Don Stephens --> Home

WELCOME!
This little site is dedicated to my pilgrim friends who with me are learning what it means to "seek first the Kingdom of God." I've been AWOL from this address for awhile, offering updates instead at my Wordpress Blog, which you can find HERE. But noticing a few friends continue to drop by I thought it was time to at least let you know that I'm still "at home" though the lights may not seem to be burning since I no longer live and update from Sarajevo. I promised quite awhile ago to dedicate this site to offering more resources for understanding worldview and the kingdom of God. But then I never got around to it. So I'm going to at least make an attempt at updating a few things while I decide if I need to just create a whole new site for that purpose.
SITE LINKS
-Quotes: -Bits & Pieces : -History: -Updates: (Through 2006) -Blog Updates: (02/04/08) -Photos: -Resources:
MY TEACHING NOTES
- The Glory of God - The Kingdom of God	KINGDOM LINKS
- Harvest Foundation - Discipling Nations - Kingdom Watcher - The Sentinal Group - Perichoresis - Brian McLaren (Video) - YWAM Knowledge Base - The Call: (for the young)
WORLDVIEW THINKING:
- Breakpoint Columns - Be Thinking: (A variety of worldview resources) - The Truth Project: - How Liberals Think: (A video about Postmodernism)
MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
- Charity: Water - The 10/10 Project - Mercy Home - Food for the Hungry: These sites are places where you can change the world, create history, and partner for the Kingdom of God.

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

People ask me that so often! It's bigger than a definition, and best defined by metaphors and stories.

Based on the Lord's prayer you could say it is "every place - in heaven, and ON EARTH, where the will of God is being done."

It is "eternity in our heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11), that dream of a perfect world, of "someplace over the rainbow" placed in every human heart by Father God.

It is as Mufasa said to Simba in The Lion King, "every place the light touches." That is - every place that has been invaded by the glory of God.

It is Christ invading and indwelling every piece of His creation. (Colossians 1:20)

ACTIVITIES AND ITINERARY:

Most recently I taught a three day Kingdom Seminar with a small, but wonderful group of believers in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and have been involving myself in various ministries with my home church in Florence South Carolina.

I've also had a blast recently with several random groups of high school students, speaking first in a youth camp in Romania, then a home schooling retreat in Bosnia, and most recently doing chapel messages at The King's Academy in Florence. It's been exciting to see how eagerly high school students, (and not just young adults), connect with the message of the kingdom. I think they have a God-given understanding that they were born for the adventure of the kingdom, for healing the sick, feeding the hungry, bringing justice to the nations, and overthrowing the kingdom of darkness.

Between now and the holidays I'll be teaching in Hawaii,Lebanon, Hungary, Italy, and Colorado. And after the holidays I intend to begin work on a a book, a new CD and a new Concert program. Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement along the way!

"And this was is plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ
- everything in heaven and on earth." Eph. 1:10

WORLDVIEWS AND CATTLE:

Socialism: You have two cows, the government takes one cow and gives it to your neighbor.
Communism: You have two cows, the government takes both and gives you part of the milk.
Fascism: You have two cows, the government takes both, and sells you the milk.
Nazism: You have two cows, the government takes both and shoots you.
Bureaucracy: You have two cows, the government takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain.
Capitalism: You have two cows, you sell one and buy a bull.
The Kingdom: You have two cows. Your neighbor has a bull. You breed the cattle, share the profit, give freely to the poor, and help them to get on their feet. Then you have a party to celebrate the love and blessing you've received from God and man.

A KINGDOM BIBLIOGRAPHY:

A number of friends have asked about books on the Kingdom of God. Thankfully there are more and more being written. These are a few that I would recommend:
- The Divine Conspiracy   By Dallas Willard
- The Secret Message of Jesus   By Brian McLaren
- This Beautiful Mess   By Rick McKinley
- Irresistible Revolution   By Shane Claiborne
- The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person   By E. Stanley Jones
- Simply Christian   By N.T. Wright
- Rediscovering the Kingdom   By Miles Munroe
- Searching for God Knows What   By Donald Miller