Is the Church Today in Exile?
Exile is terrifying and confusing. Loss of identity. Who am I now? Loss of power and influence. Loss of place and routine. All the familiar landmarks gone.
Church-State Separation & the CARES Act
The loans that are a part of the CARES Act present a decision for each individual pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or other religious leader and their congregations to decide: Are they going to accept and rely on government aid to continue their ministry?
Drive-By Pastoral Prayer Time
This week, a pastor sat in a chair at the local park with a sign that read, “How Can I Pray for You, Today?” Over the next couple hours, he had a couple of dozen people come through seeking prayer or just looking for a
Teaching Old Dogs (and Pastors) New Tricks
How does a technologically-challenged person like me shift from closing the church for meetings and — in one week — go to online streaming? Very carefully.
Taking a Stand in God’s Sovereignty
One of the challenges we face in understanding God’s sovereignty is that God may allow certain things to happen that we do not understand, and we must reckon with how these things can become challenges to our faith and understanding of God’s power.
If Only…
By the time you read this, an area in Newton County, Arkansas, once known as Dogpatch USA, will have been auctioned off to the highest bidder. After years of weather damage and decay, the former amusement park will be sold off for what it is
What Would Dolly Do?
I’m not sure why my water bottle sticker prompts questions. Perhaps it’s the question that draws them in. They’ve heard the phrase “what would Jesus do” many times, but "what would Dolly do?" is a new question for them to ponder.
How Our Church Broadened Its Reach Despite Virus Restrictions
A Sunday when we didn’t have enough people in our building for a pickup basketball game turned out to be a Sunday on which our ministry may have been broader than it has ever been.
Jubilee — It’s Complicated
The Hebrews were instructed to observe a Sabbath year every seven years and a Jubilee year every 50. Even a simpleton such as I can see how complicated those instructions are.
Prepare for a Messy 2020 Election Season
Pastors and congregations, fasten your seat belts, secure your crash helmets, and get ready. The 2020 elections are coming, whether we’re ready or not.