Sermon Text: Matthew 5:13-16 Sermon Excerpt Over the last few years, I have heard one man preach more than any other. Ron Patterson, Senior Minister of Naples United Church of Christ, has a saying that I have come to appreciate. While he uses many variations, it usually sounds something like this: “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” Let me repeat that before we begin unpacking what it means . . . “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” At its Read More …
Gabe Lyons
Research Suggests that Evangelical Christians are UnChristian (#0298)
"Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus" is the title of a recent Huffington Post article, which seeks to explain the findings of research conducted by the Pew Research Center. The post was written by two professors: Phil Zuckerman (associate professor of sociology at Pitzer College) and Dan Cady (assistant professor of history at California State - Fresno). They suggest the research confirms: what social scientists have known for a long time: White Evangelical Christians are the Read More …
Reflections on 75 Recently Published Books (#0221)
Over the last year and a half (roughly 75 weeks), I have posted my reflections on 75 recently published books. I encourage you to browse the list as you think of your reading list for 2011. Each title is linked to my review. Author Title Year Allison, Jay and Gediman, Dan, eds. This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable American Men and Women 2006 Allison, Jay and Gediman, Dan, eds. This I Believe II: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable American Men Read More …
Top 10 Books Published in 2010 (#0220)
There have been many insightful books published this year. Today, I offer my list of the "Top 10 Books Published in 2010" Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Spy – A Righteous Gentile Vs. The Third Reich Eric Metaxas Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites . . . and Other Lies You’ve Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media Bradley R. E. Wright God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World – and Why Their Differences Matter Read More …
Review of The Next Christians (#0200)
Gabe Lyons. The Next Christians: How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith. Doubleday: 2010. ISBN: 9780385529846. Meet the Author Gabe Lyons is the founder of Q, which serves to educate Christians on their historic responsibility to renew culture. Q, an outgrowth of the now defunct Fermi Project he co-founded with his wife, began offering national gatherings in 2007 and launched Qideads.org in 2009. Previously, Lyons served on the team that co-founded Catalyst, which Read More …
Review of Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites . . . and Other Lies You’ve Been Told (#0137)
Wright, Bradley R. E. Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites . . . and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media. Bethany House, 2010. ISBN: 9780764207464 Meet the Author Bradley Wright is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut. After keeping quiet about his Christian faith early in his career, Wright became more open after gaining tenure. His specialties include religion, social Read More …
My Response to Anne Rice (#0127)
Anne Rice Quits Christianity As the days pass since Anne Rice wrote of her decision to “quit being a Christian” I have returned to her words on several occasions. Her words are those of a follower of Christ who cannot fathom why the church she thought she knew and loved has become an institution more focused on being against issues rather than for Christ. Rice’s pain and frustration have led her to walk away and to distance herself from the body of Christ. Today I quit being a Read More …