Even nuts can grow!

At the NAIITS Symposium in Langley in early June Adrian Jacobs gave a passionate presentation about, "the Church of the Sacred Clowns." It is a church that would exude vulnerability, brokenness, & humility.

'In this church pretence is unwelcome; honest struggle happens instead. God is not afraid of anything human. He is alive & living with those who are alive with Him.'

It remined me of an acronym I first heard from Len Sweet about, NUTS - 'Never Underestimate The Spirit.' Christ followers are literally nuts!

Clowns are 'nuts' too, but when the Spirit is present it becomes sacred, redeemed, holy & humorous all at once. We can laugh at our humanity (& weep about it too!) & yet know that our failures & foibles are not the last word about life.

Matthew 5:3-12
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.