Caffeinated Thoughts

Trained in the Fear of God––a book review
Gingrich Can Only Play Spoiler Against Santorum
Annette Sweeney to Seek Re-Election in Iowa House District 50
CyHawkThoughts: NCAA Tournament Talk

Trained in the Fear of God––a book review

Posted: 15 Mar 2012 02:16 AM PDT

This book comes at a timely moment for me, as pastor of a church that is concerned about continuing a pattern of godly, biblical training for all ages. For the last 15 years, we’ve attempted (not without struggles, mind you) to create a more favorable multi-generational approach to Christian Education. We don’t want our children to feel isolated. This is the problem that so often leads to teens abandoning the church once they’ve left home––they’ve never been made to feel like they belong there in the first place. We also want our parents to realize that what we offer at the church is not to be the frontline of discipleship for their children: they are!

Trained in the Fear of God might not be the easiest book to read, at least in the opening portion, as the authors lay out some of the historical background, but if you’re willing to dig deep here, it lays a good foundation for where we need to go next. The practical sections will give the most help, but don’t neglect the foundational building blocks of the theological reasons “why” we should be involved in family-equipping ministry. If you just jump to the “how to’s” you’ll simply be adding programs to your church––something you don’t need to do.

I would recommend this book to leaders within churches, both vocational and lay leaders. I’m convinced the future demands that we take this approach. I recommend it for parents as well, but my initial thought is they may need encouragement to stick with the reading. It almost comes across as more of an academic, college-class-type of approach and most moms and dads aren’t going to tackle something on that level, especially if they’re feeling “desperate.”

About the Book: Trained in the Fear of God encourages the church and its leaders and pastors to shift away from the current "silos" paradigm of age-specific youth ministries to a more holistic approach rooted in ministry to and by families. Stinson and Jones draw upon the expertise of seventeen scholars and practitioners to provide the biblical and theological foundation for doing so, followed by practical steps in implementing foundational insights. Among the seventeen contributors are Albert Mohler, Robert Plummer, Bruce Ware, and James Hamilton.

About the Authors/Editors: Randy Stinson (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is dean of the School of Church Ministries at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and serves as president of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Timothy Paul Jones (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of leadership and church ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written a number of books, including Misquoting Truth and Perspectives on Family Ministry.

Trained in the Fear of God may be purchased directly from Kregel Publications.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Gingrich Can Only Play Spoiler Against Santorum

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 08:45 PM PDT

We were told by Newt Gingrich's campaign spokesperson, R.C. Hammond, that Mississippi and Alabama were must wins for Gingrich to be considered a credible candidate. Newt Gingrich is no longer a credible candidate after last night's losses. Now he says the goal is to keep Mitt Romney from securing the 1144 delegates needed to win the nomination since he recognizes he can't achieve that number himself.

What? Wow, how *inspiring.* What he will do instead is continue to block Rick Santorum from hauling in more delegates. Santorum has demonstrated that he can win states even with Gingrich in the race, but Gingrich does provide a split with delegate counts. Polling has consistently pointed out the fact that without Gingrich in the race Santorum is more formidable.

In Alabama and Mississippi conservative voters have spoken and said "thanks, but no thanks" to Newt. Yet while Gingrich promises to forge ahead as a spoiler even with sparse crowds he is in reality burning down the GOP house as Jamie Weinstein in an op/ed at The Daily Caller points out.

But if Newt can't win Mississippi and Alabama, where will he win? Maybe Texas, where he has been endorsed by Gov. Rick Perry. But that delegate-rich primary takes place at the end of May, and by then Gingrich will probably be so irrelevant that he couldn't win the state even if Ronald Reagan and Sam Houston endorsed him.

He's functionally done, not being able to beat a Northerner in his Southern backyard.

But even functionally done and increasingly irrelevant, he can hurt Rick Santorum, who had two big wins Tuesday night in Alabama and Mississippi. Polling shows that Santorum would take more supporters of Gingrich's than Mitt Romney if Newt got out of the race. Had Newt Gingrich dropped out earlier, Santorum would have likely won the crucial state of Ohio, and perhaps even Michigan.

In close races going forward, even if Gingrich is only picking up 10 percent of the vote, he could throw states to Romney. Gingrich's presence in the race effectively benefits the man he supposedly detests.

Yet he promises to go to convention. Oh lucky us. As I said earlier it is time Gingrich to go. The only people who want him in the race at this point are Romney supporters.

Update: Maybe Romney will play audience to an "act of God."

Annette Sweeney to Seek Re-Election in Iowa House District 50

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 12:30 PM PDT

(Des Moines) – Representative Annette Sweeney (R-Alden) today has filed her petitions with the Iowa Secretary of State to seek re-election in the newly formed House District 50, which includes northern Hardin, all of Grundy and southern Butler counties.

"I am thrilled today to file my paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office to place my name on the ballot for the June 5th primary in the new House District 50" said Representative Sweeney. "I am humbled and honored to receive so much encouragement and support from everyone to continue as your state representative in Des Moines". Sweeney went on to say "I’m not going to Des Moines to just pass time, I want to make a difference and leave this state in better shape than it was just four short years ago".

In Sweeney’s time in the legislature, she has been a champion of rural Iowa by authoring national legislation that protects family farms from extremist groups. Sweeney also led a trade mission to South Korea and China in 2011, which led to the opening of those markets to Iowa products. She has also been an outspoken defender and co-sponsor of several pro-life bills in the Iowa House, and co-sponsor of the Marriage Amendment in the State of Iowa. Also during Sweeney’s time in the Iowa House, she has been champion for Iowa’s taxpayers by holding the line on state spending and made sure that Iowa’s commitment to its veterans is fulfilled.

Sweeney serves as the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and is a member of the Veterans, Education and Natural Resources Committees. Sweeney is also member of the Iowa Parks Foundation Board, and a member of the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders board, an international organization. Recently, Sweeney was recognized for her commitment to serving the people of Iowa and was chosen as the recipient of the Uncommon Public Service Award from the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association in 2011, and named Legislator of the Year by Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance in 2011. Annette lives on her family farm near Alden with her husband David of 26 years.

CyHawkThoughts: NCAA Tournament Talk

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:58 AM PDT

March Madness is here! Steve and Chuck dissect the brackets letting you know everything from easiest region to hardest region, teams that should have made the field of 68, teams that should be upset with their seeding, and of course Iowa State and their chances for a deep run. We have a bracket challenge as well for a CyHawkThoughts Shirt! Let’s go dancing!

Horoscop

joi, 15 martie 2012

Caffeinated Thoughts

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