we be outta here

vacation time w/ the wife and kids. peace out.

early morning

a neighbor's house alarm woke me up at 5:30 because apparently their cat set it off and they didn't know how to turn it off. yet another reason to dislike cats, i've never been a fan.

its Sunday morning and the TV preachers are all over the television. it all makes me nauseated. what a production. they come off as pompous and arrogant, i just don't get it. speaking in cliches, utilizing theatrics, more entertainment than substance. apparently in america, TV christianity has its own sub-culture of hollywood celebrities, movies and music. In the words of Bono, "I'm a Christian, but I feel very removed from Chrisitianity." I would say I'm embarassed because its a joke, but I don't even think we belong to the same faith.

we leave for vacation on Friday, I'm just counting the days.

peace and hope you got more sleep,

when God speaks

Every once in a while, if I get quiet enough, I can hear the whisper of God. Its always a mixed bag of reactions from me. Today, just driving a 30 mile trip between Dayton and Cincinnati, I hear the voice and a myriad of things begin to happen.

1) I'm absolutely floored that the One who is orchestrating the universe is taking time for me. By definition, that makes me valuable because He is ascribing value to me. For a kid from a divorced home who always thought he had to "achieve" something to be valuable, I get overwhelmed by this reality. I am His son, and I matter to Him. un-freakin'-believable.

2) The overwhelming realization that I'm not worthy. There is sin that must be confessed, failures of selfish living that don't measure up to the Kingdom reality. His presence is Holy, and I realize quickly that I am not.

3) He reveals the blessings in my life, particularly relationships. People I am in community with and I just begin to pray for them. My physical family, my spiritual families (OCC and Elpida), the people in my contexts day in and day out. I realize how much affection is in me for these people. I long for them to be blessed by God.

4) Then comes some sort of challenge. I hear Him say, "Chris, do you want to go all the way w/ this?" What does He mean? What is His point? The Spirit reveals and its all about the Kingdom now and the spiritual war we find ourself in. I miss Palmer, I miss Chad and I long for more Kingdom. I want their legacy to live on. I want to see and experience the spontaneous expansion of the Church into the broken places of our earth. I want those outside of Kingdom community to come inside and beging to experience the Truth of their existence. I dream of more, much more. More for me and the world I live in. In every sense, I want to see His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

5) With a challenge comes responsibility. To go all the way, will I deny myself more? To be more humble, am I willing to be humiliated? To dream long-term, will I be disciplined in the short-term? Will I make my life not about myself, but about Him and my neigbor? Those are the questions my life has to answer.

When God speaks, creative things happen. I want to be a part of that Creation.

peace,

i've been a bad blogger

I've been a bad blogger, not doing well to report or give views on stuff that's happenin'. Safe to say a lot has been happening and its mostly good stuff. Had dinner last night with K-Rains and Jim Henderson of the Off-the-Map empire. Its so good to hear OTM doing so well and Jim having the conversations he is so passionate about creating. He is changing people's minds about evangelism, little by little, its good stuff. Rains and I will be at the next OTM event in Seattle November 3-4 to stir up some trouble (i.e. teach a workshop)and perhaps be in on a forum with Georga Barna, Brian McLaren and a couple other folk in the emerging church world. We'll see what works out but should be a good time nonetheless.

Our house church has begun reading McLaren's "The Secret Message of Jesus" one chapter a week to discuss and I just really like Brian's writing. Its a very easy read but gives a basic overview of a Kingdom theology. I think its perfect for a community discussion format. This week is ch. 2 and the Political Message of Jesus.

I've become convinced that although Jesus' message was personal, it was not private. . . (Jesus) challenges every existing political movement to a radical rethinking and dares everyone to imagine and consider his revolutionary alternative. What is that alternative? It is to see, seek, receive, and enter into a new political and social and spiritual reality he calls the kingdom (or empire) of God, or the kingdom (or empire) of heaven. . . And you find your identity - your citizenship - not in Rome but rather in a spiritual realm, in the presence of God. . .

You won't nestle snugly into the status quo, but you'll seek to undermine the way things are to welcome the way things coud and should be.

