Author Archives: Seth

The Trellis And The Vine by Marshall and Payne

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The Trellis And The Vine: the Ministry mind-shift that Changes Everything
by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
Product Details
Paperback: 196 pages (including app.)
Publisher: Matthias Media
Date Published: 2009

Point: No easy fix, silver bullet, or new program will fix a ministry. Ministry is accomplished and built not on programs but through people. Every believer is to be part of this spreading of the Gospel through disciple making.
Path: The authors explain their ministry mindset through 12 convicting chapters highlighting current ministry models, the necessity of all believers to be disciple makers, and the meaning and means of training.
Sources: The Trellis and the Vine combines Biblical principles with personal experience and practical insight in order to present a biblical view of ministry.
Agreement: This book is biblically based, helpfully arranged, and easy to read. This is not meant to be a treatise on ministry in the local church, but a helpful guide to biblically evaluating and enhancing one’s ministry. The Scriptures are the foundation, the Gospel is the reason, the Spirit is the means, and prayerful dependence is expected.
There are several helpful charts found on pages 56, 85,87,101,117-18,121.
Disagreement: (not really) Marshall and Payne deliberately make this book accessible to all denominations, sidestepping polity and church distinctions. They openly admit this. This can be understood because if one is faithful to the Scriptures, this is the ministry model that with which every believer must be in agreement.
A second question would be whether their formula for discipleship becomes another program. But again, anything can become just a program.
Personal App: Training individuals is not easy nor quick, but essential. Is my ministry based on programs (trellis) or on disciple making (vine)? Am I seeking to grow the trellis or the vine? Am I excited or discouraged to see disciples move on to faithfully minister in new areas?
Favorite Quote: “…wish them the best of British luck” (196). Couldn’t help but laugh after some of their Australian vocabulary repeated surfaced.
Stars: 5 out of 5
Buy 3 copies of the book along with “One to One Bible Reading”. Read them. Giving them out. Read them with others. Repeat as necessary.

Today is the day.

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Five years ago today we said our vows and kissed. We were proclaimed to be man and wife before our families, friends, country, church, and God.

Although we had known each other for over five years, we began a journey which would deepen our relationship in ways we never would have guessed.
As I look back at the last five years I cannot thank God enough for Crystal. There are so many traits that she possesses which proclaim that she is a child of the King, that she lives for something greater. She inspires me to love God and others more.
There are so many areas where I would be completely lost without her (like downtown Minneapolis!). Last night we had a cookie baking activity which took place without any explosions, burns, or cookies that taste like chalk (all of which contribute to good activities, but a little stressful if all together). That can only be attributed to her careful planning and patient servanthood.
She keeps our home in a state of simple and appealing usability. It is clean, organized, and tasteful. I never wonder if our home is presentable for visitors.
I could not ask for a better helper, encourager, spouse, or friend. She means the world to me.

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson

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Leepike Ridge
by N.D. Wilson
Product Details
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Yearling
Date Published: 2007

Point: Thomas Hammond, half an orphan, finds himself on a subterranean adventure after a piece of packing foam, a shallow suitor, and a deceiving river conspire against him. He is led into peril, friendship and light, realizing that giving up is not an option.
Agreement: This was a fun, short book. Fast paced, easy to read, not confusing.
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.

The Craft of Research

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The Craft of Research
by Booth, Colomb, and Williams
Product Details
Publisher: The U of Chicago Press
Date Published: 2008

Is there a need to do research anymore? What is the point of research? How should one go about researching a topic? The Craft of Research was written in response to questions like these. Combining years of experience and learning, Booth (posthumously), Colomb and Williams evaluate the art of research and those who master it.
The authors divide their work into four primary sections. The first deals with the big idea of research, researches and readers. Here the focus is on the background and overarching concepts of research. According to the authors, “we do research whenever we gather information to answer a question that solves a problem…”.
The second section addresses the questions related to starting a project. By asking the right questions, the researcher is able to find a topic, narrow it down, find its significance, and begin working toward an answer. The following movement is then addressing the problems presented with the proper sources of information.
The third section revolves around making claims and proposing ideas. As problems are presented, answers need to be given. These answers must be fair, legitimate and reasoned. 
The final section presents the process of writing and presenting one’s ideas in a clear manner. From preliminary drafting to final editing, the process is challenging but rewarding. In order to accomplish one’s objectives of clearly communicating an idea the researcher must be willing to work.
The Craft of Research has many valuable principles, ideas, and examples to offer the reader. Through clear writing, helpful examples, and a usable format, the authors provide a manual to encourage and guide the reader in his research.

Stars: 4 out of 5

It would be worth another read.

The Bakken Museum

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The other day, Seth and I were able to go to a mansion here in the cities (using the great library passes that Hennepin county libraries allow people to check out).
Not only was the mansion itself a treat to observe (I really enjoy old houses and architecture), but the mansion is actually “a one-of-a-kind museum exploring the mysteries of our electrical world.” (See their website: www.thebakken.org.)
A word of caution, you may be shocked. Literally. The museum sports many interactive displays in which the visitor may touch and explore in order to learn about electricity.
I am quite positive that something similar to one of Benjamin Franklin’s inventions shocked me all the way to my elbows when I touched it. I really wanted to get my hair to stand on end from static, but that sort of put a damper on my efforts.
The museum also offers the opportunity to watch a display (about twelve minutes long) on the book “Frankenstein.” While I decided that I probably would never read the book, it was interesting to see how they used lighting to tell the story. This could be somewhat spooky for little kids, but interesting nevertheless.

I would say that this little museum was worth a visit and I would enjoy going back again someday!