This Weekend – Exploration 2009

This weekend Rachel and I are off to Exploration 2009 in Dallas.  I’m actually in town for a wedding, but will be attending some of the Explration event.
Exploration is designed for individuals under 25 who are interested in or curious about serving in ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church.  We United Methodists have made a big deal lately about the dearth of young clergy within our denomination. See here and here for starters.

At 46 years old, and more than 2 decades out of seminary, I in no way qualify for the “young clergy” label, and I’m comfortable with that.  THAT I enjoy spending time with and hearing the thoughts, attitudes, dreams, and vision of younger clergy keeps me fresh and encouraged.

I’m looking forward to meeting more ouf our talented, called young people this weekend.  I’ll share early next week some reflections of mine from this event.

Book Review: Through the River

Yesterday I found myself thinking I might share this book I’ve just finished with someone. I thought it might help.  I was immediately confused because my first impressions of Through the River weren’t good.

The book is Through the River: Understanding your assumptions about the truth. It is my latest read for review for the Viral Bloggers Network.

The book is about “truth lenses,” Which is a shorthand term Jon and Mindy Hirst use for epistemology.  There are, in River Town (a mythical community metaphor used throughout the book), three truth lenses: Positivist, Instrumentalist, and Critical Realist.  The Hirsts take the reader through the history of Western Philosophy to describe the progression that has brought us these three truth lenses.

The Positivists represent, generally, conservatives and fundamentalists, and the Instrumentalists represent (again, generally) liberals and progressives. Both these truth lenses are described in detail yet are found lacking.

Like anyone who tries to figure out where a story is going before he gets there, I had the positivists and instrumentalists pegged early in the story as positions the authors do not respect very much.  Characters from either of these perspectives are, in the book’s portrayal, hopeless; they are stuck in their epistemology.  It is only the Critical Realists who have hope, life, and healthy relationships.  I was, at points, surprised not to find the Critical Realists described as wearing capes, masks, and tights.

This methodology strikes me as both counterproductive and typical for evangelicals.  Setting up the opposition, or alternative, points of views as straw men, then knocking them down with one’s superior point of view is, truthfully, neither fair nor generous.

But, alas, for a primer on the history of the development of Western Philosophy, the Hirsts are more generous with what is left out than they are with the sadly lacking “truth lenses” they hope to present.

Case in point: the explanation of philosophy in the West jumps from Plato to Copernicus to Einstein, only the first of whom was actually a philosopher.  For the Hirsts, philosophy is a progressive, building development through history. However, their only source for citing Copernicus as a significant player is Thomas Kuhn, who is perhaps best known for his role in dismantling the progressive, building development way of understanding history, philosophy, and science.

So, in other words, Jon and Mindy cite Thomas Kuhn (a philosopher) as their only source on Copernicus (not a philosopher) to support their use of Copernicus as playing a major role in modern philosophy.  In doing so, they show that they don’t understand Kuhn.

What the Hirsts want is for people, especially Christians, I think, to consider two things: first, that though there is objective, real truth, you don’t have a monopoly on it; and second, through communication and community we can all better come to know the truth and life that God offers us.

More Power than I Though I Had

Watch out for me.  I’m powerful.

While filing some receipts this morning, I noticed these words printed on a Subway receipt:

“Thank you for making Subway the world’s best sandwich.”

I would have given Subway the credit, but, okay, they surely know better than I do.

What they mean, of course, is that Subway’s business is up; people are buying more of their sandwiches.  So it would be much more accurate to print something like “Thank you for making Subway the world’s most popular sandwich.”

Ah, but popularity is fleeting.  The “best” sandwich mean so much more!  Is “best” really determined by which sandwich sells the most?

Perhaps instead of pondering all this philosophical stuff, I ought to kick back and enjoy knowing that I played a part in making something, anything, the best.

Are you in it for the Long Haul?

Driving by Baylor this morning on my way to Common Grounds Coffee House, I noticed a field of yuong, recently planted oak trees.  Here is a picture of one of them.

Upon seeing this field, I remembered, for some reason, that it had once been occupied by a building. This building had once been a set of stores.

I observed that there are very few trees planted, and they are rather spread out.  I wondered why they hadn’t planted more trees.

Then I recalled all the beautiful oaks that spread across the Baylor campus, and, indeed, across Waco.  Full grown, they aren’t meant to grow too closely together.

This field is years, probably decades, from its intended beauty.

Then I thought of all the quick fixes we are so prone towards in our society.  We want change, we want healing, we want things to be better, and we want it NOW.

By planting these young trees, Baylor University is saying that they are in it for the long haul.  Beauty and presence over years, decades, perhaps centuries.

What are you and I in for the long haul?  What kinds of “better” are we willing to work toward and wait for full fruition?

Thougth Fodder from Friends

Adam Moore shares a thought from Meister Eckhart.

Alan Hitt on courage.

Talbot Davis shares a few things he’s overheard over the years.

Michael Honza moves up one generation.

Bishop Will Willimon lifts up the value of truthtelling in Church development.

I’m Through Waiting

Listening to John Mayer’s “Waiting for the world to change” in a nearby office brought clarity to me on a recent matter of discussion.

If you are old enough to ask for ID, you are too old to be trick-or-treating!

