Community - Praxis Series; Brady Bobbink (Acts 6:1-7)

Fractures cause frisson
when the scales of justice
tilt.
Unequal measures
display favoritism
and the ugly seed
of discrimination 
sprouts.
Set patterns of thinking
and status boundaries
threaten to destroy
community.

Take a look at my heart, Lord.
Root out the weeds
of cultural
and habitual barriers
that choke
Your work.

Servants fill needs
and give structure
to community.
Servanthood is earned:
they must be
without reproach,
spirit vessels
and wisdom practicers.

Grow in depth.
Set down roots
that spread
and feed on 
His Word.

Courage (Praxis Series) Tim Knipp (Acts 4:1-14; Luke 22:52-62)

Be brave 
more than careful.
Be courageous
more than safe.

Resurrection meant
Opposite Day - 
capsizing of the 
status quo.

Brought before the
intimidating elite,
uneducated, backwards
fishermen trembled.
It was the
second time around 
for Peter.
Tasting bitter gall,
he looked his personal fear
in the eyes.
Swallowing,
he spoke the name
of Christ.
His unloosed tongue
trumpeted truth
and craven fear
shuddered
in defeat.
More shadow than 
substance,
fear dissolves
in the light
of courage.
"Do not be afraid"
echoed in Peter's ears
as he stunned the 
priests and elders
to silence.
From cowering
denier
to bold broadcaster,
Peter chose to trust
in the One who
forgave his darkest betrayal;
the One who faced
the grave and triumphed;
the One who filled
Peter with His strength.

We can spread our arms
and lie back
into the supporting arms 
of that same One.

Do I trust Him?

Pocket Change; Praxis series - Christian Anderson (Acts 3:1-10)

People as fixtures:
oddities who 
fill roles - 
flat stereotypes -
the homeless man,
the wounded vet,
the vagrant youth.

Avoiding eye contact,
we hurry by
or
guilt-ridden
dig for spare change
in designer pockets.

Peter looked in
the cripple's eyes -
saw him -
and offered healing
and hope
in Christ's name.
The lame will walk,
the dumb will speak,
the clumsy will dance,
the fractured psyche
will calm -
all will 
leap for joy!

Look into the eyes
that hide behind
grease-straggled hair,
or the stone facades
of hooded teens.

Look.

See.

Then pray.

Focus on the riches
you have in Christ
and dig into
those 
pockets.

Restoration - Tim Knipp (Acts 3:21; Col. 1:15-20)

Is the empty tomb
simply a Christian version
of eternal life insurance -
a safety net so we
can calm our fears
when contemplating
the vast maw of death?

Or did the empty tomb
provide a conduit
through death
rather than an escape
from its clutches?

God's masterwork
of Creation is slashed
and marred
by our addiction
to our selves.
We see in a fractured mirror,
unable to speak
without lies,
or act without
ice in our veins;
unable to touch
creation without spreading
our dis-ease.

This brokenness was 
inflicted on Him
so that through His death
all the fragmented
parts
can be re-formed
by the Puzzle Maker.

We can choose restoration
or rebellion,
calm or chaos.

Does cynicism hold 
you back?
What if it is true?

Have broken people
wounded you?
Look beyond the
jagged edges of your wounds
to Him who
bled for you
and offers you 
restoration.

Choose.