Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/489073
ENGAGE 23 My grandmother was a storyteller. Once, when I was six or seven, she described a worship service she'd attended. On the rostrum sat many preachers and organizational leaders who, when introduced, came to the microphone to make jokes and clever comments. "Slowly," she said, "a meeting meant for worship degenerated into a popularity contest." Grandma described a frail, old man who stepped forward carrying a Bible. Opening it, he licked his finger and turned the pages one by one. The audience, accustomed to hilarity, fell silent as they sensed his obvious respect for Scripture. "Finding his text," Grandma said, "he looked up at the people for the first time and said, 'Now … we … will hear ... God's … voice.' Instantly everyone stood up and listened." I never forgot my grandmother's story. Nor have I forgotten her final point: "Son, when you read the Bible to people, make sure they hear God's voice—not yours." God's voice first came to me through stories. Noah building his ark. Joshua capturing Jericho. David defeating Goliath. Mary bearing her child. Jesus healing people. Thrilling stories, these. They and many others formed my understanding of a God- centric life. Later, God's voice came through Bible memorization. At age seven, I could recite 500 verses. My incentive? Quarters from Grandma for each verse perfectly quoted (admittedly, a questionable motivation). But today—decades later—I can repeat almost every one of those verses. Thank you, Grandma. God's voice also came through faithful Sunday school teachers, preachers, and of course, professors in the seminary where I studied to become a pastor. "What does the Bible say?" professors repeated as they pressed me to appreciate Scripture's content. Their question still provokes me when I prepare a sermon. "Now we shall hear God's voice." This is what we hope every student hears when they come to Denver Seminary. BENEDICTION Gordon MacDonald CHANCELLOR "God seems to work in the world through the least likely, most unexpected. … God seems to do things backwards. Somehow, that strangely seems to be the paradigm for how God chooses to redeem a broken world." Dr. Don Payne "Jesus' love transforms us from the inside out and energizes us to align with what God is doing in the world." Howard Baker "For a millennia, God has been trying to get us to reevaluate our values and priorities. … His kingship was validated by His extravagant self-sacrifice." Elodie Emig "In a haze of self-competency, we often forget to be still and dependently seek God's instruction. … What would it mean to walk so closely in step with the Lord that the only thing needed to redirect us was a gentle word?" Dr. Elisabeth Nesbit "Let us remember our Lord's unwavering obedience and commitment to do God's will. … Let us find hope that the decisive work of Christ in atoning for sins grants us access to God forever. Let us find purpose in doing the will of God." Dr. Keith Wells WORD FOR WORD