For a coupe of years now I have noticed instances of people clearly old enough to be the parents of other trick-or-treaters hoisting their own bags towards me as if to ask for candy. Each time I have obliged.  I don’t think I can do so any longer.  Next year, if you are old enough to have kids trick-or-treating, you don’t need to follow them around with a wal-mart bag of your own.

Or, if you must, at least wear a costume, k?

It seems that if we sit around “waiting for the world to change,” it changes the wrong direction….

Giving Advice

I am in a sometimes awkward position of having an adolescent child while I work with a couple hundred adolescents.

Professionally, I think I am pretty good at what I do.  I have the skills, the passion, and the dedication to keep me level-headed (for the most part) and consistent. I communicate well with adolescents (generally); I realize this means listening and understanding even more than it does speaking for their understanding.

Contrast this with my dealings with my own adolescent.  I struggle to communicate well, and, afterward, can come up with all kinds of things I could have said differently.  I think it takes me longer to process to the point of understanding what my adolescent child says to me than what others say to me.

This all reminds me of a time, 18 or so years ago, when I lived in Nacogdoches.  My younger brother Rob was visiting with a fellow SFA student.  It was later evening, and we had allowed Robbie, 2 or 3 at the time, some caffeine.  She was having trouble getting to sleep.  These things happen sometimes.

Rob’s friend announced confidently that she would NEVER give her child caffeine.

I almost responded defensively, but then remembered that I was an expert on child rearing before I had a kid, too.  So I let it go.

Ever since, I have been a bit slower to give advice. I am especially cautious in giving advice to people who are in circumstances I have never dealt with directly myself.

I am still willing to offer a listening ear and whatever experience or insight I have from my perspective.

These days I am still working on being able and open to receiving the same.

Don’t Threaten Your Problem with Me!

Please leave me and mine out of your issues.  Unless, of course, we belong there.

Wesley, our cat, has been a bit under the weather lately.  Actually, I think Rachel has figured out that Wesley and I have about the same allergies.

We took Wesley to the Vet’s office last Friday, to get direction on dealing with his allergies.  After his appointment, we sat in the reception area again, waiting our turn to checkout.  The customer in front of us had two small dogs.

When the little dogs started acting up, their owner quickly shushed them with these words: “If you don’t calm down, I’m going to let that cat have you.”

Wesley was sitting calmly in his travel crate, on my lap.  He did not seem too interested.

I was reminded of the time that, at a clergy meeting/meal, the child of another clergy was acting up a little, and then was told by a parent, who pointed in my direction, “If you don’t behave, I’m going to send you to live at the Methodist Children’s Home.”

I undersatnd the difference between telling a dog you are going to give it over to a cat and telling a child you are going to send him/her to a children’s home, but what kind of person makes such threats anyway?

The same kind who, when taking his child to the doctor, threatens to get her a shot if she doesn’t sit patiently in the waiting area.  The same kind who suggests to her child, upon seeing a policeman, that perhaps she wants to be turned over to the cop?

Seriously, now, fellow “adults” (and I use that term very loosely), can we all at least agree that making such idle threats to our children screams to them how insecure we are and damages their attachments to us at the same time?

If you dont’ stop, I’m going to tell God.

Would YOU Buy What You’re Selling?

Do you know what the”WD” in WD-40 stands for?

Jon S. Barry, creator of WD-40, died recently. Inc. Magazine’s obituary piece is inspiring. It is inspiring to me because all the man did or cared about, business-wise, was selling WD-40.  Do you know how many different things this product is used for?  No one does: 80% of us have it in our homes, and we keep trying it for new things, and keep discovering it works.

Barry apparently eschewed some of marketing’s general principles, but he kept selling his product.

How?  I suppose it boils down to the fact that his product worked, and thus, sold itself.

Now, on to the “product” I sell (I apologize, Jason, and Kyle, for the business analogy, but I think you’ll approve in this instance), and the one that almost everything relates to some way or other as far as I am concerned:

The Christianity that an awful lot of us are trying to sell others on these days is apparently not working.  People are NOT buying, in seeming record numbers.  Not only are people not coming to churches, but others are leaving.

I cannot help but wonder if a major reason for this is our “product.”  Sure, we claim that what we have to offer is peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, a relationship with God, hope for a future, transformation, etc. But is this what we are actually offering?

Do these words describe what your life looks like?

If so, I think we will find that, like John S. Barry, we might not need all the marketing strategies.

 

Working with People You Don’t Like

I don’t get along with everyone.  There are some people I don’t really like. Sometimes I have no choice but to interact with these people.  Sometimes I even have to work with them.

I used to complain to colleagues about having to work with people I don’t like or get along with.  Ok, I still do some of that, but I’ve also tried another option, and you wouldn’t believe the difference it has made.

Because it has made so much difference, and because this new thing I’ve tried is so simple, I’m going to share it with you.

If there are people you don’t like but have to work with, spend time with them.  Beyond the work that you have to share, spend time.  Get to know her.  Listen to his story.

Now some of you might be thinking: “so, that’s why Steve spent time with me.”   No: it’s not that I’ve begun to spend time only with those I don’t like.  It’s more like I’ve decided not to only spend time with people I like.

So, are there people you don’t like, but cannot completely avoid? I can almost guarantee that if you will make the effort to get to know him better; plan to sit and listen to her story, you will notice a change in your relationship with that person.

And you will like the change.  So will he or she.