Over the years, I have put my pastoral sails to the prevailing winds. First, I set out to be a good pastor. Then it was a good preacher I wished to be. As the winds shifted, I got caught up in LEADERSHIP. It was all about being a good leader. In other words, it was senior pastor, CEO. After that wind died down, I looked to the horizon for the new wind that would blow.

It came.

Expository preaching.

The "movers and shakers-" the ones quoted by the "cool" preachers today are saying that "Expository preaching is thing you ought to do." So I loaded up the truck, and...well never mind.

Somewhere along the way I heard about a book by John Piper with the intriguing title, "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals." He was arguing for the model role of a pastor as a shepherd, not a CEO.

Pretty radical. Also very biblical.

Recently, one of the "cool" preachers, Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City wrote on his blog:

I pastor a church with a large staff and so I give 15+ hours a week to preparing the sermon. I would not advise younger ministers to spend so much time, however. When I was a pastor without a staff I put in 6-8 hours on a sermon. If you put in too much time in your study on your sermon you put in too little time being out with people as a shepherd and a leader. Ironically, this will make you a poorer preacher. It is only through doing people-work that you become the preacher you need to be--someone who knows sin, how the heart works, what people's struggles are, and so on. Pastoral care and leadership (along with private prayer) are to a great degree sermon preparation. More accurately, it is preparing the preacher, not just the sermon. Through pastoral care and leadership you grow from being a Bible commentator into a flesh and blood preacher

How about that? Pastoral care as sermon preparation- the pastor IS a shepherd, not the head of Church, Inc. In fact, the last time I checked there was and has been only one head of the church and He is not me.

A new wind is blowing.

Hoist the sails!

Power In The Pulpit?

Honestly, sometimes I just don't get it....

Home Again, Home Again

I've taken an extended period of time off from blogging lately.

There are two reasons. First, I went with a mission team from our church to participate in a simultaneous revival effort with churches in the Navajo Nations. For our church, this was the first trip of what will likely be many more. Our goals were simple:

1. Share the love of Jesus Christ.
2. Connect with the people there.
3. Find ways to serve them.
4. Scout out future projects.

In all four areas, we connected. In fact, my morning message today focused on winning "Strategic Spiritual Victories," of which this trip was one. You can listen to it here.

I'll be posting some reflections from our trip in future blogposts.

The second reason for my absence from blogging is my desire to catch up on my reading. Currently, I have three shelves of books waiting to be read. A few days before we left for our mission trip, I received my copy of Keith Durso's new biography of Dr. George W. Truett. He says, as I have insisted, that a new biography needed to be written. I have wanted to write one for over 20 years. Keith beat me to it. Thus, I am turing my sights elsewhere, for I do not believe I have anything to add to his extensive scholarly work. I finished the book on the trip. I plan to post a review of it soon.

Long story short, I'm back.

With more to come.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Truett And Louisiana College

I had been working on a new biography of Dr. George W. Truett. However, I recently discovered that a new one had been written and was just released, entitled "Thy Will Be Done," by Keith Durso.

I don't know that I won't sometime in the future write about some aspect of his ministry, but I think I will this book suffice for now. (I am awaiting shipment as I received notice today that it was on its way.)

Along the way in my research, I was given a pamphlet containing a speech about Louisiana College delivered in the 1930's. In honor of Dr. Truett and Louisiana College, I reproduce a part that I find particularly inspiring:

What of the future of Louisiana Baptist College? I am happy to believe that gathered here today are men and women of one heart, one purpose, who are highly resolved by God's grace to make this College what it ought to be. I cannot believe the Baptists of Louisiana will fail to strengthen this college and make its future more secure in the weeks and months and years just ahead. I cannot believe the sons of the fathers who laid so well the foundation of Christian education in Louisiana will be untrue to their great heritage.

Men will come forward with their money for buildings for this beautiful place and with an endowment that will with­stand the perils that come with long years. I am happy to believe that here before me now are enough men and women to undergird the certain future of this college from this day forward, and the $100,000.00 which you so badly need, and a building to accommodate the growing clientel coming to this college, can come from this number.

We are of one mind that we are coming to the most chal­lenging days of civilization. We seem to be at the water­shed of all history. It is a crime for a man to be a little man anytime. It would seem tenfold a crime to be a little man in a great hour like this to which we are come. Call to mind the ancient proverb, Woe to thee 0 Land when thy king is a child. Woe unto any court when a little man is in the court house. Woe unto any church when a little man is in the pulpit. Woe when a little man is anywhere in places of responsibility!

Are we understanding this hour to which Louisiana Col­lege has come? Are we of one mind and heart that we) will not be found lagging? But will we keep step with the most alert thought and effort to put this plan through?

Well said, Dr. Truett!