Alan Roxburgh’s recent book, “Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood,” lead me to a different sort of reading of a recent Sunday Gospel lesson from Mark 6:1-13. Jesus goes into his own home town with his disciples, teaches in the…
Church: The unwanted product
I was having a conversation recently with our pastoral intern and he told me with some frustration on his face,“Sometimes I feel like I’m trying to push a product that no one wants.” (He was referring to the Church). During…
Competition or Communion?
For years my church struggled with what to do about Wednesday nights. Because we were largely a congregation of university students, the conventional wisdom was to do anything that involved a stage. Speakers, musicians, lights, observers sitting in rows of…
Never say never
I am working on a major sewing project. I told my daughter years ago, “Just never ask me to make your wedding dress.” Yeah… well… never say never! You guessed it… that is exactly what I am in the midst…
Where’s the mystery of God anymore?
By Mark Wingfield In a world of “Ten Steps to Effective Christian Living” sermons, what’s happened to allowing some room for the mysterious ways of God? The self-help mentality that has invaded churches may have produced the unintended consequence of…
Changes come to midweek church
By Jeff Brumley The look and feel of the Wednesday night church service is beginning to change as congregations – at least the ones trying to survive – seek to become more intentional and relevant to the communities they serve,…
Copy of Changes come to midweek church [Special]
By Jeff Brumley The look and feel of the Wednesday night church service is beginning to change as congregations – at least the ones trying to survive – seek to become more intentional and relevant to the communities they serve,…
Accompany them … with food
By Molly T. Marshall I had opportunity to see the Body of Christ at its best these past weeks. A faithful member of my Sunday school class has been concluding his nearly three-year struggle with cancer. With grace and dignity,…
Accompany them … with food
By Molly T. Marshall I had opportunity to see the Body of Christ at its best these past weeks. A faithful member of my Sunday school class has been concluding his nearly three-year struggle with cancer. With grace and dignity,…
Late season spring cleaning
Hidden away in USA Today on July 5 was a little article announcing that Google was doing a little “spring cleaning in the summer.” The article stated that Google is retiring its iGoogle personalized home page. I will say that this news…
Absorbing Chaos
Dennis C. Golden, president of Fontbonne University in St. Louis, once recalled a visit years ago with a friend who also was at the helm of a university. During their conversation, Golden’s friend described her role as college president in…
‘Business as mission’ fulfills calling
By Jeff Brumley Some Christians live out their faith by pastoring churches, visiting prisoners or serving as missionaries. Jordan England does it by designing and selling furniture. “This is my calling,” said England, the 31-year-old owner and CEO of Industry…