Baptism was abused and used violently as a form of capital punishment in 16th century Europe, a time of significant Anabaptist persecution. The death method of choice was drowning in order to mock believer’s baptism. Water has the amazing capacity…
The gardener, the garden and plants
By Bill Wilson This is the third of a series of three attempts to flesh out a parallel between gardening and congregational life. Gardens, plants, horticulture and growth processes are a steady theme in Scripture. Repeatedly, Jesus taught and told…
Teaching Bible in public schools: Not a good idea
By Chuck Queen In April the Mustang, Okla., school board voted to adopt the Museum of the Bible curriculum developed by writers and researchers associated with Steve Green, the owner of Hobby Lobby, a family-owned crafts store chain whose suit…
Motives matter
If a random Google search is anything to go by, it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who originated this clever quip, albeit in a slightly altered form: “I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not…
‘Spider-Man 2’ is just setup for sequel
By Michael Parnell The Amazing Spider-Man 2 falls prey to its makers’ desires. They hoped to create a movie that makes us want to go to see its sequel. To do that there has to be much in the story…
All in for multisite churches? Not so fast.
By John Chandler Multisite churches are a “new normal” in American Protestantism. According to Leadership Network, multisite churches statistically: • Reach more people evangelistically than single-site churches. • Tend to spread healthy churches to more diverse communities. • Have more…
Rethinking the death penalty
The death penalty is at the forefront of our news cycles once again. First the Tennessee legislature, due to a shortage of the standard execution drug, approved the return of the electric chair. Then, while experimenting with a new drug combination,…
Joining God as co-creators
By Marv Knox Creativity is older than dirt. Literally. Just look it up. The first verse of the Bible says, “In the beginning, God created … .” According to Scripture, creativity started eight verses before the arrival of dirt, which…
Motives matter
By Alan Bean If a random Google search is anything to go by, it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who originated this clever quip, albeit in a slightly altered form: “I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the…