ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE ATTENTIVE LEADER: LIVING AND LEADING FULLY PRESENT TO GOD, SELF, AND OTHERS IN A DISTRACTED WORLD A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY COMMITTEE IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEPARTMENT BY GAIL JOHNSEN PASCO, WASHINGTON MAY 2018 Copyright © 2018 by Gail Johnsen All rights reserved [DO NOT DELETE THIS PAGE. IT IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK FOR INSERTION OF THE ADVISER SIGNOFF SHEET IN THE FINAL PRINTED PROJECT.] iii CONTENTS CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... xiii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................xv Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1 The Context ....................................................................................................................2 The Problem ...................................................................................................................4 Purpose ...........................................................................................................................6 Definition of Terms........................................................................................................6 Description of the Proposed Project ..............................................................................7 Scope of the Project .................................................................................................7 Phases of the Project ..............................................................................................10 Research ...........................................................................................................10 Planning ...........................................................................................................11 Implementation ................................................................................................12 Evaluation ........................................................................................................13 Writing .............................................................................................................13 Chapter 2: BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE REVIEW................................14 Introduction ..................................................................................................................14 A Linguistic Study of Hearing as Attenitve Presence .................................................15 Old Testament ........................................................................................................15 iv Creation ............................................................................................................15 Shâma ...............................................................................................................16 Dâbâr ................................................................................................................20 New Testament ......................................................................................................23 Logos................................................................................................................23 Akouō ...............................................................................................................23 Transcultural Linguistics .......................................................................................26 A Theology of Living Fully Present ............................................................................28 Old Testament Examples .......................................................................................28 Moses (Exodus 3) ............................................................................................28 Samuel (1 Samuel 3) ........................................................................................29 Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-19:18) .............................................................................29 Solomon (1 Kings 3:7-9) .................................................................................31 Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1-2:1) ........................................................................33 New Testament Examples......................................................................................35 Jesus .................................................................................................................36 Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15) ..................37 Simeon (Luke 2:25-32) ....................................................................................40 The Transfiguration (Matt. 16:28; 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:27-36)...........41 Revelation ........................................................................................................42 Inattentive Listening: The Dull Heart ....................................................................43 Old Testament Examples .................................................................................44 New Testament Examples................................................................................46 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................49 Chapter 3: GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................51 v Introduction ..................................................................................................................51 Voices of Attentive Presence .......................................................................................53 Ancient ...................................................................................................................53 Fully Present to God ........................................................................................54 Fully Present to Self .........................................................................................56 Fully Present to Others.....................................................................................58 Contemporary ........................................................................................................60 Fully Present to God ........................................................................................60 Fully Present to Self .........................................................................................63 Fully Present to Others.....................................................................................66 The Voice of Neuroscience ....................................................................................68 A Crisis of Presence: Disintegration ............................................................................69 Training in Attentive Presence: The Spiritual Disciplines ..........................................75 Neuroscience and the Spiritual Practices ...............................................................80 Fully Present to God: Practices of Attention .........................................................81 Silence and Solitude .........................................................................................81 Prayer ...............................................................................................................82 Reading Scripture Transformationally .............................................................83 Sabbath .............................................................................................................84 Fully Present to Self: Practices of Attentiveness ...................................................85 Self-Examination .............................................................................................85 Self-Empathy ...................................................................................................87 Confession........................................................................................................87 Prayer of Lament..............................................................................................88 Fully Present to Others: Practices of Attentiveness ...............................................89 vi Learning to Listen ............................................................................................89 Listening in Community ..................................................................................89 Forgiveness ......................................................................................................92 Hospitable Listening ........................................................................................92 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................94 Chapter 4: DESCRIPTION OF FIELD PROJECT ...........................................................96 Introduction ..................................................................................................................96 Preparation of the Project.............................................................................................98