The Writing Life.

This morning I have settled into La Prima Tazza, a great coffee shop in Lawrence, KS.  The past two days I have taken time to read, sketch, reflect, outline, and write on various projects I currently have on my plate.  Yesterday I was able to name six ongoing projects currently in the dock:

 

• Article for a prayer resource due out this fall on the use of social networking tools in the prayer life of a congregation.
• Article raising questions on media and spiritual formation.
• A collaborative book project with Steven Blair on an expression of United Methodist ecclesiology.
• A collaborative book project with Jeff Parker on the flattening effects of web-technologies on the gospel, the church, and ministry.
• A series of four articles for the United Methodist Young Adult Network on Religion and Faith.
• My MA thesis at KU.

The next two weeks I need to be really productive.  My work is an extension of my life with God–I believe I have been uniquely equipped and prepared to undertake the work I have been given to do, and consider my time in front of the keyboard an expression of faithfulness to the good news of and about Jesus.  I am learning how to be disciplined in my writing life, and I am continuing to learn the craft of word care.  As always, I would appreciate the prayers of my friends and family as I undertake these projects.

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Tips for Writers :: Read William Zinsser’s On Writing Well

If you frequent Amazon.com and have a personal account, it is likely that you have clicked the “recommendations” link  to see what you might find.  I do this often.  I’m curious to see what they suggest.  I have a sales history that reaches back to my time at Baylor University, meaning I have given them nearly a decade of data from which they can project my tastes, preferences, likes, and dislikes.  There are often titles from the social sciences, theology, marketing, classical fiction, biblical studies, philosophy, and more theology.  I’m known to peruse hundreds of their suggestions.

And while I know that all of us possess a consumeristic impulse, I resist the temptation to buy.  I did not begin this way, as my wife would readily testify.  But after reading Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, I gave increased thought to the virtue of simplicity, and took up his suggestion to take advantage of public library systems when they have titles you find interesting.  I now read Amazon.com’s list of recommendations, browse customer reviews, and if a title is really interesting, I search the database of the Johnson County Library.

One of the great advantages of the JOCO Library system is the ability to borrow books across branch locations.  Obtaining a book is as simple as placing a hold request, asking that it be delivered to the DeSoto library, and picking it off the reserve shelf.  The De Soto branch is within walking distance from my house.  I am notified when the book arrives by email, and either walk downtown or pick it up while running errands.  It is a beautiful service.

I write all this because it is this system that brought me William Zinsser‘s On Writing Well, a wonderful guide to the craft of writing.  The book was suggested on Amazon, available through the library system, and peaked my interest because I am continuing to learn the art of writing.  His book has been a wonderful help.

Zinsser’s book is a helpful resource for anyone who writes.  His book begins with some fundamentals, such as how to write with simplicity, reduce clutter, be mindful of the audience, and how to properly use the language.  He has tips on how to structure your writing, how to write for nonfiction audiences, and how to properly execute various forms (interview, sports, memoir, travel, etc.).  Zinsser includes helpful illustrations and examples from his own writing, and, perhaps most importantly, writes in such a way as to inspire others to write with excellence.

I like to pass along good book recommendations from time to time, and this is one.  If you’re a writer, I would recommend picking up this book.

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Stuff I’ve Written for Collide Magazine

This past year I have had a couple of pieces accepted for publication by the folks over at Collide Magazine.  Thanks to Jeff, Scott, and the rest of the crew there for the opportunity to take part in the dialogue on church and media.  I’ve had some friends ask about my work and if they could read it, so here are the links:

• The Collision of Sound and Space
• Gathered, Yet Mediated: Can the Church Be the Church in a Live-Stream Environment?

You could also subscribe.  They have a good thing going.  I’ve had another article accepted for publication which is forthcoming.

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Reflection (Past); Vision (Future)

It is raining.

Today has been a productive day, though quantifying “production” may be problematic.  The measure by which I have determined that today was good is not economic, nor based upon industry.  I cannot show you something that I have produced (apart from this blog post), though my day has been wrapped up in life-giving activity.

