"Not in Her Shoes" is a new brief video (under 2 minutes) designed to encourage conversation about abortion by suggesting people move beyond the labels "pro-choice" and "pro-life" that "actually don't reflect how people feel about abortion." So What? Watch the video and ponder the argument advanced by Planned Parenthood. Do you believe that moving beyond the polarizing labels (pro-choice and pro-life) will help people have more in-depth and meaningful conversations about abortion? Why or Read More …
Church Renewal – Join the Conversation (#0978)
A week ago today Chaplain Mike, one of the principal bloggers on the popular Evangelical/post-Evangelical Internet Monk site, shared his summary of my thoughts on the future of the church as expressed in a series of blog posts written last year. In addition to framing my series as a "perspective on the future of the American church from a younger leader in the mainline Protestant world," Chaplain Mike shared his take on how my thoughts relate to what others are saying now and Read More …
The Saddest Graph (#0977)
A week or so ago I read Dylan Matthews' Washington Post piece, "The Saddest Graph You'll See Today." The article focuses on an infographic illustrating the small percentage of rapes that are reported and an even smaller numbers of rapists who are jailed. Recognizing the complexity of collecting data about and unreported rape, I hesitated to share this specific explanation without some form of methodological disclaimer. Interestingly when I returned to the article, Read More …
Religion is Morally Neutral (#0976)
An account of a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu includes Tutu's words below, which explain how he understands religion as morally neutral: And you have to remember that religion is of itself neither good nor bad . . . Religion is a morally neutral thing. It is what you do with it. It is like a knife, a knife is good when you use it for cutting up bread for sandwiches. A knife is bad when you stick it in somebody’s gut. Religion is good when it produces a Dalai Read More …
The Scandal of American Christianity (#0975)
In response to Candace Chellew-Hodge's recent interview question about religion and wealth, progressive Christian scholar Marcus Borg offers these wise words: The scandal of American Christianity today is that it is deeply divided not only about issues like biblical inerrancy and evolution, but it's deeply divided between a conservative vision of Christianity that emphasizes that what really matters morally is personal morality, the behavior of individuals . . . On the other side of Read More …
Review of Quiet (#0974)
Meet the Author Susan Cain is an introvert who specializes in writing and speaking on introversion. Her TED talk (2012) on the power of introverts has been viewed over 3.5 million times, and her Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (2012) was a New York Times Bestseller. Cain is an honors graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In addition to practicing corporate law she has taught negotiation skills at Read More …
Pastoral Regrets (#0973)
Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, recently asked more than twenty pastors who had been in ministry for at least 25 years a single question: “What regrets do you have about the years you have served as a pastor?” The top seven answers follow: Lack of practical training for local church ministry Overly concerned about critics Failure to exercise faith Not enough time with family Failure to understand basic business and finance issues Failure to Read More …
Being Teen Online (#0972)
Zone Alarm recently posted an important infographic: The Secret Life of the Online Teenager. While more than 4 in 5 teens use social media and more than 95% of all teens are confident in their ability to stay safe online, the details of their online behavior offer parents, educators and other caring adults reasons to monitor the online actions of teens. More specifically, 69% openly reveal their physical locations 32% of teen girls and 24% of teen boys chat with strangers Read More …
Review of Misreading Scripture (#0971)
Meet the Authors E. Randolph Richards is dean of the School of Ministry and professor of biblical studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL. Previously he served as a professor at Ouachita Baptist University and at Williams Baptist College. Prior to his work as an educator, he served as a Southern Baptist missionary stationed in East Indonesia. He is the author of Paul and First Century Letter Writing: Secretaries, Composition, and Read More …
Self-Appraisal Statement (#0970)
My understanding of who I am is shaped more by following the way of Jesus than any other factor. I strive to live the love of neighbor Jesus taught by embodying an ever-widening inclusiveness of the circle of those I count as neighbor. My academic preparation for Christian ministry in schools affiliated with three traditions, varied roles in parish ministry in congregations affiliated with four additional denominations, and interactions with those in the wider family of faith through Read More …