ken castor

Books for Spiritual & Leadership Development course

You might be interested in the text books I use for my section of the Spiritual & Leadership Development course at Crown (Dr. Glenn Meyers teaches the other section).  I find limiting the book selection to be a difficult task because there are so many life-changing, formative works that have been written throughout the centuries.  The following, however, serve as either required primary textbooks or secondary reference/content materials:

Primary Sources:

The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine ~ by A.W. Tozer.  "Faith is the gaze of the soul upon a saving God," Tozer wrote. To encourage that gaze, students write a reflective journal/prayer from a chapter a week.

The Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth ~ by Richard Foster.  Students use this book as a guide for learning and practicing spiritual disciplines throughout the semester such as prayer, solitude, worship, and, believe it or not, celebration. 

A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness ~ by Gene Edwards.  One of the most interesting little books I've ever read, A Tale of Three Kings embodies many of the spiritual and leadership themes from our course.

In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership ~ by Henri Nouwen.  No Christian who has a role of leadership should make one more decision without wrestling with this book.  The temptations for power and relevance and glamour are too great... even in the Church.

Secondary Sources:  A litany of other books serve as resources for our course content throughout the semester.  Some of the more resourceful include: The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a' Kempis, The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson, A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis, The Proslogion by Anselm of Cantebury, From Brokenness to Community by Jean Vanier, and Jesus on Leadership: Discovering the Secrets of Servant Leadership From the Life of Christ by C. Gene Wilkes

 

The Mismatch of Consolation & Religion

"Talk to me about the truth of religion and I'll listen gladly.  Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively.  But don't come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."  - C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, chapter II.

The willingness of C.S. Lewis to engage in pain is astounding to me.  He feared pain, yet, when he found himself in it, entered into it.  He did not ignore it or flee from it.  He wrestled with it.

Like Jacob and the angel... or like Captain Dan on top of the mast in Forrest Gump... wrestling with God in the dirt of life is essential to our relational discovery of God.  We need to come to know that God is going to be there for us even as we go through trial. 

But too often we are looking for the quick out.  When we see someone grieve, we try to make them feel better... not always because we care for them but because it would make us feel better if they would feel better... or because we don't think a Christian should struggle.  Rarely are we willing to actively wait in pain with someone who is actively in pain.  Instead we often throw pleasantries and consolations of religion as if they were placebo drugs... "God has a plan"... "everything works out for those who are called"... "it will all be okay"... "trust God"... etc.

Sometimes, one of the worst things we could do is to encourage someone to stop grieving. 

Sometimes, one of the best things we could do is to encourage someone to grieve... and to grieve along with them. 

Jesus wept.  He wept for Lazarus and his friends.  Jesus wept for Jerusalem.  He wept sweat from his pores in Gethsemane. 

Ezekiel 6:9 suggests that God hurts.  Love = the willingness to embrace pain.  Love is patient, kind, never failing, is not easily angered.  Each of those attributes requires an intentional acceptance and proactive grasp of pain.  Endurance, perseverence, forgiveness, trust... each takes a purposeful step of entering into pain.  Blessed are those who mourn.

God loves... and therefore God weeps.  It is not weakness... it is strength.

Perhaps we are too weak to accept the grief of others... who loved so dramatically that they find themselves mourning that which is lost. 

If we fail to embrace pain by placing consolation as the prime directive, our religion is dead and we have missed much of the point of Immanuel, God with us.

Romans 5:9-11 ~ How Much More?

I'm going to wrestle with this for a moment.  The truth is that I am not always comfortable with what I read in the Bible.  The letter-book of Romans brings out a myriad of reactive feelings in me.  Some of the verses help me sail to heaven... while others hand me into darkness.  Sometimes I'm gutted.  Sometimes I'm radically inspired.  Sometimes, lost.  Sometimes, in awe.  Sometimes, frustrated, angry.  Sometimes, insatiable.  And sometimes, like today, I am mixed up mess of all of these feelings.

