Author: pastorjonathan

Christian,Husband, Dad, Pastor, Mentor, Volunteer.

Reading the Bible in 2009

On By pastorjonathanIn books, UncategorizedLeave a comment

51ya8yyy5xl_ss500_Looking to read through the Bible in 2009?  Here’s a few good places to start.  The image to the Left is a picture of the Mac Arthur Daily Bible that I have used for the past several years to keep me on track.  It contains selections from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day.  It also contains a brief devotional and explanatory comments about the scripture passages you are reading.

Of course there are other plans to read through the bible, but rather than repeating a bunch of information I have listed a link to some great resources on reading the Bible through in a year.

ewordtoday.com – I recommend the ESV Chronological or Historical track

doxologypress.org – this is a great place to hear the audio bible and keep track of your reading/listening. (though you need to sign up for an account) It’s also a great place to hear great works of literature like John Owen‘s Mortification of Sin (though I admit it’s not for the faint of heart).

Tell Me the Story!

On By pastorjonathanIn Family2 Comments

n823463843_859731_881“Tell me the story!  Tell me the story of when I was born!” She said desperate to hear again  of how her life had so indelibly touched ours.  She looked up with eager anticipation of the story she new only too well.

One wonders at what goes through the mind of a two year old when such questions arise.  Is it vainglory wanting to be recognized as significant?  Is it her way of understanding the past that she has no memory?  Or is it simply that she wants to know that her father loved her from the very start?

Tenderly I pull her onto my lap and she rests her soft head on my chest.  A smile dawns her face as she looks up in expectation.  I smile at her and treasure the moment in my heart.

Then begins the story.  The story of how Rebekah was born.  As the word’s come out of my mouth, I find myself praying that God would use this simple moment to shape my daughter’s heart. I navigate through the events of Rebekah’s birth choking back the tears as my mind is flooded with the emotion that God grants with memory.

The story is finished and her questions have been answered, she gives me a hug.  The moment is over as quickly as it began.   And another line is written in a different story for Rebekah… The story of Rebekah’s Dad.  I pray that I don’t fail her.

. . . . . .

We’ve been using real life stories lately to illustrate the scriptures to Rebekah.  Woven into the story of her birth is Psalm 127, the passage of scripture I memorized years before Avia and I were ever married.  Woven into the story of the day Avia and I were married is Ephesian 5, the passage I used to propose to Avia.  And woven into the story of my salvation is Revelation 3 and Romans 10:3 that God used to break my heart and show me my need of Him.

ApParent Privilege

On By pastorjonathanIn booksLeave a comment

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I just read Apparent Privilege by Steve Wright and Chris Graves.  I recommend this book to parents with children of all ages, but especially parents of teens.    The book is written with a relevant straight forward style and if full of practical application parenting teens.

Apparent Privilege is also a great read for student pastors reminding them of their call to come along side parents.  The book is full of scriptural insight, recent statistical information, and compelling stories that are sure to be useful in any ministry to parents.