I love this story, especially since editing, some years ago, Conrad Gempf’s excellent book, Mealtime Habits of the Messiah. In my chapter on being Easter people in Finding Myself in Britain, I quote Conrad’s excellent engagement with this biblical passage:
I love how Conrad (an American living in Britain) opens up this story. Jesus, the king of the universe, is there with his friends, “smoking ’em a few kippers for breakfast.” He doesn’t condemn them; instead he does something surprising. (Conrad Gempf, Mealtime Habits of the Messiah [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005], 18.)
What does he do? He asks them for some of their catch. They hadn’t caught any fish all night, but one word from him and the net overflows. And yet he says that they were the ones doing the catching.
I got to know Conrad Gempf back when I worked for Zondervan, publishing fantastic UK authors. Although Conrad’s not a “UK author,” even though he got branded as such. He’s an American (from Jersey!) who has lived here a lot longer than I have. And I’m happy to report that he’s not lost his Yankee accent. He’s wry; he’s observant; he’s funny; he’s caring. All around a great guy. We’ve spent a couple of Thanksgivings together as families; his cranberry nut bread is to write home about.
Professionally I love working with him because he’s got the ability to communicate the deep truths of the gospel in a clear, succinct and witty way. He’s an academic but doesn’t live in any ivory tower. After a few years of not working together, last year we, through Authentic Media, got to produce his fabulous book on the Apostle Paul: How to Like Paul Again. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Here’s a short interview with him focused on his reading interests (he’s the one who, many years ago, put me on to Malcolm Gladwell):
Some Christians of my generation can’t believe anyone wouldn’t like Paul. But many, perhaps most, of my students have real trouble with him, particularly with his views – or what they think are his views – about gender issues and other “hot potato” topics. But it’s short-sighted to decide whether to like someone by whether they agree with you, or what they can do for you. Probably all of us have one or two people that we love to bits even though they hold some pretty dumb opinions. You really want to make such decisions on the basis of a person’s underlying integrity and values and motives.
I’ve written popular-level books about Jesus, and now on Paul. My next project will probably be a more academic piece. One of the areas I’m interested in is in Jesus’ predictions about the End Times, a hotly debated area in my field. If it goes well, perhaps there would be room for a popular-level book on the same subject. Because Paul often uses “armour of God” imagery when he’s talking about End Times, a title I’m considering is: The End of the Universe: What to Wear.
One of the characteristics I most want my writing to display is that I take Him seriously but don’t take myself seriously. I’ve actually learned a lot from comedy writers – how to emphasize the profound and cosmic by placing it with not just the ordinary but with the particular. Woody Allen once said he believed in a Deity who was in control of the universe except for certain parts of New Jersey. So my books about the New Testament bring in examples like John Deere tractors, Clark Kent, and a World War I aeroplane called a Nieuport 27. Even if you don’t know these names, the use of something so particular can be humorous. And if, by chance, you do know, well, author and reader share a warm private chuckle.
I count a variety of authors as influences and favorites. Some are obvious choices, like CS Lewis, who writes so simply but with boundless intelligence and imagination. How I long to be like that! But I’ve also been fascinated by the writing styles of Raymond Chandler, Woody Allen, Malcolm Gladwell, Aaron Sorkin, Robert Farrar Capon, and Abraham Joshua Heschel. What a lively conversation a room full of them would be!
I think I’ve used a different word processor for every major project I’ve written. The first chapters of my PhD thesis at Aberdeen were written on a word processor I programmed myself and the files were stored on cassette tapes! Lately, I enjoy writing on my iPhone with a small flat Apple keyboard on a simple word processor called WriteRoom. On the Mac itself, Scrivener is wonderful.
I’m often asked why an author who is as ‘into’ technology as I am doesn’t make use of tools like Facebook. My answer may sound familiar. I think it’s short-sighted to align yourself with companies and services based solely on what they can do for you. I really want to make such decisions on the basis of a company’s or service’s underlying integrity and values and motives.
Conrad Gempf is a Christian, husband, father, writer, teacher, speaker, introvert and idealist. His latest book is How To Like Paul Again: The Apostle You Never Knew. His website is gempf.com.