Perhaps it's the mood I have as I approach the passage today... or perhaps it's the passage.  I have joy... the type of joy that someone who has an undeserved relationship with Jesus has.  But I also have a heaviness in my soul... the type of weight that someone who has a burden in their soul has.

Yes, there is life in these verses... but life comes out of death... and it's that part that causes me to pause today.

Blood is red.  I've seen it.  It's real.  And it's not pretty.  Except when it saves the life of one who has already bled out... then it is somehow tragically beautiful.  But this sort of thinking all shatters my comfort zone... It startles my nicely controlled climate and safe walk.  And I'm burdened as a result...

Here's the passage: ROMANS 5:9-11  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

So the Good News: We have been justified.  That means that somehow we have been declared "just".  Somehow, just in time, we just made it.  When the judgment was made, even though we had messed it all up, somehow we found ourselves innocent.

The Burdensome News for me today: Justification came about by the blood of Jesus.  I am declared "just" because he was declared guilty.  That's not fair.  And it guts me.  How much more of this can I take?

So the Good News:  We were reconciled.  That means that somehow we have been made right in relationship with God.  At some point, even though we were enemies--- fighting against God and God's ways in the world--- somehow we found ourselves as his friends.  How much more Good can Jesus be?  I can hardly embrace this thought at this moment without breaking down in agonizing joy.

The Burdensome News for me today: Reconciliation came through the death of Jesus.  I am declared God's friend because Jesus was executed.  That's not right.  This is much more than what is supposed to be true.

The Good and Burdensome News: We will be saved.  That means that somehow we have been snatched from imminent peril.  Our deliberate and undeliberate wrongs had consequentially put us in a position of endangerment.  So, at the end of time, instead of God's wrath being poured upon us for messing it all up... Jesus will proactively step in and accepts wrath upon himself.  On the day of our deserved sentencing, we will be saved.

So we boast, or rejoice, or praise God through Jesus who has made us right with God, present and future.  But HOW MUCH MORE of this can we take?  Jesus just keeps heaping on grace upon grace.  John 1:16 is right: "From the fullness of his grace we have reveived one blessing after another."  Wave upon wave... upon wave... upon wave... life pounding against me.

It's like burning coals on my head... because God's grace is so undeserved... and yet I welcome it whole-heartedly in unabashed thanksgiving to my Savior.  Amen.

Romans 5:7-8 ~ hyper

A goodie-two-shoes type of person won't ever receive much support from anyone.  A "righteous" person, in the way that Paul uses the word in this verse, is "upright" and, as a result, is rather annoying to everyone... and no normal person would sacrifice their life for such a prude. 

Some people might, however, be willing to die for someone who is genuinely good... a person who is for the most part kind and humble, a person who is responsible and honorable, a person who exhibits character and inner strength.  In fact, we have soldiers that do this sort of sacrifice all of the time for the people of their country.  I am so amazed an impressed by my friends and family members that have put their life on the line so that other good people would be able to live and be free.  Some people might consider it worth their life for such people to be spared.

In relative terms, the snobby pharisee is not worth the sacrifice, but the common decent person might possibly be.

But who would dare offer themselves to die in the place of those who revolt against them, a.k.a. enemies?  Who would lay down their life for the sake of someone who rejected them and has acted violently and revoltingly in defiance against tem?  Paul marvels about this in Romans 5:7-8:

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (TNIV)

As Everett Harrison points out in his commentary, the action of Christ is "distinctive, unexpected, unheard of (cf.John 3:16)." (59)  Paul expresses the phrase "die for" four times in verses 6-8 in conjunction with the preposition hyper (ὑπὲρ), meaning "on behalf of" or "for the sake of".  Harrison suggests that Paul could have used the word anti, meaning "in the place of" or "against"... which would have alluded to Jesus dying as a substitute for us, against what we deserved. (59) But instead Paul uses the word hyper, allowing him to still communicate that idea of substitution but with the added concept of Christ's proactive, loving action at just the necessary moment.

