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Last week I sent this note to several of my friends asking for help, especially members of our fellowship, the International churches of Christ. In the note I explain in detail what we’re hoping to accomplish with the “Upside Down 2016” musical. Now, I’m sharing that same letter with you and asking for your help. Next month we are going to attempt to turn the world upside down; with an event t

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from amo

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it be

And now let’s pray for boldness. The kind of boldness that will let us attempt to do things that not everyone thinks is wise, or safe, or sane. Let’s pray for boldness to share our faith, our hearts, our lives. Let’s pray for boldness as we attempt to follow in the steps of our Lord. And maybe you might want to sing while you pray. This time, today, why not sing while you pray….   slj jun

  One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5

How much can we trust a census from 2000 years ago? The Roman census of Jesus’ day had a population estimate for Jerusalem hitting over 600,000. Josephus would later record over one million killed in Jerusalem nearly 40 years after the Lord’s ascension. I live in a town with a population of a little over 600,000. I think I know what living in a city with 600,000 people feels like. I’m familiar with

attempt |əˈtem(p)t| verb [ with obj. ] make an effort to achieve or complete (something, typically a difficult task or action): she attempted a comeback in 2016; try to climb to the top of (a mountain); the group’s next plan was to attempt Everest. noun an act of trying to achieve something, typically one that is unsuccessful or not certain to succeed: an effort to surpass a record or conquer a mountain: we mad

… starting tomorrow, join me here for 28 days of june as we make an extraordinary attempt, together. i’ll be encouraging us all to read the book of Acts of the Apostles, together; and sharing some of the correlations between the musical we’re doing in St. Louis and the book which inspired us so long ago to sing about turning the world upside down. so come back here tomorrow. it’s time to sing

About 30 years ago I received a phone call from my mentor introducing me to a young lady who was moving to Manhattan. Had I known then just how dear and important that friend would become I surely would have written down the exact date that she came into our lives. But Sandra Arnold and I share not only a mentor, but years of holiday dinners and conversations. My children grew up loving her and for my wife and I havi

the other day someone tried to ‘huck’ me into paying money to be somebody. i love it when someone treats me like i feel i deserve. once i got to sit court side at a knicks game, after driving a maserati across manhattan into brooklyn; and after the game got to schmooze with the players and their wives and friends. i got off the elevator that day, the ‘elvis entrance’; entering the vip zone wit