Tag: kingdom

The Upside Down Kingdom

As I think about Advent and Christmas this year, I continue to think about just how upside down the Kingdom of God really is and how different and upside down I hope our celebrations can become.

From St. Peter’s Brewery:

“You know, I realize this week has been rough for various folks in our group,” Matt began. “But as I was reading this weekend and then talking with Julie about random malarkey, I began to think about just how different the Kingdom of God is — compared to the kingdom of man. It’s this upside down, twisted kingdom that I don’t know if we’ll ever really wrap our minds around.”

Jimmy looked up from his plate and listened as Matt continued.

“I hope that no matter what happens politically, no matter what happens in the world around us, it can be said that I serve the king of an upside down kingdom. A kingdom where the meek shall inherit the earth, where those who morn are comforted, where the last are first, where the oppressed shall be freed. Where rather than appearing in a palace to lead his kingdom with a sword, my king came and appeared in a lowly manager — surrounded by farm animals.”

Matt continued strumming his guitar as Julie opened a Bible and began reading aloud.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are — no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat…”

As Julie finished her reading, Matt continued telling his story.

“So as I’m thinking about this upside down kingdom and reading the passage that Julie just read and it brought me hope to know that when we’re at the end of our rope, that’s when God can really go to work. And when we lose what’s really dear to us, that’s when we’ll be embraced by God. God loves us all — but I think he has a special place for those who suffer and mourn — in fact he says he will comfort them.”

Matt continued strumming his guitar as he sat looking at the various faces in the room. Jimmy tried to focus on his food again, hoping not to make eye contact with anyone else in the room.

“And so for those of you who have had your kingdom and your world collapse recently, I want to remind you that God offers a different kind of kingdom for us all,” Matt said. “And I want you each to know that not only does God suffer with you, but each of us suffer with you as well.”

You can grab a print copy of St. Peter’s Brewery from Amazon or now through Christmas, the book is available for only $.99 for both Kindle and iBooks.

Church 2.0 forum

In case you missed my Facebook, Twitter updates yesterday, I had the great privilege of taking part in Greg Atkinson’s Church 2.0 forum in Dallas.

It was a relaxed four-hour chat about technology, innovation and social justice. I loved that while there are a number of tech forums and conferences out there – Greg is doing this for the Church – for free. He’s keeping folks informed on the tools out there and helping people see how they can put them to use. And of course – these ideas work outside the Church as well.
Continue reading Church 2.0 forum

Kingdom coming

“Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin! And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.

“I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!” But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it.

(matthew 3:7b-15)

Thoughts for today

a. what does it really mean to “meditate on Scripture”?
b. do we really pray with hope?
c. Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – Matthew 9:35-38
d. what is meant by “the gospel of the kingdom”?
e. how do we see the multitudes or our culture as a whole?
f. how did Jesus show compassion?
g. how should we show compassion?

Podcasting

effective web ministry notes has an interesting entry on podcasting and its future.

I think this could be the next big thing.

How long will it be before churches begin podcasting services or Bible studies to shut-ins or people traveling?

How great would it be to be traveling with your family during the summer, take a break at a restaurant with Wi-Fi access, or even from your hotel room, and in the process download a podcast of your church’s Sunday morning service for you and your family to listen to as you continue your travel down the road.

With former MTV VJ and podcast founder Adam Curry giving podcasting a huge push and Sirius Radio giving Curry a four hour program to push podcasting — it’s coming.

How will we as Christians take advantage of it and use it to further the Kingdom of Heaven?

What other ways do you see podcasting being used to present the gospel in new relevant ways?

I’m excited and hope I can be on the frontlines.

Weekend Update

Well, the weekends over and I need a vacation to recover.

It seems like the last few weekends have been whirlwind experiences that keep coming.

I spent last weekend I had plans to visit friends and family in Dallas as well as announcing for the first CWF Comeback show in Rockwall.

I ended up doing all that, as well as attending the visitation and funeral of a friend on Saturday.
This weekend, I began a fun Friday evening with a good friend, as we planned to eat and visit the Planetarium in Killeen.

And naturally, we ran into someone I knew at dinner.

A couple from our church saw us on their way out of the restaurant and I’m sure immediately began to hear wedding bells as they saw my friend and I sitting on the bench, waiting for our table.

I guess that’s what everyone assumes when you’re single and you’re hanging out with someone of the opposite sex.

What really stinks is when you or that other person starts hearing wedding bells, while the other is hearing, “Run Forrest, run!”

But none the less, we enjoyed our evening and I was waiting anxiously to see Laser U2 at the Planetarium.

We arrived a few minutes early and were pleased to see a very small crowd would be joining us. But as the show started, we soon realized, without any sound or music, the lasers lost their attraction.

So, the show was cancelled and we were given rain checks for another show.

I emailed the Planetarium Monday morning to ask if there would be another run of the show — and maybe its my wonderful persuasive writing skills, or their over abundance of generosity, but the center agreed to run a special show for me and friends.

So, I’ll get to wait anxiously for another show at another time.

Saturday I saw Star Wars – Revenge of the Sith with my good friends Aaron and Keri Lehmann.

I don’t know if Revenge of the Sith will replace The Empire Strikes Back as my favorite installment or not, but it is my favorite of the three pre-quils.

We finished the day off with dinner at Kobe’s Steakhouse in Addison with friends and family, celebrating Kathryn’s Crappy Birthday and her brother-in-law’s Happy Birthday.

The weekend wrapped up with a whirlwind trip to Mountain Home, Arkansas for a CWF show.

We were a bit bumed before the show began. The crowd was thin, with only 20 people in attendance up until the last 10 or 15 minutes before showtime. Luckily the crowd grew to 72 by showtime — but preparing for a show with an extra small crowd is never a good feeling – especially if you’ve just driven eight hours to do so.
As the show began, we had technical difficulties with the mics and music intros (which to me is ALWAYS frustrating) but surprise, surprise, God still chose to use a bunch of guys who love ministry and wrestling, to bring 10 people into His kingdom.

It still amazes me how God can use a wrestling show to bring people into His loving, outstretched arms, but He does.

And an eight hour ride, in a van, full of goofy guys, suddenly becomes worth it all.

Even if we don’t make it back to Dallas till 6:30 a.m. on Monday, and I have to be at work (2 hours away) at 10 a.m. — it’s all worth it if just one comes to know Him.

The thrill of doing Kingdom work is amazing.

I don’t quite feel at home anywhere else. The CWF proves that God works outside of our boxes all the time.

And the angels rejoice in the salvation of 10 people, who put their trust in the Lord. And we rejoice with them.