Talk to the Greats

Who would you talk to if you could? I mean, a heart to heart conversation--just the two of you. My wife used to imagine what it would be like to sit on the porch with Billy Graham and a glass of lemonade. You and Abraham Lincoln? Queen Elizabeth II? Martin Luther? And of course, there's King David, Daniel, and Mary Magdalen. 

And there are those modern icons you might find interesting. Whether you see the world as they do or not, you could have some interesting chats. Imagine asking Warren Buffet what it's like to know the financial markets hang on your words. Or asking Billy Joel what he felt the first time he heard Piano Man on the radio. Or asking the Duchess of York what was her favorite moment with Queen Elizabeth. 

The limitations of time and space often make these conversations impossible. It's so much about who you are and who you know. 

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (Proverbs 4:7 NLT)

It sounds redundant; getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do. Yet that's what the book of wisdom teaches. Go after wisdom. Not just information. Anyone can scroll through information on google for hours. But wisdom? It takes some getting. It takes a pursuit. 

Maybe you and I can't sit down for an hour with Abraham Lincoln and ask about leading in crisis times. Or ask Larry Burkett about managing money and investing. But in another way, we can. When you sit down with a book and read what Lincoln did during the civil war and what his priorities were, you are gaining wisdom. When you read what Burkett did during a recession, you are pursuing wisdom not just information. This is more than knowledge. It's learning from the experiences and mistakes of others. 

Can I challenge you to read a little bit every day? Here at the beginning of a new year, commit to just 10-15 minutes a day and you'll have read about 12-15 books this year. Imagine the difference it would make in exchanging 10 minutes of doom scrolling for the wisdom of Solomon or Billy Graham! Instead of comparing your life to the rich and famous who haven't finished living, consider the experiences of lives well-lived--like Elisabeth Elliot, C.S. Lewis, or Hudson Taylor.

 You can talk to great men and women. Read their books.    

Worry-Free Zone

I'm not sure where I learned it--the desire to be prepared for everything. If things are going well, get prepared for bad times. If there hasn't been an emergency in awhile, get ready for one. If it's the ending of a year, forecast all that could happen in a new year. 

Maybe it's being the firstborn of four and the frequent reminders to watch out for my brothers. Or it's the perfectionist trait of being a musician. "Do it right or don't do it." 

Can you relate? While you look forward to a new beginning and a fresh start, is there a worry track running in the background? What if this year includes job loss, a health scare, or a downturn in the economy? What if your child fails to graduate or the daycare closes? What if there's another world war or a financial meltdown? "Better to be prepared."

Remember that bad news sells better than good news. Whether it's your favorite news channel or the threads on your social media, worry gets more clicks. Don't forget that Fox News, CNN, and CBS are there to make a profit. If they fail to make money, they will cease to exist. Their number one priority is not your mental health. News and social media profit from worry.

Yesterday, we stood in line at the local UPS store to return a few items. The line was long and behind the counter were mounds of packages. On top of that, I could hear the staff discussing problems with software and their internet platform. All around me were the sounds of stress and worry. And we were one of those customers who lacked the right packaging. We were unprepared. 

But when it was our turn, the shift manager met us with a smile. She asked a couple of questions and my wife apologized for not having the plastic bag the item came in although we had the return label. In a steady voice she said, "No problem. You're all set. This is the worry-free zone." Then she put her thumb and forefinger together, "Smell it. Enjoy it. Savor this worry-free moment." We walked out with a smile, talking about the power of being a peaceful presence. And for that moment we relished the feeling of the worry-free zone.  

There's nothing inherently wrong with preparation. Worry has its place. No good leader fails to prepare. Hard times will come unexpectedly. There will be surprises. The Proverbs remind us to prepare for winter, to save money, and leave an inheritance for our children. But the drive to prepare for the worst with a mind full of worry is no way to live. At the base of such worry is the refusal to accept God's sovereignty and the lordship of Jesus. 

Jesus says to His followers, "Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (Matthew 6:26,27 NLT)

I think the lady at the UPS counter was on to something: "This is the worry-free zone. Savor it." Being prepared is wisdom. But keep worry at bay. Let God be God and be satisfied to be His child. You're more valuable to Him than the birds. Seek His kingdom first and as often as you can today savor the worry-free zone. 