So with July 4th right aroung the corner, when was the last time you considered the political message of Jesus?
Am I thankful to live in and raise my family in America? Yes.
Do I pay my taxes and vote? Yes.
Do I support the troops even while I disagree with the war policy? Yes.
Do I pledge allegiance to a flag? No. I swear singular allegiance to the King and cannot bow to a man-made idol.
Do I agree with the American policy in Israel (or for that matter the American evangelical church's view)? No! I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the freedom for the Palestinian people and an end to the hatred and dehmunaization that causes terrorism.
What am I working on to be more true to my beliefs? Living more simply, eliminating all debt in my finances so that I am not a slave to this world's system. With that freedom, I can give more freely and affect change in causes Jesus cares about. (of course its not mutually exclusive, I'm just saying I could do more w/out debt)

I hardly ever talk politics, and I know its always a lightning rod, but I thought I would leak out a few of my views for folk to hit me back with.

In all things, in agreement or disagreement, peace of Christ unto you,

Father's Day came early

My wife allowed me to go out w/ 2 of my good friends tonight and it was just what the doctor ordered. Joe Long, Craig Spinks and myself ate dinner and talked around an outdoor table at an English Pub in Northern Kentucky for about 4 hours and it was a great time. Its so good to have friends that can seamlessly talk about work, music, movies, families, church issues and the larger themes of the Kingdom of God all w/out skipping a beat. I have been going out on these kinds of nights with these guys and others for about the past 6 years every so often and they always leave me appreciating such good guys to hang around with and generally give each other a hard time.

One of our topics was now that we have discovered how to become the people of God organized in small communities, how can we now get this message out to those around us that are living outside of the Kingdom message? I am as burdened today as I have ever been about not letting this be a secret. We don't want to build structures and systems that require unlimited amounts of resources (time/people/money) to maintain and become the tail that wags the dog. But . . . we're also not okay with keeping private such a freedom giving message as Jesus' invitation to the Kingdom is. We want people to know it and experience it and we're not sure we're doing a great job at that. Its a question we want to continue to wrestle with. In some ways, we're doing a lot better than we ever have been, and in other ways we want to do more. It was just really good to talk about it at length w/ a couple bros.

Thanks to my wife for blessing me with a night out w/ the boyz, it scratched me where I itched. It was a Father's Day present come early.

peace,

Achilles update

Jan. 29 - went down in pain as my achilles had a complete rupture

Feb. 2 - Achilles repair surgery

Feb. 7 - diagnosed with blood clot in leg

Early April - walking cast came off

Early April - began swimming, biking and elliptical training in gym

End of May - began light treadmill training

June 15 - ran outside on track (1.5 mile jog, 10 40 yard sprints)

Am now back running outside, begin training for Fall races.

Nov. 4 - Will run the Mason Mini-Marathon 15k (9.3 miles)

Nov. 23 - Will run the Thanksgiving Day 10K downtown (6.2 miles)

Am going into 4 months of training. I want to run like a monk. Slow, deliberate, focused, on mission.

On November 4th, when I cross that finish line, I will proclaim a full recovery.

Until then, I train my body and mind.

As always, I'm running for Palmer.

peace to whatever your training to do,

On suffering

A very dear friend is entering into a painful place and suffering is at her door. I would do anything to keep her heart from breaking, but I know its not my place. She emailed me some questions and this was my response in reflection today. Thought I would blog a bit of it.

I have had a year where suffering has had to be my friend. I lost my niece, 2 of my best friends and suffered a debilitating injury. I have spent many nights
asking "why?"

Here is what I know, God has set up the world in such a way as to give us
choice. All of our choices have consequence, positive or negative. Sometimes
those consequences cause suffering to the individual and the community living
around them. Some of the suffering we go through is a result of our wrong
choices, some is the result of Adam and Eve's wrong choice which created a
fallen world. A life with God is not w/out suffering. Abraham suffered, Moses
suffered, David suffered, the prophets suffered, the apostles suffered and Jesus
suffered. The difference is that suffering is not our end, but a temporary
reality. And that we have access to strength while we suffer. We get our
strength from God himself, and God working through others.

God's will is that we make choices that honor Him and obey his teachings. When
we don't, suffering usually is the result whether great or small. Jesus created
a way for us not have to suffer eternally for our choices, he took on our
suffering on the cross. However, the suffering we have in this life is actually
a means to grow deeper in Christ and become more mature in His Kingdom. That
depends on how we face our suffering. Will we run from it and avoid it? Or
will we have the courage to walk through it, no matter how painful it is? Those
are very big questions. You have an opportunity to hold the hands of those
around you and walk with them through this desert. Face the pain and believe
that healing is on the other side.

