Border War...

Somewhere between meetings, systems, and lunch, we also realized John needed an education on Kansas City.

We tried to explain that there is a Kansas City, Missouri, and a Kansas City, Kansas. And fun fact…Kansas City, Missouri actually predates the state of Kansas.

Then we moved on to the Kansas Missouri rivalry. Around here, as we all know, you cannot simply ask whether someone is from Kansas or Missouri. You also need to know whether they wear crimson and blue or black and gold. Whether they pull out their colors during football season or wait for basketball and how long they are willing to hold a grudge.

After a little online sleuthing, Ive learned the history behind the “Border War” is much more serious than sports. After the Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854, the Kansas Missouri border became the site of violent conflict over slavery during what became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

Decades later, KU and MIZZOU began competing in sports, which might be a safer way to argue over the border. As you know, around here, we have been drawing lines for a long time. State lines. City lines. School lines. And depending on football or basketball season, occasionally friendship lines.

And to be honest, people are pretty good at drawing other kinds of lines too. We draw lines between people whose lives make sense to us and people whose stories make us uncomfortable. Sometimes we even draw those lines around ourselves and wonder whether something in our past has placed us beyond the reach of God.

That is where Luke 5:12–32 takes us this Sunday.

Luke introduces us to a man with leprosy whom everyone avoided, a paralyzed man whose deepest need went beyond what anyone could see, and a tax collector named Levi whom respectable people had already written off. And in each story, Jesus moves toward them to extend grace.

John will still be with us this Sunday, so we are looking forward to giving many of you the opportunity to meet him…and he’s from Minnesota, so be nice to him. Also if you see him, feel free to explain Kansas City to him. Just know that several of us have already tried.

I can’t wait to see you on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available)…OR a service in Spanish at 1:00 pm. Otherwise, you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am. Also, we would LOVE for you to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. 

See you soon,

Troy

P.S. New Life Development Academy starts at 7:30am tomorrow and Men’s breakfast is at 9am. Come on over for one or both.