The powers and principalities of this world—the governments and corporations, all our ideologies and economic systems; all the ‘isms’ that we have found comfort in, and all the tribal allegiances that have offered us some semblance of security —are arrayed against the Kingdom of God and therefore deeply resistant to any signs of its growth or expansion into our world.  These powers are going to fight back whenever they feel threatened and they feel plenty threatened by those who passionately pursue justice, who love mercy, resist personal and systemic evil, and advocate loudly for peace and the best interests of their neighbors, those next door as well as those around the world.

It may look bad now, and it will even look worse down the road, but if you stay faithful, if you cling to Christ and to one another, you will share in the victory won by Jesus.

        To understand how radical the apostle’s call for mutuality in marriage, cooperation in parenting, and compassion in dealing with one’s slaves really was, consider this summary of the great Greek philosopher and teacher Aristotle. (I got this off the web from a reputable source.) “ARISTOTLE: The male is by nature superior, and the female inferior; and the one rules, and the other is ruled; this principle of necessity extends to all mankind…

      Yesterday, after Pastor Daisy’s excellent sermon, I had a few moments with the 10:30 folks and I mentioned two other ways God’s mission becomes our mission.

      The theme of this week’s sermon on Acts 10 was the Spirit’s desire to reach beyond ‘people like us’ to include outsiders—such as Samaritans, Ethiopian Eunuchs, Romans and Gentiles of all types—as full members of God’s family. As I was sifting through possible ways to highlight that theme, I came across the following illustration. I found it inspiring and important, it just didn’t quite fit the direction the sermon was taking. I thought you might enjoy thinking it over anyway.