By Aileen Lawrimore “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings:…
‘The Revenant’ asks which is more powerful: love or revenge?
By Russ Dean What is the most powerful force within the human psyche? The Apostle Paul says there is only one force in the world for which people will move heaven and earth, a force which people will ultimately, and…
No Oscar nominations for non-whites: Time to change the membership
By Michael Parnell The 2016 Academy Awards nominees were announced on Jan. 14 and for the second year in a row there were no actors of color nominated. That is 20 nominations and not one for an actor or actress…
10 ways pastors can engage church conflict
By Bill Wilson It was early in my pastoral ministry. I still thought my primary job was to please people and make them happy, ensure their comfort and leave them liking me. Thus, when someone disagreed with me or criticized…
Focus on Commandment, not Constitution
By Paula Dempsey The best lack all conviction While the worst are full of passionate intensity. —William Butler Yeats The conversation I overheard in the bread aisle of the grocery store about owning handguns had the same demeanor and tone…
3 things David Bowie can teach churches
As the death of David Bowie, the provocative entertainer, artist, actor and singer, continues to shock fans and the general public, his mark upon culture is undeniable. Bowie’s work spanned decades and touched millions of people. As musicians rise and…
Among the not-yet-housed
By Bill Leonard Each January for several years, I’ve joined a group of theology students for a Wednesday visit to the Haywood Street Congregation in Asheville, N.C. I can’t help but write about it, since the experience is always “transforming,”…
5 ways to respond when your pastor actually turns out to be human
By Amy Butler Before you begin reading this column, I want you to know that I’m assuming we’re all clear on the fact that the pastor is a human being. This might sound like a strange way to start off….
The myth of redemptive violence and ‘The Hateful Eight’
By Michael Parnell I step onto some shaky ground here, but I will admit it: I love Quentin Tarantino. Yes, I know his movies are filled with violence and terrible language. But there are few directors working today that fill…
Praying the Psalms in time of grief
By Joe LaGuardia Like many who grieve the loss of a loved one over the holidays, this past Christmas was particularly difficult for me. I lost my father over two years ago as a result of a mass shooting in…
Congregational vision is about expanding and deepening disciplemaking
By George Bullard Vision is not about promoting programs and using an attractional approach to engage in a spiritual and strategic journey. It is not about a focus on operational planning, and a primary focus on the management of the…
52 questions Jesus is still asking
By Jayne Hugo Davis “How would you dispose of a dead body?” Our staff team was playing a board game called Loaded Questions last week. We had gotten together for a meal and some forced family fun and that was…