“Worshiping communities that pay attention to the waxing and waning that we find in Scripture … are the healthier for it.” Richard Wilson The professor of Christian theology at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., was discussing the value of following…
WINN RECOMMENDS
The Evolution of Adam, by Peter Enns (Brazos Press) In the area of human origins, the theological debate currently brewing is over whether or not the creation story demands a literal, historical Adam and Eve (verses Adam and Eve as…
TRENDING: Lessons from Argentina, part 1: Bilingual
Hola mis amigos, ¿cómo estás? I’ve returned from study leave, much of which I’ve spent learning Spanish and living with some wonderful Argentine Baptist friends. “Why?” you say. First, because Argentina is awesome — have you ever heard of dulce…
OUT LOUD
“Evangelicals sat on the sidelines in the civil rights discussions but we must not this time!” Bill Hamel The president of the Evangelical Free Church of America made a statement supporting an “immigration prayer challenge” to encourage Christians to support…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Deacon ministry to the homebound
Among those church families most needing ministry are those who can leave their homes only with difficulty. These “homebound” members often find their worlds have shrunk to their immediate surroundings and are sometimes desperate for human contact and news of…
LEADERSHIP LINK: The family needing ministry most may be your own
“Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs.” (1 Tim. 3:12, The Message) In the list of deacon qualifications (1 Timothy 3:8-13), Paul makes…
VITAL SIGNS: Staff-led or staff-controlled?
One of the key predictors of strong congregational health is the type of leadership the ministerial and paid staff of a congregation offers. When the staff of a congregation functions out of strong spiritual and organizational health, the entire faith…
OPINION: Not afraid of kangaroos — Fear-based decision making
At my house, we love to play games. My son, at 3 the youngest member of our family, will play games until he literally falls asleep sitting up. He has a few favorites: Granny’s House, Chutes and Ladders, Uno, Trouble…
OPINION: ‘Everybody Loves Kostya’
Everybody loves Raymond. Or do they? The hit comedic sitcom lasted from 1996 to 2005 and can still be seen regularly in syndicated reruns almost any day of the week. It was created around the universal themes of family and…
TRENDING: Lessons from Argentina, part 2: Cities
If you want to know what is coming to the United States, look south. As a Tar Heel, I’ve always known this. But now, I’m suggesting we look even further south than Chapel Hill — all the way to the…
OPINION: Louie Giglio and a call for dynamic faith
The eyes of the world gazed upon Washington this week for the second inauguration of President Barack H. Obama on a monumental Monday morning also remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In his inaugural address,…
OPINION: Awkward yoga — embracing instability
When my wife and I got engaged, we decided that in addition to planning for the wedding, we would also start working out together. She had been a member at a gym near her house, and I had been working…