Since I’ve finished work on my thesis I’ve been digging back into more pastoral reading.  I’m immersing myself in books on preaching and pastoral ministry.  I try to follow C.S. Lewis’ advice of reading one “old” book for every new one.  (see his introduction to Athanasius’ On the Incarnation)  By doing so I’ve noticed that modern books on pastoral ministry tend to emphasize technique and models, older ones the minister’s personal piety.  I wonder if we might have forgotten something.