This year has been spent in a cycle of spiritual rest and exploration. That cycle has taken us some interesting places. The big takeaway is a shift away from what I’ve known my whole life in one movement to step into another movement within the Body of Christ. For those interested, I write at some length about it HERE.
It would be great to have conversations over this for anyone having questions.
I am reading back through Ezekiel these days, asking the Lord about “imagination.”
As I read through the early part of Ezekiel again, I am struck by Ezekiel’s call. I also think of Jeremiah’s call. They were to warn clearly regardless of the response. If they didn’t give the warning, God would hold them (the prophets) accountable. In an era where church leaders are consumed with response, this is just offensive. Continue reading “The watchman on the wall”
“I pastored a Southern Baptist church in southern Missouri, and there some people in that church whose whole identity, I think, was tied to a self-righteous image. I discovered quickly I couldn’t change things when folks were determined not to change. In time, though, I realized that all around the church was a sea of dying people. I made friends outside the church and found plenty of people who were receptive to me.” — Dallas Willard in Becoming Dallas Willard by Gary Moon
Over the past few weeks, I have not been released from a burden to pray for the Church, especially in America. At the beginning of this year, the Lord spoke to me about a window of opportunity for the American Church to truly repent. That window is closing. Will we repent? Continue reading “Worthwhile (and necessary) reading”
There are times when I deeply treasure being able to slowly walk through a paragraph or even a portion of a paragraph and feast on the beauty of the meaning. My current reading affords me that. Continue reading “The church isn’t some alternative universe”
When it comes to church work, a mantra I’ve heard for decades has been, “It’s easier to birth a baby than raise the dead.” Just plant a church.
True.
But resurrection? That’s God.
I’ve walked through resurrection. I’ve also planted a church. The biggest moment of awe I’ve had?
Resurrection.
It was God. ALL God.
Every human idealized image that is brought into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be broken up so that genuine community can survive. Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial…
