Reign

It's been a while since I've posted.  I'm on Facebook now, which is helping me to micro-blog via status updates, photo uploads, etc.  So, this one is falling away.

I think I'll save this blog for long posts, or stream of consciousness blogging.

Our Sunday gatherings this month have been wonderful, milestone-type celebrations.  We've had seven families visit us for the first time, including two musicians who played for us yesterday.  Pitch perfect I might add.  Just the right addition for my talk on worship and God as King.

This is the most often I've ever had to preach.  I've actually wondered how people do it every week (still do).  But, I've found a secret that has helped me develop what I think is some of the best communicating that I've ever done:  I'm speaking to myself.

Basically, my sermons are just allowing the crowd to listen in on the thoughts and discussions that I've been having with God over the text.  The points where Scripture is intersecting my life, my worries or fears, the things that make me excited or happy, all of that is just packaged in a "sermon."  

So, lately I've been pondering the reign of God in my life and what that means for the church.  The basic thought?  Jesus is Lord and Caesar isn't.  Neither is money or stuff or politics or "free-time" or anything else.  And that's freedom.