If you are someone who shares my love for both pastoring and teaching, enjoy this short post about my email exchange with author, Michael Cameron. Here’s how it came about:

One of the only negatives about my recent Ph.D. journey was the interruption of my personal reading schedule. So I was extremely happy to get back to books that I began to read early in the program, but couldn’t finish due to all the assigned readings (Woe is me!).

One of those books was, Christ Meets Me Everywhere: Augustine’s Early Figurative Exegesis, by Michael Cameron.

After completing the book I decided to write Dr. Cameron. I wanted to let him know how much the book helped me, but also pick his brain on how to be a better scholar/researcher. Since 1991 I have enjoyed the dual role of pastor/professor and look forward to learning from someone like Michael.

Michael gracious sent this reply:

“As to your request, “how to be a better scholar/researcher” and ” how to improve my abilities to function as a professor, researcher, and writer”: I have to gulp at the prospect of forming an answer and say first I wonder that constantly myself. But let’s try this, though it is brief and perhaps displeasingly general. I would say to myself, feed your curiosity, be concrete and particular, watch for what moves and enflames you, ask what makes it tick, go with your instincts, and trust your judgments, look for the sympathetic insights that feed your pastoral sense along with your intellect. I tell students writing papers for me, be clear about your questions. Writing and research is about finding answers, but the answers are controlled by the questions which are formed out of life and the imagination.”

That part about feeding your curiosity resonated with me and confirmed my current practices. If you are in or have an interest in both worlds, there you have it from a consummate scholar.

Whatever world you are in, may our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) because of your faithful work.

Randal