The Pentecost Challenge

We long for the day when we know fully, even as we are fully known! Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32). MO is at Black Rifle Coffee, Beyond Black is in the cup, silence is on the playlist, and God is in the room preparing for Pentecost this Sunday. We sat in the conversation collective, talking about life and lessons learned. It was relaxing, comfortable, and intoxicating. In the middle of what seemed like a serious discussion about the Holy Spirit, one of the guys announced, “You know, after you’ve been around someone for almost a year, you’d like to think they know your name.” I listened to his distress and then broke in, “Has he EVER called you by name?” “NO! Yesterday, I asked him, kinda jokingly, if he knew my name. His answer, ‘I know exactly who you are,’ but still didn’t call me by name, not even then.” Ummmmmm. He continued, “You’d think pastors would be the best at calling people by name, that the Spirit would make it so. But for some of us, we never ask God for help. This Sunday is the birthday of the church — Pentecost — a celebration of the Holy Spirit. It’s a good day for shaking things up a bit, to enlist the Spirit’s help. “Get in your pastor’s face,” he suggested, “tell him your name… ask him to say it! Give him a Pentecost challenge! Let’s learn everybody’s name, even the janitor’s name, by the end of the year. With the Spirit’s help, we can do it together. “The Pentecost Challenge can be a game changer!” We sat in silence for a time, then I asked, “Remember the theme song from Cheers?” “Oh yeah, who doesn’t?” he responded. “A whole generation doesn’t, but they are recklessly looking for a place like it, a place where misfits, old farts, weirdos, young whippersnappers, and the boring people know each other’s names… a place like Cheers Bar. I think for its time, it was perfect. And, I loved the theme song… still do.” We sang it together… sort of: Sometimes you wanna goWhere everybody knows your nameAnd they’re always glad you came.You wanna be where you can seeOur troubles are all the sameYou wanna be where everybody knows your name! “The church is supposed to be THAT place… the Spirit must be really sad to show up and be ignored,” he said. We talked for a couple of hours, telling stories, laughing, and calling each other by name. By the way, his name is Danny. Danny decided to take the Pentecost Challenge, whether his pastor does or not. Don’t you think Abba has given us all this Pentecost Challenge? Oh, and I just met Gabe. He’s a Black Rifle Coffee Company early-morning barista. He even asked me, “Is your name Ron Rose?” You know, I really liked hearing my name. Ummmmm. I believe we all “wanna be where everybody knows your name!” For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12). About the author: Ron Rose has been a unique minister and friend, but he is also a noted author and leader of several ministries. Ron now makes himself available as a listener and friend as he spends time with people on the go and in coffee shops and shares grace and a listening ear connecting them with God who is always in the room!

Daily Prayer for June 7

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1–2, NIV Lord our God, our refuge forever, bless us who have gathered in your presence and who turn to you in all distress, not only in our personal need but also in the distress of the nations and peoples of the whole world. Grant that we may be your children, with a simple faith that gives us strength to go on working even when life is bitterly hard. We thank you for giving us so much grace, for helping us and never forsaking us, so that again and again we can find joy and can glorify and praise you, our Father. May your name be praised from heaven above and among us here below. May your name be praised by all people throughout the world, and may everyone on earth acknowledge you and receive all that they need from you. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Sunday Source God’s New Language Stanley Hauerwas At Pentecost, God created a community of people whose very differences contributed to their unity. Read now The Anabaptist Vision of Politics John D. Roth What have we learned from five hundred years of Anabaptist understandings of church and state? Read now Wonder Woman Versus Hummel Dori Moody Who is a better role model for my teenage daughter: Wonder Woman or a Franciscan nun? Read now What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now

Daily Prayer for June 6

I will sing of the love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:1–2, NIV Lord our God, gather us together in one flock to praise you with one heart and one voice. Let this praise ring out on earth in the midst of all the evils that still confront us. We thank you for your protection, for all the help and deliverance you give us. We thank you for the hope you put into our hearts. We thank you for the hope that we may yet see great things done through the working of your Spirit, for us your children and for all peoples and nations. For your love will not rest until life on earth has come into your hands and all may rejoice. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now

