Semicolon Theology

Did you hear?  RNS columnist Jonathan Merritt got his first tattoo yesterday! Okay...that might not be the most startling news from yesterday. [Although, to be honest, I have a friend who is still waiting on me to get my first one...17 years later.] And, in all reality, Christians getting tattoos shouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

So why mention this little personal tidbit from Jonathan's life? Well, it's because of why he decided to get the tattoo specifically. He decided on a semicolon, and did so because it "is a reminder that there are times in a story when the author could choose to quit, but decides instead to go on." There is a lot of truth in that statement, spiritually speaking.

We are the authors of our own stories, and some of out storytelling is good and some of it is not so good. My comment back to Jonathan came from my favorite prayer in the Bible -- Psalm 30. We see the fascinating reality of faith demonstrated for us in a single verse: "By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face, I was dismayed" (NRSV).

Did you see what happened there? In the space of a semicolon, the poet's life changed from success to failure, from living high on the mountain to languishing down in the valley. And in just the space of the semicolon. The New Living Translation separates these as two sentences, which helps us see the idea here a little more clearly -- our life can change in just the space of a moment.

Whether it being in a traffic accident like I saw on Friday, walking out of a job interview or leaving someone at the table at Starbucks because we just broke up with them, our lives can change in just a moment. In one moment, life is stellar -- like Christopher Nolan/The Dark Knight stellar. Then, without any warning, the bottom falls out and we beg for God to intervene -- like I might have done when I saw the recent Fantastic 4 film with my son.

The point is, change is the one constant to life. That does not mean, however, that God is not present. It simply means that life happens. It means that we decide to go forward rather than quit when life gets too hard. Because, as we see at the end of Psalm 30, if we endure, then we will see God turn our mourning to dancing and clothe us with everlasting joy.

BE: Mourn (2014 KCU Faculty Sermon Series)

Listen

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:1-12, NRSV).

Discern

Dr. Girdwood opened his sermon by focusing on the paragraph directly preceding Matthew 5.  In Matthew 4:23-25, the crowds gravitate around Jesus because they saw that he could heal them from their afflictions, illnesses and diseases.  Some were paralyzed, some were blind, and some were demon-possessed.  And in each case, Jesus demonstrated the amazing power that God had given him.  Every person was healed!  As a result, the crowds following Jesus grew and grew.  However, as Dr. Girdwood reminded us, healing people of their bumps and bruises was not why Jesus stepped down out of heaven.  Jesus came to demonstrate how we live in God’s kingdom!  Therefore, he takes a seat and begins to talk about those who are blessed, those who are citizens.  Ron Allen challenges the traditional notion that “blessed” means “happy” when he writes that those who are blessed “live in the confidence that God is at work to bring about a realm of peace and love and joy and abundance.”[1]  That is certainly “good news” for people who have experienced a great deal of suffering. 

Articulate

What does it mean to mourn?  Dr. Girdwood really challenged the common notion regarding prayer.  Too often our prayers are weak.  We focus solely on ourselves and our problems instead of looking to the larger concerns of the world.  When I teach on this passage, I focus on both the micro-meaning and the macro-meaning of this passage.  On one hand, we do need to mourn the problems that we personally face, such as chronic sin or being rejected from a job because of the color of our skin.  On the other hand, however, we cannot be full citizens of the kingdom unless we are mourning the state of the world.  As Randy Harris challenges, we must mourn for children who die from disease and for those succumb to their own mental anguish by taking their own lives.[2]  And, as Dr. Girdwood challenged, we must mourn for political injustice and social oppression.  We mourn for these ills when we turn to God in prayer and ask for God to intervene.  In doing so, we will be comforted.  In doing so, we will be blessed.

Approach

1.      Find the article entitled "Experiences in Need of Ritual" by Herbert Anderson and Edward Foley (in the 5 November 1997 issue of Christian Century).  How can you personally mourn for (minister to) those who have lost family members in a way that points them to God?  How can we remind them that God loves them even in the midst of tragedy?

2.  Visit the Church of England’s website and click on “Topical Prayers” (www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/topical-prayers.aspx).  Dedicate seven days to praying for the concerns listed there.  Record your prayers in a journal so that you can see how God honors your prayers in the future.

