Have you ever driven through an old neighborhood and thought, “Why haven’t they just bulldozed this whole place? This is a mess! This is an eyesore! The people still living here should get a medal.” How do we respond to a…
Christmas wasn’t Scrooge’s problem
By Corey Fields I love Charles Dickens’ 1843 story A Christmas Carol. A few people in my congregation like to tease me because I can’t get through an Advent season without using it as a sermon illustration. It was a…
When God moved into the neighborhood
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. – John 1:14a MSG Occasionally called the “forgotten Christmas story,” the first chapter of John describes the incarnation of Christ in philosophical prose. In contrast Matthew and Luke give…
Ministering to travelers on Christmas Eve
I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help overhearing her pain, frustration, and determination. The lady I sat down beside in the busy terminal was obviously troubled. As I took a load off and tried to find my boarding…
For unto us a child is born
By David Gushee Follow David:@dpgushee I have had the extremely rare privilege in the last two weeks of holding a tiny human being named Jonah. He entered the world on Dec. 10, weighing not even eight pounds and stretching not…
For such a time as this
In the Old Testament Book of Esther, we are told a story about how the very existence of a certain group of people was threatened because of the anger of one man towards them. This man made threats to wipe…
Top 10 unhealthy negative reasons people are NOT leaving Your Church
Who in your church do you wish would leave? Yes, I know, that is not a Christ-like attitude. But it is true. Everyone has someone they wish would leave. The church would be a better church without them. There is…
But is it true?
What’s going on at Rolling Stone magazine? If you have paid any attention to the national news lately, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the now-infamous story published by Rolling Stone purporting to expose the awful rape culture at the University of…
Skin tax
By K. Jason Coker In 1996, I was a summer missionary in the Philippines. I had no idea how much that summer would change my life. One night my partner and I stayed out too late visiting friends in the…