Daily Prayer for June 4

The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. Lamentations 3:22–24, TEV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us, your children, here on earth. We thank you that whatever happens to us, we can again and again find joy because you give us what is good even when times are evil and when we go through sorrow. We thank you that your goodness and your faithfulness penetrate everything, and that at last, at long last, they penetrate our hearts. Then we can know and be glad that your Spirit guides us. We can know we are never alone but can receive strength to help us in the struggle and toil of our life. Through your help everything becomes fruitful – good and evil, life and death, health and suffering. Everything must serve you through the working of your Spirit. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now

Daily Prayer for June 3

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:17–18, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for all your goodness and for the peace you give us. Unite us as your people, we pray. Unite us as one people with all your children who have ever lived, as one people with all who want to serve you. The more faithfully and joyfully we are your people, the more blessing you can give. Let the material world come under your hand. Guide your children on earth. Lead us in such a way that others may be helped. When we suffer, grant us strength and understanding of your will. Protect us today and every day. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now

Daily Prayer for June 2

Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. Psalm 104:1–2, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, with all our hearts we want to thank you for giving us joy on earth and for sending us your radiant light from heaven. We praise you for the light you give our hearts, the light that lets us find great joy together because we become one in you, one in your Spirit, one in awaiting your promised good. Grant that we may be your children. May we always find the paths where you can go with us and give us what we cannot give ourselves. May our whole life glorify you and our every breath belong to you. Through communion with you may we remain in your safekeeping in body, soul, and spirit. For all you have done and for all you will do for us, we ask you to accept our thanks. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now

Daily Prayer for May 31

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us – eternal life. 1 John 2:24–25, NIV Lord our God, we want to find our joy in you and in all your promises to us. For you have promised that in the midst of all the pain and sorrow, you are preparing what pleases you and serves your honor in every heart. May we experience in our lives the fulfillment of many of your promises, so that again and again we can go forward joyfully, rising above difficult times and situations. Have mercy on us and protect us in your strength. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now Our Need for Conversion Oscar Romero Conversion means asking at every moment: What does God want of my life? Read now Entering the Commonwealth of Joy Elizabeth Clayton A bride navigates marriage preparation and the pressures of the wedding industry to hone in on what a wedding is really for. Read now

Daily Prayer for May 30

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Psalm 103:1–3, NIV Lord our God, O Holy One, we thank you that we may lay aside our own nature and be lifted in spirit above all that is temporal and human and have joy in you. In spite of all the evil surrounding us, in spite of the thousandfold misery of humankind, we may still rejoice in you, in all you do and will yet do for us. Grant that we may go on rejoicing, having joy together, helping instead of burdening each other, until this earth is filled with the jubilation of those you have so richly blest. Forgive us all our sins. Heal us in mind and body. Deliver us from all the corruption that tries to take hold of our souls. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now Our Need for Conversion Oscar Romero Conversion means asking at every moment: What does God want of my life? Read now Entering the Commonwealth of Joy Elizabeth Clayton A bride navigates marriage preparation and the pressures of the wedding industry to hone in on what a wedding is really for. Read now There’s No Such Thing as a Free Nobel Prize Atar Hadari Seamus Heaney, Ireland’s national poet, discovered the price of fame. Read now

Daily Prayer for May 29

But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. Ephesians 2:4–6, TEV Lord our God, we thank you for allowing us to experience your power. We thank you that we need not be occupied with material things only. We thank you that your Spirit comes to our aid again and again. Grant that we may continue to have your help, and let many hearts find what a grace it is that in spirit we may walk in heaven even during this transitory life with all its foolish ways. We may say with complete assurance that everything tormenting and burdening will pass by. It passes by, and we go joyfully and confidently toward your kingdom, which continually gains in power. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Our Need for Conversion Oscar Romero Conversion means asking at every moment: What does God want of my life? Read now Entering the Commonwealth of Joy Elizabeth Clayton A bride navigates marriage preparation and the pressures of the wedding industry to hone in on what a wedding is really for. Read now There’s No Such Thing as a Free Nobel Prize Atar Hadari Seamus Heaney, Ireland’s national poet, discovered the price of fame. Read now Freedom from Exam Hell In-soo Song and Chungyon Won In a country known for its intensely competitive educational system, a South Korean teacher dares to imagine a more humane approach. Read now Waiting for Pentecost with Mary Kathleen A. Mulhern Among those assembled and waiting at Pentecost, only Mary already knew what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Read now

