CHANGE, CHANGE, AND MORE CHANGE

Much of the church in the U.S., including my own, needs change, change, and more change.  Even a quick glance at what is happening around and among us should be enough to convince us that the church simply must change.  In the U.S., most denominations are in decline and some of them must “pull up” …

How Lent Leads to Kingdom Blessing

The Kingdom that begins with Lent leads us to blessing.  There is the call to turn—repent!—which is Lent.  There then comes a pronouncement: “Blessed!”  Consider how stunning this is. When Jesus begins to teach about the Kingdom of God, the first word is “Blessed!”  This is not what we expected, not from God almighty in …

Why and How Jesus’ Kingdom Requires “Lent”

What kind of a kingdom begins with Lent?  Well, a good and godly one.  In fact, the gospel story begins with Jesus announcing the presence of God’s kingdom, and then proposing our proper response in “Lenten terms.”  “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced.  “The kingdom of God is near!  Repent …

Renewal is NOT a Missional Work-Around

Spiritual renewal requires followers of Jesus to be shaped (or “discipled”) into the KIND of people who become agents of God’s renewal.  IF renewal happens, it normally happens first to them and then through them to and for others. It is common for us to read the remarkable report on Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2) and …

WHEN EXILES SING ZION’S SONG

Earthquakes, coup d’état, and plague convert citizens into refugees, and homeland into exile, as has happened last week in Haiti and Afghanistan.  Against such painful backdrop, the People of God in Jesus Messiah have a song to sing that offers hope from a deeper and wider story.  Consider how. The ancient people of God experienced …