Story Matters

This evening we are hosting a conversation at the Mustard Seed House with satirical author Becky Garrison.  She will be discussing her book Jesus Died for This? which is an interesting blend of her personal story, worldwide pilgrimage and struggles intermingled with reflections on faith.  I am really looking forward to hearing more of her stories [...]

Immigration Reform – Yes, No, Don’t Care

Last week a group of my friends participated in a synchroblog on Immigration Reform.  I would have loved to be a part of the conversation but was in Chicago for the week & was not able to take the time.  However the issue has been much on my mind as it was one of the [...]

Internet Community – Is It Possible? post by Lynne Baab

This morning’s post comes from Lynne M. Baab. She is the author of numerous books, most recently Reaching Out in a Networked World, which considers the ways congregations can express their identity and values in an online world. She has also written several books and Bible study guides on spiritual disciplines, including Sabbath Keeping and [...]

Freedom, Redemption & Recycling in the Prison System – Is this the Kingdom of God?

This is a beautiful story of redemption that to me gives us a glimpse of the kingdom… even though it is outside the church and outside what of us would think of as God’s activity Sustainability is a logical goal at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, the Wilsonville prison that houses Oregon’s entire population of female [...]

The Kingdom is Near: Gender Equality is so Pretty

The following post for The Kingdom is Here: Where Do You See it synchroblog comes from Kathy Escobar who works at a small church in Colorado called The Refuge.  described as an eclectic faith community, all equal, love jesus, pretty messed up, lead, follow, laugh, cry, serve, co-pastors, stories of brokenness and healing, smoker friendly, [...]

Farmers’ Markets Popping Up Everywhere

I have blogged before about my belief that the growth of community gardens around the country and the growing concern about regional sustainability is a move of God.  I also think that God is involved in the concurrent rapid growth of Farmers markets which not only encourage regional sustainability but also enable us to once [...]

The Kingdom is Like – A Virus Worth Spreading

This morning’s post comes from JR Woodward who describes himself as a dream awakener and co-founder of Kairos Los Angeles, a network of neighborhood churches in the Los Angeles area. He serves on the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council as well as on the board for the Ecclesia Network and GCM. He founded [nlcf] a church at Virginia Tech, and The [...]

The Kingdom is Here – Too Busy to Write About It

Those of you who planned to follow the series The Kingdom is Here – Where Do You See It? have probably noticed that posts have been few and far between over the last few weeks.  It seems that everyone has been off enjoying summer (at least in the northern hemisphere) and glimpses of the kingdom [...]

What Do We Do When There are No Simple Solutions?

Yesterday I got together with a pastor friend who is feeling discouraged and overwhelmed by the extent of the gulf oil spill and his inability to respond.  He is in the midst of teaching a series of sermons on a Christian response to the environment and confessed that he is feeling discouraged because the problem [...]

Memories of a Slower World

I finally feel as though my body and my brain have reunited here in Seattle.  Getting over jetlag is always worse coming West because our body clocks can only readjust in one direction – a little like the old digital clock we have in our bedroom which also only resets by scrolling numbers forward. Over [...]