In the company of saints...
Oswald Chambers. Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Rich Mullins. Hannah Whitehall Smith. Dennis Kinlaw. Evelyn Underhill. Jackson Lashier. What do these seven persons have in common? Each are saints of the Lord Jesus who are dear to me; each possesses a heart that I admire, even as they bring me to Christ. Some names you will know from the media, sermons, or Sunday school lessons. Others you can search and find their writings or albums on amazon.com. Others aren't on amazon.com at all, but they're pictured in my photo albums--friends and counselors who have helped me pray and grow in Christ. The company of saints in my story of following Jesus. Whether they whisper counsel through books, speak with me over the telephone, or encourage me over coffee, the saints of the Lord keep me pressing on, and I could not persevere without them.
When I think back on the turning points in my life, I can't imagine praying as I do now without the experience of daily prayer with my best friend from seminary, Jackson Lashier. I never would have appreciated the important of naked honesty in our faith journey without Rich Mullins' song, 'Hard to Get.' Without Evelyn Underhill, I wonder how I would have understood that worshipping God is the most beautiful, fulfilling way I can spend my time. If Dietrich Bonhoeffer had never lived and died in Christ, I wonder who would have passionately communicated that following Christ requires everything. With the saints, I have never been 'without.' With them, I am always within the presence of God.
So what about each of you? Who has walked alongside you? Which saint, whether living now or present with the Lord, has inspired you to be more like Jesus? Selfishly, I look forward to increasing my own company. Even more, I look forward to being drawn into those saints who have been in your heart these many years. Let's share with one another and see how the Spirit unites us in the process!
Blessings
Jack
When I think back on the turning points in my life, I can't imagine praying as I do now without the experience of daily prayer with my best friend from seminary, Jackson Lashier. I never would have appreciated the important of naked honesty in our faith journey without Rich Mullins' song, 'Hard to Get.' Without Evelyn Underhill, I wonder how I would have understood that worshipping God is the most beautiful, fulfilling way I can spend my time. If Dietrich Bonhoeffer had never lived and died in Christ, I wonder who would have passionately communicated that following Christ requires everything. With the saints, I have never been 'without.' With them, I am always within the presence of God.
So what about each of you? Who has walked alongside you? Which saint, whether living now or present with the Lord, has inspired you to be more like Jesus? Selfishly, I look forward to increasing my own company. Even more, I look forward to being drawn into those saints who have been in your heart these many years. Let's share with one another and see how the Spirit unites us in the process!
Blessings
Jack
posted by Theophany@Church Street | 4:50 PM
7 Comments:
Jeff,
Brennan Manning was a tremendous influence on one of the saints I appreciate so well, Rich Mullins. I suppose Manning's best known book is 'The Ragamuffin Gospel.' Rich's best album (I believe) was 'A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band.' Rich took the spirituality from Manning and lived it, embraced it, and preached it to others.
And I'm so glad to know other U2 fans at Church St.! There are certainly other arguments, but I still U2 to be the best band ever. And I guess the reason I hold them in such high regard is because of Bono's spirituality that comes through so beautifully. 'Grace,' 'Yahweh' and 'One Step Closer' off of the last two albums have been absolutely beautiful. Sometimes he and other poets can say more in five lines than preachers can in 20 minutes; this is the gift of music and poetry. You might find Steve Stockton's book interesting if you like U2, entitled, 'Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2.' Bono's Rolling Stone interview in December '05 was brilliant too. A short excerpt:
Interviewer (Jann Wenner): 'Bono, you've got 'sinner' stenciled onto your jacket. What's the story with that?' Bono: 'It's there because I am one. Isn't everyone?I figure it's better to be honest about these things.' Beautiful. Rock stars make strange saints, but so do converted Pharisees who persecuted the Church.
I would have to put my grandfather, Glenn Westbrook at the top of the list. He has been a constant model of Christ for me.
I would list my mother-in-law, whom I do not often see eye to eye with; but she really has this caring for the least, last, and lost thing down. Much better than I do.
I've been reading Henry Nouwen lately, and I long for the simple life that he advocates.
I have also been reading about Brother Roger, the man who started the Taize community in France. My soul resonates with his ideas of simplicity, prayer, study, and justice.
I too am a HUGE Rich Mullins fan, I got to have dinner with him in 1990, just he and I.
Finally, I'm going to sound like the mocking bird in the bunch, but I would also include U2. They have been the soundtrack for much of of my life. I am thankful for their honesty and bravery.
You will know a lot about me when I say I have only heard of Rich Mullins and the songs of U2, but I am not too old to learn. I plan to find them.
I mentioned Oswald Chambers in one of my first posts. Here are more...Hannah Whithall Smith (I love THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE), Peter Marshall's sermons,one of my favorite devotional books is STREAMS IN THE DESERT by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman (My copy is falling a part, but I would not want a new one because I write in it and the ways the book has touched my life are priceless), I like THE SACRED ROMANCE by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge. These are just a few. All through my spiritual journey, books have led me. Of course our Bible is THE BOOK where others must agree in order to speak to me.
I haven't named any present day persons (saints), but there are so many! I would have to name my sister and my husband at the top. But they are everywhere...each of you and the things you say, mean a lot to me. I am listening....and much is being said.
I have to agree with jeff about U2, and jack's work in our pulpit inspires me and highlights the joy we in the UMC miss sometimes. I also give Promise Keepers a lot of credit for re-lighting my fire. To that end, I have a youth (13-18) admission to this weekend's conference in Atlanta, free for the asking. I'll watch this space for reply.
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