Earlier this week, my post "Can Christianity Be Saved" considered Ross Douthat’s July 14, 2102, New York Times editorial “Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?,” and Diana Butler Bass's reply later that same day on the Huffington Post. During the course of the week I returned to the topic in online and in person conversations. The most encouraging part of the dialogue was the shared understanding about three interelated matters: There is a real Read More …
Golden Rule 2.0 (#0796)
Most Christians know and seek to live by the so-called "golden rule," which calls for a life of treating others as one would like to be treated. Interestingly, an ethic of reciprocity is also found in many of the world's religions and cultures. The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Conference Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, recently challenged participants at the UCC's National Youth Event to live by something he calls the Golden Rule 2.0: Read More …
Making Close Friends (#0795)
Alex Williams' recent New York Times article explores why it is difficult for those over age 30 to make new friends. The way life works in one's 30s, 40s, and 50s today makes it challenging to have experiences that are likely to lead to close friendships. Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology and gerontology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, suggests the world which these adults inhabit lacks substantive opportunities to experience the factors sociologists find Read More …
The Best Youth Ministry Game (#0794)
Tim Schmoyer, founder of Life In Student Ministry, recently asked people to submit their favorite youth ministry game. From that list, he selected four: Cell Phone Pic Scategory Q-Tip Wars Fat Santa Shuffle Your Buns (If you are not familiar with one or more of these games, be sure to check out his post for explanations and illustrations.) So What? Every youth group has a few go to games that are always lots of fun. While I have been fortunate enough to be Read More …
Can Christianity Be Saved? (#0793)
As I read Ross Douthat's latest New York Times editorial, "Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?," I knew I had to respond. In short, he suggests that the end could well be near for progressive or liberal Christianity unless something changes rather significantly as a result of decades of decline. While not proposing that other forms of Christianity have all fared well, he suggests that they have by way of comparison to progressive denominations. (For more on Douthat's perspective, read my review Read More …
Review of The Mobile Wave (#0792)
Meet the Author Michael Saylor founded (1989) the publicly traded company MicroStrategy, a leading provider of enterprise software platforms for business intelligence, mobile intelligence, and social intelligence applications. Currently he serves the business as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO. Saylor earned degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Aeronautic and Astronautic Engineering and in Science, Technology and Society. He has appeared on Read More …
It’s Your Time (#0791)
It is easy to become so comfortable in the present that one stops envisioning and striving toward a future that differs dramatically. As one ages, especially if things are going well, motivation to fully pursue one's life dream often fades. Not only does the life dream itself no longer seem as compelling, it may even be written off as unrealistic or unnecessary. So What? Whether you are 19, 91, or some age between, it's your time. Now is the best time to re-evaluate what your Read More …
Time to Be Church (#0790)
After 23 years at the Cathedral of Hope (UCC) in Dallas, TX, Michael Piazza accepted a call to the Virginia-Highland Church (UCC) last year. In addition to his pastoral ministry in a congregational context, Piazza serves as co-executive director of the Center for Progressive Renewal and as president of Hope for Peace & Justice. In the latter role, he wrote these challenging words earlier this week: The progressive church has a long and noble history of engaging the political system around Read More …
Silence in Worship (#0789)
Mark Vernon's recent article explores how limited silence is a part of most Christian worship services today. The current preference for services filled with sound is an historical aberration. To consider the topic in greater depth, he defers to Diarmaid MacCulloch (pictured at right), professor of the history of the church at Oxford University. MacCulloch chose the silence in Christian history as his topic for the prestigious Gifford Lectures, which are available online. So Read More …
Pastoral Engagement on Twitter (#0788)
Bo Emerson's recent article explores how pastors are using Twitter to engage their congregations while also reaching much larger audiences. Twitter executive Claire Diaz-Ortiz found that "religious leaders were completely punching above their weight on Twitter" and "were super-engaged." For example, Joyce Meyer has far fewer followers than Lady Gaga (26 million and 1 million respectively), yet Meyer has a greater impact. So What? While the article focuses on notable Christian Read More …