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RECENT WORK

Featured
Newsworthy with Norsworthy podcast - Israel/Palestine pt 2
POD.SB podcast episode - Gripped by the City
Newsworthy with Norsworthy podcast - Israel/Palestine pt 1
God Over Good Episode of Newsworthy with Norsworthy
Biologos Article - Rooted Faith in a Changing World
[Holy Land] My third trip to Israel/Palestine. I come here and see the best and the worst in us, and it breaks me and gives me hope. / The Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem is called Yad Vashem - “a monument and a name”. As you walk through its halls, you’re reminded that evil can creep in slowly and find plenty of good people to go along because fear makes devils out of saints. In spite of that evil, our Jewish brothers and sisters have persisted and created beautiful things. At the end of the tour, you’re looking out over the land they’ve cultivated, and your guide tells you “this is our revenge,” to secure a home in the place where their earliest stories were written. / But this is a complicated place. The threat of violence hangs in the air. It materializes in concrete walls and sniper towers and school doors perforated by assault rifle fire and the stories of every day Israelis and Palestinians who know all too well that there’s no such thing as a benign occupation. We saw surveillance video of a playground blanketed with tear gas as children ran for cover. A film showed the body of a 13 year old boy carried through the streets after he was murdered by a sniper in cold blood. We heard from Palestinian Christians who feel forgotten, even betrayed, by their American brothers and sisters in faith. / And yet, even as we create these hells, possibilities of bravery and creativity are lurking. / A Jewish mother’s son was killed by a Palestinian sniper, but the first words out of her mouth when informed of her son’s murder were “You may not kill anyone in the name of my child.” Somehow in that impossible moment she knew that violence is poison in the shared air we breathe, and we cannot put more of it in the atmosphere without choking on it. She sat next to a Palestinian father whose 12 year old daughter was killed by Israeli border police, and together they spoke of how their grief drew them toward one another to work for peace. / It was a privilege to follow @todd.deatherage’s lead on the trip, and to have @lukenors as a traveling companion. Luke recorded two episodes of his podcast while we were there, releasing today and next Monday. Definitely worth the listen.
Wherever you are, lift your head. It’s still beautiful out here. We may have forgotten, but it’s still beautiful out here.
I often think about how much I’ve learned from Mark Beeson (@papa_b)over the years, how the man I am, the pastor I am, is in so many ways thanks to him and the church he built. Today I ran to Barnes and Noble for an urgent need - more Moleskine notebooks - and what did I see? Mark buying his usual Moleskine notebook. So of course we had to take a picture, and I stole some wisdom from him on a consequential leadership decision I’m processing right now. Couldn’t be more grateful for Mark and all he’s done to encourage me and point me to Jesus.
Such a treat having @aaronieq lead our @sbcitychurch gatherings this week. We’re doing Pictures and Practices of the Kingdom of God this fall, and I don’t know a better voice to help us take on the practiced life of the Kingdom. Aaron told us a bit of his story, and then led us in an Examen prayer that our community is continuing to practice all week. I can’t wait to hear from our community in next week’s gatherings about what happened in those moments of daily prayer.
Big week for friends releasing books!! @timastevens has been a mentor and compadre of mine for well over a decade now. He started sharing with me the writings that would become Marked By Love years ago on a road trip, and I knew right away it was some of his best and most vulnerable work. @anniefdowns has become a dear friend in the past year, and I don’t know a more authentic and enthusiastic voice for faith today. @lukenors has quickly become like a brother to me (a much older brother), and he’s as smart and transparent as anyone I know. I found his book to be immensely helpful, both personally and pastorally. Oh, and Luke let me take over his podcast this week to interview him about his book, so check it out! BUY ALL THREE RIGHT NOW, k?
[good night, good friends]
Good grief I love this team. I had no idea who God would bring together to lead South Bend City Church, and I couldn’t have asked for better partners. We’re looking forward to adding an executive pastor to our ranks soon (we’ll start getting to know some of the candidates in the next few weeks). I’m praying daily for that person and I hope you’ll join me in the prayers. But in the meantime, if you’re part of the @sbcitychurch tribe, don’t you just feel like we won the lottery with these leaders? (Also, thanks to the never-endingly generous @jeffreycmyers for the pic!)
I had the privilege of joining @jacob.nbd and @dustin.nbd for a @pod.sb episode! We talked about the soul of the city, place, weird church, and lots of other good stuff. Check it!