Tom Trezise preached this sermon August 24, 2025 at Ponte Vedra Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

I have a passion for the Kingdom of God. Some might say it’s an obsession. It doesn’t take much to get me talking about it. So what is the Kingdom?

“In the beginning God created…” What did he create? Everything! God’s sovereign will was in all he created. And what do we call the place where a sovereign is present? A Kingdom! God’s Kingdom is everything he created. That includes us. Humans had a special place in God’s Kingdom. First, and most important, he created us in his image. That was just not appearance. We were created as spiritual beings. And we were given free will. God created us to be in a relationship with him and that required choice. He did not create slaves. We also had purpose. We had dominion over the animals and plants and were charged with their care. And we also were good.

Everything God created --- his Kingdom --- reflects him. We may not be able to see God directly, but we can see him reflected in all his creation. Whether we admit it or not, we all carry within us an image of God.

That reminds me of the story of a little kindergarten girl who was furiously coloring on a sheet of paper. Her teacher came over to her and asked her what she was drawing. The girl answered, “God.” Her teacher gently explained that no one knows what God looks like. ”They will when I’m done,” the girl replied. She was in touch with the image of God she held in her heart.

God’s perfect Kingdom is all about us now. I defy you to go someplace dark and peer up into the night sky and not see God’s Kingdom. And there are just things that occur in the world that you know only God could ordain. God created us to be at peace with him and the world, no matter our differences. That was life in his Kingdom.

So, what happened? Sin. To be succinct, we happened. That free will we were given led us to think we could be in control; that we could take care of ourselves; that we did not need God. Sin is simply the word for anything that alienates us from God. When we decided to try to control our lives instead of relying on God, we introduced sin into our lives and into the world. God expelled us from his presence and into the earth over which he had given us dominion, but now was outside his sovereign will. And that is where we find ourselves today: living on the imperfect earth side-by-side with his perfect Kingdom. Living in sin, but aware of his Kingdom. One foot in a sinful earth and one in the Kingdom.
 
What does Jesus say about the Kingdom? As we read the Gospels, we encounter Jesus teaching about many things. He does, however, have a central theme. I think if you asked many people, both Christians and non-Christians, what that central theme is, they would say “love.” Indeed, I have no empirical evidence, but I wager love is likely mentioned in more sermons weekly than anything else. And love is central to Christ’s message. It is central, however, because it is critical to life in the Kingdom, not an end to itself.

Jesus mentions love 43 times. Forgiveness only 24 times. These are elements of Christianity we hear all the time. But he speaks of the Kingdom 117 times. Wow! He speaks of the Kingdom more than anything else. But go week in and week out to your average church and I expect you will find love, forgiveness, and many other things mentioned now far more than the Kingdom.

And it’s not just how many times Jesus mentions the Kingdom. It’s what he says about it. The first message Jesus preached was about the Kingdom. Let’s look at what Matthew says in 4:17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” This is the very first reference to Jesus preaching anything. Mark reports exactly the same thing. And what does he say? “The kingdom of heaven is near.” He doesn’t say you will see it after you die. He doesn’t say live a good life and you might find it. He says it is near.

Although scriptures contain some references to specific events after the Resurrection, Acts 1:3 gives us a general report of the purpose of Christ’s teaching before the Ascension. It states, “ After his suffering, he … appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”  Not only was the Kingdom of God the core message of Jesus while he was alive, but also after his resurrection. Do you think maybe it was important?

But there is more. He made it clear that proclaiming the Kingdom was his mission. Luke reports him saying, “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” The Kingdom of God is the Gospel of good news! It was the core mission for Jesus and remains his core message.

Jesus brought himself to us to show us exactly how to be in a relationship with God. Every parable he taught was about how God intends for us to live with him and each other. Many parables, particularly those in Matthew, begin with “The Kingdom of heaven is like…” Those who first heard them, however, had a difficult time understanding the teaching, because Jesus taught a message that was upside down from their thinking. Indeed, the Kingdom that Jesus brought is a complete inversion of human expectations. Jesus didn’t just teach them though, he lived them as an example.  Christ reflects the nature of the Kingdom. In doing so, he also reflects the nature of God. Jesus makes the Kingdom concrete. He makes it real.

It is important to remember that Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom before the Church existed. He proclaimed it before there was Christianity. The Church and Christianity are relevant only insofar as they proclaim Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Let me say that again because I want it to sink in. The Church and Christianity are relevant only insofar as they proclaim Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom is absolute. It is the ultimate order for life as God has intended since creation. Think about that. I’ve been told that the Kingdom is hard to understand. But I don’t think so. Any time you do anything or think anything that is how God intends us to live, you are living in the Kingdom. He came to us as Jesus to restore us to that life and Jesus doesn’t work in half-measures. Either he and the Kingdom are the most important things in our lives, or we are going through some seriously futile motions.

When he taught us the Lord’s Prayer, the first thing Jesus teaches us to seek is that the Kingdom will come to earth as it is in heaven and his will also. He is not telling us to ask that we be whisked away at the end of our lives. We are supposed to seek the Kingdom on earth now. Jesus could not make it clearer when he said later in the same chapter, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” All of the things he referenced were not heavenly, but very earthly and immediate: food, drink, and clothing.

So where does this leave us? If the Kingdom of God is Jesus’ message and, indeed, Jesus is the Kingdom, why don’t we hear about the Kingdom constantly from our pulpits and in our churches? Is the Kingdom lost? Or perhaps, have we lost the Kingdom?

By the early 1960’s, the Kingdom of God had almost disappeared from the lexicon of mainline Protestant churches. The National Council of Churches had for some time been struggling to redefine the mission of the Church and did so in the context of participation in the social movements of the time. As Dallas Willard states: “The gospel, or “good news,” on this view, was that God himself stood behind liberation, equality, and community; that Jesus died to promote them, or at least for lack of them; and that he “lives on” in all efforts and tendencies favoring them. For the theological left, simply this became the message of Christ.” The social gospel replaced the Kingdom.

Many of us were raised in churches that proclaimed the social gospel and built ministries and missions around it. That explains why so many have a hard time explaining the Kingdom of God. It has been lost to us. But some are committed not only to finding it but exalting it again by spreading the news of the Kingdom. So how do we do that?

When I preached here in March I spoke about the process of sanctification. Sanctification has many definitions. Wesley saw it as God renewing hearts and minds in his image; restoring our lost holiness. That is interesting theologically, but practically what does it mean? We are transformed in sanctification, but for what? If God is renewing us in his image, isn’t he transforming us into the people we were created to be --- created in his image? And where were we when we were created in his image? The Kingdom!

Sanctification is the process that restores us to the Kingdom of God as the people we were created to be. The emphasis is on created to be, not to do. Doing, our actions, follows and is the natural product of changes in who were are. Changing who we are is the primary importance.

On the assumption that you have confessed sin and been redeemed by Christ, then we are all on the journey of sanctification. I live with one foot in the Kingdom by virtue of my sanctification that has transformed me partially into the person I was created to be, and one foot in sinful earth with its siren songs that pull me to the rocks. Surrender of our will to the Holy Spirit is the key to sanctification. Easy right? Absolutely not! Surrendering control is absolutely antithetical to our nature. I have emphasized to my children, people who worked for me, and indeed, anyone who would listen and many who cared not to, that control is an illusion. The only thing we control in life is our response to whatever happens. But we cannot let go. We try to manage events, we manipulate people, we worry, and so on and so on. All to try to control life. To give that all over to the Holy Spirt, therefore, is a very difficult thing.

All too often Christians accept redemption from Christ that brings them to the gate of the Kingdom, but then do not enter because they think they need to work at being a good Christian. The focus is on doing good things instead of becoming the person Christ intends us to be. In other words, Christ wants to bring us into the Kingdom to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit to become the person we were created to be, but we stop and try to sanctify ourselves by doing good works.

A recent Kingdom moment from my life I want to share with you happened at a grocery. It is a small thing that shows how the Kingdom is around us and in us even in the routine events of life. One day as I was walking into our local Publix God seemed to be saying he had a mission for me in there. I went in and filled my list, but nothing happened, and I thought that once again, I was talking to myself rather than listening to God. That happens all too often! I reached the checkout line and at the end saw a young woman bagging groceries. Her face was sullen and absolutely wooden. I told God that I recognized her as the person he meant for me, and I asked him what I should do. The only answer I received was just be yourself. That wasn’t real comforting to me, but as I approached her after she had bagged my groceries I asked her how her day was going. She did not answer or even look at me. The cashier in a somewhat harsh “move along” tone said, “She’s deaf and can’t hear you.” Now my undergraduate college has a special program for deaf education and one of our friends spent her entire career educating deaf students, so I did not move along. I extended my hand so it was falling below her eyes, and she followed it to my face. I smiled, gave her a thumbs up, and, hoping she could read lips, said, “thank you.” She exploded. A big smile covered her face, and she began rapidly signing. I had to explain that I did not know signing. I left her, however, smiling.

