Category Archives: Articles

This was the theme of the National Church Leadership Institute that I attended this past week on the Andover Newton Theological School campus. Over three hundred activist, self-described “just and generous” Christians gathered for four days to hear inspiring speakers, … Continue reading →

This Sunday a number of our children will receive communion after having had instruction about it’s meaning and significance by Rev. Abby Heinrich. For centuries, churches in the western world restricted Communion to those who could “understand” it. In Eastern … Continue reading →

This Sunday the Pentecost Season begins. “Penta” means fifty.  It was fifty days after Christ rose from the dead that the promised gift of the Holy Spirit came. “I will not leave you as orphans,” said Jesus to his disciples … Continue reading →

By now most of you know that last Friday morning at 2 am my wife, Peggy, and my son, Nathan, found me face down in the hallway outside of the upstairs bathroom. For almost a minute I was unresponsive as … Continue reading →

You can’t open an internet site without a pop-up ad promising you some product or practice that will improve your memory, libido, relationships, or business practices. Go to Barnes and Noble and check out the “self-help” section. The shelves groan … Continue reading →

How often do you take time to reflect on the things you’re grateful for? Once a month? Once a week, at church, perhaps? Maybe you say “grace” at mealtime every day. But even prayers that do express gratefulness are often … Continue reading →

Lent is the season of reflection and introspection. People often associate lent with a time of focusing on sin—to the point of excoriating self-examination, leaving no stone unturned of what we have done or not done, said or not said. … Continue reading →

Churches are primarily, if not exclusively, in the people business. We gather, organize, and manage people to help them grow into faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Others might argue, well that’s beautiful idealism, pastor, but the church is still a … Continue reading →

December 21st was the longest night of the year. Many churches host what is called Blue Christmas or a Longest Night Service for there are those for whom Christmas is not very merry. It might be the first Christmas without … Continue reading →

Retail evangelist What I learned selling shoes The Christian Century, Sep 23, 2013 by Norman B. Bendroth One year when I was between interim gigs I became a sales associate at Macy’s. I’d be a natural, I thought, and so I … Continue reading →