I'm in Phoenix today at the Arizona Church Equipping Conference with, among many fine speakers, are two men who are way more spiritual than I.
Don Whitney is one of my favorite writers on spiritual formation... as is Earl Creps but in a totally different way. It's great to see them speaking at the same conference.
Don is a reformed Baptist and Earl is a missional Assemblies of God. Both of them have a passion for spirituality and Don has more books that Earl, but only Earl asked me to endorse his! I'm ready and willing, Don, just ask. :-)
Earl recently (sort of) left academia to become a church planter. He announced his departure the week I was there teaching a class in the AGTS doctoral program. Since he blamed me for contributing to the decision to plant and then announced as I was speaking at his school, I am starting to get a complex.
I say he "sort of" left academia because they devised a plan that he is still on faculty while planting in Berekely, CA. I will work hard to avoid Earl for the rest of conference so as not to get blamed for anything else. :-)
I talked to Don briefly tonight and he is free of cancer. I am glad he is well and continuing to think and write. We have used Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life at several of the churches I served. I am buying his new book, Family Worship, tomorrow at the conference. Don is one of those gifted people who is appreciated all over by diverse groups.
Both of these men are worth listening to and learning from. I introduced them last night and hope they get some time to connect.
I'll be preaching this morning, doing a couple of hours of seminars, and then flying off to Norfolk, VA to speak at First Baptist Norfolk on Sunday.
Comments (6)
Ed,
Just a note to say how impressed I am with your blogging. You've hit the ground running with this new blog and your output is impressive. Blog on, brother. (I read you via RSS in Google Reader.)
Posted by Bill Kinnon | August 25, 2007 8:55 AM
Posted on August 25, 2007 08:55
Thanks, Bill... appreciate it.
I have been enjoying it.
Ed
Posted by Ed Stetzer | August 25, 2007 3:17 PM
Posted on August 25, 2007 15:17
Hi, Ed
Tremendous message this morning at ACE. I took notes on all of it using my thumbs, no less. Also laughed my head off in between bouts of repentance.
Changing jobs isn't going to help. I plan to continue blaming you for all sorts of stuff. Thanks for the blog mention. I'm honored. ACE was a total blast. E
Posted by Earl Creps | August 25, 2007 9:00 PM
Posted on August 25, 2007 21:00
Hi Dr. Stetzer,
I really liked the book cover on your ComeBack Churches book. Was that your idea? Eddy P
Posted by Eddy Pearson | August 26, 2007 12:49 AM
Posted on August 26, 2007 00:49
Glad you survived the wrath of the wranglers during your opening yesterday......
Sorry you had to put up with Eddy P though. You were in good hands with Marc!
Thanks for stirring the pot, some chunks need to start floating to the top. Hopefully some pastors in Az will write your employer and request some of those WWLD wristbands just for grins!
BTW - did they give you one of those attractive shirts? I don't remember.....
Posted by Rodney McCarty | August 26, 2007 6:19 PM
Posted on August 26, 2007 18:19
Earl, great to hear from you and I loved the blog on why you like the SBC!
Eddy, I hated the cover, but the publisher was right and it seems most people like it.
Roddy, thanks for the plug of the WWLD bracelets... we need 'em.
Posted by Ed Stetzer | August 26, 2007 8:56 PM
Posted on August 26, 2007 20:56