It's as if Jesus, as a soldier, actively fights on our behalf, empathizing with our pain, taking the body blows that come from our own amunition, offering his blood, sweat and tears for our sake.  It was our iniquities that crushed him, it was our suffering that he bore, it was our transgressions that he let pierce him, it was our pain that he carried.  And instead of beating us back with his abilities and power, he silently withstands the onslaught and then remarkably, takes the consequence that should have been ours.  As Isaiah 53 says, the punishment that we deserved was on him... and we were given peace.

Who will save us, the fallen enemy who has sinned against God?

Jesus says, "I'll do it."

*References from Harrison, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Romans edited by Gaebelein.

 

 

Romans 5:6 ~ clockwork

  My family has a tendency to rush around at the last minute.  We might have 1 hour to get ready... and yet the last 5 minutes seem to be a rash of hurried commands and forgotten socks and bathroom visits and quick clean-ups all in an attempt to get in the car.  I can't stand this!  Drives me crazier than just about anything I can conjure right now... and yet, with five of us plus a dog in the house, I have up to now been powerless to change it.

I can't imagine the Incarnation being so rushed.

It wasn't.  In fact, God was amazingly planned, patient, proactive and prompt.  He  planned out the timing and the event and the people involved for his appointment with the Earth.  He patiently worked throughout history, letting us know of the plans but never pre-emptively striking or giving up on us.  God proactively prepped, participated and partnered with people over the years to make sure things were ready for the set time.  And God made sure he didn't arrive on the scene before it was time... and He certainly made sure not to be late.  God was prompt.  Galatians 4:4 speaks about "when the time had fully come, God sent His Son."  In Mark 1:15, Jesus declared, "The time has come!" 

As I read the first chapters of Romans up to this verse (5:6), I am astonished again by the remarkable plan, patience, proactivity and promptness of God.  God is like clockwork.  Not necessarily predictable in nature... but God does operate with unswerving integrity and dependability...

... and God has acted so faithfully for people that are rushed, late, anxious, angry, chaotic, frustrated, and short of breath.  God has planned to be there for people that could no longer find him.  God has patiently waited for the right moment to enter into the lives of people that had impatiently thrown themselves onto another path and that now desperately needed his hand.  God has proactively worked to redeem relationship with people that had deserted him.  And God does all of this at just the right time.

Here's how some different translations speak out the truth of Romans 5:6~

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  (NIV)

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  (NLT)

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen.  He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready.  He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready.  And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway.  (Message)

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  (KJV)

While we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.  (ASV)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  (NASB)

present-ing himself

Here is Jesus presenting himself to Thomas, the doubting disciple.  Gently, patiently, invitingly.  Jesus gives Thomas a moment to take him in.  Nail scars still there, not fixed, not restored, forever wounded.  Spear piercing in his side- the reminder of that horrible Friday- the vividness of human sin crucifying the Savior.  It had really happened.  And now Jesus, the nail-scarred leader, invites Thomas, the doubter, to draw near.  (I wonder sometimes if perhaps Jesus might have even worn an encouraging "come-on-it's-okay" smile.)

Thomas must have shamefully stared at Jesus... who had most likely put out his hands, stuck out a foot or two, and gestured toward his side.  "Go ahead, Thomas, put your hand in them," says the Leader of the Universe.  "Prove to yourself that I AM alive.  Let the testimony of my scars speak forever."  Thomas must have been moved to the core of his soul... Imagine seeing those visible wounds- purposefully unhealed- on the most powerful human who was or is or who will be.

