Opinion

Mark Twain is reputed to have said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” In that spirit, it is worth remembering evangelist Billy Sunday’s face-to-face encounter with the great influenza pandemic while conducting a revival crusade in Providence, Rhode Island.

Easter came and went over the weekend, and we find ourselves in much the same place as if nothing changed. But, what if Easter isn’t the end of the story? What if life's victory over death has begun, but isn’t yet complete?

Our new reality hit us last month like one of the worst sci-fi horror movies we’ve ever seen. Only this time, it was real.

When disappointment comes, it is often God’s prelude to better things. Remember, God is in the business of changing bad into good.

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.

A common temptation in reading the Bible is to put ourselves in the sandals of the good guys. While it’s good to be inspired by the faithful characters in the Bible, if that’s the only roles we see ourselves playing, we miss a more accurate picture of our own faults and struggles.

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?

As states issue stay-at-home orders and bar gatherings, some evangelical Christians — those who believe they are a persecuted minority — have become convinced that religious freedom is under attack. The war on Christmas is now the war on Easter.

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 connection.

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.