Life Made Manifest

White Dogwood tree with a Pink Dogwood branch grafted in.
Stories

It's A Marvel

One particular Dogwood tree became a metaphor for my acceptance in a small town. It's a metaphor for the Life-Vine we have been grafted into. And it's a metaphor for the continuing work of Jesus's Church in the world. Friendship across difference.

Hania Rani at the piano.
Observations

Practicing Our Scales

Just imagine if our walk with Christ ⏤ representing his kingdom in the world ⏤ were as practiced and pure as Hania Rani’s fingers on the piano keys.

A multicolored glass bowl.
Observations

What's In The Bowl?

During a spring trip, my wife and I purchased a glass bowl. It's colorful and handmade. When I turn the bowl upside down, nothing falls out. Does that make it empty?

A squirrel scrambling across a street in front of oncoming traffic.

Like A Squirrel

Could we be so secure in God's love for us, so clear-eyed about how little we know for certain, and so committed to shalom, that fear and division would be overwhelmed by curiosity and the possibility of friendship?

Rick Shafer Observations
Helpless and harassed sheep

A Friend Of Sheep

With readiness and care, good pastors work with God to maintain and enlarge a meadow of shalom in the midst of chaos and division; an embassy of eternal life along the edges of a broken culture.

Rick Shafer Observations
A Little Manual for Knowing, by Esther Lightcap Meek

A Little Manual for Knowing

If eternal life is knowing the only true God and the Son, then what does it mean to know? The question led to a book recommendation made by Makoto Fujimura, an acclaimed artist, writer, and speaker. The book is A Little Manual for Knowing, by Esther Lightcap Meek.

Rick Shafer Resources
White Dogwood tree with a Pink Dogwood branch grafted in.
Featured

It's A Marvel

One particular Dogwood tree became a metaphor for my acceptance in a small town. It's a metaphor for the Life-Vine we have been grafted into. And it's a metaphor for the continuing work of Jesus's Church in the world. Friendship across difference.

Rick Shafer Stories
A path in a verdant forest.

The Loop

The life of believers is an endless loop of gathering, including, and thriving as a holy, called-out community.

Rick Shafer Passages
A modernist depiction of a futuristic city.

Mannapolis

Mannapolis™ is a little-bit-silly-made-up name for the Kingdom of God— the seat of 'with Christ' culture. The name's parts, manna and polis, illustrate three features of God’s kingdom.

Rick Shafer Passages
A multicolored glass bowl.
Featured

What's In The Bowl?

During a spring trip, my wife and I purchased a glass bowl. It's colorful and handmade. When I turn the bowl upside down, nothing falls out. Does that make it empty?

Rick Shafer Observations