That Kingdom moment may have been one of my best. Not only did I walk out feeling the peace of Christ, but also understanding that I had become a person that all I needed to do was be myself as the Holy Spirit was transforming me to be. Doing had flowed naturally from being. I also learned that the most important thing we can do in and for the Kingdom is affirm the value of another person. The Kingdom exists in relationships grounded on the Holy Spirit.

So how do we live for Christ’s Kingdom? What should we do to advance it? I have to tell you something you may not want to hear. The Kingdom of God is not about you. It is about you surrendering yourself to a much greater goal. There is abroad in the land this idea that God is supposed to help us and make our lives easier. That’s possible, if it fits into God’s greater plan to restore us to the Kingdom and return Kingdom life to the earth. If you surrender your life for that plan and that Kingdom, however, it may become more difficult. Indeed, there is a fair chance it will. When I finished writing my book, I went to God and said I had finished, I knew nothing about marketing, and had no resources for it. I told him that was his problem and I expected an easy solution to appear. Within a day or so, I received a call from an attorney asking me to serve as an expert witness. That was something I had the experience and skills to do and would be reasonably lucrative. The Holy Spirit was answering my prayer for resources, but just adding to my workload with something I really was not keen to do. My life did not get easier.

My point is that surrender to Christ is risky business. We leave our agenda and frequently have no idea what will happen next. That actually becomes a good thing, because what happens will be a blessing beyond imagining. We become people we could not imagine using our gifts and talents in ways we cannot imagine with a purpose to our lives that exceeds whatever we might have hoped. But it takes some adaptation. Our prayer lives change. Our petitions do not change, but we have to accept that God will answer them in accordance with his grand plan for the Kingdom. God, however, remains just as compassionate as ever. Jesus reflected his character and certainly was compassionate. So, I still pray that God will intervene in my life and the lives of others in his compassion. But I never expect him to do that contrary to the plan and purpose for the Kingdom.

Let me give you an example. You have a friend at church who becomes gravely ill. She is a good Christian. You pray frequently and fervently that God will heal her, but nonetheless she dies. From your perspective God did not answer your prayer. From the Kingdom perspective, however, God answered hers. She prayed constantly that God would use her for the Kingdom. She was not afraid of death and witnessed to that point and why she was not afraid to her daughter, who finally came to Christ. Her death served the greater purpose.

So, surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit is the key to the Kingdom, both our transformations into the people we were created to be and our use in the Kingdom now. Complete surrender would be wonderful, but I have not seen or heard of that.  Just a little bit day-by-day is sufficient. Sincere surrender is what is important. So sincerely surrender your life to Christ and the Kingdom. Or sincerely surrender a day. Or sincerely surrender a minute. But give the Holy Spirit something of you to transform and use. That’s when you pass through the gate and begin life in the Kingdom now.

There is something I have mentioned several times to which I want to go for a final revisit. And that is purpose. I cannot understate the importance of the purpose that comes with life in the Kingdom. We are a people starving for purpose. Stanley Jones said, “The central and acute sickness of this age is that people do not belong – do not belong to anything significant.” We are social beings. We need community. But it becomes harder and harder to find. The isolation of home is becoming the default life, and more and more for young people.

Jones also said, “The modern man stands between two worlds – one dead and the other not born. And he stands there empty, for meaning dropped out of life. He could stand anything if there were meaning, purpose, goal, especially if that meaning, purpose and goal were worthwhile, worth living for and worth dying for.”

We have generations of people in this country searching for meaning and purpose to their lives. They are broken. We have the cure for that brokenness in the person of Jesus Christ and life in the Kingdom, but have all too often stand mute. We have been called to proclaim that cure, but all too often default to doing church stuff instead. Showing people how the Holy Spirit will transform them into the people they were created to be, as well as the peace that comes with that, is a cup of water to a thirsty soul. Explaining the purpose their lives can have in the Kingdom when Christ calls them to serve in ways unique to their gifts, talents, and skills lights fires that will burn brightly. It is radical.

I suspect that most here have heard about witnessing to others by asking if they know Jesus, are a Christian, or something similar. I think those tend to shut down discussion rather than open it. If, however, you ask someone if he or she is living the life they were created to live or what his or her purpose is in life, that can open all manner of avenues for discussion and may eventually allow you to explain Jesus and the purpose he offers for life in his Kingdom. One thing though, you better know your purpose as it very likely will come to you as a question. Also, that does not ignore discussing salavation. These questions open the why. Salvation is the how. Both are essential.

We must demand more of us for the Kingdom. Test all of the ministries of our church against the test of service to the Kingdom. How do they advance the Kingdom? Much of what we do in our churches is well meaning but bears little difference from secular organizations. We hold food drives, bake sales, workdays at local charities, etc. And so do secular organizations. If what we do does not clearly point to Christ and the Kingdom, then we offer no meaning or purpose beyond the world. Why would someone be interested? But if we proclaim the Kingdom, show people how it brings meaning to their lives, and show them the purpose they can find in the Kingdom, I think we can become standing room only.

We have rejected secularism and the relativism of the world. We affirm the Kingdom absolute as God’s plan for the order of life. But the power of the world is strong.  Political and social issues are invasive and subtle. We can be pulled back into those debates if we are not careful. Jesus set before us the clear goal, “seek first this Kingdom…” Let us never lose sight of that goal.

Amen

A friend recently asked me for some thoughts about how we can know the truth.  With so many ideas, stories, and opinions out there even within the church, it’s no small task to settle with reasonable confidence on what is TRULY true.  And yet I can think of nothing so important in these turbulent days as having this north star to guide us.

Several decades of classroom experience has shown me that nearly all university-age students struggle to define the idea of “truth,” and few who have been educated in America can remember a single lecture addressing it. (Isn’t that curious?) When I ask for someone to offer a definition of truth, almost every classroom falls silent. But several years back I had a delightfully different response with a group of second level students in Texas. I asked, “Who can give me a definition of Truth?” And front-row Hannah, threw her hand up like a game show contestant. “Truth is an accurate description of reality.” BOOM! Plain and simple. In the Greek language the single word “aletheia” is interchangeably translated as either “truth” or “reality.” I had two follow-up questions: To Hannah I asked, “Were you home-schooled?” (Yes… and it was obvious). And to the class… “What, then, is reality?” (Because in today’s world, even reality has become a murky concept). Reality is “what is”. Or as Dallas Willard brings it home, “Reality is what we stub our toe on in the middle of the night.” It may seem odd to address such simple, basic questions, but in a world where both truth and reality are under daily assault from academics and cultural shapers, it seems a healthy thing for disciples of Jesus to remind ourselves of the ABCs of life.

Biblically, Jesus is truth, and every perception of reality must be filtered through his brilliant beauty and awesome character. But’s let unpack that idea before going deeper.

Chances are you and I will never meet a person who declares, “I am the truth.” But Jesus made that insanely radical statement, and what the heck does it mean? Understanding Jesus as “Truth” is a massive concept to wrap our brains around, but it is definitely worth pursuing.  And the witness of several scriptures will set us on that path.

In retelling the Creation story, the Gospel of John identifies not God the Father, but Jesus the Son as the one through whom all things were created. John writes, “Through Him, (that is – Jesus), all things were made, and apart from Him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3  It’s true that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always work together as one; that is, there are no “solo acts” in the Trinity. For many of us, we might require a shift of thinking to consider Jesus, rather than His Father, as the one through whom all creation was spoken into existence.
 
But Colossians 1:16 takes it a step further and explains that it is also Jesus who holds all things together. “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible…and in Him all things hold together.” Many scientists would say that the “mortar” that holds all things together actually consists in four mysterious forces known as gravity, the electromagnetic force, the “strong force,” and the “weak force.”  The problem with that explanation is that these four forces have names, but they have no explanation because they exist only in theory.  You can neither see them, nor figure out how they work.   But since something must be holding everything together, science has posited these four elusive forces to get the job done.

The Scriptures, however, cut to the chase and simply declare that Jesus holds all creation together “by the power of his word.” Hebrews 1:3  Now, let’s go back to Jesus being the truth:  Jesus is the One who created all things, and he is the One who holds all things together.  He made gravity, and he is holding gravity in place at this moment.  He created sound, the speed of sound, the frequencies of sound, and the harmonies that result when frequencies are combined.  So when Jesus says, “I am the Truth” he means that he is the source and sustainer of everything in the universe.  If you were to take Him out of His creation, reality itself would disintegrate into non-existence. In this sense Jesus doesn’t need to “learn” anything about calculus, quantum physics, or anything else because He indeed is the Creator all these things. And in that sense He IS the Truth about virtually everything.
 
This is why pursuing Truth is vital.  When we pursue Truth we will ultimately discover Jesus, and when we pursue Jesus we will ultimately have the truth thrown in as well.  Leading the way and setting the example, Kingdom disciples ought to always encourage others to seek the Truth that leads to freedom, life, and ultimately the Creator Himself.

One important aspect of Truth is that it will always set you free.  That’s not my opinion, but the promise of the One who created and sustains all reality.  “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you WILL know the truth, and the truth WILL make you free.” John 8:31-32

As we wade through ideas and opinions, it’s essential to examine them through the lens of Jesus’ character and his words, asking at every turn, “Does this idea impart freedom to my soul?”  I’m not talking about the artificial freedom of doing whatever you want, but rather the inner witness that, “This beautiful idea causes my heart to leap  with expectancy of blessings, fulfillment, and freedom.”

