Author: pastorjonathan

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

A Review of “Possession” by Rene Gutteridge

On By pastorjonathanIn booksLeave a comment

Possession by Rene Gutteridge is a fast paced action thriller with a subtle bent towards Christianity.  The D.C. sniper case becomes an excellent background as the lead character Vance Graegan, a former detective sells everything to move his family across the nation to California to start over.  However, in the process of the movers decide to hold the Graegan’s possessions for ransom.  enraged, Vance puts his background as a detective to work to reclaim his family’s belongings.  However, everything soon gets complicated as secrets about Vance’s past come to light.

I was very drawn into reading this book.  The author has an excellent knack for timing and setting the hook of a story.  I found myself very engrossed in the drama and dialogue.  The first two-thirds of the book were very well-developed.  However, the last third of the book, though still a good read, seemed somewhat pressed.  I felt as though more could have been done to flesh out the character of the villan and some of Vance’s past secrets.  I sense that if the author were to add 100 pages of refined plot development along these lines that the book would read much better all the way through.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to read clean action oriented fiction with a Christian sub-text. The retail price of Possession is $12.99 (Paperback), and is available around the web in places like Amazon.com for $9.87. I gave it three stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Tyndale Blog Network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

If God is Good By Randy Alcorn (a Review)

On By pastorjonathanIn books, UncategorizedLeave a comment

If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil is by far one of the best books I have ever read on the subject of evil and suffering.  Randy Alcorn is a very skilled writer and takes on this difficult subject in a way that answers questions, provides hope, and points the way forward for those who find themselves in the midst of suffering.  Randy writes to a broad audience balancing the full counsel of scripture with scholarly philosophical arguments, while noting the suffering of individuals and sharing their stories of faith (or lack their of) in the midst of suffering.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.  For those who are suffering, you will find a challenge to think through the pain, see past the false accusations and gain insight on how to grasp hold of God in the midst of your darkest hour.  For those who are not currently suffering, you will encounter suffering in your life. Why not have a good resource already on the shelf and walk through the issues before you get there?

This book has already been a great use to me in gaining perspective on suffering.  I give it my highest recommendation.  To my knowledge it is the best written, easy to reference, and most concise book on the subject of suffering.  The retail price of If God is Good is $24.99 (Paperback), and is available around the web in places like Amazon.com for $16.49. I gave it five stars.

If you pick up a copy somewhere or know of a similar book on the subject, let me know.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy ofthis book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What Is My Body Language Saying When I Pray?

On By pastorjonathanIn Just Thinking1 Comment

So this thought has been on my mind for a while now.  When I got my undergraduate degree I minored in communication.  One of the first things they teach you in communication class is that verbal communication (speaking) is only a small portion of communication.  Non-verbal communication also plays a key role in how people understand your message. You and I get this.  If I never make eye-contact with you while talking to you in a private conversation, you will think somethings up.  If you say yes and shake your head no, I’ll be confused.  If you frown at me and tell me that I did an outstanding job, I might think you’re mad about it.  We get non-verbal communication.

We judge people on how they present themselves. We evaluate the kind of handshakes we receive when meeting a client or sales person for the first time.  We imagine that students who wear nice cloths are more respectful to the teacher than those who show up to class with their hair disheveled wearing a t-shirt.

Our body language says a lot.  So why is it that when it comes to communication with God, we would want to leave that out?  I know God knows our heart and doesn’t need us to get on our knees to signal that we are ready to talk with and listen to Him.  Forget for a moment how the message is received.  I’m confident that God knows our own hearts better than we do.  I’m more concerned about what we are actually saying when we don’t assume a posture that expresses what our heart is saying. Can you really call out to God face down on your pillow a few minutes before you drift to sleep?  Why not kneel or lay on your face on the cold hard ground.  One of the things I noticed reading through the Bible is the physical response of people to God.  It’s not as though God doesn’t understand the heart, but I’m not sure our heart is really saying what we want it to if we can’t make our bodies say it as well.

I’m sure these aren’t new thoughts.  I’m learning more and more about a false dichotomy that exists in me and many others between the mind and body.  I’m thankful for what I have learned about Bonhoeffer and others when it comes to “making our bodies say what our heart is saying.”

How about you? What are your thoughts on the body language of prayer?
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An Open Letter Advocating the Rights of Arrogant People

On By pastorjonathanIn blogging2 Comments


I want to be honest with you.  Gut level honest.  I’m tired.  I’m tired of people throwing out words on the internet that lack substance.  Words that attack character instead of the issues.  Words that avoid the issues.  Words like “You’re arrogant,” “You’re full of Crap,” “You’re an idiot,” Etc.

