A Must Have Book for Seminary Students

Posted on June 20, 2011 by

I encountered this book late in my first year of seminary and I wish I had found it sooner.  I had already written several papers without it, and looking back, my research would have been so much more complete had I had it in my possession.  My opinion is that this book should be heavily recommended for every new seminary student or aspiring pastor.  The book to which I’m referring is A Guide to Biblical Commentaries & Reference Works (9th Edition) by John F. Evans.

This is an ideal resource for Reformed pastors and seminary or Bible college students.  It’s value lies in its purpose, which is to provide the reader a list of all of the major commentaries written about each book of the Bible as well as relevant scholarly reference works.  The author had compiled a list of all of the major available works on each subject and provided his comments on the unique offerings of each volume as well as their slant as evangelical, critical, or somewhere in between.  It highlights the most prominent works so as to recommend to the reader how he might want to build his own library or build a list of research resources.

I know that I’ll be using this book as a reference tool again and again as I finish seminary and head onward into ministry.  My policy of late is to buy a quality book or commentary for every paper I write or Sunday School class I teach, which has slowly but surely built my library with valuable reference tools that serve as an excellent companion to my Bible during my study time.  This book by Evans has greatly assisted me in that endeavor and I will be looking forward to further editions of this gem.

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The Plight of a Husband of a Pioneer Woman Follower and Aspiring Photoblogger

Posted on May 31, 2010 by

We are an up and coming breed, we men who are married to this particular type of woman.  You’ll recognize us by the following characteristics:

  • We, and especially our children, are constantly being followed by a camera-toting wife
  • “Scenarios” are constantly being arranged for photo opportunities.  We wonder if this is really candid living or carefully orchestrated dramatization.
  • We’re known to say things like “Can we live the moment instead of trying to capture it?”
  • We’ve got silly, cryptic names, as if people can’t figure out who we are…  in my case, it’s “Minister Man”
  • We’re caught on camera doing some of the dumbest and revealing things.  It’s hard to decide if the posts are an invasion of privacy or an insight into our uniqueness.
  • Our backsides are photo-centric
  • We’re constantly ducking out of photo opportunities while our children have not yet learned that defense mechanism – this leads to lots of pictures of our hands and the sides of our heads
  • Our meals have to be photographed before they’re prepared or eaten.  This is true of home-cooking and of restaurant meals.  Don’t you ladies know that we’re hungry?!?!
  • On the upside, all this recipe sharing leads to some pretty yummy meals and snacks
  • The story of our lives, while likely average or mundane, are highly dramatic sounding when written out in our wives’ photoblogs.  It’s almost as if we’re living on a reality TV show.

I’d love to hear if there any more of you out there in the blogosphere.  You know who you are!  Let’s hear from you, and perhaps we can add to this list.

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What's New?

Posted on May 30, 2010 by

I get so many questions about where we’re at with our journey to seminary, moving, academics, ministry, and so on, that I guess it’s time to write a bit about what’s been going on in our lives lately.  I guess I’ll upload some of the thoughts that occupy my mind lately.

  • First, our house is now officially for sale.  We’re completing a few finishing touches on the house and the yard to prepare for an open house next weekend.  This is our greatest area of need for prayer.  We trust that God will finish his work of preparing us for a move to Charlotte.
  • I’ve received a wonderful scholarship from the EPC that will effectively pay for a large chunk of our personal financial responsibility for seminary.  This is such a huge blessing, but we can only utilize it by being a full-time student in Charlotte (which requires a course load of 12 credit hours per semester).
  • My church has graciously decided to show more financial support for seminary students in the future, which will also greatly assist in being able to afford seminary and supporting my family in the process.  Praise God for showing us how he plans to support us through this journey!
  • I’ve signed up for my next seminary class, an online lecture class called Systematic Theology I.  The course requirements include two exams and a response paper.  I’ll have four months to complete the course, although I plan to work much faster than that this time.
  • Ideally, our house will sell in time to move to Charlotte in late July or early August.  If that happens, I’ll be able to take Greek I for three weeks beginning August 2nd.  If our home hasn’t sold yet, we’re going to have to consider some contingency plans.
  • If we don’t move by late August, we’ll have to consider what to do about my son and his education.  He’ll be in the first grade this upcoming school year, and our options are public school, private school (where he went for kindergarten), or homeschool (the current #1 contender).
  • We’re on the hunt for churches in Charlotte.  Ideally, we’ll find a place where we can worship as a family and I can serve as a paid intern.

