Church Leadership >
Leslie Newbigin, Christian missiologist, was ahead of the curve when he wrote in 1986 about the need for “a theology that has been wrought out at the coal face, at the place where faith wrestles at personal cost with the hard issues of public life.” In this section of Foolishness ...
Church Leadership >
As we nurture our children, we gradually give them new opportunities for responsibility and independence. We encourage them to dress themselves and pick out their own clothes. We provide food options (all healthy, of course) that they can choose. We provide books and games that will stretch them mentally. We ...
Church Leadership >
I first saw an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series in reruns of the first season. The program launched while I was in Vietnam, so I was surprised when I returned to the States and discovered it. My family and I watched that series in reruns for years. I ...
Church Leadership >
Telling the emperor he has no clothes can be tricky. You remember the fairy tale about this. As I remember, the naïve young boy came out of the encounter unscathed, but the emperor was totally embarrassed. When I was in Vietnam, I was an inexperienced, freshly minted second lieutenant in a ...
Church Leadership >
I have lost count of the number of ordination services in which I have participated. Although the ordination of men and women to the Gospel ministry (perhaps I am dating myself in using that term) is meaningful to me, just as important is the opportunity to set aside men and ...
Church Leadership >
In The Legend of the Merchant and the Monk, writer Terry Felber suggests twelve keys to successful living that can guide a Christian in his or her personal, business and family life. Setting his parable in 15th century Italy, Felber uses Antonio, a successful Venetian merchant, as the spokesperson who ...
Church Leadership >
Iron Man Three, the latest film offering from Marvel Comics, gives us an anxiety-ridden superhero. Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, has come away from the epic battle alongside the other Avengers in New York (see The Avengers from last year) as a changed man. The bravado and sarcasm is still ...
Church Leadership >
In recent years, I have developed great admiration for megachurch pastor Andy Stanley as I have heard him speak and read some of his writing. He is an effective preacher, a practical leader, a transparent believer and a lifelong learner. We might disagree on some fine points of theology, but ...
Church Leadership >
Having children is not a matter to be taken lightly. In fact, I have friends who have decided for one reason or another not to bring children into the world. I am thankful that Rita and I chose to have children. Of course, this has resulted in grandchildren and great-grandchildren, ...
Church Leadership >
We still talk about the period after a couple is married as the honeymoon. This is more than a short period of time to get away to a resort or vacation spot. This is the time when the couple begins to get to know how each other thinks, acts, and ...