There are many times in which I don't know how in the world I could possibly preach if I hadn't majored in English in college. That's where and how I learned to read closely and write consistently, two skills that I have found more important than any others when it comes to sermon design and delivery. And I truly believe that a good novel shows you more about what makes people tick -- and self-destruct -- than any book of psychology or theology.  These days, I'll gain more ministry insights in something by Ann Patchett than in the latest "How To Grow A Major Mega Church" book. All that came home when I looked through my very own hard copy of Head Scratchers.   Chapter One is called "The Violent Bear It Away," which is a relatively obscure translation of a relatively obscure verse, Matthew 11:12.  In fact, it comes from a 1609 Roman Catholic translation of the New Testament called the Douay-Rheims version.  Which choose that over my trusty NIV? Because I'm an English major! My graduation project was a 122-page thesis on the fiction of Flannery O'Connor, a Georgia-born, Catholic-haunted, and lupus-afflicted literary genius. I think I've gotten a bit better at titles through the years; I called that thesis "Self-Reliance, Earthly Perfection, And The Search In Flannery O'Connor."  That lacks a bit of the snap of Head Scratchers, much less Solutionists. Anyway, one of O'Connor's novels is called . . . drum roll please . . . The Violent Bear It Away. As it turns out, the novel has a scene that crystallizes the interpretive ambiguity at the heart of Matthew 11:12.  Here's how Head Scratchers says it in a little literary aside that wasn't in the preached version: O'Connor had a reputation for creating bizarre characters who engage in incomprehensible acts, and The Violent Bear It Away is no exception.  The central scene in that particular bok is when a twelve year old backwoods prophet simultaneously baptizes and drowns a five year old boy with Down's syndrome . . . A baptism. A drowning.  At the same time.  The Kingdom advancing and the Kingdom under assault.  Violently.  A friend of the gospel is a foe of the gospel.  That's why O'Connor settled on The Violent Bear It Away as the title of her novel, and perhaps that's why I have been drawn to this particular translation of Jesus' words in Matthew 11:12.  To get the rest of that chapter, check here. I suppose all that is a way of saying I find it oddly appropriate that the first chapter of this book that has been such a pleasant surprise in my life comes from something I learned, not in kindergarten, but as an English major. I guess I would do it all over again.      

With basketball dominating the sports landscape these days, I've been thinking about the role of the jump shot.  That perfect combination of size and strength, agility and fluidity, guile and accuracy. And sometimes -- as with Derek Rose's improbable buzzer beating bank shot on Friday -- just plain luck. So what are the five prettiest jump shots ever?  Those motions that look effortless -- meaning that behind each shot we'd find hundreds of hours of effort, energy sapping work that created the perfect muscle memory for the ideal shot. I'm not looking for the best jump shooter ever -- players such as Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson had shots that were deadly but not especially pretty. So here they are: my five best looking jump shots ever:   5.  Steve Kerr, Chicago Bulls.  While defenders were focused on a certain teammate, Kerr would park at the three-point line, receive a pass, and bam. 4.  Walt Frazier, New York Knicks.  I always loved the way his left hand rested slightly on top of the ball when he shot.  News flash: he was better at shooting than he is at commentating. 3.  Ray Allen, Boston Celtics & Miami Heat.  Was there ever a bigger jump shot than this series saver for the Heat against the Spurs in 2013? 2.  Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers.  It looked the same every single time.  His autobiography is a tortured triumph. 1.  Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors.  Biased? Yep.  Not only is he a native Charlottean, but he went to the Charlotte Christian School with Taylor and Riley.  In terms of this list, #5 is now the coach of #1.

How would we summarize our journey with Solutionists? Since the bible is a library, Nehemiah is a memoir. Nehemiah the man doesn't point out problems; he pinpoints solutions. When you admit that the solution is the problem, God surrounds you with his promises. Week 2: You only get rid of what you refuse to get used to. Week 3: Move on what you're moved by. Week 4: God gives opposition to grow desperation. Week 5:  ????? You have to show up on Sunday to find out what that is! You also have show up to hear the announcement on the amount of food we collected last week for our friends at Loaves And Fishes and with our partners the scouts. Be ready to be amazed at not only the figure we will share but what it means in this city.  And to feel grateful to be part of such a congregation. Sunday. 8:30.  10.  11:30.        

On Monday night, we had our customary Healing Service at Good Shepherd. And as usual, our team of pray-ers gathered 30 minutes ahead of time in the Good Shepherd Prayer Room (a lovely spot adjacent to our Worship Center) to pray up and pair up -- we spend time praising God and then asking him to pour out healing power and we assign the volunteers into prayer teams of two. But at that pre-service gathering, one of our regular prayer volunteers named Doug said to me, "For some reason I felt that God told me this afternoon to stay in the Prayer Room tonight and not join a prayer team in the Worship Center.  So if it's OK with you, let me stay here in the Prayer Room."  The request -- though a little odd and completely unprecedented -- struck me as reasonable.  We even incorporated it into our group prayer:  "Father, we pray that you would direct someone who really needs Doug's ministry of prayer to wander into the Prayer Room tonight.  Please send the right person to that spot."  Now note: this thing we prayed for never happens.  At our Monday Healing Services, people get prayed for in the Worship Center.  It's not a rule . . . it just never occurred to us before Monday night to do it any other way. Well, you can probably guess what happened.  And even though I prayed for it to occur, I'm still taken aback by how specific God was in answering.  We know he was, because here's what a woman from our church posted on Facebook on Tuesday: I cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for the Healing Service last night. It was my first time attending and to be honest, it was not in my plan to go. God's plans were different and I am so happy that I listened to him. The atmosphere was so serene, peaceful, and inviting. I was able to pray on my own and then be prayed for. Afterwards, I went in the prayer room where I met Doug. He prayed for me and we ended up having the best conversation. I was so filled when I left. I woke up this morning feeling so renewed and in less pain. Good Shepherd Church...thank you for following God's word. Be Blessed and we will see you Sunday. James 4:2 says this:  You do not have because you do not ask God. And now we know why.  The more specific the prayer, the more spectacular the answer.