Pastoral work is concerned always with the gospel of God’s redemption in, through, and as Jesus Christ, no matter the presenting problem that someone brings. Pastoral work, by definition connects the gospel story, that is, the truths and realities of God’s saving economy, with the actual lives and situations of the people. Purves, Reconstructing Pastoral Theology. … Continue reading »
Posted in February 2012 …
Review: Life in Spite of Me
Life in Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer is a tear-jerker. I read it in an afternoon: it’s an easy read and very engaging. The story of a young woman whose troubled teenage years are the precursor to a dramatic suicide attempt in which she loses her legs, this book is very … Continue reading »
Review: Wright ‘For Everyone’ commentaries
I received free galley copies of Tom Wright’s Early Christian Letters for Everyone and Revelation for Everyone in return for an unbiased review. Although I have been aware of this series for some time, … Continue reading »
If…my words abide in you
I really like the weekly college chapel service. It may be something to do with it being a service where I don’t have to sing, lead the service or preach. Though, in ten days’ time, I will actually be preaching there and, in the past, I have been known to lead the service a couple … Continue reading »
Pastors on the edge
I never forget that a lot of pastors I meet on lecture tours or in DMin courses are on the edge, hanging on by the slenderest of threads. Some make it. Some don’t. The dropout rate for seminary-trained pastors is estimated to be as high as 80 per cent. So I am committed to being … Continue reading »
Your one wild and precious life
This quotation is following me round the web at the moment. Maybe it’s just popular with bloggers right now but it’s certainly beginning to get under my skin so I thought I’d share it with you! Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? It comes from a … Continue reading »
Mystery, truth, originality and being too busy (again!)
We’ve just come back from a lovely weekend visiting friends and unexpectedly seeing some other old friends. How lovely to be away from everything for forty-eight hours, to enjoy the end of Peter’s half-term together, and to take a short break from the various tasks which are jostling for my attention! (Tesco hotel vouchers are … Continue reading »
Review: Radical Together
Radical Together by David Platt is an attempt to consider what happens when the commands of Christ are applied to communities of faith. It follows Platt’s first book, Radical, and is organised around six ideas, each of which fills a chapter. The six ideas central to Platt’s writing are as follows: One of the worst enemies … Continue reading »
Review: Enemies of the Heart
Andy Stanley’s Enemies of the Heart is well-titled. It is about exactly what it says it is! Stanley starts by exploring the significance of the heart in the Christian life and the need for its health, before enumerating four major enemies of the heart. These enemies are guilt, anger, greed and jealousy. Each of these … Continue reading »
Never resign till Tuesday
I know. I shouldn’t have. Not when I have about forty books on the ‘to be read’ list. But I did it. I bought a new book. I suppose I figured that since most of the books I read at the moment are either courtesy of the college library or come to me for free … Continue reading »
