We’ve always had versions of Jesus. In the past, we might have labeled those versions of Jesus by denominational tradition. The Jesus sold in many American churches today solely focuses on personal salvation. Faith and participation in the church are consumer products in which you show up to receive the latest platitudes from a megachurch … Continue reading
I can remember our honeymoon like it was yesterday. We enjoyed a seven-day cruise on the Western Caribbean: Sun, all-you-can-eat food, entertainment, and fantastic excursions with my best friend. All was well until we reached Roatán. An island of Honduras, Roatán is a popular tourist destination for snorkeling, glass boat rides, and more. Except, we … Continue reading
We know the names Fred Rogers and Bob Ross, two staples of PBS television for many decades. But did you ever catch PBS re-airing the BBC’s Sister Wendy’s Odyssey, Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour, or Sister Wendy’s Story of Painting? I can remember thumbing through the limited number of channels before there were countless TV options … Continue reading
I remember when I used to know it all. And it wasn’t enough to know it all. No, I had to tell others what they didn’t know. How else were they going to know? Do you ever catch yourself with these symptoms? Maybe “symptom” is not the best word when our culture almost demands our … Continue reading
Is there anything more satisfying than telling someone off online and never physically encountering that person? Well, that’s what many people love about online platforms, where unaccountable remote posting doesn’t force us to come to terms with how we talk and interact with others. Some fascinating studies have found that people are likelier to write … Continue reading
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Family-Friendly” in passing from countless Christian radio stations, publications, websites, podcasts, and now streaming platforms. There is a cottage industry dedicated to telling you what is a “family-friendly Christian worldview.” Take a look at the Focus on the Family website, which has an entire team dedicated to rating and reviewing … Continue reading
What’s your theology on human life? Most of us clearly understand the value of our own lives. Still, have we ever thought about the lives of others, especially those that do not fit into our socio-economic-political worldview? Most American Christians have spoon-fed one conversation on life, pro-life or pro-choice. Abortion has long been one of … Continue reading
Would you know the subtle signs of abuse if it was right in front of you? Unfortunately, most of us cannot recognize the subtle signs but maybe the more overt ones. There is a good chance that someone is experiencing this kind of trauma in our congregations. But how might we be prepared to see … Continue reading
Exhaustion affects us all differently. For me, it is a building effect, usually displaying itself in an inability to fall asleep at night because my mind is racing with all the worst possible scenarios of how the incidents leading to my stress will play out. What about you? What about when everyone is experiencing a … Continue reading
What’s the intersection of church and race? Most churches are ethnically homogenous. Rarely do you find a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural church, especially in the American South. In the South, this is a product of slavery and segregation. However, it goes much deeper than that, especially since we are over 60 years removed from the Civil … Continue reading
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