I hate suffering but the Kingdom even Now is not without it.

peace,

My Top 5 books (not called the Bible)

I was doing some teaching from Henri Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus" this weekend and it made me think about my top 5 books. I'm sure I'll leave something out, but here it is off the top of my head:

1) Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard
2) Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
3) The Challenge of Jesus, N.T. Wright
4) In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen
5) The Way, E. Stanley Jones

Man, as I write that, I have 12 other books just floating in my head. Now that I've been back exercising/lifting 3-5 times a week, I want to tackle my next discipline. I have not been a good reader this past year and my bookshelves are loaded with great books that need to be read or re-read. Bean has recently supplied me with a few new ones to chew on as well. I'm trying to moderate the T.V. in lieu of more reading. Its hard being a teacher, because the moment I read something inspiring, I want to start teaching it, instead of reading more. I love good books, but my passion gets in the way of me actually finishing them.

Going down to the ole' ballyard tonight since its my fault that the moment I blogged on the Reds, they lost 3 in a row. Time to get the train back on the right track.

peace,

Reds are Alive and Kicking

Warning: Sports blog, discontinue reading for anything meaningful.

Reds have won 9 in a row and are in 1st place here in mid-June. They were picked by most to be come in last in their division but the new ownershp has changed everything. This time last year everybody was talking Bengals, now that conversation has been put off until August or so. Its been a long time since we had real confidence in a Reds team. The trades for Bronson Arroyo and Brandon Philips have turned out genius. I'm hoping to get down to a game here in the next few days. I have only been to 3 so far this year, I'm in a slump :)

Pitching, defense, power and speed is a great formula for a long run to the playoffs. Its fun to be a Reds fan again.

peace,

Happy Anniversary Nicole!

Yesterday was our 13 year anniversary, I was able to take the day off and then we went out last night to dinner, movie, coffee and dessert. The CCS Senior class gave me a card on my last day there back in mid-March and it was stuffed w/ cash for a night out w/ my wife, so we used it last night. Thank you, Seniors!

Nicki and I reflected last night on our 13 year journey together and we've been through a lot of wars, transitioned or started a few ministries, and made incredible friendships. Have I ever told you about my wife? She's pretty amazing. Works extremely hard at being a Mom, administrates OCC, keeps me organized, serves her friends, manages our finances, supports her family and plays a very mean and physical defense as a soccer fullback. Nicki has brought so much healing to my heart and soul, she was the stability I never had and it has allowed me to become the leader I always wanted to be. Oh yeah, and she's turning 33 next week and is smokin' hot. I'm a very big fan of hers ;)

We saw the movie "Break up" last night w/ Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Anniston. Its actually more of a drama than a comedy, pretty stressful and realistic relational tension in this movie. It made me think of the many relationships out there, particularly marital ones, that are hurting. Where intimacy is not shared because there is such pain and mistrust between the 2 parties. If that is you, I can only say to pursue the dream of what you always wanted your marriage to be. Open your heart to the pain and walk through it w/ the one your comitted to. Our whole culture functions better and lives are more full when marriages in our communities are healthy. Keep the dream alive and pay the price to walk through the tensions.

peace,

rainy dayz and missin' my boyz

I'm not sure why it hit me, but as I left the YMCA this morning after my workout, I ran to my car in the pouring rain and all of the sudden sadness came over me. I began to just miss Palmer and Chad. I put on some Deathcab for Cutie on the iPod and listened to it all morning getting ready for work. Sorrow and rain just go together. I feel guilty that I am with my family this day and my boyz are without theirs. Maybe a better way of saying it is that their families are without them since Chad and Palmer probably aren't missing anything at all. Depending on your theology, they are either reigning with Jesus now or sleeping until the Resurrection of the dead. But I'm missing them, as I know their families are. Specifically, I want to call Palmer and just update our lives together. I want to plan with him the next time we all meet at the Brownhouse. I miss that. I want to read Chad's blog and hear him describe the next beautiful thing he wants to create. I want to walk into Barnes and Noble and see him already there, drinking coffee, reading a book waiting for the rest of us fight club boyz who are late. I'm missing my boyz today, it hurts.

