Here’s news that to some may be shocking: There are bullies in the church. OK, maybe that’s not news. Anybody who has been Continue reading The Bottom Line of Bullying in the Church
Category Archives: Challenge
A Wounded, Limping, and Blessed Church
As evening falls on the crest of the river’s ford, Jacob sits alone at a small fire. He is poking tiredly at the embers while thinking about the journey underway. “Go home,” God says. “Return to the land of your ancestors and to your kindred, and I will be with you” (Genesis 30:3, 13). God’s was Continue reading A Wounded, Limping, and Blessed Church
Ethics and Leadership in the Church
There has been a lot of talk about politicians in trouble, recently. Talking heads on the TV are jabbering about it incessantly. And we realize that it’s true: nobody likes a slimeball leader. Continue reading Ethics and Leadership in the Church
Pointing Questions for the Church
John the Baptizer pointed to Jesus the day after Christ’s baptism. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29-42) A finger directed their eyes toward the one whose arms would be outstretched on the cross. John announced his mission. He is the One, who gives himself for Continue reading Pointing Questions for the Church
Speak Out Loud: No More Whispering
Whenever we speak of God, there is a necessary tentativeness that must attend our words. A holding back of absolute certainty must Continue reading Speak Out Loud: No More Whispering
Toward a New Church
Many hands have been wrung, brows furrowed, and laments raised over the church’s uncertain future. In some church such wrestling has been going on in earnest since the 1980s. Other congregations are just now starting to Continue reading Toward a New Church
God’s Chosen Locus of Action: Is it Ours?
The Shattering of Crystal
Mainline denominational churches have been experiencing shifts in membership and participation for thirty or more years. Attendance is down, congregations have become significantly older, and communities are struggling to figure out what’s going on. For a long time,
Continue reading The Shattering of Crystal
Another School Shooting
In the wake of another school shooting, I thought of the a blog entry by Allen Kleine Deters: Speaking from the Heart about Newtown. We people of faith often say things that need to be more critically thought through.
The photo, “25806 Memorial Flowers First Presbyterian Church June 12, 2011,” by Bill McChesney is used by permission. It is shared under Creative Commons license (CC By 2.0).
A Discipling Community for all Ages
There’s a billboard on Mormon Coulee Road in La Crosse that has been catching my eye. It advertises Pepsi Cola. The back ground is blue and white letters spell out a compelling tag line. When I first saw it, I read the word “Awesome!” The ‘o’ of that word is the Pepsi logo.
Now that I’ve seen the sign a few times, I’ve realized that Continue reading A Discipling Community for all Ages
Jabbok's Edge 