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[1]Ronald J. Allen, “The Surprising Blessing of the Beatitudes,” in Preaching the Sermon on the Mount: The World It Imagines, ed. David Fleer and Dave Bland (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2007), 88.

[2]Randy Harris, Living Jesus: Doing What Jesus Says in the Sermon on the Mount (Abilene, TX: Leafwood Publishers, 2012), 30. 

2014 Reading List (I Think)

As promised on Wednesday, here is what I am looking to read in 2014.  They may inspire you, or you may think I'm nuts for reading them.  My reading plan for the first part of this year is to read 1 novel, 1 theological text, and 1 ministry text each month, since I have additional course texts to read.  Think I might like something you're reading?  Leave me a comment or sent me an email!  Happy reading!

Books I am Reviewing

• Carl Prude, Anchored in Light (ACU Book Club blog)

Books I am Reading for Classes I Teach

• David Hansen, The Art of Pastoring, rev. ed. (Introduction to Ministry)
• Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (Providence and Suffering)
• Thomas Long, What Shall We Say? (Providence and Suffering)
• More will be added, I am sure, when my Fall schedule rolls around

Books I am Reading for My LAST Doctoral Class

• Dave Bland and David Fleer, ed., Performing the Psalms
• David Fleer and Dave Bland, ed., Preaching the Eighth-Century Prophets
• Glenn Pemberton, Hurting with God
• Fleming Rutledge, And God Spoke to Abraham

Books I am Reading for Fun (Fiction/Philosophy)

• Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
• Max Brooks, World War Z
• Lewis Sinclair, Elmer Gantry
• Cormac McCarthy, The Road
• Arthur Miller, Death of a Saleman
• Jose Ortega y Gassett, Revolt of the Masses
• George Orwell, Animal Farm
• Ayn Rand, We the Living or Atlas Shrugged
• Philip Roth, The Plot Against America
• Charlie Starr, Light
• Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey
• Jack Wolf, The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones

Books I am Reading for Fun (Homiletics)

• Kenton Anderson, Choosing to Preach
• Charles Bartow, God's Human Speech
• Charles Campbell, The Word Before the Powers
• Lucy Hogan and Robert Stephen Reid, Connecting with the Congregation

Books I am Reading for Fun (Ministry)

• Timothy Keller, Center Church (for some consulting work)
• Melick and Melick, Teaching that Transforms (for my dissertation; yes, this is it!)

Books I am Reading for Fun (Theology)

• Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods
• Timothy Keller, Every Good Encounter
• Timothy Keller, Generous Justice
• Timothy Keller, Jesus the King (aka, King's Cross)
• Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer
• Philip Yancey, Prayer
• Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing about Grace?

2013 Reading List

Note: I realize it is a tad late, given today is January 15.  However, I have traditionally shared my reading list from the previous year, and I realize that a few of you have asked about it.  So, with that in mind, here is what nourished me spiritually and academically in 2013.  On Friday, I will post my preliminary reading list for 2014.

Books I Reviewed

• David T. Bourgeois, Ministry in the Digital Age (for Stone-Campbell Journal)
• Carpenter, Sweet and Blythe, Introduction to Applied Creative Thinking (for Teaching Theology and Religion)
• Keith Francis and William Gibson, ed., The Oxford Handbook of the British Sermon, 1689-1901 (for Stone-Campbell Journal)
• Gregory Hunt, Leading Congregations through Crisis (for Stone-Campbell Journal)
• Rita Schulte, Shattered (for ACU Press "Book Club" blog)

Books I Read for Classes I Teach

• David Fleer and Dave Bland, ed., Preaching Mark's Unsettling Messiah (Expository Preaching)
• George Hunter, The Celtic Way of Evangelism (Evangelism in the Local Church)
• Charles Talbert, Reading Luke, rev. ed. (Gospel of Luke)
• N. T. Wright, The Early Christian Letters for Everyone (General Letters)
• Philip Yancey, What Good Is God? (Providence and Suffering)

