For centuries, the church has observed a season called Lent. Lent is a period of reflection and imitation. It’s a season of spiritual preparation in which Jesus’ followers embrace intentional self-denial, just as Jesus embraced His cross. This year, Christ…
This blog is Part 1 in a four-part series. “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir, 1912 God made this…
When Liz and I arrived in Kansas City to begin Christ Community, we had never served in a pastoral role before, and we had few resources. We felt God had called us to a bold-faith mission, but transparently, there were…
The book of Genesis is perhaps one of the most controversial and contentious books of the Bible. Not only between theists and atheists, but also among people of faith who believe in the divine inspiration of the first book of…
Lent is the 40-day period leading up to Easter, beginning with Ash Wednesday (March 6 this year), culminating with our celebration of the Greatest Day, the day death died and hope triumphed, our Resurrection Sunday (April 21). I didn’t grow…
There is a story that is attributed to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle where he anonymously sent a telegram to a handful of wealthy and influential men in London. The telegram simply read, “Flee at once! All has been discovered!” According…
It is not difficult to look at our families and see the influence of technology on our identities at all ages: toddlers asking Alexa to play Baby Shark, the viral influence of the bottle flip challenge, teenagers with Instagram selfies,…
By Melody McSparran, Leawood Outreach Team The outreach team at our Leawood Campus has been seeking a deeper understanding of God’s purposes as we commit to serving those in our community, city, and world with the love of Christ Jesus. To help…
I look forward to each January as a time to reflect on the past year and look for ways to grow in the new year. While New Year's resolutions often get a bad rap, the idea of reflection and refocus…
I recently heard a young woman saying she was considering a career change. “I’ve been in the for-profit sector now for awhile, but I can’t get away from the fact that I feel called to ministry.” And, of course, I…