But before we can discover the Truth we must be willing to change our mind and go where the facts lead. This is what Jesus calls “repentance”: the act of changing our mind. Whether we’re assessing the character of a politician, testing the veracity of the Gospels, or trying to figure out what really happened on 9-11, we MUST be willing to follow the evidence where it leads, and be willing to change our mind when the facts demand it.
 
In both classical education and historic Christianity there are three universally recognized paths to discovering the truth: Reason, Experimentation, and Revelation. These three ought to validate each other like three stars in perfect alignment.  If one of them fails to align with the other two, we will lack confidence, and need to continue investigating.  We’ll look at them one at a time in no particular order:

1. Reason: “Come let us reason together…”  Isaiah 1:18

If a person were hiking through the woods of South Dakota and he came upon Mount Rushmore, his reason would tell him immediately that this was the work of a designer, and not the product of erosion. Mount Rushmore is far too detailed and complex to have just “happened” on its own. Reason is never an enemy of the Christian, but rather our friend and ally. Therefore we must learn to handle it well, “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.”  1 Peter 3:15

2. Experience and experimentation: “Test all things, hold onto what is true.”                              1 Thessalonians.5:21

We learn by experience. Infants enter the world as little scientists, testing this and that to discover information about the world.  We learn that touching a hot burner is painful every single time.  I remember biting into a horseradish when I was five and experiencing a pain so profound I thought I would die.  It was a learning experience that has informed me for a lifetime. To Thomas, Jesus said “reach  here with your hand, and put it into my side.” John 20:27  That’s an invitation to discover truth by experience.

3.  Revelation: “this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in                 heaven.” Matthew 16:17

There are some things which cannot be known by direct experience or reason alone. These things must be revealed to us by God himself. Apart from the scriptures there is no way, for instance, we could know that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John 1:1-2   The good news is that revelation has been given to us in the sixty-six books of the Bible.  And when acted upon, it will be confirmed by both reason and experience.

In a culture that questions the very existence of Truth itself, we disciples of Jesus must learn to recognize, value, and defend it at every opportunity. When we pursue Truth, we will ultimately discover Jesus, and when we pursue Jesus we will ultimately have the truth thrown in as well.  Leading the way and setting the example, Kingdom disciples ought to always encourage others to seek the Truth that leads to freedom, life, and ultimately the Creator Himself.

© 2024, Don Stephens

When the time came for Jesus to begin his earthly ministry, he went to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a place with which he was familiar, to find men he could disciple. The region of Galilee was a significant commercial area with a prosperous fishing industry. Jesus knew the way of life of the local fishermen, who went out fishing all night to sell their catch in the morning.

Simon and Andrew had met Jesus previously. On this occasion, however, he invited them to follow him and be his disciples. Whether they stopped to count the cost, or knew where they were going, the Bible says, “At once they left their nets and yielding up all claim to them followed him” (Mark 1:18). They may not have known where they were going, but they knew who they were following. They were not following a set of rules; they were following a person, the Word incarnate.

In Cost of Discipleship, the late theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, defined discipleship “as an adherence to the person of Jesus Christ and fellowship with him.” He added that only a man or woman who is dead to his or her own will can follow Christ. The goal of a true disciple is to become like Jesus. This is not easy to do because most of us like to be in control. We want to know and control the why, the when, the how, and the where. But when we accept Jesus’ call to follow him, he leads, and we follow without a GPS.

Jesus invested in the disciples because he saw beyond their outward appearance. He saw their hearts and what they could become through him. When he adds his supernatural to our natural, miracles begin to happen.

Peter was an egocentric, unschooled, loud-mouthed fishermen but when he aligned himself with Jesus’ Kingdom agenda, he preached one of the most powerful sermons recorded in the New Testament book of Acts and thousands were added to the Kingdom that day. It is not about us, it is about the One who calls us, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.

Once we accept Jesus and align with his Kingdom our identity is changed, and we receive a call to follow him and be his disciple. We might not always know where we are going, but we do know with whom we are going. Jesus leads us to become like him, if we follow.

There is more to discipleship than the profession and confession of faith. Discipleship requires action. We must deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow him. A disciple never stops learning or investing in others. Who are you discipling? Into whom are you pouring yourself? People are ready to say ‘yes’ to Jesus, just like Andrew and Simon were, but they need to be invited.

The call has not changed. Jesus still calls children, men, and women to “follow me, be my disciple, and go make disciples.” His call, however, is personal for you and to be answered by you.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples and greeted them with his usual greeting, “Peace be with you!” He showed them his hands and his side, and said to them, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He then breathed on them and said, “receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:19-21).

We are the “sent” no less than the disciples. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do Kingdom work. We have a personal call, and the church has a corporate call, to follow Jesus, be his disciples, and disciple others.

Yet we all have something that holds us and we must leave behind to answer the call. Abraham left the tent, family, and everything he knew behind when he answered God’s call. The woman at the well left her water pot behind as a symbol of leaving her old life. When Lazarus heard Jesus calling his name to come out of the tomb, he left behind the wrappings that had him bound and walked forward to follow Jesus. The disciples left their nets. And most important, Jesus left his throne in glory to become one of us.

How about us? What do we need to leave behind to follow Jesus in total commitment? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you and release you if you remain tied down. The full Kingdom-life awaits you when you answer the call. You will not regret that choice.

© 2024, Jacqueline Leveron

Reading Time 3.5 Minutes

"God bless my plan." For a very long time I have said this mockingly as an example of exactly the type of prayer we should not pray. Living a Christian life requires us to surrender our lives to Christ, which means we live according to his plan and not ours. I still believe that to be true, but recently found a little more insight that indicated there may be more nuance to the point than I have realized.

I have been so obsessive about not asking God to bless my plan, that at times I have asked nothing more in prayer than God to reveal himself in circumstances and to people that I present. Asking for something specific, however, seemed to cross over into asking God to bless my goal rather than surrender to his plan. That was a line I did not want to cross.

Recently, I aggravated an old rotator cuff injury. The situation is not nearly as bad as it was at the time of the initial injury, but still problematic. As I have with my life, I have surrendered my body and my health to the Holy Spirit for use in accordance with God's plan for the Kingdom. So at first I was not going to pray for improvement in my shoulder. Either it was within his plan to heal it or to use the injury in some way. So that was that. Nothing more to be said.

But then it occurred to me that perhaps it was neither within God's plan to heal me nor to use my injured shoulder. Could there be something that is just outside God's plan? I know God's plan for humanity is that we all age, deteriorate, and die on vastly different timelines and causes. So I know that if I were to pray to be as vigorous as I was at age sixteen that request likely would not be within his plan. But what about my shoulder? Many seventy-year-old men have shoulders without problems. I certainly desire that. Could it be that God might restore my shoulder to the way it was before my recent aggravation simply because I desire it to be so?

Psalm 18:19 (NIV) says, "he rescued me because he delighted in me." God may bless us and answer our prayer not because what we seek is also something he will use for the Kingdom, but simply because he delights in us. His plan is broad enough to reach our plans and desires because his plan includes his delight in us and nothing more. So I concluded that perhaps it would be OK for me to ask for relief for my shoulder.

As I reflected on the possibility that God may take delight in my plans and desires, I also was struck be several things. First, whatever my plan or desire may be it cannot be inconsistent with God's plan. We can discern God's plan from scripture, our experience of the Holy Spirit, and the wee small voice of our conscience. Insofar as my shoulder is concerned, I also had to recognize that God may have a use for me with an impaired shoulder. He might simply be reminding me that I am aging and moving toward the end of his plan for me here. He might have someone to put in my path with a similar injury where he might use me to relate to that person. Or I just may not see why he does not delight in fixing my shoulder. So before I ask him to improve my shoulder I have to have a heart willing to accept all of those possibilities. In other words, I have to have an obedient spirit no matter how my prayer might be answered.

So I prayed about this insight. I have come to accept that it is OK to pray "God bless my plan, but..." And the but is as long as it is not inconsistent with God's plan for the Kingdom and my place in it. I cannot tell you, however, how freeing it is to accept that God delights in me as I am. If you have not found that freedom, ask for it. As I discovered, all I needed to do was accept it.

PS. My shoulder is better. Not wholly as It was before my recent aggravation but much better than it was. Whether for a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, I don't know. I just rejoice that God has delighted in me for however long it may be.

© 2024, Thomas M. Trezise 

Reading Time 3.5 Minutes

I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted. The odds against this being a good world anymore seem overwhelming. Our world seems to be getting worse and it also seems like we can do nothing about it. Just look at climate disasters and worldwide tensions.

Climate disasters: Over the past five years, the U.S. alone has experienced an average of $18B climate disasters per year including floods, winds, and fires. The number and cost of weather and climate disasters is rising due to a combination of population growth and development.

