Book Review: The Voice New Testament

With the promise that one will “step into the story of Scripture,” Thomas Nelson has released a new Bible translation that essentially turns much of the New Testament into a screenplay using a method of translation known as dynamic equivalence. The text also includes some footnoting and a number of interpretative notes provided by either an “artist, musician, editor, writer [or] scholar.” The order of those titles might be indicative of something.

I suppose there is some usefulness to a work like this, but I would never commend it for anything other than supplemental study.  The first problem is dynamic equivalence. There is always something of this in translation work, but any Bible that sets out to link its work closely to modern culture is immediately outdated. By the time the thing goes to press the culture has moved on. The better route is to leave as much of the sticky and hard cultural items in place and cause the inquisitive reader to study. 

Someone will inevitably shoot back that leads to misunderstanding and that is certainly possible. But it is equally possible that the team of translators misunderstands something and by their excessive editing has enshrined error into an English translation. I would rather depend on the Spirit to enlighten the mind of the simple who faithfully read their whole Bible. It has been said before, but I will say it again. The old widow who has read her Bible every day for 75 years has a remarkable sense of what it all means… and a precise radar for error.

Read a Bible that makes you work it out rather than one that gives you all the answers. (Which is why I think your study Bible should always stay closed beside you while you are reading. Reference it when you have exhausted all your own ideas.)

(This book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Effective Staffing for Vital Churches

As Grace Fellowship Church grows and plans for the future I am eager to read outside my normal diet of books and authors in order to harvest wisdom where it can be found. That is what led me to take a look at Bill Easum and Bell Tenny-Brittian’s new work.

In my mind the most helpful chapter was the sixteenth of the seventeen included. That chapter on Staffing Basics gave some good advice. There were a few other nuggets sprinkled here and there throughout the book, but not as much as I had hoped.

The major flaw of the work was a theological one. That error was stated in various ways throughout:

“No matter what size it is, the number one reason a church plateaus or declines s because of staffing issues.”

Sigh. And here I thought it might have something to do with the sovereignty of God and whether or not the Word of God is ably preached.

At a foundational level, this is just another book that operates under the false assumption that Big=blessed and that the way to get Big is to manage well. For a far more helpful paradigm under which to understand church, read David Wells’ No Place for Truth.

(This book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and BakerBooks in exchange for an honest review.)

The Battle Over

On January 13th my hero went to heaven. Robert Christian Hueni was my father-in-law and a man I held in the highest honour. He lived a life of profound faithfulness and godliness in the little town of Bremen, Indiana. He was never featured on a giant stage, never wrote a book and never sought the limelight. But let me tell you, the man could preach, and pray and write - letters. Thousands of them by my estimation. Showering the world with the Gospel wherever he could.
I will have much more to say about him in the days ahead, but for now I am posting a poem I read at the family funeral. Dad loved poetry and we had a habit of writing to each other in verse - mostly silly, sometimes serious. This time, I get the last word.

The words were prompted by my reflection on David's lament for Saul and Jonathan after their deaths in battle.  That is found in 2 Samuel 1.

The Battle Over

“How the mighty has fallen

in the midst of the battle”

Who stood there unshaken

By the Enemy’s prattle (Eph 6:13)

So few are so faithful

As that man on his field

Who drew his sharp sword

His ground would not yield (Eph 6:17)

From youth he accepted

Both his place and his lot (Ps 16:5)

Said, “I’ll seek to be faithful

With all that I’ve got.” (Mt 16:24)

With that he marched forward

In Zion’s great army

And wrestled with enemies

Dark and alarming  (Eph 6:12)

Some outward, most inward (Ro 7:22)

With prayer and with fasting (Mk 9:29)

He clashed in the strife

With blows that were lasting (Ro 8:13)

Eyes set on his Captain (Col 3:2)

He listened for orders

And helped to expand

Sweet Israel’s borders

[How many citizens

Of that blessed mount (Ps 69:35)

Will credit this messenger (Ro 10:15)

For proclaiming the Fount?]

