I highly recommend this excellent book by Dr. Tedd Tripp. It is Biblically sound, but not in the way that many books on parenting are “Biblically sound”. Dr. Tripp draws not only his priniciples for raising children, but also his methodology, straight from Scripture. He writes out of some serious study of the Word of God, as well as years of pastoring, counseling, teaching, and seeing the fruits of all that he has learned work themselves out in the lives of his own children. He speaks from experience, not theory.
This book is an easy read, and we’ve already seen the benefits of putting these principles into practice with our own kids. Every parent who is committed to doing all that they can to see their children grow in a Godward direction should read “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” today.

(Also, Mars Hill Church recently hosted a Biblical parenting conference led by Dr. Tripp. All the audio and video content from that conference is available from The Resurgence.)

I have the privilege and honor to be part of something great that God is doing. Check out the site  for this Gospel-centered, Christ exalting, family strengthening event. Then register and start asking God to prepare your heart!

Ecclesiastes 4:4

“Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor.
This also is vanity and a striving after wind.”

What do we do with this verse?

As an artist, how does this make you feel?

Those of us who feel called to  do our best in our service to God? Do we take these words literally?

Do we take them as merely a warning to watch our motives?

One thing I’m sure of; we can’t just ignore them. They are part of the Word of God and, as such, they have deep meaning for our lives. They must be wrestled with until we find His Word shaping us, instead of us trying to shape His Word to suit our pre-formed opinions and practices. I’m wrestling with this Word. I’d love to hear some thoughts as you do the same.

This is an excerpt from an email I sent to the worship and production teams at 2Rivers to encourage them to persevere in memorizing Scripture. While much more could be said about the topic, here are a few thoughts that I hope are edifying:

“I know this about myself; I don’t memorize Scripture because I want to appear spiritual. The truth is, I memorize Scripture because 1) I know the sickness of my own mind, and if it is not consumed with the Word of God, it WILL BE consumed with lust, anger, pride, and a thousand other sinful thoughts. 2) I know that I have nothing to offer to my family, you all, 2Rivers Church, or anyone else that God has called me to minister to except for the wisdom and grace that God gives me through His Word. Basically, I’m useless to the degree that I speak or act apart from God’s Spirit in me, working through His Word. I desperately need His Word to conform my heart, inform my speech, and reform my actions.

I encourage you towards this out of love and concern for you all. When I think about my ministry at 2Rivers, and what kind of “legacy” I would want leave if I died today, or God called our family somewhere else, I think the greatest gift I can give to you all is an example to follow of someone who has a passion for God’s Word. When old age takes musical skill away, changing times make our style outdated, and worship “experiences” have faded into distant memories, my prayer is that the firm foundation of God’s Word that I’ve helped to build in your heart will still be standing strong.”

October is (apparently) pastor appreciation month. In honor of that I posted this long quote from a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon : (more…)