The humility of the resurrected Jesus strikes me perhaps more than anything else about him.  Here is Jesus gently appearing to grieving women in the garden.  Here is Jesus making breakfast on the shore for his disciples... serving them fresh fish over a fire.  Here is Jesus eating a humble meal in Emmaus with two no-named men - who, by the way, didn't even realize who he was.  Here is Jesus restoring the love of Peter.   Here is Jesus presenting himself to only a select number of people, instead of rubbing his presence in the face of his killers.  He didn't mock the Sadducees who sentenced him to death- and who rejected the idea of a resurrected body.  He didn't spit on the soldiers who spit on him.  He didn't turn on the crowds who had turned on him.  He didn't seek revenge on Barabbas.  He didn't massacre Herod's family... or beam himself to the throne room of Rome to make Caesar wet his pants.  Here is the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the Great I AM, friend.  Here is Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Who could possibly be a greater leader than the resurrected Jesus?  He conquered death!  What more could a person do?  Jesus was the essence of brilliance and glory.  Splendor was his.  The sound of his resurrected voice alone could have blown like a nuclear blast.  One wave of his arm could have forced everyone to their knees.  And yet, here is Jesus presenting himself to Thomas, the doubting disciple.

(See John 20:24-29)

Joy despite Cancer ~ Carolyn's Story

*This is a message given by two long term friends of our family (especially very dear to my wife). David and Carolyn Kranz, along with my wife's family, were part of the early days of Hosanna!, a small church plant in Lakeville/Burnsville, MN right across from the Buck Hill Ski slopes.  Along with Pastor Bill Bohline, who married Kathy and I (with Carolyn's help!), the Kranz's continued to serve and make a difference in the church and in the lives of many people.  Today, Hosanna! is a multi-thousand person congregation with a great track record, doing some tremendous things in the Twin Cities.  For Kathy and I, one of the joys of returning to Minnesota was the privilege of reconnecting with the Kranz's 6 months ago at a morning service at Hosanna!.  That morning, David and Carolyn share this message --- (Carolyn starts speaking about 11 minutes in... after her husband shares thoughts on the journey they've had)---- This is a story of joy and heartache and praise.

It is a very moving story.

After a very long bout with cancer, Carolyn has joyously gone to be with the Lord.  To me, hers is a powerful reminder of how real a life of faith can be.    Please take the time to see and hear this tremendous, all-too-real story.

Romans 5:2 ~ through

I'm through.

And that's fantastic.

Through faith I have been made right with God.

Through Jesus I have peace with God.

Through Jesus I have access to God's grace and now stand in it.

I learned all this through the first two verses of Romans 5.  Through the first 4 chapters of Romans I learned that all of this comes through nothing I've done.  So I can't boast about myself... but I can rejoice because Jesus broke through my pride, pushed through to my heart, and invites me through the gates to stand in God's presence.

This is such great news because somehow through all the mess of this world God is able to offer an opportunity to stand smack dab in the middle of grace.  Grace is a great offer... not available through money nor merit.  I can't earn grace... I can't buy grace... I can't deserve grace... I can't steal grace.  Grace is a gift given through Jesus, through faith in Jesus, through what Jesus has done for us. 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  [ROMANS 5:1-2 (NIV-UK with my italics added)]

Romans 5:1 ~ on a rainy day

Okay... so here's a great verse:

 ^{ROMANS 5:1 (NIV)} Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...

Notice that this is not the complete sentence... oh no... there is much more to this statement.  But for a moment, let's obey the verse designations and ponder the first verse of Romans chapter 5.

Therefore ~ See the post from yesterday for a whole obsessed discussion about this word.

since ~ Paul is reminding his readers about his multi-chapter line of reasoning.  He's already helped us come to a conclusion... and now he's launching off of it.

we have been justified ~ "We have been justified" is actually the first word of this sentence in Greek (Δικαιωθέντες).  In English we feel compelled to put "therefore" first... but Greek sentence structure often calls for the topic of the phrase to be upfront.  So it is that the emphasis and focus of this first phrase is 'justified'.   Paul just completed a huge thought at the end of Chapter 4 about being credited as "right" even though we were wrong.  Because of the fact that "we" (Paul and those he addresses in Rome) have been "made right" (NLT)... Since the reality is that "we" are "set right" (Message)... Since it is true that we have been justified... something cool is about to happen...