Last year, NOAA said: “By 2050, moderate flooding ⁠— which is typically disruptive and damaging by today's standards ⁠— is expected to occur more than 10 times as often as it does today.” When hurricane season starts this year, it’s forecasted the chances for a La Niña by summer are increasing, and that's an anxiety-inducing forecast for those still recovering from recent hurricanes. In the period from January to March 2024, we have seen wildfires devastate over 1.4 million acres of land, more than any same period in the last ten years.

Worldwide tensions: The world (and the US, in particular) seems like it has never been more divided. There are five wars going on today where over 10,00 people were killed last year (Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Hamas/Iran, Myanmar, Maghreb, and Sudan). There are another 10 where ONLY over 2,000 people were killed last year, but their total death counts are now over 500,000. These include civil wars, drug wars, terrorist insurgencies, ethnic violence, and political unrest.

The division in the US has reached the point where the percentage of us that would not want our son or daughter to marry someone that supports the other party is increasing. From 1958 to 2016, the numbers rose from 25-33% to 60-63%.  Add to that the current resurgence and growth of inflation, the increasing influx of southern border immigrants, the battles over IVF and abortion, etc., etc. and our divisions have gotten wider, deeper, and more emotional.

And there seems like there is nothing that can be done, is being done, or anything I or we could do to make a positive difference. But we have God’s words to give us hope.
First, Jesus guaranteed we would face hard times. And Jesus said this when He knew his disciples were about to face the darkest, most troubling times of their lives: His persecution, suffering, and death. Troubles, yes, but He still overcomes the world. John 16:33 (NIV): “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Then, Psalm 46: 1 – 3 (NIV): “God is our refuge and strength, An ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth give way, And the mountains fall into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.”

          He prefaces those specific troubles with “An ever-present help”. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

          Fear can overtake us, but God is all-powerful and will offer us all the strength we need. Also, the words “Do not fear” appear 366 times in The Bible; One for each day of the Leap Year. Joshua 1:9(NIV): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

He understands we didn’t get it. Remember this was God speaking to Joshua who was charged with leading a recalcitrant group into the promised land. Three times in the first nine verses, God tells Joshua to “Be strong and courageous.” Maybe we need those same reminders, now and repeatedly.

Finally, my favorite: James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised.” Having withstood the natural disasters and the worldwide tensions, with the ever-present God with us, “…surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.”

©2024, Chip Graber

Reading Time 4 Minutes

When WWI ended, hundreds of shell-shocked French soldiers could not remember who they were. Faulty military records provided no help. How could those victims of amnesia be reunited with their families?

The French held an Identification Rally in Paris, which was announced throughout France. On the planned day, thousands of people gathered in a large plaza. One by one bewildered soldiers mounted the high platform and anxiously asked, “Please, please, can somebody tell me who I am?”

Behavior drives identity. Many times throughout our lives we will be asked, “who are you?” Or other times we may ask, “who am I?” The world defines us by our accomplishments or careers. We respond with I’m a doctor, a teacher, or a stay-home mom, but those are wrong answers. That’s what we do but not who we are.

The believers in Corinth were dealing with the same issue. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) They were new converts and had yet to experience the transformation that the new birth brought into their lives. Through unmerited grace they, as with you and I, had become a new creation with grace implanted in hearts. We all eventually know and experience God’s acceptance and his destruction of the power of sin over our lives. We then align with his Kingdom.

When you and I respond to Christ’s pardoning love, the burden of sin rolls off our shoulders. The apostle Paul experienced this firsthand. One day he was on his way to Damascus to harass the followers of Christ and suddenly he had a heart collision with Christ. That day Christ changed his identity. By implanting the grace of God in his heart, his sins were forgiven. He also received a new nature. As he began to study the word of God with new eyes, to spend intimate time with Christ, and to fellowship with other Christians, his nature changed. The Holy Spirit renewed him from the inside out.

Paul aligned himself with the word and Kingdom of God and that alignment produced in him a new identity. Instead of having a heart at war with Christ, now he had a heart at peace in Christ’s Kingdom. So when Paul heard about the turmoil at the church in Corinth, he wrote to them from his own experience, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation, the old has gone, the new is here!

God begins the process of regeneration in us the minute we say yes to him. We are reconciled to him through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Now you and I, reconciled to God, are called to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

In his teen years, the future St. Augustine was a very promiscuous young man. Some years after his conversion an old girlfriend saw him and yelled, “Augustine it is I” and he yelled back to her, “but it is not I” and kept walking. Augustine had become a new creation. The old self had died to the carnal pleasures, and he had become alive to Christ. Eventually Augustine became a priest, then the Bishop of Hippo and a great theologian. His alignment with the Kingdom of God radically changed his identity.

Almost everything we think and do depends on how we identify ourselves. Since the Fall, Satan has been trying to distort and steal our identity. Remember always, you are neither a mistake nor a nobody, an orphan, or powerless. You are who God says you are, and that’s the only thing that matters. Satan whispers you are a loser. God says we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) Satan says you are guilty. God says we are forgiven. (Psalms 103:3)  Satan says you are hated. God says we are loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) Satan says you are an orphan. God says we are his children. (1 John 3:1)  Satan binds you with his fear and torment. God says, “Fear not for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Align yourself with the Kingdom of God and accept your new identity in Christ. Don’t let the world define you. Don’t let your mistakes or failures define you. Don’t let your past destroy your future. Let the love of God and his amazing grace implanted in your heart define you. You are a new creation, the old has passed away! Behold the new has come! (Zephaniah 3:17).

©2024, Jacqueline Leveron

Reading Time 1 Minute

Easter focuses us on Christ's physical resurrection from the tomb, and well it should. It is the central event of Christianity. Without the tomb our faith lacks meaning. 1 Corinthians 15: 13-14

As Christians, we have the faith and hope that we, too, will be raised to life in Christ's eternal kingdom with a physical body as his at the resurrection. Spiritually, however, we experience resurrection here, on earth, before our final bodily resurrection. We do not have to wait.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, at that moment we move from spiritual death to spiritual life. Ephesians 2: 4-5 In moving from death to life spiritually, we are resurrected spiritually. And at that spiritual resurrection we move from the secular world to Christ's kingdom. We become alive in that kingdom now.

Without the spiritual resurrection now, the physical resurrection takes a dramatically different course away from Christ's eternal kingdom. Experiencing the spiritual resurrection in salvation, however, opens us to life in the kingdom now, every day. That life brings a joy not known before the spiritual resurrection, but even more satisfying is the purpose Christ offers to each of our lives. A purposeful life in the everyday kingdom not only pays spiritual dividends, but brings with it Christ's peace. Once you experience that, you will rise every day looking for the the kingdom in your life. You will rise every day looking to experience Easter!

Happy Easter!

© 2024, Thomas M. Trezise

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Every day now it seems like we are being confronted by more, faster, and bigger change. I don’t like change. Change is hard. Besides, my life is fine now, thank you. So, to have to do something new, and different, makes me uncomfortable and unhappy. I long for the good old days. Nevertheless, change is inevitable. And change can be good or bad. How do we know the difference?

We know we should change oil, change lightbulbs, and change clothes. We don’t want to change our doctors (and please no Doogie Howsers). We don’t change the stores where we shop, the restaurants where we eat, or our homes where we live. However, we do change our minds, change lanes (after signaling, of course), and we even have the chance to change our politicians every few years.

Our culture reflects the impact of change. From Tootsie to Mrs. Doubtfire to Wang Foo, movies showed cultural change, too. It is all around us. Santana called us to change our evil ways, baby. Jimmy Buffet sang to us about our “Changes in Latitude and Changes in Attitude” and Bob Dylan wrote and sang about how “The Times They are A-changin’”. David Bowie even stuttered throughout his “Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes.”

But, change is not only inevitable, but also accelerating, and the pace of that change is even more dramatic. I’m not going to go off on AI, drones, or quantum computing, but those words alone produce angst and not just because I don’t understand them, but because I think I do.

So, where can we turn? To the one book that doesn’t change, the “Bible”!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 describes what change means to Christians: “there is a time for everything; and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Any expectation of unchanging happiness in a changing world must end in disappointment. We must know and trust that God has a plan, a time, and a reason for everything, including change.

In Genesis (2:8 – 3:19) God created Adam and Eve and they were perfect. Any change they experienced was good. They changed to be able to tend the garden and learned more of God and of each other. Sin, however, altered their behavior, thinking, and their very nature. As a result, their environment and all human history changed. In our sin, we are left to wrest survival from an unforgiving planet. Change had come, and it was not a good change.
 
Even when mankind fell into sin, God did not change. His love for us remained the same. So much so, He sent His only begotten Son to save us. Faith in Christ is God’s avenue of change to restore us to Him and his Kingdom.

The Bible provides us with three clear examples of change God’s people did not want to accept:




The Israelites eventually found their land of milk and honey. Jonah preached his sermon in Nineveh. And the infirm man accepted his healing. They were all rewarded for their faith.
So, while I may not directly search out change, it is going to come. I am now going to see it for why God has brought it to my attention.  And even if I do not see the answer immediately, I am confident that God will give me the faith I need to accept it and move forward.

