Dedication
To Marta
My partner in love and ministry for fifty-five years.
Her self-giving life reflected the love of her Lord and Saviour. Her radiant
Christian faith brightened our lives with hope and cheer. Her poems and
beautiful spirit helped many on their Journey to the Promised Land. She is
still with me in spirit to help make my continuing Journey an exciting and
fulfilling foretaste of Heaven and Home.
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Section One: Matters of Life and Death
View From a Window
Theology of Life and Death
There is More to Dying than Death
Section Two: Guidelines for the Journey
Know Where You Are
Know the Way
On the Way
Travel by Faith
Don’t Take Excess Baggage
Help Someone Along the Way
Accept Help from Others
Keep Your Destination in Mind
Section Three: It’s a Bilingual Way
The Way of Judgment and Mercy
The Way of Sin and Grace
The Way of Repentance and Restoration
The Way of Profession and Practice
The Way of Pitfalls and Rescue
The Way of Holiness and Hallelujahs
The Way of Prayer
The Way of Praise
Section Four: The Way of Love
The Way of Agape Love
The Way of Suffering Love
The Way of Worldly Love
The Way of Tough and Tender Love
Section Five: My Personal Life Journey
My 30 Year Journey with Stanley Jones
My 55 Year Journey with My Life Partner
My Journey Through the Valley
I Believe in Miracles
What I Learned About Running
Thank You’s
Acknowledgements
Foreword
When Dr. Berg asked me to write the foreword to this
book, I was thoroughly delighted. My wife, Eunice, and I have boundless
admiration for this man and have for years sat at his feet and profited by
his ministry. We are grateful that he put it all together in this volume. It
is more than a mere memoir or autobiography. It is the living and authentic
witness of a thoroughly contemporary and thoroughly devoted Christian man.
At first glimpse his title and sub-title might possibly
throw the reader off. The book might be entitled, Meet Pastor Berg or
Let Pastor Berg Introduce You to Jesus. Yet his title rings true. It
is the story of the progress of a modern Christian, not through the medium
of allegory but through an account of a journey into religious reality.
The reader is advised to begin with an examination and
reflection on the Table of Contents. The four sections focus earnest and
urgent attention on vital dimensions of the Christian pilgrimage. It is not
just a transit from life to death, but just the opposite: from death to
life. A scanning of the chapter titles reveals the wide range of this
remarkable volume. It reminds me of a visit to central Iowa years ago. Every
farm had an artesian well – “you could dig down anywhere and hit water.” So
it is with Bill Berg’s book: you can start reading anywhere and find
refreshment.
Throughout its pages you will meet the author himself.
Have you not noticed that when you read a book by a writer you know, you can
hear the writer speaking? This has been my experience as I have read this
book: it has been a visit with the man himself. If you meet this pastor for
the first time, you will feel that you have always known him.
Yet you will meet others too. For example, you will get
to visit with Marta Berg, Bill’s life-partner, his adored wife with whom he
walked for more than fifty years. Marta is a poet and fortunately this book
is enriched by a number of her works. It becomes clear that Bill himself
possesses a “touch of the poet.” Then you meet E. Stanley Jones, Dr. Berg’s
“spiritual mentor,” as he calls his older missionary-evangelist friend. It
is astounding that when a writer quotes a revered teacher, the latter’s
words come alive in a fresh and vital way. Then you will meet Mary Webster,
extraordinary witness to Christ; and Gordon Hunter, Canadian evangelist and
Ashram colleague; and Mary Anne Prell, and a number of Lutheran leaders. Be
alert for these people.
The writer states his purpose clearly: “My major
compulsion for writing this book is to highlight the divine and ultimate
destination of our life journey through this world. The best part of dying
is that it takes us beyond death.” I have never met anyone other than
William E. Berg who would be more entitles to make such a statement.
Still, the book is not just about death but about life.
His ministry of three score years is about real life. It touches upon the
true issues of our time, painful and perplexing as they are: poverty, inner
city injustice, racism, homosexuality and much more. He does not “point
fingers” but “lends a hand” to lift up the rejected and fallen. He does not
just admonish us regarding such matters; rather he invites us to join him in
creative ministry, such as the Christian Ashram Movement or the Community
Emergency Services which he established at Augustana Lutheran Church in
downtown Minneapolis. Dr. Berg is a living illustration of one about whom
Martin Luther spoke: “Believing in Christ as you Saviour means being a
Christ to your neighbor.”
This volume is replete with anecdotes and stories. A
long life of wide reading and preaching is reflected here. Berg quotes from
a great array of writers and draws on longtime pastoral ministry.
