Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, said that if we want to teach and preach a subversive Gospel, "The key is not to be detected too soon." Why? Because theology from below is often experienced as a threat by those from above. This should not surprise us. Even Jesus' first sermon ended badly.

Center for Transforming Mission.

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

Aunque la justicia sea tu punto de apoyo, considera bien esto: que en estricta justicia ninguno de nosotros encontrará salvación, rogamos para solicitar clemencia, y este mismo ruego, mediante el cual la solicitamos, nos enseña a todos que debemos mostrarnos clementes

Portia. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. EL MERCADER DE VENECIA. William Shakespeare.

To change readers' minds, you need to speak to their hearts. Telling stories is not just the best way to accomplish that - it's the only way. Poet Maya Angelou put it succinctly when she said: There's a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth."

Daphne Gray-Grant. The power of the personal story

 ...it doesn't take millions of admirers to start a movement than can change the world....What is needed is a few people who have been personally transformed and are committed enough to the cause to be willing to in some way or another put their lives in the service of extending it into every domain of life.

Alan Hirsch. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW: EVERYDAY MISSION FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

Broken Splendor by Makoto Fujimura

We have a language to celebrate waywardness, but we do not have a cultural language to bring people back home. 

Makoto Fujimura. ILLUMINATION: The Crossway Fujimura Bible Project.

Jon Birch. ASBO Jesus.

Forgive us for the times when, like Caiaphas,
we have reckoned the cost of accommodating you to be too great.
And so flood our lives with your Spirit
that when you come to us again
we shall be ready to welcome you with open arms
putting ourselves,
our plans,
our priorities
and not you
on the cross.
Amen.

Bauckham & Hart. AT THE CROSS: Meditations on People Who Were There.

When we get around other people we can see our own sin more clearly; we see things that we might not notice, that don't come out, when we're by ourselves like fear, impatience and anger.

Kevin Urichko. Homily in Ash Wednesday Service. Northland: A Church Distributed.

But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves...

John 1:12. The Message.

If Peter Drucker has taught us one thing, it is that every organization exists to serve people outside the organization. When it exists to serve people inside the organization, it dies. 

Leonard Sweet. CARPE MANANA.