An Encouraging Word

I have been reading Chip Brogden's new book, "The Irresistible Kingdom" and came across a vision of the future that strikes me as right on the money and goes right to the heart of what the Lord is doing through me and Christine with Sweetbird. In the Epilogue, Chip says:

"I perceive that the greatest outreach opportunities we will have as Christians in the twenty-first century will be demonstrating to people around us the difference between a religion about Jesus and a relationship with Jesus."

I find this extremely encouraging. If you go back and look at all the blogs I have written over the past year, this theme comes through loud and clear. It will be an important motif that runs through the songs on the next Sweetbird record ("The Great Life"), which we hope to start recording this summer and release in Spring 2009.

"Religion," says Chip, "has turned out to be even worse than a distraction from Jesus; it has become a substitute for Him."

It is difficult to say it any better than this. God bless you, Chip.

May you see Christ as Preeminent.

Agape,

Steve

ps: If you'd like to order a copy of Chip's new book (highly recommended!), click on the link below:

http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/books/kingdom.html

pss: I'll be wearing this t-shirt at upcoming Sweetbird gigs:

http://www.c28.com/shopping/productdetails.asp?recordid=9222