2010 Reading List
Here are the books I know I am planning on reading in 2010, I am looking forward to it! There will surely be others but these are at the top of my list.
1. The Bible: I probably won’t be on a Bible in a Year program, but I hope to spend most of my reading time in this book. I pray that the Holy Spirit will show me how to subject any teachings, opinions, and ideas to the truth of Scripture.
2. Studies in Acts - Martyn Lloyd Jones: CrossPointe will be going through the book of Acts. I plan on doing a good amount of study in this book. I pray that God will use it to change my life and change our church.
3. Big Truths for Young Hearts – Bruce Ware: Every day as a parent and husband I feel increasingly inadequate. I want to pastor my family well, even before my desires to pastor a church.
4. Religion Saves and nine other misconceptions- Mark Driscoll: This book tackles some tough question dealing with birth control to predestination.
5. Walking with God Day by Day – Martyn Lloyd Jones: I really like reading Martyn Lloyd Jones. I am planning on doing this devotional with my wife.
6. Prodigal God- Tim Keller: I read this book already. Carrie and I are starting a community group next month and we are going to journey through this with others. This book speaks very well to the younger brother (self indulgent) and the older brother (self righteous) and how we all need Jesus.
7. When Sinners Say I do – Dave Harvey: Another one I have read. The men’s group I am a part of is going through this. In marriage we must see our own sin and brokenness and know the only hope for our marriage is the hope of the Gospel.
8. Money, Greed, and God - Jay W. Richards: This book was spoken highly of by Justin Taylor. I look forward to reading it. The subtitle states "Why capitalism is the solution and not the problem".
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Jon & Kate "For the Kids"
Tonight I was able to watch last night’s Jon & Kate plus 8 (thanks to my DVR) , I have commented on them before here if you would like to see the context in which I am writing this.
I saw something I found to be intriguing while watching the show, and it was not just in the last episode but I have seen it over and over again even slowly before the demise of Jon & Kate’s marriage. They are getting their kitchen remodeled, and Jon says that they are doing this for the kids. I find it interesting that in the midst of their separation they are getting their kitchen remodeled when I have slowly seen the remodeling and eroding of their lives. But Jon mentions that the reason they are doing this is for the kids? It’s not that I don’t believe what he says; with a family of 8 kids more cabinet space can be argued for, and although it may not be necessary they are well within the means to do it… especially because it is probably free. But I have heard them use this statement over and over again, ”we are doing this for the kid’s”. In fact Kate takes the kids to the beach and I heard Jon mention that it was very timely because he and Kate” just needed a break from each other”.
There are so many issues here, and I fear that if I were to delve into them I would come across as judgmental, harsh, or even a naysayer that hopes for the continued plunge of this family. Please hear me out on this, this is in no way the case. I pray for this family and can surly say that I could easily be in their shoes. My wife and I have challenges just like they do, I realize that I have sinned and will struggle with sin and that if I don’t allow God and others in my life to hold me to account then this could be me and my family.
That being said I will address one point and be done. When does “for the kids” become a way to justify their sin? Seriously? When did this become out and out selfishness? I tend to think that if Jon was on the beach that day loving his wife and family well… that would be for the kids. If Jon was with Kate helping set up the tent…that would be “for the kids”. Where did this thing go wrong? The children are longing for their mommy and daddy to be together, but somehow that is all too complicated to explain and so for the kid’s sake they divorce.
More than all those things, somehow they have rejected God. I have learned as a pastor to reconcile a marriage or reconcile a family that there must first be reconciliation to God. My prayer for Jon and Kate is not ultimately for the reconciliation of their family or marriage, although that is certainly part of it, but it is first for their reconciliation to God. This is done by the blood bought peace that Jesus purchased for us on the Cross. It was gruesome because or sin in gruesome, it was horrific because our sin is horrific. But it was beautiful because God’s love is beautiful, and the beauty of the Cross is that we can be reconciled to God, and that because of that we can be reconciled to one another.
