community – 300 words a day

Looking forward to Advent

I’ve had mixed feelings about Advent and Christmas for years. Everyone’s happy and I get more melancholy. There are expectations of great love and great presents and great programs, and I feel inadequate. But several years ago, I began to understand that spending time in preparation can help us handle seasons of expectation with wisdom […]

by Jon Swanson

Helping each other grow

The other night we were talking about being disciples. I had asked, “What would a group of people committed to helping each other be disciples and make disciples do?” And we were talking about we would do. So I asked, “In the course of a week, how would they help each other?” I enjoyed the […]

by Jon Swanson

confident humility

I’ve been trying to decide how to write about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Yesterday, I hinted at a feeling of entitlement among the disciples, just a moment of it. I think it was too much of a hint. So I’ll be less subtle. Confidence let Jesus be humble. Deservingness causes humbleness to be needed. […]

by Jon Swanson

Serious business, relationship is.

After laying out the process of caring for people who have not done what he says, Jesus gives the implication: “Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven.” There is a connection between here and there, between what we say and what God does. If we say, “you aren’t living right,” God says, “you […]

by Jon Swanson

telling it to the church

If you get miffed at your church today, there is another one down the street you can visit tomorrow. You don’t even have to go down the street. You can turn to your computer and participate in a church online. I am not against options. I have myself moved from one church to another more […]