Kingdom Values / Peace Has Come: A Musical for Christmas 12.14.2025

Not the forced Hallmark greeting type of joy, the everything's fine kind of joy, but the deep, defiant joy that shows up when God is on the move, at work, doing something. Even when the world still feels broken, this joy leads us to believe that God is doing something new. Isaiah gives us that kind of joy-filled vision. The desert and the dry land, Isaiah says, will be glad, and the wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus. This is joy with dirt under its fingernails, joy that believes God specializes in bringing life and hope where we least expect it. [00:25:13] (54 seconds)  #DefiantJoy

Pause there just for a moment. Even prophets, the greatest prophets in the scripture, have questions. Even faithful people have doubts. But doubts never disqualify faith. Even those who once spoke with certainty, like John, can find themselves wondering if God's promise is really unfolding the way they hoped it would. Jesus doesn't shame John for the question that he asked. He doesn't say, John, why can't you believe? How dare you? Instead, Jesus points to the evidence. The evidence that is clear and all around him, but not the evidence that the world, the empire values. [00:27:17] (54 seconds)  #FaithWithQuestions

And here you will find the values of the kingdom of God. Not power over, but healing among people. Not domination, but restoration. Not accumulating wealth, but good news for the poor. This is the heart of God's grace at work in these days of Advent and all of our days. Not only saving souls for heaven, but renewing lives in the here and now. Renewing communities and creation. [00:28:50] (39 seconds)  #KingdomValues

God's kingdom does not arrive dressed in soft robes, in fancy jewels. It shows up in prison to meet John. It shows up in hospital rooms. It shows up in refugee camp. It shows up in food pantries, soup kitchens, protests for justice in sanctuaries all over the world. Just like this one. Where people are trying imperfectly, but faithfully, to live out God's love. [00:30:24] (41 seconds)  #LoveShowsUp

That's not about hierarchy. It's about participation in the kingdom. You see, John stood at the doorway of God's future. John was baptizing people, preparing them to receive the coming king, Jesus. But we are invited to live inside of the kingdom. John was the doorway, but we get to go in the door and live a transformed life now. Joy, then, is not passive. It's not living in denial. Joy is our lives being aligned with God's values. [00:31:29] (45 seconds)  #EnterTheKingdom

John was the doorway, but we get to go in the door and live a transformed life now. Joy, then, is not passive. It's not living in denial. Joy is our lives being aligned with God's values. So what does joy look like during Advent? It looks like choosing hope when cynicism seems so much easier. It looks like showing mercy when the world demands retribution and vengeance. It looks like building peace when fear is shouting the loudest message. And maybe most of all, joy, looks like trusting that God is still here, still at work, even when we don't see the full picture yet. [00:31:54] (58 seconds)  #JoyInAction

So what does joy look like during Advent? It looks like choosing hope when cynicism seems so much easier. It looks like showing mercy when the world demands retribution and vengeance. It looks like building peace when fear is shouting the loudest message. And maybe most of all, joy, looks like trusting that God is still here, still at work, even when we don't see the full picture yet. [00:32:13] (38 seconds)  #AdventJoy

It's entitled, Peace Has Come. And that's not just a title. It's a testimony. Because peace does not arrive because everything suddenly makes sense. Peace comes because Christ enters the story. And the story will never be the same. So if you're feeling joyful today, give thanks to God. If you're feeling weary or unsure, take heart. The signs of the kingdom are still showing up. The wilderness is blooming. The highway of holiness is being built. And joy, God's deep, resilient, joy, that meets us wherever we are, is already on the way. [00:33:00] (51 seconds)  #PeaceHasCome