In early August I attended the Global Leadership Summit sponsored by Willow Creek Association and hosted at FBC Mountain Home. One of the speakers was Jeff Manion, Senior Teaching Pastor of Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His subject was "the land between." His presentation was a significant part of this year's Summit, and I purchased his book by the same title.
The Land Between is subtitled "Finding God in Difficult Transitions" and therefore it deals with our response to changes that life brings "where life is not as it once was, and where the future is in question." Manion outlines the difficulties of the Sinai Wilderness that Moses faced while leading the people of Israel from the security of being an enslaved people in Egypt to becoming the people of God living in the Promised Land. The land between appears to be a place or time that is ripe for complaint and meltdown as we experience the unwelcomed changes in health, employment, relationships, and fear of an uncertain future. Have you been there? Most of us have ... or will. At the same time the land between is also a time in our lives that is fertile for growth in faith and spiritual maturity.
While we face those difficulties transitions, it is good to know that God sees our burdens, hears our prayers, and cares and seeks to rescue us for our strengthening. And sometimes that strength for us may come through the pain of being disciplined, stretched, and trained in the midst of those unwelcomed changes. I recommend highly this poignant book that is filled with illustrations of personal stories of Manion's own journey as well of those of friends and parishioners, while sharing further insight of what it meant for Moses to lead a people who found difficulty in The Land Between Egypt and Canaan. Where are you on this journey?
2 comments:
Although I'm covered with books to read, I will promise to read this one. Making comments about the subject though is difficult especially when you're a pastor and the image we like to create ( I believe that may be a partial definition of idolatry) is that we have it altogether. To write about our own desert disasters is very difficult, especially as a comment on a book. Yes, the Lord indwells us, and yes He is faithful. But we still deal with those "wretched man that I am" desert times.
I still believe there is a need for a pastor prayer partner connection. Joshua had a friend named Caleb and was able to survive the 40 year desert training.
Thanks, Jack, for your comment. We both know "the land between" can appear to a desolate place. It seems Jesus spent 40 days there himself, and when the tempting time ended, God spoke and said that He was very pleased with His Son.
Yes, let's get together and seek God about the prayer connection. Joshua and Caleb really need each other's support.
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