Jonathan Shradar

Faith in Jesus is all about being held as we behold his goodness and glory. This is grace. Just be held. [embed]https://youtu.be/tIZitK6_IMQ[/embed]

I say a lot of things that make people pause. It is a gift really, or a lack of an internal filter. But recently I said something that left a friend visibly taken aback. He asked how things were going in ministry and if I felt like I was equipped to handle it all. I responded, 'absolutely not.' Maybe it sounded more desperate than I felt, after all I do trust that the Lord has equipped me with gifts to be used in my ministry, but I was trying to convey the posture I want to live out - reliance on Christ. It is in all the books. It is all over the Bible. We work, we do ministry in Christ's power and not our own. His power is actually revealed in our weakness. We hear it from the pulpit on Sunday and from good seminary classes. But when it comes to brass tacks, we don't really want to live it out.  We like the idea that we are weak and need God’s empowerment… but only on paper, not face to face. We rather do life in our own strength.  But should it surprise us when the pa

Some people weren't sure the church would last. It was too much of a risk. There was too much history. Things were too difficult. But Jesus will build his church. I am so blessed to be part of Grace Church. We are without a doubt a rag-tag group of people that have been radically transformed by the gospel. And together we are learning that Jesus will build his church. Yesterday we celebrated the baptisms of nine members of our church. It was a party. It was what the church is supposed to be about. And we are watching Jesus build his church. I can't wait to see what he will do next in our midst!

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8:18-23 ESV) Today is an inner groaning day. In the face of my own depravity and that of our culture, I sense the inner groaning for the final and ultimate redemption. This adoption as sons and daughters that is ours in Christ Jesus. I have most often looked at this

It was a terribly stressful moment in the biblical narrative. Jesus had told his disciples that one of them would betray him over a meal with wine and they stayed awake through the night singing hymns and walking to a dark garden to pray. Jesus petitions with his Father to take the cup that was coming away, but he was willing to take it on... not his will but the Father's be done. Then he checks on his mates, to see if they are watching and praying with him. "And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:37-38 ESV) I don't how many times I have read this piece of the story and mentally condemned the disciples. I mean come on, couldn't they just stay awake and back up the man they loved and followed. But as I get old, i find myself more and more like these disciples. Tired and asleep at t