Books I Read for My Dissertation

• Karl Barth, Homiletics
• Joan Bolker, Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day
• Raymond Collins, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus
• Edward Farley, Practicing Gospel
• Luke Timothy Johnson, Letters to Paul's Delegates
• Kostenberger and Wilder, ed., Entrusted with the Gospel
• Abraham Malherbe, Paul and the Popular Philosophers
• Andrew Purves, Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition
• Andrew Purves, The Crucifixion of Ministry
• Andrew Purves, The Resurrection of Ministry
• Ronald Sisk, The Competent Pastor
• Paul Scott Wilson, Preaching and Homiletic Theory
• Frances Young, The Theology of the Pastoral Letters

Books I Read for Fun

• Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
• Bonnie Baeder, Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
• Augsten Burroughs, This Is How
• Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
• Ian Fleming, For Your Eyes Only
• Ian Fleming, From Russia with Love
• Ian Fleming, Goldfinger
• Ian Fleming, Man with the Golden Gun
• Ian Fleming, Octopussy and The Living Daylights
• Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty's Secret Service
• Ian Fleming, The Spy Who Loved Me
• Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice
• Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible
• C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country
• Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
• Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Books I Read for Seminars

• C. Leonard Allen, Things Unseen (Theology in Ministry)
• O. Wesley Allen, Determining the Form (Sermon Development and Delivery)
• Chris Altrock, Preaching to Pluralists (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)
• Bartholomew and Goheen, The Drama of Scripture (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)
• Kennon Callahan, Small, Strong Congregations (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Ron Crandall, Turnaround and Beyond (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Ruth Ann Gaede, ed., Transitions in Congregations (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Hicks, Melton and Valentine, A People Gathered (Theology and Ministry)
• Richard Jensen, Envisioning the Word (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)
• Michael Lindvall, The Good News from North Haven (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Andrew Purves, Reconstructing Pastoral Theology (Theology in Ministry)
• David Ray, The Indispensable Guide for Smaller Churches (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Lyle Schaller, Middle-Sized Church (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• James Thompson, Pastoral Ministry according to Paul (Theology in Ministry)
• Jason Vickers, Minding the Good Ground (Theology in Ministry)
• Sondra Willobee, The Write Stuff (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)

Hosting God and the Church

In an essay aptly entitled "Preacher as Host and Guest," John McClure, a preaching professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School, talks about how we who preach fulfill the ancient role of "host" in that “we welcome all with a word to share into dialogue so that the word and wisdom of God might be discerned for the community.”[1] In short, our pastoral presence through word and deed sets the stage for experiencing a divine encounter. Yet, how do we serve as “host”? My practice has always been to greet as many people as possible before, during and after the service. Yet, try as hard as I might, I cannot shake every single hand or hug every single shoulder. Most people, I have found, understand this--there is only one of me and 100 (or 150 or 200 or whatever) of them. . .and the line at Applebees' is only getting longer.

However, some take great offense when I do not speak with them or shake their hand. At a previous congregation, I was criticized for not being "friendly" enough. When I probed the criticism, I discovered that there was one wealthy couple that did not think that I was giving them enough attention (meaning, ALL of my attention). My focus had been on welcoming the new families who had been attending and encouraging our new, young leaders rather than “buttering my bread.”

Yet, there are some who are quieter and more reserved who are personally appalled by the thought of talking to the minister, of "wasting his time." If I am not attuned to this, he/she will come to think that I am excluding them from my circle and, conversely, from the congregation. We should and must shake the hands of our friends and benefactors. Yet we should not forget that we are the host of the party and should make sure that all feel welcome and accepted, even if that means catching up with someone later in order to be pastoral to the other.

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[1]John S. McClure, “Preacher as Host and Guest,” in Slow of Speech and Unclean Lips: Contemporary Images of Preaching Identity, ed. Robert Stephen Reid (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010), 123.

Book Review: Shattered

Rita A. Schulte.  Shattered: Finding Hope and Healing through the Loses of Life.  Abilene, TX: Leafwood Publishers, 2013.  236 pp.  $14.99.

After spending over a decade in some form of ministry (whether as a minister based in a congregation or a hospital), it still surprises me when people question the validity of their faith when they experience pain and suffering.  It is as if becoming a Christian exempts us from getting hurt.  Yet, the reality is that we will all experience suffering, sometimes over and over again.  And, in her book Shattered, Rita Schulte, a Virginia-based Christian counselor, argues that it is our faith in God that gets us through the “shattered” moments of our lives. 