1st. Those are empty words because they are an attack on character. I don’t log onto your blog and call you an idiot for your beliefs.  I will, however, debate your beliefs and point out how inconsistent it is to say “science” as if there were a collective authoritative body of work that always agrees and never disagrees with itself. That’s an issue.  Calling me arrogant is an attempt to move the argument from issue to my character.  You may feel like you don’t have to substantiate you position if I let you assassinate my character.

2nd. In most cases arrogance is a generalization.  I get called arrogant or full of crap just because I’m a Christian and I publish views that reflect my beliefs.  If you have called me arrogant, you probably don’t know me.  By generalizing me and others that are similar into a category of arrogance you are again are avoiding the issue.  You create a rule for yourself in which it is okay to treat me and my opinions as sub-par because you have placed me in a category of “full of crap.”  I dare you to argue the issues with me.

3rd. I know where this goes.  You are not the first one to level this kind argument (that isn’t an argument at all).  Its been used throughout history.  Perhaps the Nazi’s exploited this tactic best when creating propaganda against the Jews.  How do you discredit an entire race that for a large part enjoys culture and status with in your country?  You create a stigma about them and assassinate character. The saddest part of the story is that otherwise decent and moral people stood by while awful things were being said and done to their Jewish neighbors.

My only question then is how long?   How long until you deem that those that are “full of crap” don’t have a right to express their opinions on the internet?  How long until the “idiots” should stop using up earth’s precious resources?

To all my Christian brothers and sisters who feel the need to comment on someone else’s blog.  Arrogance is not an intelligent argument.  Nobody has ever been won over to a cause be being called arrogant or stupid.  Just because someone is an atheist, agnostic, etc. does not mean that they are arrogant or ignorant.  Politely argue the facts.

Just a commentary on the obvious here: arrogance is when someone believes that they are smarter or superior to you.  To claim that someone else is arrogant (to a 3rd party… like the audience of a blog) you are claiming to be smarter or superior to them.  In essence to claim the arrogance of someone else (to a 3rd party) is in a very real sense to present yourself as arrogant.  Satan is a perfect picture of this.  He argues to Adam and Eve that God is in a sense arrogant because he is keeping them from being like him.  The irony here is that Satan was kicked out of Heaven for trying to arrogantly usurp the throne of God.

The only one who has the right to judge arrogance is God.  He sees the heart clearly.

Time and space won’t allow for further comment so let me just make a few points of context.  There is a difference between being called arrogant and being called full of crap.  Perhaps as time permits I’ll handle the “crap” issue.  This blog post comes in response to several comments that I have received in the past and will receive in the future.  I do not publish all comments to this blog.  I hold back the really negative ones and don’t allow people to attack the character of the people who write comments on my blog.  There are a few instances where I have allowed personal attacks on myself (never on those supplying comment) that are mild in nature. I include a link to one here.  Most are deleted.

Letters to Young Men: Integrity in your Relationships

On By pastorjonathanIn discipleship, Manhood2 Comments

Dear Friend,

I hope this letter finds you doing well and growing in your relationship with God.  Last time we spoke, we talked about being in the word of God.  I want to encourage you to keep up your commitment to reading the scripture.  Along those lines please read the scripture passage I have enclosed.  This week I want to share with you what the Bible says about being the husband of one wife and how to best prepare yourself to lead in your marriage one day.

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you– if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:5-8)

I know that this passage deals primarily with appointing pastors and elders, but think with me for a moment.  Do we expect more of our pastors than we do of our people?  Is it right for a believer who is not the pastor to be sleeping around, getting drunk, quick tempered, rearing children that hate God, greedy, and undisciplined? No!  We expect Christians to act like Christians and we expect our pastors to model the Christian life. (As a pastor I pray that you have seen Christ modeled in my life along the way.)  So while this passage is about pastors… It also out a picture of what a mature Christian man looks like.  That being said, you are to aspire to be a mature man in Christ.

So now what about that “husband of one wife” phrase?  How doe that apply to you as an unmarried man?

The idea being communicated in the text is that of “a one-woman man.”  How does a single man make sure that he is a one woman man? … You guard yourself from craving of soliciting the attention of a plurality of women. In short, if you like a young woman, tell her.  It doesn’t have to be awkward, but it is important to define the relationship sooner rather than later.  If you don’t, you may end up leading someone on. If you aren’t interested in marrying a young woman, don’t flirt with her.  If you think that she likes you and you don’t like her, remind her (and act towards her) that you are just friends.

I remember early late in college around the age of 21, I found myself newly single and eager to share my insights on life with anyone of the female persuasion who would listen.  Little did I know that I was leading people on more than I had planned. All the girls I had been “flirting” with told the one girl I really liked that I flirted with everyone and I got dumped before the relationship ever began. In the long run it ended up working out well for me in that I sobered up to how I was leading some young women on, learned more about biblical manhood and womanhood and  was careful to define relationships.  I hope to spare you some bumps and bruises along the way by weighing this scripture and my advice.

