There probably isn’t a church in North America right now that doesn’t have people facing unemployment. Do you know someone you can direct to these excellent thoughts from an elder at Capitol Baptist who is facing unemployment? Like many congregations…
“Mystery isn’t something that is gradually evaporating . . .”
In attempting to understand the complexities of life, I find my experience similar to Flannery O’Connor’s: Mystery isn’t something that is gradually evaporating. It grows along with knowledge. (See the Gooch biography, page 348).
One of the reasons you need a pastor
Shannon Popkin gives a great description of one of the ways your pastor can bless you. Read Shannon’s article and consider her question at the end. I pray that you can give an enthusiastic, “yes.” When I was in middle…
Some Very Exciting (by our standards) Brauns Announcements, including a move to Switzerland
Brauns highlights for 2010 (D.V.!). We are thankful for your prayers. Okay, the move to Switzerland is temporary. Our church is giving me a sabbatical this summer (not to be confused with vacation – – see a Matt Schmucker article…
Steve Brown on why pastors need a mean streak
I fully expect to go into an airport sometime and find three rest rooms: one for men, one for women, and one for clergy. Our image—and thus, God’s—is sissified. Steve Brown. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare,…
If you watch carefully, you will notice that big talkers and fools sometimes gain dignity on the edge of time
Jayber Crow is the barber in Wendell Berry’s recommended fictional community of Port William. As such he witnesses how life and circumstances sometimes transform people . . .And, in that sense, there is a parallel between Jayber Crow’s job of…
Is it the Haggard’s place to be critical of the process by which New Life church disciplined Ted Haggard?
In a Christianity Today interview, Gayle Haggard responds to questions about her decision to stay with her husband after his infidelity became public. I’m thankful the Haggard’s are together. While there are biblical grounds for divorce (Matthew 19:9), and Gayle…
Mark Driscoll in Haiti
Meditate with pen in hand
One of the things we’re encouraging our leaders to do is to write in their Bibles. When you read the day’s chapter of Proverbs, paraphrase the Proverb that gets your attention (See here). So, today is the 27th. Read Proverbs…
Preaching has fallen on hard times . . .
One of our central values as a local church is the preaching of the Word. The Bible teaches that the proclamation of the Word is God’s appointed means (2 Timothy 4:1) for building up God’s people (Ephesians 4:11-13, Titus 1:3).…