Deus Misereatur

Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry Paul David Tripp Crossway 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton IL 60187 http://www.crossway.org ISBN: 978-1-4335-3582-6; $15.99; 2012. Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for Deus Misereatur (03/13) Digging Deep (4 stars out of 5) The news regularly reminds us that ministers can easily lose their way, fall into traps, fumble, and just outright mess up their lives. The trouble is not primarily that this happens, but that so many pastors are caught off guard, and blind-sided. There is something like a fraternal fallacy poisoning the air of the pastoral brotherhood that seems to dull the clerical senses, so that pastors can’t see the wheels coming off, or the red warning lights angrily flickering on the dashboard. Paul David Tripp has sought to bring some remedy to this condition with “Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry”, a 224 page hard-back. The book is written...

{This was the invocation for this morning's worship service. Feel free to use it} Father, who’s deep, rich love for humankind was displayed in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became man, and so was and continues to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever; we rejoice in your costly love, and celebrate his humility and obedience, an obedience to the point of death, even the death of the cross. And with the Jerusalem crowds and Hebrew children we join our voices, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!” And yet, we remember that these same crowds called for Christ to be enthroned on a cross and crowned with thorns. Come Holy Spirit, fill us with unflinching faith that our worship may not be about pleasing crowds, but the pleasure of the Father in whom there is now shadow of change; and fill our hearts and mouths with heavenly praises, joy and thanksgiving. Finally, in harmony with your people...