Schulte lays out her discussion in three major units.  In the first unit (chapters 1-5), she examines the “assaults of lose on the heart.”  Here she focuses on those moments that challenge our faith and our belief in God, encouraging the reader to rethink our perception of God amidst these painful moments.  In the second unit (chapters 6-8), she discusses a strategy for reclaiming our hearts from the suffering that we experience.  Focusing primarily on anger and forgiveness, Schulte challenges us to see that not forgiving those who hurt us is what prevents us from receiving God’s healing.  In the third unit (chapters 9-11), she focuses on how we grow through our suffering and pain.  Here Schulte emphasizes the intentionality that we must have when it comes to growing through suffering.   

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Schulte’s book.  In terms of strengths, four stand out.  First, I found her writing style to be very conversational.  Some works on suffering can be technical and clumsy.  Schulte, however, explains the technical aspects of grief and suffering in a simple manner that adds to the impact of her book.  Second, she connected real-life examples with her concepts.  In doing so, the abstract concepts become concrete ideas because we can see how they have played out in the lives of others.  Third, the provided appendices are practical.  For example, Appendix A provides a list of losses that mostly any reader can connect with.  Also, the “Certificate of Debt” exercise provided in Appendix C is quite useful when working with clients or church members who need to address issues of forgiveness.  Finally, her use of Scripture examples were appropriate and applied well.

However, this does not mean that this volume is free from limitations.  Two come to mind.  First, while I appreciated her conversation tone, I thought she was too conversation at times.  It is difficult to balance the heady language of a clinical practitioner with a user-friendly bedside manner.  Overall, it seems that Schulte opted for user-friendly bedside manner.  Second, I think this volume is a little too long.  I think she could have shaved about 70 pages off (primarily in the first unit) and still produced the same material with an even more impactful message.  However, I think this is a solid work on suffering that I would gladly recommend to any who are interested or are seeking guidance in dealing with their own losses.

Rob O’Lynn, MDiv

Assistant Professor of Preaching and Ministry

Kentucky Christian University

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A New Direction

I’ve been thinking about this blog and how to make it as helpful as possible.  To be honest, I’m not sure if anyone actually reads it.  (If you do, whether you are a regular or just passing through, leave the occasional comment or send me a message and let me know what you think.)  I guess this is one of the great values of blogging—this can be just as much for me to process in a digital journal, thus making public what has often been private. 

I heard someone say once that good writers write for themselves.  And, to be honest, that’s all that I really want to be.  There are some great blogs out there.  If you want some great insights into ministry and leadership, you should really check out Jim Martin’s blog “A Place for the God Hungry.”  Interested in daily spiritual growth?  Check our Chris Altrock’s “True North” blog for his “Ten Minute Transformation” posts.  Want to read about the intersection between faith and culture?  There is probably no one better guide in the digital frontier than Josh Graves.  These are some of the blogs that I read that I find helpful, and I think you will enjoy them as well.

So, here’s what I am thinking: Instead of trying really hard to make this blog deeply profound and come with daily devotionals, I think I am going to alter course just a little.  Mondays are now going to be known as “Meditation Mondays.”  I will offer a devotional for the week that will hopefully give you some encouragement.  Wednesdays will be known as “Writing Wednesdays,” and I am going to just write.  Who knows what will come up?  It may be personal.  It may be profound.  It may be profoundly personal.  It may be personally profound.  The point is that Wednesdays will be about writing.  Then Fridays will be “Fun Fridays.”  I think the name says it all here.  It may be a movie review or a funny story.  Yet it will be within the context of faith, life and ministry.

I say this now because I will be taking the month of October off from blogging.  I am doing this to open up my blog to one of my preaching classes.  They will be posting original pieces of their own.  So, come by and say “Hi.”  I really do appreciate the support.

#Priorities

What is important to you?  All of us have values.  All of us ideas and attributes that are important to us and that provide our lives with meaning.  These values are often how we define our life mission to ourselves and how we are defined by those around us. 

