Thank you for sharing your experience, perspective, and knowledge. I agree, although I've only smelt the scent of the whole pie.
I have devoured everything I could read and have scribbled in notebooks and on paper scraps since I first learned that letters compose words laden with meaning. I believe in The Word and the power of words. I enjoyed the "Summer Slowdown" over the summer, which inspired many thoughts and scribbles for me. I have participated in many writing workshops as a teacher and a student; a favorite featured the author S.D. Smith, who also encouraged us to "go write." However, I recently experienced my first writer's conference as an adult -- a Christian Writers Conference. I came away overwhelmed with so many feelings. One of the most prominent reactions I felt was, "never mind." I am never going to seek a platform to proclaim myself: I crave to tell a story that tells His story.
But how can I say "never mind" to a world that needs Truth and Light in its hands and ears and before its eyes? Maybe I don't have the ways and means to get it there, but I pray that those who do can rise above the gross parts of the process to place Beauty and Hope in another knotty-haired, scab-kneed little girl's hands, because it changed EVERYTHING for this one so many decades ago.
Leslie, wow. This was awesome. I love your thoughts here. On your writer's conference experience--man, that makes me so sad that it made you feel that way. I always encourage writers to just get to it. Write. Write. Write. Do what you can with the time and resources you have. And it sounds like you are crushing it like that. Please keep writing and pursuing changing the world with your voice.
I am also very grateful that The Summer Slowdown was helpful. That makes everything worth it to hear that! Thank you. :)
Early in this article yo u acknowledge your desire to work in teams, to collaborate. With that in mind I thought you might like to have these quotes for your research file.
“In fact, even cursory glances through the Gospels confirm that the work Jesus did in the lives of his disciples occurred because the disciples were in relationship, not simply with him, but with one another. That manner of growth in spiritual depth—in the context of community—is not accidental. It is part of how people are built. We were created to seek God, and we were created to find him with others. Not only does this reflect the strategy of Jesus, but just as crucially, it reflects the design of God.”
(The Pursuit of God in the Company of Friends by Richard Lamb, Page17)
“But there is one defect I do see. In addressing my readers as individuals, trying as best I can to single them out and search their hearts before God, I fail to show that it is only as one gives oneself in human relationships, in the home, in friendships, with neighbors, as members of Christian groups and teams--in relationships that go sometimes right and sometimes wrong, as all our relationships do--that experiential knowledge of God becomes real and deep. For ordinary people, to be a hermit is not the way! The buttoned-up Christian “loner” who keeps aloof and reads books like this (or just the Bible!) may pick up true notions of God as well as anyone else may, but only the Christian sharer , who risks being hurt in order to take and give the maximum in fellowship and who sometimes does get hurt as a result, ever knows much of God himself in experiential terms. This perspective, so clear in the Psalms (to which, perhaps, my book should be seen as a preamble, or maybe a footnote), is so vital that I am very much at fault for not having made more of it. But if groups use this study guide, as is intended, that in itself may yet induce the necessary open and mutually committed lifestyle which I failed to mark out in the exposition. I hope and pray so, anyway.”
Knowing God Study Guide by J. I. Packer-page 6
Given the current epidemic of loneliness and isolation I think IVP should include Packer's quote in a new Preface to Knowing God. What Packer wrote in the early 70's seems more relevant now than then.
John, this was awesome! Man that Packer quote! Now you have me in the study pulling out Knowing God, again. And I agree, that quote is so relevant today! Thanks for sharing these quotes! I may post that Packer quote in Notes. So good!
Beautiful, Tim. Thank you. I believe one day Jesus will turn the publishing world on its head. He loves the written word and wouldn't bless people like yourself and millions of others with the gift if He didn't.
Keep doing what you're doing knowing that 'Aslan is on the move' and slowly but ever so surely, renewal and transformation will happen as we allow Spirit to lead us into a new publishing world one day.
Timothy, if you know someone at IVP I'd encourage you to reach out to them and encourage IVP to put this quote in a new Preface to Knowing God. I think once the word got out it might re-ignite an interest in Knowing God. Frankly, I don't think we can do enough to stress the importance of relationships and being connected.
Thank you for sharing your experience, perspective, and knowledge. I agree, although I've only smelt the scent of the whole pie.
