“The compulsory transfer of Arabs from the valleys of the proposed Jewish state could give us something which we never had, even when we stood on our own feet during the days of the First and Second Temple. … We…
The church could increase resilience in survivors
Resilience is the ability to bounce back or rebound from adversity. We see this in how trees bend in the wind, how shorelines adapt to change or how a forest recovers from a wildfire. We also see resilience in humans…
What is going on at America’s elite universities?
Today’s national news has been filled with yet more headlines about unrest on the campuses of some of the nation’s most elite universities. It’s starting to feel like 1970 all over again. From today’s news alone: “More than 40 pro-Palestinian…
The post-evangelicals take their next step forward
History may well record that April 16-17, 2024, marked a breakthrough moment in the emergence of an organized post-evangelical Christian movement in the United States. It certainly felt like a breakthrough to this participant-observer, as I had the privilege of…
Toxic crusaders: The rise of the ultracrepidarian-turned-influencer
George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” Ultracrepidarians are individuals who fancy themselves as experts in subjects which they know little to nothing about. While they may come across as confident, their…
Surrounded by trees: An Earth Day celebration and lament
One of the many blessings of my current home is its location. No matter what direction you look, you will see trees. And not just a few in our yard, but a forest. We are surrounded by majestic pines, maples…
Bubba-Doo’s takes on the Caribbean — Part 1
Somehow, there’s a mythology that popular or influential programs have occasionally been canceled by mistake or in some colossal error of judgment. I mean, as a pastor it would seem that’s evidently what some church people think. This has got…
Why we wrote a book on the life-giving stories of palliative care
After moving from Seattle to Dallas in 2015 to teach at Southern Methodist University, I decided to do something, well, important with some leftover funds. With a history of searing headaches, I wanted to introduce ancient authors who wrote in unvarnished ways…
Finding the gospel amid a ‘churchgoing bust’
In a recent Atlantic essay titled “The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust,” columnist Derek Thompson writes that “more Americans today have ‘converted’ out of religion than have converted to all forms of Christianity, Judaism and Islam combined. No faith’s…
No one ever talks about how hard it is to come back from sabbatical
“You should go on sabbatical more often,” said Marijane on her way out of church last Sunday. She noticed what others had too. I was preaching with more energy, like back when I was first called to Northside six years…
An asset map shows how churches are meeting the needs of older adults in rural areas
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about social isolation and loneliness among older adults, particularly in rural communities. Adults older than 65 make up one-sixth of the population of the United States, and that population is projected…
The dangers of minority rule
America is a nation being held hostage by fundamentalism. In our recent BNG webinar with Robert P. Jones and Greg Garrett and Timothy Peoples, the single thing that stuck with me most is a comment by Jones, who is among…