Assaulted and battered

To Jordan’s dark shore

The last strike the fiercest

From Babylon’s Whore (Rev 17:6)

Yet with jaw set like flint

To resist that Pretender (Rev 19:2)

He whispered a final,

“Never Surrender” (Heb 12:4)

A true son of Bremen

He fought like a lion… (2 Sam 1:23)

Then breathed his last breath

And stood white-robed in Zion! (Rev 6:11)

Yet, I’m broken to lose you

My friend and my brother

Jonathan-like love (2 Sam 1:26)

I’ve had for no other

“How the mighty has fallen”

You’d reject the word, “mighty” (1 Tim 1:15)

And tell me to man up

And not get all flighty

But I’ll mourn for my David

And rejoice in the grace

That carried you through

To behold His pure face (Rev 22:4)

And I’ll seek to follow

The example you’ve left (Heb 13:7-8)

Never forgetting

Nor forever bereft

But thankful and grateful

I saw your great story

And eager to stand

With you, brother, in glory. (Rev 21:3-4)

Grace Fellowship Church Hiring for Facility Set Up Crew

Help Wanted:

Grace Fellowship Church Hiring for Facility Set Up Crew

Grace Fellowship Church is calling for applications to two open positions on our Facility Set Up Crew.

The Facility Set Up Crew is made up of two individuals, generally students between the ages of 16-25.

Their job consists of coming into Timothy Christian School on Saturday evenings (after 5PM) to set up the entire school for Grace Fellowship Church’s public worship services the next day. They also assist in Sunday afternoon tear down on a volunteer basis.

This generally takes about one hour of labour per person and includes some basic cleaning, plus the set up of chairs, equipment and signage.

This is a contract position (one year) that begins with a 3-month probationary period and reports directly to Pastor Paul Martin.

Facility Set Up Crew personnel receive a flat fee of $25 per week, per person.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via email by 1:00PM on Monday, January 21, 2013. Interviews will be conducted that same week and will include a more detailed description of responsibilities. Preference will be given to those applicants who are already members of Grace Fellowship Church and have their own means of reliable transportation.

Your application should be sent to paul[at]gfcto[dot]com and include your full name, contact information and an explanation as to why you would like this job.

Thank you.

Book Review: Relentless Pursuit – God’s Love of outsiders including the outsider in all of us

Ken Gire has written many popular evangelical books but I think this is the first one of a more autobiographical nature. In it he discloses many of his own struggles with making sense of life and in particular, understanding how God is at work in his faith.

I appreciated his explanation of living with ADD and his ability to poignantly describe the life of an “outsider.” Every one of those descriptions reminded me of different members of my church or of me and stoked the compassion fires in my heart. I was glad for that.

Unfortunately, the book lacks the theological precision that would fill the reader with hope in the end. I am not suggesting it is a wasted read, but without a crisp and more nuanced telling of the Gospel, the story could leave one with more hope in being understood than in being saved from sin. I think a deep grasp of the Gospel is what truly comforts us; now we are finally, divinely understood.

That said, if you love Jesus and know what He has done for you on His cross, I would commend the book.  How thankful I am that, like the Hound of Heaven, His pursuit of His people is utterly relentless. I need it!

(This book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and BehtanyHouse in exchange for an honest review.)

The Heart of a Church Planter: An interview of Pastor Darryl Dash of Liberty Grace Church (Toronto)

Barely 2% of the citizens of Toronto make a claim to being born again. With a population of 5.5 million people in the Greater Toronto Area, you can do the math. We need conversions in Toronto and that means we need churches.

One of my real joys in life has been watching many churches get birthed in this city over the last 15 years. There was a time when so little was happening, but now the tide is begining to move in the right direction. Praise the Lord.

What a joy it was for me then, when my good friend and fellow Toronto-lover, Darryl Dash, decided to venture into planting a new church. It was a bold move. Near a stage in life when some pastors are deciding to settle into what looks secure, Darryl was willing to risk it all. That takes some serious courage and I cannot wait to see how the Lord is going to use my brother.

Darryl is still in the formulating stages of the plant of Liberty Grace Church, but based on my own experiences of planting I thought it a great time to throw him some different kinds of questions to help you see how the Lord can work on a man in this situation. I hope you enjoy reading his answers as much as I did.

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What has happened in your soul so far in this church planting effort?

