Salty Believer Unscripted Podcast

Over two years ago, SaltyBeliever.com started as a repository to dump seminary papers and interesting discussions, but quickly it turned into something more--a ministry in-and-of itself.  I've received many e-mails with questions, comments, and prayer requests simply because of the existence of this website.  People have potentially been introduced to Jesus.  I've made new friends.  I've also engaged in various conversations playing out in theological or ministry circles through the use of these postings.  By God's mercy and grace, this website grew into something so much more than I expected.  I am thankful.

Therefore, I'm pleased to see this website taking another step closer to a dream I've held for some time.  With the help of others, I'm starting a podcast of unscripted conversations about ministry, theology, seminary, and whatever else may come up in the course of time.  Three Salty Believer Unscripted conversations are already scheduled, with the first one publishing today, and I anticipate many, many more to come.

Pastor Jared Jenkins helped me with the inaugural Salty Believe Unscripted podcast and it was a lot of fun.  While most of the podcasts will be audio only, this one is audio and video.  The idea was to set up our extremely low-tech equipment and chat for about 15 minutes, but with the conversation being so interesting and the clock behind me it went a little longer than I anticipated. I've toyed with the idea of creating an intro and doing more in the tech area, but at the moment, I'm content to simply roll with this low-production style. (The audio podcasts will basically start with the button on the smart phone is pressed and end when the recording is stopped.  How's that for easy!)

The topic of conversation for this session of Salty Believer Unscripted:  Seminary.

* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

I'm sure Jared will be a regular participant as the podcast goes on and he's already stated that he has some ideas for more conversations.

I hope you'll join us by subscribing to the audio (and video) podcast feeds.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

If you have ideas or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and share your thoughts!

Check back next week for a conversation with Pastor Sean Patrick on worship.

So Much Bigger Than Politics

January 25, 2012

About three months ago, I asked the people supporting my ministry in Salt Lake to pray for 100 new believers in Utah every time they see or hear the name, "Mitt Romney."

The response has far surpassed my expectations.  Now, not a week goes by that I don't get an e-mail or text message about how much people are praying and excited to do so.  Rather than getting overly involved in the faith debate about Romeny's LDS religion or the "Are Mormons Christians" arguments, they simply ask God to address the bigger issues by saving 100 more people in Utah.  And the beauty of it is this: the better Romney seems to do in the political arena, the more media he receives. Then as people see his name more often, the more they engage in prayer, asking God to intervene in the spiritual arena and change lost hearts of stone into living hearts of flesh. 

Regardless of how you may or may not vote, isn't the advancement of the Kingdom through the transformation of people's lives so much more important?  In light of the bigger picture, don't the debates, candidates, and polling numbers just seem kind of small?  Wouldn't you love your time, energy, and focus to be about something so much bigger, something so much more significant?

I thought I'd share this with you on SaltyBeliever.com (another of my ministries), but I'd also like to ask:  Will you join me in praying for 100 new Jesus-worshiping believers in Utah every time you see or hear the name, "Mitt Romney"?

If you're already praying this prayer thank you!  If God is calling you to support the ministry work in Utah in other ways, please don't hesitate to contact me, and together we can find ways for you to answer that call.

May God Bless you,
Bryan Catherman
SaltyBeliever.com

Community: Are you Known?

It seems our world is getting faster and faster, built on connectivity and connection.  We can now be connected to everybody, anytime, everywhere.  But are these connections real?  How many friends do you really have?

Are you known, really known, by others?  How many people do you know in deep, meaningful ways?

Community groups are one way to get to know other people.  Through getting to know others, you can begin to form relationships of substance.

* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

Praying for Those Who Fill Empty Seats

One of the best "problems" for any church to have is to run out of space.  More people than chairs. More demand than supply.   Sometimes this means starting another service, buying more chairs, acquiring another building, or planting another church.   My church is growing and will, by the grace of God, continue to have this "problem," so we had a Chair Repair Party.

The Chair Repair Party gave us a few more rows and some more empty seats to fill.  It is exciting to think about who may one day sit in the additional seats.  And it should excite us.  Churches should be praying for people to fill their empty seats.  Believers should be continually looking for more metaphorical chairs to set in their own lives and they should be praying that God will fill the seats. 

I recently heard of a church that is so full each Sunday, a fire marshal has to stand at the door and count the people as they go it.  As soon as the building is full to its maximum capacity, no more people can go in.  I believe this happens because the people of this church pray.

Could you image what the world would look like if every church had a fire marshal outside the door counting?  Could you imagine what your community would look like if every time you set a new seat it was filled that week?  Could you imagine the magnitude of a church filled to capacity, no more seats?  Pray.

