BUSY SUMMER
A late summer book-contract deadline is looming, so this summer will consist of a lot more than lounging around on the river front. The book is tentatively titled, "A 'Well-Done' Legacy: Personality, Power, and the Leadership Debate." The idea for this volume came out of the last course I taught at Calvin Seminary--a course on leadership with a wonderful bunch of students who challenged me and kept me on my toes every minute of those 3-hour morning sessions. They didn't let me get by with anything, least of all making sloppy assumptions. The book, could be termed kind of an "anti-leadership" book. Who knows, though, what will happen when the editors get finished with it!
The following rough-draft paragraph is part of my chapter on Managing Everyday life.
"As I write this book I’m contemplating managing my everyday life that is packed full with family and friends (visiting Sarah, John, and kids on Sunday; Kayla’s birthday dinner Tuesday night, followed by family here at the river; Jane and Gene for dinner on Thursday; Sarah and kids for dinner on Friday; Mary and Mom Worst for lunch on Saturday; Kayla sleeping over Saturday night; meeting Carlton and Kayla on Tuesday at Muskegon State Park for two days and a night of camping; Howard and Betty for dinner on Wednesday; supervising three grandkids on Thursday while mom is at work; and in between, spur of the moment interruptions and chat on the phone, on email, and with neighbors). Every day there is work to do with the grass and shrubs and flowerbeds and vegetable garden, and we try to save time for biking or canoeing or other exercise. All the while I’m planning for several speaking engagements in the coming months. But looming over everything is the book deadline—this very book.
"How does one write a book in the midst of so many other activities? For me, through the experience of writing seventeen other books, the solution has been going into what I term “writing mode” which commits me to writing an average of one thousand words a day until the book is done. As with previous books, much the research is done ahead of time as I’m preparing lectures and class activities. But writing requires a special discipline. So, in the midst of an otherwise busy life, I jot word counts on my calendar: Monday, 1008, Tuesday, 656, Wednesday, 1326, Thursday, 1129, Friday 1438, Saturday, 611, Sunday, 328, Monday 1796, Tuesday, 1536, Wednesday, 1029, and by end of summer, hopefully the first draft will be sent on to my editor. Thus I manage my life—and my writing."
Thursday, June 21, 2007
PLYWOOD COFFINS
I've launched a new site with the following description:
The inspiration for this site came from reading that Ruth Bell Graham was buried (as Billy will be) in an inexpensive plywood coffin made by prisoners. Just imagine the good deeds that could be done with the money saved by not buying an expensive casket.
I've launched a new site with the following description:
The inspiration for this site came from reading that Ruth Bell Graham was buried (as Billy will be) in an inexpensive plywood coffin made by prisoners. Just imagine the good deeds that could be done with the money saved by not buying an expensive casket.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
A Postscript to Synod of Yesterday Afternoon
A gentleman spoke from the floor trying to make sense of our two reports, pointing out that both Mariano and I came to the CRC from the outside, and that the 4 members of the majority committee are all Dutch insiders. True. And that is certainly worth pondering. Those of us from the outside have faced many obstacles in the CRC (and I believe beyond a doubt that my career ministry at Calvin Seminary would not have been derailed had I been an insider). But this gentleman seriously misspoke when he said both members of the minority came from Pentecostal backgrounds. He was on the advisory committee and he heard my interview. I very distinctly stated that I grew up in a tradition that was very anti-pentecostal. So, I felt a bit more than frustrated when he was going on with false information and all I could do was to sit and listen. But my greater frustration was that both Mariano and I were silenced. The majority committee was called back to the advisory committee and was able to influence the their report. We had absolutely no representation on the floor of Synod.
This morning Mariano and I were sent an email from a member of the majority committee. It was a kind gesture and it captures what happened in the advisory committee and on the floor of Synod yesterday:
"I just wanted to say how sorry I am for the way things transpired today on the floor of Synod and during this past week. It was an unfortunate mishandling of the situation that really did not do justice to you and the work you have put into this."
