Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

This week's interview is with Ben Overby.  Ben is the minister of the Lawson Road Church of Christ in Rochester, New York and he blogs at "Signpost." 

He writes cogent and insightful posts and is definitely worth reading.  Check out his blog and read his gracious interview here today.  Leave him comments to let him know how much you appreciate his responses and maybe what you might have in common with him.

Dee

Part I - Basic Interview Questions

1.  What's your favorite scripture?

 Romans 8:18-25

2.  Vital Statistics: - Month, Day& Place you were born

November 25th 1962, Springfield, TN

3.  Names of spouse & Children:

Kim, JT, and Alex

4.  What brought you to where (the location) you are now?

Our ministry was pushed out of Ft. Benning.  The people in Rochester, NY were looking for help.

5.  Where all have you lived in your life?

Greenbrier, TN;  Vicenzia, Italy; Fort Bragg, NC; Chattanooga, Nasvhille, Pikeville and Byrdstown, TN; Columbus, GA; Rochester, NY

6.  What kind of work do you do?

Ministry.

7.  What do you love most about your work?

The freedom of time to really be with God and attempt to say or do something for Him for the sake of His glory.   

8.  What do you like least about your work:

I least like being part of an apparatus that makes it almost impossible to utilize a lot of the gifts God has given me.  Our churches (churches of Christ) hire so-called experts (those of us who are ministers) to help the body grow, etc., but our organization promptly strips us of the practical ability to really facilitate change.  We (ministers) have almost no decision making ability; however, there are tremendous expectations that we’ll really impact the churches we serve. 

It’s a bizarre situation and accounts for part of the reason why so many preachers are just quitting.  When I was in business, I could make a decision that would immediately be implemented and change things.  I miss that more and more every year.

9.  Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:

My wife.  Too many reasons why to even get started naming them.
10.  Any hidden talents:

I don’t even have many public talents.  If I had any talent, I certainly wouldn’t hide it!

11.  Little known fact about me:

I’m desperately absent-minded to the point of embarrassment (always have been).  I’m apt to drive right past my house, forget my own age (I thought I was turning 45 last year.  I was off by a year), and can rarely recall my own address or phone number when asked.  It’s embarrassing and makes me feel really dumb.  The more frustrated I get when trying to recall the simplest things, the more impossible remembering them becomes.   My wife has to check me like a kid when leaving the house to see if I have everything.  Not good for the ego! 

The flip side of that is that I can remember something I read 20 years ago just like I’d read it today.  I’d prefer to forget what I read 20 years ago and just remember to stop when the light is red.

Part 2 - Favorite Things

1.   Favorite Book (other than the Bible!):

The New Man, Thomas Merton

2.  Favorite Movie:

Braveheart

3.  Favorite Food:

Fried, boneless, chicken breasts, mashed potatoes and green peas.

4.  Favorite Kind of Music:

Taize’ and/or contemporary Christian.

5.  Favorite musical group or performer:

Tie:  U2 & Coldplay

6.  Favorite song:

Days of Elijah

7.  Favorite junk food:

The little Goldfish chips, barbeque flavor

8.  Favorite childhood memory:

Hanging clothes on the line with Mrs. Elizabeth.  I’ve written about the experience here.  It’s also a published essay in The Caney Creek Sampler, an east Tn literary magazine.


Part 3 - Thought Questions

1.  What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

Steak and French fries in a small country place in Belgium.  And the after dinner cognac added a touch of perfection to the unexpected, delightful meal.

2.  Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?

Scotland

3.  What is your proudest moment?

Every moment I share with my kids and my wife.  I’m at the apex of my pre-eschatological existence whenever I’m in their company in ordinary moments.  I don’t need anything else.  I don’t need applause.  I just need their company.  Out of that community, I learn how to live in God’s bigger community.  

4.  What do you most regret?

Though I’ve learned a lot from my failures, I regret living like a wild hedonist-atheists from the age 18 to about 23.  The ghosts of those years still haunt me from time to time.  I’ve seen things and experienced things that I wish I could erase from my mind completely.  I wish I could forget as well as God forgives.

5.  If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?

Mostly, I’d read and write and try to just live a good life--doing the little things that introduce the kingdom into this broken world.  Pretty much what I’m doing now (by grace).

6.   What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?

Romans—it’s Paul on steroids.  His theology is deeply anthropological and psychological.  Someone has said, “if you can get Romans, you can get the Bible.”  I think if you can get Romans, you can get reality.  It’s a metaphysical book that answers some of life’s most fundamental and challenging questions.   It’s not a religious book about church.  It’s an inspired book about the cosmos, God, man, true humanity, and all creation. 

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