Pray.

* The above video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

Lectures to my Students by Charles Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), author of Lectures to my Students and The Treasury of David was not only a Pastor’s College instructor, he served as the director of the Stockwell Orphanage and the senior pastor of the Baptist Church of New Park Street in London which eventually moved to the 6,000-seat Metropolitan Tabernacle. Preaching more than 1,900 different sermons to large crowds even by today’s standards, all without the benefit of amplification, Spurgeon was dubbed the “Prince of Preachers.” Although Spurgeon had not obtained a formal seminary education, his achievements, leadership, preaching, and faithfulness formed enough of a resume to warrant his teaching at the Pastor’s College, a school Spurgeon founded for hopeful preachers. Lectures to my Students contains twenty-eight of Spurgeon’s lectures.

Lectures to my Students contains no introduction of explanation; it simply starts with a lecture titled “The Minister’s Self-Watch.” Spurgeon affords his reader nothing but the content the students received. As the present-day reader must imagine the context and time period in which Spurgeon was teaching, it is to be expected the he starts with what a man of God is to be. Spurgeon begins his first lecture with salvation and character. From there he moves to the call to ministry, and once these two matters are behind him, Spurgeon is off and running. Speaking to a group of potential pastors, the topic of every lecture centers on what it takes to be a good and successful pastor. He deals with prayer, preaching, continual growth over a lifetime, and many other aspects of ministry. Although he shares few personal stories, it is clear that Spurgeon is teaching from his experience; and by drawing from examples of his day, he is no stranger to what was happening in the Church around him. His approach is serious, as he understands the weight of what his students are training to become. “How diligently the cavalry office keeps his sabre clean and sharp;” writes Spurgeon, “every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God’s sword, His instrument—I trust, a chosen vessel unto Him to bare His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God” (8). Spurgeon writes each lecture just as a skilled blacksmith would forge a steel sword. His arrangement and progression of thought serve to sharpen the student and the reader in preparation for the task of the preacher.

Bible Reading Plans

It's good to be reading the Bible daily and it's even better to have a plan. 

Many free plans are available that help people read through the Bible in a set given period of time.  Some Bibles offer suggested reading plans in an appendix.  Most of these plans will take a reader through the entire Bible in a year.  A year is a nice duration because it works out to about 3 to 5 chapters per reading, or about 20 minutes a day.

There are a number of different ways to go through the Bible.  It could be that your program starts on the first page of Genesis and ends on the last page of Revelation (the first and last books of the Bible).  There are some that will read something from the New Testament and something from the Old.  Or it could be more detailed, maybe something from the books of history, something from the wisdom books, a bit from the books of the prophets, then the gospels, epistles, and so-on.  Or chronological by event or by when the book was authored. 

There are many programs available on-line.  Bibleyear.com will allows you do develop your own 1-year program, taking into consideration translation and the type of read through you'd like to do.  It also has start dates on the 1st and 15th of every month.  You might have software on your computer or an app on your phone that helps guide you through a regular reading.  You can also find resources for reading plans on my resource page.

It's important to be reading and it's much easier to do it with a plan.  If you've never done it before, make this the year that you read the entire Bible, or if you've read the Bible 40 times, it's time to make it 41 times. 

I highly recommend a chronological reading so you can see the "big picture."

Two Years of SaltyBeliever.com

As 2011 is now behind us, SaltyBeliever.com celebrates its second anniversary.  This website officially launched on January 1, 2010 and the first year was a success.  Looking back on that first year, I set some goals for the second year.  Some where achieved, some where not.

How did the site do in 2011? 

For starters, the SaltyBeliever.com saw an increase in traffic this year over last year.  There were over 20,000 visitors with nearly 60,000 page views to date, representing 141 countries.  2011 produced 73 new posts for a total of 225 published posts to the site. After two years, nearly every book of the Bible has been quoted.  More book reviews were offered, with the most popular to date being a chapter by chapter review of Rob Bell's book, Love Wins.  Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament By Christopher J.H. Wright was a close second.  68 comments or questions were generated through the "Contact me" form and I have lost count of how many e-mails or other messages were sent to me as a result of Salty Believer in 2011.  I wish I could say all were positive and encouraging, but this is not the case.  I created a Resource page with lots of videos, audio files, links, book recommendations, and other useful material.  A video and audio podcast were created (subscribe below).  And I hope the material posted in 2011 was more accessible.  It was my hope to provide practical information, not just seminary work. 

Where is the site headed for the its third year?

 As we move through 2012, I will complete my seminary education.  I am working full-time in ministry and have some friends along for the journey.  Therefore, I hope the site will become even more practical.  I have a strong desire that, God willing, I will be able to start posting more podcasts and videos, many featuring other people in ministry as well.  I don't have any other goals for the site other than to continue posting thoughtful material that brings salt and light to Salt Lake, Utah, and beyond.

