Joseph F. Radosevich

I love making leaf compost to use in my garden. We have amazing trees around our house, so I pile them up, shred them, pile them, and wait. If I have any extra leaves, I put them in our flower beds as mulch. I put the leaf mold (or leaf compost) around the rhubarb and in our raised beds in the spring. I decided to make a pen this year so that I could hold more and so that it doesn't just look like a messy pile on the ground. I like a tidy garden.  You can see the rhubarb and brussels sprouts in the background. There is rye in those beds but they have been slow to grow. From now on, any leaves that I pile and shred will go in my flower beds. This pile will do its work while the garden rests. If you try this, wear a mask. It makes so much dust. I am paying for not wearing a mask one day.

Of course if by an ‘expository’ sermon is meant a verse-by-verse explanation of a lengthy passage of scripture, then indeed it is only one possible way of preaching, but this would be a misuse of the word. Properly speaking, ‘exposition’ has a much broader meaning. It refers to the content of the sermon (biblical truth) rather than its style (running commentary). To expound Scripture is to bring out of the text what is there and expose it to view. John Stott, Between Two Worlds (125-126) Expository preaching is defined not by a style nor by a particular methodology, but by the end result of explaining and applying the meaning of the text. Expository preaching is any kind of preaching that shows people the meaning of a Biblical text and leads them to apply it to their lives. Hershael W. York and Bert Decker, Preaching with Bold Assurance (33) 1. The message finds its sole source in Scripture. 2. The message is extracted from Scripture through careful exegesis.  3. The message prep...

Expository preaching is not merely what your favorite preacher does. It's not a style. It's not a series. I'm overly sensitive about that term. I realized it recently when I protested extra strongly over someone's use of the term. I've had hurtful words said about my preaching using that term. I need get over that. In the future, I will let it go. It's better to trust the LORD than defend myself. It is helpful for people to understand what expository preaching is, though. It's just a term that means a sermon that explains and applies a passage of the Bible. You can do that in many ways. The way that you organize your points doesn't make it expository. The amount of verses that you cover doesn't make it expository. The use of illustrations or lack of illustrations doesn't make it expository. Explanations of Greek and Hebrew does not make it expository. I think expository preaching is the right way to preach. I think it is important to talk about i...

NIV Study Bible I have had this the longest. I refer to it every week, but I use its insights the least. It is vanilla but not in a good way. ESV Study Bible This is the largest study bible that I own. It seems the most rigorous, but most of its energy goes into articles. It does point out the main point of each passage. That is the main reason I use a study bible in sermon preparation--to identify the main point of the passage. Reformation Study Bible This is all about reformed doctrine. Every passage is explained in terms of how it relates to doctrine as Ligonier Ministries sees it. It is worthwhile if you want or need that. CSB Study Bible This is my favorite study bible. I bought it for our home so that our kids can refer to it with a question. Every time I have a question, it refers to and explains the details of passage. No other study bible is as textual as this one and as insightful. I highly recommend this study bible. Why do you need a study bible? To answer a question. This ...

We just finished vacation. We love staying in a cabin near Lake Shelbyville and taking it easy. The area clears out, and we had the run of the playground, fishing ponds, 3-hole golf course, etc. I've started taking shorter naps. I watched this video and adjusted all my naps to 30 minutes. They don't interfere with my sleep at night this way. Getting sick a couple of years ago caused me to take my naps more seriously. I feel much less stress and no neck pain when I get in 4-5 naps a week. I used to nap 1.5 hours on the week, but this is better. I read several young adult and children's novels on vacation. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Westing Game and The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow . They are completely different but really fun. I will warn you that Westing  is weird. If you don't mind the weirdness, then it was fun. I had just finished a history of the International Mission Board Make Disciples of All Nations . It was worth reading because of some les...