tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.comments2022-01-13T04:17:17.268-07:00Ed’s Pastoral BlogEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-57580261756228457852019-03-12T12:47:45.972-07:002019-03-12T12:47:45.972-07:00Thanks, brother. Well written and thoughtful. Very...Thanks, brother. Well written and thoughtful. Very charitable toward those who have not been. Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557142715647433204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-36546647403718165592018-01-15T09:04:54.850-07:002018-01-15T09:04:54.850-07:00Thank you for this well thought out post. Some rea...Thank you for this well thought out post. Some readers have posted links on my blog. I will make sure that Jules reads your thoughts. I know she will take comfort from them.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07176358943262092233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-71216827234368994802018-01-15T08:36:28.979-07:002018-01-15T08:36:28.979-07:00Well written. Yours is a welcome, if too lonely, ...Well written. Yours is a welcome, if too lonely, voice from the pastorate on these serious matters.<br /><br />Highpoint continues to play cover-up. Even as they posted to their website what they purport to be Andy Savage's interview with Ben Ferguson on the radio last week, they do not acknowledge that they have posted a heavily-edited version with many redactions, as pointed out vs the original transcript, here...<br /><br />http://watchkeep.blogspot.com/2018/01/andy-savage-on-ben-ferguson-show.html<br /><br />So sad that Conlee and Savage so want to protect their money-machine that they will intentionally and fraudulently mislead their congregants and the public. Conlee and Savage both need to go! This is evil!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05985985845165623880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-50043825287461317852017-11-14T19:24:42.246-07:002017-11-14T19:24:42.246-07:00Very good post. THank you for your thoughts on thi...Very good post. THank you for your thoughts on this issue. If a very young PCA church (12 yrs old) only has 2-3 REs, does it make sense to have a rotation system? You say that "if there are no fit candidates to be newly-ordained and installed, then it is likely that at least some of the elders whose term is “up” can remain active for a second term." But what about a 3rd or 4th term if there are not sufficient resources? I realize that in an ideal world there would be men to serve as new Elders but this is not always the case. You then end up with elders that have to keep being elected every 3 years. ALternatively, do you make them rotate off for at least a year at the expense of having an under "staffed" session?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05487837623902096231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-48516548789700899472017-02-20T05:57:52.675-07:002017-02-20T05:57:52.675-07:00John Murray's writing on Rotating of Elders i...John Murray's writing on Rotating of Elders is available in the "Collected Writings of John Murray - 2:Systematic Theology," vol.2. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust. Chap. 29, pg. 351.<br /><br />I find your blog very interesting, but will have to digest it further as I think the preponderance of biblical evidence supports the permanency the office of Elder, but I never considered how that might relate to the session. My question would be, is the session biblical and can it be separated biblicaly from the elders? Jeff Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06543553823127774096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-25261409495879580482017-02-20T05:49:08.012-07:002017-02-20T05:49:08.012-07:00Murray's writing in Elder Rotation is still av...Murray's writing in Elder Rotation is still available in a book series containing his works. I think volume two contains that writing.Jeff Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06543553823127774096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-42335083491256026442014-04-21T19:06:09.233-07:002014-04-21T19:06:09.233-07:00or learn when to correct grammar and when not to d...or learn when to correct grammar and when not to do so ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-36594528584880158362014-02-06T19:02:11.315-07:002014-02-06T19:02:11.315-07:00Mark, thanks for weighing in. I agree that those a...Mark, thanks for weighing in. I agree that those are comforting elements; I’m glad I could contribute in some small way.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-73037150418231802332014-02-04T10:55:20.269-07:002014-02-04T10:55:20.269-07:00Ugh! Been on the receiving end of all three of the...Ugh! Been on the receiving end of all three of these. The first is no biggie, because it's usually a joke. And if it isn't the person simply doesn't understand what pastors do. The other two are simply, as you said, caustic. I would add the word corrosive!<br /><br />What helps me deal with these words, are: the grace of God, articles like this, and the understanding that even the BEST pastors have also had things like this said to them. It also helps to understand that God loves me as much as I can be loved and I can be secure in that. That doesn't take all the sting out of criticism but at least it can give me a better perspective.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434426470433673294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-72372078983808663162014-02-04T08:10:19.368-07:002014-02-04T08:10:19.368-07:00DeAnn, I’m looking forward to it, too.DeAnn, I’m looking forward to it, too.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-52699489604634973382014-02-04T08:09:05.116-07:002014-02-04T08:09:05.116-07:00Thanks Ben—good thoughts. I think for some this wi...Thanks Ben—good thoughts. I think for some this will be a “distinction without difference” and perhaps wouldn’t provide the cover we want/need. But I don’t think we do it primarily for the political cover; I think we do it for the principle of it, and because it opens the door for better pastoral care within marriages.