I am hoping and praying you will see the changes God is bringing to you this day too. Hoping you will see the good in the changes and they will help you live a better, happier life in Christ and his Kingdom.

© 2024, Chip Graber

This week's Kingdom Story comes courtesy of Dr. Paul Tripp. Tripp has a deep and extensive ministry and an exquisite understanding of Christ's Kingdom. This content was originally posted by Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com , where you can learn more about him and his ministry. This specific item may be found at https://www.paultripp.com/wednesdays-word/posts/see-people-as-people . We offer it as a great discussion of how people live in the Kingdom.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Several weeks after the September 11th terrorist attacks, I had a heart-wrenching conversation with a manager of one of the restaurants in the World Trade Centers.

He told me, “I can’t get over the grief that I never saw the 250 people who worked for me as people. They were waiters, chefs, busboys, hosts, event planners—but they weren’t people to me. And over the last three weeks, I’ve gone to funeral after funeral and sat with their moms and dads, husbands and wives, and children and heard the stories of their lives. Now they are people to me, but now they’re gone.”

He wept as he told me that story. I wept as I listened. It’s hard not to get emotional thinking back to that story today, 22 years later.

And it’s hard not to feel guilt. I think this attitude is typical of many of us. I know it’s true for me. I often don’t see people as people.

It’s the barista whose job it is to create my perfect coffee order. It’s the supermarket assistant who is there to speed up my process on the self-checkout scanner. It’s the waiter who exists to get me my delicious meal without any delays or mistakes.

Do you see people as people? Or are they functions to assist you in creating a day that is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible?

If you want to shine as a light in this world, pray that God will give you the eyes to see people as people. Slow down, look into their eyes, and remember that this is a human being created in the image of God, who has a heart, an eternal destiny, a story, a desire to be loved, with legitimate fears and concerns, and hopes and dreams.

Then, adjust your schedule or make sacrifices to bump into these people more frequently. That could mean going to the same place at the same time so you can interact with the same person on their regular shift pattern. Maybe that means shopping differently to build relationships with people who live or work in your neighborhood.

Sadly, too many of us are chasing an ever-growing to-do list as we try to build a kingdom of created delights, which causes us to rush past people, or worse, use them to make life as efficient, convenient, and pleasurable as possible.

Lastly, ask questions. Simple questions are a great starting point: How are you doing today? How has your week been? What do you have going on this weekend? What are you most excited about? How are your kids doing in school?

I was at a restaurant once, and the man dining with me said to the waiter, “We’re a group of people who like to pray before we eat. Is there anything we can pray for you?” The waiter was taken off guard, stumbled, and said, “Uh, I don’t think I really need anything right now.”
But then he came back five minutes later. “Actually, I think I could use your prayer. I just found out my girlfriend is pregnant, and I’m terrified. I have no idea how to be a father. Would you pray for me?”

What a fantastic opportunity! And it was so simple. My friend saw the waiter as a person, not a function, and he asked a simple question.

Then, go back again and again to develop a relationship and wait for the opportunities that God gives you as a result.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:36–38).

A Prayer for Today: God, would you help me to see people as people and not as cogs in the machine of my day to make my life more comfortable and easy? Would you provide me with opportunities to engage with the people you have placed in my life and when those opportunities arise, would you give me the courage to lean in and ask questions of them? Would you help to make my heart sensitive and caring to others that you might use me in whatever way you want. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

God bless,
Paul David Tripp

Reading Time: 4 minutes

At the turn of the 20th century The London Times posed a question to its readers: “What’s wrong with this world?” Perhaps you have recently asked the same question. One response, penned by the English writer, poet, and philosopher G. K. Chesterton, was brilliant. He wrote, “Dear Sirs, I am.” How’s that for honesty?

Unlike Chesterton, when God asked Adam what he had done, he blamed his wife, Eve. He never accepted responsibility for his sin, which continues in us today. Scholars estimate approximately 4000-5000 years elapsed between Adam and the birth of Jesus. Jesus came into the world with a purpose -- to seek and save that which was lost and to usher in the Kingdom of God! (Luke 19:10)

Daniel prophesied God would set up a kingdom that would endure forever. When Daniel was delivered from the den of lions, king Darius emphasized the prophesy with his decree to all the nations: “all people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 6:26-27)

Years later, John the Baptist emerged from the wilderness of Judea with the urgent message, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:2) People from Jerusalem and all Judea responded, confessing their sins and being baptized.

While John announced, “the kingdom of God is coming,” Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is at hand.” Jesus came as the king of that kingdom. Nevertheless, the kingdom that Jesus brought and the kingdom the people expected were two different things. The people expected a powerful earthly kingdom, comparable to the one God established through David. Jesus, however, came to establish an eternal kingdom, one encompassed by the rule of God. Jesus emphasized that the kingdom begins in our lives here, essentially saying, “this is it, wait no more, the time is fulfilled, the kingdom is now available to you, come receive it.”

The kingdom of God is the realm where God’s reign is experienced. It is not just the Church. God is the sovereign king who reigns and rules over all things. Thus, the kingdom of God is present with us everywhere.

God’s kingdom also is in progress. It is both present and future, not just a place we go when we die. In the fullness of time Jesus will establish his kingdom forever.  (Revelation 21). The kingdom of God was Jesus’ central message. This kingdom has the dual meaning as the rule of Christ at the end of the age and over every area in our lives now. When we repent and receive salvation into his kingdom, we can and must develop a kingdom-mindset.

To begin to think and act differently, we align ourselves with his kingdom. The word ‘alignment’ is defined as a position of agreement or an arrangement in a straight line. In other words, we situate ourselves in a position of agreement with the Word of God.

As Jesus said, “Repent and believe the good news.”

Repentance is a prerequisite to entering the kingdom of God. It means to change our behavior, our attitude concerning sin and self. Repentant people repent emotionally and passionately. It’s not just a simple “Lord, forgive me of all my sins” or feeling remorseful. It is having what the psalmist said, “a broken and contrite heart…God…will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) Jesus characterized this contrition to Nicodemus, saying, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) With contrition, we align ourselves with the Kingdom of God by studying and believing his Word and then putting it into practice. The word of God, enabled by the Holy Spirit, changes our mindset, which influences how we feel and act.

When we align ourselves with the Kingdom of God, we no longer live with an earthly perspective but with the eternal perspective of the Kingdom. The Good News is that we no longer have to live bound by sin.  As the late pastor and theologian R.C Sproul stated, “The only way the kingdom of God is going to be manifested in this world before Christ comes is if we manifest it by the way we live as citizens of heaven and subjects of the King.” Our journey in Christ proceeds as we align ourselves with his kingdom principles and agenda with the help of the Holy Spirit.

©2024, Jacqueline Leveron

I just watched It's a Wonderful Life for the most recent time of a number greater than I care to admit. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan. I have always been drawn to the redemptive message of the film, with the additional appeal of wondering what life would be like if I had not been born. This time, however, the Kingdom jumped out and grabbed me.

If you are unfamiliar with the story, the main character, George Bailey, faces a financial crisis at his business and contemplates suicide. His guardian angel intervenes and grants him a wish to never have been born. He then experiences how the lives of so many people change because he was not in their lives. He finally is restored to his life with a renewed sense of what really is important. The movie holds so many Kingdom moments that it would take a long discussion to touch them all. So I will address just the critical moment of George's restoration and the events that follow.

When George prays to be restored to the life he knows he is supposed to live, the angel acts on his prayer and restores him. From that moment forward George sees the world completely differently. He finds joy in everyone and everything --- even a loose newel post. The last scene shows the entire community joining to support George and celebrate their common joy in sharing life in good that prevails over evil.

When we pray to be saved and received by Christ into his Kingdom, we are blessed with the capability of seeing and experiencing life about us as we were born to see it. Just as George reveled in the simplest things of his new life, we too can find Kingdom joy in small things and experiences all about us, if we surrender to Christ and ask him to show us. George's greatest joy comes from seeing his family and his community in a way he could not have imagined through eyes newly opened to that life. We can experience, and are intended to experience, similar joy through life in the community of Christians, otherwise known as the Kingdom. That can happen, however, only if we regularly seek out, worship with, and actively participate with other Christians.

The Kingdom of God is not a passive thing. We must first surrender to it, then experience it most often through relationships. You symbolically hold the Kingdom each time your grasp the hand of another in the love of Christ. If you have not yet experienced life in the Kingdom, do as George did and pray to be restored to the life you were intended to live. You will find it's a wonderful Kingdom life.

Merry Christmas! Happy New year and life in God's Kingdom!

Reading Time: 6 minutes. 
This is a Christmas sermon I preached 14 years ago. I share it often at Christmas. It is a little longer than our usual Stories, but I think you will not regret the time invested in reading it.

 A special recognition for Pastor Ken Gaub who provided much of the content and inspiration. The title is his and much of the description of his personal story for which I have lost a reference. He died recently, but you can learn about him at kengaub.com.

Barbara Brown Taylor, in her book “Home by Another Way,” writes: For good or ill, every Christmas Eve functions like a time machine for us, taking us back to every other Christmas Eve we have spent on this earth.

