This is the second of three posts by Jason Coker, written in the days before and after his father died on Jan. 27. The first post can be read here. Jan. 16, 2015 I didn’t realize that this phone call…
A minister to young adult households trumps a minister to children
A very large congregation looked for a new, full-time minister to children for over two years. They could not find one. They presented their dilemma to me. My response was, “What if you are looking for the wrong staff position?”…
Six movies that tell us something about God
By Aileen Lawrimore “For this assignment,” Dr. Danny West said, “I want you to watch a movie and then write a reflection on what that movie says theologically.” It was one of my first assignments for my Introduction to Preaching…
Watchers — watching the one you love suffer
This is the first of three posts by Jason Coker, written in the days before and after his father died on Jan. 27. Jan. 15, 2015 I’m a watcher in this drama — the drama of my father’s death. The most…
christian cruise directing.
When I was 15 years old, I went on a Carnival cruise with my family to the Caribbean. “All good stories begin with a boat.” -Science There are few things that more aptly embody the zeitgeist of the modern American…
Before you criticize your pastor
Something your pastor or a church staff member has done has set you off. You can’t believe he or she had the audacity to do (or not do) or say (or not say) such a thing. Before shipping off a…
The spiritual practice of creating margin
By Jayne Davis My weary body slid into the lounge chair by the pool like Derek Jeter stealing second base — out of breath, a bit scuffed up and like I had taken something I wasn’t supposed to have: a…
The importance of the images and metaphors Jesus didn’t use
I went back in time this past Christmas. Once again I was a child sitting on the floor working my way through a lego instruction manual building a castle. Only this time the castle wasn’t black, it was light gray…
Make room for those whom God is sending
“Find your own parking place. We get here first on Sundays and get all the good places. We have paid for them.” I arrived about the time the late morning worship services began at a congregation where I was serving as…
Come ye sinners
By Molly T. Marshall Word came last evening of the gruesome death of a Jordanian pilot. Evidently he was burned alive, confined in a cage. This is the latest in a series of brutal executions, which call attention to the…
There’s enough
Our economics matter as much as ever. It matters because what we consume and how we consume has a profound impact on our lives, as well as the health and well being of our neighbors and the planet at large….
American Sniper and the Power of the System
There are many viewers of “American Sniper” who consider Chris Kyle an American hero. Some of these, who are also Christians, even see him as an example of Christian heroism. These are folks who collapse obedience to God into obedience…