We reject messages from the world telling us we are not good enough, significant enough, beautiful enough (p. When we understand God’s kingdom as part of our here and now, we meet Jesus at the table. 12) with the story of how she chose to receive communion alongside one of her parishioners. In God’s kingdom, ministry is also for everyone, Jennifer Ginn shares (p. 20) invites us to share with The Welcome Church also carry a challenge: Will we expand our view of God’s loving, inclusive reign? That reign, here and now, means abundant life must be for everyone.
The poignant moments of ministry Violet Little (p. 9) about rocks, faith and the death of a friend, reflecting her understanding of God’s kingdom here and now.
Perhaps you, like me, will feel the comfort in Lindsay Hardin Freeman’s words (p. These reflections can be found throughout the March/April issue. Reflections of kingdom living will do that. Bible study author Mark Allan Powell explores our mission now and our future in heaven in a way that puts to rest many of those fears. Here and now, so many people focus on fear: fear of dying, fear of living. …Your love is all I need.” His song is also known as an “earworm,” a catchy, popular tune or saying that gets stuck in your head long after the height of its popularity.įor me, God’s kingdom, here and now, has become another earworm. He won a Grammy for soulfully singing: “Here and now, I promise to love faithfully. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.For me the words “Here and Now” are forever connected with a 30-year-old song by the late Luther Vandross. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. HANSEN: You're listening to WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News.Ĭopyright © 2005 NPR. I want to tell you I don't love you, tell you about the. Oh, sugar pie, honey bunch, weaker than a man should be. I can't tear you away from my brain and there's nothing that I can do. Duke Fakir remains as the lone original member of the group still performing with the death Friday of the fourth original member, Obie Benson, at the age of 69. HANSEN: The Four Tops still perform as a group but with some new performers. THE FOUR TOPS: (Singing) Ooh, sugar pie, honey bunch, you know that I love you. "Baby, I Need Your Loving," "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and their first big number one hit, "I Can't Help Myself." A contract with Motown Records soon followed and with it a succession of hits that helped define the Motown sound. They struggled for years until a gig on "The Tonight Show" in 1963. Obie Benson was in high school in Detroit in 1954 when he joined with fellow students Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton to call themselves The Four Tops. HANSEN: R&B songwriter and singer Luther Vandross died Friday at the age of 54. VANDROSS: (Singing) You're all I need here and now. LUTHER VANDROSS: (Singing) Here and now I promise to love faithfully. A steady climb followed, and in 1989, he scored his first top 10 hit with "Here and Now." Vandross' first solo song, "Never Too Much," came in 1981, placing him at the top of the R&B charts. He first made a living writing songs and later singing backup for such pop stars such as David Bowie, Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand. Long before he became well known, Luther Vandross enjoyed a successful music career. Also Friday, eight-time Grammy Award winner Luther Vandross died in New Jersey, two years after suffering a debilitating stroke. Friday, one of the founders of The Four Tops, Obie Benson, died in Detroit. Popular music lost two great performers this past week.