I think there is great truth in that statement and for me it can really be expanded to encompass the entire holiday season. I get caught up in thinking about all of the good times and bad that I have experienced at Christmas. I recall picking out a Christmas tree every year with my father when I was young, to the magic of reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to my children when they were small, to having to plan the funeral of my father-in-law on Christmas Eve years ago. Those memories all flood to the surface and whether good or bad, they seem to make me sad at Christmas. “Merry Christmas” feels pretty hollow when that melancholy overtakes me.

But as assuredly as Christmas Day comes, the sadness passes. If not before, it almost always does at what for me always feels like a magic moment…….the midnight end of our church’s candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Whenever it happens, I can be sure that Christmas never passes without that Christmas magic striking me. Pastor Ken Gaub of Yakima, Washington relates a true experience in his life that seems to me a pretty good illustration of the Christmas meaning that hits me. It is not a Christmas story in the traditional sense, but in a deeper way it really speaks to the meaning of Christmas.

Pastor Gaub tells of a time when he was driving on I-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with his wife, Barbara, and their children. They turned off the highway for a rest and refreshment stop and Barbara and children went into the restaurant. Ken suddenly felt the need to stretch his legs, so he waved them on ahead saying he'd join them later.

Suddenly the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby jarred Ken out of his doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone? Noise from the traffic flowing through the busy intersection must have drowned out the sound because the service station attendant continued looking after his customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing. "Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?" Ken muttered.

Thinking that the call could be important, curiosity overcame his indifference. Ken stepped inside the booth and picked up the phone. "Hello," he answered. The operator said: "Long distance call for Ken Gaub." With his eyes widened, and swallowing hard, Ken said, "You're crazy!" Then realizing he couldn't speak to an operator like that, he added, "This can't be! I was walking down the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was ringing..." "Is Ken Gaub there?" the operator interrupted, "I have a long distance call for him."

It took a moment for Ken to stop babbling, but he finally replied, "Yes, he is here." Searching for a possible explanation, he wondered if he could possibly be on Candid Camera! Still shaken, perplexed, Ken asked, "How in the world did you reach me here? I was walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and I just answered it on chance. You can't mean me." "Well," the operator asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?" "Yes, I am Ken Gaub," he said, finally convinced by the tone of her voice that the call was real. Then Ken heard another voice say, "Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub."

Ken listened dumbfounded to a strange voice identify herself. "I'm Millie from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't know me, Mr Gaub, but I'm desperate. Please help me." "What can I do for you?" Ken answered. She began weeping. Finally she regained control and continued, "I was about to commit suicide, had just finished writing a note, when I began to pray and tell God I really didn't want to do this. Then I suddenly remembered seeing you on television and thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me. I knew that was impossible because I didn't know how to reach you. I didn't know anyone who could help me find you. Then some numbers came to mind, and I scribbled them down."

At this point she began weeping again. Ken prayed silently for wisdom to help her. She continued, "I looked at the numbers and thought, wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and He has given me Ken's phone number? I decided to try calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you. Are you in your office in California?" Ken replied, "Lady, I don't have an office in California. My office is in Yakima, Washington." A little surprised, she asked, "Oh really, then where are you?" "Don't you know?" Ken responded. "You made the call." She explained, "But, I don't even know what area I'm calling. I just dialed the number that I had on this paper." "Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!" "Really?" she exclaimed. "Well, what are you doing there?" Ken kidded her gently, "Well, I'm answering the phone. It was ringing as I walked by, so I answered it."

Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, Ken began to counsel the woman. She told him of her despair and frustration and he told her about Jesus and how he could lift her despair. In a matter of moments, she met Christ and was on her way to a different life.

Ken walked away from the telephone booth with an electrifying sense of our God’s very personal love for each of His children. What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time. Bursting with exhilaration, he headed back to his family, but wondering if they would believe his story. Even though he thought he probably should keep quiet, as soon as Ken saw his wife he shouted, "Barb, you won't believe this! God knows where I am!"

Ladies and gentlemen that is the miracle of Christmas! Over 2000 years ago God the Creator made a very personal call to each of us when he came to us as a little child. Angels proclaimed his birth to humble shepherds who overcame their fear and, as Ken Gaub, were the first to answer that call in wonderment and seek out that child. That little child grew up and experienced all the joys and sorrows that that we, the Created, experience. He showed us the way to live in God’s presence through him. He showed us that no matter how sad we may be at times, no matter how we may suffer at times, we have a future in Him. That no matter what we have done, no matter where we are, he loves us.

By coming to us in Jesus, God says to each of us, “I know where you are and I love you.” So every Christmas, it comes to me anew. Just like Ken Gaub’s phone call, the meaning hits me again: “God knows where I am and loves me!”

So Merry Christmas! God knows where you are and loves you! He calls us personally through Jesus. Don’t be afraid to answer the phone!

© 2009, Thomas M. Trezise

Reading Time: 1.5 Minutes

The grocery seems to be a place where I find the Kingdom more easily. (See The Kingdom in a Grocery Aisle) My most recent experience occurred a few days ago.

As I entered the checkout line I saw that the young woman bagging the groceries had an almost rigid mask for her face. That was when I could see her face at all, for most of the time she looked down and did not make eye contact. I was moved by her as she seemed unhappy. So I said a silent prayer that Christ would in some way use me to bring joy into her life.

My time to checkout eventually came. When I had paid and was ready to leave, I simply asked her how her day was going, but she did not respond. The cashier in a somewhat harsh, move-along voice, said she was deaf and could not understand me. Mindful that I had recently been taught by the Holy Spirit to communicate to people with words they will understand (See Missing the Message), I stopped and waved my hand before her so she would look up. When she did, I mouthed "Thank You" in the hope that she could read my lips and gave her a "thumbs-up."

As soon as the young woman saw my thumb, she broke into a wide grin and exploded with sign language signs. I have a good friend who is fluent in sign language and teaches it also. I wish she would have been with me, but in the most important sense I did not need her. There was no doubt that the young woman was joyful at being affirmed as a person. God had answered my prayer and used me.

I left the store a little lighter in my step, knowing that I had just experienced life in Christ's Kingdom. Something I say often, indeed it is the purpose of The Everyday Kingdom, is that each of us can experience the Kingdom in our everyday lives. When you give over to Christ not only the big events in your life, but also the small, sometimes very small, moments, the Holy Spirit may still touch you in a big way. You may not only get the message, but also be the message.

© 2023 Thomas Trezise

This summer we completed an extended road trip that had us visiting many relatives and friends across a number of states. That required me to book a few hotels. The hotels all seemed to offer chat services to help with booking. One made interaction with a live human almost impossible by steering me into the artificial intelligence of the chat. After an extended exchange with the chat bot, I received this message: "I recognize your words but do not understand your message."

At first I laughed at the insanity of it all. As an attorney, preacher, and author, I take pride in my ability to fashion words for my purposes and the fact that I could baffle a machine pleased me. After a little reflection, however, I grasped something rather profound in the chat exchange. And particularly profound for those of us who proclaim the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God present with us today is not an easy concept to grasp. Except as it manifests in nature, it is largely invisible, at least directly. Nevertheless, we can see it through the actions of others and how we experience it within our own spiritual life. People also find the Kingdom, however, through the words we speak. There is where my chatbot experience finds purchase.

When I write or speak about the Kingdom, I am meticulous as to the words I choose. I try to assure that I am choosing just the right words to convey my intent. My anxiety and focus is on me. Will I do a good job?

The lesson from my robot friend now becomes relevant. Whether or not I have accurately framed the words I intend is not the question. The question is whether they will be just words to readers, or will they hear the message. Have I fashioned the words for myself, or created a message that will reach my audience?

The message that life in the Kingdom of God is available at this place and time is the greatest good news message ever delivered. The Kingdom message is one of grace that welcomes everyone to life with Christ now and forever. The message is simple: no matter what you have done, Jesus will welcome you into the Kingdom by grace and grace alone, and when you surrender your life to him, he will begin the process of changing you into a person who lives in the Kingdom. Signs of God's grace are everywhere and when Christ is at work in you, then you will see and experience them.

The challenge to anyone proclaiming the Kingdom is to clearly express how we see and experience the Kingdom without larding the message with do's and don'ts that transform the message into recognized words only. Tell others about how you experience Christ in your life. Tell others about how you see Christ in those around you. And look for them in the small things of everyday life. You will find the richness of the Kingdom there.

Jesus commanded us to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel. The world teems with different languages and words. To proclaim the Good News, we must uses words to craft a message the audience understands, not just words in their language, but a message that reaches their hearts. For me, in proclaiming Christ and his Kingdom I hope to never hear, "I recognize your words but do not understand your message."

© 2023, Thomas Trezise

Reading time: 4 Minutes

Amidst all the turmoil and polarization in the United States and other nations, this is still a wonderful world! Yes, it is a fallen world where bad things happen to good people. Yet, Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The Christian story is one of unprecedented love, forgiveness, passion, sacrifice, rejoicing, and celebration. The King of the universe sent his only Son to planet earth to demonstrate his love for us, to bring us good news,  and invite us to live in his kingdom.

