final sabbatical books

Everyday Justice by Julie Clawson is the most practical book about taking small steps to live justly that I have read. She starts the book with a confession that the most common feeling when people are exposed to injustice is to feel overwhelmed which leads to guilt, hopelessness and inaction. However global change can take place when individuals make small changes over time.

Each chapter discusses a specific topic from cars to coffee and how the decisions we make often have unintended consequences. Each chapter contains practical tips, websites, further readings, etc that make it easy to get involved. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has interest in living justly but whom is often left feeling overwhelmed about what they can do to make a difference



Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark and Kara Powell caught my interest based on the title but I found it to be a book that did not connect with where I am at. It is not that I don’t care about having ‘deep ministry’, I do, it is just that while I felt their ideas were good I did not find them practically helpful with where our team is at within the church. There were a few nuggets of wisdom I want to pass on but overall this was a skim read.

learning #5

This has been more of a reminder than something new I learned but I really love the family/church that I am part of. There is no way to put a value on how many people’s stories I have had the privilege of being part of and visa versa.

We at BH are messed up and full of beautiful quirks and chaotic ticks and the best part is getting to live in the messy redemptive story together. I have read, heard about and seen communities that live in ways I would love for us to be more like and other practices I hope we avoid but in it all nothing beats actually knowing faces and names and being on the journey together. While I could be happy having more time away from email I do miss the people.

learning #4

I am more excited about Madison Missions than ever. I know a program in itself never results in life change but I think God has worked by his grace through this structure at this time. How long that will last I have no idea.

I dream of a time when 400-500 students would participate in serving their community because of who Jesus is and what he has done and in doing so learn more about their faith. I also dream of more and more student communities living out their faith through service to others all over the country and the world. I just got an email from a friend in Italy who hopes to help engage students there and this summer we are hoping to do that same thing in Honduras. Very cool.

learning #3

I am excited how our community engages with social justice. However I do think we need a new name for it. Kingdom justice seems to have a better ring to it. I have a sense that I am part of a community moving in a healthy direction. We still have a long, long way to go but we are moving and for that I am thankful.

The early church, while being messed up in many, many ways, is a challenging example of a group of people who lived generously. While they shared with everyone who had need, we tend to share with those who we think worthy of our help. When they sold their property to give to those in need, we tend to give from what is left over after we have made sure we are comfortable. But Spirit seems to be breathing new life into his people all around the world and I am excited about the hope that brings.

Learning #2

I am getting more and more excited about seeing increased localization all around. I believe this is going to have a lot of ramifications within the American church over the next several years if not longer. I saw in different parts of the country and even in my own city, an increased interest in meeting neighbors, buying local, growing a garden and having more intimate church experiences even in the midst of large churches.

As my time comes to a close...

Learning #1

I have a hard time stepping away from my job. I have not had a break like this since I was in middle school. I am incredibly thankful for the work ethic that my family and especially my father instilled in me from a young age. However upon reflection my job has become entwined with my sense of identity. More often than I would like to admit I am what I produce. I am a youth pastor. I don’t think I realized how bad it was until the first 2-3 weeks of my break. I didn’t know what to do with myself and now I feel like a I wasted the time but I am not sure I could have done it any other way. It was like what I imagine detox to be like. Granted I did not have cold sweats and violent shaking but I did have a lot of pacing and mind racing. I recognize this is not healthy. I know cognitively that my identity should be in Christ but in practice I have a long ways to go.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

While I have enjoyed the ideas provoked by all my readings over the past several weeks, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years was by far the most fun to read. I wanted to savor each chapter but could keep myself from turning the page. Last week I headed out for a solo camping trip for a couple days so part of what made this book great was the setting it was read in.

I was at Governor Dodge State Park and wandered around for the day until I found some rocks to climb up and surprised with a ledge view above the trees that looked out over the lake. I sat on a rock in the full sun and wind and read about life as a story. Miller writes about how our life is a story and asks himself and therefore challenges us to ask, if we are living a good story. Another way he puts it is, if our life was made into a movie would it be the kind of movie we would want to go to? Would anyone? For some reason the question of whether or not I am living a good story has stuck with me. I think part of the reason it has been so thought provoking is that question is at the heart of what my sabbatical has been all about. I have the chance to step back, evaluate and ask myself if I am living the sort of story I want to, or the story that I am called to.

I long for a better story.