How do you communicate those values to others?  In his book on digital ministry, David Bourgeois argues that “We are no longer in the broadcast era.  We are in the digital era. . . .This powerful ability to connect people as never before should draw us, as followers of Christ, to the Internet.  It is not about the latest gadget; it is about relationships.”[1]  We are more connected to each other than ever before. 

Therefore, what message are we sending when we send that text or that tweet?  When I send out a tweet, I have the opportunity to expand my influence rather than my image.  Priorities make up our “platform,” that concept that defines who we are.  Michael Hyatt argues that two of the principles of a platform are to have something to offer people and to be willing to generously give it away to others.[2]  In doing so, we will connect with more people who can, then, spread our influence.

I noticed recently that when I use a hash-tag with my tweets, I regularly use the same three.  When I use all three in a tweet, then I have probably had an epiphany (or my head popped off and flew around my office).  These three hash-tags are more than that, however; they define who I am and what I do.  And if you follow me, they will tell you what I am about:

·         #PresenceBeforeProclamation—This is who I am.  This is how I live.  You will not care how much I know until you know how much I care about you.  This is who I am.

·         #Preaching—This is what I do.  This is what I teach.  This is the channel through which I trust that God will continue to expand the borders of the Kingdom.  This is what I do.

·         #Productivity—This is what I am about.  This is how I define success.  There is an old proverb that asks how we can define a person unless he or she makes the world a better place.  This is what I am about.

What are your #priorities?  What is your platform?  What influence do you have on others?

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[1]David T. Bourgeois, Ministry in the Digital Age: Strategies and Best Practices for a Post-Website World (Downers Grove, IL: Praxis/IVP Books, 2013), 18-19.

[2]Michael Hyatt, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012), 202-203. 

Measuring Effectiveness

Over the weekend, a friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook that brought back some memories.  When I was in college, I launched and directed a Christian theatre troupe that traveled to youth rallies, retreats, camps, and even Sunday night devotionals to talk about our faith through sketches.  It was great fun, and an early crucible for me to learn about leadership.  This particular picture was taken 15 September 2001 at a congregation just outside Pittsburg.  The congregation had invited us to perform for a small youth rally.  However, if you noticed the date, the nation was in a moment of crisis.  The question was raised of whether we should go, given the circumstances.  I decided that we should go, and I asked who wanted to come.  It was a difficult decision, one that I really struggled with both before going and after returning.  We went and did our thing, having a great time in the process.  Also, about a week later, we received word that some teenagers who had been at that rally had decided to become Christians afterwards.  In the end, it was a missional win.

As I looked at the picture and reminisced over that particular trip, I started thinking about how we define effectiveness in ministry.  What defines a “win”?  How do we measure “success” in ministry?  For all practical purposes, this particular trip was questionable.  We traveled from Searcy, Arkansas, to Pittsburg during a national crisis when travel was being discouraged.  As I mentioned, it was a small rally.  The recruiting quotient was really low.  Only a few teenagers accepted Christ’s offer of salvation and were baptized, and even this was after the rally.  Was this trip “effective”?  Was this trip “successful”?  I know many who would say that we wasted our time going.  (In fact, another theatre troupe has turned the rally down, noting that it was “too small” for them to perform at.)  Yet, the Gospel was proclaimed and some accepted the call.  Why can that not be enough success for the Church?

I spent four years working as a hospital chaplain.  During that time, I came to the conclusion that no area of ministry is more emotionally, psychologically and spiritually challenging than chaplaincy.  During my first year, I was the pediatric chaplain, serving the Pediatric ICU and outpatient pediatric oncology unit.  Yeah.  The next three years, I spent working in the hospital’s Emergency Room.  Yeah.  My days were simple: Visit and pray with as many people as you can; complete your consults; make your unit meetings.  My days were difficult: Visit and pray with as many people as you can; complete your consults; make your meetings.  A “win” in chaplaincy is not being thrown out of a room.  In four years, I think that happened twice.  The question never was how people had I visited; it was had God been present to those in crisis.  And for that person or that family, being present and offering a prayer was, often, enough.