Today I have finished reading a book, and I have begun three others (1, 2, and 3).  I have continued making progress through yet another book that I picked up weeks ago.  I had lunch today with a friend.  I spent the morning on the porch at a coffee shop, next to my dog.  The afternoon was dominated by a nap, as recent weeks and months have left me physically drained, and at times extremely tired (a tiredness which I have continually pressed myself to push through).  During the evening hours I will wait until I hear from Molly, who will need a ride home after a long day’s work.

In recent days (and weeks) I’ve spent a good deal of time reflecting on the past.  I’ve considered carefully the church who nurtured me in the Christian faith.  Despite some deficiencies, I am deeply grateful for what I’ve received.  I’ve thought about the world and the culture within which I have lived and moved and have had my being, and I’ve determined that I both love the world which surrounds me yet recognize the characteristics of life and culture which are debilitating and unhealthy.  I’ve thought a great deal about ministry–both what it means to lead and to be part of the priesthood who constitute the people of God.  I’ve considered friends, faces, stories, conversations, debates, discussions, meals, games, grief, celebrations, families (both biological and spiritual), and everything in between.  Thus far in my life I have been extremely blessed by those persons whom God has surrounded me with in times of triumph and despair.  Apart from this nexus of relationships I would be an entirely different person.  In fact, my own formation as a follower of Christ is largely, if not wholly, the result of the gifts I’ve received from so many others, beginning with my parents who received me hospitably into this world despite the fact I was a stranger.  All of my life has been an incredible gift.

Through the life I have led I have sought to bless others, though passing along such blessings has been difficult at times.  I’ve had to overcome my own depravity, my own sin, which I could not do apart from the grace of God.  My life has been focused on being a disciple of Jesus, though I have gone from one degree to the next in depth of understanding concerning what such discipleship means.  I have continued to learn, and as I have plumbed the deep vat of knowledge and wisdom which has become encapsulated in the Christian tradition I have been reminded again and again of just how much remains to be discovered and known.  Through such learning I have sought to be faithful in service, building others up for the purpose of strengthening the body, the edification of the Kingdom, the glory of God.  At times my words have been ill-chosen.  I know there are times that I have fallen short of God’s purposes.  At other times, however, I’ve been amazed by the degree of transformation experienced by students and friends when God has chosen to use me as an instrument.  It has blessed my soul when I have been able to listen to a fellow traveler and reach the conclusion that because of the steps we have shared together, both of us have been transformed.  Perhaps most rewarding are those moments when I can see how someone more clearly resembles Christ than the time we had first met, and my imagination takes off as I dream what the future might hold for this person(s).

Looking forward I appear to be at a point of transition.  In the coming months I’ll complete work on my thesis at the University of Kansas.  I’ll also apply to various PhD programs around the land, hoping to find a destination for further study.  I continue to discern an increase in three passions: (1) writing; (2) teaching and developing leaders; and (3) the intellectual love of God.  Those passions will be used for service, the recipient of such service being the church.  I am reminded of this on the opening page of one of my journals.  On the first page is a quote from Karl Barth, which reads, “If there is any discipline that both inwardly and outwardly ought to serve, it is theology.”  May God use my service to glorify his name.

As a conclusion to this entry I would make an appeal: I enjoy writing, and my interests are broad.  In recent weeks I have pursued contacts which I currently have about opportunities for writing.  Perhaps some of you reading this blog have others.  If you know of magazines, online publications, or publishers looking for willing writers, please let me know, or do me the kind favor of passing along my work.  My main areas of reflection are Christian theology, ethics, and Christian practice, as well as church leadership and visioning for what the faithfulness of the people of God may look like in our current cultural milieu.  I appeal broadly to the blogging world, but specifically to others within the Christian community who may be able to provide me assistance.  What may come of this I do not know, but I am trusting that God will direct my paths.

And as a final word:

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
-Numbers 6:24-26

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250 Words Deemed Worthy

Sometime earlier this spring I sat down and wrote three or four brief meditations and submitted them to devozine, a resource and devotional guide for youth provided by the United Methodist publishing service, Upper Room.  I found out yesterday that one of my submissions will be published in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue.  Woohoo!

This is the first time that something I’ve submitted for publication has been accepted, so I was excited.

Last week I was leading my students on our youth mission trip to Philadelphia, thus the break from the blogging world.  I’ll chronicle stories from last week in the coming days.  We had a good week of ministry.  I came home encouraged.

Stay tuned.

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