Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor
June 28, 2008 – 2:43 pmI just finished reading D. A. Carson’s biography of his father, Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor. It’s very good. If you are or think you might become a pastor, church planter, missionary, or husband, you should read it.
Tom Carson planted churches in French-speaking Canada, a Roman Catholic stronghold. His son documents his life, his work, and his struggles. Struggles through discouragement and controversy and disapproval and loss – and that are meant to be met with utmost assurance that God is in control and knows what he’s doing. Read and watch Tom do that.
A lot stuck out to me, but I’ll simply give you one journal entry from two weeks after his wife died that gives a glimpse into his theology and priorities and values and view of God:
Monday, Jan. 15, 1990
On my knees I am often crushed. David said, “My sin is ever before me.” And mine are ever before me…. My wife was a magnificent woman: she rested utterly in the absolute assurance that God had fully forgiven all her sins: “What need I fear when thou art near / And thinkest, Lord, of me?” And I found rest in meditating on Psalm 51.
I guess that isn’t how I usually see people described as “magnificent”: “she rested utterly in the absolute assurance that God had fully forgiven all her sins.”
When you’re describing someone as “magnificent” or “awesome” or “amazing”, what do you mean? What should you mean?
3 Responses to “Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor”
that is quite a strange way to describe magnificent… makes me want to read the book
By Liang on Jun 28, 2008
You should. Seeing as you already have a copy, you could probably finish it tonight – it’s a pretty compelling read.
By Ben on Jun 28, 2008
Keep recommending/commenting on books like you do, I always enjoy reading it!
By Elizabeth Woo on Jun 28, 2008