March Bits and Bobs
Stuff and things from March
Paul David Tripp
When it comes to Christian non-fiction, every so often I pick up a book because I respect the author and want to read what he says about a give topic. Lead by Paul David Tripp is an example of one such book. Having read Dangerous Calling, now somewhat infamous for its initial endorsements by three men who disqualified themselves from ministry after its release, I chose to include Tripp’s most recent book on leadership in the church in the curriculum for our church’s pastoral residency without having read it. I think the biggest difference between the two books to this point has been an emphasis on leadership in the church (Lead) rather than an examination of the calling to the pastorate (Dangerous Calling).
I remember the first time I ever head his name or saw his face was during a marriage study put out by Family Life. I remember thinking to myself, “What a glorious mustache!” For a while that was all that I knew of Tripp. But then I picked up Dangerous Calling a few years ago at the recommendation of a friend. I read skeptically and blindly, as in I read it with the eye of someone who knew pastoral ministry was difficult and wasn’t sure I wanted to be confronted with just how difficult it would or could be. I also read it mostly unthinkingly. I remember I thumbed its pages with little recollection of anything about it I’m a bit ashamed to say.
This winter, I picked it up afresh in part because of a learning cohort and in part because I had assigned Lead sight unseen. I’m amazed that the two books say the exact same thing without saying the exact same thing. Both are incredibly focused on how the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus changes everything and how the lynchpin event in the story of this world shapes pastoral character and calling. If you’re in pastoral ministry or a leader in your church of some form and you’ve not read either book, let me just say you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged by both.
Formal and Informal
Some of you know that I love pastors and churches, regularly checking in with other men leading across the globe to see how I can support and pray for them and their flocks. In fact in recent days, I’ve checked in on a few to hear some disheartening news about their families. Some have amazing reports of praise. A couple face major decisions about their futures.
What I’ve realized through these relationships is just how much Christians need other Christians. These brothers in arms don’t need me because I bring anything special to the table. I am neither incredibly wise nor learned nor skilled in ministry. My counsel consists of asking questions and looking to the Bible for answers and hope. That is the best that I can offer. I just wrote in our church newsletter for April how 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 shape both ministry and character, “Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” Our confidence is not founded upon the skills we possess, but the God who we serve.
These connections with other pastors aren’t formal; they’re not centered on any geographic location or theological tribe; they aren’t necessarily with guys of a certain age or ministry longevity; yet they are incredibly important. Our sustaining and organizing principle rests in Christ’s love for his church. As such, we are pastors who need to be sustained and organized by Christ’s love.
But lest you think that is for leadership only, consider all of the “one another” commands in scripture:
love, encourage, be humble with, have compassion for, live in peace with, greet, don’t pay back wrong, accept, bear in love, confess to, serve, admonish, be sympathetic, build up, be devoted to, do good to, agree with, offer hospitality to, submit to, live in harmony with, don’t provoke, be like-minded with, honor, have equal concern for, be kind to, don’t deprive, be patient, spur to good deeds, have the mind of Christ toward, instruct, don’t grumble with, don’t judge, don’t slander, be gentle with, speak songs to, pray for, and don’t lie to (just to name more than a few)
These are commanded to the church to shape us into Christ likeness and help us see how one’s relations with other Christians is shaped by oneness with Jesus. Whether you’re in formal environments (Sunday school, Equipping Classes, small groups, choir, committees, etc.) or informal ones (dinner, coffee with a friend, game night in your living room, etc.), the abundant opportunities present themselves to you every day. Don’t wait for an invitation or an event or some other structured occasion to reach out and be a friend to another Christian.
There’s never a bad time to ask, “How are you doing today? And how can I be praying for you?”
While we’re on the subject…
Things in the Allen household have steadied and stabilized. God continues to prove himself gracious to us. Things aren’t perfect, but they’re trending in the right direction. Please continue to pray for healing and for rest. The latter feels like a great need at the moment.
If there’s anything I can be praying about for/with you, please leave your request in the comments or drop me a DM here. It is a great honor to petition God and seek his face, wisdom, healing, and peace through prayer and I welcome any opportunity to do so on your behalf, dear reader.
Past, Present, and Future Writing
I’ve been at the Substack thing for over a year now, and faithful to continue to write since October (that’s 6 months people! *gasp*) I am enjoying it other than the occasional misgivings with regards to whether or not people are actually reading. (This is both a ploy to elicit comments, shares, restacks, likes, etc. AND a self-recrimination of the same acts.) I don’t write because I want a platform. I write because I think the things I wrestle with might be helpful for other people.
In the last year, I’ve published 24 articles, with a grand total of 2854 views and 101 likes. Such numbers please me. Even though I write because I think my experience may be helpful, it still floors me that something I wrote resonates with someone else.
One such source of amazement is the number of copies of The Blueprint of Grace which have sold. When I began writing it, I wondered whether or not it would hold any interest to a reading audience, or whether or not it would be received, read, and put on a shelf. If sales are any indication, I think it is mostly the latter rather than the former. I’m happy with it, whatever the outcome. If it helps one person, that’s OK. If it helps 100, (well, it’ll have to sell more copies for that), but that’s great!
I’m currently developing out some thoughts on various topics for TtT and would welcome any input you fine readers have. Is there a burning theological or church question that fits this space that you’d like to read my ramblings on? Drop a topic in the comments or shoot me a DM if you want to remain anonymous.
I also have two other irons in the fire on book ideas. I’ll keep them to myself at the moment, but if you want to hear more about either of them, or maybe, just maybe, you’re an acquisitions editor for a publisher and you’d like to have a conversation about what goes on in my writing brain, I’d be happy to share them with you to see if any of my ideas are worthy of a formal writing project or simply something for this space.
Thanks again, dear Reader
Tracing the Thread wouldn’t exist without your readership. Thanks for being at least one of the 2824 views in the last year. If you have found this Substack helpful, recommend it to someone you know by “smashing the button” below (IYKYK).
Blessings to you and yours this Lenten season.
Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash