As I considered Bragg's ideas, I gave thought to my own list of 12 books. Actually, since some of Bragg's 12 were not actual books, I figure my list can be a bit broader as well. So...here it goes...

The 12 Most Formative "Books", by Bill Westfall (not in order of importance):

1. My "family" at Tigard Christian Church. This is the place where I spent some 27 years of my life, learning the basics of what it means to be a Christian.The list of individuals is immense, yet probably not important, because they all were instruments of God.


2. Jeff Prus. Matthew 28 in the flesh. He challenged me to think in new ways, and, as a result, I ended up on this long journey of "mission" to places outside of Tigard, and away from "home".


3. Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster. By the grace of God we have the ability to receive the character of God, the qualities of love.


4. The Bible, especially the books of Genesis, Ruth, Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, Jonah, Mark, Acts, Galatians and Ephesians. God is a mystery, yet knowable. By His power and grace, I am who I am.


5. Brother Lawrence, and his Practice of the Presence of God. Actively expressing the love of God through our actions, revealing His presence to the world around us, is the meaning of life.


6. Dr. Bonnie Thurston, who introduced me to saints like Augustine, St. Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, St. Francis, Thomas a Kempis, William Law, St. Ignatius, Bro. Lawrence, and to writings such as The Cloud of Unknowing, The Pilgrim's Progress, The Philokalia, and The Desert Fathers...her "monkish spirit" has allowed me to observe the power and necessity of prayer and introspection.


7. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. The Christian way is one of community.


8. Jackson Erus. My African friend who has become my brother. He has taught me more about serving God joyfully in the midst of suffering than any "book" ever could.


9. Albert. The African boy I've watched become a man. By the grace of God Albert has used what little he was given for the glory of God. It's true, God uses the humble to accomplish His work.


10. Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby. To experience the presence of God at work in and through our lives is humbling. This is our purpose.


11. Christianity in Culture, by Charles Kraft. Learning to understand our culture is essential to effectively communicating the meaning of the Good News of Jesus to those with whom we live.


12. My wife, Leah, a gift from God. The grace she extends to me daily is a reminder of the grace of God.

There it is...my 12 most formative "books". I'm guessing I have forgotten a lot of very important ones that have shaped me along the way. I'm grateful for the "great cloud of witnesses" that surrounds me each day. God is faithful to provide all that I need.

How about you? Can you identify your top 12?

Last week I posted some thoughts on global warming as I considered a book I had read on the topic. This week I want to follow up on that post as I reflect on Jared Diamond's book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.

Diamond presents an interesting examination of both ancient and modern societies that have, for various reasons, collapsed. Often the reasons for any one nation's collapse are multi-faceted, but Diamond recognizes five significant paths to destruction:

1. Damage done by a society on their environment


2. Climate change (not necessarily the result of human activity)


3. Hostile neighbors (related to military action, as well as economic or political activity)


4. Decreased support from friendly trade partners 


5. Lack of response to approaching societal problems

Of course, we have probably all studied the fall of the Roman Empire at some point in our education. In this example, Rome crumbled under the weight of several factors--increased pressure from hostile neighbors and a lack of a response from approaching problems to name the most significant. In a way, Rome fell as a result of its great success. Growth beyond a sustainable level occurred within an environment lacking the presence of an appropriate response to the problems that existed.

Fast forward to today, and the more I consider the consumer culture I am living in, the more problems I see for our future as we remain on this path. Is it really reasonable to conclude that we can continuously expand our economy through consumption? At some point, as the number of people on earth increase, and as resources decrease, a "collapse" (of some variety) logically must occur.

I'm forced to ponder why it is, then, that we continue along such a path.

Speaking for myself, if I am really honest, I suppose there is this thought within me that says, "It's someone else's problem to deal with at some point in the distant future...I need to get what I can get now, while the getting is good." 

Here are two conclusions I can make as a result of that statement:

First, mine is a pretty selfish stance, from any perspective.

Second, if we don't choose to address our problems, our young people will reap the consequences of our lack of response.

I talk about our individualistic society quite often in this blog, typically critiquing how it promotes selfishness and self-seeking behavior. But allow me to take another perspective today.

Our individualistic and capitalistic context has led to great technological achievements (though I'm speaking of "individualistic" as inspired and free individuals who cooperate with one another toward good ends), and modern technology has given us the ability to communicate across continents. Therefore, as Diamond suggests, we live in a time like no other in history. We actually have the capability to not only identify any impending danger on the path before us, but to communicate that danger efficiently and effectively--and to do so on a global level. This is something that past societies did not have at their disposal. They did not have the ability to understand their world as we do, and to develop responses as a global community, communicating those responses to the masses at the speed of a tweet!

Our future intrigues me. Students on our college campuses are preparing to engage a world like no other generation before has ever seen. They have incredible opportunities! Yet without encouragement and direction, I suspect they will simply follow our lead, and ignore their problems until a crisis is upon them. At that point, it may be too late.

As a leader, I must model for our young generation a selfless lifestyle--one that looks far into the future and responds appropriately. I cannot afford, in spite of what my culture allows, to be short-sighted in the way I live my life. I can choose to care about the future, and to care about others. I can use my energy and intellect to lead boldly--to promote construction rather than to initiate collapse.

A bit ironic, but I had just finished reading a book on global warming for my doctoral studies. Honestly, I've just never given a whole lot of thought to the topic. Al Gore visited Boise State University a couple of years ago, and a lot (no, a LOT) of students attended...but I'm pretty sure I had something else to do that day that just seemed more urgent to me than the topic of global warming (though I don't recall what that "something" was).

[Incidentally, the Midland-Odessa is in the midst of a severe drought...no rain for about a year. Upon arrival, I complained at the state of our rental car, as it clearly had not been washed. Oops...no water for washing cars. "Bill, you need to think a bit more before opening your big mouth."]

As I was on my flight headed home last night, I thought I would take a look at what some of my study cohorts were saying about the book we had all read together, Mark Maslin's Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction. I came across Glenn Williams' blog post and thought I would share it with you.

Glenn authors an excellent blog on leadership. I've started recommending it to more and more of you who are in campus ministry. Glenn always has incredibly keen insights into the way personal virtues intersect and inspire leadership activity. His thoughts are simple, yet far from simplistic.

Case in point: He used Dr. Seuss to uncover my self-seeking attitude in this most recent post. It doesn't get much more simple than Dr. Seuss (yet he still found a way to footnote a couple of heavyweights).

I can identify with Glenn when he talks about his rather indifferent attitude toward global warming. No, I have not ignored the fact that I have a role in helping to protect the environment, but my involvement probably hasn't gone much farther than the walk to the front curb of the sidewalk on Tuesday morning to set out the recycle bin (actually, come to think of it, my wife usually makes that walk). Oh, and I did take another big step a couple of months ago by downsizing to one very fuel-efficient car, and making a commitment to drive less.

But, is that enough? No...probably not. I tend to only do simple and easy things that make me feel good, but don't get in the way of my continued comfort. Yep, there it is...that self-seeking attitude rearing its ugly head again.

As Maslin points out, the issue of global warming does have a strong scientific backing. The evidence that he points to is worth a look--if for no other reason than the potentially staggering implications on the future of our world assuming global warming is indeed a valid issue. But get ready to squirm a bit. The conversation on the topic exposes huge economic and political ramifications for our consumerist society if we really are to take global warming seriously. We live in a world that believes the pursuit of indivudual desires is sovereign--that MY desires and MY happiness is all that really matters--and I wonder if this type of attitude is conducive to addressing the global warming issue.

In the field of campus ministry we see that students are indeed concerned about their world. I'm glad that they are, and we need to provide opportunities for them to engage in the various conversations that are taking place. Honestly, the postmodern worldview contributes positively to students' thinking on this topic. There is a growing desire among the younger generations to be more community-minded. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how God's desire for us, as His people, is to live in peace with others and in harmony with His creation.

This means, as leaders, we need to also do our homework and identify daily activities that will demonstrate our desire to care for the world. We need to look beyond our own self to identify how our actions impact the world around us. To change the world in positive ways is as simple as taking small steps forward each day--to the front curb of the sidewalk, and beyond.

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For more reading on this topic, check out a blog by my doctoral colleague, Russ Pierson, who is writing his dissertation on the topic of Christianity and environmentalism.

Isolation--A Place of Transformation in the Life of a Leader by Shelley G. Trebesch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trebesch identifies, within a Christian context, a phenomenon that occurs in the lives of most leaders (she says that 95% of leaders will experience it). She terms this isolation, defining it as:

...the setting aside of a leader from normal ministry involvement in its natural context usually for an extended time in order to experience God in a new or deeper way.

She also identifies a second type of isolation, ministry isolation, that can occur in the midst of ministry. She defines this as:

...an experience in the context of ministry in which the basic symptoms of regular isolation are felt and experienced and in which God uses the situation to deepen the leader's life.

Her basic thesis is that Christian leaders should embrace these typically trying seasons of life, learning to recognize that periods of isolation, though painful, bring about positive transformation within the life of the leader. 

Trebesch first identifies the presence of isolation within the lives of many biblical characters. Using both the Old Testament as well as the New, she walks the reader through a process of identifying isolation experiences as the norm for those who seek to know and understand God. By examining these various characters, she is able to identify four basic components of the isolation experience:

View the rest of this review, and all of my book reviews here

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Do any of these statements seem to fit where you are today?

I feel abandoned by God.

I feel like I have no direction for the future.

I've just been released from my ministry, and I don't know what to do.

Ugh...I've got too much to do...I don't have time for this setback!!

"Who am I?" you ask...well I'm a minister of course, and a successful one at that!

I've always trusted in my own abilities, but I'm slowly learning to trust in God.

I sense that everything I'm doing right now, and everything that I'm experiencing, is meaningless and unproductive.

I see that everywhere I turn I am facing rejection.

I think I'm on the right path, but it is so tempting to take an easier road.

If any of these statements ring true for you, then it may be possible that you are either entering, or in the midst of, an isolation experience. But before you start to panic, don't. This is a good thing.

Shelley Trebesch explores these feelings in her book Isolation: A Place of Transformation in the Life of a Leader. I only wish I had stumbled across her research before now.

Shelley has a background in campus ministry, so her story has even greater significance to me. [Incidentally, I met her at Fuller Seminary back in 1996, just prior to her publishing this work, but I had no idea at that time how God was at work in her life. Now, some 16 years later, I'm actually at a point where I can relate to what she has discovered: there is a deep goodness in isolation.] Even so, having come through a couple of isolation experiences myself, one rather intense, I believe that her research has value for all of us in Christian leadership.

I would encourage you to please read my actual review of her book (link above) for more in depth thoughts on her work, but let me begin by encouraging you to consider for a moment that what may not appear as something healthy and productive in your life might indeed be just that.

Isolation is a time when we are, as Christian leaders, either voluntarily or involuntarily, removed from ministry responsibilities for a season of time. Typically, this is a very painful season for us. It might be isolation brought on by exhaustion (health related), or it might be isolation brought on by discipline (moral failure). Or, if we are fortunate, perhaps we are in a season of isolation by our own choosing--we are afforded the luxury of a sabbatical, for example. No matter your entry point into the world of isolation, you'll want to read Shelley's thoughts in order to make the most of it.

Shelley argues that isolation is actually a tool that God uses for our benefit--to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him where we are more dependent upon His strength and less concerned with our identity as a "successful" leader. As such, we must learn to identify isolation, and to embrace the process, knowing that God is at work in our lives transforming our character in such a way to bring us closer to Him, being dynamically equipped for ministry in the days ahead.

Isolation is an honor, a privilege. 

Pain, frustration, humiliation, discipline--these things may not feel like we're being honored, but God is the master at using the fire of trials to bring about humility, brokenness, and honesty. All of which must precede a deepened walk with Him as our source of strength.

Should you sense that you might be in a period of isolation, I encourage you to find a mentor (actually, Shelley's recommendation)--someone who has been through the isolation process and is better for it. Embrace it, and look for what God might want to teach you. Don't be quick to get through the season of isolation (God will lead you out of it in His time, when you are ready), but be quick to listen to the guiding presence of the Spirit.

Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking In Your Organization by Daniel Patrick Forrester

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forrester sets out to demonstrate how powerful reflective thinking is in the workplace. He says, 

There’s an intangible and invisible marketplace within our lives today, where the products traded are four-fold: attention, distraction, data, and meaning. They are passed around in a frenzied dance that can drain your senses and dilute sound judgment. In this marketplace, there are very few buyers of the more costly products: attention and meaning—especially when distraction and data are incessantly distributed to all of us for free. Yet, we rarely step back to question the pace, personal impact, chaotic information flows, unpredictability, and lack of meaning that swirl within our organizations. We collapse at the end of the day and then get back in the water the next morning. The word that describes what we are all living through is “busyness,” a non-stop state of busyness. It makes us feel wanted and useful, but at the same time we feel drained and uncontrolled. The stories and examples within this book demonstrate that the best decisions, insights, ideas, and outcomes result when we take sufficient time to think and reflect. (4)

We live in a world that values, at an ever-increasing level, busy-ness over any other criteria for evaluating work performance. What I am discovering, however, is that doing the RIGHT thing at the RIGHT time is much more critical to our success, and to the success of our organizations... Reflective thinking allows us to place the proper emphasis on our job responsibilities, and helps us to determine the proper priorities for specific tasks...

View this review, and all of my reviews here

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If there is one thing I appreciate about my organization, Impact Campus Ministries, it is the value we place on prayer and reflective thinking. We require each of our employees to take one day a month to set aside all other responsibilities for the sake of giving attention to the important task of quiet reflection. It is both my favorite, and most difficult day of the month.

It's my favorite day because, when it is all said and done, I'm refreshed. I have a new perspective. I typically have new ideas, and a restored level of energy for my work. I also find that I am more enthusiastic, and in a more positive frame of mind after a day of contemplation and introspection.

But on the flip side, it is an extremely difficult day. It's a struggle to battle against ingrained habits. I find myself, especially early on in the day, fighting the reflex to check my phone, to gaze at the email icon every 60 seconds, to tap out that quick text message that will frequently turn into a multi-text conversation that lasts well over 30 minutes.

Eventually I give up...I turn off the phone, allow the computer to fall into sleep mode, and I slip into the realm of focus, where distractions are not allowed.

It's a great feeling.

Forrester says that, on average, it takes us about 11 minutes to get back to a point of focus once we have allowed an interruption. He also says that about 28% of our day is spent on those allowed interruptions, and the subsequent time it takes us to get our attention corralled on the task at hand.

If you're all at all like me, you can quickly do the math. My "smart" (?) phone tends to notify me about every 9 minutes that there is a new interruption waiting at my door. 

Hmmm...yep, you got it...I never really get to that point of deep reflection and focus when I am allowing my phone to schedule my day.

Suddenly my phone doesn't seem so smart anymore. Well, unless it's job is to keep me distracted and unproductive. If so, then it deserves a ribbon.

Forrester's book (Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking In Your Organization) is packed full of real-world examples of the power of reflective thinking. To be at our best, to solve the problems we face, to come up with the new ideas we need to move forward in more efficient and effective ways, we need to pause, to be quiet, and to consider.

More importantly, to be in tune with the Spirit of God, we need to be still, to be quiet. We need to block out the noise for a while, and focus on the "still, quiet voice" in our midst.

Our success is not at all related to our level of busy-ness (as our culture would have us believe), but it is directly tied to our ability to hear, and respond to, the promptings of God. This happens most effectively in the disciplines of study (Scripture), and of silence and solitude (prayer).

Over the past several weeks I have been in the process of learning a new lesson. It hit home this week after reading Consider. 

Doing the RIGHT thing, at the RIGHT time, is far better than busy-ness. Reflective thinking, and slowing the pace is the best way I have found to navigate my way along this road.

Feeling a bit harried? Is the pace of your life ever-increasing, and along with it the length of your to-do list? It might be time for you to pause, to reflect, to be quiet, and to consider an alternative route. 

The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources Of Love, Character, And Achievement by David  Brooks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Children are coached on how to jump through a thousand scholastic hoops. Yet by far the most important decisions they will make are about whom to marry and whom to befriend, what to love and what to despise, and how to control impulses. On these matters, they are almost entirely on their own. We are good at talking about material incentives, but bad about talking about emotions and intuitions. We are good at teaching technical skills, but when it comes to the most important things, like character, we have almost nothing to say.

