Pastor's Blog

I have recently been given several new opportunities to read, review, and promote books. As I progress, I am trying to get a separate blog started which will allow me to do this more effectively than this blog. Here is the new blog link: https://tpmondyblog.wordpress.com/ For now, I want to share reviews of good books with the readers on this blog. This way I can alert individuals of things I find as useful in my personal spiritual growth. As a reviewer, I do not expect to have all positive reviews, and I will share those to help readers avoid spending money on books I do not find beneficial or poorly written, or something with which I don't believe. 

This book has the potential to have a huge impact on your life as a follower of Christ, but also your life as a replicator of Christ followers.

As a pastor, I have struggled with the best way to train and equip individuals to evangelize and disciple. Some are open to sharing their faith more than others, and I readily accept this. I believe a certain level of spiritual maturity is needed before some will proclaim their faith. Once an individual begins to proclaim their faith, they tend to become more willing to share more of their faith, then begin sharing the Good News that others can have this relationship with Christ. Most people eventually accept some level of evangelism, which is a good thing. While it is great when people begin sharing their faith, there seems to be a point in this process where individuals seem to resist surpass.

Sharing one's faith tends to get easier for most believers. However, the process of discipling others seems to be the point many won't pass. Through the years I have heard countless reasons and excuses for the resistance in helping others know more of Christ. I believe this book helps identify the underlying reason for this hesitancy, but more importantly, it helps give gentle, practical advice in helping developing disciples for Jesus Christ.

Looking at the Bible in a cultural, historical context, Gallaty does an excellent job of helping look discipleship being a program. People can be trained in how  develop disciples, but they need to understand it is a lifestyle, not a program. As Gallaty draws the reader into a contextual setting for the words and actions of Jesus, the reader in turn realizes Jesus trained His disciples by living life with them. I believe the author does a nice job of helping the reader this is still possible, even expected, in the life of today's followers of Christ.

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"I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2).

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Change. The one thing in this life that is a constant. I was reminded of that recently. Kind of ironic don't you think? I have learned that change cannot be stopped, but I have also learned that it can be managed.

#FTFClub, @FTFClub, #FTFBloggingTeam

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Have you ever tried to figure out God's time table? It is something worth considering. Personally, I have a feeling that God is about to do something big in Centralia; however, I have felt that way for several weeks. Small victories have been won along the way, but not the big victory I feel is on the horizon. The anticipation is sometimes wearying, but at other times it brings excitement and energy. It is like the last three weeks of the school year. We know that soon the school year will be over and summer break begins, so we begin to lose interest in the day to day classes. I look forward to whatever God has planned, but it gets tough sometimes to stay excited, or even encouraged all the time. I understand we are in the already, but not yet phase of time. God has already done big things, but He has not yet completed His work.  

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I wrote recently about becoming a member of the Fair Trade Friday blogging team. You may be wondering about what this is. I want to explain what Fair Trade Friday is all about this week. 

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