In the mainline church, many have lost confidence in leadership after helplessly watching a membership decline across denominations since the mid 1960s. Like my little soccer team, Jesus’ team appears to be taking a beating these days.
Our church has been exceptional in its efforts to make things safe for my daughter. But it turns out, if a congregation hasn’t had any kids with severe allergies in their church, they might have no allergy policy at all.
The last time I wrote about the baptism of Jesus I was accused of heresy and intellectual dishonesty.
As I write this, I look east over the hills of Jerusalem.
The church of my youth gathered each New Year’s Eve to usher in the New Year with prayer. It was the acknowledgement that the enormity of the challenges ahead could only be faced with divine help.
The human heart, like clay, is soft and pliable; throughout our lives it is conformed and shaped. The question is, into what?
Advent gets a bad rap this time of year. It gets drowned out in all the tinsel, traditions and time constraints of the season.
Philanthropy literally means love of humanity.
Our son Allan was a typical, grumpy 14-year-old. He would attend the youth group, led by a theology student named Doug, under protest; but attending under protest is probably as good as it gets with boys.
I’d like to thank all the artists who submitted their works of art for this year’s cover art contest. Once again we had an incredible amount and variety of inspired artwork to choose from.
How does Mary, the mother of Jesus, sound to you? We hear her in her own voice just twice.
Dear Lord: Where in the world has my body gone? Yes, the one You made That has served Me so well. Remember how it won […]
I cannot claim that transcendence exists only in the realm of Christian experience
Since we mostly live harried and hurried lives, pressed by multiple concerns and pushed in multiple directions, we easily miss noting God’s presence with us throughout the day.
Questions of whether same-sex relationships are germane in matters of ordination and marriage are once again being raised in the church.
My successor as Moderator of the General Assembly will have a much tougher job than I did. Human sexuality looks as if it will be a major topic on the docket.
Do Presbyterians really believe Jesus will come back, as he says he will in our gospel today?
In thinking about Thanksgiving holiday observances, I was drawn along a path that is relevant to personal renewal. It started with wondering why we needed a holiday to remind us and focus us on thanksgiving.
We live in a culture satiated on consumption and comfort, where marketers play up our desires. Self-denial seems at best quaintly puritanical and at worst incomprehensible. Why go without?
Every day, says Deuteronomy, bind these words to hand and forehead, hammer the words to the doorposts. They must be the last words you see as you go out into the world.