Particularly he quotes the Scriptures in which he has been immersed for
years and cites texts he has come particularly to love. A recurring
reference is to the Word of God Travel Service, the Bible, which is the
guidebook of his religious pilgrimage.
Dr. Berg’s style is direct and unadorned. Nevertheless,
he knows how to turn a phrase. And example: “Gifts of Cheers,” “Gifts of
Tears,” “Gifts of Years.” Or he bursts into arpeggios after the manner of
St. Paul (see pages 88, 284, 286). The reader will come to rejoice in his
host of stories. Indeed, one will make his stories one’s own. And Bill Berg
will not mind this one bit; he does the same thing! The whole is written
with great good humor, with vivacity and conviviality. Can Bill be one of
the “merrymen of God” of whom Luther spoke: who are merry when there is
nothing to be merry about? I think so.
Though, as I have said, you meet the writer throughout
his book, characteristically Bill Berg speaks of himself directly only
toward the end. Then it is that he “comes through” for what his is and this
with disarming candor: a pastor and theologian who is always evangelist too;
who is warmly evangelical, never censorious or mean-spirited; a man of
prayer who is simply intoxicated with God. Brother Bill Berg, as we call him
in Ashram circles, is a modern-day saint. His is a book for young and old;
for believer and seeker; for pastor and layperson. It has a word for all.
James K. Matthews
Bishop, The United Methodist
Church
Washington, D.C.
Preface
In 1952, Adlai Stevenson, Jr. ran for president as
candidate for the Democratic Party. The story is told of a woman who came up
to him following a campaign speech. She was excited and said, “Oh, Mr.
Stevenson, your speech was simply superfluous!” He never blinked an eye. He
replied, “Thank you. As a matter of fact, I am thinking of having it
published posthumously.” Now the woman was even more excited. She said,
“That’s wonderful. And the sooner, the better!”
Her confusion of words and thoughts help explain the
purpose of this book. Of course, I am hoping that the book will be published
before I leave for the Promised Land. After many years of reflection on the
subject, and after a year of writing and almost endless rewriting, it would
be exciting to read the finished book. I should add that no book on divine
love and truth is ever finished. The more one thinks an writes, the more
there is to be revealed. It’s GRACE UPON GRACE.
Adlai Stevenson’s supporter called his speech
superfluous. This leads me to say that this book is indeed superfluous if it
simply records my thoughts and suggestions as a prospectus and guide. My
personal journey of faith is indeed part of the story. But the focus is on
His story of guidance and grace which makes the Journey to the Promised Land
a possibility and more, a reality. Hopefully, the purpose of this book will
be fulfilled:
To follow the Word of God
Travel Service with Jesus as our counselor, and with the Holy Spirit as our
guide.
To face difficulties, barriers
and dangers in our journey through a sin-cursed and wilderness world,
rejecting any thought of traveling on “flowery beds of ease.”
To focus on the way our
Creator has prepared, the Way as described in the travel guide in John 14:6,
and John 1:14:
Jesus said, “I am the way,
and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”
And the Word became flesh and
dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as
of the only Son from the Father.
To remind us that being on the
way can be as exciting and fulfilling as reaching the final destination.
To deal with distracting
social issues, moral and spiritual problems, signs of apostacy and false
doctrines in the church, the problem of suffering, the process of death and
dying, to give practical guidance for a tough and dangerous journey, and to
be a Christian realist rather than a shallow sentimentalist.
To give a first-hand account
of my personal journey of faith.
To stimulate a longing for
that for which every person was created and redeemed by Jesus, our Saviour.
A poem entitled “Longing,” by Marta Berg from her book, Seen and Unseen,
illustrates this purpose.
Longing is a gentle feeling,
Hushed
and subdued
Unlike
the clamor
Of
hatred or ill will.
Many a
heart harbors a quiet longing.
The
worker longs for the weekend.
The
traveler longs for his own bed.
The
winter-weary long for spring.
The
have-nots long for things.
There
is a balm in longing,
For
longing is made up of dreams
And of
hope,
And it
is akin to fulfillment.
But
what of the one
Who
has nothing to long for?
To have everything
is to be
Impoverished
In the joy of
fulfillment,
To be robbed
Of the joy of
expectation.
