Answering the Call #9: I Dream of Books

[stevene]

(podcast version available at ATC009pc)

I just woke up. Almost every day this week I have slept until at least 11 o’clock, but today I woke up at 8 o’clock. While this is a far cry from getting up at 5:30, which I used to do in order to get to work by 7:30, it’s a significant event in my recovery from foot surgery. What’s different today? I dreamed of books. I dreamed of giving a speech in a venue that was a cross between a megachurch, a Borders Bookstore, and a Best Buy. What a blend, huh?

This place had several different large spaces for speechmaking. And my dream was of a Sunday where most of the congregation remained on campus after the service, which was the main event. There were people milling about the stacks of books, picking out stories they wanted to read, books they wanted to study, histories they wanted to revisit.

People were also seated, listening to speakers. Some people sat around circular tables, others sat in rows as in a classroom. Everybody had coffee mugs with their favorite beverage.

I don’t know if I was the first speaker after the service, or the main speaker in the service. The speech I gave was very intense, and very personal, but I don’t remember anything I said. I remember people coming up to me afterwards and giving very personal information about themselves and telling me how much they were blessed by my testimony. I remember some of the speakers after me making a point of coming up to me and commending me for my sharing. One even asked if they could use liberal chunks of my speech in the future. She warned that she would sound like she was “coming at me” because of what she had to say about my childhood family situation. I remember thinking that I was glad my mom was dead, so she wouldn’t have to listen to criticism of her parenting style, and wondering if I had been too harsh.

I kept picking up books. For some reason I also had both of my black blazers (two different sizes) and wore neither one as I wandered through the book stacks. I picked up a history book and was fascinated. I grabbed a self-help psychology book and skimmed the introduction. I considered several commentaries on different books of the Bible. Some of the people who spoke to me about my speech suggested books for me to read. A few actually handed me copies of their suggestions.

Then I saw my former pastor. He was standing near the door, and I remember thinking that this was not his church, but I wasn’t surprised that he was here teaching AFTER his duties at the church where he had been my pastor. We made eye contact at a distance, but didn’t speak to each other for some time, until I was on my way out sometime later.

I remember being fascinated by the other speakers. I was especially intrigued by the number of people who were sitting and listening to them. I picked up the books these speakers had written, and added them to my pile to take home. At one point I had five regular-sized books and two oversized books to take home, and remembered the rule I had placed on new acquisitions: For every book coming into the house, at least one had to go away, preferably two. I have been giving away some of my books, reluctantly, to make room for new acquisitions.

I expect to move into a much smaller house later this year, and will have very little space to keep books on display, so I will need to give away, sell, or store most of my book collection. This is okay, since most of the reference material I use anymore is in my computer or on the Internet. The only books I ever have open on my desk are Bibles, commentaries, and prayer books. This amounts to less than 20 books all together. My collection numbers in the thousands, and most are dusty. So I don’t think it will be a big deal to keep those 20 books in my new study, plus a handful of others, and get rid of the rest.

So why did I dream of books? Why did I dream of books? Why? Is this my subconscious mourning the loss of part of my precious collection? Or is it a spiritual reminder of my call to write, using these books as one leg of my “diako-stool” (see ATC#8)? As I sat down, prior to beginning this post, I quickly listed almost a dozen new topics for new posts. I can’t wait to get these new articles out, but at least I have them “filed by title” for later development.

In addition, I think there’s a study reminder. After I get two signatures notarized, I will be sending in to the Pennsylvania Delaware District of the Assemblies of God my application for ministry credentials. This is actually my re-application. Two and a half years ago I finished the educational requirement for Certified Minister, a task I completed to honor my beloved dog Mindy who died in June, 2006. I sent in my application in October, but didn’t follow through on the exam and interview requirements.

My business was dying at that point. As a Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor, my business depended on referrals from his office. When Dave’s radio show left the Pittsburgh market, my business referrals dried up. My disappointment at this impacted my whole attitude towards ministry, and so my application process stalled. I have gotten past that now, and in the mean time I changed my parochial affiliation. But my initial application expired, so I have just reapplied.

This dream reminds me to move forward on completing the requirements and becoming a Certified Minister. At the same time, I have already purchased the self-study materials for the next three classes towards the next level of credentialling: Licensed Minister. I have already completed three classes, and there are two others beyond these six, plus a ministerial internship. This is work I can also attack while I continue to convalesce from surgery.

How does this apply to you? Is there some aspect of your call that has lain dormant for some reason? So far, Answering the Call has dealt with my personal mission statement, some of the things I have done and will do to live out that mission, and now the issue from 2 Timothy 2:15:
.....Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
.....rightly dividing the word of truth (KJV).

Are you dragging your feet on something God wants you to do as part of your ministerial training? Is there a book you were supposed to read, or a task you were to undertake? As I go through the steps God has placed in front of me, perhaps you might also go through the steps He has put in front of you? Take this opportunity to renew your commitment to your mission, as I do to mine.

I'll pray for you, and will you please pray for me? Pray that each of us will recommit to the mission God has placed in front of us, to continue learning, and to continue ministering. Pray that each of us will continue to Answer The Call. In Jesus’ Name!

Thanks for the time you took to read this!

Stevene

[Greg]

Good read! More to pray about, my steps are foggy, but your blog is making it easier to see subsequent steps. Thanks... keep em comin