By David Gushee The Roe v. Wade anniversary with its ritual marches of protest and defense occurs this year amidst our quadrennial election carnival. Our elections now seem to require that contending politicians seek to outdo one another in ideological…
Embracing forgiveness
By Rabbi Rami Shapiro New Year’s Day is over. Have you broken your resolutions yet? If you’re like me, the answer to that question is “yes,” so this is a good time to think about forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t a skill…
We say no, again
By Ken Sehested On the first Sunday in Lent in 2007, when tensions between the United States and Iran were escalating, Circle of Mercy Congregation unanimously adopted a statement opposing an attack on Iran. With the recent assassination of another…
Could there be a Muslim president?
By Zachary Bailes With the New Hampshire primaries behind the GOP and South Carolina on the horizon, Mitt Romney seems the likely presidential candidate. Perhaps surprisingly, Romney’s Mormonism has yet to be a major stumbling block, and as time passes…
Ministry off the list
By Amy Butler On my desk I have an old-fashioned pad of paper on which I write, every day, all of the things I must accomplish. My list is a list of those tasks that hang over me — reports…
Christian unity as Christ’s victory, and our task
By Steven Harmon The theme for the 2012 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25) is “We Will All Be Changed by the Victory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Based on First Corinthians 15: 51-58, the theme encourages Christians…
Warning, this sermon may be X-rated
By Derik Hamby Mega-church preacher Ed Young Jr. is challenging married couples in his church and beyond to conduct a “sexperiment” – to have sex for seven straight days as a way to improve their marriage. Videos promoting Sexperiment: 7…
How to change our culture
By Jim Denison The Center’s findings indicate that “religiously active Americans are more trusting of others, are more optimistic about their impact on their community, think more highly of their community, are more involved in more organizations of all kinds,…
Resolve to find God’s presence outside the church
By Chris Hughes We’ve all made the mistake Jacob did when he woke up from sleep and declared the warm stone under his head “Bethel,” the house of God — as if X marked the spot for God’s dwelling place….
Moving magi — when scholars dance
By Angela Yarber What happens when scholars follow their hearts? What does it mean for Christian worship when these same scholars move their bodies? What are most of us missing during Epiphany? The answers are found in the mystical magi….
The river
By Bill Leonard Then, John the Baptizer stormed out of the wilderness, demanding repentance of everyone. Jesus showed up, seeking baptism, but John hesitates. Jesus insists and under muddy Jordan he goes, taking all God’s people with him. Now, New…
Sample ‘Blue Like Jazz’ not your father’s evangelistic flick
Gary Furr “Blue Like Jazz” arrived at selected theaters this past week, an odd stepchild among usual movie fare of aliens, vampires, and things that go boom. Derived from Donald Miller’s book by the same name, “Blue Like Jazz” is…