A gentleman spoke from the floor trying to make sense of our two reports, pointing out that both Mariano and I came to the CRC from the outside, and that the 4 members of the majority committee are all Dutch insiders. True. And that is certainly worth pondering. Those of us from the outside have faced many obstacles in the CRC (and I believe beyond a doubt that my career ministry at Calvin Seminary would not have been derailed had I been an insider). But this gentleman seriously misspoke when he said both members of the minority came from Pentecostal backgrounds. He was on the advisory committee and he heard my interview. I very distinctly stated that I grew up in a tradition that was very anti-pentecostal. So, I felt a bit more than frustrated when he was going on with false information and all I could do was to sit and listen. But my greater frustration was that both Mariano and I were silenced. The majority committee was called back to the advisory committee and was able to influence the their report. We had absolutely no representation on the floor of Synod.
This morning Mariano and I were sent an email from a member of the majority committee. It was a kind gesture and it captures what happened in the advisory committee and on the floor of Synod yesterday:
"I just wanted to say how sorry I am for the way things transpired today on the floor of Synod and during this past week. It was an unfortunate mishandling of the situation that really did not do justice to you and the work you have put into this."
Debacle at Synod
Maybe I'm the only one to describe Third Wave coming to the floor of Synod yesterday afternoon as a debacle, but that it was. Without any debate the topic was passed on for further study--with another report to come to Synod 2009.
Sure, after prodding, those running the show acknowledged Mariano and me for our work, but we both left very disappointed and puzzled by how such a thing could have transpired. See Third Wave Spirituality for more details.
This morning I woke, still bummed out, and then I checked my email. There was one from a long lost student ("lost" to me) from the late 1990s at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She reminded me of who she was with this description: "I was the Filipina-American gal who always clapped every now and then at something insightful that came out of your lips." How could I forget!
She goes on to say: "You have no idea how your class, your presence, and the books you wrote . . . literally 'transformed' my character. . . . Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the 'spirit' and 'warmth' that pervaded in your classroom at the time. . . . That whole classroom experience for me with you at the forefront, literally was a turning point for me."
All I can say is, Thank you Lord. After yesterday, I needed that.
Maybe I'm the only one to describe Third Wave coming to the floor of Synod yesterday afternoon as a debacle, but that it was. Without any debate the topic was passed on for further study--with another report to come to Synod 2009.
Sure, after prodding, those running the show acknowledged Mariano and me for our work, but we both left very disappointed and puzzled by how such a thing could have transpired. See Third Wave Spirituality for more details.
This morning I woke, still bummed out, and then I checked my email. There was one from a long lost student ("lost" to me) from the late 1990s at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She reminded me of who she was with this description: "I was the Filipina-American gal who always clapped every now and then at something insightful that came out of your lips." How could I forget!
She goes on to say: "You have no idea how your class, your presence, and the books you wrote . . . literally 'transformed' my character. . . . Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the 'spirit' and 'warmth' that pervaded in your classroom at the time. . . . That whole classroom experience for me with you at the forefront, literally was a turning point for me."
All I can say is, Thank you Lord. After yesterday, I needed that.
Monday, June 04, 2007
NEW WEBSITE
Synod 2007 begins next week and among all the other topics on the agenda is Third Wave Pentecostalism. I have been part of a Synodical Study Committee that has submitted both majority and minority reports (my contributions being to the latter).
I have launched a new website THIRD WAVE SPIRITUALITY. Check it out.
Synod 2007 begins next week and among all the other topics on the agenda is Third Wave Pentecostalism. I have been part of a Synodical Study Committee that has submitted both majority and minority reports (my contributions being to the latter).
I have launched a new website THIRD WAVE SPIRITUALITY. Check it out.
Friday, June 01, 2007
HOW AM I DOING?
I continue to receive messages regarding my situation at CTS----from people I know and people I don't know. One came today that was very supportive of me and concerned about how I was doing. I responded with the following message:
Thanks so much for writing and for your kind words.
