Forrest Wickman's recent article in Slate asks the question "Who is the most religious (American) president of all time?" He concludes that this distinction probably belongs to Jimmy Carter. Carter, a Georgia Baptist, has always been straightforward about his religious beliefs and practices. While in office, Carter attended church wherever he went, even while on the road, and continued to teach Sunday school when at home. He prayed daily and read the Bible, and when he Read More …
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The Adolescent Brain (#0866)
The video below is a must watch TED Talk for anyone who cares about, works/serves with, and/or is raising adolescents. TED offers the following introduction: Why do teenagers seem so much more impulsive, so much less self-aware than grown-ups? Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically "teenage" behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain. So What? Blakemore provides many Read More …
Overcoming Embarrassing Church Websites (#0854)
Terrell Sanders is offering a free ebook (email sign up required) designed to help churches overcome embarrassing websites. The ebook leverages his extensive church web design experiences through the work of the company he founded to suggest 10 practical pointers for church website design (or redesign): Use a simple, classic design Design for content Consistent style does not mean boring Start small, design to grow Design for guests A picture is worth 1,000 words Read More …
Teens Benefit from Time with Parents (#0831)
A new long term study published in the August issue of Child Development reveals that teens benefit from spending time with parents. While the study included only a small group of two parent families in Pennsylvania with limited diversity, the findings are worth noting. More specifically: The study authors were surprised to discover that when fathers spent more time alone with their teenagers, the kids reported they felt better about themselves. "Mothers weren't Read More …
Call to Worship for Sunday, August 12 (#0818)
Leaving behind our busy lives we enter this sacred space for a holy hour seeking an experience that begins but never ends. In losing ourselves we find ourselves; In pursuing God's reign, we participate in it. Pressing on toward what is ahead, let us worship God. Note: The call to worship is followed by congregational singing of Come Away from Rush and Hurry. The first 2:40 of video below features Josh Bales singing those words. Read More …
Call to Worship for Sunday, August 5 (#0811)
Our journey into this moment is intentional; we find ourselves fully here as we set aside activity for stillness certitude for curiosity self-interest for communal possibility We open ourselves to the Divine, seeking nurture and nourishment connection and communion healing and wholeness We welcome the possibility of transformation as together we worship the God of Many Names Read More …
Episcopalian Praise for the UCC (#0809)
John Shelby Spong served as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. In retirement, he has been a prolific writer and speaker. His latest essay, "A Salute to the United Church of Christ," portrays the United Church of Christ (UCC) as a denomination with the potential to "inspire, bring about and participate in the necessary reformation required to break the Christian faith out of its dying patterns." While Spong has had Read More …
Growing Student Loan Debt (#0798)
Student loans have been a hot topic in recent weeks as the deadline approached (included in a 2007 law) for the current interest rate for subsidized Stafford loans to double (rising from 3.4% to 6.8%). When Congress passed legislation that continued the very low rate, the topic of student loans was no longer front page news. With this recent issue fresh on the minds of many, a new study provides troubling details of how quickly the amount students are borrowing is 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 …