It’s been a while since I’ve made a “From the Pastor’s Study” blog post (or any blog post, for that matter), so I thought I’d write an update of what I’ve been up to recently.
The Johnson family has been busy the last few months looking for, purchasing, and moving into a new house. I am so grateful for God’s provision for us – we found a house we liked in our price range, and only a mile or so from where we had been renting. Somehow, despite the intense competition for houses here in Reno, our offer was accepted. And now, here we are in our new (to us) home and new neighborhood – Lord willing, for a long time to come. Again, I am very grateful to the Lord’s goodness to our family.
Things have also been busy, and in a good way, at church. I finished up a New Members’ class several weeks ago and began a new one earlier this week. I’m also teaching a Sunday School class on The Pilgrim’s Progress, and both my study of the book and our class discussions have been a blessing to me. I’ve always loved the story of Christian’s eventful journey to the Celestial City, and I’ve benefited greatly from learning more about John Bunyan and reading the insights of thoughtful commentators on the classic. I think as long as there is a church on earth Christians will be reading, and profiting from, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Last week I began a new series of sermons on 1 Timothy (I’m taking a break from Isaiah). There’s so much there not only for all Christians, but also particularly for ministers of the Word. I’ll be preaching to myself often in the coming weeks!
I haven’t spent as much time in general reading as I’d like, but I am slowly working my way through Carl Trueman’s The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. Trueman traces the history of the intellectual and social movements that have resulted in the confusion and crisis over identity and sexuality that we’re facing today. It’s not easy reading, though. A cup of strong coffee helps me power through it!
And I recently began reading Voddie Baucham’s book Fault Lines, The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe. It’s eye-opening. I’ve given scant attention to the ideas and assumptions behind the social justice movement and Critical Race Theory, so Baucham’s analysis is most helpful.
Our second daughter will be heading off to college at the end of the summer. I’m so excited for her, but knowing she’ll be out of the house in a few months, and living in far-off Ohio, makes me a little sad. She’s our second child to leave the nest; her older sister is studying in Pennsylvania. Truly, the time with our children at home is so short (we’ll still have three more at home to keep things lively!). But I am very proud of both of them; each is a beautiful Christian young woman.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Johnson