No, I certainly don't mind questions. The CTS ordeal is a matter that no longer takes much of my time. Am I angry? Sure, but not in a way that is eating me up. I do want justice, and I do expect an apology----though maybe it won't come until long after I'm dead and gone. I'm happier now than I've ever been. It's the absolute best time of my life----except that I'm WAY too busy with writing and speaking. Since I left CTS last Aug. 31, I've taught a course in Italy, had 2 women's retreats in Japan, have lectured in Texas twice, in Indiana, in Grand Rapids several times (have 2 pastors' retreats coming up in Minneapolis and Palm Springs in the next 2 months), an interview on one of my books with FOX news next week, and am trying to complete 2 book contracts. John Worst is an absolutely wonderful husband; we bike and canoe and hike and travel for fun. I am so incredibly glad I'm out of CTS. But that doesn't mean I ought to just ignore what they did to me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Neal fabricated 2 sets of notes ("Charges of Ungodliness" in my blog) and I regard that to be a very serious sin----worse I say than a man who was up for the highest post in the CRC a couple of years ago, who . . . . I think most people who read that section of my site (especially my colleagues) know I'm telling the truth and that I have significant support for my contention, but they don't want to deal with it. That in itself is a serious sin of omission.
You say: "It strikes me that if they had such a difficult time with you, could it not dawn upon them that perhaps they were mistreating you?" Nothing, they say, dawned on them because there's nothing in their mind to dawn. They claim that they as 3 administrators don't have one iota of gender bias, but many men have written to me saying that it was only when they came to realize that they had gender or race bias that they were able to begin to turn it around.
There is one very general question that people simply won't deal with: Did I deserve what I got? Yes or no. It's that simple.
So, the web sites stay where they are (and I still get a lot of hits), but I have long ago moved on to other things----though, unlike Paul, I DO look back!
PLEASE call when you're in town.
I continue to receive messages regarding my situation at CTS----from people I know and people I don't know. One came today that was very supportive of me and concerned about how I was doing. I responded with the following message:
Thanks so much for writing and for your kind words.
No, I certainly don't mind questions. The CTS ordeal is a matter that no longer takes much of my time. Am I angry? Sure, but not in a way that is eating me up. I do want justice, and I do expect an apology----though maybe it won't come until long after I'm dead and gone. I'm happier now than I've ever been. It's the absolute best time of my life----except that I'm WAY too busy with writing and speaking. Since I left CTS last Aug. 31, I've taught a course in Italy, had 2 women's retreats in Japan, have lectured in Texas twice, in Indiana, in Grand Rapids several times (have 2 pastors' retreats coming up in Minneapolis and Palm Springs in the next 2 months), an interview on one of my books with FOX news next week, and am trying to complete 2 book contracts. John Worst is an absolutely wonderful husband; we bike and canoe and hike and travel for fun. I am so incredibly glad I'm out of CTS. But that doesn't mean I ought to just ignore what they did to me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Neal fabricated 2 sets of notes ("Charges of Ungodliness" in my blog) and I regard that to be a very serious sin----worse I say than a man who was up for the highest post in the CRC a couple of years ago, who . . . . I think most people who read that section of my site (especially my colleagues) know I'm telling the truth and that I have significant support for my contention, but they don't want to deal with it. That in itself is a serious sin of omission.
You say: "It strikes me that if they had such a difficult time with you, could it not dawn upon them that perhaps they were mistreating you?" Nothing, they say, dawned on them because there's nothing in their mind to dawn. They claim that they as 3 administrators don't have one iota of gender bias, but many men have written to me saying that it was only when they came to realize that they had gender or race bias that they were able to begin to turn it around.
There is one very general question that people simply won't deal with: Did I deserve what I got? Yes or no. It's that simple.
So, the web sites stay where they are (and I still get a lot of hits), but I have long ago moved on to other things----though, unlike Paul, I DO look back!
PLEASE call when you're in town.
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