Finished

Whew. What a week. Hannah finished her season last weekend. Her team went on a tear and ended up # 2 in the entire state in volleyball. She is 13th in the whole state in service aces. Not bad for a sophomore. Then we went to nationals and faced fierce teams from all over. The eventual national champion is also the team that beat us for the NC state title. Not a bad deal.

I finished this book. Whew. It is a comprehensive textbook on evangelism. I hope it will be released in time for classes fall of 2009. More about it later except to say it is a beast, 160,000 words, over 400 pages easily when published. I do not think I am smart enough to write a book that large. But I pray that all the things I have learned from so many wise people will be reflected more than my own words. It will stir the pot more than a little, especially among our more conventional brethren. But I will not be edgy enough for some folks, since that is not really my goal. I want to help followers of Christ help others to become followers of Christ for TODAY, not for the 1950s, not for some chic idea of what cool evangelism might look like now.  

My passion is for a robust, missional witness to grow up in the lives of the coming generation of leaders, spilling over to families who will raise children not only to survive the culture but to be missionaries in the middle of it. I added chapters on church planting, the cities, paradigms, and more. I expanded material on reaching the coming generation today and history from the past. I leaned much on great writers of our time, from Christopher Wright (you have to read the Mission of God), to Baptist Brethren including Rainer and Stetzer, to newer voices like Driscoll and Keller. I speak fondly of First Baptist Woodstock and Summit in Durham, plead for the cities, and pray for God to intervene in the Western Church before it is too late (and we are close).I quote a lot of people. I am glad Ed Stetzer doesn’t charge me per quote . But for now I am happy to be done. This makes eight books in ten years for groups from youth to youth workers, from those burdened to reach the unchurched to those burdened for revival.

I shall now take a 3 year break from book writing.  Hannah is a sophomore in high school. I am preaching more than ever, and loving ministry with Josh and the band he serves with, taking my family often with us, and look forward with great joy to returning to the classroom come January.  Being a teacher and a preacher, and even more a husband and a father, will do for now.  My family sacrifices a great deal for me. I will enjoy them even more (if that is possible). 

I know there are many with much greater ability who do not have the opportunities I have to write, teach, and to preach. This is the providence of a good and great God. I rest in the assurance of His call on my life. I hope you will do the same in yours.