Stillness (1)

I shared an interesting conversation yesterday after I had spoken at a Men's Breakfast meeting.  I was given the theme of' Connecting with God and (among other things) mentioned the need for stillness.  That Moses pitched a tent a long way from the camp to be still with God (Exod. 33:7), and that Jesus often withdrew from his disciples to pray (such as Matt. 14:23). Deliberate withdrawal from people, busyness, noise, and activity in order to be still and know God (Psalm 46:8).

This man said to me: 'That word about stillness really got to me.  I realized I am never still.  All my life I am on the move, busily doing things.  Honestly, I am never still.'   His frankness really got through to me.  It's all very well talking about it. How often have I taken time out to be so quiet that I can hear the silence, and within that deep quiet hear the voice of God?  When was the last time?

I had quoted some provocative words of Pascal: 'All the evils of life have fallen upon us because men will not sit alone quietly in a room.'   What trouble we make for ourselves by hurry and noise.  But, when it comes to prayer how difficult we make it for God's relationship with us when we miss out on stillness.  How can God get through to us in deeper ways unless we are in deeper places?  Noise and activity allow only shallowness.

I felt rebuked.  So later that day I made time to go to the arboretum nearby, and walk off past other walkers in the Fall sunshine.  In the far distance on a slight rise, backed by trees and overlooking some prairie grass there was a park bench. I reached it and sat motionless.  All around leaves were turning into yellows and reds, rustling in the breeze.  Birdsong piped beautifully nearby and in the distance.  True, there was a rumble from the expressway a mile away but that only served to emphasize the stillness.  I stayed there for a time. I recognized two things.  Positively,  I experienced a genuine quietening of head and heart with a measure of openness to God in the beauty and quietness.  Negatively, I realized how poor I am at being still.  I really didn't stay more than a few minutes.  I know I shall have to be more intentional about making time to be still and silent.

Perhaps you are well-disciplined in the art of stillness.  Please share your experiences.

Black and White

Last week was a first for me.  I completed an exhilarating teaching week - a Doctor of Ministry intensive (well named) with a group of 11 pastors.  This was nothing new.  However, this time 10 of them were African-Americans.   Ages ranged from upper 20's to upper 60's; from Washington DC to Texas with Chicago in the middle; denominational spread covered historic mainstream - Lutheran, AME - through Baptist, to Pentecostal and a church plant.  Church sizes were similarly spread over a wide spectrum.  I guess years of preaching experience added together amounted to several hundred years!
I have yet to see their evaluations but I can share my first reflections.

• It is sobering to be in a minority of two.  To realize that nearly everyone else has a common culture and distinctive preaching history which markedly contrasts with the white-dominated settings of my daily life. Occasionally, I made statements that were met by amused reactions that while this might be so in the white church it did not hold true in their own.  Talk about the levels of pastor's authority, or about focusing on the cross to the neglect of the resurrection (too often common in the white church) revealed how different it is for them.  Even more, when they shared their  urban stories and experiences of oppression,  I felt miles apart. Why was it sobering? - because to be in the minority is how most of these, my new friends, feel in my world, most of the time.
• Yet, my overwhelming experience in the week was of utter acceptance by the group with the strongest expressions of affirmation and involvement.  When I opened the course with Scripture I was immediately enveloped by echoing 'Amens', 'Thank you Lord' ,'Oh, my Lord", as they leaned forward intently not missing a word.  That responsiveness never let  up. What a difference it makes when others express themselves so clearly and enthusiastically!   One set book involved a lively dialog between E.K. Bailey and Warren Wiersbe (Black and White).  Wiersbe admits how much white preachers have to learn from the holistic ministry of black pastors.  Oh yes! As the other white (Lutheran) pastor put it -'We lived that dialog this week!' 
• The wonder of expressive faith.  Yes, the sheer contagion of unashamed witness is wonderful.  When each student preached in class the levels of engagement were off the charts.  I commented once to the famous black preacher Robert Smith (of Beeson Seminary) about how frozen and mute many white congregations are. "But I know there are feelings inside you white folks even if you don't show it", he said.   Yet, what a difference if we could show more emotion?

