Loading...

Hungry for Redemption: thoughts on redemption part one

“Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning and is coming back tomorrow.” – Martin Luther I was overwhelmed in my time with the Lord this morning. From thinking of the devastating events in Japan, to the tensions found in ministry, and even the annoyance of financial situations, the prayer uttered was “Jesus I need you.” From big to small - things are just tough. Will the Church step up? Will it pray? Will it fast? Will it go and give, not only aid but also rehabilitation and development? Will we merely go and do what it takes to sleep better at night, or will we do what it takes for them to sleep better [...]

By |2014-08-26T03:11:16+00:00March 15th, 2011|Uncategorized|

Learning how to serve like Jesus and not an elephant

I’m learning how to serve. I believe the western church needs to learn how to serve. As the ministry that we work for is getting ready for summer work teams to come out, I am helping to prepare training materials for hosting those groups. As I reminisce of experiences of different groups, I have to admit, some memories make my stomach turn. One short-term mission group that was in Seattle after spending time on the Yakima reservation was approached by a homeless man begging for money, and one of the leaders grilled him in a way that really tore at his dignity. Or there was a group that came to the rez and one of the [...]

By |2014-08-26T03:08:39+00:00February 22nd, 2011|Uncategorized|

Life together: telling it like it is

As I was finishing up my sociology degree, I started to compile a number of books that I wanted to read as 'fun.' However, most of the books that I compiled were books that I've read before. One of these dusty collections of awe-inspiring devotion to Christ were the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I have, time and time again, read The Cost of Discipleship, but this time around with new passion to understand him from the stance of his significance to society (including the society of the Church), I began to delve into his thought starting with his work on community: Life Together (1954). As I slowly gnawed on this five chapter work, I started to [...]

By |2014-08-26T03:07:21+00:00January 2nd, 2011|Bonhoeffer, Jesus Shaped Community|

Storms and kicking at the darkness until it bleeds daylight: a meditation on victorious suffering

We are treasured, and our message is that the poor, weak, and marginalized are treasured in the heart of God.In sensationalistic western Christianity we often undervalue the grit of victorious living (as opposed to the glamour). I realize that that statement butts against idealistic prosperity Gospel, but at the same time is not intended to fuel poverty mentality. The reality is that we are persecuted, but not abandoned. We are struck down but not destroyed. The dangerous kind of Christian is, as my friend Graeme the Buechner-esque ragamuffin put it, “someone who is potent for the purposes of God – being that they are those who will not settle for anything less than the ministry of [...]

By |2014-08-18T22:34:45+00:00September 24th, 2010|Abandonment, The Dangerous Kind|
Go to Top