Making Your Mark

My wife and I were driving to the airport through downtown St. Louis and I noticed all the graffiti on a new crosswalk over the highway. I didn't understand it and most of the time I don't. It's hard for me to understand why someone would so quickly mar new beautiful construction. 

They tell me that graffiti is about self-expression. As if to say, "I don't have a voice. No one is listening so I'm doing something out loud here in this art." Sometimes it's marking territory with gangs, "Just letting you know who is boss around here." Other times it's flat out rebellion, "You make the rules. I break them. And you can't stop me!" 

At it's fundamental level though, I think it's a way to say, "I was here. Here's the proof." That's why the oldest form of graffiti was usually three words, "Sam was here." "Tracy was here." Hollywood may not know my name, but you will. I'm leaving my mark here so you'll know and you won't forget me.

Remembering Germaine

A few days ago, a woman from our church drew her last breath, said her last prayer, and closed her eyes for the final time. At her memorial, stories were shared about her life. Though her body weakened with age, her zeal for faith only seemed to strengthen. She lived with a faith that was always visible—never subtle, and she often spoke her mind, but never in a mean or unkind way.

Often, after Sunday gatherings when I had preached, she would catch me and say, "Shawn, you know what? You're getting better. I'm praying for you and it seems to me that God is on the move around here and He is using you!" I never took offense at the "you're getting better" part, as I am intentional about improvement. I would tell her, "Germaine, thank you for praying. Please, keep it up!"

Paul's Words on Legacy

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul writes in self-defense, responding to those "super apostles" who claimed superiority. He asks, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?" (2 Cor. 3:1, ESV). Paul's point is clear: he doesn't need a publicist or to in some way leave an obvious mark, nor does he seek to overshadow others.

Paul continues, "You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" (2 Cor. 3:2-3, ESV). There is no need to leave behind physical evidence. You are our graffiti. My legacy is found in transformed lives—faithfulness and devotion to Jesus are the greatest evidence.

The Mark We Leave

That is the legacy Germaine left for me and for us. The evidence is undeniable. She does not need a plaque in the church, a memorial stone on our campus, or a letter in the paper to mark her life. (Not that those things are bad.) God, by His Spirit, has written graffiti on our hearts: "Germaine was here."

I hope to live in the same way. What kind of graffiti is your life painting today? Jesus does His best artwork through the Spirit, painting on the hearts of human beings.

WAKE UP TO THE WAR

"The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of".

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

 

In my 20’s, I served under a senior pastor who had his share of war stories. Not so much those about church wars, but what it was like to be a boy while WW2 was raging. He would tell of scrap metal drives and victory gardens, of women riveters and uncles coming home permanently dismembered or never coming home at all. What I heard running underneath his accounts was the American mindset of the time: “We were in the war together. We saw ourselves united in the struggle.”

Peacetime came and America entered a season of greater prosperity. Boys came home, houses were built, and babies were born. We’ve had wars since then, but none would come close to spawning the level of national unity America experienced during those years.

As Christians, we often fall prey to the peacetime vs wartime mentality. When things are going well, we may think, “Oh, this is my breakthrough. The battle is over for now.” When unrest comes or a family faces opposition within or without, we think, “I guess we’re in another battle.”

This is a faulty mindset. Truth? We are always in a war. In fact, the battle may be more severe when it seems things are going great. Money in the bank, numbers up, strong friendships, even momentary euphoria--all of these can make you relax and think, “So these are the good days of blessing.”

Someone remarked recently, “Man, it seems like you guys, the leadership, all get along so well. There's a lot of unity and pride doesn’t seem to be a problem.” I told them it was no accident.

It isn’t just that we have a great team of leaders, which I think we do. Nor is it that we don’t have any big egos (which we probably do!). It’s that we get up and fight for what's good. We remind ourselves often that we are in a protracted war. An insidious force is fighting against us every day; unseen spirits, angels led by a dark lord, and a world with its agenda, also in league with my human flesh, are all conspiring against the work of Jesus. These dark powers are cooperating together to destroy unity, to spout constant discouragement, to fight for independence against our great God, and to spread lies about His goodness, faithfulness, and character.

“Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory.”

When I forget this, I am vulnerable. Every step toward faithfulness is warfare. Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory. The prayers of the saints in the pre-service intercession on a Sunday morning. The office team prayer at a weekly huddle. The growing of ourselves in leadership and the acknowledgment of our blind spots. The prayer circles in the Wednesday prayer meeting when there are voices that say, “This makes no difference” or, “You’re not very good at prayer. Don’t embarrass yourself by praying with others.” The prayer before a Celebrate Recovery meeting. The news I received this morning that a women’s Bible study feels prompted to begin praying for our children’s camp. News that a man was freed from demonic oppression in a recovery meeting. When we listen well. When we lay down our iPhones to read scripture. When we ask a friend for forgiveness, when we confess our faults. In all these things, we are fighting the good fight. All of this is a reminder: this is the nature of war.

I’m not being negative. It’s our reality as Christians. And yet in all this, I am encouraged. I remain hopeful. God is with us. Jesus is interceding for us. The Spirit is helping and empowering us. The ultimate victory of Jesus and His kingdom is certain. But get out of bed. Put on your armor. Pick up the sword of the Spirit and keep your eyes open. If you're a Jesus-follower, we’re in this battle together. 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, BE ALERT and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV, empahsis added)

Preacher/Teacher: Let's Lose these Words

I'm not a health nut. But people think I am because some of my favorite foods are salmon, brussels sprouts, and sliced tomatoes. I've been known to order the "all vegetable" plate at Cracker Barrell, too. Gasp. This will send some of you because you're saying, "There's nothing of nutritional value left in those vegetables cooked for 10 hours with bacon drippings." Exactly. Still, when I enjoy a Boston Creme donut on occasion, the food police are on the spot to smirk and say, "Wha?? How could you?"    

So this is dangerous. Whenever you offer advice publicly, beware. People remember and will hold you accountable. 

This is why I'm hesitant to warn about words that we preachers and teachers say. At the same time, I'm writing this in the hope that it will cure me of some of my bad habits by writing them down in a post. There's nothing like public warnings to make you more aware of your faults. 

So here goes a short list of words I'm trying to lose from my public speaking...

1. Use the generic "God" sparingly.  

In a pluralist society like ours, you can no longer assume that when someone is talking about God they are Christian. Any quick Google search of "famous Christians" will pull up actors and politicians who quote a verse or say, "I want to thank God for the opportunity to win the Super Bowl." I hope and pray it’s true. But there are many public figures who pray before an event or thank God for an award who also reject biblical Christianity. In this day, we need to be clear. I don't mean veins bulging and stern faces. But we must preach Jesus as the way to God. Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus as God with skin on. Jesus as the One of whom the Spirit speaks (John 1:1, 1:14, 14:6, 16:13). Consider John, the beloved friend of Jesus who says this, "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22 ESV). This is a solemn warning to we who preach and teach. God help me! 

Speak of God, yes. But along the way, make clear that you are talking about the God revealed in the scriptures, and in the end, the One who gave His Son to redeem us.   

2. Lose "things." 

I don't remember the actual source, but I thank H.B. Charles Jr. for this one. I either read or heard him telling preachers to quit preaching about "things." 

I did this often when I started speaking and still fall into the trap. It goes like this: "The first thing we notice in this verse" or, "The first thing we need to do in prayer is..." or, "I'm going to point out three things Paul says about marriage." Why use "thing" when there are so many better words to choose from? Instead of talking about "three things," talk about three ways, benefits, warnings, threats, guardrails, strengths, weaknesses, attitudes, or outcomes. Which sounds more interesting as a talk or an article: "Three things about friendship" or "Three roads to healthy friendship"? 

How much more as we teach or preach the gospel should we use words that evoke emotion and spark interest? Did God give His Son to simply give us some tips on having a better life? Or to help my day go smoothly? God gave His Son so that we can have a relationship with God the Father and align our human relationships with others. A gospel-shaped friendship is about love and love is more profound than tips, things, or points. Though it certainly includes them. Consider Jesus' way of teaching the gospel: two houses, two sons, or a bride and her wedding. Lose boring words like things, points, tips, or thoughts. 

