Overwhelming Importance

Some things to think about from Alfred North Whitehead, writing in 1925 in the preface to Science and the Modern World:

"This study has been guided by the conviction that the mentality of an epoch springs from the view of the world which is, in fact, dominant in the educated sections of the communities in question." (p. viii)

Philosophy "builds cathedrals before the workmen have moved a stone, and it destroys them before the elements have worn down their arches. It is the architect of the buildings of the spirit, and it is also their solvent: --and the spiritual precedes the material." (pp. viii-ix)

"The key to the book is the sense of the overwhelming importance of a prevalent philosophy." (p. x)

I have at times feared philosophy, but I love it -- what little I have dabbled in it. It is about knowing, and knowing can be scary, but it is also rewarding.

I love Whitehead's line: "the spiritual precedes the material." I fear we do to little spiritual or philosophical thinking.

Learning to be on God's Team

I work with some great people, the Communications Team of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. We're having a retreat this week, a time for us to get connected and become a true team providing service to the BGCT and its churches. Even though I'm the director of this team, I've stayed in the background this week and have let the others lead. They said some things about being a team that I really like. Here's some of their paraphrased comments so far:

Looie Biffar: The best way to say "thank you" to God is to use your gifts.

Shirley Smith: One would think that Jesus, of all people, would need a team. ... But He did -- His disciples.

Glenn Majors: In relationship building we are constructing an uncommon unity.

Glenn: Harvest the boldness that is within you.

Glenn: Make what is inside come out.

Rand Jenkins: We do this because we love God.

Jason Hilliard: I felt the heat of the candle (referring to a candle that represented the presence of God in a spiritual labyrinth). ... The more I thought about that verse, the less I wanted to leave that spot (which represented the presence of God).

I'm a fortunate man to work with such people.

Endless Conversion

“Remember that you are weak, that you, too, need endless conversion. You are able to strengthen others only insofar as you are aware of your own weakness.”

Those are the words of the late Pope John Paul II. I picked them up from Richard John Neuhaus writing in the January 1995 issue of First Things. The Pope said it was as if Jesus wanted to give that message to the Peter. Those of us who would be modern-day Peters -- read Christian leaders -- would do well to heed such advice.