And yet another five

The latest five books I have read have mostly been overtly Christian books but also the hardback tome Fake Heroes by Otto English, the follow up to Fake Histories. This one looks at Kennedy, Che Guevara, Mother Theresa, John Wayne, etc. I have also read the encouraging and hopeful A change of affection by Becket Cook, the former homosexual; Sinclair Ferguson's Worthy which contains a lot of material that we understandably heard recently at Catalyst and is great stuff (although I do think he has things wrong with regard to Joseph, like so many others); the little book by Kevin DeYoung Do not be true to yourself which also contains four other graduation addresses or similar. Nice; and finally Pastoral Friendship by Michael Haykin, Brian Croft and James Carroll. I have decided I am not keen on books with multiple authorship. Part of the problem here was the way the book was written but also my own curmudgeonly attitudes. My retort would be that if the book, which wants pastors to make more friendships doesn't win over people like me than it won't do any good. I feel that a book that encouraged friendliness (rather than making friends) would have been better.

Another helpful book reviewed - The Pastor's soul

This is the other

The Pastor's Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd

Brian Croft & Jim Savastio, Evangelical Press, 2018, 100pp, £7.71 (Amazon) / £5.26 (Kindle)

From the Reformed Baptist stable, this book is written by two American pastors, both based in Louisville, Kentucky. Brian is Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church and Senior Fellow of the Mathena Centre for Church Revitalization at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jim is one of the pastors at the Reformed Baptist Church in Louisville. Both are very much involved in Practical Shepherding, a Gospel-driven resource centre for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical matters of pastoral ministry. The book has grown out of this work and is a helpful contribution to thinking about the practical side of Christian ministry in the twenty-first century. It is in four parts, alternating sections being written by the two men.

Jim starts by looking at the biblical commands to a pastor – taking heed to oneself, to doctrine, to the flock – and why these matter. Brian then contributes a section on the need for every minister to be converted and called.

In part three Jim has two chapters on the public and private means of grace. Brian’s last section deals with six important topics with regard to the pastor’s wellbeing – eating, sleeping, exercise, friendship, silence and rest (including his day off, his holidays and having sabbaticals).

I recall hearing Joel Beeke say that a pastor should read at least one of these sorts of books every year. If you are a pastor, we commend this little book for your perusal. Dr Beeke also said at that time (with tongue in cheek) that you cannot follow everything recommended in such books as there are not enough hours in the day! That is probably true of this volume, although it tries hard not to be prescriptive. Few will agree with everything that is said here but it will stimulate thought on these important subjects. It would make a great book for a ministers’ fraternal to discuss.

Gary Brady, Pastor, Childs Hill Baptist Church, London

The pastor's soul

When I was in Aber last I picked up a new little book for pastor's subtitled - the call and care of the undershepherd. Out of the Reformed Baptist stable it is written by two American pastors - Brian Croft and Jim Savastio. Only 154 pages long it is a helpful book in four parts. Jim starts with biblical commands concerning a pastor talking about taking heed to self, doctrine and flock and why it matters. Brian then contributes a short section on the need to be converted and called. It's back to Jim for part 3 and two chapters on the public and private means of grace. Brian's last section deals with six important topics - eating, sleeping, exercise, friendship, silence, rest (day off, holidays and sabbaticals). I heard Joel Beeke say last year that pastor's should read at least one of these books a year - so I'm okay for 2019. He also said (with tongue in cheek) that you cannot follow everything they recommend as there are not enough hours in the day. That is probably true of this volume although it tries hard not to be prescriptive. It would make a great book for a ministers' fraternal to discuss. Non-pastor's will find it very interesting too.