By Michael Parnell Being old has its advantages. When Star Wars (Because it was not chapter four then) came out, I was 19 years old. I remember the experience of going to the movie at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville,…
Should congregations stay away from professionals when writing a vision statement?
By George Bullard Yes, and for very good reasons. There is nothing wrong with professionals. There’s no reason to criticize them. It is all about the dependency congregations develop with outside third-parties who help them craft their future vision. Because…
Stoking the flames of Advent
By Corey Fields The accompanying picture shows the sad state of our Christmas tree this year. It is a pre-lit tree that we purchased after our last move. It’s not so pre-lit anymore. When we put it up this year,…
Surprised by God
By Brett Younger Most of us have been through so many Christmas seasons that it has become routine. We are used to the sounds of the approaching Yuletide — jingle bells, silver bells, Salvation Army bells and the one-tolling-for-thee-shopping-bell. Santa…
Don’t let the darkness eclipse the light of Christmas
By Barry Howard It’s dark outside, and today seems even darker than usual. And it should. Today is the darkest day of the year. For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, the shortest day of the year,…
Why I pray for Christmas miracles
By Mark Wingfield On most Christmas Eves, it becomes my opportunity to voice for our congregation a prayer at the candlelight services. And most years, I pray for Christmas miracles. Just in case you’re not savvy to these finer theological…
Sore afraid: the impediment to transformation
By Greg Jarrell And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. — Luke 2:9 A hand reaches into the gut. It squeezes the…
What does it mean to be human?
By Jason Coker This time of year in Christian circles all over the world, faithful followers of Jesus are trying to spend some time thinking about what it means for God to become human flesh in the Nativity. That is,…
Looking at others through the lens of love
By R. Kevin Johnson I passed a Muslim woman on the street wearing a hijab. She walked quickly with her head down. She acted like she didn’t want to be noticed. She looked scared. Perhaps her fear is justified given…
Just like the New Testament, congregational vision is experienced then written
By George Bullard Who knows for sure exactly how the Gospel according to Luke came to be written? I mean exactly. No one knows with absolute surety. But we can imagine. For me to imagine this, I read the first…
Peace on earth and good will among people
By Nell Green Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, good will among people. (Luke 2:14, NRSV) Our first Christmas on the field was in 1986. From then on, every year we host at least one…
At Christmas, relevant lessons for the 21st-century church
By Bill Wilson Our current Christmas celebration habits are a uniquely post-World War II phenomena. Much of the excess we experience stands at odds with the way Western society approached the holiday only a few years ago. This shift has…