Your prayers would be appreciated for the above topics, and anything more that I ought to be considering.  May the Lord bless you and he’s blessed us!

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Wanted: The Power of the Holy Spirit

Posted on May 29, 2010 by

For the past year or so, I’ve been really seeking a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit.  Intellectually, I’m sure I could accurately describe the person of the Holy Spirit from a biblical perspective.  I am also quite aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.  There can be no other explanation for the transforming work that the Lord has done and continues to do in my life.  I am a changed person because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I also know that I cannot possibly understand the true meaning of the scriptures without assistance from the Holy Spirit.  What I’m looking for, I suppose, is more of an experience of the power of the Holy Spirit.  I want more of a relationship with the person of God that has chosen to dwell within me.

As I embark on this voyage into ministry, I realize that I am going to have to rely solely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do anything effectively.  I am only beginning to understand the gravity of that realization, though.  It means that everything I’m good at, all of the “gifts” that the Lord has given me, they’re nothing compared to the power that’s necessary for successful ministry.  Look at the apostles… they were fumbling fools at the feet of Jesus, and yet when they were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they went on to perform “greater works” (John 14:12).

I want the kind of power that the apostles were given to do ministry.  I can imagine that only by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit will I be able to truly be the hands and feet of Christ on earth.  I’m aware that I’ve jumped into murky waters here.  I know that the “cessationist” versus “continuationist” debate rages on, and that both sides claim biblical support for their positions. I’ve learned that the biblical debate centers on 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 and Ephesians 2:20, and with my limited understanding of exegesis, I tend towards the continuationist side.  I’m quite aware that I’m heading to a school that’s quite firmly entrenched in the strong cessationist perspective.  I’ll also be facing opposition for my belief on the ordination of women, though that’s a whole other topic for discussion.  I think that the bottom line is that I’m a bit more open minded on the intentions and methods that the Lord uses.  While I agree with the bulk of Reformed theology in general, and I subscribe to the principle of Sola Scriptura, I feel that this understanding must also accompany an experiential relationship with the Lord that has captured my heart.

Because I don’t currently possess any of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, it might be easy for me to believe that those gifts did indeed pass away at the end of the apostolic age.  After all, when I was baptized as a believer a few years ago, I also then received the Holy Spirit.  I do believe that I received some specific spiritual gifts right then, notably faith and teaching (and maybe others).  I don’t seem to have received any of the gifts of supernatural power, though.  So, should I conclude that because of my personal experience, I ought to dismiss the possibility of the continuation of the gifts of power entirely?

The implications of such a stance would be huge for me.  First and foremost, I would have to believe that some of my trusted friends who claim to possess some of the miraculous gifts, most notably speaking in tongues, are either delusional or deceptive.  I’d have a hard time making that conclusion, especially when those friends have devoted their lives to spreading the gospel and the ministry of the church.  They work in Jesus’ name.  They also seem to be the folks that earnestly rely most heavily on prayer and seek the Lord’s guidance in their daily walks.  Am I to conclude that some of the biggest prayer warriors I know are frauds?  I cannot.

Thus, my search for the power of the Holy Spirit continues.  I’m curious to learn what some trusted scholars have discovered, particularly Sam Storms, Wayne Grudem, and Jack Deere.  I plan to seek the counsel of some of those trusted friends and well as doing my due diligence academically.  I will continue to pray for the Lord to reveal to me His true intentions for the work of the Holy Spirit in my life and how he wishes for me to utilize the gifts he’s given me.  Finally, I thank the Lord for what appears to be answers to some of the prayers that I’ve been praying on this matter.  He’s led me to some wise counsel and he’s opened my eyes to some real opportunities for growth.  Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness.

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A Priceless Moment of Fatherhood

Posted on May 25, 2010 by

I often pray a very specific prayer for my children.  I was already certain that the Lord hears my prayers, and that he answers them.  It’s just that this particular prayer is more of a long-term prayer of eternal consequence, a prayer for their salvation.  Ultimately, I hope that they get to know the Lord Jesus the way that I know him, or better.