I have been in full-time ministry since 2001 (1997, if you count the theatre troupe).  Although I have done some consulting, I have yet to be invited to headline a national conference, although I speak at 2-3 conferences a year.  I have yet to serve a congregation larger than 200, unless you count those where I did my internships.  On paper, I would judged by many to be an ineffective and unsuccessful minister.  Yet, Jesus did not call us to build big churches.  He called us to “go” and “teach” and “pray” and “forgive” and “baptize” and “make disciples,” and leave the kingdom-building up to Him, His Father, and the Spirit.  To that end, I think I have been effective because I am fighting the good fight, running the race, and keeping the faith.  And so are you.  Brother and sister in ministry, I hope you find this encouraging.  Grace and peace.   

A Prayer for Boston

Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe,

            We come before You today with hurting hearts, wet eyes and shaking fists.  We come before You today in the midst of chaos and confusion.  We come to You today because we are once again reminded of the presence of Evil in our world and because it seems that You did nothing to stop it.  We come to You today because fellow humans have been injured and maimed from this act of violence and its hurts us collectively as a race of people.  We come to You today because, regardless of their color or creed, Death has claimed more victims.  We come to You today because we are left with only questions to ask without answers to provide.  We come to You today because there is no place else to go to seek solace from this pain. 

We come to You today because our hearts are hurting and eyes are wet and our fists are shaking.  We come to You today because we are confused.  We come to You today because we have been reminded that Evil is present in our world and we are looking for You to respond.  We come to You today because injury has come upon some of Your children, and that hurts us.  We come to You today because, regardless of color or creed, Death seems think it has claimed a victory.  We come to You today because only You can provide answers to our questions.  We come to You because only You offer solace from this pain.  Amen.

                        Your children on Earth

Remembering Ken Neller

When I arrived on Harding University’s campus in August 1997, I came to change the world.  One of my closest friends at Harding once told me that when he saw me walking across campus he knew that I was going somewhere to do something.  No leisurely strolls here.  No stopping to smell the roses.  I was sure of my calling to ministry, and that calling included getting stuff done for Christ.  And I chose Harding because I believed that it was the best place to train for ministry.  I believed that the professors would train me to preach and grow churches like they did in Acts.  Fortunately, I was not disappointed.  That is exactly the kind of education that I received at Harding. . .with one exception.

I took Greek my freshman year.  This was probably not one of my smartest decisions.  However I was going off the advice of my advisor who recommended that I “get it out the way.”  That fall, there was a change in teaching responsibilities because the primary Greek professor was teaching in the study-abroad program in Athens, Greece (HUG).  Thus, my teacher was going to be the regular second-year teacher—Dr. Ken Neller.  Over the next three semesters, I was a decent Greek student, however I did not commit myself the way that I should have.  When it came to the first semester final, I translated 1 John literally into my Greek New Testament.  When Dr. Neller saw it, he politely informed me that I could not use my Bible during the exam.  Lesson learned.

During college, Dr. Neller was a professor that I liked, although he was not necessarily one of my favorites.  I appreciated his knowledge of Scripture and his compassion about students.  I spent five years as a member of Alpha Chi Malachi, the social club for Bible majors (two years as an officer).  Thus, I got to spend a lot of time with Dr. Neller outside the classroom, which I appreciated.  Yet, at the time, I considered his practical ministry instruction dated and closing in on irrelevant.  He talked very little about changing culture and implementing dynamic church growth strategies.  Instead he talked a lot about making hospital visits and developing good listening skills for counseling.  When I left Harding and thought about my ministry training, I was a little disappointed.

Yet, after nearly twelve years in some form of full-time ministry (I have served as both a congregational minister and a hospital chaplain) and nearly five years of teaching at the college level, I have discovered that the lessons that Dr. Neller taught me have been the ones that have sustained me in ministry and formed me as a professor.  Here are the “big three” lessons that I learned that have had the most impact on me:

