Steve's Letter: You Talk Too Much!
Arthur Rubinstein, one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, went to his physician with a minor throat irritation. Rubinstein had a tendency to magnify minor physical problems into major ones and, in this case, he was sure he had throat cancer or worse.
As the doctor examined him, Rubinstein kept talking.
"I know this is serious," he said, "and I want you to know that I can handle bad news."
The doctor continued his examination in silence.
"I've lived a full life," Rubinstein continued talking, "and can face death with no regrets. So whatever you find, I can take it. Don't soften it; just tell me the truth."
The doctor put down his stethoscope and said, "Your problem isn't that you have cancer. Your problem is that you talk too much!"
Last month, I told you about speaking for this year's graduation at Reformed Theological Seminary where I've taught for the last 15 years. This month, I'm glad to report that I did it and didn't make a fool of myself.
But the best part was that I didn't talk too much.
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Steve's Letter: "Do You Know You're Free?"
I just stopped what I was doing to write to you...a far more pleasant prospect than what I was doing.
What was I doing?
I was working on a speech/sermon I'm to give at Reformed Theological Seminary's graduation where I teach...uh...
...by the time you read this, "used to teach."
The thought of "used to teach" is almost as good as writing to you. As I told you, after this semester I'll be teaching only occasional weeklong courses. I just wrote the first sentence of my graduation speech: "Nah, nah, nah."
Jesus made me delete it.
As I worked on the presentation, I remembered my first encounter with the seminary. It was years ago. They asked me to come and speak for their "Winter Theological Institute" and I sat with the president during the opening session at which one of the missions professors spoke.
These were his opening remarks: "Seeing as how the board has not seen fit to renew my contract, there are some things I've been meaning to say."
That is when he got out a verbal "howitzer" and blasted away. In fact, I didn't even know the people he was talking about and I winced.
As we left that opening session, I turned to the president and said something comforting and pastoral..."What? Are you crazy? You don't fire someone and then put them in the pulpit. What were you smoking?"
The president said that there was nothing he could do. The program had been set, brochures had already been sent out and the decisions made before the board fired the professor.
I know how that professor felt. I can hardly wait to speak for graduation...
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Steve's Letter: Go Out and Offend Someone!
I got a letter from a financial supporter of this ministry. He had heard my interview with Paul Young who wrote The Shack. As you perhaps know, I believe that Young has enabled a whole lot of people to see God in a different and accurate way. Not only that, I know him to be the real deal. He believes every word of the Bible, is not a Universalist, and has touched a mother lode of pain in a whole lot of people.
This Key Life contributor was quite upset with my affirmation of Young. I had said on another nationally syndicated program where I was interviewed that I felt the harsh, over-the-top critics of The Shack had "their underwear on too tight." I don't know why that bothered him, but he said that he was no longer going to support Key Life and no longer wanted to be on the mailing list.
Given the bad economy and the way we are struggling, just like everyone else in ministry, I decided that I would find some bad things to say about Young or, at minimum, try to explain and defend my position.
(We know what I am...we're just talking about price.)
That's when Jesus messed up my plan. He does that a lot and, frankly, I don't like it one bit.
Paul wrote the Corinthian church that what Christians have to offer is not "the wisdom of this age" but a "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4,6). Then he writes, "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God" (vs. 12).
As you know, I'm not into rules, but I've decided to make four rules for myself. You might want to adopt these rules or write your own. These are necessary because I've decided that, no matter what I do, I'm probably going to offend somebody. So here are my rules...
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Steve's Letter: "What Should I Give Up for Lent?"
I'm not that big on the Christian holy days...but I do like Lent and Easter.
The pagans haven't taken them over yet. They tried, but Easter hats aren't high on the fashion agenda; the Easter bunny, for some reason, has never reached the PR level of Santa Claus; and unless you're a believer, you probably aren't big on fasting or giving stuff up for Lent.
Did you give up anything for Lent?
I did.
I gave up liver, okra and booze.
Not only that, I gave up watching Oprah.
I know you're impressed, but don't be. It was the least I could do after all that Jesus has done for me.
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Steve's Letter: "Have I Learned To Like Change?"
I just resigned from Reformed Theological Seminary.
Scares the spit out of me!
(Well, I didn't totally resign. After this semester, I will no longer be a full-time resident professor. I will, as it looks now, take on the title of "Professor at Large" and teach modular courses-weeklong courses-at our different campuses of Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta, Jackson and Washington. They were going to call me "Professor Emeritus," but that sounded like I had retired, started drooling or died...none of which is true. "Professor at Large" has a better ring to it.)
I hate change!
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