Resurrection 2.8: With Christ

Maybe you’re like me and have imagined these kinds of things as you’ve read the story of Jesus. Don’t you wish you could have been there? As I have read the story of Jesus in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), I have caught myself yearning to have been present. I would love to have heard and seen Jesus at work in his earthly ministry. Because of that yearning, I’ve wondered: What was the expression on his face when he said this or did that? How did his eyes and touch communicate his compassion? Did folks have a hard time seeing when the light pierced through the dancing dust and straw when the four friends dug a hole in that roof? Maybe you’re like me and have imagined these kinds of things as you’ve read the story of Jesus. I’ll also admit that part of me would never want to go back to Golgotha and see the Lord’s horrifying agony. However, with all that he has done for me, I would like to have gone back and been there for him while he was so alone, abandoned, forsaken, denied, and betrayed by those close to him. I hope that I would have joined him in prayer for the mislead crowd who mocked him as he pleaded, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” I would like to have been there to say “Amen!” to the Centurion’s pronouncement of faith, “Surely, this was the Son of God!” Most of all, I would like to have seen the resurrected Jesus. I would have been blessed to have been with Mary and the women who took the spices to the tomb and met Jesus! I’d love to have seen Peter and John as they raced to the tomb. I would have liked to have been the third disciple on the road to Emmaus. I would be thrilled to be able to go back to the upper room when the ten apostles met Jesus, and he ate fish to show them that he wasn’t a ghost. I would gladly go back to have seen Thomas put his hands into scars on Jesus’ body and confess, “My Lord and my God!” I would even settle for being with James, the half-brother of Jesus, when the Lord showed himself to his once unbelieving brother and ignited the faith in Jerusalem’s future church leader. And, I believe it would have been a blessing to be with the 500 to whom Jesus’ appeared after his resurrection. But I can’t time travel. Neither can you. Or can we? What if there was a way that we could meet Jesus and share in those events that saved us? Would you believe me if I told you there was and it was something Jesus planned and anticipated for us? Listen carefully to the apostle Paul’s words to folks who were feeling less Christian than those who personally knew Jesus: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead (Colossians 2:9-12). Paul is saying that if we have been baptized, we haven’t missed out. Instead, we “have been brought to fullness” in Christ. We’ve received the full blessing! How? Well, the “flesh” part of us, that part of us sometimes called our sinful nature, was removed from us because we died and were buried with Jesus in baptism. We entered into his death experience.[NOTE] Then, through our faith in the powerful working of God, we have been raised with Jesus. We have not only believed in Jesus, but we have participated in the Lord’s resurrection! The real and forever-living part of us has been raised with Christ and is guarded in the safety of God’s presence until Jesus returns for us (Colossians 3:1-4). Paul’s teaching is an astounding promise we have often overlooked. Can it be true? Can we share in Jesus’ death to honor his sacrifice and end the fleshly hold on us? Is it possible that we can be part of the Lord’s resurrection story, today? When we read from other places in the New Testament, this grace of sharing in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are talked about in even more detail (Romans 6:3-14). Our life, because of our trust in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, is joined to his and we are given new life with him (Titus 3:3-7; Romans 6:4). Just as the Spirit of the living God revived Jesus from the dead, we too are empowered by the Spirit to live a new life. Our sins are not just forgiven; they’re also eradicated from us by the grace given us in the blood of Jesus and the cleansing brought to us through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). And, because we have been “united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5)! So, let’s be more joyous and celebratory when we see someone baptized. Not only are they doing what Jesus sent us into the world to teach them to do (Matthew 28:18-20), as well as doing what Jesus himself did (Luke 3:20-22), they are providing us a great opportunity. We get to share their re-living Jesus’ saving work as they participate in his death, burial, and resurrection and as they call on his name as Lord before us as their witnesses (Romans 10:9-13; Acts 22:16). The power of the cross and the empty tomb are real. More than a symbol or a step