Are you living like a one woman man?  Are you leading anyone on?  Remember sometimes women can put more stock in a friendship than we do. Is there a relationship that you need to define?

The wait is worth the reward.  Have I shared with you before about how I courted my wife? It’s a good story.  You should look it up if you are interested.

Your Friend,

Pastor Jonathan

A Great Introduction to Fasting

On By pastorjonathanIn discipleship, PrayerLeave a comment

Last night I was greatly blessed to read the book Fasting: The Ancient Practices (Ancient Practices Series) by Scot McKnight.  McKnight does a fantastic job of leading the reader to understand the Biblical discipline of fasting (a discipline that has largely been ignored or forgotten in many modern evangelical circles).  The book is well organized, well thought out and includes a few chapters of practical nature to help those who are interested in picking up the discipline of fasting for the first time.

Admittedly McKnight is an academic. However his writing style is clear, concise and reader friendly.  I really enjoyed the book because the author covers the topic well.  He draws a clear and simple definition around Biblical fasting and then proceeds to share his research on how various traditions have esteemed fasting.

McKnight makes a strong case that fasting is a response to a sacred moment.  Tragically today many picture fasting as a currency get what you want.  While God’s blessings may come after fasting, His blessings are always gifts of His grace.  In essence we are to fast in response to sacred moment (like realizing injustice, personal sin,  national sin, sickness of a loved one, death of a loved one, etc).  Fasting is primarily responsive, not causal.

I wish this book had been around when I first began to experiment with fasting in my late teens and early twenties.  Another great resource on fasting is John Piper’s book A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer.

I  highly recommend Fasting: The Ancient Practices (Ancient Practices Series) to anyone interested in learning about fasting.  The retail price is $12.99 (paperback), and is available around the web in places like Amazon.com for $11.04.  I gave it four stars.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Letters to Young Men: Treasure the Word

On By pastorjonathanIn Manhood3 Comments

Dear friend,

I hope this letter finds you doing well.  I want to be a source of strength and encouragement as you fight against the flesh and continue to grow in Christ.  I know it sounds cliché to say that when times are tough my greatest source of strength comes from being in God’s Word. I know that there are many leaders in our day and age who make light of the daily discipline of reading and studying God’s word.  Their reasons sound good.  They will say that believers in the early church could not read and only heard the word preached.  This is true, but they miss a vital point.  Because the word was scarce, it was sacred.  The danger in our day is not a lack of accessibility, but too much accessibility. No doubt you have more than one Bible and possibly more than one translations.  Here is my challenge to you… Treasure God’s Word!

Set aside a Bible that you will read from each day.  Set a particular time of day.  Get a journal and take notes.  When beginning the daily discipline of reading God’s word, one of the best things you can do is take a chapter or section at a time and summarise what you have read.  If it will help you, I will read the same scriptures and we can compare notes when we get together. If you want me to see and be able to comment post your thoughts on a blog as my pastor does or as notes on facebook like many of my other friends do.

What is challenging me and helping me to treasure God’s Word these days is to memorize portions Scripture.  I’ve set out to memorize Philippians by Easter this year and even in the first week I have been blessed beyond measure.  The amount of scripture memorized isn’t the point, the value that it has in your life is very much the point. Do you treasure God’s Word?

Do not be persuaded to put off (or never even start) the basic disciplines that will help you know and grow in Christ. Do not be fooled by arguments that these disciplines lead to just going through the motions to check off a list.  No doubt some do and will read out of false motives, but knowing the Word is one of the primary ways in which we grow in Christ.

Treasure God’s word.  Grow and develop in the basic disciplines of reading and memorization.  Journal to engage you mind with the scripture and ask God to help you grow in Christ.  I close the letter here by quoting several scripture passages that God has used to speak to me on the subject.

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world (John 17:13-18, ESV).

while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2Timothy 3:13-17, ESV).

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11, ESV).

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish (Psalm 1:1-6, ESV).

Your Friend,

Pastor Jonathan

Letters to Young Men

2010 in review

On By pastorjonathanIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

Healthy blog!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

Featured image

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 9,800 times in 2010. That’s about 24 full 747s.

 

In 2010, there were 189 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 260 posts. There were 120 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 48mb. That’s about 2 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was January 27th with 146 views. The most popular post that day was 3 Things I’d Tell My Teenage Daughter After Watching New Moon .