One of the joys of my portfolio lifestyle is the commissioning/acquisitions editorial work I get to do with Authentic Media. Like working with the amazing Conrad Gempf, whose book on the apostle Paul you really shouldn’t miss. Conrad has graciously agreed for me to post his amusing rendition of one of those publisher lunches…
“Well, first of all,” Amy began, “How great you all could make it!”
Nods and smiles all around the table, except John, gazing thoughtfully out the window.
“And I guess,” she continued, “that you were all as excited as I was to receive Mark’s….” she elongated the name, turning toward Mark, beaming, as he looked down, slightly embarrassed “…first few chapters. Weren’t they super? So how is work going with all of you?”
Photo by Geoff Peters 604 as found on Flickr
Mark, breathless, before anyone else could speak: “You know, I just sat down and right away I knew what I had to say. I just had to start with John and bam then Jesus comes along and next thing you know he’s out there doing miracles and right away the disciples come along and they start to mess things up and Jesus immediately corrects them and leads them further till they get to Jerusalem and the whole thing. It’s really written itself.”
“So, uh,” Luke turned to Mark with narrowed eyes, “just how far along into the story are you?”
“Oh, I’m done,” Mark said, “well… pretty much done. I just can’t quite think of an ending…”
“That’s great!” said Amy, “I’m sure one will come to you. What about the rest of you? How far along are you, Matthew?”
“I found Mark’s chapters a great inspiration,” Matthew said, “I guess I’m about halfway through now. I couldn’t help feeling, though, that Jesus’ teaching deserved more space, so I’m trying to work in some of the big sermons.”
“Right…” said Amy, encouraging but warning at the same time, “But we want to keep that story moving along, too, right?”
Mark nodding in agreement with Amy, at the others.
“Well, that’s why I spread that teaching around more,” said Luke, “Rather than discrete subsections all in one place. I’ve also found a lot of revealing evidence from before Jesus’ ministry that sets the whole matter in context.”
“Oh, yeah,” said Luke, “There is suggestive and useful material about his parents and when he was a child and all…”
“And the wise men who visited,” said Matthew. “Like the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon,” he said more softly, almost dreamily.
“We should definitely look at those stories and see if they help,” said Amy, already turning her gaze on the silent member of the party, “What about you, John? Don’t be shy… Have you started right in with a bang like Mark? Or are you finding other early stories, too?”
“Well, it seems to me…” began John; but just then the waitress arrived at the table, set a pitcher of water down and said, “Hi everybody! Ready to order at all, or do you need a few more minutes?”
The boys let Amy order first.
“The goat’s cheese salad please,” she said, “and could you put the dressing on the side?”
The waitress wrote then looked at Matthew.
“The pastrami on rye, please,” he said, finger on the place in the menu, “Light on the mustard, please.”
The waitress nodded with a smile and turned to Mark.
“Bangers and mash… wait… no.. Fish and chips!” roared Mark, very nearly smacking his lips, “Sounds great. Is there vinegar?”
“Yes, sir,” said the waitress, scribbling and looking up.
“I’ll have the veal parmesan, please,” said Luke, nose in the menu, “with the tagliatelle,” looking up: “with simple olive sauce rather than more tomato sauce if that’s alright?” then looking back down after a nod from the waitress, “Tell me about the seasonal vegetables: what have you got today? Are they fresh?”
She recited her list, having just received it a few minutes earlier from cook.
“That sounds acceptable,” Luke said, finishing by closing his menu with a flourish.
Everyone turned to John. He looked at them.
“Hmmm? What?” he said.
“Time to order, John,” said Luke helpfully.
“Ah, yes. Well, young lady,” he said, looking into the waitress’s eyes, “I’ve looked at the whole menu…” she nodded and smiled. He smiled back, “And then,” he said, eyes twinkling, “at the specials board. Your chef,” he said, “he’s really all about the roasts, isn’t he?”
“He is,” the waitress said with an air of fondness in her voice.
“And, unless I’m mistaken, specializes in and favours the lamb?”
“Why… yes… but how did you….?”
“Then by all means, let me have that!” said John, satisfied and leaned back.
“Should we order some wine?” Matthew asked the others.
John glanced at the pitcher of water and smirked, saying, “Yes. Let’s.”
Amy took a deep breath and said, “Now; we need to think of a title.”
