Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
This book—and all of the books in The Apprentice Series—would not exist were it not for Dallas Willard, a living example of a true apprentice of Jesus who has inspired me in countless ways. Dallas’s outline of a “curriculum for Christlikeness” is the framework of these books. It is difficult to measure the impact of his life and writings on my soul.
And these books would not have been written if it were not for Richard J. Foster, who has poured his life and wisdom into me for over twenty-five years. Everyone should have a teacher as brilliant and authentic as Richard—I am grateful. Thank you, Richard, for finding something in me worth believing in and taking a chance on.
The person who made the most sacrifice is my wonderful, beautiful, fun and very patient wife, Meghan Smith. She endured many months as a “writer’s widow” and never complained. Thank you, Meghan, for knowing how important this series is to me by supporting and encouraging me every step of the way. And thanks for editing the material along the way. My whole life is better because of you. You still take my breath away.
My son and daughter, Jacob and Hope, also gave up a lot as I wrote. Thank you for allowing me to tell your stories. Thanks too for supporting me while I wrote, rewrote, edited and taught this material. I know that time spent with others is time taken from you. I will work to make it up to you!
I also want to thank my four former disciples and now colleagues for all the encouragement and support you have given me. Thanks to the two “sons of thunder”: Patrick Sehl, for your relentless support of me and love for this material; and C. J. Fox, for being an example of integrity and enthusiasm. And to the two wise hobbits: Matt Johnson, for your quiet confidence, dedication to the King and the kingdom, and scent of patchouli; and Jimmy Taylor, for your creativity and depth and sheer love of Jesus. These four young men are going to change the world.
I also want to thank two of my colleagues at Friends University who read the manuscripts of The Apprentice Series, offered a lot of helpful suggestions and helped me avoid some errors—Dr. Stan Harstine for your biblical brilliance, and Dr. Darcy Zabel for your literary skills.
I owe a great debt to Kathy Helmers, my agent and guide through the maze of publishing, for sharing my love for these books, shaping them into something good and then finding the right publishing partner. Kathy, you are the best at what you do, and I am fortunate to work with you.
Thanks to Jeff Crosby and Cindy Bunch of InterVarsity Press, who made it clear to me from the moment we met that you are quality people with incredible skills, a passion for publishing good books, and a clear vision for what this series is and can be. I am blessed to work with you both.
Also, I want to thank Andrew Tash for writing the excellent “box” questions that are in each chapter.
I also need to thank others who contributed in hidden ways:
Bob Casper—for your belief in me and these books and your brilliant mind.
Jeff Gannon—my pastor, friend and fellow worker in the kingdom.
Lyle SmithGraybeal—for never once doubting these books.
Vicki and Scott Price—for loving me and believing in these books.
Ashley Brockus—for encouragement and assistance so the work could get done.
Also, thank you to the people and pastors of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, Wichita, who studied and practiced the concepts in these books, and allowed me to learn from your experiences and insights. Your presence flows in the pages of these books.
Finally, I want to thank Warren Farha of Eighth Day Books for helping me find just the right books to read and study. There is no better “book person” in this world, and no finer bookstore.
Just over twenty years ago Richard J. Foster, my mentor and friend, said to me, “Jim, I’m starting a ministry. It is time for the walls to come down that separate denominations. The church needs to do better at its primary job—making disciples. And people need to learn how to practice the disciplines not just as individuals but within groups. We need to help the modern church connect to the ancient church. I’d like you to help me design it and help lead it.” I said yes. A month later we met for lunch and Richard told me he had come up with a name for this spiritual renewal ministry: Renovaré (ren-o-var-ay), a Latin word that means “to renew.” I knew right away we were in trouble: no one could pronounce it, and no one knew what it meant. But it sounded really cool, because from the very start it was already doing what nobody else dared to.
Most parachurch organizations set out to do what they think churches aren’t doing on their own, but Renovaré comes alongside churches and resources them without pretending to do their job, namely, making disciples of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, people have separated the word disciple from discipline. They forget that the followers of Christ were disciples because they practiced the disciplines of Christ, and the disciples’ spiritual lives were made rich through the practices of prayer, morality, sharing the gospel, service, Communion and spiritual gifts.
Renovaré is helping us—individuals and churches—to overcome our forgetfulness and rediscover these practices, these disciplines, in order that we, like the first-century Christians, can know what it is to walk closely with Jesus and become more like him. I’ve worked with Renovaré for all these years (and partnered with them in the development of this book series) because they know that following Christ goes beyond denominations, even beyond the latest church program, and gives us tools to discovering life with God in the very fabric of our everyday lives.
This book is very much a part of what Renovaré is all about—it has the same dna as Renovaré. So I hope you don’t stop here, because as an organization and a community of the most kind and Christlike people I know, Renovaré continues the conversation and the journey you have begun in this book. Come and walk with us.
Formatio books from InterVarsity Press follow the rich tradition of the church in the journey of spiritual formation. These books are not merely about being informed, but about being transformed by Christ and conformed to his image. Formatio stands in InterVarsity Press’s evangelical publishing tradition by integrating God’s Word with spiritual practice and by prompting readers to move from inward change to outward witness. InterVarsity Press uses the chambered nautilus for Formatio, a symbol of spiritual formation because of its continual spiral journey outward as it moves from its center. We believe that each of us is made with a deep desire to be in God’s presence. Formatio books help us to ful?ll our deepest desires and to become our true selves in light of God’s grace.
