In preparing for the move, I stumbled on an audio book on TAPE. That's how old it is for me. Books on tape haven't been produced for years.
The book was, Plot it Yourself, a Nero Wolfe mystery, by Rex Stout.
I'm a big fan of murder mysteries and the Nero Wolfe's are, at the very least, among my favorites.
They're short, masterfully written, whimsical and Stout is a world-class wordsmith. If you want to expand your vocabulary, read a Nero Wolfe.
And, Plot it Yourself, is wonderful.
It has Nero Wolfe figuring out who's responsible for a series of plagiarism claims made against successful authors which leads to several murders.
As a murder mystery, the book is so-so.
But, Stout uses the book to, well, philosophize about writing and a writer's style.
I first listened to it a decade ago or more. Much of what I write, even here on this blog, traces to what I learned about writing from that book.
In many ways, that book is the most helpful English course I've ever taken.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Lance's, "What are We Going to Do with What We Know?" CONTAGIOUS Blog Post
Lance's latest on the CGGC blog wraps up his series describing where we are now with a post asking how we're going to behave, based on his description of the state of the CGGC union.
Read the post, please.
In his post, he acknowledges...AT LENGTH...what I've been calling the "To Talk is to Walk-ism," characteristic of the CGGC brand, that is, that, in our body, we tend to be satisfied with talking truth without feeling the need actually to do anything.
Lance encourages us not merely to talk.
And, he says that he prays that we honestly will deal with our present reality.
If the Lord is willing, and if I continue to feel led, I will post a reply on the blog in the days to come. The reply I envision will have some biblical teeth to it.
I'll post this here for now. This is a different comment than I may make on the blog. (I suspect that more people read what I write here than what I put on the CGGC blog.)
-------------------
Lance,
If we're going to change, you are going to set the table. You yourself are going to have to actually DO something different than write articles about change.
If you are going to lead change, you are going to have to set a vivid and challenging example that can be followed...on the level of doing...as Jesus did. As Winebrenner did.
To this point, following you can be nothing more that adding to a conversation that, in itself, will change what no one will put into action.
Please live the change you hope to lead.
Read the post, please.
In his post, he acknowledges...AT LENGTH...what I've been calling the "To Talk is to Walk-ism," characteristic of the CGGC brand, that is, that, in our body, we tend to be satisfied with talking truth without feeling the need actually to do anything.
Lance encourages us not merely to talk.
And, he says that he prays that we honestly will deal with our present reality.
If the Lord is willing, and if I continue to feel led, I will post a reply on the blog in the days to come. The reply I envision will have some biblical teeth to it.
I'll post this here for now. This is a different comment than I may make on the blog. (I suspect that more people read what I write here than what I put on the CGGC blog.)
-------------------
Lance,
If we're going to change, you are going to set the table. You yourself are going to have to actually DO something different than write articles about change.
If you are going to lead change, you are going to have to set a vivid and challenging example that can be followed...on the level of doing...as Jesus did. As Winebrenner did.
To this point, following you can be nothing more that adding to a conversation that, in itself, will change what no one will put into action.
Please live the change you hope to lead.
CONTAGIOUS Blog Conversation on Lance's Part 16
There's a rather lively conversation taking place on the CONTAGIOUS Blog which was initiated by Lance's, Part 16.
"danh," Dan Masshardt and I have replied. Moments ago, I entered a reply to Dan Masshardt. To this point, Lance himself has not participated in the dialog. Hopefully, he will join in soon.
I suspect that few of you are regular readers of the CGGC blog, but I recommend this thread...and encourage interaction now that danh got a conversation going.
"danh," Dan Masshardt and I have replied. Moments ago, I entered a reply to Dan Masshardt. To this point, Lance himself has not participated in the dialog. Hopefully, he will join in soon.
