Let’s use this interruption as a time to re-imagine how we pursue God’s preferred future!
The Capacity to Laugh
What happens when we lose the capacity for an emotional expression? What happens when we lose laughter over a period of time as a pattern?
“Jennifer Government” by Max Barry
What is the point of writing a novel when what is happening in the world is far more unbelievable than any act of the imagination could be? Is it even possible to write satire in a world where the news is already too kooky to be satirized? (Fiction)
Church in the Time of COVID-19: Findings From a National Survey (Part 2)
In this article, I’ll share what churches have been doing to continue ministering to their congregants.
COVID-19 and Controlling Our Responses
Our idea of control is an illusion. We have very little say in what happens around us or to us; we only have a say in how we react and respond to the challenges that we face.
When the Main Dish Is Delayed, the Party Must Go On
Have you ever been to a wedding reception and waited endlessly for the meal to be served? The bride and groom are off taking pictures. Meanwhile, stomachs are grumbling audibly.
“The Righteous Mind” by Jonathan Haidt
We may think we hold our moral decisions based on reasons, but more than likely the position came first and the reasons later. (Nonfiction)
Church in the Time of COVID-19: Findings From a National Survey (Part 1)
In this first article, we’ll focus on some of the basic demographics of who took the survey and their responses to 10 key questions about their feelings toward returning to church.
What Should Ministry Look Like During a Pandemic?
I’ve heard stories of churches and ministers figuring out how to take steps forward despite the challenges. I have also seen churches and ministries frozen, and that concerns me greatly.
Three Things Church of Christ Elders Do Well
The elders in most of our churches today are deeply devout individuals with amazing spiritual maturity.
Thinking About Church Membership
When someone says “church family,” I think of people, not congregations.
“The Secret Chord” by Geraldine Brooks
Most of us have known the story of David for so long we cannot remember what it was like to hear it the first time. This novel allows us to hear this familiar story all over again. (Fiction)
The Answer Is Not for Me to Be Less
The answer is not for your female ministers to be less; it’s for all of us to lead in such a way that only God’s name can be praised.
The Northwest Mission
What you need is to be committed to the truth of God’s word and walk alongside those who need someone steady to lean on.
“The Impeachers” by Brenda Wineapple
I don’t know what your history classes were like in high school or college, but I assure you that this is a fascinating tale, which is all the more remarkable since you already know how it comes out. (Nonfiction)
Carrying On in Troublesome Times
How do we carry on when we do not know whether or not today is simply a preface to a harder tomorrow?
Courage, Prayer, and Hope
The pandemic is ushering us into liminal space – one that differs from the immediate past but is not yet whatever the future may eventually be.
Plays by Hnath, McCarthy, Schreck, and McDonagh
It is undoubtedly true that plays were meant to be seen on the stage. And yet some of these scripts are so brilliant that they yield great pleasure and insight even by their reading. (Fiction)
When it Comes to Stress Management, What’s Even Better Than Cake?
Regardless of what is going on right now, may you find comfort, strength, and hope in the one whose yoke is easy.
Minister as Counterweight
Despite what many organizational leadership books suggest, leadership – especially ministry – is much more than just being a non-anxious presence.