Dissertation Topic Selected...I Hope

This stack of books is small compared to the amount I'll be reading for my course work and dissertation research. Oh, by the way, I think I finally have a dissertation topic of great interest to me. The 3 Chapter Dissertation Proposal entails heavy research utilizing at least 50 sources and the writing of about 100 pages by March. So, needless to say, it should be in an area of great interest to me and something that will prove to be helpful in my ministry and in the ministry of my pastoral colleagues.

My topic will be on the authenticity, also known as ethos, of the preacher. What I want to research, prove, and apply is my hypothesis that more important to Postmodern listeners than the eloquence of the sermon is the ethos of the preacher. I hope to utilize surveys and interviews to get a "view from the pew" and show that people who hear sermons look for ethos as much as or more than eloquence. So many preachers like me spend so much time enhancing our preaching technique that we often neglect the cultivation of our character. I am already praying that God will use this topic to inspire me and my pastoral colleagues to not only preach our best but to actually be our best for the glory of God.

This topic has not been officially approved by the Doctor of Ministry Office yet, so it may get modified a bit. At any rate, I wanted my church, family and friends to know what direction I am heading in so that you can be in prayer with me. Love and thanks to you and yours.

Beeson Families Growing Together

The Beeson Pastor families have been spending lots of time together. This is not a hardship since we genuinely enjoy each other's company. Most of the pictures below show last Friday's cookout, which we're calling Grill-Apalooza. This tradition was started by last year's Beeson Pastor Class and we're contuining it...with the addition of a little testosterone driven bocci ball!

Last Saturday we Beeson Pastors went to the Asbury College Challenge Course to conquer our fears and learn to work together as a team to solve problems. We enjoyed (and I use the term loosely) leaping from a tree stand at about 30 feet above ground and zip-lining 300 feet toward an immovable tree. Call us crazy, but we had a great time.

Today we begin the Spirituality of Leadership Class with Dr. Jessen. Please pray that God would cultivate in each of us something deeper than a mere understanding of leadership theory and technique. Pray that God would inspire and challenge us to lead as Jesus did, out of a deep, intimate relationship with Father God. Enjoy the pics.

The Eagle Has Landed...In Kentucky!

Hello Friends and Family:

We have, by God's grace, safely arrived in Wilmore, KY. The other pastoral families in the Beeson Pastor Program have arrived safely as well. It has been a great joy to begin the journey with these families, knowing it will likely be a rigorous year of study and travel. Amy and I are praying that as a result of this year our heart capacity for God would increase, our heart capacity for people would increase and our skills for ministry would increase. We believe these are prayers that God is determined to answer. Please enjoy the pictures below and note that the caption is under each picture.

Here is our 2 1/2 year old, half naked princess, Lia in front of her new townhouse home.

The entire Luchetti tribe posing in front of our residence.

Here I am heading off to my first day of orientation with the Beeson Pastors...this, by the way, is just before I was to be overwhelmed by the amount of work that will be entailed this year and just before I received another 40 or so books to read for my course work.

Samuel at 11 months old enjoying our new home.

4 year old Zachary showing off his new kitchen counter stool...his "big boy" seat!

The Luchetti 5 (sounds like a boy band) hanging all over a life sized statue of John Wesley... I believe he was only 5'2" which makes me feel like I'm standing next to one of my short Italian uncles.

Here is our entire Beeson Pastor Class: (top left to right) Robert (New Mexico), Dave (Buffalo, NY), Paul (Idaho), Richard (New Zealand), Mitch (Kansas), Me (Northeastern PA); (bottom left to right) David (Cleveland, Ohio), Ian (Scotland...but no relation to Braveheart Sir William Wallace- though just as cool and thankfully not as violent), Spencer (Atlanta, GA), and Dave (New Jersey).

This pic includes our Dean Randy Jessen (top far right) who has been a phenomenal pastor to us pastors. He and his wife, Sue, recently had all of our families (which includes about 25 kids!) to their home for a Fourth of July cookout. Either they are really hospitable or a bit crazy. I think most of us will agree the former characterizes who they are.