Just after seeing Jesus transfigured, the disciples run into a little trouble. A man with a boy possessed by a demon approaches them to cast out the demon. The disciples try, gathering a big crowd along the way, but they…
When ideology trumps theology
By Marv Knox Sometimes, life is so upside-down you couldn’t make it up. For example, Paige Patterson has emerged as an ecumenical leader among Baptists. You may remember Patterson. He’s the president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the past…
Hearing God’s voice through the clamor
By Jayne Davis I hate to admit it. My hearing is not what it used to be. Voices in the room sound a bit more muffled. Reading lips is an emerging skill. Some days I truly believe my kids are…
All denominations should care baptisms are down among Southern Baptists
The first response of many people may be “I don’t care”. That’s fine. You have that right. But you ought to care. More about that later. Keep reading. Why Are Baptisms Down Among Southern Baptist Churches? First, take note of…
Immigration reform: Now is the time
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee Close observers of our U.S. federal government agree that due to the very strange rhythms of national politics, comprehensive immigration reform — defined as a bill that includes some path to legal status for undocumented…
‘Godzilla’ remains true to tradition but offers new details
By Michael Parnell Back in the 1960s, I loved to stay up on Saturday nights to watch Shock Theater, the late night airings of classic monster/horror movies. There were the Hammer Films productions, which usually centered on Dracula. But my…
A new cultural orthodoxy
How shall we handle it when the forces of modern tolerance finally shed their sheep’s clothing and begin baring their teeth? In the last several months this question has moved from the realm of the theoretical to become intensely practical….
Edutainment
By John Chandler According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are over 4,000 public and private institutions in the American college and university system. They awarded nearly three million degrees last year to more than 17 million enrolled…
John 14:6 — Inclusive or exclusive?
By Chuck Queen There is a growing number of Christians today who are interpreting texts like John 14:6 (“I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me”) inclusively, rather than exclusively….
Healthy self-care is essential for a pastor
Self-care includes developing and maintaining good physical, spiritual and mental health, a uniquely challenging but crucial discipline for a pastor. While these three areas of wellness are intertwined and inseparable, in my own life and the experience of many of…
Mixed dating and ill-fated love
By Brett Younger That phrase is about the only thing I remember our minister of youth saying. Tommy said it after the bell rang to signal the end of Sunday school. None of us wanted to admit that we did…
How to handle those pesky blog ‘trolls’
After blogging for over 5 years, I’ve been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh comments. I’ve found there are two types of negative blog commentator: productive criticism and blog trolls. Blog trolls, like their mythical archetypes, lurk in…