Discipleship, Community, and The Kingdom of Heaven

Have you ever thought what a marvelous thing it is for God to bring a diverse group of people together to unify them as a body only to wonder how that diversity does not break itself apart? The last few years have seen a lot of division both within communities of faith and in the larger culture. It feels like unity is an impossible dream. Is there a shared story that can hold both diversity and unity? I often feel misunderstood or that I am often among people who are…

Rethinking Charity

I recently had a conversation with a friend who is passionate about helping needy kids in our community. My friend began to explain that the kids he is helping often come from families that have been in need for generations. Some of these families are homeless and the need seems insurmountable. In reflection about how best to help these families, he reflected that many of the adults seemed to not want to get themselves out of poverty. It was easier to work the government handout and charitable systems and they…