Thanks for reading. Soli Deo gloria!

Bryan Catherman


Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same.  

Imprecatory Psalms and Inspiration

I was recently asked,  “How can the imprecatory psalms be part of the inspired Scriptures communicated to us by a good and loving God.”

This is a good question and one worth asking, but it is important that the motivation behind such a question is correct.  It is also important that we are seeking answers to the right questions.    

An imprecatory psalm is one in which the psalmist asks that God curses the psalmist's enemies.  These are psalms of anger or wrath.  Examples include Psalms 35, 55, 59, 69, 79, 109, and 137.  

Getting back to the question at hand, we must first deal with some underlying issues found within this type of questioning.  First, it is not the duty of man to judge what should or should not be inspired Scripture.  If it were our responsibility, our Bibles would be substantially thinner as we would remove every verse we do not care for or find difficult.  Instead, man, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit identifies what is and is not the inspired Word of God.  Second, God is infinitely bigger than the attribute of love as man defines and then places upon God.  It is not our responsibility to define God or his love.  So you are left with a couple of decisions: you can accept that the imprecatory psalms are indeed inspired Scripture or you can reject this notion, and you can accept that God is indeed good and loving as his inspired Word claims or you can reject this idea as well.  

At the root of this question is a much bigger question.  It is not about inspiration of Scripture, but instead about a paradox.  How could God allow this kind of prayer to be a part of his message to his creation?  How could a good and loving God put his endorsement on such difficult language when the New Testament clearly teaches that we should love our enemies?  As we look at Scripture we find many more situations like those of the imprecatory psalms.  In these situations our understanding suggests a paradox, but our ways are not God’s ways and our understanding is not God’s understanding.  We do not have the right or authority to place ourselves above God and then dictate what God should or should not do by our standards.   God sovereign functions by God's standards. 

Being Martha AND Mary

The Church is full of people and people tend to be wired differently.  As people of drastically different wiring come together, sometimes there is a desire that we all approach Jesus the same way.  When we don't, there can be some grumbling.  Luke records the story of two sisters that seems to help us understand how we are to come together. (It's found in Luke 10:38-42.)

Are you a "Martha" or a "Mary"? 

If you're a Martha, I'd like to invite you to seek out opportunities to be a little more Mary.  If you are a Mary, it is time to look for Martha-style service opportunity.  

* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

What is the Gospel Call?

What is the gospel call? Well, first, one must ask, "what is the gospel?" The gospel, in its simplest terms is this:

1. All people sin and have sinned (Romans 3:23)
2. The penalty for this sin is death (Romans 6:23)
3. Jesus died to pay the penalty so we may have right standing with God (Romans 5:8)

This is the good news! This is the gospel!

Now then, what is the gospel call? The call is like a summons from the King. You receive this summons and when you open it it is the gospel and it is written for you, to you, personally. The summons or call is God's way to reach out and draw us to himself. He is calling us to something more. He is calling us to transform up. His calls brings life.

The short video is further explication of the gospel call. I hope it spurs on more thoughts. I hope you have a conversation with others about the gospel call. If you would like to discuss this with me or others working in this ministry, you may contact us here.

* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

Scriptures to Know

A couple of my Bibles have notes written inside the covers. These notes are reference lists of Scriptures to know and seek in times of discussion and need. I have decided to consolidate these lists in once source that is easy to access and easy to continually add upon. I also believe it is a list that should be shared. I have only just begun to organize and add verses to this this list and I pray that it will become a fantastic "work in progress" that I and others are able to turn to as necessary as we learn, study, and memorize God's Word.

Click here to download a copy of the list, "Scriptures to Know". This list will be growing and developing over time, so occasionally check back and download it again.

* Other resources, includes reading lists and videos are available here.

The Three Wise Men

Just after Thanksgiving, at least in America, people start putting nativity sets on their coffee tables and fireplace mantels. My neighbor even puts a life-size lighted set in his front yard. The angel stands on the roof of his house. I think the idea is to create a visual story of the birth of Jesus, our Lord.

The set we had when I was growing up was very much like the sets most people have, and they certainly tell a story. In fact, the typical nativity set has shaped the story most Americans know as Jesus' birth story. Like the idea that there were only three wise men, for example. This idea likely comes about because there were three gifts (gold, myrrh, and frankincense) , but it is widely reinforced by the fact that the typical nativity set usually only includes three wise men. (And the one I had growing up had two pasty-white dudes and one very black guy, which seems kind of odd if you think about it.)