AvatarThe glimpses of seeing the Lord at work in the lives of my kids are seemingly few and far between, but tonight I had perhaps the most satisfying moment as a father.  Oddly enough, the moment came tonight after a questionable decision to watch the movie “Avatar” with my six-year-old son over the past two evenings before bed.  He seemed to enjoy the the first half of the movie so I agreed to let him watch the second half with me tonight despite my knowing that there would be violence.

*Spoiler alert* Please skip to the next paragraph if you haven’t seen Avatar and you intend to!  During the final battle scene, when the Na’vi had finally turned the tides and the forest creatures joined in, my son was thrilled to see the “bad guys” get destroyed.  He gleefully shrieked when a pack of giant hammer-headed beasts crushed the mechanized warriors that had decimated the good guys just minutes before.  He absolutely loved seeing the “dragons” fling the flying warships into the cliffs.  He really had a great sense of who to root for, particularly against the evil forces.  In the past, my son had often rooted for the bad guys in various movies and shows, but not this time.  Amazingly, this is not the end of my story.

When the movie finished, it was time to head off to bed (an hour late because of the movie).  We laid down on his bed and talked a bit about the movie.  I was interested to hear his favorite parts as well as finding out if any of the violence had scared him or impacted him.  He told me his favorite part, which involved the “dragon”, and he said that he wasn’t scared or sad or anything, and then he got quiet for a minute.  I was about to ask him what the scariest part was when he said “Daddy, I don’t think they worshiped the same God we do.”  He meant the “good guys”, that they didn’t worship our God.  I was floored, so I probed a little deeper.  I said “You’re right, buddy (my heart is full at this point)… there was something/someone missing from the story, wasn’t there?”  He said “Yeah, they didn’t know Jesus.”  WOW!  He continued “They were worshiping, but they were worshiping the wrong thing.  I mean, they prayed and stuff, but they prayed to a tree or something.”  Then, as if I wasn’t already fully blown away, he concluded with this nugget of spiritual wisdom.  Mind you, this is ALL unprompted…  he said “How can a created (the tree) be THE Creator.  It just doesn’t make sense.”

I about fell off the bed.  I told him how right he was, how proud I was, and we immediately prayed, among other things, that the people that made the movie would meet the Jesus that we know and love.  I really think that he was praying with me in his heart and not just listening to his bedtime prayer before zonking out.  Even now, as I write this an hour later, I am still full of thankfulness to the Lord that captured my heart.  I am thankful that he is answering my prayers for my kids.  I trust that my kids will both be believers, and true warriors for the Kingdom of God.

One more thought before I wrap this up.  I’ve talked to lots of people about Avatar, even though I hadn’t seen it until yesterday.  I had heard from a source or two that there were bits of bad theology mixed into the movie, mainly pantheism.  So, I was prepared for it when I saw it, and I wasn’t surprised at all.  Most people I talked to about Avatar, though, made no notice of the theology and just enjoyed the movie.  Mind you, I enjoyed the movie, too.  Anyway, leave it to my six-year-old, as if he were a mature Christian, to solemnly point out that they weren’t worshiping the right God.  I find that highly ironic and totally amazing.

Nights like tonight are so gratifying, comforting, fulfilling, and all kinds of other words ending in ING.  I am just so happy that the Lord is taking hold of my kids’ hearts and that the time I spend telling them everything I know about the Creator of the universe is actually sinking in.  Wow… just wow!

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Is it OK to pray for sports?

Posted on April 30, 2010 by

I’ll likely be leaving this year, and yet I feel more passionately than ever that I care for the well-being of Cleveland, Ohio.  Still trying to overcome the stigmas of “The Mistake on the Lake” and “Burning River”, it strikes me that Cleveland is on the brink of renewal.  I don’t mean economic revival, because, quite frankly, I don’t see that happening here for quite some time.  The renewal I’m thinking about it the kind that REALLY changes lives, a spiritual renewal.  This renewal has even been prophesied, and it seems like just the kind of thing that God would design for His divine purposes.

