A few weeks ago, I was able to attend the Catalyst West Coast conference primarily for ministry leaders and pastors. Conferences are incredibly refreshing for me; even if that refreshment means cramming my mind and heart with information I will never remember in its entirety.

That is why every time I go to a conference, take crazy notes and then follow it all up with a couple key steps. 1. Go back to each talk and highlight my top 4-5 points. 2. Go back to those points at a later time to highlight the 4-5 things I want to be SURE to remember and apply.

This week, I'll be reflecting on and sharing with you those highlights.

I will begin the week with a quote by Scot McKnight.

"'Imagine a world like this...' could begin every parable Jesus told."

I loved this thought. It was such a flippant and passing part of all the things he had to say in that talk, but isn't it amazing how those tiny things can stick out to someone in a way the speaker had never intended?

I have begun to take a look at the stories Jesus told with new eyes and mindset. Jesus dealt in story and dreams, and we would do well to remember that when it comes to our reading of scripture.

The kingdom comes alive when you begin to imagine a world like this...