SMITCHing

A friend of mine challenged a group of church creatives with a deceptively simple question: how do you experience God in a fresh way?. He reminded us of a Hillsong release called Fresh Wind . The chorus claims we need a fresh wind, a fresh experience of God offered by His Spirit. The song's a beautiful meditation on our continual need for a touch from God, like a dopamine hit.  Don't get me wrong. I like the song. My reference to dopamine isn't a cynical commentary on the song or its message. As my friend challenged us to share with one another how and where we find a fresh, invigorating encounter with God, he was vulnerable and shared part of his own story. He spoke of the grind that a megachurch can be, where creative team staffers stumble from Sunday to Sunday. The incessant rhythm of production never quite affords them the opportunity for a fresh touch of God's Spirit. My friend was challenging us to find a place for that fresh touch of God. He then asked where we e...

This post’s title sounds a little like a restaurant in the Pearl, “Young & Elder.” It can also seem like a contradiction in terms until we read Paul’s words to a young elder: "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 This verse shows that age has precious little to do with leadership. However, sharing an exemplary life with others has everything to do with it. Often that sharing happens across generations, with older people offering hard-won wisdom to younger generations. However, Paul’s words to Timothy also make space for younger people to lead those who are older. Timothy’s example makes it clear that giftedness, calling, and character matter more than age. The Holy Spirit is not constrained by someone’s birth date.  Age ≠ Always Equal Caracter and Wisdom Many prominent Evangelical leaders have fallen recently, and these tragedies teach us a har...