CCS has graciously allowed me to give a couple minutes of closing remarks at graduation this Sunday, as well as the benediction. I have been thinking for 2 weeks of what I want to say to the seniors whom I have journeyed with for the past 4 years. But not til this morning did I ask, "Lord, what do you want to say?" There are a lot of questions in life, but only some of them are important.

To the Canipes, Amy, Micah and the LP community, you are never far from my thoughts. Kingdom Now.

peace,

Community-Fest weekend

It was a FULL weekend. OCC bbq on Friday night. Mini-elpida gathering on Saturday afternoon, evening and late, late night. (Beans, Johnsons, Palmers, Bishops, Marshalls, Klinefelters). The Bishops stayed the weekend and Amy and Micah Palmer stayed a night. OCC leadership gathering on Sunday morning and Student House Church on Sunday evening. Nicki and I are exhausted with all the preppin' and cleanin' but we love it. So blessed to have amazing spiritual family all around us.

Bean brought me a couple of book requests (send me the invoice please, Beanius) and I'm kind of excited to read them:

"Simply Christian: Why Christianity makes sense" by N.T. Wright

and

"The Secret Message of Jesus" by Brian McLaren. Here's a quote from McLaren:

“Jesus forms a movement of people who trust him and believe his message. They believe that they don’t have to wait for this or that to happen, but rather that they can begin living in a new and better way now, a way of life Jesus conveys by the pregnant phrase kingdom of God. Life for them now is about an interactive relationship – reconciled to God, reconciled to one another – and so they see their entire lives as opportunity to make the beautiful music of God’s kingdom so that more and more people will be drawn into it, and so that the world will be changed by their growing influence. ”

That's what I'm talking about, Brian.

peace,

DaVinci . . . Da whattie?

the whole DaVinci code thing has been hyped and debated ad nausea. I never read the book, my wife did, and she liked it as literature.

being the scholar that I am, I just went and saw the movie and skipped the book. As a movie, I give it like a 6.5 on a scale of 10. Entertaining, interesting, but it had like 6 endings and left me wanting to leave after ending #3. By far my favorite character was Silas, the aesthetic albino monk. He was GREAT!! A total religious freak, loyal to the end, only to be used and betrayed by the institution. As his heart broke with the knowledge of him being betrayed by the entity he had given his soul to, I couldn't help but relate to him.

the premise of the story is humorously fictional. Dan Brown's claims of historicity are simply controversial hype to sell tickets which makes him smart. If he really believes in the conspiracy, then it puts him in the category of dumb. That 325 A.D. and the Council of Nicea was the 1st time people had the idea of making Christ divine is laughable. But what was really humorous is that the catholic (universal) church has been operating on this cover up for a couple milleniums is comedy. So every hospital built in 3rd world countries, every mouth fed at the hand of Mother Theresa and others, every widow being cared for, every martyr slain was all under the great cover up that Jesus was just a teacher and not God resurrected. As well the notion that real freedom is in the dismantling of this cospiracy, so that men and women are free only when Jesus is not who he claimed to be. therefore, we are really all alone, we have no identity in a larger story, we lack purpose. we are but sacks of cells on the 3rd rock from the sun. this life is a breath and its meaningless. i don't buy it.

So the protests and such are just more symptoms of a church in a culture war instead of one rooted in the Gospel of Kingdom. But, no question, within our culture is a raging debate over the nature of Truth and its implications. The postmodern context prefers to explain away all absolute truths. That is heresy. The DaVinci code is fictional, but the debate over the nature of Truth is a conversation the people of God ought to be a part of. By good study, I take on faith that Jesus was Divine, sinless, crucified, died, resurrected, ascended and coming again. I take on faith and good study that the Old and New Testament Scriptures are True. It is my conviction that the Kingdom of God is the basis of all reality and everything in all Creation is sourced from it.

peace to your weekeend,

Happy Birthday OCC

This month, Ordinary Community Church turns 5 years old. Birthed out of a lot of pain and hardship, has brought passion and healing. We're really not that much, ordinary fits us. But together we are learning what it means to follow Jesus and invite others into His Kingdom experience. We are receptacles of the Divine, so the Divine lives in neighborhoods. We have birthed many children in the past 5 years and they are growing up with a different worldview of Church.

