By Ashley Huizenga Ashley Huizenga writes from Byron Bay, Australia, where she and a group of friends creatively shared the redemptive message of Jesus through cardboard signs: Byron Bay has been educational in finding new ways to approach ministry. The people here are mostly comprised of backpackers who come to get drunk. It’s a surfing … Continue reading Creative Gospel-Sharing: Eternal Hope on a Cardboard Sign
By Anonymous How better to convince someone who Jesus is than to show them the reality of what He has done in our own lives. I wouldn’t have a chance of matching wits with some of the scholars who have written numerous books on Jesus and the church. It is with heart and the painful … Continue reading Remedy for the Hurting Church
By Dave Hopwood I was thinking about the Bible and how to communicate it a bit more effectively. A few years ago they reissued different bits of the Bible and they invited famous authors to write introductions to each separate book. But I reckon that’s not enough. An introduction with someone’s opinions and thoughts about … Continue reading Making the Bible Better?
By Ian Kirk With the celebration of the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., we see where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is used to bolster movements and causes that he did not specifically speak on. For example, in Raleigh-Durham, NC, a gay rights activist is torqued that a pastor who preaches a historical … Continue reading Shaping Jesus: A Reflection on Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Tim Chermak Animated text scrolling across movie screens often read, “Based on a true story…” as if it mattered. Western culture, influenced heavily by the Athenian philosopher Aristotle, has taught us to become obsessive in matters of historical accuracy, measurement, and observation. The scientific method, pioneered by Aristotle, was the cornerstone of the numerous … Continue reading Jesus and the Art of Storytelling
By George Elerick Religion is an opium for the masses Karl Marx once said. And sadly… he was right! Religion as a set of doctrinal statements that confirm canonical gospels or historical proofs to follow, become indicative of political tyrranical governments that tried to rule the life and deaths of its people. The ancient Roman government sought … Continue reading Christmas: Bringing Hope, Not Religion
By Jeff Goins, Editor Shane Claiborne recently wrote an article for Esquire Magazine about the love of Jesus and directed it specifically to non-Christians. In the article, he speaks about the love of a Christ who may not always be on the side of the religion that represents his name. He suggests that maybe the … Continue reading Jesus, Love, and Hell: Response to Shane Claiborne’s Letter
By Jonathan Shrader I have, in the past, caught myself saying on my way to church on Sunday, “God, I want you to move this morning.” This in itself seems like a reasonable and honest request. I love to see God working and moving in lives around me. But, looking back, I realize that at … Continue reading Chillbumps and Crucifixions: The Truth Behind Suffering
By Jimmy McCarty I’m noticing a trend in our cultural thinking, one that disturbs me. The more I converse with those of my generation (twenty-somethings) that truly have a desire to follow Christ, the more I find this trend plays out.What may make this trend so scary is that the hearts and intentions of these … Continue reading Does God Hide from Us?
By George Elerick Symbols have power. For some, symbols might hold something even deeper than a memory, maybe your identity. For those who follow the god of Wal-Mart, it might be the cheesy yellow pin with a grin on it. For those who follow the god of the Dallas Cowboys, your symbol might be the … Continue reading Is the Cross the Wrong Symbol for Christians?