By John Chandler One of my favorite childhood Monty Python skits was the “Argument Clinic.” A man goes in to purchase a proper vigorous debate, and is merely told by the attendant the opposite of whatever he says. “That’s not…
Looking forward with faith
Faith is awe in the face of mystery. – Rudolf Otto We gazed silently alongside an uncountable amount of people. The oddity was not in the differences of those of us present but in the symmetry of what we all…
Being married to the preacher isn’t easy
When it comes to marriage, I chose wisely. I can readily identify with Churchill’s assessment: “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” This week Amanda and I are celebrating our…
Larger than the Church
By Starlette McNeill “If you are without a church home, then we invite you to come forward at this time.” This is the invitation that is extended in most, if not all, congregations after the delivery of the sermon. Having…
Churchless believers – Searching for anchors for the next phase of life
Churchless believers is an unfolding conversation I’m having with some colleagues, neighbors, friends and churches. The more we talk, the more dimensions appear that intrigue me and help me understand and possibly explain some of what is going on in…
Where have all the charismatics gone?
In the spirit of Paula Cole, I’ve been asking, “Where have all the charismatics gone?” Its been some twenty years since I found myself at a revival service, praying over a friend who had been “slain in the spirit.” These…
The Scopes Trial, then and now
By Bill Leonard “The parents have a right to say that no teacher paid by their money shall rob their children of faith in God and send them back to their homes skeptical, or infidels, or agnostics, or atheists.” — W.J….
Kim Davis, religious liberty, and why many Christians are getting it wrong
Religious liberty is at the core of the Kim Davis saga, just not the way most people think. As I watch the news and hear countless pundits and politicians cite concerns over religious liberty, I can’t help but think –…
Displaying an all-encompassing, come-as-you-are love of God
By Amy Butler This week has been another week of heart-wrenching news headlines, enough to make any thinking person despair for the state of the world. While Americans are preoccupied with misguided public servants tenaciously distorting the average American’s understanding…