I am convinced that apart from this hope of reconciliation to God, they (or any of us for that matter) will try to make this thing work on their own. And they will use “for the kid’s” to justify their actions, when the reality is that if they were really doing this for the kid’s they would be doing this for God.
Colosians 1.19-20
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
I saw something I found to be intriguing while watching the show, and it was not just in the last episode but I have seen it over and over again even slowly before the demise of Jon & Kate’s marriage. They are getting their kitchen remodeled, and Jon says that they are doing this for the kids. I find it interesting that in the midst of their separation they are getting their kitchen remodeled when I have slowly seen the remodeling and eroding of their lives. But Jon mentions that the reason they are doing this is for the kids? It’s not that I don’t believe what he says; with a family of 8 kids more cabinet space can be argued for, and although it may not be necessary they are well within the means to do it… especially because it is probably free. But I have heard them use this statement over and over again, ”we are doing this for the kid’s”. In fact Kate takes the kids to the beach and I heard Jon mention that it was very timely because he and Kate” just needed a break from each other”.
There are so many issues here, and I fear that if I were to delve into them I would come across as judgmental, harsh, or even a naysayer that hopes for the continued plunge of this family. Please hear me out on this, this is in no way the case. I pray for this family and can surly say that I could easily be in their shoes. My wife and I have challenges just like they do, I realize that I have sinned and will struggle with sin and that if I don’t allow God and others in my life to hold me to account then this could be me and my family.
That being said I will address one point and be done. When does “for the kids” become a way to justify their sin? Seriously? When did this become out and out selfishness? I tend to think that if Jon was on the beach that day loving his wife and family well… that would be for the kids. If Jon was with Kate helping set up the tent…that would be “for the kids”. Where did this thing go wrong? The children are longing for their mommy and daddy to be together, but somehow that is all too complicated to explain and so for the kid’s sake they divorce.
More than all those things, somehow they have rejected God. I have learned as a pastor to reconcile a marriage or reconcile a family that there must first be reconciliation to God. My prayer for Jon and Kate is not ultimately for the reconciliation of their family or marriage, although that is certainly part of it, but it is first for their reconciliation to God. This is done by the blood bought peace that Jesus purchased for us on the Cross. It was gruesome because or sin in gruesome, it was horrific because our sin is horrific. But it was beautiful because God’s love is beautiful, and the beauty of the Cross is that we can be reconciled to God, and that because of that we can be reconciled to one another.
I am convinced that apart from this hope of reconciliation to God, they (or any of us for that matter) will try to make this thing work on their own. And they will use “for the kid’s” to justify their actions, when the reality is that if they were really doing this for the kid’s they would be doing this for God.
Colosians 1.19-20
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Praying for pastors
If there is one thing I covet from my church, my friends, and my family it is prayer. I read Charles Spurgeon Morning devotional for today and felt like it would be a good thing to post. Very recently I have felt God using me in amazing ways, but I have also felt the struggles of my own flesh, and even the on going challenges of ministry. Pray for your pastors.
C.H. Spurgeon
1 Thessalonians 5.25 "Brothers, pray for us"
"This one morning in the year we reserved to refresh the reader's memory upon the subject of prayer for ministers, and we do most earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request of the text first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brethren, our work is Solemnly momentous, involving weal or woe to thousands; we treat with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As officers in Christ's army, we are the especial mark of the enmity of men and devils; they watch for our halting, and labour to take us by the heels. Our sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt, above all it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many knotty cases, and our wits are at a non plus; we observe very sad backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners; therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel. We, the whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students, do in the name of Jesus beseech you"
"BROTHERS, PRAY FOR US."
C.H. Spurgeon
1 Thessalonians 5.25 "Brothers, pray for us"
"This one morning in the year we reserved to refresh the reader's memory upon the subject of prayer for ministers, and we do most earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request of the text first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brethren, our work is Solemnly momentous, involving weal or woe to thousands; we treat with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As officers in Christ's army, we are the especial mark of the enmity of men and devils; they watch for our halting, and labour to take us by the heels. Our sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt, above all it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many knotty cases, and our wits are at a non plus; we observe very sad backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners; therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel. We, the whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students, do in the name of Jesus beseech you"
"BROTHERS, PRAY FOR US."