To introduce readers to
authors who have helped me on my journey. For example, I quote extensively
from the books of the late E. Stanley Jones. He was may spiritual mentor. I
tell later of my 30-year journey with him. I would be pleased if readers
would lay aside my book in favor of Stanley Jones’ books. I make no
apologies for including inspiring thoughts and guidelines from many other
writers. We need all the help we can get on our life journey. However, the
thoughts of writers, though brilliant, can help us only as they reflect
divine truth that sets us free to find the way Home. Without God’s revealed
word and way, without Jesus as our companion, without the Holy Spirit as our
guide, this book should have the title, Show Me the Way to Get Lost –
Journey to a Dead End.
This book is dedicated to Marta, my life
partner for 55 years. She made it to the Promised Land after helping me and
countless others to find the Way and to stay on it. You will meet her as you
read the chapter, “55 Years With My Life Partner.”
Marta’s second book, From Grey to Gold, was
dedicated to our daughter, Marcia, who is also well and whole in the
Promised Land. In this book Marta reminds us that there is “No Free Ride” on
the Way to the Promised Land.
“A few years ago I was on a
bus heading for downtown Minneapolis. Several people got on the bus at Lake
Street. After they were seated, the driver came back and confronted one of
them with these words, ‘You didn’t pay your fare.’ I expected the lady to
apologize and to explain that she had forgotten to drop the money into the
fare box. Instead she said, ‘But I’m only going six blocks.’ The driver
responded in a no-nonsense tone of voice, ‘Lady, anybody who rides has got
to pay!’ And the woman dug into her purse and paid the fare.
I thought how true the words were, ‘Anybody
who rides has got to pay.’
You have to pay attention and
look around you before you can enjoy the beauties of the blossoming, singing
springtime season of the year.
You have to study and think in order to
grow as a person.
You have to move out of the
easy chair to know the joy of widening horizons and a fuller life.
You have to know the pain of
caring to know the joy of helping others.
You have to practice the
presence of God in order to know His will and His way.
You have to work at in order
to have a good family life. It doesn’t just happen.
You have to give love before
you can know friendship in depth.
The scriptural basis for this
truth is graphically told in the words, ‘Looking to Jesus … who for the JOY
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.’ Hebrews
12:2”
Someone said, “Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age
comes all by itself.” I am writing this book in my 87th year,
writing what has been in my mind and heart for many years. Hopefully, some
measure of wisdom has come with age. The highest wisdom literature in the
world, most worthy of the attention of readers, is found in the Bible. If
there is any wisdom in this book, it will surely prove to be a reflection of
divine revelation and truth.
I write this book as my family’s “patriarch,” hoping to
remind my family, not only of their ancestral heritage, but primarily of
their spiritual heritage.
Each morning in the presence of our Lord, I call the
roll of my family (Bill and Karen Berg, Will and Ben; J.Paul and Anne
Carlson, Jon, Jeff and Katie; Paul Conrad, Steve and Karen.) With their
self-giving love, their wisdom and faith, they have indeed been affirming
kindred spirits with me on the Way to the Promised Land.
Incidentally, at my age, I often hear a probing
question of concern, “How are you getting along?” I usually reply, “Very
well, thank you, because of Amazing Grace and family.”
Each day, as I marvel at the wisdom of their parents, I
pray for three things for my grandchildren. One, that they may remain
steadfast in the Christian faith, that they may stay on the Way and grow in
grace and knowledge of Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Two, that they may
be led by their Lord into the ministries and careers He has for them in
which they shall glorify Him and serve others in His name. Three, that they
may accept divine guidance leading them to the life partners He has chosen
for them in Christian marriage.
Here, we should mention that for many persons, family
ties are broken or missing. Each day I pray for single persons, thanking our
Lord for their indispensable ministries in the Church. And thanking Him that
they are fulfilled in their walk with the Lord and in helping countless
persons on the Way to the Promised Land.
The self-giving affirming love of family and friends
helps to define the meaning of divine grace that will get us to the Promised
Land. And the Family of God provides not only guidance and support but a
foretaste of Heaven and Home.
So we begin our journey with the words of Psalm 32:8
ringing in our minds and hearts:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Section Three: It’s
a Bilingual Way
MORE approval of sin and LESS power to rescue lost and
confused persons.
MORE of ‘doing what I please,’ and LESS of ‘being
pleased with what I do.’
MORE of personal rights and LESS of the rights of
others.
MORE contempt for the Ten Commandments, and LESS
life-giving protection they provide.
MORE of roaming the vast wasteland of television, and
LESS of self-esteem and respect for life.
LESS healing and MORE wholeness.
LESS independence and MORE dependence.
LESS of lament and MORE of praise.
LESS of my story and MORE of His story.
LESS of myself and MORE of my Lord.
-
Mary Anne Prell
When Less is More
