Ouch
The Jesus-produced ouch isn’t about shame or guilt, not at all. Jesus’ love, delivered through story, is interested in truth; truth that dances on our lips and is proved by how we live.
Kingdom
When we find God’s kingdom in small things, we are like the merchant finding a small pearl of great value, filled with joy and satisfaction as our search for God’s work progresses.
Progress
Progress with God and for God is always one part tradition, one part scripture, and one part courageous humble experiment.
Love
Jesus has prescribed that while we aren’t guaranteed full restoration with a brother or sister, when we commit ourselves to the ministry of reconciliation, we demonstrate the love of God.
Preference
God’s blessing helps to locate us, confirm us, energize us and even offer us coordinates back to blessing when we stray. Blessing is experienced as a reason to hope, communicated by a reliable source based on an ultimate truth.
Restorative
Jesus redeems John and the good he was doing before his arrest by turning lament into life. Injustice will be with us as long as there is humanity, the question is will we let it have the last word?
Nearness
God’s nearness demands a response. Not like a command or rude insistence but like being prompted by an undeniable truth like real friendship, forgiveness, and love.