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The subjunctive and indicative of church ministry
In a recent TED Talk, Phuc Tran talks about his love for grammar, particularly the use of the subjunctive and indicative. He uses these two types of verbal moods as a tool to look at the world and one’s life.
Evolution doesn't make the problem of evil worse
I continue to encounter—and to find incredibly puzzling—the claim that depicting God creating through evolution portrays God less favorably than depicting God creating directly and instantaneously.
Song for Epiphany
I'm back around after spending most of December away, and I'll get back to the current-events blogging directly. But first, I mentioned recently that I've been writing and home-recording a song for each liturgical season.
Thursday digest
New today from the Century: Zionism's internal conflicts, Brueggemann reviews Douglas John Hall, more.
Spirited remnant
Douglas Hall is likely the most influential North American theological interpreter from a Reformation perspective, especially with reference to Luther. He continues to filter his thought through his teachers Tillich and Niebuhr—but he is his own man and carries his inquiry toward the demise of Christendom.
Renaissance Man, by Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band
Founding Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe (aka Jai Johanny Johanson) treats listeners to an accomplished mix of blues, jazz-pop and jam-band music....
Playing offense: It’s time to divest from the oil industry
As generations of coaches have delighted in pointing out, defense wins games. But we’re very far behind in the global warming game.
Protesters in the pews: Young pipeline resisters come to worship
Four Tar Sands Blockade young people showed up at church one Sunday. They were hungry for fellowship and encouragement—and just hungry.
Sunday, January 13, 2013: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
I was ordained last February, and since then I’ve been invited to preach at more than a dozen churches as a supply preacher....
Innovative program helps retain Catholic teachers
CLEVELAND (RNS) As second-year teacher Caitlin McGlynn steps to the front of her class at St....
New light on the Epiphany
Sometimes we grow weary of the same texts as they come up year after year. We may even suggest that maybe this year we should not do the Christmas pageant, but a different story instead.
Bad idea.
Wednesday digest
New today from the Century: Bill McKibben on divesting from oil, Kyle Childress on protesters in the pews, more.
Poetry chronicle
Philip C. Kolin is one of the growing tribe of very fine Christian poets whose work has often been sequestered in the limited venues of independent publishers. His newest collection is a beautifully printed, small hardcover volume that fits comfortably in the palm of the hand. But these are not small or comfortable poems.
Russell Moore: Why adoption is a 'pro-life' policy for evangelicals
Russell Moore, dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently talked with Religion News Service about why adoption has become his personal cause and why more evan...
Religious hopes for 2013
I’m proud to be a part of a movement whose great concern is learning to love your neighbor as you love yourself. And as we move into the new year, I hope those voices of justice will grow stronger—and I wish for some other things as well.
Who do you say that I am?
I often wonder what Jesus was getting at when he asked his disciple, “Who do you say that I am?” Was Jesus testing the waters, trying to figure out if the people and his friends understood the nature of his divinity? Was he trying to figure out if his rabble rousing was about to get him killed? Was he concerned with how his identity was formed by the community? Or was he simply wondering what people thought about him?
The most popular Tribal Church posts
Here are the 12 Tribal Church posts people read the most this year.
The most popular Century Blogs posts
Here are the Century's most-viewed blog posts of the year. Thanks for reading.
Psychedelic Pill, by Neil Young and Crazy Horse
While many of his contemporaries have ossified, Neil Young claws at the marrow like a deranged miner, digging deep in ways that confound expectation. He launches his new double album with a track that’s almost 28 minutes long—and that largely revolves around two chords. It’s one of three songs on this nine-track effort that top 16 minutes.
Pastor, not friend
Jack served the church in countless ways. There's only one thing he wanted in return.