Friends Letter
August 2026
Dear Friends –
How do I know the character and purpose of God in my life?
For me the answer to this question has proven to be simple yet profound. Jesus is the perfect expression of God’s thought, character and will. In Jesus Christ alone God expresses himself as “outrageous love” (Greg Boyd). Jesus is for us, never against us. We may be undeserving but we were deeply loved long before we ever realized it. This is what makes the fire of divine love so deeply transforming (cf. The Transforming Fire of Divine Love, 2025).
I am persuaded, almost daily at this point in my life, that most Christians have derived their understanding of God from their private experience. In some cases this is the result of a type of philosophizing that is done without the perspective of the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ as perfect love. Even more prevalent is Plato’s immense influence over personal doctrinal beliefs, often formed without a deep understating of the plot and story of the Bible itself. It never ceases to amaze me how often I have heard popular conservative preachers miss Jesus in their treatment of the Old Testament. I recall a well-known writer and minister, who was in one of my small groups decades ago, telling us that he did not understand how several of us could see Christ in the Psalms and prophets.
Greg Boyd has helpfully written, “If we take our cue [about the Bible and doctrines] from any source other than Christ, we will stay under the bondage of the serpent’s lie – we will misconstrue God, ourselves and the world. Our picture of God must be centered unequivocally and unswervingly on Jesus Christ. But this is not always easy to do.” (Gregory A. Boyd, Is God to Blame? Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 39)
Retirement is a concept that is difficult for many Christians to embrace. I surmise that there are several reasons for this; e.g. nowhere in the Bible is the concept clearly revealed, thus why should I step back from my ministry or regular work to rest and acknowledge my age and weakness? I have seen my own retirement as a way to invite God to bring others into new places where I once led. My retirement has not been about doing nothing but rather about doing less with a more focus on my core identity. In my case this has allowed me to focus on my wife, my children and my grandchildren. It has also allowed others to embrace the vision of unity that God gave to me. I pray and support these leaders but never interfere in their mission. Add to this equation the fact that my physical weaknesses have increased with age and you get to my idea of retirement. (I recognize that many cultures have different approaches to this but in much of the world the young are expected to care for the aged. Our incomes and infirmities allow us to not rely too much on our children.)
So, I am happily and joyfully retired. I feel really good about this stage of my life and I realize each day just how much my heavenly father loves me. In Christ this has been made known to me, by the Spirit, day-by-day.
Because of Christ and his love,
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