D. B. wrote,

Have you ever read Ecclesiastes by Philip Graham Ryken? I am reading it now.

Reply:

Ecclesiastes is so relevant for our existential, post-modern culture. There are timeless insights as the writer shifts from secular “glasses” (“meaningless, meaningless”) to faith glasses: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”(3:11)

A brief introduction is Why in The World am I Here? by Kurt De Haan available as a free PDF at RBC.

Yours in Christ,
John

How can you give an overview of the God’s timeline from creation to the end of prophetic history? Compass ministries has a narrated PowerPoint video that does just that. Check it ot here: http://compass.org/30/

What pastors need is a vital prayer life. And they need the intercession of others. Visit our site myprayerhelps.wordpress.com for encouragement in this relational conversation with God.

PastorsLine.com has a resource called “40 Ways Over 40 Days”. It is a free download intercession guide to assist in praying for pastors.

The apostle Paul exhorted, “…meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ…”(Col. 4:3).

a re-post from Brandon Cox:

Some of the spiritually healthiest people I know are in counseling. There seems to be some stigma around it, but getting help with our mental and emotional issues is really a matter of choosing to grow with the help of others. And the New Testament reveals a pretty neat idea in the mind of God … the church can be a growing body of compassionate counselors. If you’re a Christian, you need counseling from other Christians, and you need to offer counseling to others too.

continue reading…

In a recent counseling session, the topic came up again: We need to set our mind on the Spirit, which is life and peace (Rom. 8:6). A helpful summary of the grace and truth realities is Victor Matthews’ article Daily Affirmation of Faith:

Today I deliberately choose to submit myself fully to God as He has made Himself known to me through the Holy Scriptures which I honestly accept as the only inspired, infallible, authoritative standard for all of life and practice. In this day I will not judge God, His work, myself or others on the basis of feelings or circumstances. In particular–I recognize by faith:

1. That the triune God is worthy of all honor, praise, and worship as the Creator, Sustainer, and End of all things. As my Creator I confess that God made me for Himself. In this day I therefore choose to live for Him (Rev. 5:9,10; Isa. 43:1, 7, 21; Rev. 4:11).

2. That God loved me and chose me in Christ before time began.

3. (Eph. 1:1-7). That God has proven His love to me in sending His Son to die in my place, whereby every provision has already been made for my past, present, and future needs through His representative work whereby I have been quickened, raised, seated with Christ in the heavenlies and anointed with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:6-11; 8:28-39; Phil. 1:6; 4:6, 7, 13, 19; Eph. 1:3; 2:5, 6; Acts 2:1-4, 33).

Continued… Here is the full article:  Daily Affirmation of Faith

An out of print video was used to digitize four timeless teachings:

Church Dynamics: A Seminar on Dynamics of a Growing Church
Insights from a seminary prof and a church consultant
vintage videos

See The Church Dynamics page for this four part series.

The last year has been witness to a spate of pastors committing suicide.

At times, the pastor has left no note. For some, there is no apparent explanation for what Frank Page has called “a permanent solution to what is usually a temporary problem.”

When a pastor kills himself, there is always speculation about secret sins (addictions, affairs and the like), but I suspect—absent later revelations—the enormous pressure of the pastorate, coupled with depression, are the culprits…

This post at ChurchLeaders offers a variety of practical suggestions to encourage and protect the emotional and mental health of pastors. John Steven’s excellent book on the subject shows empathy for the temptation, yet gives hope with a new perspective on life through the fuller message of the Cross. See his book description here.

See the full ChurchLeaders article here.

I attended a seminar on small group discipleship by Bill Hull years ago. Excellent. And recently I have been challenged by the relational “real life” discipleship by Jim Putnam, et. al. This ebook addresses some key issues on church development and outreach.
-JBW

https://www.exponential.org/ebooks/evangelism-or-discipleship/

by Dr. Lewis Gregory

THE WORD IS: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ” Jeremiah 29:11 LB

THE POINT IS: So what’s the plan? You were built for greatness. After all, the great and mighty God is the one who created you. The Source of greatness is found in God alone. Great expectations come from a great God; and the Lord God Almighty has great expectations for you. When God is your source, greatness is your destiny. God wants the best for you. God has great things in store for you. God can make you the best that you can be. That is why He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to you. When Christ comes to indwell you, He becomes your very life. And it doesn’t get any better than that!

THE APPLICATION IS: Do you want to realize your true potential? Then stop just dreaming of greatness, and start living your dream! Give yourself completely to the Lord Jesus Christ and discover the difference that Christ can make in your life. As a new creation in Christ you become the best that you can be. You can’t improve on God! God created you anew in Christ, and as with all of His creation, God declares you very good! Your destiny doesn’t have to be merely a future hope. It can become a present reality! Are you living your destiny? If you allow Christ to live His life through you, you will! But you must stick with The Plan. And then you’ll have a future to look forward to!

P.S. HAVING A POWER STRUGGLE? Most Christians realize they need power, but they are going about it all wrong. We need to tap into the true power source and allow Him to flow through us. So how do you do that? Listen to THE POWER SOURCE. http://www.sourceministries.net/go/2013/01/01-the-power-source/

Courtesy of http://www.sourceministries.net

John L. Shepherd Jr. (age 75) of Knoxville, TN went to be with the Lord September 13th. He was a Baptist Pastor serving Trenton Street Baptist Church in Harriman, Indian Springs Baptist Church in Kingsport, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Oneida and Chilhowee Hills Baptist Church in Knoxville. In 1998 he founded and became president of Calvary Road Ministries to the Maasai in Kenya until the present. www.CalvaryRoad.com

John also taught at Grace Fellowship’s School of Spirituotherapy. Here is a video of his testimonial message:

Exchanged Life and Missions on Vimeo.

A SHEPHERD WITH THE LAMB!

John heeded the call to ministry
Assuming it was to pastor;
And pastor he surely did,
Until a ministry that was ‘vaster’!

His ministry to churches
Was attended with much fruit,
Until compared with latter years
Where missions did him suit!

His call to the Maasai was bona fide
With souls saved far and wide,
And with scriptural churches planted
With a team of believers by his side.

Now, the Maasai assume the lead
And harvest the seed sown;
They appreciate outside help,
But the churches are home grown!

John has fulfilled his calling
With the Kingdom spread abroad;
Being absent from the body,
He is now present with his Lord!

-C. R. Solomon 9-20-13