Before my wife and I decided to plant OCC, we were told: "it won't work", "you have no discipleship plan", "your theology is questionable", "we're not going to support you", "you sound angry", "shouldn't you be extra-ordinary?", "when will you launch a service?", "what programs are you going to have?", "when will you be self-supporting?", "you will have a building at some point, right?". I was personally isolated and rejected by those who were previously spiritual family, good times ;)

My favorite one is "it won't work". So much is loaded in that statement. If we can't be content with the fact "where 3 or more are gathered, there I am in the midst of them" as a church model, then we have issues. Church is not someplace you go, its a people you belong to. Our world is becoming increasingly post-Christian. If I worked as "pastor", its not an acceptable role from a missiological standpoint in culture. So that is why I work at IWU as my "tentmaking" profession in the tradition of Paul. Its not the only way to do it, its just where God has led me. Is vocational pastoring ok? Sure, just differendt sets of pros and cons my friends, and I've chosen this set.

We don't have paid staff and a building so finances are never an issue. We use our offerings to support the community gatherings and give to missional causes in our neighborhoods. I am just am not a CEO type and frankly couldn't last if I had to worry about $$ all the time. Just a choice to be more simple. The more simple I am, the more I can pay attention to people around me. I'm a better Shepherd if I'm paying attention.

5 years ago, 8 people gathered in our living room to start writing a story called Ordinary Community Church. God has written many more chapters. We have had some house churches and folk come and go. Today we have 3 house churches networked together that make up OCC. Is it working? It is bringing me to depths in Christ following that i didn't know even existed. I love it and am completely content.

I believe that Church fundamentally is a movement of Spirit. If we stay in tune with the Spirit, more chapters are going to be written that have relevance in the Kingdom of God.

Thanks OCC.

peace,

Teaching N.T.

One of the perks of my new job is that I still get to teach as adjunct faculty, which is extra $$ but I really enjoy it. Perhaps in a few years I'll be doing it full-time again, atleast that's the plan. For now, I'm actually enjoying doing academic advising.

Last night I started teaching my next 5-week New Testament Survey course with adult learners at the college level. It is always so interesting. Some are glad to be there to go deeper in their NT knowledge. Some haven't been to church in 20 years and would prefer to keep it that way. Some have never opened a Bible and are totally intimidated at the thought of having to take this course. And, well, I love the mess that kind of diversity creates. For 5 weeks, one night a week, 4 hours a night, they have to journey with me through the NT story that I find so compelling. The Story of Jesus Christ and how He revealed what the Kingdom of God is like and how we can access it.

Last night we spent about 40 minutes just reading through the Sermon on the Mount, one teaching at a time and applying it to our lives. This teaching of Jesus is purely genius for blessed living. I could see the Spirit enlightening these truths in the hearts of each of us as we discussed them. Many of the students are outsiders to Christianity and we noted how the Gospel of Luke shows a Jesus that breaks the barriers so outsiders are invited in. Jesus is passionately pursuing his missing children. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." -Luke 19:10.

I enjoy teaching N.T. I might even do it for free, but don't tell the University that :)

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you today,

For Allison Simmons (Zach's Buddy)

My friend, suffering is a part of the Kingdom that I like the least.

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Luke 6:27-31

You are a gift to our family in the way you care for Ali, Megan and Zach. You are immensely gifted with a mind, a personality and a heart that honors Christ. You are one of the many reasons why Ordinary Community Church exists.

Peace of Christ to you.

Psalm 117 (The Message)
1Praise GOD, everybody! Applaud GOD, all people!

2His love has taken over our lives;

GOD's faithful ways are eternal.

Hallelujah! al

For numerous reasons, I have found myself very thankful for the role of God in my life lately. The way his Spirit inspires me, the blessings of my family, the foundation of my spiritual community. the provision of daily bread and the tasting of a Kingdom now.

Tonight is one of the many BBQ's hosted at our home from Spring - Fall. They are regular open parties for our church community and any friends. Its a pretty simple formula: Food + Fire + Friends = Flippin' great time. (it could even categorize as official church time).