Perhaps, you wonder, “Where is the kingdom of God?” Wonder no more! The central message of Jesus Christ in the four gospels is the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the realm where we experience God’s reign. It is also the kingly rule of Christ over every area in our lives. It is both present and future.

When our actions reflect Jesus, then the kingdom of God is present. Wherever and whenever we yield to the King of kings, there is the kingdom of God. Jesus said at Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” Belief that brings the kingdom, however, is more than intellectual assent. It requires action.

The parable of the wedding feast of a king found at Matthew 22:1-14 reveals the kingdom of God as a present reality. There are three main figures: the king who gives the party (God); those invited to the party but who rejected the invitation; and, those who accepted the invitation and rejoiced.

In seeking to understand the parable, we need to know some of the customs involved in giving a banquet in the first century Judaism. The Jews of Roman Palestine ate only two meals. The first was a late breakfast eaten mid-morning. The second meal was eaten in the evening when there was no longer sufficient light to work.

Customarily, a banquet would be held in the evening. Two separate invitations would be sent to the guests. Sometime before the actual feast, the host would send his servant to announce to the guests the forthcoming festivities. The second invitation would be brought by the servant on the actual day of the feast to inform the guests that all was now ready.

This parable reminds us that God’s invitation to the party has gone out. We are all invited to the great banquet in the kingdom of God. We either accept the invitation or reject it. And we may only accept the invitation on God’s terms, not our own..

When we accept the invitation on God’s terms and allow Jesus to transform our lives, we become kingdom people. Once the kingdom of God enters our hearts, we do not remain the same. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us convicts us of our sin and transforms us to live without that sin. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. We are reflectors of his glory. We must be intentional about our behavior. As we submit to the Holy Spirit, we talk differently and we act differently.

There is a difference between church-attenders and kingdom people. Some people can attend church and not invite the King of kings to reign in their hearts and lives. Unless the people of the Church are totally submitted to Christ, she cannot fulfill the kingdom’s agenda.

The Church that God delights to bless is the one that is totally dependent on him., one that is intentional about the kingdom’s work and continues to go out to invite others to the banquet. Rejection of some should not keep us from continuing to invite others. As with the guests of the parable invited the the wedding feast, acceptance of the invitation remains the choice of the invited.

We, his Church, must continue the work of his kingdom with excitement and dedication. Until Christ comes for his Church, we are his servants charged to extend the invitation to the party to all. We, the Church, must continue to be fervent in prayer and faithful to God, share the Gospel and invite others to the kingdom feast, disciple and baptize people who accept the invitation, and relieve suffering wherever we find it.

Our time here has an expiration date. We must not waste it. Seize the moment and make every minute count for the Kingdom.

©2023, Jacqueline Leveron

(You can find the full sermon on YouTube . It starts at 42:53 )

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Having compassion takes courage. Having compassion takes resolve.  Having compassion is not simply a feeling of sympathy for another or a passing feeling of pain, it is a willingness to enter into and, in one sense, carry a person's pain.
 
In his exploration on what it takes to practice compassion, Henri Nouwen wrote:
“Who can listen to a story of loneliness and despair without taking the risk of experiencing similar pains in his own heart and even losing his precious peace of mind? In short: Who can take away suffering without entering it?”  Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society

We can more effectively enter into someone's suffering when we are first aware of our own places of pain in the past as well as in the present. We need not be fully healed, but being in the process of healing will help us both enter into someone's suffering without confusing their world with our own.

Here are some questions that will help you prepare to practice compassion:

• Identify places in your past where you experienced loss. How have your processed that loss? In what ways does that loss have an impact on you today?
• Are you comfortable sitting in silence with someone's pain? What benefits have you found in your own life with someone who allowed you to feel your pain without trying to "fix" you?
• Do you have space in your heart to enter into someone's suffering?

One more thing: because we live in a world that places such a high priority on our own thinking and feeling, compassion does not come easily. When our lives are centered on our relationship with Christ, that frees us to become more aware of the pain in others, which then propels us towards compassion. What I have found extremely fruitful to pursue compassion are these words of Jesus: "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing." John 15:5

When we remain (or you could say abide) with Christ, compassion is a fruit that literally flows out of you. As you spend time in prayer today, ask God to show you areas in which prevent you from seeing and feeling the pain of others. Then ask God to empower you to practice compassion.

© 2023, Tom Stephen

A friend recently observed, “If the church doesn’t offer our young people the Kingdom of God, they will look for it in “wokeness.”   That statement landed on me like a load of bricks.  So-called “Woke” Christianity is a deadly counterfeit of the Kingdom that promises a world of tolerance and equity at the expense of the God-man and Savior of the world.  The Christ of the woke church is Jesus the social-reformer, Jesus the revolutionary, the activist, the anti-racist, the Neo-Marxist, or the abortion crusader.

In past centuries there seemed to be enough godly fear and Biblical literacy in Western culture to tamp-down the counterfeits of liberal, progressive, and “woke” Christianity.  People had little interest in a church focused on issues yet bereft of life-changing power.  But in today’s Western culture the fear of God is so rare, and the human race is so desperate that every impostor and counterfeit Christ is welcomed like the latest episode of Yellowstone.

How can we identify the counterfeit?   Here are a few red flags to look for:  

1. Woke Christians are often identified by their open disdain towards the historical church. While Biblical Christians lament the failings of the church, which are mentioned often in the Epistles, they still embrace the church as the flawed yet  beloved bride of Christ.  
2. “Woke” Christians often display an air of patronizing superiority. “You just wouldn’t understand.”  To become woke is a counterfeit conversion, an initiation into a special priesthood which lectures and judges the unenlightened.   
3. Woke Christians are often overly focused on causes rather than Christ: equity, anti-racism, special rights, over-population, climate change, and  immigration to name only a few.  In the woke world these causes become frontline issues while the saving life of Christ is minimized, if not forgotten altogether. (It’s important to mention here that the Kingdom of God squarely addresses every one of these issues with the utmost tenderness and grace, yet always in context of Jesus first).  
4. Woke Christians are prone to elevate government, environment, feelings, and selfhood, to the place of idolatry. 
5. Woke Christians often embrace abortion almost as a sacrament of the faith.  
6. And finally, woke Christians utilize a distinct language and vocabulary to express their unbiblical theology and worldview.  Examples include “heteronormativity”, “white patriarchy”, “parity”, “implicit bias”, “systemic racism”,  “micro-aggressions”, “hegemony”, “gender binary”, “intersectionality”, “social justice”, and “equity”, to name but a few.    

If you see these things in your friend or brother, pray for him and look for ways to help him see the destructive course he’s on.  It’s no small thing to follow a counterfeit Christ.

© 2023, Don Stephens

If you want to know more, see our review of Woke Jesus at our Library, 

This week’s unfolding nightmare in Israel and Gaza is the tragic result of missing what we were made for. The Palestinians have missed it, but so have the Israelis, the nations, and many Christians, including some of us.

We humans are designed for a Kingdom, for a territory that’s safe, free, beautiful, blessed, and prosperous. God designed us to exist in a “homeland for the human soul”. And so he programmed that dream into our very DNA. But here is the problem: we have the dream without the interpretation, and so we go about looking for it in all the wrong ways: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.” (James 5:1-2) These two verses describe human nature with shocking precision.

But the answer, unfortunately, can never be found in diplomacy alone, nor in armed conflict, resistance, or endless retaliation. Neither the UN, the Jewish nation, the Western Powers, nor Radical Islam have a lasting solution to the complexities of the Middle East. Yet there IS an answer: We must all return to the Lord, receive a new heart, and embrace the hope of the Kingdom.

His is a Kingdom of forgiveness, enemy-love, and humility, where the nations beat their swords into plowshares, and the art of war is forever forgotten. A pipe dream, you say? Then tell us where and when it has ever been tested and shown to be a failure? The problem with the Kingdom is not that it has failed. It has barely been understood, and certainly never been tried.

But you are here at The Everyday Kingdom, and you are curious! So let’s get started: It all begins when we embrace the life of Jesus and the beauty of His dream for the world. We move forward by learning the ways of the Kingdom, as we imitate and share the life the King Himself: Our part is simply to pray, love, forgive, serve, and declare the good news of that different world.

There certainly remains the embedded problem of human wickedness. Christians have wrestled for centuries for the proper Christian response to war and violence. Must we stand in the face of wickedness and reject it? Certainly. Should we protect, comfort, and care for the victims of evil? Absolutely! We must remember, however, that evil rests in individual human hearts, and avoid the sweeping condemnation of all Palestinians because some are terrorists. Alas, there are no human tools for turning hardened terrorists into loving, forgiving saints.

And yet there is hope! There is One who can wash evil from the human heart. Jesus does not choose sides like we do. He simply opposes evil and receives all who will come to him. If we long for the beautiful Kingdom to become a reality, then we must do our part. He is certain to do His.

© 2023, Don Stephens

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We sometimes are so focused on the experience of life in God's Kingdom every day that it is easy to forget that, for now, the Kingdom we experience exists with great evil all about it. And there is no middle ground. Either we live in the Kingdom or the chaos of evil.