3. "Right? "Alright?" "You know?" 

This is a tough one. Public speaking is much more conversational than 20 years ago. Overall, I don't see this as a problem. Styles and rhetoric change and in our culture people prefer conversational over rhetorical. HOWEVER, I can resort too often to words that have more to do with my discomfort than with a conversational style. The temptation is to elicit a response rather than let the statement hang for full effect. This bad habit frequently reveals itself in our attempts at humor: "So, I'm on a road trip with my wife and the night before we are both doing that last-minute rush before leaving. Right? I get no sleep because it's a short night, you know. And then we're driving and my wife asks if I want her to drive and I think yes or maybe, but say no because I want to be the self-sacrificing gentleman. Alright? But then she's snoring and sawing logs, you know, and I'm soon driving on those bumps on the side of the road to wake her up because I'm jealous. Right?" 

For a different way to tell a humorous bit, consider how Nate Bargatze lets funny statements hang without constant solicitation for response. (Here's an example in a story about a horse. Watch from about 2:35-5:33.) Or consider the serious expositor, David Platt, who uses humor without the filler words of "alright" or "right." (Watch this clip from about 8:15-9:15.)

4. The ambiguous adverbs: actually, literally, really and just.

One of the longest short flights I ever had was sitting beside two high-school or college-age girls while preparing a message for the weekend. Even with headphones on, I found myself counting the words 'like' and 'really' in their conversation. I lost count after 40. I couldn't concentrate after a while and instead started counting the minutes before we could land and I could escape. It was awful. 

So go the ambiguous adverbs: actually, literally, really, and just. What do these words ACTUALLY mean? I'm not sure, but I use them all the time and they aren't helpful. It's a hard habit to break because these filler adverbs leak into our conversations and public speaking to promote a more casual feel. 

And the deeper reality? I fight insecurity and the pain that comes with it because of my great need for the gospel. If I believe the gospel deeply, I will lose some of my fears of silence, pregnant pauses, and the need to fill in the gaps for God. 

Yes, adverbs are necessary, but they are like salt: a little goes a long way. I am actually one of the worst offenders and I really need to break this habit. (Smile.)

  

There are many more useless words I use in my speaking. But here's my stab at getting better. How about you? What words in conversation or public speaking distract you? 

WE'RE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT

Kelly Kapic in his excellent book, "You're Only Human," tells about asking students to describe themselves in a few words without using anything that relates to community or others. The students stammer and stutter, realizing that it's nearly impossible. We are tethered to community whether we want to admit it or not. 

This flies in the face of current thought. We think we are completely our own. Our identity is self-determined. Culture says, 'If you don't like who you are, look within. Find who you want to be. Reinvent yourself. The power is inside you.' 

Some have found this to be exhausting. The weight of self-discovery is unbearable if I'm the only one worthy to decide my identity. If we are merely atoms randomly held together by scientific laws, who I am to then take this brain given to me by the universe and figure out who I am and why I'm here? 

Kapic speaks to this: 

“Any attempt to live as my own center shows that I need others to understand myself and I need them even more to be a healthy and thriving human creature. This is how God made us. Because we have our being in relation and not apart from it, knowing one’s self rightly can only occur in the context of being known, of being in relationships, of being loved. The self alone, the isolated ego, is a contradiction in terms. Pursuing that contradiction leads not to life-giving knowledge but to suffocating loneliness and unending self-doubt.” 

I think he's right. Do you? 

For example, I used to think that small groups were for those lonely people out there. "Pastors like me, don't need to be in a small group with ordinary people. Maybe a group of pastors or high-level leaders would be better?” How wrong I was! My self-view was so distorted by looking within and seeing myself as a leader who should be around other "leaders” that I was overlooking my sameness.

Instead, what I've found is that being around other people with different interests and vocations than my own has brought me joy. It's pride that makes us think, "I'm not like other people. I'm unique." Yes, there are some unique things about me. But I'm more like everyone else than I'm not. And you are too! We all get tired, sleepy, restless, hungry, and even dare I say, gassy?! You're not that unique. 

