MAKING IT PRACTICAL
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In this the final section of this small book I want to be informal in my tone and direct in my approach to this question: How do we make these encouragements practical right now and apply them to our lives?

What follows are collections of activities, actions, and other practical steps towards becoming a Kingdom person. For myself, I call it “becoming a family man.” Others might call it becoming a family woman, or a family leader, or a family pioneer, or a family member … I like them all. I have written a statement for each one in the first person so they all will be comfortable in our mouths as we read them aloud, pray them, and make our declarations. In other words, I start each action with an “I” statement so we can personalize each one.

Try them all.

Do them all at once, or spread them out over time—all the time—like I do.

Repeat until the desired affect is achieved. (more…)

THE KINGDOM, THE CHURCH,  AND THE TRADITIONS OF MEN
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THE TRADITIONS OF MEN

A Fight

Here is the section of our book where it is acceptable to use references like Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, House Church, Mega-Church, Armenian, Calvinist, The Celtic Way, Anglican, Independent Charismatic, Missional Community, Organic, Reformed, Orthodox, Progressive, Emergent, Traditional, Liturgical, Evangelical, just to name a few. These are all the creative ways we—with feet of clay and minds of dust—have chosen to identify ourselves and divide ourselves from others who are following Christ. We have given these classes formal names. These are the well-financed ways we have divided ourselves from one another.

Congratulations, Church, for creating and sustaining the multiple personality disorder that has plagued us for generations. So, how has it been working out for you?

That was rhetorical. (more…)

THE KINGDOM, THE CHURCH,  AND THE TRADITIONS OF MEN
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THE CHURCH

The Wife that Jesus Loves

I sat beside Bob Terrell years ago on the front row of a little fellowship in west Texas. I had just played a song for the gathering, and he was getting ready to take the stage and teach, probably on 1 John. I had just “retired” from a staff position at a local fellowship and had begun my experimental career as an musician and minister—sort of an arts missionary. He turned to me and said, “Ben, do you worry sometimes about where your provision [money] is going to come from?”

“Yes.”

He said, “Well, you take care of the Bride and the Bridegroom will take care of you.” The fellowship leaders introduced him and he moved up to the podium and began to teach. I just sat there thinking. (more…)

THE WATER, THE FISH, AND THE LITTLE HOUSE
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Society for the Ethical Treatment of Goldfish

Henry stood, motionless, in front of the wall of fish choices. It was early in the morning—at least by his standards—and his  ability to make a quick choice was stunted.

No coffee yet.

The fish tanks were stacked high and wide on the display wall, bubbling and humming and constantly moving.

They say this lowers your blood pressure, he thought.

He blurred his eyes at the wall to diminish all of the fish motion and he focused on the price tags alone.

Cheap is good; cheapest is best, he chanted to himself. (more…)