“God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable” ~Shane Claiborne. It happens throughout Scripture. I’ve learned this firsthand. I was comfortable in ministry in a beautiful city, with a loving congregation, when suddenly God said, “It’s time to go.” It didn’t surprise me, because in my suburban comfort, I increasingly felt uneasy as I grew … Continue reading Embracing Discomfort
A church on mission is forward-thinking. Though it is respectful of the history and traditions that have been created behind it, it always looks to the future with great anticipation. It’s like hiking a high mountain; there are various campsites on the way up, but the goal is to reach the summit. We must move … Continue reading Mission Of Love
Church is a Verb! The call of Christ is not passive. It’s active. It includes becoming a visible expression of God in the world. It consists of a group of people called to participate in God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Jesus calls his followers to a life of sacrificial service. Being the Body of Christ … Continue reading Church Is A Verb
About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to … Continue reading Without Vision People Perish
Jesus is here. God is present. In all the confusion, in all the messy situations, in all of life’s painful circumstances… God is near. Too often we proceed with business as usual without recognizing the presence of God. The scripture declares that where two or three gather in the name of Jesus, he is there … Continue reading Experience His Presence
People are happy to follow Jesus as long as it doesn’t require any significant changes or have any negative implications. People love comfort. For many Jesus only brings additional security to an already comfortable life. Sorry to say, but that’s poor theology. It’s not what our relationship with God should look like. Get this in … Continue reading Uncomfortably Following
It’s more than a building or an hour on the weekend. The church is you and me. People who intentionally gather in community for the purpose of following to Christ. Life happens, and what happens on the journey is what’s truly inspiring. Jesus established the church as a place for people to journey together, and … Continue reading I Love The Church
Walk by faith, not by sight… easier said that done, right? God recently called me to move by faith halfway across the country. He called me to move away from all I knew to be familiar, all I was comfortable with, and all that I loved. Moving by faith is when you don’t know exactly … Continue reading Start Walking
The quality of a church’s leadership is directly linked to the quality of a church’s discipleship. If we fail in making Christ-like disciples, we should not be surprised if we fail to make effective leaders. Anyone who makes a commitment to follow Jesus must also be willing to invest in making more disciples that impact … Continue reading Membership Or Discipleship
Many people express fear and anxiety over presidential elections. At times it seems like even people of faith are more Republican or Democrat than they are Christian. As Christ-followers, we must guard against fear and worry. Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let … Continue reading Elephant, Donkey, Or Lamb
