One of my goals for producing this blog is to expose my readers to godly individuals, both living and dead. I take great pleasure in sharing various pastors, missionaries, teachers, authors, and Christian workers with my readers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I also intend for you to be edified by exposing you to them.
I would like to expose you to a number of godly individuals in an interview process. Today, I would like to expose you to a man I have come to appreciate a great deal. He has become a good friend through his blog, By Grace Alone and corresponding via email. I am pleased to introduce you Pastor Scott M. Weldon of Faith Southern Baptist Church in Marshfield, Missouri.
What
is your current position?
Pastor, Faith Southern Baptist
Church
Where did you graduate from Bible College or seminary?
Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary
Please
describe your morning devotions. When do you begin them? What do your devotions
consist of and or look like? How much time to you spend reading, meditating,
praying, and etc?
This changes somewhat from day
to day, but typically I begin reading from our “daily readings” (based on a
read through the Bible calendar).
Sometimes I read through several chapters, sometimes one section gets my
attention and I dwell more on that, maybe even cross reference some issues (I
think I may be ADD…wait, what were we talking about?). I’ve been known to spend the whole time
tracking down some little thought that a particular text inspired and not
getting back to the rest of the readings.
Not sure if that’s good or not, but…
Sometimes I also read from a
devotional type book; lately I’ve enjoyed a Through the Year book by John
Stott, or I read through a prayer or two in The Valley of Vision. I should probably be more disciplined, but I
sort of let myself drift from book to book based on time, mood, etc. (maybe this is more like an example of how
NOT to do devotions!)
I’m also a huge music person. More often than not I have music playing, and
sometimes a particular song will hit me and become the catalyst for that
morning’s devotions.
I don’t have a set “time” for prayer,
as to length. Sometimes I pray off and
on while reading the text, based on thoughts it motivates. Sometimes I read through the text and then
take a longer time at the end for prayer.
This all sounds a bit wishy-washy on
paper. I think we ought to be
disciplined in the fact that we spend time in the Word or in prayer; but I’ve
never been one to think that we have to be overly rigid with “do this for 5
minutes, then do this for 5 minutes” etc.
What book
(s) are you currently reading in these three categories?
a) for your soul – Reading a
series of “devotionals” called PROOF (which will soon be a book by Timothy Paul
Jones http://www.timothypauljones.com/)
b)
for pastoral ministry – Just
picked up Creature of the Word, along with the videos. Haven’t dug in yet, but it’s the next thing
on my agenda.
c)
for personal enjoyment- Just
finished Placebo by Steven James, and now starting an e-book called Knox’s
Irregulars by J. Wesley Bush
Apart from
the bible, what book do you most frequently re-read and why?
Two come to mind.
1. Pilgrim’s Progress, which I’ve read in a couple versions (original
and “modern” update), our family has read together, we’ve listened to a
“dramatized” version, and even bought the movie. It’s just such a wonderful portrait of the
Christian life with so much great thought and theology.
2. The aforementioned Valley of Vision. The richness of the Puritans in their heart
for God is truly amazing and inspiring.
While I don’t think just reading/praying written prayers is adequate,
using these as springboards for my own prayer/devotional life has been very helpful
over the years.
What three
books (other than the Bible) have had the most impact or influence on your
life? Why?
Wow, just three? Hmmm…This answer might change based on what
day you ask me, but as of right now the ones that come to mind, in no
particular order…
-Knowing God, by J. I. Packer. Opened my eyes to so much of the greatness
and glory of God. Changed by perspective
on life, faith, ministry, etc.
-The Gospel According to Jesus by
John MacArthur. It came at a good time
for me. I was teaching through Romans
and coming to grips with some truths about salvation, election, etc. that were
different from what many of my professors had taught. Reading those same truths from MacArthur was
a confirmation that I wasn’t just crazy.
(Well, maybe I am, but still…)
10 Questions To Diagnose Your
Spiritual Health by Don Whitney (along with Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines;
that’s cheating I know, but…) Again, a
timing thing. I had a doctoral seminar
with Dr. Whitney and picked up a couple of his books. I think my own life had become a little
stagnant, and so the in depth evaluation and the emphasis on spiritual
disciplines came at a really good time.
If you
could study under any theologian in church history (excluding those in the
bible) who would it be? Why?
Sounds cliché, but Spurgeon. Many may consider him a preacher, not a
theologian, but really what’s the difference?
I would love to hear his heart, his motivations, catch a glimpse of his
passion up close. Just reading about his
life, reading his sermons can be so challenging and encouraging at the same
time, to spend time with him in person would only magnify that.
What single
piece of counsel or criticism has had the most effect on your preaching?
Counsel: A friend in college would remind me
constantly, “I know what Dr. So-and-so said in class, but what does the Word of
God say?” That challenge changed the
course of my academic life and has stuck in my mind ever since. Every time we proclaim the Word, it’s not a
matter of what men say, what does God say?
Criticism: We all get criticism, and
I know that there have been some hurtful, personal things said to me that have
lingered. But honestly, I can’t say that
any of them have affected my preaching.
What books on preaching have you found to be the most helpful to you.
I recently picked up a copy of the
classic Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, but haven’t read it
yet. It may move into this
category. I don’t know that any one book
on preaching per se sticks out, but John Piper’s Brothers We Are Not
Professionals has been extremely helpful to me for ministry in general. Of course, Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students
is a classic, and just reading old sermons is a great thing for anyone.
Where in
ministry are you most tempted to discouragement?
Just that feeling of hitting a brick
wall over and over. You preach and
preach and it seems like sometimes folks just don’t get it. Some mornings you feel like you’re talking to
an empty room. And then, one day someone
comes up and says something about how much this or that comment meant to them,
and suddenly it all seems worth it.
Still, just that feeling of not moving forward in our spiritual
maturity, constantly seeming to have to cover the same ground, that’s very
discouraging.
What do you
do for relaxation or leisure? What are your favorite hobbies?
Spending time with my family. I like to hunt with my oldest son, discuss
books with my daughters, and hang out and generally spoil the youngest
boy. If my wife and I get a chance to
get away, we love to have some good Italian food and browse some book stores.
Hobbies: reading, cheering on Missouri based teams in
baseball and football (and hockey when they’re actually playing!), a little
NASCAR, hunting, fishing, obsessing over my favorite bands, and collecting
antique hymnals.
If you were
not in the ministry what occupational job would you have chosen?
I spent
several years in Christian radio, and I wouldn’t mind doing more of that. When I have the “unprepared” recurring dream,
it swaps between Sunday mornings without a sermon ready, and being at the radio
station without any songs ready to go…the dreaded dead air!
Addendum: Gregg,
thanks for doing this. Spending time
putting some of these things on paper (so to speak) has been helpful. Makes me think, evaluate, etc. Those are good things. Thanks again.
