My new book, The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes launches this week. Thanks to Crossway Publishers for the magnificent job they’ve done in bringing it to life.
A Kingdom?
In this world?
A place where crooked places are straightened
The rough made smooth
Joy replacing tears
Mountains dripping with fresh wine
Where thirsty souls look to God
Walk with God
Delight in God.
A kingdom?
In this world?
The ever-striving search.
Tossing our eyes like dice across the green felt of life,
we dare to hope
Dare to believe
Where is this kingdom?
Amid the strong?
The bright?
The impressive ones?
No. It Is Found Here:
Blessed are the poor in Spirit,
A poverty that crumbles like a dry kernel
And one day springs to life
Where is this kingdom?
Among those who mourn
The weeping worshipers who find comfort
Where is this kingdom?
In the midst of the meek,
Who marshal strength to defend the helpless
Where is this kingdom?
With souls that hunger for the eternal
Famished and filled at the same time
Where is this kingdom?
In the heart of mercy,
A compassion that melts hostility and strife
Where is this kingdom?
Among the pure in heart
Who dare to approach the unapproachable light
Where is this kingdom?
With the peacemakers
Who see in the fragments of a broken pot
the beginning of a new creation
Where is this kingdom?
Among the persecuted and maligned
Who believe the righteous King will come again
A Kingdom?
In this world?
Indeed. For those who can see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
