JeffRandleman.com | The Randleman Review: passionately pursuing the Creator… one day at a time.

Coffee Break – 06.17.2013

June 17, 2013 in Coffee Break 0

Coffee Grounds Turned Decorative Pots – This is a pretty cool concept. Unfortunately, it didn’t succeed on Kickstarter. I would have chipped in…

Breathtaking Eruption Of Plosky Tolbachik Volcano – This site offers a pretty cool 360° panoramic view of the eruption of a volcano east of Russia on the Kamchatka peninsula. The volcano erupted on November 27, 2012, and spewed lava for several months. There are some extremely beautiful shots displayed here.

10 Facial Reconstructions Of Famous Historical Figures – Ever wonder just what someone from distant history really looked like? Wonder no more, because the technology is here, and has been used to reconstruct several faces from the past. While some of these look real, others look like they should be in a wax museum, or even on a video game, such as Cleopatra’s sister. Has anyone even ever heard of her before?

Prisoners Of Technology – “In a cool campaign for Go Outside magazine Felipe Luci shows us in a striking way that we are sometimes prisoners of technology.” Very creative approach to how we are attached to our gadgets.

More Than Half Of Humanity Lives Within This Circle – Although I think I already knew this, at least on some level, this map reinforces the need for missions, and shows where we might need to target.

Five Lies Sin Tells Me – Sin is sneaky. It infiltrates our lives and then helps us justify it. We need to be aware of its subtle influences, and the lies it leads us to believe.

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who did most for the next. – C. S. Lewis

Memorize Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-15

June 16, 2013 in Memorize 2

As Paul wraps up chapter three, he states in detail the purpose of his letter to Timothy. This reflects his desire to briefly put into perspective his instructions to this point. In chapter two, he dealt with concerns in worship, and in chapter three, he discusses some concerns in church leadership. All of these seem to stem from his initial remarks concerning the false teachers Timothy needed to correct.

You can see the passage for yourself in 1 Timothy 3:14-15:

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Paul begins by stating that he anticipates a visit to Timothy in the near future, but he is writing all of this in case that can’t happen as planned. Since Paul is planning for that contingency, it seems likely that his visit might be delayed. That can happen in ministry; often our plans don’t go as we wish because God has something different in store that we haven’t seen.

Paul gives his instructions in case of this delay so that Timothy will have something to base his teaching on for the church in Ephesus. In the next few words, Paul uses three different phrases to describe the church.

The first phrase he uses is “God’s household.” This idea plays a pretty significant role throughout 1 Timothy. This flows naturally from the concept that God is Father, and Christians are brothers and sisters together in this household.

The next phrase shifts the focus slightly to “the church of the living God.” This seems to take the idea to the next level, and connects the church to the “living God.” A living God is in direct contrast to the dead gods of the Gentiles or the misrepresented God of the false teachers.

The Master And The Victim

June 15, 2013 in Resources 2

Quote: C. H. Spurgeon

The Importance Of Routine

June 13, 2013 in Leadership 2

Developing a good routine is one of the most important parts of my day to day life. It can be a crucial element to being as effective as possible.

But routine can be detrimental, too. It can become a rut if you’re not careful.

Desert Ruts

This was made very evident to me over the past few weeks. You may already know, I just moved my family from the Gulf Coast of Florida to southern Missouri to take the lead minister role at Cabool Christian Church. This is a very exciting time for me, as a minister, and for my family, not only as we start a new ministry, but start a new type of ministry. I’ve been a minister to teens for more than two decades, and making the transition to the lead role in a church comes with a new learning curve.

But the process of making the ministry change, both from youth to preaching, and from Florida to Missouri, has caused some significant upheaval in our lives.

I have a pretty typical routine that I adhere to most days. The past several weeks have been difficult, simply because the familiar routine hasn’t been there.

Here are a few of the elements that occur in my morning routine on a daily basis, almost without fail. My morning starts with a cup of coffee, brewed in my Chemex, once I get to the office. While the water is heating, I boot up my computer and pull out my iPad and journals. Once the water is hot, and the coffee is brewed, I sit at the desk, and read the days’ passages from my Bible reading plan, usually using the Logos app on my iPad. When I finish my general reading, I turn to the passage I’m writing. On a normal day, I handwrite several verses from whatever book I’m currently working through, usually eight to ten or so, in my Journible. While I am writing these verses, I watch for things that stand out to me from the passage, with an eye to what God may be trying to teach me for the day. These I list out in my journal, along with other thoughts and prayers. All of this usually takes me around an hour or so.

