Would you consider buying me a commentary (for less than $5)?

I have a request for anyone who is interested in helping me prepare for Christian ministry.

I’m working on building my library of reference works and the like to help me when I eventually transition over to full-time ministry, God-willing. I hope to serve as a missionary overseas, but I’m still open to the idea of working and serving as a pastor in the U.S. Since I can’t be sure whether I’ll serve in the States or overseas, I’ve been focusing on saving physical shelf space by purchasing Kindle (ebook) versions of the larger, weightier titles.

Recently the whole NIV Application Commentary Series went on sale for the Kindle, being priced between $4.74 and $4.99 until Monday, May 13, 2013. I picked up three volumes from this series (Deuteronomy, Haggai/Zechariah, and 1 Corinthians). Since I’m taking a seminary class this summer, I had to buy all my seminary books last month, and I’ll be paying for my tuition this month, so I can’t afford to buy any more.

Here’s where the request comes in: would you be willing to gift me a title for my library? It would help me in my own studies, as well as in sermon preparation when called on to preach. Sermon preparation can easily take upwards of 10 hours, and would be even longer if I were in full-time ministry, so commentaries and other resources like this can help save me time. Eventually, if I do end up overseas, I could take my entire Kindle library with me, whereas most of my physical book library might have to be left behind.

If you’re willing to help me out, below a list of the titles I’m most interested it along with a link to the title itself. The asterisk (*) marks my most wanted titles. On the right side of the product page, you’ll see a green box where you can order the title. In that box is the option to “Give as Gift.” Clicking that button will take you through the checkout process. It will require an email, so you can send it to:

wencl1440 (at) gmail (dot) com

Thank you so much if you decide to help.

Old Testament Genesis Esther* Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs Isaiah* (Thanks, Sharon!) Jeremiah, Lamentations Daniel

New Testament Acts* Romans Philippians Colossians, Philemon 1 Peter* Revelation*

Book Review: Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp

Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. By Paul David Tripp. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway. pp. 240. 2012. ($22.99 Hardcover | $15.99 Kindle | $12.98 Audio)

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Five Stars (Highly Recommended)

Not long ago Paul Tripp’s newly-released book, Dangerous Calling, was on sale for 80% off for pastors and seminary students. Why such a large discount on a brand new book? Because someone believes this book belongs on every pastor’s shelf. After listening to the audio book, I wish I had jumped on the sale at the time.

Paul Tripp’s book is divided into three sections: Examining Pastoral Culture; The Danger of Losing Your Awe (Forgetting Who God Is); and The Danger of Arrival (Forgetting Who You Are). It’s hard to say which chapter or section was most valuable to me personally. Perhaps it was the emphasis on a pastor’s need of community. Trip speaks again and again on the concept that what’s good for church members is good for the pastor, especially involvement in and support from a gospel community. There’s a lot in there for anyone serving in ministry.

Tripp speaks from experience as a pastor and brings years of ministry to pastors themselves to this book. He doesn’t write as someone who used to have conflicts and personal struggles in ministry a long time ago, but as someone who has to wrestle daily with temptations and the urge to settle into mediocrity.

Add to this a superb narration from Maurice England, and the audio book version is a resource I’ll turn to again and again. Highly recommended.

I received this audio book from the publisher for purposes of review.

Book Review: Radical by David Platt (yes, again)

Yes, I’ve already written about the audio book version of Radical, and I gave it high praises. But I couldn’t be content with just the audio, so I got the print version too. I highly suggest you get one or the other (or both)!

The remarkable thing about Radical is that the subject matter should be unremarkable to me as a Christian because the challenge to die to self and to really live sacrificially is an echo of the words of Jesus. David Platt based his book on what the Bible says Christ demands from His followers. He doesn’t attempt to minimize or rationalize the hard statements about leaving your family, selling all your possessions and giving to the poor, or taking up our crosses and literally dying for Him. As radical as it may sound, it is not any more stringent than the Bible’s description of what the Christian life should be like.

Platt has a pastor’s heart for the people of God, and he seeks to see God lifted up and truly worshiped in His church. Unlike others who would offer a new method or strategy for church growth and a dynamic impact on the world, Platt returns again and again to the Words of Christ as our standard and the Holy Spirit as our guide. Real Christianity isn’t defined by the Sunday morning status quo, and Radical challenges believers to walk in the Spirit surrendered to God.

Radical challenged me greatly and it is bringing me back to the Word to seek the real definitions of sacrifice and faith instead of the ones I’ve manufactured to make my life more comfortable. Whereas others struggle with Paul’s words in Romans 9 or the admonitions in 1 Peter, I find, confirmed by this book, the challenges presented by Christ are much more difficult to deal with on a personal level.

Buy the print version on Amazon.com.

Check out a sample chapter from the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Radical

As a part of the ChristianAudio Reviewer's Program, I get to download some audiobooks, listen to them, and write a short review. Here are my thoughts on David Platt's new book, Radical.