Its all about creating community in the suburbs. I know, I know . . . the "cool" emerging church folk all say that the focus should be in urban city environments and the such , but I've never been one to go with the crowd. Real, authentic Christian community can happen in the 'burbs if you plan for it and wait long enough to see it happen. Just my 2 cents.

peace,

Now is the Kingdom of Heaven (and not yet)

There, I said it. I believe that we experience the "quality" of the Kingdom of Heaven now, and someday will experience the "quantity" of the Kingdom of Heaven in its Fullness forever. Apparently some folks are criticizing me behind my back for this perceived "heresy" that I teach. Well, I don't apologize for it and its not heresy, its the whole basis of the Gospel.

The western world, evangelical idea that Heaven is only a place that we go to after we die is not at all consistent with the words of Jesus, not what he called people to. His Gospel invaded this world in the Now. A Christianity that reduces the Gospel to only going to heaven after we die is a lifeless religion. It is connected not to the Scriptures, but to a modernist worldview and a literal interpretation of all genres in the Biblical record. It is rooted in Plato's dualism, an evil physical world and a preferred spiritual world completely separated. Jesus transcended the teachings of Plato, he taught a wholistic Gospel. One where the good news of the Spiritual realm invaded the broken physical world . . . and continues to invade it even now.

John 14:8-14: "8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Jesus was the Kingdom of God, Jesus is in us, the Kingdom is already growing in us, changing us, transforming us, we are communing with Jesus already in the same quality as we will someday forever. Is this so threatening? Is this so heretical? The gospel of forgiveness of sins only, not attached to an ongoing transformation of a person in Christ is not at all consistent with the teachings of Jesus. He calls us to be followers, not only saved.

I believe that we can experience the Kingdom of Heaven Now. Atleast in part, and someday in fullness. The Kingdom of God is now and not yet.

"May your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven." -Jesus

(if this bothers you, feel free to talk to me)

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you.

waiting for a new day

This is kind of like confession, but its been like 5 days since my last blog . . . shameful, shameful. I'm pretty comitted to writing at only the times that my heart is stirring something up. When it needs to rest, I want to do that. I kind of turned a corner in my new employment this week with IWU. Getting the hang of it and settling in, overcoming the first few weeks of complete overdrive. Looking forward to summertime (no more summers off, though) to be with my family. My parents gave us a week at their timeshare in Orlando for a week in July so we'll be heading back to Universal Studios. Should be fun, but its a long road trip.

I think about Chad and Palmer everyday. Continually when I get quiet, I just miss them. Yesterday would have been my niece, Kate's 2nd birtday. She also tragically passed a couple days before Christmas. So much sadness. It really at times has just overtaken me. I find myself really counting the small stuff and not worrying so much. Life is just too short.

I just ripped this quote from Palmer off of Blinn's blog, and it is one of my favorites.

"Whisper your hope when you lie down at night; scream your hope when you wake in the morning. Live your hope as if it is the one and only thing that sustains you in this ravaged world. You will not be disappointed." -Palmer

I loved the wisdom and prophecy that came from my brother's soul. This is the stuff of life.

Chrisitianity is not a new Law, it is a Freedom and a new Life. In order to fully embrace it, you need to rebel against the desires of your flesh and the world you live in. You have to learn to live counter-cultural, you have to follow Jesus. If the world screams busy, you must live simply. If the world cries self, you must love neighbor. If the world cries more, you must learn to have less. If the world cries now, you must learn to wait patiently. If the world cries control, you must let go and trust. It is the Way of freedom. It is the Way your heart was designed to live. It is the Way of the Kingdom, and only a few find it.

So hope and life yet live in me. I am waiting for a new day. A day where we see the spontaneous expansion of the Church above and below ground. Where communities centered in Christ and on His mission in this world explode in number and depths of spirituality. I long for a day to see new trees of Elpida sprouting up on the banks of the river that flows from the Temple. Everything those trees touch bring life and healing (Ezekiel 47). Life and Healing is our rebellion as we follow Jesus. We are rooted in that River, not in this world.

We need to die to this world, if want to follow Jesus and taste the Freedom our hearts are longing for.

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you today,

still grieving

To be honest, I haven't felt like myself in at least a month. I'm tired all the time, not so much physically, but emotionally and spiritually. When I get quiet and alone, I find myself wanting to still weep over Chad and Palmer. In fact, it all just brings up deep seeded feelings of loneliness. I feel as if I've lost my center and God is somewhat silent. I'm just trying to be patient and persevere for a new day to come. I'm just not feeling very inspired towards anything right now. All I can figure is that I'm still grieving.

peace,