Jamie Jenkins: We Must Get Along
Bishop Mike Coyner notes that the Apostle Paul was distressed when he saw Christian people at odds with one another. He appealed to the folks at Corinth to 'get along with each other.'
Rosalynn Carter, Bevel Jones, Among Honorees at 2014 Day1 Benefit
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter received the Day1 Pioneer Award in Christian Service at the Day1 ministry’s annual benefit on Tuesday, March 18, at a private club in Atlanta. For the sixth year the event honored several leaders who are well known for their commitment to the good of the community, and who also are deeply committed to their church and Christian faith.
Darkwood Brew: The Great Convergence: What's So Great? Part 7
'The Great Convergence: What's So Great?' takes its cue from Phoenix Affirmation #8: Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies. In part 7, Eric Elnes talks with Melvin Bray on 'Mythical Imagination.'
Frederick Schmidt: Lent: It's More Fun Than You Think
Lent is spiritual jujitsu. Just as jujitsu uses the strength of one’s opponent against him, Lent uses the strength of owning our weakness against the power of our weakness to overwhelm us. Imagine these possibilities and apply them to your own life...
Billy Honor: African American Churches and the Neglected Public Minister
Presently, the most pervasive images of African-American pastors in media and public discourse are of the high-profile superstar pastoral types and the infamous wolves in Shepard's clothing that have been publicly exposed to be hustlers and sexual predators. Obviously these images, though sexy for general conversation, do not come close to telling the whole story of pastoring in African-American communities. In reality, African-American pastoral images are quite diverse and richly textured.
Weekly Sermon Illustration: Hope That Brings Us Here
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. On March 23, 2014 we will celebrate The Third Sunday in Lent.
ON Scripture: Why You Ought to Leave the Church (John 4:5-42) By Matthew L. Skinner
Religion has a way of making people do extraordinary things to create peace and unity. It also, as we know well, has a destructive capacity to turn people against one another. It can make us grip our convictions so tightly that we choke out their life.
Tony Robinson: Super-Human Christians
'I can't do this!,' protested a young woman about whom I care a great deal. Tears of frustration welling up at the corners of her eyes.
Lillian Daniel: Shut Up and Take a Compliment
Do you ever find yourself answering a compliment with a rebuttal?
Brett Younger: True Beliebers
Do we believe that God turns around egg-throwing nineteen-year-olds? Can we imagine that God helps rich kids who drive under the influence? Should Biebtacular be on our prayer lists? Has anyone offered the Biebernator the use of their baptistery?
Anne Howard: A Word in Time: Be a Blessing
We are the people who inherit Abraham's blessing. We are the people who are blessed to be a blessing. What might that look like right now? How might I be blessing? Where? How might the church be a blessing?
The Road Goes On
Buechner’s commencement address at the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA; published in “A Room Called Remember”
Bishop Rob Wright: Delivered
What have we done to faith? That's Paul's question to Christians in Rome.
David Lose: Lent: Who Needs It?
Lent. Among many Christian congregations it’s become something of a dirty, four-letter word. To start, many churches no longer observe this age-old (fourth century!) tradition ”” it’s too old-fashion, too 'Roman,' too medieval for many denominations in America to handle.
An Invitation to Repentance
Native American and Indigenous Ministries executive issues an invitation to repentance to the church.
Paul Raushenbush: Why I Love Lent
I wasn't raised in a household that observed Lent and only began to get into it once I was introduced to the more liturgical traditions while at seminary. My mother always thought it odd that I would observe this season believing that one of the finer things about being a protestant was not having to do dreary old Lent.
Carol Howard Merritt: Boomer Denominations
In the years to come, as denominations close churches and plant new ones, we should remember that the churches being planted today also reflect a particular culture of their own. The key will be to celebrate and support differences and interpret them to one another.
Darkwood Brew: The Great Convergence: What's So Great? Part 6
'The Great Convergence: What's So Great?' takes its cue from Phoenix Affirmation #8: Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies. In part 6, Eric Elnes talks with Michael Camp on 'Faith, Science and Our Creator.'
Jamie Jenkins: Signs of Spring
One of the first signs of spring is when the redbud trees start to bloom. I don’t know why they are called redbuds because the flowers are pink and very pretty. Anyway, I saw the first one in bloom a week or so ago. When that happens you can count on it, winter is on the way out and spring time is near.
Carl McColman: The Choices We Make Determine Who We Are
I grew up under the shadow of a punishing image of God: the angry father, the dominating lord, the sovereign judge who would tolerate no dissent or disobedience. It has been a long journey for me to let go of such a toxic, idolatrous deity.