Well, Here I Sit

As many of you know, The Cup and the Glory existed for years and was passed around to about seventy countries before it was ever published. The writing of the book coincided with the advent of the Web and email, so it never would have been that widespread without the new technology tools. As many who have read the book know my "price" for distributing the book was prayer for me, and that they would send it on to someone they think needed it.

Since I also used the material at certain classes I taught at seminary and at various mission conferences and churches, and since I would receive letters and emails from many who ended up with it, I had either verbally or in written form communicated with thousands before and after the book was published. Every chapter ended up being many people's favorite chapter, and a lot of this was due to the circumstances in their lives. The numerous interactions gave me such a substantial base of comparison as I listened to people tell me things, and they would have no idea of previous conversations I had had with others. It made me much better at this because of this wealth of interaction.

I wrote this just to show the vast difference in interaction with others at the present time with The Darkness and the Glory, which was released on December 1, 2008. I had no idea how striking the very limited interaction about the new book would be to me. Of course, this will change over time, but it is something that greatly surprised me. John MacArthur was about the 20th person to read The Darkness and the Glory. 

The Darkness and the Glory is one of the Shepherd Conference of Grace Community Church "give away books." I am supposed to do an interview this Thursday about the book. I am praying that God will bring things to mind that He wants because I do not thoroughly know this book yet like I do The Cup and the Glory. I know that may sound strange in that I did write the book, but it is not the same as the process for the first book. I don't know a quick way to prepare for the interview. Again, hopefully once I am into it, God will stir my remembrance.

I am doing a monthly study on The Darkness and the Glory with a blessed group of secretaries from Grace Community Church. It is my first group study since the book was published. We had previously studied The Cup and the Glory together, so they very familiar with the format. It has been most interesting to watch them as they study and to interact with them. They are up to the end of chapter four, "The Separation." With The Cup and the Glory, many of them had life experiences of their own cup and hardships. With The Darkness and the Glory, which deals with the cup that Jesus alone had to drink because no one else could, it has been a lot less vocal as a reverential awe and worship of what Jesus endured for us permeated our last session. There were still comments, of course, but when we look at what He endured, we see how far removed we are from Him, and often there are no words fit to express this. This is fitting and is as God intends and is at the heart of true worship. 

I will keep you posted as I hear from people as sit on the sideline watch with interest how people respond to this book.

Grace and peace. 

Glory Books Ministry 

Late January reflections (Bitter Sweet)

Well, I guess it is time I updated the blog. Looks as though I have already blow my New Year's resolution on this one. Not at an excuse, but it really has been a whirlwind of activities: new book published, editing the third one, the start of the semester, beginning a teaching pastor position at a new church (more about all these later).

I always date when the books come out by when I first receive them. In this case, The Darkness and the Glory arrived to me on December 2, 2008. I was in the mountains of Georgia speaking at a church and had to wait until I got home to see them.

While in Georgia in late November, I received word the following from my wife Betsy and wrote the following email to those involved in the non-profit ministry:

Good morning, Beloved

After about a 10-year "wait until the time is right with God," The Darkness and the Glory will be shipped from the printers. It has already borne fruit, and for that I am extremely thankful and rejoicing in the Lord.

I found out yesterday that Bill Merrill, the lawyer for The Master's Seminary and College, fell over dead from a heart attack. He was in his forties; he left behind a wife and two teenage children. It has left me rejoicing for the above paragraph and "kicked in the stomach" stunned at the same time.

Indeed our days are numbered before the Lord, and Bill going home to be with God is no mistake, but we still grieve our losses until we are all home with the Lord. 

I will miss him and our deepening friendship, and I will very much miss his expertise in being the brain trust behind the non-profit.

God bless you all.

Greg

Well, that should be enough for the time being.

More about The Darkness and the Glory soon.

Glory Books Ministry