I get by with a little help from my friends...

This morning I spoke with Doug Strong from Wesley Seminary about my presentation as part of the December 1 event there, with various cabinets present in an annual day of learning and...well I'm not sure exactly what the day is but I think I have an idea. Doug asked me quite some time ago, and wants me to talk about the pitfalls and roadblocks that are there when UMs think about/work toward being a part of the emerging conversation. I told Doug what I thought I would do, and said I thought I would use a sermon illustration that I have been using at the charge conferences, about Warner Sallman's widely known painting from 1942, "Christ At Heart's Door." Here it is, in case your memory needs a jog:

See, you knew it didn't you??? In every church but one that I have been in so far for charge conference, this painting hangs somewhere in the church. The illustration I am using is one that Tom Frank used several years ago in a sermon at annual conference, about how it may be that Jesus is inviting us out ... the folks in the churches really get it. Doug, however, told me today that this illustration is from a very famous book by Orlando Costas, published first, I found, in 1982, and I have not been crediting that book, because I did not know it. Here is the book:

Doug, of course, told me this very graciously. Now, for the last 10 or so charge conferences (I have done I think 36) I will get it right. I am SO glad Doug shared this with me, especially before I got up in front of God and everybody at the event at Wesley in December. We all need some Dougs in our lives, I think...at least I know I do, to set it right and to help me not make a fool of myself any more than necessary. It is very nice to have some well read friends.

And by the way, I am REALLY looking forward to December 1. It is such a huge, God-thing for me that what gets my creative energy going (emergent coversation) also seems to be what some folks around the country are interested in. It was not too long ago (maybe 2 1/2 years) when I would mention "emerging/emergent" or "Brian McLaren" or "ancient-future" and people would look at me like I was from another planet. Thank God I've found some other resident aliens with whom to share and grow!!!