Too many books

Just thought this tissue dispenser was a cool product.

We got to the mid-60's today. Just thought you should know.

"Which brother won the car bet?" A: We all lost. The deal was closest to the final purchase price without going over, and we all went over. I won the prize for going over by the largest margin. I pegged a '72 VW 21-window bus at $54,000 and it brought something like $18,000. But I knew I was in trouble as soon as we saw it. What didn't show up on the web pics or in the description were the many serious flaws in the thing. Who takes a classic like that and cuts holes in the door panels for cheap speakers? Or drills holes in the lid to the engine compartment because the original lock is missing and they solve that problem by installing hood pins? How about using a brush to do touch-up painting on the front bumper?
We saw an identical bus in terrific condition at the second auction the next day that had a reserve of $50k, so I felt at least a little vindicated.

I don't know about anyone else who was there, but I enjoyed this morning. I don't think the absence of music was any detriment to worship, and it's always good to go into God's Word to learn lessons for life. This week, from the split between Lot and Abram in Gen 13 we saw that: Our values determine our decisions. (Corollary: our decisions reflect our values.) Applications: Legalism incorrectly prioritizes actions, the Bible teaches both but emphasizes the internal values, and teaching biblical values is a key element of good parenting.
In S.S. we talked about the advantages/disadvantages of the three size categories of the local church and decided that Pathway Bible Church will be multi-cell, Deo Volente.

I didn't want either the Pats or the Chargers to win, and I don't want either the Packers or the Giants to lose (that game is on as I type this).

I have a confession: I don't read many books. We dropped my subscription to Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago because, especially after reading that Slate article and the announcement of Riley's departure, I decided I wasn't getting my money's worth. I still read TIME, but the rest of my reading comes off the internet. I should read more books - "The Nine", the book about the Supreme Court, "The Kite Runner" and "Quantum Physics for Dummies".
But there's a category of books I have no particular interest in reading - books about how to do church. And there are a ton of them out there, with more coming every year.
Part of my aversion to church how-to books has to do with the "passing fancy" dynamic. I've been doing this long enough to have seen far too many "keys" to successful ministry come and go. At least every five years the church experts seem to agree that the local church in America needs to restructure itself and do ________. That's one reason I'm not going to lose sleep over the Emergent Church movement. Five years from now there will be a fresh set of gurus with a new overhaul we'll need if the church is to survive.
We also shouldn't underestimate the influence of the publishing houses. Hey, they make a ton of money each year on books about doing church better. We could call it the "Diet Phenomenon". Always a better one that will be the key to your success. These publishers need the annual income that this year's set of how-to's provides, and the market seems insatiable. Marketing campaigns - pastor/authors who go on book tours - keep the demand up.
Yes, I think there are good books about doing church out there. But the very best of the lot have, IMHO, one thing in common: they repeat and explain what's already contained in The Book. I am of the opinion that the Bible gives specific directions where God wants us to do it a specific way, and beyond that he has given us freedom. I also think the church in America has spent far too much energy on the things God has left open and not nearly enough on the areas where God said: "Do it this way."
The result of this is a focus that has moved our attention away from Scripture and onto "experts". Pastors sit around and discuss with great earnestness ministry styles, but rarely work through the complexities of Scripture. A debate among pastors about the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's free will is almost unheard of these days. But marketing strategies?!
Again, I do believe good books on doing ministry are available. But, as Admiral Rickover said, "The good is the enemy of the best." I don't have time for the good, so I'm going to spend my limited time studying God's Word.

REMEMBER!!! - Wittenburg Door!