I know that it is really popular to rip on the Church (I myself have been guilty) but I have been really touched recently by some little things at Church.  There is a woman in our congregation who is brought to church every Sunday by her son.  I think she lives in a nursing home.  Because of health issues it is hard for her to communicate clearly.  Her wheelchair is placed in the aisle.  To go to communion you have to go by her.  I have been overwhelmed with the love and respect that is shown her each Sunday as almost every communicant stops to bless and greet her.  They don’t have to do that.  They bless her because they see Jesus in her.  I love the body of Christ….even with all of its faults.

Shane Claiborne’s book, “Irresistible Revoltion,” is absolutely profound.  However, what he writes about is really not new.  Shane is bringing back for me the passions that I had when I was in high school and college and reminded me of our work for civil rights, ecology, peace and justice.  The late 60’s and early 70’s saw the church become involved with justice issues in profound ways, resulting is some dramatic changes in the culture. 

I was discussing my thoughts with a 23 year old that had read the book and liked it, and told him that Shane had me stirred up with a desire to change lifestyle and approaches to ministry.  I said it felt good to be back where I was.  Then he asked me a profound question, “Why did you quit doing it?”  I hated that question because I didn’t have a good answer.

Somehow, how got caught up in day to day ministry, graduate school, raising a family……I don’t know…..life just took over.  I look back and truly hope that my ministry was about justice, stewardship and redemption.  I think it was.  But why didn’t I do more?  I don’t know.  Good question?  But I am committed to it now.

Shane Claiborne is raising the prophetic questions that must be raised.  The questions are uncomfortable and the challenge is at times almost overwhelming.

I began to pray with questions about how I might more directly serve the poor and the marginalized.  God has answered that prayer in ways that are absolutely powerful.  I cannot write about it here because of some privacy issues involving those with whom I am working, but, let’s just say that God has taken me where God has called me.

Would love to hear from those who have read this book!  Check out my brief book review…..

Life transition for Steve Arnold has been a way of life. Learning to cope with change in a positive way has been a result of the various changes that took place in the journey:

• Steve’s family moved quite often when he was growing up and as a result he attended 14 different schools before graduating from high school.
• Steve was widowed at age 32, becoming the single parent of two pre-schoolers.
• Steve re-married and began the transition into blending two families.
• Steve served congregations (medium to large) in urban settings that were continually confronted with the reality of change.
• Steve’s doctoral dissertation explored helping adults become equipped for change.
• Steve went through a formation process to become a spiritual director, focusing upon the spiritual journey of adults.

A more detailed look:

Dr. Steven F. Arnold (Steve) is a diaconal minister with sixteen years of parish ministry, providing leadership and support for the spiritual formation and development of people of all ages. In addition, Steve has served for over 20 years in higher education, developing and leading programs to equip leaders in the field of faith formation across the lifespan.

Steve’s doctoral work and research are in the areas of adult education, with emphases in self-directed learning and educational gerontology. Specific application of these studies have been made to faith formation throughout the life span. Special focus in the research has been to equip adults for developing increased responsibility for personal life and development.

Steve is a Spiritual Director, in the Christian tradition, and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. Steve continues in ongoing personal formation as a spiritual director.
Steve is noted as lecturer, speaker, author and “bridge-builder.” His work has included a number of cross-cultural and international experiences of bringing Christians together from around the world to learn and grow together.