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were stumbleupon.com, facebook.com, networkedblogs.com, twitter.com, and en.wordpress.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for disciple now themes, dnow themes, disciple now theme, guidelines for facebook, and disciple now ideas.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

3 Things I’d Tell My Teenage Daughter After Watching New Moon December 2009
7 comments

2

Girls Life Application Study Bible (NLT) March 2010

3

3 Keys to a Good Disciple Now Weekend (Part: 1) October 2009

4

“Everyone Communicates, Few Connect” By John C. Maxwell March 2010
2 comments

5

4 Basic Guidelines for Facebook Etiquette February 2010
1 comment

Letters to Young Men

On By pastorjonathanIn ManhoodLeave a comment

I’m starting a new blog series entitled, “Letters to Young Men.”  I hope to post on this topic once every other week or so. Though I’m not particularly old, I have been blessed and encouraged to share insights with several guys in their late teens to early 20’s in regard to life and ministry.   Some of you live in far away places and we talk only a few times a year; most of your mentoring is behind you, yet we check in from time to time.  Others of you live in closer proximity and we meet on a weekly or monthly basis.  Many you who read this post won’t know me, but hopefully you will be blessed through the series, feel free to contact me.

Many of the lessons I will share here I learned the hard way.  When appropriate, I will share my failure in hopes that you will miss a few bumps along the way. A precious few lessons I learned under the hand of various mentors in my own life and thus avoided the scars and bruises I would certainly carry apart from their influence.  When appropriate I will give them credit and honor for their influence in my own life.

I publish these thoughts to honor, educate, and encourage young men through the trials of life. I will write them as letters.  They will be addressed, “Dear Friend.”  My intention is not to share particular conversations that have taken place in private.  The letters will address subjects that are in some way particular to young men and have developed over many conversations with many people.  My goal is to produce letters that appear personal in nature and cover themes that are certainly relevant.  My prayer is that these open letters are a source of strength and encouragement to you.

I mean no disrespect by the use of the phrase “young men.” By many accounts, I myself could still be considered a young man.  I use the word “young” only in terms of comparative age; I use the word “man” in terms of maturity.

I welcome comments, feedback and input all along the way, but chose the right to delete or edit comments that I deem as disrespectful, rude, or not-profitable for discussion.


Far-Sighted Resolutions and Short-Sighted People

On By pastorjonathanIn Just Thinking8 Comments

In 2011 I’m aiming to read 100 books (20,000 pages), memorize Philippians, and making my body say what my heart is saying (more on that another time).  I know that to the average reader that those are huge goals. Don’t worry, I’m not imposing them on you.  They are my personal goals.

I picked the book goal, because it seemed within reach.  I’ve spent the last decade reading large volumes of text and challenged myself to read books that were well beyond my comprehension so that I’m able to read and grasp information fairly quickly.  (I am not a speed reader and I do not have a photographic memory, but I read fast and remember a lot).

I picked the scripture memory goal, because I need to memorize scripture.  I have a thirst and desire to grasp God’s word and hide it in my mind where I can meditate on it, apply it, and benefit from it.  I was semi successful memorizing Ephesians a few years ago.  A friend of mine published a plan on his site to memorize Philippians and I signed up.  It was that simple.

I haven’t thought through how to best articulate the Body-spirit goal, so I’ll probably post on it later.

So, there are my goals, my resolutions if you will.  I’m not hiding them.  I’m publishing them.  I’m not cowering in the corner calling cheap shots at the resolutions of others.  I’m openly posting them.  I’m not cynically jaded about my own or any one else’s ability to fulfill their resolutions. I’m hopeful.

Oh there’s one other thing…. It’s not pride to post them. It’s passion.  I’ve seen enough short-sited comments on facebook, twitter and other places around the web concerning resolutions in general that it makes me sick.  When an individual commits to a far-sighted resolution it should challenge us, not provoke us to sarcasm and cynicism.  When you have to criticize people who are aiming high, you have to ask yourself, “What am I aiming for?”  Should I or anyone else aim for less than we are capable because a critic from the couch of mediocrity cries foul?  Should ambition be limited by those who are comfortable watching reruns while the world passes by?

I say get off the couch and make resolutions and evaluate the criticism based on where it comes from!  When another fat man tells me I’ll never be skinny, I know he’s given up the fight and his criticism isn’t a reflection of me as much as it is his own heart ache over his own failure with chocolate eclairs.  As a Pastor I’ve learned that the sins we accuse others of are the sins we struggle with the most ourselves.  Jesus shared some great insight on this.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
(Matthew 7:1-5)

I want to challenge you to live out your resolutions.  Stand strong against criticism.  If you fall off, get back up, renew your commitment and keep going.  And before you cast doubt in someone else’s direction, pause and check your motives for judging someone else’s motives or ability to complete the task.

What are your goals and resolutions for 2011?