Shepherding your Family

I posted some ways on my blog that I'm working on in my home to shepherd my family well. However, I know there are ways to improve. What have you found helpful for you and your family?

Regarding Method and Message

This post is more like a ramble with questions attached than a well thought-out article. Forgive me.

If you're not subscribed to Darryl Hart's blog, you probably should be. Good thoughtful stuff all around.

A couple of weeks ago he threw this out as the worst Christian video of the year and I would readily agree. Ugh!


What I wasn't expecting was for him to say that it was "even worse" than Christian hip hop. The video below is the example he gives.


Now I get the deal about the method and the message... the forms and content... they don't exist in vacuums. I'm not saying that I know exactly how they relate and affect each other, but I do believe they do. But I must say that these two videos, as far as I can tell, have very little in common.

Nonetheless, in the comments section Hart says that, "I would claim [rap] is not a fitting vehicle for sound doctrine on doctrinal, cultural, and aesthetic grounds." And later he says, "when it comes to the sorts of virtues for which Paul calls in Titus 2, modesty, self-control, submissiveness, does rap really come to mind as the first cultural expression you’re going to offer to Paul as “man, this sure is fitting sound doctrine, isn’t it?”"

So, what do you think? Does Hart have a point? Is there a point at which content overcomes form, or does the form always affect the content in some way?

And so you can get the full context of Hart's post, here it is in full: Worst Christian Video of the Year.

Prayer Life

I don't know about you, but I certainly could use some help in my prayer life. Over the years I've had times of strong prayer, and time of weak prayer. I want to be more consistent in my prayer life. What are some ways you guys foster prayer in your own life? How do you help model/teach it to your congregations?

Also, speaking of prayer, are any of you attending the Desiring God Conference for Pastors this year?

Getting the Ball Rolling...Again

Its time to get this blog going again.

Here's a question: Should we treat teenagers in our churches as adults and incorporate them into adult Sunday School classes, etc., or should we keep them separated? Which is wisest? Which serves them best?