Every so often evil rears its ugliness in ways that are hard to fathom and ignore. In the Theater you will find a review of the movie Sound of Freedom and the Library features the Murphy Shepherd fiction series by award-winning author, Charles Martin. The film and the novels drive home the horror of human sex trafficking. It is an evil we may have recognized in an intellectual sense, but if you see the movie and read the books you grasp it with your senses and understanding you never had follows.

I am retired, but in my professional career I became involved in some matters which revolved around sex trafficking. My role was very much on the fringes, but even from there I learned about unspeakable abuses. Evil -- great evil -- is the only word to describe it. I know some response to the Sound of Freedom has suggested that it overplays the issue. I can tell you that whether or not the movie is flawed, sex trafficking of children and adults is real. Very real.

Life in Christ's Kingdom every day includes not only being transformed by the Holy Spirit into the people we were intended to be, but also being used by the Holy Spirit to push the Kingdom against the evil of the world. Learning who you are intended to be and then what you can be used to accomplish gives that thing we all seek for our lives -- purpose. If you find that you are called in any way to act against the evil of human trafficking, I encourage you to seek out the Tim Tebow Foundation and find how you might play a role fighting this evil.

© 2023, Thomas Trezise

Reading time 2 minutes.

Tears. Uncontrollable tears. And I had no idea why.

I just sat there. In the wake of a deeply powerful sermon from Ecclesiastes, all I could do was sit, not move or hold in my emotions. I felt a deep sense of despair verging on an existential crisis that eventually resulted in a whole new way of understanding family, work, and being a husband. This little crack in the dam of my emotions was the beginning of a twenty year journey in knowing the voice of God.

A fellow pastor at this retreat came over to sit with me. As she put her hand on my shoulder, the tears started flowing. She said very little. I really didn’t want to speak but her presence meant the world to me. To this day I still hold a deep sense of appreciation for her silent presence.

As I left the chapel, I felt compelled to go sit alone on the retreat grounds. I had my journal with me because I was using it to take notes at the retreat. Journaling at this point in my life was very sporadic.

As I sat in the chapel I had an idea, I felt like God was calling me to “journal His voice.”  I was so self conscious: could I really expect God to speak to me through my own writing? Despite feeling very foolish, I asked God to speak to my heart. I opened my journal and decided to write whatever came to mind. I had done stream of consciousness journaling in high school but never with a prayer asking to hear the Father’s voice.

Here’s what I heard, “Tom I love you. I’ve always loved you. Not because of what you do or because of what you’ve done; I simply love you. You are going to face some hard times. Know that I am with you.” Simple; yes. Profound; not really. Deeply personal and healing. For sure. I then spent the next thirty minutes writing out a conversation with God. I would write my thoughts and then journal what I supposed would be His voice. Those thirty minutes were good, I got my feelings on paper, but those first couple of sentences were different: they felt like the voice of God.

Since that night, I’ve used journaling as a way to listen for God’s voice. Writing helps me to slow down and to hear God’s words more distinctly. At times, I’ll hear God speak as I ask Him questions about a certain scripture passage. At other times, I’ll hear his voice in my questions and His answers. Often I sit quietly and wait. When I sense the voice of God moving, I simply write what I hear.

When I slow down and listen, God speaks.

© 2023, Tom Stephen

Reading time 1.5 minutes.


I usually suppress any inspiration to write about finding the Kingdom in nature. God speaks pretty loudly through his creation, so I have no good explanation. Today I have surrendered that hesitancy. The Holy Spirit really gave me no choice.

This morning I was sitting on my back patio for my devotions. I've been pretty stagnant devotionally, focused more on doing for God than listening to him. Our patio sits against a pond and woods beyond. We have a pretty strong wind this morning and a rain approaching. As I was praying for God to reveal himself today, I saw two ducks flying down the pond like rockets before the wind. They almost immediately returned, flying more slowly against the wind and as they reached a spot directly opposite me they surrendered to the wind and went straight up and then turned to fly downwind again.

My heart opened to the message of the Kingdom taught by the ducks. The Holy Spirit appears in scripture often as a wind. In Acts 2:2, for example, the Spirit descended with the sound of a rushing wind. Jesus promised the Spirit will be our guide. John 16:13. So what I saw in the ducks this morning was what happens when we fly with the wind of the Holy Spirit at our backs, guiding us swiftly on our course, and how difficult life can become when we resist the Spirit, flying against the force of the Spirit-wind.

It is counterintuitive, but we simply cannot live in the Kingdom by the force of our own will. We want to remain in control, but as long as we try to live our lives by our own choices, even if those choices are what we think serve Christ, we will find ourselves flying against the wind of the Spirit. Ah, but once we surrender our will to Christ, the wind we find at our backs will take us to places beyond our imagining and we will see Christ and the Kingdom from a new perspective. So fly with the Wind!

© 2023, Thomas M. Trezise

Years ago Youth With A Mission in Kona was sending off an outreach team to some far-off nation of the world.  The student-missionaries were surrounded by teachers and seasoned staff praying and waiting to see if perhaps the Holy Spirit had anything He wanted to say on their way to the airport.  And sure enough, His word came forth from one of the older saints:  “Don’t go!  Don’t go unless you love them!  Apart from love your message will be barren!”

That powerful memory has returned to me recently, especially since a dear friend has challenged me several times about the importance of being “authorized” to represent Jesus. Although the resurrected One gave us the authority to preach, heal, cast out demons and make disciples, it was all predicated on the foundation of His life: The love of the Father.  Anything divorced from that love will remain sterile, barren and meaningless.  “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am only a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”  

“Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and knowledge; and though I have the faith to move mountains, but have not love… I am nothing.”   Eloquence, miracles, prophecy, wisdom and even faith itself are meaningless apart from love.

Years ago I had a vivid dream that changed me: I was resting my head against Jesus’ chest listening to his heartbeat.  But the sound of his heart surprised me;  instead of the “thump… thump… thump…” I expected, each cadent throb of His heart spoke “people… people… people…”

God’s Kingdom is a show-and-tell endeavor.  The language that opens the souls of broken men and women is love.

© 2023, Don Stephens

Yesterday morning we received a call from a Georgia friend to tell us that Will, a little boy from our Georgia church community, had died. We were heartbroken by the news. Rarely has a death outside our family cut so deeply.

Will was just six years old and carried the nickname, Warrior Will. From birth he had been plagued by a constellation of physical problems that occurs only in one in a million births. Among other difficulties, he had great problems swallowing and his lungs struggled to provide enough oxygen to keep him alive. Yet, he lived, and gloriously so.

The accompanying photo captures Will's spirit. He frequently gave a thumbs up sign to show he was in the game. He was a fighter and a miracle of survival. Although his physical survival was a miracle, spiritually he was so much greater. You could not be in his presence for long before you came face-to-face with Christ's Kingdom. A recent post to the Facebook page that tracked his life shows him singing a praise song while on the way to the hospital. How many of us would do that?

Will was an inspiration to everyone who met him. He touched lives in ways beyond his age. Indeed, I think it safe to say that in his six short years Will presented the Holy Spirit to more people than many of us will in our three score and ten.

Although I knew Will's health was fragile, I had become complacent about his survival and looked forward to the even greater impact he would have as he grew.  So immediately after I learned that he had died suddenly from a lack of oxygen in his blood, I did something I rarely do anymore. I asked God, "Why?" I told him that I simply could not understand Will's death.

Soon thereafter I turned to my morning devotional. A verse quoted was Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." That was a wake up alarm! I certainly was leaning on my own understanding, or lack thereof, in my challenge to God. So I stepped back and tried to look at Will's death from what I understand about life in God's Kingdom now and eternal.

We live in a broken world where so much of it around us and inside our hearts is outside God's plan for us. Christ came to help us experience now what life in the Kingdom is, but that experience is imperfect because we still live in this imperfect world. Death is not part of God's plan for us. Jesus proved that by his resurrection to life in the eternal Kingdom. But even all who follow Jesus must still follow him through death and on to resurrection. None of us can escape death.

But what about Will? I know his death was the result of the fractured state we share as humans and not caused by God. But couldn't God have spared him from death now? The simple answer to that is, "Yes." Jesus healed and spared others from death even to the point of the resurrection of Lazarus. But those events are rare and serve to witness in some way to a greater purpose than just restoring life. Yet, Will was already such a great witness in his own way that if I was God I would have made sure he had even more time to do that. But this is where the trust in God and not my understanding comes in. He is God and I am not. I have seen Jesus work through the Holy Spirit so many times, and the reality of his Kingdom at work every day, that I still trust him even when at times such as this understanding is hard.

So I with so many others will grieve Will's death. Grief is natural and not outside God's plan and Kingdom. Jesus wept in grief for the death of Lazarus even though he knew he was about to restore him to life. It is a way for the Holy Spirit to comfort us. I imagine Will standing with Jesus as a vibrant, strong, and healthy young man now singing his praise with a forceful voice. That may be an image that I need to create for myself, but even though I write this through tears, I know one thing for certain. Christ stands at the other side of death, for Will and us all. That is all I need to understand.

© 2023, Thomas M. Trezise