The Discipline of Writing

I am a pastor-teacher, speak often to church and secular groups, but have always struggled to write. (I’ve already rewritten this first sentence several times, which is typical for me.) I spent three years as an ABD because I couldn’t bring myself to write a dissertation. Then Southwestern Seminary informed me that I would be dropped as a Ph.D candidate if I didn’t submit a viable document by the end of that academic year. So I scrambled, delivering the prize an hour before the drop-dead deadline. Fortunately, the document passed muster, thanks to the help of my faculty advisor, Malcolm McDow, without whom I likely would not have finished it.

I’ve had so much mercy shown to me over the years, it would be impossible for me to account for it all. I have not deserved the life I’ve had; I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of God and people, especially my wife, Joyce.

My varied experiences have given me a perspective that I believe should be shared. So I’m going to start blogging again. Maybe it will stick this time.

Some topics that I hope to address:

• Reconciliation: I believe that Christians are called to be ministers of reconciliation, to be instrumental in reconciling persons to one another and to God.
• Race Relations: The church in North America is racially fractured. This not only damages our influence but also short circuits our theology.
• Toxic Leadership: Why do so many of us choose, elevate, and follow toxic leaders?
• Discipleship: Discipleship is an intense process. Few in our culture seem willing to engage it. Few churches seem committed to discipling all of their people.
• Ethics: More Christians seem willing to take an “end justifies the means” approach to accomplishing sociopolitical aims.
• The Gospel: How do we move from the Roman Road model to a comprehensive presentation of the gospel that is intelligible to secular people?
• Boundaries: How do we set boundaries in relationships without being cruel? How can we move from apathy to empathy without burning ourselves out?
• Theology: How can we move beyond Western creeds toward a more thoroughly Biblical theology?
• Post-Christendom: How do followers of Jesus function in a society where Western, quasi-Christian values can no longer be taken for granted?

I’d love to dialogue with you about any of these and possibly other topics.

Peace.