I appreciate this comment by Brooks in his introduction (xiv). Teaching character, being intentional about teaching character, is a foreign matter in our society today. We are very good at allowing the culture to instruct and inform us (I'm thinking largely of the grip consumerism has on our behaviors as a society) on matters that have deep consequences for how we think and live. We do not do the difficult work of critiquing our culture and learning to behave in ways that counter the more harmful effects of our cultural norms.

This is one of the main objectives of Brooks' work, to demonstrate through fictional narrative that we are indeed largely creatures of habit, living lives of ritual and routine that are often unquestioned and unexamined. We seldom give serious thought to how are social context is serving to shape our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs through our daily behavioral patterns...

View this review, and all of my reviews here

A Brief Guide to Ideas by William Raeper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm glad to have this handy resource as a part of my library. Beginning with epistemology, and an examination of the foundational ideas of Plato and Aristotle for Western thought, the authors move through history and the development of philosophy...

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How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture by Francis A. Schaeffer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm still working through some of this book, but I have absolutely loved what Schaeffer has to say, especially in regards to the dangers of a society that is primarily concerned with personal peace and affluence. He asserts that such a society will eventually allow an authoritative type of government to rise into existence out of a fear of losing "comfort". This certainly does not happen quickly, but is something that develops over time.

Interesting, but our culture today bears the marks of Schaeffer's description. When I speak with young people today about their hopes and dreams, and about their definition of success, they nearly always communicate this idea of "comfort"--of personal peace and affluence. They are willing to sacrifice much for achieving, and maintaining, this aspect of their life. To Schaeffer, this is an extremely dangerous place to be as a society...

View these reviews, and all my reviews here

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I've been reading a couple of different books this past week, both of which examine the past in order to help navigate the way forward in life. I'm understanding more and more that who I am today, and how I think, is largely dependent upon my historical context. This realization has caused me to want to examine, and to understand, my roots. It is also causing me to ask questions, and to seek out other historical perspectives that have something to offer me as I deepen my faith in God.

So, you may be asking, "What have I discovered about my history?"

The list is growing, but here's one important item that I've been pondering for several months:

I live in the Western social context, which is built upon the idea of individualism, or the primacy of self. This is a worldview that has developed over many centuries--from the Renaissance, through the Reformation and the Enlightenment. It is a deeply embedded way of understanding the world in which I live, and its formative force on my behaviors and beliefs is powerful. I've talked about this before, but it is worth mentioning again, it is a particularly dangerous frame of reference for someone who is striving to live the self-sacrificing way of Jesus.

Where do I see individualism most clearly in the university campus context? It's immediately evident in the dreams and aspirations of college students today. They live in a culture that tells them success is about personal peace and affluence (a lifestyle marked by "comfort" is the primary word used to describe it). Over the past couple of years I've been interviewing students about this. My findings are overwhelming--students value comfort above all else.

This should not surprise us at all. The message we all are hearing today through a multitude of advertisments is that life is simply about self, desire, and the pursuit of whatever is out there to make us happy.

It's so easy to conform to the world around us.

Schaeffer's book (see link above) calls attention to the dangers of living life from the perspective of self as the center. At its worse, it is a form of idolatry and will, ironically, prevent us from experiencing the life of abundance that God intends for us. 

What do I do with this historical perspective? Is it enough to simply study history, or am I to actually respond in some way?

Schaeffer certainly believes we have an obligation to respond. His book is appropriately entitled, How Should We Then Live? As we study history, our discoveries should ultimately move us to act. Christians have a responsibility to influence society in ways that demonstrate the love God has for His creation.

Schaeffer asserts that we are to use our wealth compassionately. There is nothing inherently wrong with working hard, or being wealthy. Indeed, I think we are created to work, and to find joy in our work as it brings glory to God. There is a problem, however, with viewing our wealth from a self-centered, individualistic perspective. Afterall, The Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it (Ps 24). We are to act as God's stewards. We have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

I encourage you to examine your history--to discover your roots. Explore how you have been influenced by philosophers, scientists, theologians, and others. Determine to critically examine your biases, and to go beyond learning. Take action. Influence the world around you in ways that demonstrate the goodness of God. 