Friday, June 19, 2009
Book Recommendation; "When Sinners Say I Do"
Book Recommendation; When Sinners Say I Do
As a pastor I have read many Christian books on marriage, and I must be honest that I think they actually can do more harm than good. Many of them cause me to look at my wife as the problem and not myself. I am left thinking that somehow she is not meeting the needs that I have. So I go on to demand that my wife begin meeting the needs I have that only Christ can meet.
That being said I have recently read this book “When Sinners say I Do” by Dave Harvey. This book truly gave me God’s grace to love my wife more. The author dives through straight to the point, that we are sinners, so our marriage is broken to begin with. Right from the beginning he starts off by pointing towards you own personal sinfulness, and the saving faith that Christ gives us through the cross. The cross must be the focal point of our marriage, if it is not it becomes ourselves, our spouse, or our children. This can be disastrous! Because marriage was created by God and for God, if we live in marriage any other way we destroy God’s intended purpose.
I recommend this book for all couples no matter what stage in life you are in. All singles who one day hope to be married would benefit from this as well.
May God give us all grace for our marriage; that we would love our spouse more and more by the love Christ showed on the cross.
ryan
You can find the book here; Amazon
As a pastor I have read many Christian books on marriage, and I must be honest that I think they actually can do more harm than good. Many of them cause me to look at my wife as the problem and not myself. I am left thinking that somehow she is not meeting the needs that I have. So I go on to demand that my wife begin meeting the needs I have that only Christ can meet.
That being said I have recently read this book “When Sinners say I Do” by Dave Harvey. This book truly gave me God’s grace to love my wife more. The author dives through straight to the point, that we are sinners, so our marriage is broken to begin with. Right from the beginning he starts off by pointing towards you own personal sinfulness, and the saving faith that Christ gives us through the cross. The cross must be the focal point of our marriage, if it is not it becomes ourselves, our spouse, or our children. This can be disastrous! Because marriage was created by God and for God, if we live in marriage any other way we destroy God’s intended purpose.
I recommend this book for all couples no matter what stage in life you are in. All singles who one day hope to be married would benefit from this as well.
May God give us all grace for our marriage; that we would love our spouse more and more by the love Christ showed on the cross.
ryan
You can find the book here; Amazon
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Living Assured in Christ
At my church we are going through the book of 1st John. I have found this series to be challenging yet also freeing at the same time. Anytime you approach the Word of God it is hard to come to to it with an attitude of humility. What I mean is this; when we read the word of God we tend to apply our opinions, experiences, emotions and thoughts to what we are reading rather than allowing the Word of God to shape these things.
Studying 1st John I have had to confront this challenge, and by doing that I have actually found freedom. John tells us that he writes these things so that we may know that we have fellowship with the Father, Son, and with each other. This is how we can be assured, take the text of 1st John 2.3 for example:
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments"
Martyn Lloyd Jones calls this a test of our assurance in Christ. If we say we know him we necessarily obey the commandments. Dr. Jones says it is not that we are making ourselves Christians by our obedience but if we are Christians we live that life.
So part of the personal challenge is this; do I obey? My obedience is actually very revealing of my relationship with Christ. I find myself many times in life not doing what I should do, and on the flip side of that doing things I should not do. This is sin either way you look at it. It is living a life of disobedience. It could be as simple as watching TV when there are far more greater things to do with the limited time that I have, or it could be as blatant as I lie I tell in order to protect myself. Reading first John I have found myself asking "am I assured"? Instead of applying my own personal opinions to the text like "God understands my heart" or "I have seen other people do a lot worse" I look at my sin at face value and stand corrected by a loving heavenly Father. When we live in this way we allow the Word of God to shape our lives, rather than misapplying our own faulty belief system to the text.
