Things must change. The Word that became flesh longs to be fleshed out in our lives and in our words. The kingdom has drawn near, and we haven’t grasped it fully. That’s okay, because it’s not ours to take or make – it’s something that is born of the Spirit and lived out in Christ.
Just a simple little tune that I recorded in my garage. This is a very old hymn that is sung during this time of preparation for the Advent of God’s kingdom, beginning with the birth of Jesus. O Come Emmanuel
Every year, around this, time churches around the globe who follow a thing called the “Revised Common Lectionary” encounter the text in the Bible where a wild and wildly prophetic voice is calling out to prepare the way. I remember encountering these texts that call for preparation while in seminary studying Greek, and of course numerous times gathering with the church pre and post becoming a pastor. (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:1-3; Matt. 11:10; John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1) All of these passages call for the people of God to prepare for Christ’s return, even as they remember or point toward John the Baptist coming to prepare the way for the birth of Jesus and the Advent of the Kingdom of God – then and now. Pretty cool stuff. Continue Reading…
The issue/problem/question of authority continues to invade my mind, heart and relationships. With that in mind, I am re-visiting a blog that I originally posted on my rarely read, highly hidden, and little known previous blog.
In a world marked by branding and personal taste, in a culture driven by consumerism and “individualism”, and in a time when most Christians discern truth, mission, and purpose alone with their Bibles and/or private, logical/illogical deductions, inductions, and reductions, (Not sure what that means, but it’s nice to have a threefold emphasis!) Paul’s words to the Corinthians must appear odd and disconcerting. Continue Reading…
I have found that one of the greatest language barriers in the Christian family revolves around the word worship. What is it, when are we doing it, and how do we express it?
For example, in many evangelical and non-denominational setting “worship” is the musical portion of the gathering. “That was great worship!”, one might respond, after singing with eyes closed, hands raised, and in perceived isolation from the gathered assembly. Continue Reading…
My nine year-old son Zac asked if he could help me write a song last night. So, we sat down at the dinner table together, and we wrote the following song lyrics, and put them to a nice tune.
Maybe sometime over the next few weeks I can get him to record it with me. I’d love to hear him sing his own song. It reminds me of a long time ago, when my friend Kevin Bullard and I used to sit around writing songs. I was in 4th grade, and the songs were about love, “crushes”, and being famous. Zac’s song is much deeper than mine were at that age. 
I’m proud of him. Continue Reading…
Ryan did a great job on his blog relating what the gathering was like at The Well on the Sunday that he led. It inspired me (at least for this week) to try and do the same. Unfortunately, I did not video record the message. We’ll have to work on that one. But, if you’re interested in the flow – here we go:
We gathered into worship together by singing the Charlie Hall song
“Marvelous Light”. A reminder that new life begins NOW in Christ Jesus – sin has lost it’s power and death has lost it’s sting. The cross gathers us together as a people marked and sealed by the Spirit, to the glory of the Father.
Continue Reading…
When my kids are hungry, they often say, “I’m starving to death!” It’s not like they pulled that phrase from out of no where. I know that I said that same phrase growing up – and I catch myself saying it today. Sorry Tracie.
But it started my thinking this morning. Starving to death – dying for something to eat. Two ways of expressing the same thought. I’m hungry! How hungry? VERY HUNGRY!!
Hungry enough to imply that I’d give everything – maybe even life itself – just to have this pit in my stomach filled. Continue Reading…
As I have been proposing thus far, life can be a rather arid experience.
The good news of the grace, truth, justice and FORGIVENESS that God has showered upon us In Jesus Christ is often collecting in stopped up wells. Rather than forgiving as we have been forgiven, life is experienced by many as quite unforgiving (emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, mentally)
This DESERT OF FORGIVENESS may lead to a second arid way of being in the world. A DESERT OF TRUTH. Where people who have not experienced forgiveness and healing are led to question the true meaning of life. Apart from a meta-narrative (big story) about forgiveness and truth, people are driven to view life in isolation or apart from others.
The Good News of the forgiveness of God in Christ (by grace through faith) necessarily beckons us to live out our identity as people of God. We forgive because he is forgiving. We do what he does – we seek to be as He is. We stop living a virtual life, pretending that everything is okay, and we seek to lead truthful, confessional lives – really seeking for God to be our strength in weakness. For the Spirit to work within us, among us, and apart from us to accomplish the will of God.
This is our purpose. To BE AS HE IS. Continue Reading…
As many of you know, every morning when my children and I part ways to face the tasks of the day, we send one another off by saying, “Remember, God goes with you to bless you and keep you.”
At the close of each day, before we shut our eyes to rest from the day’s tasks, we mark one another with a cross on the forehead and say, “God bless you as you sleep.” Continue Reading…