through faith, ~   The Greek word for "faith" here is πίστεως.  Faith in this way means not a set of statements, but a deep, active, soul-full conviction of God in relation to one's life.  This kind of faith in God actively trusts God for righteousness, for justification, for being credited... all in the realization that on human merit alone there is nothing someone can do to earn God's favor.  "Justification" (being declared "all right" by God) comes about when someone becomes convicted and then engages in trusting God with one's life.

we have peace ~ My favorite Greek word of all time is the word for "peace" (εἰρήνη,n  \pronounced i-ray'-nay).  Dr. Bill Heth at Taylor University taught our class way back in 1991 that "because of Jesus we could have 'peace' on 'aye rainay' day."  Get it?  It's worked for me.  Virtually every time it rains, I repeat to my heart, "I have peace today because of Jesus."  It's a little English trick to remember a wee Greek word... but it is still remarkably profound.  Since we have been made right with God, we have peace.  Isn't peace what everyone needs?  In the midst of chaos and uncertainty and war and broken relationships and non-stop-busyness... Isn't peace what we are all searching for?  When Jesus was born, what did the angels proclaim?  PEACE ON EARTH! (See Luke 2:14)

with God ~ The whole problem with humanity since the beginning has been a frictious relationship with God.  Not God's fault.  God didn't stop short... Romans 3:23... we did.  Ever since we have had turmoil and heartache.  But because we have been made right with God, we have peace with God.  So simple a truth... and yet so amazing.

through our Lord Jesus Christ, ~ Jesus Christ is called "The Prince of Peace" for a reason.  His governance is one of peace.  His authority ushers peace through the gates.  His lordship is a rule of goodness.  THROUGH faith in Jesus we have been justified... THROUGH Jesus we have peace.  I'm wondering who makes out best in this deal?  Seems like Jesus is doing some amazing work of grace for us.

Note: Today is a great day to invite Jesus into our lives... whether we have not yet done so or even if we have.  Jesus makes us right with God and Jesus gives us peace with God.  If this isn't enough to convict us to place our trust today in Jesus then we might as well convert to all the man-made philosophies and religions of this world in which humans hopelessly strive to earn their way to the Divine.  And then, when we reach the extent of our exhaustion, perhaps it'll be time to just place our faith in Jesus... inviting him to help us, or to be with us, or to make his ways true in our life.  I've known a few people who gave their lives over to Jesus precisely because of this verse.  All the human baggage of Romans 1-4 is set free in the half-sentence of Romans 5:1.  What a great verse.

Romans 4:23-25 ~ Good Credit in a Bad Economy

In a bankrupt economy this chapter has been good news.  Credit. 

Where the chapter began, so now it ends... soon to give way to the more famous and more catchy verses to come.  But Paul's profound closing comments to this chapter are not to be over-looked.  He has woven an airtight argument, threading a thought-process that ends where it was headed. 

• Yes, the chapter may have started with Abraham... but he never was the point.  Abraham was merely an example.  
• Yes, the chapter may apply directly to the readers in Rome (and to readers now also!)... but neither are any of them the point.  They are merely beneficiaries. 
• Yes, the chapter was about obtaining good credit in a bad economy (so to speak)... but that was merely the topic.  
• This chapter was ultimately pointing to Jesus.

The chapter ends with Jesus... the reason Paul talked about Abraham.  And Jesus is the reason Paul wrote this whole letter for the Roman Christians in the first place.

Paul can't neglect the fact that Jesus did something amazing.  Jesus changed everything with what He did.  As Abraham's life demonstrates, Paul reminds us that Jesus made it possible for people to "be credited".

Even though every one has broken the law, any one can still be "credited" with righteousness.  That's how Abraham experienced faith in God... and that's how people today (at the time of the writing of Romans) and people tomorrow (like us) experience faith in God.  God's grace through Jesus on the cross taking for us the consequence of our law-breaking.

And then Jesus rose out of prison with life.  Just to celebrate with us.

Romans 4:23-25 (NIV) The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.