1. The ministry of study—As I mentioned, I was not a stellar Greek student.  I struggled then and I continue to struggle now.  Thankfully, Dr. Neller was at least able to teach me the Greek alphabet and how to use a lexicon.  Beyond that, however, Dr. Neller taught me the importance of having a strict study regiment.  “A preacher’s sermon is only as good as his research,” he said once in class.  As someone who not only preaches but also teaches preaching, I am grateful to say that this is one lesson that I live by.  I know I tire my students with my emphasis on reading, researching and studying.  Yet, our sermons are only as good as our research.
2. The ministry of presence—When I started in ministry, I was terrified of visiting hospitals and nursing homes.  The thought of ministering to a family during a crisis or death absolutely paralyzed me.  How do I grow a church through pastoral care?  Well, to be honest, you don’t.  What you do, however, is show people that you care about them and that God is present with them.  It took me going through a year of clinical training and ministering in the Pediatric ICU at Cabell Huntington Hospital to learn this lesson that Dr. Neller had tried to teach so many years before.  Now another of my mantras is “Presence proceeds proclamation.”  I think Dr. Neller would have liked this one.
3. The ministry of mentoring—Discipleship is a touchy word in my fellowship.  Yet Dr. Neller was an expert at it.  He did not have an elaborate mentoring program.  He did not word through a preplanned program or extensive agenda.  He simply invested his life into his students.  I probably spent more time and ate more food with Dr. Neller than with any member of the Harding community, save Dr. Bruce McLarty.  It was Dr. Neller who encouraged me to pursue higher education and seek a teaching position someday.   

When I heard the news about Dr. Neller’s passing, I thought about the last time that I really saw him.  I believe that it was a gathering for graduating Bible majors the semester that I graduated.  When it was time to pray a blessing on the graduating Bible majors (a sort of ordaining and commissioning moment), it was Dr. Neller who stood behind me and laid his hands on me during the prayer.  Perhaps it was his way of commissioning me to fulfill the dream that he had for me of someday teaching.  Now, I am doing exactly that—training the next generation of ministers.  And what is my strategy?  Study, be present, and invest your life in others.  I hope Dr. Neller is pleased with my effort. 

A Glimpse of Community

When I arrived at the hospital on Saturday, I was asked by the dayshift chaplain to follow-up with a patient in the ICU who had been placed on "comfort measures only care" early that day. I visited the unit a couple of times that evening, finding no family present. I prayed quietly by the patient's bedside, hoping that it might bring some comfort to this frail, unresponsive woman.


I came back up the next day during the lunchtime visitation period, again finding no family. Again, I came up during the midafternoon visitation period. This time, I found someone sitting in a chair at the foot of the patient's bed. Only this visitor was not a member of the patient's family; she was the patient's nurse!




The nurse had moved the room's recliner to the foot of the patient's bed so that she could easily see the patient (and the monitor above the patient) and so the patient could see her (should she open her eyes). The nurse was texting, pausing every few moments to look up at the patient. She was a little startled when she saw that I had entered the room. She quickly put down her phone, and simply said, "I just didn't want her to be alone." I asked about her family, and she informed me that they had returned home (about a two-hour drive) after finalizing her "DNR" and "comfort care" orders. After a few more moments of polite conversation, she and I entered that place of simple silence--the solace that comes when nothing needs to be said, only the moment needs to be experienced.

"I think she would like a prayer," come the voice from below me. For a moment, I thought that I had thought this. It took me a moment to return to the room from being on what my CPE supervisor calls "holy ground." I turned and looked at the nurse because I was not quite sure if she had asked. "I think she would like prayer," came the request again. "Absolutely. Would you care to join me?" We bowed our heads, and I spoke to God on behalf of this patient, this woman who was probably totally unaware of what was going on around her. Yet, the prayer that I said was not only for the patient and her departed family. I also prayed for this nurse, this angel who attended to a dying woman and to a tired minister.

Many of us will search our whole lives for community, for people who will love us and accept us for who we are. Those who say that will minister to us, then actually come through with their promise. We are a society of shallow shadow-dwellers, a culture of superficiality. We claim to want community, yet spurn every opportunity to embrace community because we are so focused our "plans," "agendas," "goals" and "budgets." Yet here was a nurse--a woman--who felt compelled to minister to another woman simply by being present with her. She told me that she was taking her breaks in between attending to her other patients to simply sit with this woman. It was touching to me. Despite all of the efforts of our society to pull us apart from one another, the human need to be in community with another human being still pulsates through our soul. I may have been the one who prayed, yet it was this nurse who reminded me of what community is all about.