Moving First

So this morning during our gathering at THE REFINERY, we were discussing Matthew 5:21-26 where Jesus, in his famous Sermon on the Mount, is giving a new dimension to the laws prohibiting murder. He takes the normal stance of not purposing to cause someone physical harm in the midst of one’s anger, and goes five [...]

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In Your Honor: The Inauguration of the Future

Today marks the most pivotal day in the life of a follower of Jesus. Today is the day that victory was assured over the penalty of sin. This weekend, Good Friday through Easter Sunday, mark the time that the effects of the broken cosmos began to be reversed and our assurance of the future wholeness [...]

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Fundamentalism as a Temperament

In the June 24, 1957 issue of Christianity Today, editor Carl Henry gave a sadly timeless critique of Fundamentalism. Keep in mind, the following was written fifty years ago. The real bankruptcy of fundamentalism has resulted not so much from a reactionary spirit – lamentable as this was – as from a harsh temperament, a [...]

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Friendship

Camaraderie and brotherhood are a necessity indulged by too few at the expense of their own soul.

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The Scandal of the Kingdom (continued)

So, to continue my thoughts about this scandal of the openness of the Kingdom of God, I made a comment (that, to be honest, was made in quite a throw-away fashion) that this discussion we had on Sunday was dangerous. That was, more or less, an instinctual comment, but I stand by it nonetheless. After [...]

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The Scandal of the Kingdom

This morning at The Refinery, we had a dangerous discussion about the nature of the availability of the Kingdom of God. Our text was Matthew 5, the Beatitudes. This passage has been probably one of the most universally beloved and still widely misunderstood at the same time. We tend to take this list of “blesseds” [...]

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This Beautiful Mess

So my dear friend, John, told me about a book by Rick McKinley (pastor of Image Dei) called This Beautiful Mess. This book, very nicely written and easily read by the way, is all about the Kingdom of God. This is something we’ve been talking about for weeks at The Refinery. When I say we’ve [...]

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Lenten Worship at The Refinery

Our world is constantly in the full swing of the seasons around us. After summer comes the death and cold winter; a time to watch as trees are stripped bare and plants die in the harsh climate. After winter comes the rebirth and magnificent beauty of spring. Vibrant colors adorn the landscape as trees regain [...]

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THREE A M

Yes, it’s 3AM. Long story. However…I am interested to hear some feedback on something: TWO QUESTIONS 1. What’s the thing that attracts you most to Christ? 2. What’s the one expectation you have from God that you have yet to find fulfilled? No easy, sunday school answers, please. You may choose one or both questions [...]

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Learning Lessons and Forgetting Them

Sometimes, it’s good to forget things. Now, I don’t literally mean “forget” things like one might forget where they placed their keys. I mean a more figurative thing, like putting it behind you and moving on. Occasionally, some of those things you need to forget are the very lessons you may have needed to learn [...]

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