The freedom we experience comes from the verses following what we just looked at when John says this; 1 John 1-3
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Obedience does not mean we will live a sinless life, but that we put our trust in the one who has lived a sinless life. Obedience does not mean we work harder to be a better Christian, but that we allow Christ's finished work to be the mark of our hope. It means that because of what Christ has done for us we live as he lived and we obey. This is our assurance; because we love Christ we obey his commands.
Are you assured in Christ? Do you live a life obedience to the Father?
Studying 1st John I have had to confront this challenge, and by doing that I have actually found freedom. John tells us that he writes these things so that we may know that we have fellowship with the Father, Son, and with each other. This is how we can be assured, take the text of 1st John 2.3 for example:
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments"
Martyn Lloyd Jones calls this a test of our assurance in Christ. If we say we know him we necessarily obey the commandments. Dr. Jones says it is not that we are making ourselves Christians by our obedience but if we are Christians we live that life.
So part of the personal challenge is this; do I obey? My obedience is actually very revealing of my relationship with Christ. I find myself many times in life not doing what I should do, and on the flip side of that doing things I should not do. This is sin either way you look at it. It is living a life of disobedience. It could be as simple as watching TV when there are far more greater things to do with the limited time that I have, or it could be as blatant as I lie I tell in order to protect myself. Reading first John I have found myself asking "am I assured"? Instead of applying my own personal opinions to the text like "God understands my heart" or "I have seen other people do a lot worse" I look at my sin at face value and stand corrected by a loving heavenly Father. When we live in this way we allow the Word of God to shape our lives, rather than misapplying our own faulty belief system to the text.
The freedom we experience comes from the verses following what we just looked at when John says this; 1 John 1-3
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Obedience does not mean we will live a sinless life, but that we put our trust in the one who has lived a sinless life. Obedience does not mean we work harder to be a better Christian, but that we allow Christ's finished work to be the mark of our hope. It means that because of what Christ has done for us we live as he lived and we obey. This is our assurance; because we love Christ we obey his commands.
Are you assured in Christ? Do you live a life obedience to the Father?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Lesson from John and Kate, Taking a Look Inward
On Memorial Day my wife and I watched the John and Kate Plus Eight season premiere. We have been watching this show for awhile and over time we have grown to love and care for their family. It is always intriguing to see how a family with twins and sextuplets can survive and after recently having twins I only know about ¼ of what they go through. That being said I found the season premiere to be a sad reminder of just how fragile marriage can be. Once you add children in the mix the odds of mere survival continue to stack against you, let alone 8 kids.
As a husband that has only been married for 3 years I don’t pretend to be an expert on marriage. All you have to do is ask my wife and I am sure just a brief conversation will reveal that I am far from an expert. As a pastor I have sat on the caring end of numerous marriages at the breaking point. In every instance that I have counseled couples in marriage I have found myself having to take a deep look inward at my life, soul, and sin personally. I sometimes sit at the receiving end of hearing a couples deepest and darkest secrets and the downward spiral of what was once a man and women head over heels in love with one another. Through this I find myself broken and even in disgust over sin, but it is not the sin of the couple I am caring for, it is my own sin that leads me to disgust. Beneath the mask of my life that I project to the world around me are thoughts, struggles, and actions that could easily put me on the other side of any of these conversations.
Watching John and Kate Plus 8 last night I saw a family full of wounds, wounds that were inflicted because of sin. The wounds of a wife who felt abandoned by her husband, the wounds of a husband who wanted respect from his wife, the wounds of children who as a byproduct of their parents sin are now faced with the ever present reality of living life with parents that have become light years apart.
