December 11 - coming to the end
It has been an interesting discussion. I thank all of you who have shared, participated or simply read along with us without comment. I have been blessed by the comments and pray that this group has been a blessing to you too.
I’d like to pose a final discussion topic: a question, statement or commitment as we finish and are in the midst of this Advent season. If you were in a seminar with Nouwen and had some one-on-one talking time together, what would you want to share with Nouwen about In the Name of Jesus that stimulated most thought, brought the most vivid frames of reference to mind, challenged you the most to change how you think or act in your Christian community. If, in short, you could give the author feedback about the book, what would you say?
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December 25th, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Henri, I have been inspired by your book, “In the name of Jesus,” to meditate on the questions you raised in your journey and to reflect where it is that God is leading me in mine.
With faith, obedience, and trust, Abraham went to the mountain top, Noah to the ark, Moses out of Egypt, Joshua over the Jordan, Paul to Antioch, the Wise Men to Bethlehem, and Jesus to the Cross.
What amazes me in this book is how you raise all the questions that held you back before your move to L’Arche and the similarities in all of God’s children in their moves to follow, and how His loving Grace is supplied at the perfect time in making it possible.
So As I try to be still and quiet to listen for that time and sign in my Journey, I will remember that when I want to be relevant—I will refuse to turn the stones to bread, I will move to be more mystical in contemplative prayer to learn the heart of Jesus, to be more team and community oriented in ministry, to yield to being powerful to become more loving, and to seek the Messiah in everybody and everything for God’s perfect time to move.
Thanks Henri, Jack, and all the faithful participants for your leadership in making this happen.
In Bill’s words to you Henri, “we did it Together, didn’t we?”
Merry Christmas!
December 22nd, 2007 @ 5:09 am
Yes, Bruce, you’ve captured the essence of what I believe Nouwen wants us to experience. My institutional church depends heavily on learned tools of success (“let’s build a “mega church” right here in Podunk so that God will know we’re successful…and, of course, very, very spiritual”). Henri says eloquently what Bayly said years ago in THE GOSPEL BLIMP. The items you cited are part of the reason that I’ve come to see Nouwen as an oasis of the true Christian life in a desert of the organizational church. The items from IN THE NAME OF JESUS that you cited contribute to what I see as a primary message and impact of the book and Nouwen’s ministry: it’s never about us and who we think we are; it’s always about Jesus.
If Nouwen were alive, I’m sure he would have written many, many more books in the last 11 years. However, I’m just blessed by the impact that his writings have and that God has brought his ministry, the Nouwen Society and this international small sharing, caring group into my life. And that in his writings and the sharing and contributions of people like you, his work continues to be a blessing.
All of us are leaders by our lives and examples. I believe what this world needs is people who live (not talk) the message of Jesus. Not perfectly, because that was Jesus’s ministry. But live as if they believe God works through our weakness to show His strength. Just writing your blog comment from yesterday gives me hope that Nouwen’s writings are growing Christian leaders for our world…today. Thanks again, Bruce.
December 21st, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Henri, Your book is filled with wonderful thoughts of Christian Leadership. It seems to me that you have put the bar pretty high and expecially so for us lay-Christian ministers. As examples you note that we are to:
- Leave a society where we have learned some tools for success to serve in a world that requires little of what we has enabled us to be “successful.” page 28-30
- Become servant leaders wherein we are to give our time, talent and treasury for the salvation of many, few of whom we will ever know. page 63
- Become part of a community where confession and forgiveness are always present even with people we are not sure we even like. page 68
- Live a life that illuminates for others our complete belief that Jesus is leading God’s people out of slavery. page 87
- Then, in summary, the Christian leader of the future is the one who truly knows the heart of God as it has become flesh, “heart of flesh,” in Jesus. page 38
Henri, I think after nearly twenty years it is time for another book. Even after reading this book and regularly reading the Good Book, I still have a long way to go to qualify as a Christian Leader of the future.
PS: Good job, Jack. I look forward to another study.
December 20th, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
This was my inauguration into Henri’s site and the reading blog. I have truly been blessed to be part of this experience. Thank you all so much for your input. I am still pondering and meditating the messages for me from this book….