The remarkable thing about Radical is that the subject matter should be unremarkable to a Christian, because the challenge to die to self and to really live sacrificially is merely an echo of the words of Jesus. David Platt based his book on what the Bible says Christ demands from His followers. He doesn’t attempt to minimize or rationalize the hard statements about leaving your family, selling all your possessions and giving to the poor, or taking up our crosses and literally dying for Him. As radical as it may sound, is not any more stringent than the Bible’s description of what the Christian life should be like. It challenged me greatly and it is bringing me back to the Word to define sacrifice and faith, instead of the definitions I’ve manufactured to make my life more comfortable.

Platt narrates his own book, and his pastoral experience shows. He has a pastor’s heart for the people of God, and he seeks to see God lifted up and truly worshiped in His church. Unlike others who would offer a new method or strategy for church growth and a dynamic impact on the world, Platt returns again and again to the Words of Christ as our standard and the Holy Spirit as our guide. Real Christianity isn’t defined by the Sunday morning status quo, and Radical challenges believers to walk in the Spirit surrendered to God.

To buy the audiobook, visit ChristianAudio.com (direct link to book information).

To buy the hardcover book, visit Amazon.com.

Strategic Pause

This post is a little old. I started writing it a while ago in March and just realized that I never posted it.

The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, "You have stayed at this mountain long enough. Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites and their neighbors in the Arabah, the hill country, the lowlands, the Negev and the sea coast--to the land of the Caananites and to Lebanon as far as the Euphrates River." -- Deuteronomy 1:6-7

At the end of his life, Moses recounted the Israelites' story. These two verses are the start of that discourse. The moment he mentioned Horeb, the Israelites knew where this was going. As Moses continues this story, we find that God was calling his people to take the promised land, but they disobeyed. As punishment, God told them they would wander in the wilderness, so they disobey him again! "No, no, we'll go now!" but God wouldn't let them. They had already failled their test.

Many of my friends, and even myself, are wondering where God is leading them. When he will tell them to go. I know someone in Spain looking for a secular job so as to better identify with the people there (She recently found a job). I also know a seminary student in Michigan who has been looking for a pastorate, yet he still waits (Just found out he's moving--he has a pastorate). I wonder why God has led Hannah and I to live over 300 miles apart while she finishes school and I work to support us both (She's been with me since May). Why? When? Where? How? For all of us, we are at Horeb. We are waiting for God to tell us to go. Go into the land that I promised you. Waiting. Waiting. Like the Israelites.

Yet, when God finally said, "You have stayed at this mountain long enough," the Israelites were unprepared for what they were about to encounter. Why? I don't know. What I do know is that I need to be looking for God's direction and trust in Him. I need to be prepared for when God says to me, "You have stayed at this mountain long enough."

At the place where I work we have a phrase for anything that has suddenly been put on hold while we wait for direction from the new administration: strategic pause. God is truly sovereign, so when we find a pause in our lives, waiting for God to move, it really is a strategic pause. It is strategic because God wants to use that time to prepare us for the movement he's planned in our future.When it seems like our life is paused, we should be anything BUT paused. It is time to trust. Time to prepare ourselves by diving into his word. The Israelites were given time to prepare, but instead their faith wavered. They began trusting in other things, building idols for themselves and bowing down to golden objects. Like the student who skips class all semester, the final exam was a disaster, and they had to live for 40 years, learning a lesson they should have gotten in 40 days. When God places a strategic pause in your life, take heart. Wait on the Lord. Let the time be used to strengthen your trust in him. Be ready to go when he changes your circumstances and you find that job, or that person, or that thing. Be ready when God says, "You have stayed at this mountain long enough."

Feet First... or Head First into the Ministry?

Have you ever been thrust into a ministry, or in my case, had a ministry thrust upon you? At 20 years old I barely feel like a college student. In December I'll barely feel like a college graduate. I've attended various campus fellowships during my tenure here at Ferris State University, but I've always been more a part of my local church than the campus ministries. My church has no outreach to the college students, and I'm a "townie," so I've never really needed a church away from home. Due to the lack of ministries directed towards college students in my church, I've often found myself frustrated with the status of things and have often desired a more contemporary enivoronment in which to connect with other believers with similar insterests and life situations. Now I have that chance.

One of our recent high school graduates has begun attending irregularly, and I can understand why. There is nothing for him. After Youth Group is the Seniors Class, and by seniors, it doesn't mean "in high school" or "in college." Last Sunday he attended, and I made a proposition: how about we start a college age bible study during the Sunday School hour? Altogether, we have about 4 people who may attend this Sunday: him, his girlfriend, my wife, and myself. I haven't invited anyone from school yet, and I probably should. Actually, I should.

We are going to try to have an interactive Bible Study. We are starting with the Gospel of John and will be having an "everybody shares" type meeting every week. Hopefully, if everyone studies, we can have some good discussion, prayer, fellowship, and maybe even music. We'll see because this Sunday is the beginning. We're starting a ministry with nothing. That is a great way to begin because we will know who's giving the increase. At least, I hope so.