Inside Out People

Thanks to all who participated in our book discussion, and yes, that includes even those of you who read but are for whatever reason shy and predisposed not to comment.

I trust that in wrestling through the issues we have gained a better understanding of who God is, who we are, and why each of us might be here, now, with our unique set of gifts and passions and experiences and relationships and hopes and dreams and fears and all of that. I hope we’re becoming more and more convinced every day that in creating us and placing us where we are at this precise moment in(…)

I got the idea for this blog from a few of you, who suggested I host a book discussion club online by choosing a book that we’ll read together and then I’ll blog about it, since reading and writing are two of the things I happen to be able to do with a certain degree of regularity (arithmetic not being a third one). Once I have read the chapter and have composed some of my ideas, any and all of you can respond, multiple times if you want, and we can all learn and grow together.

The hope is that if(…)

Part of it is because of the song I mentioned earlier. That is a big part of it, actually. It is people who are being changed on the inside and are then turned inside out for the glory of God and the good of everyone else. It is people who are about justice and praise, together, hand in hand, in one big Kingdom embrace.

But it also takes into account this growing hunch I have had for a couple of years that if we are truly serious about glorifying God and growing in our relationship with him and sharing his love(…)

“Let justice and praise become my embrace, to love you from the inside out.”

What do we mean when we sing those words on any given Tuesday night? What does it really mean to love God from the inside out? And what does it mean for justice and praise to be our embrace? What would that really look like? What would have to change? What would it mean for our community, our city, our world? For the Kingdom? How would it change the way we relate to God?

I’d imagine most of us have never considered those questions in any detail. And(…)