Across Church Street
It would be just like him
The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.
It would be just like him to go to the cross. The God of the Bible is a gathering God. A difference-crossing God. A forgiving, cleansing, and reconciling God. A friend-making God. A healing, restoring, and sanctifying God. The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. (Heb. 1:3)
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
All of a Piece
A Church that works for integrity under God and with him.
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. — Matthew 12:30
Sanctification. Restoration. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Invitation. Welcome. Redemption. Jubilee. Repentance. Evangelism. Rectification. Healing. Repair. Defragmentation. Reconstruction. Exorcism. Communion.
These are wholeness words that, themselves, are squares in a ministry quilt.
Whataboutism
Emphasizing proximity and trust.
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ⏤ Luke 18:11
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ⏤ 1 Timothy 1:15
Will I be like the Pharisee who excuses himself? Who exchanges God's grace for his own? Or will I be like Paul, who owns his distance from the Father and trusts Jesus for reconciliation?
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- poverty & mercy
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- imagination & creativity
- technology & AI
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
- love
I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.