I’ve always enjoyed reading
books. My father was highly motivated to teach me to read, because he had
never been taught to read well. By the time I reached elementary school I
was an avid reader and not much has changed over the years. Books can drop
one into a new world, move one to tears, and invoke passion and humor. I
learn from books and I am challenged by them.
A little over a year ago I had the opportunity
to meet three authors who have impacted me with their writing:
Leonard Sweet,
Steve Sjogren, and
Brian McLaren. Dr. Leonard
Sweet’s writings on the emerging cultural shifts and their impact on
Christian faith overwhelm me with the author's grasp of current trends and
their applications. I learned that he reads dozens of books a week in his
search for knowledge. From this research, done with the benefit of speed
reading, he synthesizes the material that has found its way into
Soul Tsunami,
Aqua Church and
Soul Salsa, his trilogy on emerging culture and its impact on
Christian faith, leadership and living.
Steve Sjogren, founding pastor
of Vineyard Community Church in
Cincinnati, is the father of the "servant
evangelism" movement which encourages Christians to perform small acts
of kindness in the name of Jesus. Steve’s living example of the servant
lifestyle in the aftermath of personal hardship (he nearly died a couple
of years ago in a medical procedure gone awry) challenged me to realize
that perseverance is an important Christian virtue.
Brian McLaren is pastor of Cedar Ridge
Community Church in Maryland. His books,
The Church on the Other Side,
Finding Faith,
A New Kind of Christian, and most recently,
More Ready Than You Realize have challenged me to think about my own
faith in new ways.
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More Ready Than You Realize is about the "dance of evangelism." It
outlines a two year history of spiritual friendship between Brian and
Alice using Alice’s emails to Brian to explain the shifts that need to
occur in Christian thinking if evangelism is to be effective in the
emerging cultural context. I heard Brian speak on this material at a
conference at Steve Sjogren’s church and was moved by the gentle respect
that Brian brought to his relationship with Alice. |
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Brian’s example of being involved in less religious activity, Bible
studies, prayer meetings, and what not, in favor of being a friend and a
neighbor challenged me to think about my own life. I have lived a
compartmentalized, fragmented life. When I was younger, I was mightily
pursuing wealth, without much success, by the way. I frequently chose work
over family life, to the detriment of my children. In later years, I
pursued ministry in much the same way.
And now, a few years in the wake of my "pastoral" ministry, I realize
that along the way I could have used more spiritual friends. Somehow, in
the midst of church leadership, programs, building relocations and
pastoral ministry, I managed to miss out on the Jesus purposeful promise:
"My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10 (NLT) For a
few years now I have not been an active part of a "normal" church. There’s
a lot about "normal" church that I don’t miss: trying to get "ownership"
for the latest leadership initiative; charismatic calisthenics; or the
search for the latest greatest idea that will make your church grow,
whether it’s being seeker-targeted, seeker-friendly, seeker-sensitive, or
purpose-driven. If I never attend another conference or class on how to
achieve "whatever" it’s ok with me.
I know that my situation is not unusual. There are many trying to "have
it all" and as a result, they end up not having much. Life is just one
no-fat sugar-free vanilla latte after another. They drop their children
off at day care at 6:30 a.m. in order to make it to their job that pays
for the monthly minimum on their Visa card. And church attendance and
involvement becomes one more activity that tends to crowd their
already-too-busy schedules.
I read a book about "margins" a couple of years back and realized that
in order to live a "full" life, one has to leave a little room at the top
of the cup. Room enough to hold hands with your wife, hug your children
(or grandchildren), and pray to your God. Room enough to be a friend and a
neighbor.
Brian’s book helped me to realize that I am more than ready to live a
full life that includes having and being a spiritual friend.