I suspect that few of you are regular readers of the CGGC blog, but I recommend this thread...and encourage interaction now that danh got a conversation going.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Nick DiFrancesco's Most Quoted Saying (to me, anyway)
I've received several very similar versions of it:
"We say the Bible is our guide for faith and practice. It isn't."
As far as I can tell, everyone from the ERC who's in regular contact with me has relayed this quote to me at least once.
Interpretations of the significance of these words have all also been similar.
People are noting that what Nick said is central to my take on the cause of the spiritual decay and numerical decline of the CGGC, and particularly the ERC, for about the past three decades.
It is.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, in regular contact with me is saying that Nick is a breath of fresh air.
I've never met Nick, so I only know what I know second hand.
What I know is that people who are sympathetic to my take on the debacle of the ERC in the past few years are encouraged...and, some, even, optimistic.
Optimism in the very cynical ERC? That's new for me...and, I've been around for more than 40 years.
Nevertheless, as I see it, Nick is facing some serious challenges.
One of them is the CGGC's deeply rooted history of talking a radical Bible talk yet walking a very bland, traditional, walk.
The people who've been, uh, leading the ERC for decades always have been content to talk radical Bible talk without turning from fallen, traditions.
They're very comfortable with strong Bible talk. But, Bible walk? Not in many, many years!
They, and the rest of the ERC, are going to have to repent of decades of Talk-ism.
Getting CGGCers to change what they actually do will not be a cake walk.
Can Nick lead that change...in behavior?
Based on what I see, up here at 40,000 feet: Nick has the spiritual gifting to lead dramatic change, at least through the calling out of a remnant.
What I've said numerous times lately, in private conversations, is that it can happen but only...
...by the grace of God.
"We say the Bible is our guide for faith and practice. It isn't."
As far as I can tell, everyone from the ERC who's in regular contact with me has relayed this quote to me at least once.
Interpretations of the significance of these words have all also been similar.
People are noting that what Nick said is central to my take on the cause of the spiritual decay and numerical decline of the CGGC, and particularly the ERC, for about the past three decades.
It is.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, in regular contact with me is saying that Nick is a breath of fresh air.
I've never met Nick, so I only know what I know second hand.
What I know is that people who are sympathetic to my take on the debacle of the ERC in the past few years are encouraged...and, some, even, optimistic.
Optimism in the very cynical ERC? That's new for me...and, I've been around for more than 40 years.
Nevertheless, as I see it, Nick is facing some serious challenges.
One of them is the CGGC's deeply rooted history of talking a radical Bible talk yet walking a very bland, traditional, walk.
The people who've been, uh, leading the ERC for decades always have been content to talk radical Bible talk without turning from fallen, traditions.
They're very comfortable with strong Bible talk. But, Bible walk? Not in many, many years!
They, and the rest of the ERC, are going to have to repent of decades of Talk-ism.
Getting CGGCers to change what they actually do will not be a cake walk.
Can Nick lead that change...in behavior?
Based on what I see, up here at 40,000 feet: Nick has the spiritual gifting to lead dramatic change, at least through the calling out of a remnant.
What I've said numerous times lately, in private conversations, is that it can happen but only...
...by the grace of God.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
CGGC Values?
The Mission Statement of the Independent Living community to which we're moving operates under the following Mission Statement:
"Founded on Christ's love and Mennonite values, we strive to enrich the lives of those we serve."
The Mission Statement is very prominently displayed on a large plaque in the facility's main lobby and, based on our interaction with these people so far, the mission is central to what they do in real life.
We couldn't avoid seeing the Mission Statement plaque as soon as we visited the home for the first time.
And, the moment I saw the Mission Statement, I asked myself what a similar statement would mean in a CGGC context where the words Churches of God, General Conference were substituted for Mennonite.
My answer? Nothing.
The CGGC has had published Core Values for about 30 years.
My guess is that you don't know what they are and, that being the case, you'd have to concede that they are talk, not walk, for us, i.e., our Core Values are central to nothing that we do.