Now, in order that this renewal to happen, we have work to do.  We’ve got to get praying for Cleveland.  Certainly, innumerable people have been praying for Cleveland for decades upon decades, but I think that a more concerted effort of focused prayer for renewal in Cleveland is in order, and on a grand scale.  I’m thinking of numerous groups of prayer warriors, from numerous churches, praying for Cleveland and its numerous facets… leaders, residents, employees, visitors, and SPORTS TEAMS???

Yes, I think we ought to be praying for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  I think we ought to be praying for LeBron James.  LeBron is clearly a person of significant influence, and for the most part, he seems to have his head on straight.  Occasionally you’ll hear him give thanks to the Lord for his God-given talents.  He keeps his nose clean and stays away from trouble and controversy.  I have a slight problem with the whole “King” thing, although I don’t think he asked for that moniker.  I think we ought to pray for him (and his elbow).  I pray that LeBron will embrace his high-profile circumstance and use it to give glory to God’s majestic name.

A championship would be such a blessing for Cleveland, although perhaps not in the way you might think.  I would like to see a championship in Cleveland not merely because it makes rooting for Cleveland sports more fun, but rather it’ll allow us to get over our wallowing in self pity.  Maybe it’ll even help us to recognize the renewal that’s unfolding in this city.

The name of a blog I check from time to time summarizes the condition we’ve become accustomed to in enduring Cleveland sports… “Waiting For Next Year“.  Isn’t that what we’re always doing here in Cleveland?  Let’s get past this incessant waiting for next year and focus on the moment we’re in.  Let’s give thanks for the blessings we’ve been given keep our eyes open for opportunities to glorify God in the now.  Finally, if we want to look to the future, lets consider only the coming of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.  And while we have our sights set on the return of the real King, I think it’d be alright if we ask him to bless the Cavaliers and grant us a championship!

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Plea for Help!

Posted on April 21, 2010 by

Dear friends,

We’re in desperate need of some help! As most of you know, my family and I are planning a move to Charlotte, North Carolina this summer so that I may continue my seminary adventure. In order for that to happen, we need to sell our house in Seven Hills ASAP. In order for THAT to happen, we need to knock out a list of repairs so that the house is fully marketable. This is where we need your help.

As you may know, I am woefully inept when it comes to “handiness”. Mostly, I lack the tools and experience to do anything effectively. That’s why I’m asking for your help. The following is a list of needs for our house. If you have any time and expertise available for any of these tasks, or if you have a capable friend/spouse that’d be willing to help, please let me know if we can arrange a time in the near future to cross it off the list. Here’s the honey-do list…

  • Repair front doorway woodwork
  • Refinish/replace wood trim leading down the stairs to the basement
  • Install threshold plate from the hallway to the master bedroom
  • Power clean and refinish the deck
  • Tighten/adjust the some of the loose/crooked wooden pieces on the deck
  • Install light fixture in kitchen hallway and downstairs bathroom
  • Replace the banister at the bottom of our staircase. It’s missing a spoke or rung or whatever it’s called and it looks old in general.
  • Fasten the wooden threshold plates to the floor that lead from the living room to the kitchen
  • Patch a small hole in the wall in the upstairs bathroom
  • Replace a small piece of rotten molding in the upstairs bathroom
  • Replace the water pipes in the garage that burst a year and a half ago because we forgot to cut off the water pressure to that faucet
  • Reseat upstairs bathroom toilet with a new wax ring and reattach with new screws
  • Repair/replace bathtub water faucet in upstairs bathroom
  • Install light cover in upstairs shower
  • Paint/wallpaper upstairs bathroom
  • Paint ceiling in master bedroom

If you feel that you could help or provide guidance for any of these projects, please let me know. We’d love to have you over to get a better idea of what we’re talking about here. Some of this stuff I could possibly do myself with a little time and direction (and tools). If you’re unable to help us right now, that’s alright. We ask that you might join us in prayer for the sale of our home and for God to be glorified in the process.

Time is of the essence. Thanks in advance!

Blessings, Jason

PS: If any of you have any experience with real estate transactions, we could use your advice. Here are our listings on Zillow and Craig’s List. We’re considering retaining the services of a realtor or using a service like NextHome. Your thoughts are certainly welcome.

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