Spaces of Change

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⏤ Philippians 1:4-6

I can remember seasons of big shifts in my spiritual understanding: the mid-1970s, the mid-1980s, the 2010s, and especially these past three years. Each shift has brought me into bigger spaces, not smaller.

Offered & Given

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ⏤ John 3:16

God so loved the world that he gave. The Greek word for 'gave' can also be translated as 'offered.' These two English words are so similar and related. The difference is what happens with the gift. For a gift to be given, it has to be received. Otherwise, it's only been offered. God offers grace in many forms. Will we take hold?

Not Making Pretzels

I was trained as a chemical engineer. I learned how to take consistent raw materials and run them through a consistent process under consistent conditions to make a consistent product. This is how pretzels are formed from flour, salt, leaven, and water. But it's not how people and churches are formed. Instead, watch how leaders lead when conditions are wildly variable and people are so diverse. Look for signs of trust, affiliation, curiosity, and attention. Listen to the stories.