Occasionally in our church, we will get a request from someone new that goes something like this: "Do you have any small groups with people my age who are urban professionals? I'm also interested in clean-earth policies and want to be around people who share that view. It would be nice, too, if there were other vegans in the group--since I have strong feelings about eating things that have eyes." 

Okay. So I'm exaggerating. But only a little. 

I want to ask them as well as you, what might you discover about the world and yourself by being in a group of human beings--some who will share your likes but others who will see the world differently? You may find that the human condition is universal---that you are more like those "other people" than you think you are. Here's what I know for certain: if you dive into the risky adventure of knowing other human beings and being known, you will get hurt. You may get angry. But you will also likely discover what it's like to be loved and to escape the chronic loneliness of this divided world.  

"We are not self-made people, we are not separate islands, we are not merely rugged individuals. Instead, we’re inevitably and necessarily bound together with others: it has been so from the beginning and will always be." (Kelly M. Kapic)

Go to a church where other human beings are. Find a group of other human beings who want to know God and each other. Do life. Your identity will reveal itself in the context of community. Not without it. 

My Top Books of 2023

There are great lists out there from much brighter minds than mine, for sure. But I do like to share books that have helped me. Since I am receiving input on a constant basis from media and God’s enemy, I need to counter that messaging. Also, reading is simply good for the mind rather than being passively entertained. 

So here goes!

These are in no particular order of importance but culled from the 30 or so I read this year. 

ON GETTING OUT OF BED BY ALAN NOBLE. Vulnerable and helpful. I recommend this for anyone who deals with mental illness and anxiety or loves those who do. Alan is a professor at OBU and he makes clear that he is not a mental health professional. However, he comes alongside as a helpful fellow-traveler. It’s also a short read at just over 100 pages which is a bonus!

WHY THE REFORMATION STILL MATTERS BY MICHAEL REEVES. I’ve read several by Reeves and no disappointments here for me. St Louis is often called the Rome of the West with its strong Catholic presence. Hence, I am frequently interested in understanding both the Catholic tradition and the Reformation for the purpose of dialogue with my Catholic friends. Even though evangelicals have much common ground with Catholics, Reeves shows why the Reformation was and is still a big deal. He writes convincingly, yet not arrogantly. I also love hearing his knowledge of church history. 

RUN WITH THE HORSES BY EUGENE PETERSON  I like to read a couple of commentaries on books of the Bible every year and I chose this one because a friend of mine said he “cried nearing the end because he hated to see it come to a close.” While I didn't share that strong emotion, I was frequently moved as Peterson walked through Jeremiah, showing him to be a real man who often felt inadequate for the mission. I felt like I met a new friend in this OT prophet and it was a big help in our series on Jeremiah in 2023.

HUDSON TAYLOR’S SPIRITUAL SECRET BY F. HOWARD TAYLOR.  I try to read at least one biography of a dead missionary every year and while I’ve read about Taylor before, this one was the best. If you want your faith to grow, check this out. The ways that Hudson trusted in God as a missionary and saw countless answers to prayer will inspire you.

STRANGE NEW WORLD BY CARL TRUEMAN. Trueman is one of the best at understanding this cultural moment as well as discovering ways of engaging it. His writing is a bit heady but this one is shorter and more accessible than some of his other works. 

ON THE EDGE OF THE DARK SEA OF DARKNESS BY ANDREW PETERSON. One of our pastors reads this series to his son, and I kept hearing about it from different men. It’s a juvenile work but I chose it to give my mind a break while reading Carl Trueman’s “Strange New World.” I wasn’t disappointed and loved the ending. I highly recommend this for reading with children above the age of 7 or so but even for you adults who like me just need an easy book to read that will raise your hope in dark times.

Honorable mention:

Gospel: Recovering the Power that made Christianity Revolutionary by JD Greear

Unmasking Male Depression by Archibald Hart

Identity Theft by Melissa Kruger and others

The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall

Pride: Identity and the Worship of Self by Matthew Roberts

To better reading in 2024!

~Shawn