Larry Stone
11 min read ⭑
“At my age (78), I’ve probably done most of what I’m going to do. I have no big projects planned. Instead, I’m trying to open my heart and mind to how God works through people not like me.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
My favorite meal is not at a restaurant but with a bunch of guys around the dinner table of one of my friends in Franklin, Tennessee.
Sixteen years ago, a friend and I were talking about why men don’t talk to each other about anything other than work, weather, and sports. He and I had “known” each other for 20 years, but we didn’t really know each other. So my friend and I each suggested names of six friends and invited a dozen guys for dinner and conversation—no agenda. When 8:30 rolled around that first evening, no one wanted to leave, so we had dinner and conversation again six weeks later. And now, we’ve been having dinner and conversation for 16 years. A few guys have moved away. Some have joined us. When Joe moved into a retirement home, we took dinner and conversation to Joe.
Sometimes we have a question prepared such as “What did you learn from your father?” or “What is the most surprising thing that happened in your life?” Other times, we just let the conversation take its course. We sometimes rejoice with each other, and we sometimes grieve with each other. A new guy once felt comfortable enough with us to say, “My wife filed for divorce last week. I need help.”
I have a dozen favorite restaurants in Nashville, some with terrific food. But the best food for my soul and my stomach comes from this dinner-and-conversation group.
Diane Picchiottino; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
Scuba diving gives me great joy. There’s a lot of work involved—getting the equipment together, making sure the mask fits properly, wiggling into a wetsuit, getting into the water with a tank on my back, and slowly descending. But once I’m near the bottom, there’s a peacefulness in the quiet underwater world. I enjoy floating near the bottom—whether 30 feet or 90 feet under the surface—and slowly exhaling to float down and slowly inhaling to float up. When I’m just floating, I can watch the fish who come up to look at me, notice the lobsters (Caribbean lobsters are much more spiny than New England lobsters), and examine up close the color in the coral.
Having a buddy is an important principle of scuba diving. But when I have a camera, I become involved in following fish or turtles and tend to ignore my buddy.
One time, my wife and I spent 15 minutes watching a small octopus slither across the bottom, going over rocks and changing its color and texture to match its surroundings. They are amazing creatures.
What’s so great about being underwater is the peacefulness and the differentness. Most movement tends to be slow. There’s no rush. And God created all creatures great and small—even those underwater.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
Although I live in Nashville, my heritage is in New England, where people have a reputation for being distant and reserved. As a result, I’ve had many years of practice in not being transparent. (In fairness, when New Englanders get to know you, they’re warm and helpful.)
I’m surprised when people say that I’m calm, cool, and collected because I know otherwise. At times I can get very upset and vocal about it. I seem to spend a lot of time apologizing for getting verbally upset. I just wrote an apology to my grandson, who I chewed out last week.
I’m like a glass with water in it. There’s no problem when the glass is not full. That’s when I’m calm, cool, and collected. When more and more water is added, I’m able to contain the water until, when the glass of my emotions overflows, it spills out all over the place.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
I’m retired. What I mean is I haven’t received a paycheck in 15 years. But I’ve done a lousy job of retiring.
One of my passions is the Bible, and so I wrote The Story of the Bible: The Fascinating History of Its Writing, Translation, and Effect on Civilization. My favorite review said the book is “subtly insidious” because, although the book is good, “it’s couched in the assumption that the Bible is holy.”
I was a primary editor of The Africa Study Bible. Written by 350 contributors from 50 countries in Africa, this study Bible illuminates God’s Word with comments from an African perspective. It was a terrific privilege to do this because more Christians live in Africa than any other continent, and by 2050, nearly 40% of the world’s Christians will live in sub-Saharan Africa. These believers need resources that speak to their culture.
I’ve also been an advisor on a wonderful new Bible translation: The Readable Bible. What makes The Readable Bible so effective is not the translation but the formatting of the words on the page.
I’ve also embarked on an effort to make the writings of F.F. Bruce (one of the most influential evangelical scholars of the second half of the 20th century) available as ebooks at reasonable prices at ffbruce.com. I’ve published 23 ebooks by F.F. Bruce, including The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? and Paul: Apostle of the Free Spirit.
My most important job—which I guess is “nonprofessional”—is as a grandfather to 22 grandchildren. My two sons have 11 children and then another 11 call me “Grandpa Stone” or “Papa.” Each grandchild is different; each has a unique personality; each needs love. My job is to figure out how and when to give that love.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
When I was working full time, I was too busy to make time for other people. Big mistake. The Lord has now opened to me a “ministry of listening.” We all need an opportunity to tell our stories. All we need is an understanding and interested listener.
I’m amazed at how many people have thought I was a great conversationalist when I did not say anything. I just listened intently.
A good listener is particularly needed when someone is going through a difficult time—problems with children, personal temptation, financial difficulties, or especially when a friend is going through a divorce. Although people may ask for answers, what they really need is not a suggestion but a listening ear.
Last week, I was getting something repaired, and when the man took my name, he looked at me and said, “I know you from church.” He was referring to a church where we had both gone 10 years earlier. He then proceeded to tell me about his divorce, his problems with his children, and more. He needed a listening ear. I took the time to be obedient to the ministry to which God has called me.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
My heart is open to the presence of God through Bible reading, prayer, the preaching of the Word, and the community of the saints.
One very important way God opens himself to me is through worship in song with other believers. One of my favorites is “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”:
Joyful, joyful, we adore you,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before you,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
My faith is confirmed by singing songs like “And Can It Be? (Amazing Love)”:
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That thou, my God, should die for me!
