Is it appropriate for a Christian to buy a $200,000 motor home in a world where children in Haiti and other places are dying due to lack of clean water, life saving medicines and even food? The other evening my…
Perspectives on immigration: safety and security concerns
The issue of immigration is a subject of discussion and debate within the Christian community. Followers of Jesus have diverse perspectives on how to address economic, security, and cultural concerns. Having shared in previous posts the primary points of diversity…
Prayer for the papacy
By Steve Harmon The pope has prayed for me, and following the announcement of his retirement at the end of the month, I’m returning the favor by praying for him and the future of his office. Don’t get the wrong…
Dear Boy Scouts of America
Dear Boy Scouts of America: I hope this finds you well, though all the conversation in the media seems to say otherwise. You’re apparently between a rock and a hard place, at least politically speaking. You don’t want to alienate your base,…
Why your church building-use policy matters
By Bill Wilson I know firsthand how utterly boring and laborious creating a building-use policy can be. Every church I served entered into a major building project. The debate around building use has been a constant. It also has evolved…
Life, assault weapons and consistency
Does the Second Amendment really protect the right of private citizens to own assault weapons? Why do so many people who take a pro-life position on abortion take an anti-life position on possession of firearms designed to execute multiple victims…
Theological education that works
Theological education is just beginning to catch up with changing needs of churches and culture that must be addressed if seminaries and divinity schools expect to survive. I received my first seminary degree 42 years ago this month. There is…
Dunking in the dark
By Amy Butler Millions of dollars are spent every year to purchase advertising time during the most-watched sports event of the entire year. I am no advertising expert, but I imagine that marketing executives work long and hard to produce…
Evangelism is more than confrontation
One of my long-term church friends and I have friendly banter about my use of words and phrases that are probably more complicated than they need to be. Regularly, Lane and I have friendly conversations about the use of complex…
Guns in churches: help or hinder?
The first time I was confronted with the idea of a gun being in a church was when I visited The Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, KS. I walked into the church and I saw a small sign…
Preparing for Lent
By Molly T. Marshall How quickly the days have passed since the celebration of Christ’s nativity! We have marveled at the visitation of the magi, encountered Simeon and Anna as Jesus was presented in the temple, wondered with the disciples…
Church planting: time for new terminology?
Susan Rogers serves as church planter and pastor of The Well at Springfield in Jacksonville, Florida. The Well at Springfield is self-described as “a community of faith seeking to practice the way of Jesus together by loving God, our neighbor,…