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Russell Moore has a good discussion going on concerning which is the best order in which to read the Narnia Chronicles.

Some fellow Lewisphiles insist the series begins with The Magician’s Nephew. I disagree, emphatically. The Magician’s Nephew is what would be called in today’s film lingo a “prequel,” rather than a beginning. The narrative takes place chronologically before the other stories. But it makes sense only when read after them. That’s because it ties together loose ends and throws further light on the origins behind some of the characters and plotlines readers have already grown to know.

I completely agree with Moore. The books are best read in publication order rather than chronologically. What do you think? I started a poll on this topic last year which is still open for voting if you want to state your preference. Here is the link: Narnia Poll: Read the books in which order? (Chronological is currently winning 84-43.)

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Click here for more Narnia related posts.

Well, I posted on pastors earlier this week and then on the pastor’s wife, so I thought it was time for the pastor’s dog. I love this old cartoon from Leadership Journal.

Remember, Beauregard, you’re the pastor’s dog; all the other dogs will be watching you.

                  (Rob Suggs; Leadership, Spring 1987, Vol. 8, no. 2, p. 75.)

Related posts:
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    • You Might Be a Pastor’s Wife If …
    • Parable of the Prodigal Puppy

Here are ten wise sayings from the Bible fitting for April Fools Day:

• The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)
• The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (Proverbs 10:8)
• He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. (Proverbs 11:29)
• The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)
• A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16)
• A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2)
• It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. (Proverbs 20:3)
• As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:11)
• He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. (Proverbs 28:26)
• A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (Proverbs 29:11)

Can a fool change? Probably not, but God can change a fool! (I can testify to that.) So don’t be an April Fool this year — or a January, February, March or any other type of fool either. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

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Here is a follow-up to yesterday’s post on You Might Be a Pastor.

You might be a pastor’s wife if …

• Every summer you counsel at teen camp for your vacation.
• You have shaken as many hands as a politician.
• People think your husband works only three hours a week.
• You can teach Sunday School and nurse your baby at the same time.
• You can sincerely pray for someone’s dog!
• You spend more time visiting in hospitals than doctors do.
• People consider you a walking phone book for church members.
• You sing in the choir, teach Sunday School, and host a missionary family all in the same day.
• You’re expected to be a piano player … actually, a “spiritual gift!”

Source: You Might Be a Pastor’s Wife If, by Kathy Slamp

Related posts:
    • You Might Be a Pastor If …
    • The Pastor’s Dog

Well, after a full day of cooking, cleaning, driving, shopping, homeschooling, grading and keeping house, one of my sons said to me, “Dad, you look beat!” Then he thought for a minute and added, “You look like Mom usually does around this time of day.” I told Rose, and she loved it.

Click here for more Mr. Mom posts.

H. B. London shared some of these at a recent pastors’ seminar:

You might be a pastor if …

• You hesitate to tell people what you do for a living.
• You’ve ever wondered why people couldn’t die at more appropriate times.
• You find yourself counting people at a sporting event.
• You’re leading the church into the 21st century, but you don’t know what you’re preaching on Sunday.
• Instead of getting “ticked off,” you get “grieved in your spirit.”
• You often feel like you’re herding cats rather than shepherding sheep.
• You’ve been tempted to take up an offering at a family reunion.

And my personal favorite:

• You’ve ever dreamed you were preaching only to awaken and discover you were!

Related posts:
    • You Might Be a Pastor’s Wife If …
    • The Pastor’s Dog

Jerry Bridges shares some wise words about grace. “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace, nor are your best days ever so good that you are beyond the need of it.” (Jerry Bridges, Discipline of Grace)

Mark Roberts talks about American Idol and the need for honest critique in our lives. “I wonder sometimes if I need a Simon Cowell in my life. I wonder if you do. As hard as it may be to hear the truth about ourselves when it isn’t nice, sometimes we do need to hear this truth.” (Of course, we can all use a Paula Abdul for encouragement as well!)

