A question of DNA

A question of DNA

There’s a huge joke at my house. My oldest son, Ben, at twenty-one, stands six-one and has blond hair, blue eyes, and a passionate approach to life. If you look at college pictures of me thirty years ago, the resemblance is uncanny! My other three children love to tell Ben that he is me–that he looks like me, talks like me, and resembles me in so many ways. He’s even loud! He walks loud, talks loud, and lives loud. He’s me and my other kids love to point this out because they know how it gets under their big brother’s skin. In...Read more …
In celebration

In celebration

I found myself in downtown Chicago in a public aid clinic–again–because little Ella needed to have another oral surgery. She’s not my daughter–she’s the daughter of my friend, Beatrice, a refugee from East Africa who has been resettled here in the U.S. for about 6 years now. Beatrice came here with her two daughters and was pregnant with baby Ella at the time. I’ve gotten to know this little family pretty well over the last couple of years and more recently, I find that our lives are becoming increasingly connected. I don’t know. I’ve just felt a nudge that in this time, in this...Read more …
A twilight zone of our own

A twilight zone of our own

Each episode of the old TV show The Twilight Zone began the same way: You are about to embark on a journey–a journey through sight and sound, into another dimension, The Twilight Zone. The music would play and we’d sit, mesmerized, by some very strange things. Today, many Christians feel like they’re in a “twilight zone” of their own: The Post-Christian Zone. And to many of us it feels like a very strange place: The morals and standards that we once assumed are now in question. The Church as we know it is being pushed further and further to the edge. Today, there...Read more …
Quick to listen?

Quick to listen?

I think listening comes easier for some of us than it does for others.  I’m not naturally a good listener; I’m a talker. But that doesn’t let me off the hook. I still need to be a good listener—and so do you. James 1:19 says: “My dear brothers (and sisters), take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak . . .” But what is it about listening that makes it so important? The benefits of listening  Well, for one thing, when we’re good listeners, we show compassion and concern for others. We make them feel special. We practice Philippians 2:3-4 which says “....Read more …
Microwaves vs. crock-pots

Microwaves vs. crock-pots

As I travel, speaking to churches to help them become better at making disciples who make disciples, I’ve discovered something consistent: We really don’t know how to move in a way that starts small, grows slowly, and builds deep. And regarding discipleship, for the most part I find that churches are so “into” their weekend worship experiences and big events that they rarely get around to encouraging the simplicity and intentionality of people walking alongside people. But isn’t that actually what Jesus did? Now, I’m not down on weekend worship or great events, but alone, they will simply not create disciples who...Read more …
Something all of us can offer

Something all of us can offer

Be good to each other. Today on my subway ride into work, a man burst through the doors connecting the trains and announced “This is it–I’m going to end it!” and exited as quickly as he came in. I looked to the door, and through the window, I could see him climbing the chains connecting the cars. I screamed, “He’s going to Jump!” I ran to the doors, pulled them open and grabbed on to the back of his shirt, “Don’t do this,” I pleaded, “You can’t do this.” I pulled on his white t-shirt and got him to come...Read more …
After Charlottesville: the WHOLE Gospel

After Charlottesville: the WHOLE Gospel

This Facebook post of Christ-follower, husband, father, pastor, humanitarian, activist, and author of Overrated, Eugene Cho, was shared over 3,000 times in the wake of the horror in Charlottesville that occurred over the weekend: Charlottesville. So heartbreaking and infuriating. We weep and mourn over the hatred in the hearts of these white nationalists. We weep and mourn but we can’t give up . . .  . . . I’m reminded of the utter importance of showing up. I’m grateful for the news media, law enforcement, clergy, and peaceful protesters that are currently there to report, protect, pray, and protest. And this is...Read more …
What if we started with prayer?

What if we started with prayer?

Here’s a radio-minute that aired nationally this week on Q Place’s Walk the Way: This is Walk the Way. Brought to you by Q Place. I’m Jeff Klein. When it comes to sharing our faith and reaching out to the people in our lives who don’t know Jesus like we do, often the Church’s default is to try to figure out our next program or event that we hope will “crack the code” and get people into our buildings where they will hear the gospel. I wonder if we get ahead of ourselves. What if we began with prayer? What if you and...Read more …
Could your church actually become a life-saving station?

Could your church actually become a life-saving station?

In 1953, the Rev. Dr. Theodore O. Wedel, a canon of the National Cathedral and one-time President of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church, wrote the following parable. Though written over 60 years ago, is it possible that there is even more truth in it today? On a dangerous sea coast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, went out day and night tirelessly searching...Read more …
More thoughts on creating a missional culture in your church

More thoughts on creating a missional culture in your church

Earlier this summer, On Q published a blog that took a look at the important first step in creating a missional culture in any church: face the facts. Although it can be hard to take an honest look at your church’s missional culture, there’s a very good chance that doing so will be the key to jumpstarting important changes and shifts in your church’s mindset and ministry. The first step in building a missional culture in any church is to be strong and courageous—you must set aside the fear of being honest with yourself and your congregation. Soon after that, we looked at another step that any church could take in order to...Read more …