the publishing journey

Been a long time dream...i mean a long time dream...to one day write and publish a book. I can trace it back to 4th grade with my teacher, ms. burnette. everyone had, i hope, a ms. burnette in your early years. she was an amazing teacher who saw things in me i could not see. she gave me my first journal and said "one day, you'll write a book." ms. burnette did not realize the seeds she was planting during those innocent, 4th grade days. (sidenote: i hope to one day see ms. burnette and thank her...that would be an awesome moment.)

over the years, i have always loved reading books and writing. melody will tell you that our garage is packed with books to fill the shelves. just always had a love for books and the impact they have on people's lives and on my life.

so, several years back I had written a devotional book on the psalms. it laid dormant for several years...used in a few settings, but not too much. last december, though, God clearly told me to go back and edit the writing. so, i took about 3 months to edit and get it together. then, spent some time working together a book proposal. finally, about 2 weeks ago, melody and i sent it off to about 15 publishers.

this past week, i have received 3 letters back. all of them rejection letters...but i have to say they were nicely written. all of them said that they were looking for other materials right now...like children's publications. so, even though it was a "no", i was still encouraged through them.

there is a local friend who is willing to help me self-publish, if we decide to go that route. so, we can atleast make them available through the ministry.

overall, though, I am real excited to actually be getting some letters back. I'm excited to see what God is going to do through all of this. the call to write is strong. i sense that God wants us to do more of this...to get the message of freedom and life out to people. excited to see what the next pages hold...

The Shack

Recently read a book called the Shack by William Young. Come to find out...this book is on the bestseller's list and has probably hit the million mark. Interesting story of the author and how he never intended to even publish it. It was written for his kids as a way to convey the Christian faith in story/parable form. Then, in 2005, they published and it has been taking off since.

You can listen to his interviews on the Drew Marshall show to hear more of the author's story. This guy has a story of redemption and healing...pretty cool to listen to. Just google on Drew Marshall and find the interview...Drew Marshall is a big, radio personality in Canada.

The interesting thing about this book is the amount of controversy it is stirring. I've found preachers on youtube who are calling it heresy and stuff. Amazing how people get their feathers so ruffled over things and choose to die on hills that are not worth dying on....you wonder if these preachers think they need to "defend God" or something. Now I know that those who are struggling with the "theological ramifications" of this book would choose to differ...and I understand. Been to seminary and I do understand the importance of protecting doctrine, etc. But this guy is not writing some doctoral dissertation. He is telling a story. A story of a friend's journey through brokenness and healing as he met God at the shack.

I have personally enjoyed the story and journey told in this book. It is a powerful, deep story of a man's pain and how God moves toward our pain instead of being afraid of it. God actually invites him to the Shack...his place of deepest pain...and meets him there.

I remember reading a book called the Crucified God by Moltmann. He talks about God and pain. There is a great phrase in the book that talks about "God in Auschwitz and Auschwitz in God." In referring to his encounter with God in the terror of the Holocaust...he finds God in the darkest pain. The basic premise is that God is found/realized in our deepest pain.

How do I deal with pain?
Do I move toward it or away from it?
How does God use pain and heartache in my own journey?
How is God initiating me and growing me through difficulty and pain?
How did I learn to deal with pain growing up?
What am I teaching my own children about pain?

Lots of good questions to wrestle with. I would encourage anyone to read this book and get in touch with their own journey and spiritual healing. May God frustrate our cushioned, Americanized, Christianity and bring deeper understanding to pain and heartache as necessary to the journey. To the Shack and back...

5 Core Heart-Truths

Was reminded this week, from an old journal, of 5 truths God pressed on my heart a few years back. He knew that i needed to be reminded of these once again. As John Eldredge once said, "Forgetfulness is a chief enemy of the heart." Today, i choose to remember and live in truth.

1. I refuse to be shackled by yesterday's failures.

2. What I don't know will no longer be an intimidation, it will be considered an opportunity.

3. I will not allow people to define my mood, method, image, or mission.

4. I will pursue a mission greater than myself.

5. I will not have time for self-pity, gossit, negativism--from myself or others.

The Gentle Giant

written in reflection of my friend Gary's recent death...

He walked among us,
with hands open wide.
Never too far to comfort,
always by your side.

Large in countenance,
only matched the size of his heart.
Giving came easy,
it was his gift, his art.

Being known by many
was never his life's goal.
Wanting to help another...
his calling, his role.