May each of us be blessed over this Holy Season as we minister to others. May wonderful adventures for Him await us in 2008!
SHALOM
Judith
December 20th, 2007 @ 7:20 am
I would simply say “Thank you” to Henri for reminding us gently but firmly that the way of Christ IS “downward mobility”….an emphasis much needed in the USA culture where “big is always better” and pastors (& I am one)often think that the bigger congregation with the bigger salary, etc. is to be preferred.
And I echo the thanks that Patty gave to you, Jack…Got me reading again a book I had read a long time ago but had (sigh) forgotten…
And let me share one of my favorite Christmas readings (it’s short!) which echoes the same “downward mobility” theme. This is by Barbara Penwarden:
Who knows what glory He knew & chose to leave, to limit Himself in the confines of my flesh to identify with me.
No angel visitation,
No burning bush,
No pillar of cloud
Nor pillar of fire
Could have said to me so clearly
“I LOVE YOU.”
Merry Christmas, everyone! And a God-filled 2008.
December 19th, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Thank you, Patty, for your participation, comments and kind words. You are a minister.
Although there are various definitions of “minister” that are administrative, there are definitions of minister that define a role ; “to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities.: to minister to the needs of the hungry. to contribute, as to comfort or happiness “
The concepts that Nouwen presents in “IN THE NAME OF JESUS” are those of roles, not positions. Being committed to prayer rather than power, to tending to needs rather than being significant or relevant in society; to being humble enough to be led rather than demanding to lead, are characteristics of roles, not theological training, administrative appointments or paid positions.
I’m pleased that this study on “IN THE NAME OF JESUS” came at Advent. Being born in a manger was a powerless, socially irrelevant, humble manifestation of how God chooses to work in the world. Leaving the prestige of Harvard, Yale and Notre Dame to minister in a Daybreak community is an example of living “IN THE NAME OF JESUS”
Today, I want to live THAT way.
Thank you again, Patty, for your contribution. And thank you all who have been verbally active or quietly supportive of this reading blog. May the irrelevance of a manger and the insignificance of a town called Bethlehem guide you all in a life lived “IN THE NAME OF JESUS”
December 18th, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
I would like to thank you, Jack, for taking the time to lead this group. I for one greatly appreciated your efforts. I may not be a minister, but I certainly find Henri a great man to walk with. Thank you for a job well done.
December 15th, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
I would tend to tell Henri that I whole heartedly agree with his view of what a good leader or Minister needs to focus on. I am not a Minister, but those I have sought out to guide me for the most part have been those who have spent more time on their own spiritual growth and thus have been excellent guides to me in my spiritual journey.
It is one thing to always be a person of prayer it is a whole other thing to gradually grow in the way I pray and being willing and open to people who are immersed in a spiritual life and will guide me to deeper and better prayer. I have been fortunate to find someone all through my years since age sixteen who could turn me around to the right direction and have taught me to listen in my heart to the voice of God.
Downward mobility has come about not by choice, but I had no problem accepting it, thanks in part to Henri’s book “The Road to Day Break”, “Life of the Beloved”, “In the name of Jesus”, and “Adam”. I am a former Teacher, Mom of 5 children - 3 of them Special Needs, am now handicapped for many years and a Gramma of 3. My hubby and I live with my daughter and her little boy of 19 mos. Our job is to care for him 5 days a week, and what an awesome privilege that is! I am a member of 3 support groups of people with similar disabilities as mine, but mostly I pray and that God for the many many blessing in my life. Henri doesn’t know it, but he and I have walked together since I found his book, “A Cry for Mercy” as that is where I was at at that time. I for one, depend on Ministers who have a strong spiritual grounding and are people of prayer.
December 11th, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
This is my first time on this site and I do have “In the Name of Jesus” but haven’t read it in a long time. I’m probably not at the right site but this was all I could find besides the bookstore. I just finished viewing a movie of Henri’s and it mentioned the books “A Stranger in Paradise” and “Home at Last”. If anyone knows where I can purchase these books, please let me know. Thank you.