As you can tell, I was so grateful for my immersion into such a warm, lively, gracious group where I learned so much.  Privilege is an over-used word but it's right for this past week.

Ordination Challenge

I have just returned to the US in time to preach at a particularly interesting ordination service for the Rev (new today!) Caleb Smith, at Christ Community Church, Wheaton.  It was interesting because, as adviser to Caleb over his years at Northern Seminary, I had an especially close hands-on relationship which helped lead to his call to this small community church.  It is wonderful to see a gifted young pastor (with an equally gifted wife) so fully committed to this extraordinarily multi-cultural fellowship.

I warned him that I had been recently grabbed by a text and story in John 3:22-36  that I had never preached on before, and that I was going to prepare a new sermon.  When John the Baptist is provoked by his disciples' telling him that Jesus is now more important than him (everyone is going to Jesus!) John resists any small-minded response out of bruised pride.  Rather he states an extraordinary principle: "He must become greater and I must become less" (verse 33).

My message to Caleb was: "You are important, but not that important!" as I engaged with some of the ways in which by practical worship, robust faith and bold witness he could be sustained in a relationship, giving more glory to Christ.  Afterwards someone said to me: 'You know that challenge that "you are not that important" should really be given to all the members of the church'. Yes, sadly, too often Christians do assert self-importance and obscure Christ and his kingdom.  Actually, this summer I have heard of two local churches where members' strong personalities so asserted agendas, likes and dislikes that they destroyed fellowship unity.  Oh what damage is done when we forget the One who is really important.  Yes,  I think this theme has wider application than just at an ordination service!

At one point I mentioned some advice from E. Stanley Jones that I jotted down in my prayer journal many years ago. He listed some guidelines for Christian leadership which, I think, keep us from inflated self-importance:
- Be willing to take criticism yourself
- Be on guard that you do not become petty
- Be willing to give way in small things that do not involve principles
- Refuse to look for slight regarding yourself
- Keep the power of laughing at yourself
- Keep up the prayer life and underneath keep a surrendered heart.
It's been good to be reminded.   Do you agree?

Much huffing!

These last two weeks my postings have been absent. (You didn't notice?!)  Anyone witnessing my movements at the seminary would understand.  After major traumas (!) of moving house earlier this summer,  I have just moved my seminary office from one end of the academic office corridor to another.  There has been much huffing.  In my new role as less than full-time faculty my office space has been expectedly cut by half which has meant more decisions about what books and files are priorities, and what must go into storage.

I am immensely grateful for my new room which is pleasantly decorated with a new desk. It's always a privilege to have a study space.  But I told myself that I would take advantage of this move by winnowing down my library to essentials.  That I would put into large-scale practice my prioritizing of books by A,B,C and D (as mentioned in a recent post).  What a hope!  Instead it has been a mad scramble with massive deferral of such decisions, as unfiletered files and papers have piled in boxes haphazardly.

And now, with a false sense of having completed this task to mild satisfacton, I leave in a couple of days for two weeks' visit to the UK to see family and friends.  So, it is highly likely that my postings will remain absent as I connect with my latest grandchild and reconnect with so many others.  I am not sure when I shall next write something worthwhile (actually I am never sure quite what is worthwhile anyway).  When I return on September 13th. I am straightway into preaching at an ordination, teaching an intensive Doctor of Ministry (Sept 17-21) course and then term begins  Sept.24th.  I keep telling myself this is an exceptional summer - I hope yours has been for less hectic reasons!

Reflective practice

Last night I led a  seminar for those responsible for leading worship at my local church - First Baptist Wheaton.  I was asked to highlight some issues from my book in order to help them focus on planning Fall worship 'to the glory of God.' 

It was remarkably generous of them to give up three hours in their busy lives with a willingness to reflect.  And what a risk there is in genuine reflection!   Reflective practice involves adult learners who have already developed expertise in being open to critique their work even while they are at work.  At its best, it will allow plenty of safe space to consider afresh issues that are often taken for granted.  And there are many of those unconsidered aspects of worship planning.   Some of them are huge - like the role of the Holy Spirit or understanding of the missional church. 

