Ministry in Motion (MIM) Ezine, October 6, 2006

-- Book Review: Your Life in Christ: The Nature of God and His Work in Human Hearts, by George MacDonald, reviewed by Teena M. Stewart.

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Bob Cramer dialed the number he had memorized sometime ago. It was Joann Sampson, one of the key leaders in the congregation and a vice president in the local community college. Over the years she had become a leadership coach for Bob. They had a monthly phone appointment to talk about leadership, and Bob had learned a lot, but he was overwhelmed this morning.

Last night the church council had met to review their priorities of the past year and tweak them for the coming year. Bob felt his plate was already full and was even finding it difficult to get a day off. He also felt that he was frequently shortchanging his sermon preparation with the pressures that were placed on him, and didn’t think he could handle one more key priority.

He called Joann and caught her at a good time. She listened carefully as he unloaded his frustrations for a full 15 minutes. When he paused long enough to take a breath, she commented, “Eighty percent of your accomplishments come from twenty percent of your effort. Of all that you do, what is the most productive?”

Bob was stumped. First, he was stunned to hear the 80/20 rule applied in that way. In fact, he wasn’t sure he agreed with her. Secondly, he was baffled to think that some of what he did was, in reality, not all that effective or useful. How would he evaluate that?

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Jenny* went on a short term mission trip and came back fired up about serving God. She was so excited she wanted to go back again the same year and was even talking about becoming a full-time missionary. Her spouse, however, was not a Christ-follower and when she shared her plan with him he became very angry. Tongue in cheek, he told her to go, but also indicated he didn’t care if she came back. What should Jenny have done: ignored her spouse and gone ahead, divorced him because they were not getting along anyway, done nothing, or found a ministry opportunity somewhere locally?

Pastor Craig* and his wife felt unsettled regarding where they were currently serving and sensed it was time to look for a position elsewhere. He sent his resume to one of several churches that seemed like a fit for his gifts. The church invited him and his wife out for an interview which seemed to go well. He met with the church’s two senior pastors. The elders, however, did not feel he was the right man for the job. Because the pastors and elders could not agree on calling the pastor they decided against it.

A growing church attempted to build a new facility. They spent countless dollars and labor working around legalistic red tape and resistance to churches in general. Much of the funds they had hoped to use for the building went to pay for revisions to the building plan and other requirements created by those in political or community power. The process of approval took years but finally after many years the physical church building was nearly finished. The church staff and key leaders planned a huge celebration for church members and visitors for the projected move in date. But even this plan involved detours. Every time they tried to nail down a move in date, there was another delay created by the contractor.

Book Review – Your Life in Christ: The Nature of God and His Work in Human Hearts

George MacDonald, Edited by Michael Phillips, 2005, Bethany House, 261 page, ISBN #0764200828

C. S. Lewis called Scottish Victorian writer George MacDonald his mentor. And those familiar with both Lewis’ and MacDonald’s works of fantasy will no doubt see MacDonald’s influence on Lewis.

Before he turned to writing, MacDonald was a clergyman. A free-thinker, boldly unafraid to express his often non-conformist ideas, MacDonald had a gift for seeing the scripture with fresh eyes. Unfortunately his perceptions caused some during his time to be uncomfortable with his ideas. Eventually he found greater success and acceptance as a lecturer, fantasy writer, novelist, poet and essayist. He was widely popular in his day, but much of his work has fallen into obscurity. One reason is because of the elaborate and often lengthy sentences written in the era of the day, coupled with his Scottish dialect and complex thoughts. Modern readers prefer simpler readings.

Michael Phillips has done a superb job compiling and editing MacDonald’s writings from some of his sermons, shortening and adding clarity where needed. Even this revised compilation is a difficult to grasp. Phillips admits he found it challenging too. And yet, there is great value for those willing to persevere through MacDonald’s writings.

Your Life in Christ ponders the nature of God and how that applies to our response to Him and our transformation. Phillips wrote, “I consider “The Creation in Christ” one of MacDonald’s most original and theologically courageous works, placing him in the first rank of history’s Christian thinkers. . .In it he examines the very heart of the Godhead and the origins of creation itself, delving into the mysteries of the unique roles occupied by the Father and Son.”

The book covers eight sermons: The Creation in Christ, Life, Self-Denial, Freedom, Abba, Father, Opinion and Truth, The Mirrors of the Lord and the God of the Living. After each chapter Phillips includes his own commentary on the preceding theme. He adds clarity and while highlighting specific excerpts. Phillips does an excellent job.

Those who enjoy reading great theologians will not want to pass up this book. Great theological thinkers like MacDonald are few, and even today he words remain remarkably applicable. MacDonald courageously teaches us to question what we believe to find the truth and not to hold something as truth because theologians have declared it to be so.

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MIM Ezine October 6, 2006