By Colleen Walker Burroughs “How much does it cost to drill a well?” is the most frequently asked question we get at Watering Malawi. The answer, around $6,000, is based on a series of geological variables as well as the…
The Bible-denying racist liberal homophobe
The past year, like every year in Christian history, has seen significant amounts of Christian conflict. Consider the vitriol that spewed from the mouths of liberal and conservative Christians alike after multiple landmark Supreme Court decisions. Liberal Christians called (some)…
Flying blind
By Bill Wilson In flight, spatial disorientation is the condition in which a pilot’s perception of direction does not match reality. It typically results from flying into poor weather conditions with low or no visibility. Under these conditions the pilot…
The hidden cost to teens of adult mistakes
In the last 3 days I have had conversations about 5 different instances where a youth minister or key volunteer made a poor choice and it cost them their jobs, and consequently, their relationships with most of the teens with…
Jesus’ pacifism is not passive
By Joe Phelps I visited recently with a young man who is part of a crew remodeling our house. When I learned that he is an Army reservist who is home for a while from the Middle East and will…
Every pilgrim needs a notebook
Hebrews 11: 8: “He set out, not knowing where he was going.” Parker Palmer: “From our first day in school, we are taught to listen to everything and everyone but ourselves.” Hardy Clemons: “Treat your journal as a sacred object.”…
The shocking un-truth about church budgets
By Amy Butler This is, hands down, the least favorite time of year for pastors everywhere: church budget planning season. Nobody likes budget planning, from the tedious work it entails to the way in which money necessarily informs the work…
Between the lullaby and the requiem
The hospital waiting room on the fourth floor at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston was empty and quiet. The only sounds were the dinging of the elevator in the distance and the clanging of the food cart as…
Gaining perspective from afar
By Molly T. Marshall Over the past two weeks, I have read of Miley’s shenanigans, the lawsuit on NFL concussions and the possibility that the U.S. might use military force in Syria — all from the perspective of the Bangkok…