NORMAN, Okla. (RNS) — Pastor Dustin Buff traded in his job, his house and his sense of security for a backpack, a Bible, a sleeping bag, one change of clothes, identification and a cell phone. For 10 days, Buff and…
RIGHT OR WRONG?: Being or doing
I’ve seen God described as “not only the Ground of all Being, but also the Ground of all Doing.” Help me understand how to appreciate that characterization. Paul Tillich (1886-1965) was a German-American philosopher and theologian who coined the term…
OPINION: A Christian nation? Yes!
In recent years many Americans have become distressed by the obvious decline of social and moral values, which is evident in all regions and levels of national life. Crime has increased, organized gang activity is up, drug abuse is surging,…
OPINION: What Baptists can learn from Twinkies
(ABP) — Hostess Cup cakes are going out of business. Twinkies, Zingers and all the rest are endangered species. Hoarders are buying boxes and putting them on eBay. True fans are hoping someone will buy them soon. The blame for…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Inspiring members to give
(ABP) — When I meet with church leaders, they often ask me to help them devise a strategy for increasing giving among their members. While there is no simple plan that works everywhere, there are several ways to cultivate positive…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Alternative gifts counter commercialism
(ABP) — When it began nearly a decade ago, the Alternative Christmas Gift Fair at Boulevard Baptist attracted barely 100 church members and generated a few thousand dollars for participating nonprofits and mission groups. But it has since generated $200,000…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Charitable giving up, but Sandy and tax changes expected to impact year-end gifts
(RNS) — The recession continued to affect how much Americans gave to charity last year, and the triple whammy of Superstorm Sandy, a national election and the looming fiscal cliff may cut how much we donate in the crucial final…
Some church leaders increasingly uneasy about ‘missional’ label
DENVER — The bio on the back of Kathy Escobar’s 2011 book describes her as a “nationally recognized voice in missional church development.” And by all accounts the Denver-based pastor and church-start consultant is certainly that. But Escobar insisted she…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Leadership’s dances: From the center, to the edges, across the gaps
An ancient wise man was approached by a despondent villager who asked for healing. The wise man asked three telling questions: When did you stop singing? When did you stop dancing? When did you stop telling stories? These questions echo…