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-45752975875720105442014-02-04T08:06:18.173-07:002014-02-04T08:06:18.173-07:00Lee, thanks for your comment. Which Peterson book ...Lee, thanks for your comment. Which Peterson book do you mean?Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-80386154087137649062014-02-03T17:41:45.174-07:002014-02-03T17:41:45.174-07:00Ed, I think you may be a bit gracious with people ...Ed, I think you may be a bit gracious with people that say these sort of things. Many of them have a sense that they are God's agents for setting their pastor straight. Others see pastors as someone they employ and view it is the same way they would talk to someone who worked for them and needed correcting. Eugene Peterson's book is a great help in understanding how for the church has fallen in the US in terms of having a high degree of respect for the office of pastor.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03168908020133726929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-50723249493134409162014-02-03T10:54:43.037-07:002014-02-03T10:54:43.037-07:00Just now reading this, Ed...didn't realize all...Just now reading this, Ed...didn't realize all you and your family have been through and am eager to see/hear you in real life about what you're doing right now.S.DeAnn Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552734493439727360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-56829711665506888272014-01-31T22:20:19.941-07:002014-01-31T22:20:19.941-07:00Ed, good blog. I haven't thought along these l...Ed, good blog. I haven't thought along these lines at all other than to foresee, with the current direction of our nation, that the church (those holding to the historic view of marriage) will soon have to stop doing all marriages to avoid charges of discrimination for refusing to marry gay couples. Proposing the state "take away" our rights to officiate these would also do it I suppose but at some point (definitely for membership) the same issue and threat is going to arise as we must make judgment based on openly acknowledge sexual behavior. If promoting what you propose would move us out of the line of fire on this, I'm for it. I just don't think it will ultimately do that. P.S. This is Ben Ritz (just noticed my google set to "unknown"). Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954866099977077667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-86050969491740794862014-01-31T08:33:20.376-07:002014-01-31T08:33:20.376-07:00Thanks for weighing in, guys. Thanks for weighing in, guys. Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-42677394254617242492014-01-30T09:10:21.593-07:002014-01-30T09:10:21.593-07:00This highlights one of the troubling aspects of Am...This highlights one of the troubling aspects of American Protestantism: if we don't get what we like, we go somewhere else. I'm as guilty of it as anyone.J.Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00248876387772558074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-38116384090305113322014-01-29T08:53:09.152-07:002014-01-29T08:53:09.152-07:00Thanks Ed for sharing this.Thanks Ed for sharing this.Sam DeSociohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524624967161901562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-45365315505505321172013-12-23T08:52:19.893-07:002013-12-23T08:52:19.893-07:00Exactly — why is this such a foregone conclusion? ...Exactly — why is this such a foregone conclusion? And to what end? <br /><br />If people think their privacy is limited now, just wait...Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-44561031359454234922013-12-02T18:00:39.592-07:002013-12-02T18:00:39.592-07:00I, too, think this is a very long way from feasibi...I, too, think this is a very long way from feasibility, what is more shocking to me, though, is the way in which until only recently civilian drones of any kind were feared on civil rights grounds, even when used by the police. For such a story to be published, it seems to mean that the future existence of drones in our skies is more or less assumed to be a fait accompli. So, not only will the police have the drones, but companies and paparazzi (I am actually surprised that they do not use them already, scofflaws that they are). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-79356485098587056742013-04-25T04:52:20.815-07:002013-04-25T04:52:20.815-07:00Reasons given are actually genuine! Stylish cleric...Reasons given are actually genuine! Stylish <a href="http://www.clericalshirtsuk.com/" rel="nofollow">clerical collar</a> makes the wearer look the real pastor and at the same time person gets the opportunity of ministry too. Presently, a quick search over the web enable you find numerous online stores offering these collars made of various comfort fabrics. Herryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301045727757165490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-83974497339548817012013-04-11T15:02:21.898-07:002013-04-11T15:02:21.898-07:00That’s it! Excellent. Thanks for the update; I wil...That’s it! Excellent. Thanks for the update; I will edit my post.<br />Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204385954996143021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-51307804628888591432013-04-11T11:02:11.958-07:002013-04-11T11:02:11.958-07:00Great advice here, Ed. Thanks! And I think this is...Great advice here, Ed. Thanks! And I think this is the article you're quoting from: http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-shut-down-gossip-and-its-nasty.htmlTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434763606286274593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-57858523564046664042013-01-08T21:32:27.307-07:002013-01-08T21:32:27.307-07:00Well I already understand and so already suffer yo...Well I already understand and so already suffer you glady!! :)Dave and AnnLouisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08554028449379743453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598136062945125273.post-18266195657132730932012-11-08T23:49:29.694-07:002012-11-08T23:49:29.694-07:00Great post, as usual Ed. Thanks!Great post, as usual Ed. Thanks!Justin Donathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15496661572490299550noreply@blogger.com