It's no secret that interracial relationships are trending upward, and in a matter of years we'll have Tindered, OKCupid-ed and otherwise sexed ourselves into one giant amalgamated mega-race.

But what will we look like? National Geographic built its 125th anniversary issue around this very question last October, commissioning Martin Schoeller, a renowned photographer and portrait artist, to capture the lovely faces of our nation's multiracial future.

Here's how the "average American" will look by the year 2050:

Image: National Geographic

A pastor friend of mine told me that you should never pastor a church until you have shed tears for that community. I wept for my church and prayed that it would make a difference. God saw my intentions, and increased my capacity to love and serve my church. However, I felt that something was not quite right. There was something more to pastoring.

I began a quest to find out what else God wanted for me and for the church I serve. I found myself reading Jer. 29:11 because that verse has always fixed all my problems. The context of that verse is the captivity of God's people, who had been taken from Jerusalem (city of peace) to Babylon (confusion and chaos). Their plan was to be separate and safe while they waited for God's deliverance. Jeremiah gave them a new plan: They were to build houses, plant gardens and marry off their children. They were to seek the peace of the city. The peace they carried wasn't meant for isolation, but for influence.

We long to be an influential people and to lead influential ministries, but we need to be willing to take the peace that God has planted in us and demonstrate it in the middle of chaos. Now when we read Jer. 29:11-13, we see that these words were addressed to God's people living in confusion and the chaos of the city: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart" (ESV). As we confront our chaotic world, we get to usher in the peace that only God gives.

Yesterday we hosted a conference at which Ed Stetzer spoke. He is spooky smart (is it the beard?) and I mean that in the most positive manner possible. Here are several of my takeaways.

1. Do not forget that Jesus said, "I will build my church." Do not forget the who. It is God who will build his church. This doesn't mean we don't discuss the how. But we must do so in response to the who. The who is Jesus. Jesus builds his church.

2. Stetzer re-coined a popular expression to say, "God's mission has a church." Many times it is stated that "God's church has a mission," which is true. But Stetzer's point was to make clear God is the starting point. Then move from him to his mission and kingdom and church. Ultimately, this all concludes with the glory of God.

3. You can't lead what you won't live. This should not be a novel message. But it is critical. Are you living in the ways you are leading? It is much easier to talk about justice than practice it. It is easier to say "Love your neighbor" than to actually do it. Don't call people to something that you're unwilling to do. That's hypocrisy.

4. The gospel needs proclamation and demonstration. We need to share and show. Most churches migrate toward one or the other. Churches need both. A true witness to the gospel demands both. Does your church tend toward one more than the other? How might bringing a balance enhance your gospel reach?