Look them up.
For the most part, the values we talk are shepherd focused in that they have to do, almost exclusively, with ideals about CGGC flocks gathered for worship.
They certainly aren't adequate to direct the operation of an Independent Living community, or any real life endeavor.
I'd say, though, that they are accurate to the extent that they describe our parish priest/laity obsession, our satisfaction with talk disconnected from walk and our inability and unwillingness to live a faith that addresses all of real life.
Our Core Values, I believe, are perfectly adequate to drive our dysfunction as well as our decline and decay.
It's true that every system is perfectly designed to achieve the results it gets. And, our Core Values, such as they are, are perfectly designed to drive our dive into the doldrums.
One other note.
Winebrenner's 27 point description of the Faith and Practice of the Church of God from the 1840s got it right.
The points covering our practice describe the real life fruit of our actual values in those days and they were radical, matching our orthodox, yet radical, statements of what we believed.
They really and truly describe what actually did in the real world.
We must repent.
Jesus said this to the Church at Ephesus: "Repent and do the things you did at first."
We need to do that.
"Founded on Christ's love and Mennonite values, we strive to enrich the lives of those we serve."
The Mission Statement is very prominently displayed on a large plaque in the facility's main lobby and, based on our interaction with these people so far, the mission is central to what they do in real life.
We couldn't avoid seeing the Mission Statement plaque as soon as we visited the home for the first time.
And, the moment I saw the Mission Statement, I asked myself what a similar statement would mean in a CGGC context where the words Churches of God, General Conference were substituted for Mennonite.
My answer? Nothing.
The CGGC has had published Core Values for about 30 years.
My guess is that you don't know what they are and, that being the case, you'd have to concede that they are talk, not walk, for us, i.e., our Core Values are central to nothing that we do.
Look them up.
For the most part, the values we talk are shepherd focused in that they have to do, almost exclusively, with ideals about CGGC flocks gathered for worship.
They certainly aren't adequate to direct the operation of an Independent Living community, or any real life endeavor.
I'd say, though, that they are accurate to the extent that they describe our parish priest/laity obsession, our satisfaction with talk disconnected from walk and our inability and unwillingness to live a faith that addresses all of real life.
Our Core Values, I believe, are perfectly adequate to drive our dysfunction as well as our decline and decay.
It's true that every system is perfectly designed to achieve the results it gets. And, our Core Values, such as they are, are perfectly designed to drive our dive into the doldrums.
One other note.
Winebrenner's 27 point description of the Faith and Practice of the Church of God from the 1840s got it right.
The points covering our practice describe the real life fruit of our actual values in those days and they were radical, matching our orthodox, yet radical, statements of what we believed.
They really and truly describe what actually did in the real world.
We must repent.
Jesus said this to the Church at Ephesus: "Repent and do the things you did at first."
We need to do that.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
My Comment on the CONTAGIOUS Blog Discipleship Thread
I put a comment on Michael Martin's thread welcoming the people of the CGGC to a conversation on discipleship.
Mike placed his post on the blog on May 31. Mine, still awaiting publication, will probably be the first comment.
My comment is simple. I can't see a way it can be controversial though it could make some in the CGGC uncomfortable.
I hope others will enter the discipleship conversation.
Mike placed his post on the blog on May 31. Mine, still awaiting publication, will probably be the first comment.
My comment is simple. I can't see a way it can be controversial though it could make some in the CGGC uncomfortable.
I hope others will enter the discipleship conversation.
Friday, June 7, 2019
"Bill, you have a way of making people feel like..."
I gave up pastoral ministry long enough ago, and, today, I've been living in the the world intimately enough, and long enough, to image how that sentence might have ended.
A few weeks ago, I was managing a particularly stressful shift at the supermarket and I approached two of the millennials working with me to tell one of them what I needed her to do.
I told her in the way I typically speak to the millennials.
