The Shack: A Pastoral Reflection
I have a confession to make: I saw The Shack. I had not planned to, but I did. I write with some trepidation for I know the potential reaction from some believers. Reaction ranging from unease to outright hostility can be glimpsed among many conservative Christians toward William Paul Young’s 2007 bestselling novel. Such sentiments have resurfaced in light of the film’s release on March 3. I’ve also observed a significant (and...
Pets: A Christian Perspective
In 2015, my wife and I acquired our first pets. We debated different animals—a dog, a cat, or maybe something exotic like a chinchilla. Following months of discussion, we found ourselves at the local farm supply store one rainy evening. After staring at cages for an hour, and negotiating yet more, we left with two, six-week-old, American Chinchilla bunnies.* Brownie and Lucky have been quite an adventure. Though we’ve heard stories...
Developing Young Leaders: Reflections on the 2016 FWB Leadership Conference
Since Marc Neppl’s (VA) sermon at the 2016 National Association, I have been increasingly hearing a wider dialogue about the rising generation of pastors and denominational leaders. Specifically, there is a desire to have an open dialogue about the role of younger leaders in our movement, and leadership transition in the local church and at the denominational level. Matthew Bracey added his voice to this larger dialogue earlier this...
Our Fears Betray Us
In the days following the election of Donald Trump, thousands of opinion pieces have appeared in newspapers, periodicals, and online news outlets. Such pieces display everything from jubilant finger-wagging to angry finger-pointing. Some are analyzing the data gleaned from exit polling, while others are scrutinizing the counties that flipped from Obama to Trump. However, one sentiment that has emerged since around the midnight to 1am...
What the 2016 Election Can (and Should) Teach Us
By this point in 2016, most Americans are thoroughly exhausted by politics. This is typical of our civic experience every two years but especially every four as presidential elections try our patience and chisel away at our sanity. We’re not sure if another ad, sound-bite, or slogan will aid our decision-making or cause us to consider Canadian citizenship. Most American Christians have been formed and shaped by traditions that...
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