the lion and lucy

Sarah and I recently returned to Narnia, going to see Prince Caspian (on the opening day, of course, due to me being a dork). My favorite scene is between Aslan and Lucy, when she dreams of meeting him in the forest. The trees magically move to form a path, revealing him to us for the first time in the film. In the book, it goes down like this…

“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

Lewis writes theology into every word and roar from Aslan’s mouth. I love this thought…that as we grow older and wiser, as we further feel out the edges of our intellect, God grows larger (though never older) in our eyes. At least when we see and think rightly. Even as we receive degrees declaring us ‘masters of divinity,’ we still fail to corner the mystery. This should not be frustrating, but deeply encouraging and inspiring. It is an invitation to move further up, and further in, finding a snowy wood on the other side of the wardrobe, and an entire world stretching out beyond that.

As we outgrow our bedtime stories, there is still one Story that will continue to outgrow us.

obi-wan wisdom

Today in Chapel at Asbury, Dr. Robert Mulholland (spiritual formation guru and Asbury's version of Obi-Wan Kenobi) talked about the interesting distinction between the following two ideas:

Be in the WORLD for GOD.

Be in GOD for the WORLD.

Any thoughts on the differences between the two?

a city on a hill

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
-Matthew 5:14, 16

The way of Jesus is more than a faith, more than a collection of common beliefs. The way of Jesus is a movement, leaving a trail of transformed lives in its wake. It is a rolling, rising tide of grace. And we have been swept up in it.

The same grace that searched us out with the hope of rescue is sending us out with this message of Love.

We have answered an unshakable call to plant a new church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. To form a new community of Spirit-filled Storytellers, creatively expressing the mercy of God. To live as captives to the truth that sets souls free. To become what the prophet Isaiah called, "a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor..."

To be light in the dark, like a city on a hill.