Darrell Deer

@PastorCroft This is one of the biggest regrets I have. I wish I had spent a longer period of time either on staff or in an intentional mentoring relationship.

If every pastor sat at the feet of an older pastor to learn, and invested in a younger pastor to teach, then many pastors would be in a much healthier place. The loneliness and isolation of many pastors is very real.

Just watched This Week in Baseball. Tip of the cap to @MLB.

To those brothers and sisters under harsh criticism for their beliefs… So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20, ESV

UConn just out-duked Duke.

@DLoesch The ESV app is great. If you want other translations, @OliveTreeBible is awesome. I use both of them every day.

Friends — my Bible app has ceased to exist and I’m in search of a new one. Previously used NIV, NLT (my hardcover study Bible is NIV with others as footnotes) but I just want something good that won’t go away that allows easy sharing of notes, etc. is there one for iOS you like?

MLB's opening game should be a day game not on Netflix.

Chuck Norris didn't beat death. But Jesus did. And Chuck knew Jesus, so...Chuck did beat death after all.

Too many simply live for the social media fight. I imagine it has to be exhausting.

@YourCalvinist Exactly. My dad never had a vacation. He was self-employed. If he didn’t work, he didn’t get paid. I don’t think there’s anything wrong or sinful with sabbaticals, but at this point in my life, I don’t think I’d take one (things could change though).

My thoughts on the Sabbatical question. My father worked for 36 years in an aluminum can factory. The last I remember, he had 4 weeks of vacation annually which the union had secured for him, on top of recognized sick days. He worked 12 hour days in a harsh environment. How harsh? He had all four fingers on his left hand severed between two spools of aluminum each weighing about half a ton. They were sewn back on, but were never the same. Dad worked hard and provided well. I’m proud of my dad. I began preaching 20 years ago at the same church I pastor today. I’ve had years, several in fact, where I went 52 for 52 (i.e. I preached every Sunday). This wasn’t ideal, but we were a small church and there were times when I didn’t have the help. Also, and this is no secret, I actually love to preach. If I go several weeks without preaching, I miss it. My normal routine for vacation for the past ten years or so is to take 2 weeks of vacation in the late summer, and maybe a week in the spring. And I do take a couple Sundays off from preaching each year to allow other elders the opportunity to preach, even if I am not gone. I would probably say now I preach maybe 44-46 out of 52 Sundays. Up until a few years ago, I never heard of pastors taking sabbaticals. But now I hear about it quite often. And I don’t think it’s wrong necessarily. If the church wants to bless their pastor with some time off and it doesn’t harm the church financially, then they are within their right to do so. Where I think there is somewhat of an issue for me is when I think about my dad. He worked harder, physically, than any man I ever knew. He hated his work. It was stressful physically and mentally. But he did it because he loved us. And as much as he hated it, he did not complain. His bosses were sometimes difficult, his work friends would sometimes get on his nerves and at times he feared he might lose his job. Is my job more stressful than his? In some ways, yes. I have had to minister to people who are dealing with broken marriages, threats of suicide, wayward and even dead children. My job is hard. My dad has even told me, he thinks my job is harder than his was. But I also have blessings he doesn’t have. I get to be one of the first people to hold newborns in our church. I get to stand next to young men and women when they take their wedding vows. I get to hear the affirmation of God’s people weekly when I preach the Word to them. I am a blessed man. After 20 years, could I have a sabbatical? I am certain my elders and church would support it if I asked. And maybe one day I will. But for now, I’ll just stick with my vacation time. It was good enough for my dad. I think it works for me too.

I would not be surprised to see Tua have a great second chapter somewhere.

Congrats to the Seahawks. Pretty impressive. #SuperBowlLX

Words matter. Language matters. Truth matters.

Yes, the world is twisted and broken. But, pitchers and catchers report in less than thirty days.

Baltimore and Pittsburgh are both in uncharted waters...and their fans may regret it.

@JCRyle I do, but I don't hold it as strongly as I once did.

Do you believe the Bible teaches a pre-trib rapture?

Don't let longing for yesterday rob you of the tasks for today and the hope of tomorrow.

There’s a ghoulish joy that seems to come with these NFL firings…all the talking heads so excited to have something new to talk about.

@marcorubio I’m not sure you wouldn’t turn things around there…

I do not normally respond to online rumors but feel the need to do so at this moment I will not be a candidate for the currently vacant HC and GM positions with the Miami Dolphins. While you never know what the future may bring right now my focus must remain on global events and also the precious archives of the United States of America. Thank you

NFL Rivalry uniforms > MLB City Connect uniforms