Then, over my shoulder, the other one said those words: "Bill, you just have a way of making people feel like,..." and, my brain was already completing the sentence in the way it often would be completed out here beyond the walls of a church building, with the S word, "$hi..," i.e., "Bill, you just have a way of making people feel like $hi.."
To review: I gave up the life of a parish priest, i.e., a provider of religious products and services to be consumed by a passive laity, years ago in order to live in the world as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. I took a job working in a grocery store.
From time to time, on the job, I talk about what I believe. But, my constant goal is to live what I believe, according to what Paul, in Galatians 6:2, calls, "the law of Christ."
And, trust me, I don't live flawlessly under the authority of the Law of Christ. Often, I leave the job at the end of my day, hanging my head.
And, so, it's important to me, from time to time, to know, well, how a coworker would finish the sentence: Bill has a way of making people feel like...
Happily, my coworker didn't end the sentence, "...$hi.."
What she said was, "...like they're on top of the world."
I was humbled and stunned. And, in the brief moment we had as we both moved on, I thanked her and told her I was surprised by her compliment.
But, the significance of her words continue to swim in my mind.
My goal, as an ambassador of the Kingdom, is not to have people I meet feel like they're on top of the world. My goal is to be a faithful subject living under the lordship of Jesus.
Yet, certainly, living as a subject of the Kingdom means to "love your neighbor as yourself." And, if you obey that part of the so-called Great Command, I imagine that, when you do it, you have a way of making people feel like they're on top of the world.
So, I'll take that...as one person's affirmation that I'm succeeding to some degree in my ambassadorial role.
I'll certainly take that over the increasing isolation I felt as a provider of religious products and services to a passive...and not always appreciative, laity.
The job I do at the store, that makes my ministry as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God possible, is a humble and humbling job. It can feel thankless.
I'll hold on to that, "on top of the world" moment in discouraging moments for a long time.
A few weeks ago, I was managing a particularly stressful shift at the supermarket and I approached two of the millennials working with me to tell one of them what I needed her to do.
I told her in the way I typically speak to the millennials.
Then, over my shoulder, the other one said those words: "Bill, you just have a way of making people feel like,..." and, my brain was already completing the sentence in the way it often would be completed out here beyond the walls of a church building, with the S word, "$hi..," i.e., "Bill, you just have a way of making people feel like $hi.."
To review: I gave up the life of a parish priest, i.e., a provider of religious products and services to be consumed by a passive laity, years ago in order to live in the world as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. I took a job working in a grocery store.
From time to time, on the job, I talk about what I believe. But, my constant goal is to live what I believe, according to what Paul, in Galatians 6:2, calls, "the law of Christ."
And, trust me, I don't live flawlessly under the authority of the Law of Christ. Often, I leave the job at the end of my day, hanging my head.
And, so, it's important to me, from time to time, to know, well, how a coworker would finish the sentence: Bill has a way of making people feel like...
Happily, my coworker didn't end the sentence, "...$hi.."
What she said was, "...like they're on top of the world."
I was humbled and stunned. And, in the brief moment we had as we both moved on, I thanked her and told her I was surprised by her compliment.
But, the significance of her words continue to swim in my mind.
My goal, as an ambassador of the Kingdom, is not to have people I meet feel like they're on top of the world. My goal is to be a faithful subject living under the lordship of Jesus.
Yet, certainly, living as a subject of the Kingdom means to "love your neighbor as yourself." And, if you obey that part of the so-called Great Command, I imagine that, when you do it, you have a way of making people feel like they're on top of the world.
So, I'll take that...as one person's affirmation that I'm succeeding to some degree in my ambassadorial role.
I'll certainly take that over the increasing isolation I felt as a provider of religious products and services to a passive...and not always appreciative, laity.
The job I do at the store, that makes my ministry as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God possible, is a humble and humbling job. It can feel thankless.
I'll hold on to that, "on top of the world" moment in discouraging moments for a long time.
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