Psalm 51.4 says “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight”, ultimately God is the one who is sinned against. Sin is not a single solitary action but life lived to the exclusion of God. Sin is part of our character that has turned us into enemy’s of the God who has created us. Sin is when we place someone or something else on the throne that rightly belongs to God. So it is God only whom we have sinned against. Each week in our weekly staff meaning we seem to get around to the same question in a different wa. That is this; “who or what are we looking to for our salvation.” When I place my wife on the throne which only Christ belongs, I am asking her fill a role that was only meant for God. My wife cannot bring forgiveness of my sin, no matter how bad I want my wife to give me love and respect I feel I deserve, she will always fall short. I find that I want these things so that I can be approved of by others who look at my marriage and say “Wow!!! Ryan must be a really great guy, look how his wife loves him and respects him”. In doing this I am seeking acceptance and approval in others, and not in God. This is sin, this is elevating others, my wife, and even approval over my satisfaction that can only be found in God. In the end I find myself unhappy, unfulfilled, and filled with the emptiness I set out to fill with anything I could.
I pray for John and Kate and their family, but rather than unpacking the sinfulness I see in them, I ask God for the correction I need in my life. With all my heart everyday I battle to live a life with God on the throne and no other. Jesus Christ died in order that my salvation could be found in that which is true. Forgiveness of sin is in Christ alone, not in anyone or anything else. By his grace we can know this “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5.8. May Christ’s death on the cross show us the depths of our sins, and the Holy perfect love of God.
As a husband that has only been married for 3 years I don’t pretend to be an expert on marriage. All you have to do is ask my wife and I am sure just a brief conversation will reveal that I am far from an expert. As a pastor I have sat on the caring end of numerous marriages at the breaking point. In every instance that I have counseled couples in marriage I have found myself having to take a deep look inward at my life, soul, and sin personally. I sometimes sit at the receiving end of hearing a couples deepest and darkest secrets and the downward spiral of what was once a man and women head over heels in love with one another. Through this I find myself broken and even in disgust over sin, but it is not the sin of the couple I am caring for, it is my own sin that leads me to disgust. Beneath the mask of my life that I project to the world around me are thoughts, struggles, and actions that could easily put me on the other side of any of these conversations.
Watching John and Kate Plus 8 last night I saw a family full of wounds, wounds that were inflicted because of sin. The wounds of a wife who felt abandoned by her husband, the wounds of a husband who wanted respect from his wife, the wounds of children who as a byproduct of their parents sin are now faced with the ever present reality of living life with parents that have become light years apart.
Psalm 51.4 says “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight”, ultimately God is the one who is sinned against. Sin is not a single solitary action but life lived to the exclusion of God. Sin is part of our character that has turned us into enemy’s of the God who has created us. Sin is when we place someone or something else on the throne that rightly belongs to God. So it is God only whom we have sinned against. Each week in our weekly staff meaning we seem to get around to the same question in a different wa. That is this; “who or what are we looking to for our salvation.” When I place my wife on the throne which only Christ belongs, I am asking her fill a role that was only meant for God. My wife cannot bring forgiveness of my sin, no matter how bad I want my wife to give me love and respect I feel I deserve, she will always fall short. I find that I want these things so that I can be approved of by others who look at my marriage and say “Wow!!! Ryan must be a really great guy, look how his wife loves him and respects him”. In doing this I am seeking acceptance and approval in others, and not in God. This is sin, this is elevating others, my wife, and even approval over my satisfaction that can only be found in God. In the end I find myself unhappy, unfulfilled, and filled with the emptiness I set out to fill with anything I could.
I pray for John and Kate and their family, but rather than unpacking the sinfulness I see in them, I ask God for the correction I need in my life. With all my heart everyday I battle to live a life with God on the throne and no other. Jesus Christ died in order that my salvation could be found in that which is true. Forgiveness of sin is in Christ alone, not in anyone or anything else. By his grace we can know this “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5.8. May Christ’s death on the cross show us the depths of our sins, and the Holy perfect love of God.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Purpose of this blog
I look forward to posting a variety of things here. As a husband and father I will post the personal, as a pastor I will share the spiritual. I will dive into many different topics, some controversial and some will be light at heart.
I hope to engage into a conversation about the things that matter most!
I hope to engage into a conversation about the things that matter most!
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