Matthew 2:1 simply calls this band of wise men, "Magi from the East." There is nothing that indicates a number other than a plurality. It could have been two or two hundred; we really don't know. And there's nothing that precludes women from this mysterious group.

Another interesting picture we get from our nativity sets is the presence of the Magi while Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were still staying in the stable or animal cave below the living quarters or wherever the manger was. In fact, the birthday story itself is primarily recorded in Luke but the account of the Magi is told in Matthew. The Magi narrative in Matthew suggests a much broader time line. They visit the house where the child was (Matthew 2:9-10), which may not have been an animal stable. And even if that house was in Bethlehem, it could be at the "inn" now that there's room with extended family as some scholars have guessed. Herod set out to kill all the children two years and younger, suggesting that at the point he realized he had been tricked by the Magi, the child Jesus could have been us much as two years old.

When you look at your nativity set this year, think about what shapes your understanding of the Christmas story. Is it your porcelain figurines or the Scripture? If it's not the Scripture, take some time to read through the Christmas story this Christmas season. Read slowly, savor it, let it sink in and become the picture you have in your mind as you celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas!


* Photo by Chiot's Run and is registered under a creative commons license.

The Tasks of a Pastor?

While many well meaning people could generate lists of what a pastor should be or do, it is best to start with what God's Word, the Bible says of the pastor.

First, every pastor should already be doing the work of every believer. That is, he or she should be making disciples, loving one another, serving, and above all, keeping a growing relationship with God. Second, it would be reasonable to examine the Apostles' practices and assume that many of those things could also be the task of a pastor. Jesus told Peter, "Feed my sheep" and it seems that this could extent even to the pastor today. All of these things are seen repeatedly throughout the Bible.

But what does the Bible specifically say for the pastor? What instructions are available? to answer these questions, the Greek words presbytersos, episkopos, poimēn, kērux, or didaskalos are where a study like this should focus. These are the words that translate to elder, overseer, shepherd, preacher, and teacher, respectively. For the sake of this post, the uses and instruction to the overseer or episkopos will be examined. This is the word that is most often translated in English as bishop, pastor, or overseer.

In Acts chapter 20, Paul shows some concern that some wolves may slip into the church and teach false doctrine. He encourages the leaders to "pay careful attention" to themselves and to the "flock which the Holy Spirit has made [them] overseers" (Acts 20:28, ESV). He further encourages them to remain alert for those who would do harm to the church. And in this task of protector and caregiver to the church they must give much to the Church, just as Paul did.

Philippians is addressed to the saints, overseers, and deacons. This letter provides lots of instruction, especially that they would grow and mature in love and knowledge. In 1 Timothy, Paul provides of list of attributes and characteristics to examine when looking for an overseer for the church. But among this list he provides two clues about what the pastor seems to be expected to do. He says in 1 Timothy 3:2, that the overseer should be "able to teach" and in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 he writes, "He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?" (ESV). It would seem from this question, that the pastor is to care for the church in like manner to caring well for his household.

And finally, in Titus 1:9, Paul says of the overseer, "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (ESV).

Based on this instruction as well as the others, it would seem that the primary duty of the overseer is to teach sound doctrine and protect the flock from those who may try to teach otherwise. The teacher must also be the protector. And while the pastor is many things, these are the instructions specifically given to the overseer.

Level of Certainty

How do you know that the next time you press on your automobile brakes, they will work? The truth of the matter is that the only way you can be absolutely certain that the breaks will stop the car is after they have actually done so. Anything less then this level of certainty leaves room that the breaks will not actually work when you need them. Yet not even able to be 100% certain, we will get that car up to speeds exceeding 75mph. How could we possibly make a decision like this? We do it all the time.

How do we know what we know? How do we understand certainty? In the seven-minute video below, I discuss this in greater detail.

* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

Circles of Importance

There are people who want to argue for every idea and every doctrine as if they are exactly equal. Are they all equal? The Bible is all true, but not everything contained within it is as necessary or as clear. Some passages are absolutely essential for understanding salvation and some just tell us how big an army was. Some passages are more important, just as some doctrines and ideas are more or less important.

In this video, I take a about twelve minutes to outline a way of thinking of the different levels of importance. Hopefully, understanding where we place various doctrines will help you better converse with those who place things in a categories different than you would prefer. It's my prayer that this model is as beneficial to you as it has be to me.

The above video contains a model of understanding that is not new. I took it from a number of sources, modified it some, and am now teaching to my students (and you). My first introduction came from Michael Patton and the Theology Program (which I highly recommend) and I've seen it again elsewhere.   I don't think he created the model that looks the most like what I'm sharing, but I will credit him with teaching it to me.

* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same.