Many are smaller scale.  In answer to a question last night about the offering, I was reminded of a colleague of mine who was guest preacher in a local church.  It was their habit as the offering was brought to the front for the congregation to stand and sing the doxology.  As people slowly got to their feet with little sense of joy or purpose to do their usual, the preacher abruptly stopped them: "What are you doing?" he said.   There was stunned surprise.  Wasn't it obvious that they were singing the doxology?  But, maybe, it had become so commonplace they needed reminding that returning gifts to an extraordinarily generous God is a big deal.   I am not sure whether the preacher was invited back (!) and whether this is the most productive form of reflective practice.   But, I believe, reflective practice leads to deeper people doing deeper things.   

I don't know whether reflective practice will arise from any of that wide range of issues I raised last night.  It takes time, honesty, love, and patience.  I pray that it will!     

So, what's on your list?

After my last post I expected someone to ask specifics about my summer reading!  When I was describing my A,B,C categories I didn't mention another group that looms large in my life: publisher's manuscripts.  When reading them I try to use the same steps for seeing the big picture and framing structure, but I don't feel I can ever skim if I am to write an honest foreword or endorsement.  Perhaps they form a category D because however I might grade them ultimately as A,B or C, I want to give my best by a fairly careful read. Its nearly always an honor to write a foreword because you already have a connection with the author or the subject - they have done all the hard work and I need only add a bow and note on the front!  Only occasionally I have had to decline because I could not be positive enough!

Currently, I have two forewords requested: Brian Harris, The Tortoise Usually Wins: Biblical Reflections on Quiet Leadership (Paternoster) and Lori J Carrell, Preaching that matters (Alban Institute). I also need to give an endorsement for Richard H. Cox, Rewiring Your Preaching: How the Brain Processes Sermons (IVP).  All D category.

In strictly A category terms my most recent read is Craig Van Gelder & Dwight J Zscheile, The Missional Church In Perspective (Baker Academic, 2011).  This is one of those 'mapping books' which help to locate where other significant missional leaders and trends belong in the developing missional story.  Based upon an incisive reexamination of the category A missional book, Garrell Guder, Missional Church,  this not only maps out four differing developments: Discovering, Utilizing, Engaging, Extending, but opens up an extraordinarily rich conversation on the key issues to engage us all.    I have found this extremely revealing as it locates much so much of my reading (and teaching) in useful categories.  This kind of book deserves detailed attention and I've not finished yet.   Good 'mapping books' are like this! 

On reading books

Summer time is especially good for catching up with academic reading.  I am always over-ambitious as I select the pile and nearly always end up disappointed that several books are left unread.  But much depends on taking a realistic approach.  Not all those books in the pile should be read closely!  Indeed, some need to be skimmed in order to ensure time is spent on the more significant. (My summer time reading also includes novels but these rules do not apply to them!)

Robert Webber used to advise students that they should not read an academic book word for word, page for page, chapter for chapter. Rather they should read a book like they would look at a picture, study its frame and only at the end examine its details.  Often the first look would give a clear idea how much time to spend. He suggested first reading the back cover, contents page, Introduction and Conclusion with time given over to thinking about the author's stance and books' purpose. Can you sum up in a sentence what the book's point is and how the author wants you to respond? 

To ensure you are not oversimplifying you need also to frame the book by studying the index, footnotes, and Scripture references to gain understanding of the author's sources and interpretation.  Further, the book's  structure requires its chapters to be scanned.  

All this happens to prepare you for the big question:  Is this book significant enough that you need to examine it in detail, making notes of key sections and even of vital quotations.  Some of us have good enough memories to capture the main issues for the future with few notes.  For me, note-taking has to be more extensive to keep reminding me of those distinctive ideas that now help to build up my knowledge.  Because this last stage is time-consuming the early looking and thinking is essential for setting priorities.

So, I find I have three kinds of academic books in my reading repertoire:
Grade A - I have paid critical attention to most pages because of its high caliber challenge.
Grade B - I am aware of the general issues and have given parts of the book some serious attention.
Grade C - I probably have engaged with its main issues already in other reading, or it falls outside my priority concerns.

Do you have a system for sorting out which books most deserve your attention?  Have you engaged with many Grade A books recently?  Care to share?