Spiritual Leadership

In the United States we are currently (although now it seems most of the time) in a political season. As we attend to those seeking the presidency, we find ourselves once again attempting to appraise who among those seeking office is truly capable of leadership as service to the nation. As we read Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees according to Luke, we can hear a stern warning about the kind of ambition in all of us that would make us poor leaders, and so, by contrast, what makes for a true leader in gospel terms.[read more]

Take Nothing For The Journey

“Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.  Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.  And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against[read more]

The Lord’s Work

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Matthew[read more]

What Do You Want Me To Do?

In days to come, / the mountain of the Lord’s house / shall be established as the highest mountain / and raised above the hills. / All nations shall stream toward it; / many peoples shall come and say: / “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, / to the house of the God of[read more]

Life As Mission

[Jesus] said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.  Go on your way; behold I am sending you like lambs among wolves.  Carry no bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.  Into[read more]

Faith Expressing Itself Through Love

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 Why do we so often exist at a remote and safe distance from our own actual lives?  Lately a friend and I are finding ourselves pondering why it is that so[read more]

Unique Expressions of God's Love

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the[read more]

Growth and Change in Consciousness

By Brother John HamiltonFollowing the General Chapter of 1995, we often spoke quite glibly of our “international” identity. Yet, until recently, we had not really begun the serious effort to listen to and understand each other across our cultural divides.[read more]