a quote by Chan has been messing with me this week. I am asking God what a group that enjoys Christ dwelling among them might look like. (Col 3.16) Chan writes (and I paraphrase), it's not that America is rejecting Jesus Christ, necessarily. Perhaps its just that they haven't seen Him. Instead, they have simply seen a very poor knock-off version of what a Christ-follower might be. We live in a time when the term "Christian" has been so diluted that millions of immoral but nice people genuinely consider themselves "good Christians." We have reduced the idea of a good Christian to someone who believes in Jesus, loves his or her family, and attends church regularly.

I am so begging God that people see a radical, impassioned, zealously in love with Jesus bunch of people who love God deeply..... love those around them wildly.... and, as Acts 2 reads in the message, 'people in general will like what they see' in the body of Christ.

Chan's thoughts are wrecking me. I love the church. May the church be consumed by the goodness of Christ and may His beauty, wonder, and grace dwell among us. May we never shrink back from all-encompassing call of the gospel.

By Grace.... For Glory,
Mark