Gary walked among us,
with hands open wide.
Listen to his life,
his message, we will not hide.

He loved the created...
nature, rivers, and outdoors.
With eyes toward the Creator
always knowing, "God, it's yours."

Jesus walked among us,
with hands open wide.
He came to restore
what was destroyed by our pride.

And now he walks,
with hands open wide.
Welcoming our brother Gary,
saying, "Come, rest at my side."

The gentle giant named Gary
is at home in the Father's embrace.
With hands open wide
saving you a place.

You and I can join him,
at home, by his side.
One thing required...
Hands open wide.

Grieving a Loss

today, my dad lost a dear friend in florida and i lost him too. he died in a tragic, scuba accident. he was late 40's and an incredible servant and friend. Gary will be missed...

as i contemplate this day and the loss of our brother, gary....
i am struck tonight with the phrase "this is home"...a recent song put out by Switchfoot on the Prince Caspian movie.

a line from the song...
"Now I'm finally where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah, this is home"

Gary is "at home" tonight...while i am still on journey. he is now enjoying the rest and "sigh" of arriving there. though my heart is heavy and the journey long...i am thankful that one day my heart will also be at home.

Grieving a loss...

pastoral clerks

"The storytelling pastor differs from the moralizing pastor in the same way that a responsible physician differs from a clerk in a drugstore. When an ill person goes to a physician, the physician 'takes a history' before offering a diagnosis and writing a prescription. The presumption is that everything that a person has experienced is relevant to the illness and must be taken into account if there is to be a healing. The clerk in the drugstore simply sells a patient medicine off the shelf--one thing for headaches, another for heartburn, another for indigestion--without regard for the particular details of a person' s pain. Biblical pastoral work 'takes a history' and with that raw material creates a story of salvation... The storyteller assembles the local, personal, and seemingly disparate details along with the numerous individual items that were never mentioned in the histories developed out of Sinai, and makes a history that is significant, meaningful, and redemptive."

--Eugene Peterson, from Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work

I just love Peterson. Love his heart and the way that he describes/lives the life of a pastor. In a time of mega-churches and mega-pastors, church growth models, and a plethora of "entrepreneurial" pastors...this voice is refreshing and real.

Our churches are unfortunately filled with "clerk-type" pastors. Passing along quick medicines and prescriptions to soothe the behavior "ache". Take this...try this. Quick fixes offered over the pastoral desk...AKA the drugstore counter. Unhealed or half-healed pastors who are not in touch with their own history and brokenness attempting to lead people through illnesses and darkness.

I join the band of pastors desiring to get back to the heart of pastoral work. Choosing to "take a history" and invite Jesus to bring healing and restoration. Choosing to shepherd, care, and comfort.
Pastoral clerks may bring a lot of money across the counter.
They may increase the profit of the local company.
They may keep the shareholders happy.
And people may experience the short-term results of behavior modifiers.

But I deeply desire to shepherd differently. I want to be shepherded differently.
And my prayer is that Encounter...this movement we are called to...will raise up an army of shepherd-pastors. Men and women who will fight for the healing of hearts.

Our God comes through

I have to testify about the power of God through our prayers...as we experienced throughout the month of April.

I will limit my blog-space to 2 of them...
1. Campout. We took some men on a campout in early April...fighting for their hearts, deeper healing, and brotherhood. The forecast looked "wet" all week. In fact, not just wet...but potential for tornadoes, etc. We were led to pray and believe that God would clear out a spot over the campground. We prayed all week and God answered by providing clearance. The campout happened, amidst lots of surrounding storms and rain...

2. Golf Tourney. Encounter's golf tournament was scheduled and ready to roll. The forecast was calling for similar conditions...lots of rain and potential tornadoes, etc. We prayed all week that God would clear out the rain from 10am to 6pm...we got specific. We struggled to pray in this way...because we obviously needed the rain...but we asked for God to give clearance for those few hours. Rain and storms surrounded the area all day...yet the course was covered with sunshine and a mix of clouds. The last team finished up...we were driving to the clubhouse @6pm to finalize scores, etc...and the bottom dropped out...lots of rain. God answered the prayer...almost down to the minute.

Certainly prayer is not some kind of "genie" bottle we rub to get our way or get our prayers answered. It is connecting to the heart of our Father and making our requests known. And it is beautiful to see God come through and show His power and glory.
He is worthy of our heart's affection and love...