Chris Seay is the pastor of Ecclessia in Houston and is the founding pastor of UBC in Waco. This is the first book I've read of his and I have seen a couple of his nooma-ish videos up on the Work of the People pages. The book is a dialogue of his brothers, father and grandfather who have/are in pastoral ministry. It moves along topically and is mostly engaging - just like any conversation - there are parts where I could check out either because I had worked through what they were working through or just because I read it while I was sick (more than likely the latter). The book does not have the throughly edited feel that gives a bunch of great one-liners; it does have the authenticity that makes a glimpse into the inner workings of pastoral ministry a very beautiful sight.
Donald Miller also makes a couple guest appearances - providing a little fuel to the "burn-dobson-at-the-stake fire. I thought it was rather silly how much time was devoted to slamming Dobson. I aggreed with most of it, even, but am surprised that people are paying for a book to hear things that I'll just tell them for free (taking tongue out of check...).
A couple of quotes that struck me and a couple questions I have...
p.64 "To love hurting people is exhausting, and I could not ignore the way Papa's gaze saddened when we talked about his three years of depression. We are frail human beings. Working for God does not make us invincible - it only makes our failures more painful."
>> How do we, as a denomination, as a church, as individuals, care for pastors who have/are painfully failed?
p. 163 "As a pastor, it would be a great thing to be involved in an interracial marriage because you would make so many more connections."
>> This is true, it has happened for me and Heather, especially living in the South for a few years were racism is a bigger issue. What is the history of racism in the pacific northwest? Last night the sandwhich artist at Subway asked me if we were celebrating MLK jr's birthday or death - she had no idea he was murdered...racism here exists, but it is ignorance against hispanics and asians - not from a history of slavery. (At least here we don't call taking advantage of hispanic workers slavery...) So - when will the American chruch get over racism? My best guess will be when a white-run America ceases to be the dominant world power. When America finally has to ask for help, the pride of racism will need to either stop - or it will destroy this country. I know that sounds alarmist, but you can blame Dobson for that... :)
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