I have devoured everything I could read and have scribbled in notebooks and on paper scraps since I first learned that letters compose words laden with meaning. I believe in The Word and the power of words. I enjoyed the "Summer Slowdown" over the summer, which inspired many thoughts and scribbles for me. I have participated in many writing workshops as a teacher and a student; a favorite featured the author S.D. Smith, who also encouraged us to "go write." However, I recently experienced my first writer's conference as an adult -- a Christian Writers Conference. I came away overwhelmed with so many feelings. One of the most prominent reactions I felt was, "never mind." I am never going to seek a platform to proclaim myself: I crave to tell a story that tells His story.
But how can I say "never mind" to a world that needs Truth and Light in its hands and ears and before its eyes? Maybe I don't have the ways and means to get it there, but I pray that those who do can rise above the gross parts of the process to place Beauty and Hope in another knotty-haired, scab-kneed little girl's hands, because it changed EVERYTHING for this one so many decades ago.
Leslie, wow. This was awesome. I love your thoughts here. On your writer's conference experience--man, that makes me so sad that it made you feel that way. I always encourage writers to just get to it. Write. Write. Write. Do what you can with the time and resources you have. And it sounds like you are crushing it like that. Please keep writing and pursuing changing the world with your voice.
I am also very grateful that The Summer Slowdown was helpful. That makes everything worth it to hear that! Thank you. :)
Tim,
Early in this article yo u acknowledge your desire to work in teams, to collaborate. With that in mind I thought you might like to have these quotes for your research file.
“In fact, even cursory glances through the Gospels confirm that the work Jesus did in the lives of his disciples occurred because the disciples were in relationship, not simply with him, but with one another. That manner of growth in spiritual depth—in the context of community—is not accidental. It is part of how people are built. We were created to seek God, and we were created to find him with others. Not only does this reflect the strategy of Jesus, but just as crucially, it reflects the design of God.”
(The Pursuit of God in the Company of Friends by Richard Lamb, Page17)
“But there is one defect I do see. In addressing my readers as individuals, trying as best I can to single them out and search their hearts before God, I fail to show that it is only as one gives oneself in human relationships, in the home, in friendships, with neighbors, as members of Christian groups and teams--in relationships that go sometimes right and sometimes wrong, as all our relationships do--that experiential knowledge of God becomes real and deep. For ordinary people, to be a hermit is not the way! The buttoned-up Christian “loner” who keeps aloof and reads books like this (or just the Bible!) may pick up true notions of God as well as anyone else may, but only the Christian sharer , who risks being hurt in order to take and give the maximum in fellowship and who sometimes does get hurt as a result, ever knows much of God himself in experiential terms. This perspective, so clear in the Psalms (to which, perhaps, my book should be seen as a preamble, or maybe a footnote), is so vital that I am very much at fault for not having made more of it. But if groups use this study guide, as is intended, that in itself may yet induce the necessary open and mutually committed lifestyle which I failed to mark out in the exposition. I hope and pray so, anyway.”
Knowing God Study Guide by J. I. Packer-page 6
Given the current epidemic of loneliness and isolation I think IVP should include Packer's quote in a new Preface to Knowing God. What Packer wrote in the early 70's seems more relevant now than then.
Aslan is on the move!
John
John, this was awesome! Man that Packer quote! Now you have me in the study pulling out Knowing God, again. And I agree, that quote is so relevant today! Thanks for sharing these quotes! I may post that Packer quote in Notes. So good!
Beautiful, Tim. Thank you. I believe one day Jesus will turn the publishing world on its head. He loves the written word and wouldn't bless people like yourself and millions of others with the gift if He didn't.
Keep doing what you're doing knowing that 'Aslan is on the move' and slowly but ever so surely, renewal and transformation will happen as we allow Spirit to lead us into a new publishing world one day.
Grace and peace,
Ian
Thank you, Ian. This was very encouraging to me. Snd I’m with you, Aslan is on the move! 🙌
Timothy, if you know someone at IVP I'd encourage you to reach out to them and encourage IVP to put this quote in a new Preface to Knowing God. I think once the word got out it might re-ignite an interest in Knowing God. Frankly, I don't think we can do enough to stress the importance of relationships and being connected.