”Five by McLaren: A Narrative Review Article of Five Books by Brian McLaren” -- By: Larry Dixon

Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 14:2 (Winter 2005)
Article: ”Five by McLaren: A Narrative Review Article of Five Books by Brian McLaren”
Author: Larry Dixon


”Five by McLaren:
A Narrative Review Article of Five Books by Brian McLaren”

Larry Dixon1

I was heading to my office at Columbia Biblical Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, when I decided to stop by my local Starbucks for a quick latte. I had a lot on my mind. I had been working my way through some books written by an old friend, Brian McLaren, books that inspire some and alarm others. Over thirty years ago we worked at Greenwood Hills Congress together.

As I walked through the front door of the coffee shop, who should greet me but Brian himself!

”Brian!” I stuck out my hand. He looked a bit puzzled.

”Larry. Larry Dixon. You remember me? We worked together years ago at Congress!”

”Of course, Larry. How good to see you! How's Linda?”

I was pleased that Brian remembered my wife's name. ”She's great. And your wife?” (I didn't have the same good memory.)

”Oh, Grace is doing great too.”

We talked for a few minutes in the line at Starbucks about our kids and where life had taken us over the last three decades, and then I asked Brian, ”Say, Brian, are you able to sit for a little while?”

”Glad to, Larry,” Brian said. ”Anything special on your mind?” It was quite obvious that Brian was a caring pastor, just from the way he asked his question.

”Well, to be perfectly honest with you, Brian, I've agreed to write a review article on five of your books for The Emmaus Journal. It would be super if we could talk about them for a while. I promise to quote you accurately!”2

”Sure,” Brian said, although his eyes seemed a bit weary, as if he had been spending the last couple of years on the defense. ”I understand you've written five books too, Larry.”

”That's true,” I replied a bit sheepishly, ”but this review article is about your books!”

”No problem. Which one did you want to talk about first?”

”Well, I really learned a lot from your 2002 Zondervan book, More Ready Than You Realize: Evangelism as Dance in the Postmodern Matrix. By the way, please let me know when you have to leave.”

”I don't have an appointment until later this afternoon,” Brian said.

More Ready Than You Realize3

Larry: Perhaps you could briefly summarize the thrust of More Ready Than ...

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