Joseph F. Radosevich

Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes nine subjects for every pastor to read in his book Preaching and Preachers .  They are: The bible Commentaries and other aids to understanding the Bible. Devotional or applicational books such as by Puritans. Sermons Theology Church History Apologetic History Hobbies MLJ argues that pastors should be continually reading in all these areas. I found great encouragement from that, and I have found that 5-10 pages per day in several of these categories helps me a lot. You can't read 30 pages a day in all of these categories. I rotate through a few of these categories so that I finish a book of theology and then read a book of devotion.  I always have a commentary and a book on church history. I like the NIV Application Commentary series a lot for this kind of reading (although there is at least one volume I would not recommend--the one on Exodus). I also like the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series. * photo generated with Canva Magic Media ai photo gene

I was quoted in a local newspaper feature article today talking about cover crops. It's paywalled, but if you haven't visited before, you can probably read it here .  I talk mostly about why and how I plant winter rye (also called cereal rye) in my garden. Others are featured as well. Here's part of what I shared: It builds the soil from below. It protects the soil from above. Many people don't know that wind, rain, and snow breaks soil apart. Winter rye protects it. It keeps weeds down in the spring. It is allelopathic for a few weeks which means that it puts out a chemical that keeps seeds from germinating. That slows down weed seeds.  Here is a podcast from the University of Illinois Extension on cover crops if you want more information.

You don't need landscape fabric if you are putting down mulch. Put it down thickly, and that will be enough to choke out weeds. Thick like 4+ inches. I originally learned to put it down 6-8 inches. Why should you not use landscape fabric? The mulch you are putting down will turn into dirt and then weeds will grow on top of the weed cloth. You will have a mess on your hands. Mulch is not a permanent solution, and landscape fabric doesn't make it last longer. Weeds float along on the air or get pulled in with footsteps. Stone mulch doesn't fix the issue either because leaves, debris, and dirt get blown in and then break down creating a layer of dirt that weeds grow in. You can use cardboard in place of landscape fabric because it will do the same job before breaking down.  I've started hearing gardeners tales that thick mulch will choke out the bacterial life in the soil. That doesn't make any sense because that would mean that soil itself would choke out the bacteria

I've been thinking about parsonages a bit lately and how helpful they are to rural churches. I live in a parsonage. I never thought I would or even considered it. It is a great fit for our family, our church, and our community.  I am talking about rural churches here, not city churches. Our county has no stoplight or grocery store. We're just a 20 minute drive from a grocery store, but there are parts of the county that are further from groceries. The realities are different for rural, suburban, and city churches. Three Benefits to having a parsonage for a rural church: It helps the church have a local pastor. Without a parsonage, the pastor might choose or be forced to live outside the community. In a rural context, it's a problem for the pastor to be from somewhere else. I think he comes across as a rented preacher. The pastor doesn't have to worry about being stuck with a house. If a pastor chooses to leave a church or is forced out, he can be stuck with a house if t

  In the summer, I enjoy iced coffee after work. Here is my recipe using an Aeropress. I'll also give a version that is closer to what I had in Thailand. Iced coffee should be made with hot coffee that is poured over ice. The Aeropress is perfect for iced coffee because it easily makes a small strong coffee. By having a small, strong amount of coffee, I can add sugar and then dilute with ice and milk. I get a better texture in my iced coffee by doing a small amount in the Aeropress. When I use a normal strength black coffee, it gets too diluted. Measure 27 grams of coffee  (or 2 scoops with the Aeropress scoop. I prefer dark roasts like an espresso blend). Add water to just above the 2 mark in the Aeropress. Stir for 10 seconds and then press slowly over a carafe with 2 teaspoons of sugar. (This works with either the regular cap or the for control cap). Mix Fill a large glass with ice. Pour coffee and sugar over ice. Top off the glass with whole milk. *For a Thai Iced Coffee versio

  I return to this quote by James Rebanks often. It helps me think about my work as pastor. "My job is simple: get around the fields and feed and shepherd the different flocks of ewes--dealing with any issues that arise. First rule of shepherding: it's not about you, it's about the sheep and the land. Second rule: you can't win sometimes. Third rule: shut up, and go and do the work." The Shepherd's Life , 208 James Rebanks  I heard him speak with Wendell Berry years ago at the Louisville Public Library. Both of them were excellent. * photo generated with Canva Magic Media ai photo generator. My prompt: "Color illustration of shepherd and sheep in hills."