Jesus announced 'the kingdom of heaven is near'.  The kingdom was called good news precisely because it was "news" - it was happening - and not just a wish.  The kingdom was present because Jesus was present. 

So - where's the kingdom?

This is Albert Schweitzer's question (1900).  Schweitzer read the gospels and deduced that Jesus was an apocalyptic figure, a messiah, a savior.  But says Jesus was crushed by the times - he failed. "Where's the kingdom? " 

The more accurate question is this: "What does the kingdom of heaven look like?"  If we go to Matthew's gospel, chapter ten, we find a description of the kingdom of heaven...

heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons freely give, freely receive - no money and few possessions needed - live off others' generosity if you are received then your hosts are "in" and if you are not welcomed, then judgment upon them you are sheep among wolves; wary as snakes, harmless as doves Then...

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Silence gives my words strength

wraps its vines around my muscles

and tightens, squeezing my body into attention

 

Delving deep into earth and restful decay,

roots penetrate me, searching out my rot

And Oh! Is it there

right there on the surface

amidst the litter,

claver and natter

cleverness and schemes

beliefs and systems of conquest

building ramparts and engines

to hurl down my enemies and problems

 

Then - Then my sins are revealed

poking out of earth, the rot and nutrition of fallen wealth

 

I cannot fly

these clicks and snaps haunt me

the breeze comes through my silence unbidden

and disturbs me:

"Be warned! I come as a thief;

I am your oracle

pronouncing doom but hope."

These written words are as organized

and telling as a bright yellow sign in the woods:

"No trespassing, Private property"

 

I hear all at...

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I know Jesus said we should "store up treasure in heaven," but I take this thought a step further:  surely by now a few saints have stored up some treasure in heaven.  And let's not forget the well-spring of Jesus' ransom and the inexhaustible life of the resurrection.  He is not decaying!

Add to this treasury our role as stewards of everything g-d gives us... our comforts, our children, our money and time -- all of these assets belong to g-d.  As stewards we bring forth the treasures of heaven into our world.  G-d has blessed us so we may bless others.  We are the fragrant aroma of Christ in our world.  We are heralds of hope. 

I renounce the defeatism of some followers who think we are a poor and beaten-down rag-tag of exiles and vagabonds.  We are not "just-a-passin' through".  Nor are we 'subversive'.  No, we are the breath of life, the presence of Jesus unto our world.  We are watching and following the Spirit of the Almighty.  Justice flows from heaven through us.  Well-being flows through us from heaven.  When we walk into a room, in walks Jesus. 

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Dr. Dallas Willard says we live in a god-bathed world.

That phrase "god-bathed world" has stuck with me.  It is my job to fill my children's' world with the presence of god. PBS Kids isn't going to tell my children they live in a god-bathed world.  Public school isn't going to either.  Church only has my kids for 60 hours per year.

But I go with my kids some 3,000 hours per year. I am their god-given tour guide. What we need for this job is imagination more than lots of information.  I've never failed to look at a work of art in a gallery and not think, "I wonder what motivated the artist... I wonder what I am supposed to see or understand... what does this art tell me about the artist?"  Likewise, we see our world around us and it is not just a pile of pop art - pretty colors and shapes.  It is there as pure beauty and fun, exhilaration, speed, light - and it all points to the Artist. 

Willard:  "We pay a lot of money to get a tank wit ha few tropical fish in it and never tire of looking at their brilliant iridescence and marvelous forms and movements.  But God has seas full of them, which he constantly enjoys." (The Divine Conspiracy, p63)

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The KC Star is bemoaning the plight of our inner city.  Lakeland is doing something about it.

 We are to be pilgrims in our own backyards

We have a new President.