Reunited
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⏤ 1 Pet. 4:8
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. The Church's project is to bear God's name faithfully. God is relational, as evident in the Trinity. Our work with God is to rectify brokenness, especially broken relationships. Broken trust. Sin. Relational breeches cannot just be undone. Restoration requires a gift of forgiveness. Often, many gifts of forgiveness. Possibly 70 times 7 gifts of forgiveness.
Here, Like There
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ⏤ 2 Cor. 5:20
On earth as it is in heaven. Many would have us believe that heaven is a place of escape when we die. But it's better to view heaven as the capital of another realm with a different government, a benevolent governance, and a distinctly different culture. We are its ambassadors here, representing that culture.
Inviting Invasion
Your kingdom come. God is altogether other. His kingdom is a rule of love. This kingdom comes as more and more people surrender to his rule in their work, play, relationships — all of life. That seems other. That seems like one culture invading another. With God-like, Jesus-like love, of course!
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- 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
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.