiritual disciplines including one (Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed) for those who think their hectic pace of life precludes the consistent integration of such practices. Brief (usually no more than two pages) chapters offer encouragement and practical steps on how to take steps toward spiritual maturity in the midst of our busy lives. Excerpts from the book and Whitney's other writings are available for free download in bulletin insert format. Since it's only the middle of the week, pastors may want to consider this one on simplifying family worship for inclusion in this week's Father's Day bulletin.

Another valuable resource worthy of fathers' attention is John Piper's recent sermon called "Marriage is Meant to Make Children...Disciples of Jesus." He concludes with the following brief observations based on Ephesians 6: 1-4:

1. The father has a leading responsibility in bringing the children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
2. Nevertheless, both mother and father are called to this together.
3. It is important that both mother and father be united in this effort.
4. The most fundamental task of a mother and father is to show God to the children.
5. God has ordained that both mother and father be involved in raising the children because they are husband and wife before they are mother and father.

Finally, Westminster Bookstore is running a sale on children's books, two of which I highly recommend based on my use with my own kids - the ESV Children's Bible and Grandpa's Box.

Classic Works on Spiritual Growth

The folks at Reformation Theology and Monergism Books have compiled a top ten list of books on piety, sanctification, and spiritual growth but don't expect to find any of these on the best-seller shelves of your local Christian bookstore. Come to think of it, they're probably not on any of the shelves! I wonder which contemporary Christian books will be counted as classics by future generations.

Bibliophilic Habits

Though addressed to collegians, all of us can profit from heeding Byron Borger's counsel regarding learning to love good books. If you're not in college, just replace the campus-related distractions he mentions with those that apply in your context:

Still, it may seem nearly counter-cultural on some campuses to affirm that printed words still matter—deeply matter—and to stand by them in this media-drenched age. Even as we affirm the good gift of electronic culture and image-based technologies, to be faithful to God's call to develop your Christian mind by learning to "think Christianly," at some point you will have to put down the Xbox. Trust me: the late-night run for pizza will unravel to suck up your best quiet hours. The quality conversation about Syriana may feel like it is so very important but may have to wait. To read deeply, to read carefully, to enter into the rigors and joys and benefits of serious reading will mean setting priorities, making choices, and being disciplined. It will take curmudgeonly courage at times to see reading as a spiritual discipline and to go at it consistently and with firm intention. As in upholding our commitments to regular Bible study or prayer times, the 'busy-ness' of college life will demand that we regularly remember who we are, what our focal practices are, and why we do what we do. We will have to remember that we are people of the Book.

Borger concludes his essay with the following habits of the passionate book lover:

1. Make a schedule. Don't postpone your reading to the end of the day when you are most tired. Serious reading takes some serious commitments. Use the library or another favorite, quiet spot;

2. Carry a book with you almost all the time. You can dip in during 'down time' or during unexpected free time. You needn't be anti-social or a show-off about your bookwormish habits. Still, you'd be surprised how much reading you can do on the run;

3. Talk to people you trust about what they most enjoy and what they are reading. Talk about books with people you admire. Find a book-buying mentor and a bookseller who cares about you and your literacy and intellectual development. Read book reviews from a variety of sources;

4. Read in an interdisciplinary way. Wisely chosen novels can obviously enhance your non-fiction course work in pleasurable ways. Some good books come through serendipity and whim, but it may be helpful to have a plan, at least a list; and

5. Stretch yourself occasionally by reading the more serious books. Perhaps, explore a new and unexpected topic for a year, reading several similar books or books by the same author. But don't read exclusively arcane and heavy stuff. Light fare and sweets can enhance any diet.

(HT: Steve Bishop)

When Gaining Weight is Good: Redefining Ministry Success

In a recent conversation with fellow Free Church pastor Lee Eclov, I mentioned this interview with Richard Foster and Dallas Willard about spiritual formation. That prompted Lee to paraphrase something Willard said in the Summer '05 issue of Leadership Journal about how pastors measure success. Lee was kind enough to forward the exact quote later that day and I'd like to share it with you. Here it is:

Pastors need to redefine success. The popular model of success involves the ABCs—attendance, buildings, and cash. Instead of counting Christians, we need to weigh them. We weigh them by focusing on the most important kind of growth…fruit in keeping with the gospel and the kingdom.

Warfield on Prayerful Study

"Nothing could be more fatal, however, than to set these two things over against one another. Recruiting officers do not dispute whether it is better for soldiers to have a right leg or a left leg: soldiers should have both legs. Sometimes we hear it said that ten minutes on your knees will give you a truer, deeper, more operative knowledge of God than ten hours over your books. "What!" is the appropriate response, "than ten hours over your books, on your knees?" Why should you turn from God when you turn to your books, or feel that you must turn from your books in order to turn to God? If learning and devotion are as antagonistic as that, then the intellectual life is in itself accursed, and there can be no question of a religious life for a student, even of theology."

--Benjamin B. Warfield, The Religious Life of Theological Students

Sex & The Body of Christ

Lauren Winner, to whom I referred in a previous post, writes about chastity as a spiritual discipline for the whole church and what led her to change her mind about the sinfulness of premarital sex in CT.