Rusty Rushing

Pastor, Peace Church Charlotte and Little Church on the Lane

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@danwhitejr It’s a “contact” sport!

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@fitchest How does this compare to McKnight’s Revelation for the Rest of Us? Thanks.

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

Beautiful

[Leonard Sweet @lensweet]

The Genesis creation narrative introduces us to God as a Divine Artisan, The Master Potter, carefully shaping humanity from the earth. This imagery of God as a potter and humans as clay is a powerful metaphor for our story journey.

Irenaeus, an early 2nd century Christian thinker, expanded on this idea (Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapter 39). He emphasized our role as God's creation, encouraging patience and openness to God's ongoing work in our lives. The key, according to Irenaeus, is maintaining a soft and pliable spirit - much like a potter needs moist clay to work with.

"For you did not make God, but God you. If, then, you are God's workmanship, await the hand of your Maker which creates everything in due time; in due time as far as you are concerned, whose creation is being carried out. Offer to Him your heart in a soft and tractable state, and preserve the form in which the Creator has fashioned you, having moisture in yourself, lest, by becoming hardened, you lose the impressions of His fingers. But by preserving the framework you shalt ascend to that which is perfect, for the mooist clay which is in you is hidden [there] by the workmanship of God. His hand fashioned your substance: He will cover you over [too] within and without with pure gold and silver, and He will adorn you to such a degree that even the King himself shall have pleasure in your beauty."

This metaphor invites rich reflections:
Are we remaining open to God's guidance and transfigurative touch in our lives?
Have we allowed our souls to become "hardened," resistant to change or growth?
What practices or attitudes help us stay spiritually "moist" and receptive to the Master’s touch?

The good news? Even if we've become spiritually dry, hard-headed or cold-hearted, we can always be renewed. Just as a potter can rework hardened clay by adding moisture, God can reinvigorate our faith through various means - prayer, Scripture study, service, music, community, or whatever helps us reconnect with the our Creator.
#IsYourClayMoist #SoulMoisturizer

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@richvillodas While this is true, I don’t think this phenomenon is limited to Evangelical Christianity. I think it also applies to progressive and mainline forms as well.

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@RalphCarter @erichoke That doesn’t change the point.

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

Got a feeling Spencer’s gonna make a lot of GMs look stupid…Go be great #7!

[Shane Beamer @CoachSBeamer]

Such a tired , lazy narrative. And bullcrap

None of the NFL teams that called me said that….And any team that thinks that clearly hasn’t done their research

He dealt w adversity at OU in a class way , came to SC , was a great player and was voted by his TEAMMATES as a captain …TWO YEARS IN A ROW

He’s a great person , great player and some team is getting a future starter today

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@ryancduff If that’s your/their experience, imho, you chose the wrong seminary. My experience was nothing like that. It was formative, enlightening, and spiritually enriching. I wasn’t told what to believe—I was challenged to discover what I believed and why.

[Lesslie Newbigin @LesslieNewbigin]

A church that sees the cross of Jesus as the central event of history can never identify any political order with the reign of God.

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

⁦@BenjaminSWatson⁩

[Derrick C Moore @DMoSpeaks]

Look at our ⁦@GamecockFB⁩ BUILD!! We are so proud of the community work and volunteerism our student/athletes participate in. Not to mention the great team bonding that takes place! #Together #SB

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@johnmarkclifton @Lifeway I tend to think it’s a rapid scheduled disassembly. It’s a pruning. God is doing a new thing.

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@CoachSBeamer Had the privilege of unexpectedly meeting your parents & sister this morning at the church where I pastor and Casey’s children attend(ed) preschool. I was a bit starstruck meeting your Dad. I did have on a Carolina polo, so I hope they all understood my reaction!

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@danielfusco

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

@JustinKing I was sitting in the end zone to the left of the UT band and hardly heard them all night, much less over Sandstorm and the crowd. That's just bull.

[Timothy Keller (1950-2023) @timkellernyc]

Christians need the gospel as much as non-Christians do.

[Leonard Sweet @lensweet]

“Hope is hearing the melody of the future; faith is dancing to that melody here and now.”
Brazilian theologian Rubem Alves (1933-2014) #faithhopeslove

[Glenn Packiam @gpackiam]

I believe with all my heart that renewal is coming to the church. But it won’t be the revival of us taking back anything; it’s gonna be the revival of us laying down everything. It’s the church returning to the way of the cross. We are Jesus people.

[Rusty Rushing @Rusty__Rushing]

Thanks @AdamMGrant! I need this reminder today.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Progress rarely happens in a straight line. It typically unfolds in loops.

Day by day, it can feel like you’re spinning your wheels. If you look back on your trajectory over months or years, you can see forward movement.

Major growth is the result of many seemingly minor turns.

[Dan White Jr. @danwhitejr]

The brilliance of Jesus political strategy is that he doesn't grab us by the shirt and shout in our face; he invites us to supper and tells us a subversive story.