In Colorado for my brother's memorial service, I am awash with gratitude for the church; both for those organizations and individuals who poured out their particular gifts and graces at our 12th year celebration, and for the institutional church which held steady at the foot of the Rocky Mountains; ready to serve in our hour of need.
People on the outside often talk of "organized religion" in scornful tones, as if all that matters is an individual's private piety. They remain ignorant of the warmth from a fire that is bigger than a single flame and are strangers to the many gifts inherent in a people, a pattern, a place.
Obviously, forms and customs can calcify in ways that wound hearts and choke the flow of the Spirit. Yet traditions also can provide a physical witness and a ready framework for the Spirit to flow through. We who work to keep the boats afloat know well enough the anguish and distortion, the power mongering and spiritual abuse, the sin that does so easily beset us. The problem is that the institutional church is full of people. Nevertheless we work to hold together a structure; to organize in such a way that the wayfarer can find an inn and the family can care for each other. Living stones, we come together to create a dwelling place--a collective witness to the love of God in Christ Jesus.
It is in the shelter of each other that the people live. - Irish Proverb
Coming home, I sat in the airport and moved my Using the Word file from "Books in Progress" to "Published Work." The excitement at having my first published book in hand is dimmed only by the desire to have it move from my hand to yours. Here is a comment from one of my early readers:
“When this arrived in my mailbox I wasn't exactly in the mood for a Jesus book. But since I like you and your writing, I thought I’d give it a shot. Actually I read half of it standing at my kitchen table over my pile of mail with purse and gym bag still over the shoulder. So readable? Absolutely! And accessible. I found it frank and refreshing, not at all off putting. Though this is me, so I'm not sure how those stuffy church-types would take it. I would definitely buy it. I think your ideas are clear, simple and relevant. The personal stories are great.” --Keri
Using the Word offers five ways to approach the Bible, approaches that will help the reader converse with God on a regular basis. The metaphors of Love Letters, the City, the Meal, the Contract and the Seed inspire readers to engage with the Scripture in fun, easy ways. Using the Word is a small book with lovely illustrations by Rodney Warren. I'm really hoping the "stuffy church-types" like it too. This little gem costs $5.99. (10 for $50) If you're out of town I'll ship it free this month--a newsletter special. Hit reply and write words.
"Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are -- chaff and grain together -- certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." -George Eliot
Thomas Nelson sent me the new updated 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell to review. I read the first three chapters on the airplane and am looking forward to the rest once I land back into my normal life. (Whatever that is.) Stay tuned.
“...my whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions were my work.” - a Notre Dame Professor, quoted in Henri Nouwen’s book, Reaching Out
Bob Fenster, author of several Duh books, is plotting a new book: Notes on the Day. He's invited folk to write up three interesting things that happen to them on Friday, November 16, 2007. You can send him your notes at: [email protected]. Bob was the editor of my "In the Spirit" column for the S.C. Sentinel and also gave Using the Word a once-over. You can find one of the stupidest things I've ever done in his book, Well, Duh--Our Stupid World, and Welcome to It. $10.95
On Friday, November 16, I will be getting ready to lead a Saturday workshop at the Toastmasters District Conference in Santa Clara: "Moving up and Moving Out--Speaking beyond the club." This workshop will focus on the middle ground between being a professional speaker and Toastmasters. Details on the Conference can be found at d4tm.org. I enjoy speaking and doing workshops in a variety of venues and am looking forward to future engagements--book in hand.
"The trouble with words is that you never know whose mouths they've been in." -Dennis Potter
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer.
Blessings,
Alliee +