We have just been through a horrific week: Jews slaughtered in Australia; students gunned down at Brown University, a faculty member at MIT; a Hollywood star murdered by his son even as our President issues appalling remarks. As we continue to stare speechless into the darkness of our world, we must admit, as Paul Kingsnorth is saying these days: “You just know something is wrong.”  

In my last blog post, one of my readers, my faithful friend Bill Rowley, mentioned he wanted to hear more about the “quiet revival” going on. He confessed he knew God could be doing something new, but frankly, it’s “difficult for me to see it.” I get it. Things are a mess out there. And revivals have often been announced, then fizzle.

Some of you may have noticed I’ve been away from my blog for a few months. I’ve been very busy, teaching a number of courses, chairing the committee to bring a new senior pastor to our church, and just managing life with all its various challenges. I find I have only so much creative energy left when things get busy. My blog writing suffers. I’ve missed it.

I’ve been away from my writing for a while. I’ve been busy with any number of matters that put me into a rhythm different from my writing rhythm. But I’ve been thinking a lot about church. If the church is indeed declining in numbers and influence, as so many are arguing, how can this be a good thing for us?