I heard someone say that church planting will reveal every idol you have. I’ve found that to be true this year. I’ve been humbled as I’ve seen my insecurities, fears, and drivenness surface, and as I’ve realized again that I control nothing. So, on one hand, I’ve been humbled.

The flip side is that I’ve found God’s grace to be so rich as it’s met me in my need. I’ve found joy in the middle of some pretty hard stuff this year, and I’m learning lots.

Earlier this year a church planter told me that church planting is the overflow of one’s relationship with Christ. That was during a particularly tough period when I had no overflow. It’s different now. I get it, and that’s what I keep reminding myself as we church plant.

What has become particularly alive to you in God's Word since you made the decision to plant in Liberty Village?

So much. I was reading 2 Corinthians 5 this week, and it was leaping off the page to me. Acts has come alive for me.

The four main passages I keep coming back to are these:

“Thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation” (Romans 15:20). This reminds me that our focus is to preach the gospel to people who have never heard.

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also” (Acts 17:6). This reminds me that the gospel turns the world upside down.

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). This reminds me that ministry entails suffering.

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). This reminds me of Christ’s presence and enablement in the process of making disciples.

What has surprised you so far?

I think I was naïve about the level of spiritual attack. I’ve also been surprised at how well God has provided, which is where I’m tempted to doubt Him. I’ve been surprised by some of the idols that have surfaced in my life.

Do you think the plant might fail and are you personally prepared for that?

I hope the church plant won’t fail, but yes, that’s a very real possibility, and it (along with the money question) is the main battle I faced as we moved into church planting. I found myself wrapping up my reputation and desire to prove myself into what I was doing. It’s an ongoing struggle, but I’ve had to come to the point, repeatedly, of bringing those struggles to the gospel.

I’ve had to redefine failure as disobedience. That sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. I almost didn’t church plant because I was afraid of failing. I realized I sounded a lot like this guy: “I was afraid, and I went and hid your money in the ground” (Matthew 25:25). Not a good thing!

This church plant may fail, but I’m still committed to church planting, and to suffering. There’s no turning back.

What has the Lord been teaching you about prayer over the last year?

He’s been teaching me that I have a long way to go! The honesty has been greater. Guilt-motivated prayer is less of a struggle because I’m so aware of my dependence. He’s also been teaching me to intercede a lot more for other church planters.

If you could write the script, what would your life look like ten years from today?

I’d still be church planting, but more in the background as others are discipled to lead. I’d love to be part of a church planting movement, along with others, that’s transforming Toronto in a significant way. I’d love to be ten years deeper in my relationship with God, and more committed than ever to loving my wife.

How have your convictions about the local church changed over the last year of planting?

Overall, my ecclesiology hasn’t changed. I do have one new conviction: every church should have church planting at its heart. That sounds self-serving, but I think it’s true. I didn’t get that a few years ago.

When do you hope to officially launch? Can you give us any details on your plans?

We’re working and praying toward a public launch in the early Spring (before Easter 2013). We’re currently meeting every other week, and in January we start meeting every week. Right now we’re focused on building a Launch Team and beginning to do evangelism in the community. We’re moving into the community, and we’re starting a Christianity Explored course early next year. Please pray for us!

Book Review: The Conviction to Lead (25 Principles for leadership that matter)

 A lot of us have been waiting a long time for Al Mohler to write this book. If you know anything of his tenure as President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the remarkable events that marked his first years there in particular, then you will know why.

Mohler has written a great volume on leadership that distills Biblical truth, experience and the wisdom of others into 25 very readable chapters. The book is a must read for anyone who leads in any capacity.

Last year I had the opportunity to spend several days with a small group of pastors, all of whom were leaders in their respective groups or geographical areas. This was a game-changer for me. Being together, thinking through issues, sharing strategies, and listening to other leaders reinvigorated my own leadership like nothing has. The Conviction to Lead was like a pleasant walk back into those sweet days.

Tim Challies has provided a list of great quotes from the book and his own review here. I would commend those to you if you want more of a taste. But whether you are a pastor, professor, manager, business owner, small group leader or father, I simply urge you to buy the book and read it. Then start the hard, yet thrilling work of serving others with your gifts of leadership.

(This book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.)