In my years of pastoring and church planting, I have found something of a rift between varying Jesus tribes that often goes unspoken. The rift I am referring to runs between those churches and movements that primarily focus on that which happens in the community of God and those that primarily focus on that which happens through the community of God. However, if we are going to see a fresh move of God in our lifetime, we cannot afford to focus on one and not the other.

Some days I like to think I'm like John or Peter. But if I'm honest, most days I think I'm a lot more like Judas - doubtful that God can be anywhere near as good as Jesus suggests and tempted at times to sell out for a measly bag of silver.

Today I praise God that even the Judas' of the world are invited around the table of the lamb!

“I am fully a missionary that has a full time job in football. This allows me to be with people on a day to day basis. It helps me to be present in people's lives.”

Roughly a decade ago my wife and I found ourselves leading a rapidly growing church plant, adding additional services and staff, on the cusp of launching our second campus, and on the receiving end of lots of applause and attention. What most didn't know at the time was I was dying inside.

The older I get and the longer I serve in ministry, the more convinced I am that while charisma can be a gift, it can also be both a liability and a limitation to those who seek to walk and lead in the way of Jesus.

Summer isn’t a throwaway season for ministry.

It’s prime time for some of God’s most exciting work.

God doesn't need your power.

All He needs is your willingness.

And in those moments when you feel powerless it turns out you are perfectly positioned to be used by God.

God’s glory is a big deal. And every now and then God’s people got a little glimpse of it. But the prophets spoke of a day when God’s glory would finally be revealed to all.

This is what it looks like when God’s glory goes low.

From healthcare, to education, to history, to science, to art, to human rights, Jesus, the light of the world, and his movement of light-bringers have impacted human history and human present in a way that no other person or movement has.

What is that? That’s the light breaking in.