Book Review – A Matter Of Trust by Lis Wiehl

June 13, 2013 in The Randleman Review 0

One of my favorite genres is the legal thriller. I’ve read such authors as John Grisham and Randy Singer for years, and have enjoyed their books. However, I’ve never had the opportunity to read anything by Lis Wiehl. It’s just never crossed my path.

Recently, I had the chance to read Wiehl’s newest book, A Matter Of Trust. I found it to be very captivating and hard to put down. I really enjoyed it.

The story is about a single mother named Mia Quinn, who has stepped back into the legal world after the death of her husband, in order to support her two children. After the murder of a colleague and friend of Quinn’s, she is thrust into the investigation full force, attempting to solve the crime before anything else happens.

With the pressures of raising two kids as a single parent, struggling under the financial pressures left behind by her husband, and dealing with the politics and problems of the workplace, Quinn is forced to face some hard realities, both as a professional and as a mother.

Besides the investigation of her friend’s death, a subplot of cyber-bullying twists and turns through the story, and the lives of her kids.

With so much going on in the story, A Matter Of Trust keeps your attention until the finish. And it left me with a desire to read more of Wiehl’s works. I will be seeking out another one to read in the very near future.

All in all, I really enjoyed A Matter Of Trust. If you like reading legal fiction, I recommend that you pick up a copy. It’s a story worth reading, with a lot of positive and encouraging elements. You’ll be glad you did!

Have you ever read any of Lis Wiehl’s books? If so, which is your favorite? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

If you are interested in reading A Matter Of Trust, by Lis Wiehl, you can purchase it at Amazon.com in print or for Kindle.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links”. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.“

Coffee Break – 06.10.2013

June 10, 2013 in Coffee Break 0

Try This Simple Science Experiment To Learn The Ins And Outs Of Coffee – Acid. Earthiness. Flavor Notes. Body. Presence. Strength. Coffee drinkers have their own language. This is a simple experiment that you can perform to help you understand what each of these terms mean. Try it out. It won’t make the best cup of coffee, but it will help you understand the lingo a little better.

50 Unbelievable Cool Places That Really Exist – Listed in two parts, this list of fifty places is pretty awesome. There are several locations that have now been added to my bucket list of places to see before I die. Hopefully… Part 1. Part 2.

How To Read A Book – Tim Elmore has a great website dedicated to building the next generation of leaders. This post is helpful in getting the most out of the books you read, and choosing the right books to begin with.

Embarrassing Moments In Ministry – As a minister, I’ve had my share of moments I wish never happened. Such as the time I publicly prayed for a lady having an autopsy (which was really a biopsy…). It’s good to know that it’s not just me. The Baptists have their moments as well.

The Reading Habits Of Today’s Pastors – On the subject of reading, David Murray posted some of the highlights of a study done by the Barna Group on the reading habits of those in ministry. I found it interesting that I fit nicely into almost every aspect of this.

The Socially Acceptable Sin – “There are some sins that are socially acceptable, even in the Church. There’s one sin in particular that has pervaded our society and churches so silently we hardly give it a second thought, and that is the constant hunt for more over what is enough.” This is a very though-provoking article. But be ready to be challenged.

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. – C. S. Lewis

Memorize Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:12-13

June 9, 2013 in Memorize 0

In this week’s passage, Paul wraps up his instructions concerning deacons, repeating some of the same directions he gave concerning elders, and then shares some encouragement for those who serve in this capacity.

Take a look at the passage in 1 Timothy 3:12-13:

1 Timothy 3:12-13

Paul returns to the discussion of deacons, after departing from it for a moment to address the woman’s role. He repeats the same injunction he gave concerning elders: they must be the strong leader of a well managed family. They must be a committed husband, and as the NIV2011 put it, “faithful to his wife.” Domestic orderliness and parental control are as essential for the deacon as they are for the elder, and Paul uses identical phrases as in verse 2 and verse 4.

Paul finishes off this section of his letter by offering a promise to those who lead well: they will receive an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith.

By “excellent standing,” Paul is undoubtedly referring to one’s standing before God, although it could refer to the deacon’s influence and standing in the church and community.

“Great assurance” conveys the idea that the leader has the courage and confidence to stand before God in his faith, as well as stand before his community and speak of his faith.

Both of these blessings are built upon the foundation of their faith in Christ Jesus.

Though Paul’s instructions for elders and deacons are detailed and specific, and even somewhat difficult to interpret in light of our cultural changes since Paul’s time, they set the standard high for leaders in the church to be servants to others and people of integrity. It can be no other way.

Do you have any final questions concerning the roles of elders and deacons? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.