A MODERN IMITATION OF CHRIST

Every Lent I set myself the discipline of reading some meaty spiritual classic. This year I decided to read LOOKING FORWARD 2: Every Next Moment, The Meaning of the Cross, by a longtime friend, Harald K. Haugan, affectionately known as “Whitey”, by his shock of blonde, and now white, hair. This is the second volume for his first was on The Meaning of the Resurrection.

I have known Whitey since 1976 when I moved to Jacksonville, Florida. His wife, Mary, was the realtor who found us our first house. He was then on the staff of All Saints Church, and subsequently planted All Souls Church. I was at the first services of that congregation which took place in the community room of a condo complex and then moved to The Lighting Showcase. All Souls later bought land and built a church campus. Whitey led the church to great growth numerically and spiritually.

He was a troubadour on the guitar, an avid jogger (the image used by All Souls was the sole of a running shoe!) and a dedicated Bible student. He was known for his detailed expositions of Scripture on Sunday mornings outlined in overheads for the viewing of the congregations. He did not believe in sermonettes which produced Christianettes but full-bodied unabridged lessons from the pulpit.

His books, however, contain short, easily digested chapters on following Jesus. His chapter titles are creative and arresting: It’s All About You, What Really Runs the World? Time for a New Suit, When the World Falls Apart, What Are We Stewing About, It’s as Plain as the Nose on Your Face, Being a First Responder, Political Correctness? Give Me a Break! Walking Among Vultures, Here’s Mud in Your Eye, Pro-Choice, Post-Choice, Pre-Choice and Re-Choice.

As I read his punchy phrases I came to the conclusion that what I was reading was a modern Imitation of Christ. That classic by Thomas A Kempis was a product of his time. LOOKING FORWARD 2 is the product of a faithful ministry and contains much wisdom and perspective in understanding and negotiating how to follow Jesus in these challenging times. It is clear-eyed and commanding as a military general surveys the terrain of the spiritual battlefield we call earth. If you want ammunition to combat the world, the flesh and the devil, as you seek to follow Jesus, LOOKING FORWARD will supply you what you need. Copies may be obtained from www.onlinebinding.com 1817 Florida Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32206, Phone: 904.674.0621, email: info@onlinebinding.com.