And it’s not just the old hymns, although as a rule, they have more to say than the more modern ones. One great modern hymn is “He Will Hold Me Fast”:
Those he saves are his delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in his holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by him at such a cost
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast
I said that an important way God opens himself to me is through worship in song with other believers. The “other believers” part is critical. When we were in the midst of COVID restrictions, my wife and I joined our church’s worship online. I have to say that two people singing in our living room is not quite the same as singing enthusiastically with a congregation of believers.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?
As a book publisher, I have unique opportunities to come into contact with significant books.
Many years ago, the Evangelical Book Club (EBC) offered Christian Reality and Appearance by John Mackay (John Knox Press). It’s now out of print but available used on Amazon. When I became director of EBC, we had a couple thousand in inventory. The book is profound. Mackay, former president of Princeton Seminary, identified four Christian realities—God’s self-disclosure in which the God of the universe has disclosed himself to humans; the transforming encounter that happens when we meet God; Christian obedience in that when we encounter God, we want to obey him; and the Christian community in that those who have encountered God want to hang together.
Each of these four realities is shadowed by an imitation or appearance. The shadow of God’s self-disclosure is theologism or the idolatry of ideas. The shadow of the transforming encounter is emotionalism or the idolatry of feelings. The shadow of Christian obedience is legalism or the idolatry of rules. And the shadow of Christian community is churchism or the idolatry of “my group.” That summary doesn’t do it justice, but it’s a start!
One of the worst mistakes I made as a publisher was not picking up American rights to The Christian Mind by Harry Blamires, an important book in which the author identifies six marks of the Christian mind: its supernatural orientation, its awareness of evil, its conception of truth, its sacramental cast, its concern for the person, and its acceptance of authority. It’s too British, I thought. Well, it is British, but it’s well worth reading.
About 40 years ago, as editorial VP at Thomas Nelson, I advocated for and Nelson published Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture by Herbert Schlossberg. It’s not easy reading, but it’s a profound book. I was blown away when at the end of 1999, World Magazine named Idols for Destruction, “from our perspective,” one of the top 100 books of the 20th century.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it’s done for you.
Prayer does not come easily or naturally to me. On the one hand, I’m tempted to try to be eloquent in my praying—even when I pray to God by myself. On the other hand, I realize that God understands my thoughts even when I give him my thoughts without expressing them because I don’t know how to express them. I receive some assurance from F.F. Bruce, who said, “When the human spirit is in closest harmony with the Spirit of God, words may not only prove inadequate; they may even hinder prayer.” But that would credit me with a level of spirituality I cannot claim for myself.
In that context, I value collections of prayers. One of the best is The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. I echo the words of Mark Dever: “When used slowly, for meditation and prayer, these pages have often been used by God’s Spirit to kindle my dry heart.”
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
At my age (78), I’ve probably done most of what I’m going to do. I have no big projects planned. Instead, I’m trying to open my heart and mind to how God works through people not like me.
I was brought up to believe we were right. Catholics couldn’t be right because they worshipped Mary and other saints. Pentecostals couldn’t be right because they were divisive and emotional. Episcopalians couldn’t be right because they recited dead liturgy—and besides, they drank.
I always believed that Jesus’ words to the Pharisees were for other people not like us. I believed that because others in my Baptist church believed that, and we wanted to be comfortable with Jesus’ teachings. At some point, though, it hit me. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, his words were to the leaders of my Baptist church—the people I looked up to. The people I wanted to be like—the “good” people.
Years later, one of the leaders of that church said, “I wonder why God removed his hand of blessing from our church?” I was taken aback by the question. Maybe—just maybe—it was because we were a people who had too much to lose. Maybe we were too good for our own good. Maybe we never quite realized that it’s very hard for anyone who thinks they have little to be forgiven to feel grateful.
And then when I wanted to study books on prayer, I found that most of the good ones were written by Catholics. And when I realized that the Holy Spirit was alive and well today, I found that the Pentecostals had much to teach me. And God blessed me when I actually read the Book of Common Prayer from the Episcopal church.
God works through people not like me.
One of the most precious “congregations of saints” in Nashville is on death row in Riverbend Maximum Security Prison. When my nephew—for whom we had been praying for years—got baptized, it was at an hour-long service in an Orthodox church where he renounced the works of Satan and his angels and declared that he united himself to Christ.
God works through people not like me.
What does Jesus think of all the church denominations we have today—and all the differences we have (and often judge each other for)? Paul encountered these kinds of differences in the Corinthian church. He told them:
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10, NIV).
Will you join us in prayer today?
“Lord, search my heart and show me where I wrongly judge other Christians because they’re different from me. Help me be a peacemaker, someone who promotes unity instead of division. Show me how to stay faithful to the Truth and to my convictions while being humble about where I could be wrong. And God, thank you for using—as Larry calls them—‘people not like me’ to accomplish your purposes. Show me the beauty in every one of your followers, and help me love them like you do. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Author and publisher Larry Stone built the successful book division of Thomas Nelson Publishers and then co-founded Rutledge Hill Press, best known for publishing Life’s Little Instruction Book. His The Story of the Bible was named one of the 10 best Christian books in the year it was published. He was the executive director of KidShape, which helps overweight children become more healthy. Most recently he edited the Africa Study Bible and co-founded a company to publish works by biblical scholar F.F. Bruce. He has been married to Lois for 56 years, and they have two sons and 11 grandchildren.