Take a close look at our consumerist culture, and how it feeds into this idea of self as sovereign. Find ways to do battle with those daily messages that tell us life is all about comfort.

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark A. Noll

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Noll adresses Evangelicalism's "scandal":  The absence of deep thinking and the engagement of the arts and sciences from a Christian theological perspective.

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Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great book. Refreshing to see someone focusing on the life of Jesus and the relevance he has for the mind and theology.

View these reviews, and all of my reviews here

I came across this video several weeks ago, and have watched it many times since. It does a great job of illustrating (quite literally) some of the deeper societal issues of consumerism.

As you watch it, consider how often you think about our social context (Western consumerism in a postmodern, capitalistic, free market system) as you design and implement your ministry programs. In other words, does your approach to ministry take into consideration the social context of those to whom you are serving (contextualization)?

Also, I would love to hear your reflections on this video.

What new thing(s) did you learn?

With what did you disagree?

Does it go far enough? Are the suggestions made adequate in terms of teaching college students how to live like Christ in this consumerist society?

The video is the product of The Center for a New American Dream.

I'm human, obviously, and thus able to make errors in judgment and mistakes. I always hope they are few and far between.

This past week, my previous blog post drew some sharp criticism. Part of it may be from my failure to communicate clearly, part may be from an error on my part, and part may be due to the extreme sensitivity of the topic: homosexuality.

I received an email from trusted friends and supporters, questioning one of my recommendations given to campus ministers to find a GLBT person to co-lead a Bible study on campus with you.

My friend suggests that this act would communicate that the campus minister would be condoning the gay lifestyle.

I certainly see the point my supporter is trying to make.

First, let me be certain to communicate with you where I stand...I believe homosexuality is a serious sin, and should not be condoned. I believe God abhors sin of any kind, and I also believe that the sin of homosexuality is explicity condemned by God in Leviticus. To me, it is very clear in those straight-forward words that God absolutely abhors the homosexual act. My position is that in the act of homosexuality we are willfully spurning the design of God, acting in extreme pride and arrogance against God. God always hates it when we, as His creation, do not give Him the glory that He is due.

Setting my beliefs aside, my point was to encourage campus ministers to engage the GLBT community as a member of God's kingdom by taking steps to "live among" the GLBT community. This is a "mission field" on our college campuses that is in need of our presence. I will remind us all that the purpose of this blog is to stretch our thinking, as campus ministers who serve in the context of the university.

Whether we recognize it or not, students are already engaged in the conversation with their friends (this is a fact of the social context of the university), and we need to find ways to allow Spirit-led dialogue to exist. We should lead the way for them in this. So, with this in mind, my thought was that if we could gather both the GLBT community and Christian campus ministries together, this would allow room for the Holy Spirit to lead through the study of scripture.

Whenever we engage with others, we in a sense, I believe, have to allow them to "lead" with us (or perhaps the term should be to "walk" with us along the path to Christ-likeness). It is very difficult to simply walk into someone else's home and tell them you are going to lead them in a Bible study. Instead, we have to commit to a dialogue, and to the possibility that they might have something to teach us, approaching them in humility. When we do this, we give the Spirit the opportunity to work among us--He is, afterall, the One who convicts of sin and who leads us into righteousness.

When I lived in Africa as a missionary, I learned so much from the people who I served. To this day I reflect on the lives of some of those men who sat "under me" in Bible study when I think about a visual image of "God as a loving father".

Learning to love people, all people, means that we love them no matter their lifestyle. We can find ways to love people without condoning sin. My point in this is that the Church often has not loved the GLBT community, and that we need to find ways to bridge new relationships for the purpose of allowing the Spirit to work in us, and through us.

But, even saying all of this, I submit myself to the greater Body of the Church, and to correction. If there is an error of which I am to be corrected, please correct me, and keep me from falling into sin. This is YOUR role, as my brothers and sisters in Christ...to hold me up, and to keep me on the path, as I walk this journey of faith.

May He be glorified in me, and through me.

Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation With the Gay Community by Andrew Marin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marin begins by narrating his story of how he ventured into the gay community (as a straight heterosexual) when three of his closest friends "came out" within a period of three months. He advocates for open dialogue with the gay community, and the avoidance of closed-ended questions (on both sides) because they tend to squash conversation.

Believing that we all can learn something when gays and straights listen to one another, Marin chastises Christians for not being willing to incarnate the gay community. He rightly recognizes that Christians are willing to inhabit many different cultures for the sake of sharing the gospel, but rarely does he find Christians who are willing to step into the social context of the GLBT community. 

View the rest of this review, and all of my reviews here

God, Sex, and Gender: An Introduction by Adrian Thatcher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a challenging read for me...not because the topic is difficult to understand, but because I have not been very willing to give thoughtful consideration to alternative views on the topic of sex and gender...

...Is the church using a theological argument for its beliefs that is outdated (not culturally relevant)? Do we need to do some work on understanding the historical context of both the Old and New Testament scriptures on the topic? 

...Interesting, but the church is amazingly quiet on this topic--other than having a loud voice for "abstinence" and being against homosexuality, there is not much else going on in the discussion. If the church is to be effective in communicating within her cultural context, dialogue must be engaging. This is simply not happening.

View this review in its entirety, and all my reviews here

A very startling look into the reality of poverty in the world today. I love what Mr. Beck concludes...that we must "...help them where they are!"

This is what "Impact the World" is all about...empowering young minds, where they are! Education offers a child an opportunity in life to dream, and to engage the world with hope.

I'm asking you to consider the students who have either voiced concern, or "dissatisfaction" in some way, and left, or students who have simply exited out the back door, and you have lost track of them.

Why do you think they left?

Was it something you did?

Was it an issue on their part?

Is it a complete mystery to you?

Organizations deal with this sort of dilemma all the time. Good organizations should constantly be looking at those who are exiting, and those who are voicing opinions and giving feedback. Both can be useful indicators of necessary changes that need to be made to strengthen the organization.

I've been looking at Albert Hirschman's Exit, Voice, and Loyalty: Responses to Decline in Firms, Organizations, and States, and started making the connection to campus ministry, and the church. Interestingly enough, I think the church these days sees a lot more "exit" without "voice" than in times past. This is what we would typically expect from a business environment, but we shouldn't expect it from a more "community-minded" organization. People within a relationally-minded organization should feel the freedom to voice opinion. Perhaps the church has something to learn in this???

Has the church become more like a business?

Sure, we're always going to have people leaving. That's a fact. But we should take some time to discover why they are leaving, and if there is something we need to do in response.

Here's a thought...

Does the environment of your ministry allow for "voice"? In other words, do people feel safe to share honestly and freely? Do they believe their voice will be given consideration? If not, then what can be done to foster such an environment?

Loyalty to an organization is a valuable thing. But true loyalty can only exist in an environment where people are free to voice, and where they are free to exit. Both qualities are essential.

What can you learn from exit? What can you learn from voice?

Perspectives on Leadership: From the Science of Management to Its Spiritual Heart by Gilbert W. Fairholm

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fairholm examines a progression of leadership models, beginning with leadership as management, moving forward to include the topics of leadership as excellent management, values-based leadership, trust leadership, and ultimately highlighting and emphasizing the importance of spiritual leadership...His thesis focuses on the premise that people are spiritual by nature, and are longing for a spiritual foundation in life. He sees that a person's spirituality is demonstrated through their work activities. If we are to effectively lead, we must give our energy to the spiritual longings of people.

He says, People in all kinds of occupations are voicing a cry for spiritual foundation in a chaotic world. They are redefining work to include satisfaction of the inner needs for spiritual identity and satisfaction. 

He also adds,Traditional religion is still the prime repository of moral history and present practice...(but) as society or individuals move away from traditional religion, they still must find an outlet for these moral drives. For a growing number of people, that outlet is in the work they do.

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Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently re-read this book, and was again reminded of how much I appreciated it back in 2009 when I first read it. Collins has assembled an amazing collection of leadership wisdom through his research...

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Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue by William A. Dyrness

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dyrness explores the world of imagery in Christian worship, including an historical survey of artistic expression of Christian faith throughout the existence of the church.

He advocates for a re-entry of sorts of art into mainstream evangelical worship...

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