John Stott comments on Jesus’ words about being salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-14). “So Jesus calls his disciples to exert a double influence on the secular community, a negative influence by arresting its decay and a positive influence by bringing light into its darkness. For it is one thing to stop the spread of evil; it is another to promote the spread of truth, beauty and goodness.” (John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on The Mount)

Most Americans say they would visit a church if invited by a family member, neighbor or a friend.

A recent study by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and LifeWay Research found that 67 percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be effective in getting them to visit a church. A personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would effectively reach 63 percent.

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) are willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a family member, and 56 percent are willing to receive such information from a friend or neighbor.

“The primary lesson North American believers should learn from this research is that many of your unchurched friends are ready for an invitation to conversation,” said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research. “Unbelievers next door still need a simple, personal invitation to talk, to be in community and to church.”

So, what are you waiting for? Who will you invite to church this week?

There has been a lot about the evangelical church in the news lately. Scot McKnight highlights the four features of evangelicalism as found in David Bebbington’s book, The Dominance of Evangelicalism: The Age of Spurgeon and Moody. To one degree or another, all evangelicals are characterized by these four features:

1. All evangelicals are committed to the primacy of Scripture for shaping faith and practice. All Tradition, however respected, will have to answer to scriptural warrant. All Praxis will have to answer to scriptural warrant. This approach to faith and practice characterizes evangelicals.
2. All evangelicals are committed to the saving power of the cross. The cross, tied as it is both to the incarnation and to the resurrection, is the act of God that not only unmasks injustice but restores — via substitution — humans to God by dying our death.
3. All evangelicals are committed to new birth as a personal experience. Indeed, the necessity of new birth, of the need for life in the face of death. Evangelicals believe the Christian life begins with new birth, and it is here that most evangelicals tie the power of the Holy Spirit to the saving power of the cross (and resurrection). Evangelicals have always worried about the liturgical and liberal approaches to conversion through sacramental or nurturance processes.
4. All evangelicals are committed to an active Christian life that involves personal pieties like prayer and Bible reading, corporate fellowship like church attendance and participation, and social activism like justice efforts of all sorts, both locally and globally.

What do you think? Do these four features accurately represent evangelicals? I would want to add something about the importance of witness and sharing the gospel, perhaps under point number four of leading an active Christian life.

Aaah, my all-time favorite children’s book is now a movie. Where the Wild Things Are, based on the classic storybook by Maurice Sendak, is scheduled for release on October 16, 2009. Here’s the trailer.

(Video length: 2:05)

“Does Satan really exist?” That is the topic for the third Nightline Face-Off. Dan Harris moderated the debate which airs March 26, 2009 on ABC.

On one side of the debate is Deepak Chopra, famous philosopher and author of “Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment” and Bishop Carlton Pearson, author of “The Gospel of Inclusion.” They will argue that Satan does not exist … On the other side will be Pastor Mark Driscoll of the Mars Hill Church and Annie Lobert, founder of the international Christian ministry “Hookers for Jesus,” who will argue that the devil does exist, and has made a personal impact on their lives.

You can also watch the debate online here. The Mars Hill Blog has more information at: 8 Things to Know About Nightline’s Satan Debate.

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling announced his retirement earlier this week after 23 years of playing professional baseball. On his blog Monday he offered “two special thank you’s”:

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for granting me the ability to step between the lines for 23 years and compete against the best players in the world.

To my wife Shonda and my 4 children, Gehrig, Gabriella, Grant and Garrison for sacrificing their lives and allowing baseball to be mine while I played. Without their unquestioned support I would not have been able to do what I did, or enjoy the life, and I am hopefully going to live long enough to repay them as much as a Father and Husband can.

Thank you and God Bless
Curt Schilling

Congratulations, Curt, on a great career, and may God bless you in your next steps. (Note: You can read more about Curt’s Christian faith here. )