I seem to be given books and seem to be reading books at perfect times in my life. This new book by NT Wright called Surprised by Hope has been a great encouragement to me at this point of my life. I have been reflecting over the past few weeks how timely many of the books I have read have been in my journey, especially in light of role in my church. (Although I am starting to think my goal of 48 books by January 1st is a two year goal).

Anyway to return to this book, the key concept that NT Wright is trying to get across is that there is a connection between the present (life now on earth) and the future (this concept of heaven that so many of us have). That how we live now actually extends into the future. It revolves around this concept that NT Wright calls life after life after death. This concept is very powerful as our church entertains and moves in a new direction and I begin to think about how I might teach in this space. I now see so much more clearly how important it is for us to grasp that how we live now matters in the future and that we are not simply trying to get through this life in order to have a better life later. Wright continually tries to destroy this idea that heaven and earth are separate and there are few verses better than the Lord’s prayer that says Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven that Wright exemplifies this fact through.

The goal is not to get our beliefs right here, so we can get to somewhere else later. The purpose is that we are all part of God’s renewal and reconciliation of this earth now (including all of creation) and we can choose to take part in this exciting work with God, or we can choose to go our own way and reject it. Wright joins this role with Jesus resurrection and how the power of that event and its meaning for us (that we too will be resurrected into our perfect form, placed back on this earth in its perfect form) will lead our churches in an exciting direction on this earth.

If we can begin to see that our role on earth matters now and in the future, we might begin to see our relationship with God in a whole different light. We no longer are trying to do all these good things to confirm our position in heaven, but instead are participating in all these good things on earth in order to see these good things extend into the future when God puts the world to rights.

At this point I digress and invite you to read this book. It is well written and gives some great practical examples of how the church can live this out in the world that are very helpful. I give this book a 4.5/5 for church planters and hope you en joy it.

You might find it hard to follow, but I think NT did a great job with Colbert being well….Colbert.

I’m not sure if it’s being in Paris or whatever, but this book seemed to be written to me at the right time. Let me read you a quote that may or may not affect you, but really challenged me and my direction in life.

“…But the second level of calling, which may, and I pray will, come to some of you, is the calling to be all this for the church. It is the call, in other words, to full-time Christian ministry at whatever level, including that of ordination. Ordination isn’t the be-all and end -all of Christian ministry; but the church desperately needs ordained clergy, needs them now as much as ever, and I would be surprised if out of the readers of a book like this God were not calling someone, perhaps several, to give their life in imitation of Paul in imitation of Christ: to hold on to Christ with one hand and hold on to the church with the other, to share and feel the agony of the church’s follies and failings, and to know the power of Christ to restore and heal the church and set her feet back on the right path. That vocation not to be lightly dismissed. (pg. 100)”

Now this is a loaded quote, and depending on how or of you know me, there are many ways this quote could be interpreted. Therefore let me just say that I know that my life is involved in purposes of the church, and the way that looks is still part of my journey, but ever since I started the open house and now my new job I feel that calling more than ever. I am not convinced it has to look a certain way, but I know that it will be a huge part of my life. Now to say something about this book in particular, I would like to rate it a 4.5/5 for church planting purposes. It will renew your vision of God and the role of the church in the world, which I desperately need taught to me over and over again. NT does an amazing job of connecting the worship of God and the role of the people of God, revealing how God uses us to His ends. He remembers us and that turns into action for us and by us. He also brings unity into the mix, and addresses unity in light of justification by faith; justification is a thus a doctrine leading to unity in Christ as all of us are justified equally and therefore should participate in the life of Christ together. Wright says:

“…the doctrine which declares that all who believe in the Messiah Jesus belong at the same table, no matter what their ethnic, geographical, gender or class background.”

Lastly, in this short review of a powerful book, Wright paints a picture of the church (in the last chapter particularly building upon the whole book) that is the church I want to Pastor. It is a church focused on the Beatitudes, and his teaching of the beatitudes changes the face of the church. Wright says:

“The church is here to be the Voice to the world; the Voice that does not claim great things for itself, but simply urges the world to get ready for the God who comes in the power of judgment and love. We are to live, and we are to speak in such a way as to do for our generation, more or less, what John did for his: to demonstrate and announce that there is a different way of being human, the way of love, the way of God, and so to bring to the world the news (good news to the weary, bad news for the bullies) that the creator of the world is also the comforter of the world…”

This is a powerful statement and gets me excited for life…even as a Pastor.