As we consider how to best serve those around us, going alcohol-free may well be one of the most profound gestures of hospitality we can make. Rather than asking people to fit themselves around established norms, we build events that are genuinely welcoming for all.
If ministries that are expected to be self-sustaining through sales of curriculum and books are no longer sustainable, what does that say about our buying habits? As Matthew 6:21 reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
When was the last time you attended a wedding service where cultures and languages were honored equally? When was the last time you attended a wedding service where all were invited to partake at Jesus’ communion table in two languages? My God reminds me that officiating such a blessed wedding is possible, even if we are surrounded by global racial polarization.
In a culture that demands conformity, and where conformity is often equaled with Christianity, what remains the price of acceptance?
Stewardship is not simply about raising money for ministry. It includes helping people see all they have as a gift from God.
Me encantaría poder decir que después de la tormenta viene la calma, pero no siempre es así. A veces, después de la tormenta, hace falta que denunciemos las estructuras y los sistemas que nos oprimen a tal grado que detienen u obstaculizan la recuperación.