Church
Tony Payne on Church Programs
My brother sent me an article from Tony Payne (Publishing Editor for Matthias Media) that went off like a bomb in my mind. Take five minutes and read it here. Here’s a quote to wet your appetite: “But what if our mental image of the congregation was not a network of departments or structures or [...]
The Gideons
Last Saturday night, I had the privilege of attending a Gideon’s support dinner to raise funds for Bible distribution in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Prior to the evening, my perception of Gideon’s had been positive yet limited. I knew they had a focus on placing Bibles in hotel rooms, but not how they were unashamedly [...]
Can I take a Christian to court?
Living in a broken world is messy. It would be nice if everyone saw eye-to-eye and problems were easily resolved. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Even believers sometimes find themselves in bitter disputes with other believers. This raises the question: Is it ok to take another believer to court? A common answer to this [...]
Celebrity Christians
One of most defining features of our time is the rise of the celebrity. Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian are famous for being famous. Talent and substance are not required. The ability to draw a crowd or following on facebook seems to be the only requirement to become a celebrity. But has this phenomenon has [...]
16 reasons crime should not be handled in-house
Ministry means working with people. And people are sinners. So those who are ministering to others will at times find themselves knee deep in messy situations. Unfortunately, these situations often involve criminal behaviour which has never been reported to the civil authorities. Probably the most common instances are child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect) [...]
A common enemy
It is a universal principle that people need enemies. Loud protests notwithstanding, people need enemies. It is fundamental to modern politics. The left has the right. The right has the left. The people have the politicians. And the politicians have the people. We all have enemies. And we have them because we need them. Every [...]
Why I Don’t Call Myself Reformed
For over 20 years I have been exposed the the Calvin vs. Arminian debate (also known as Reformed vs Free Will theology). I have been in churches on both sides of the debate and let me describe it in one word – UGLY. It can make Labour vs Liberal party politics look tame. Sadly, the [...]
Surviving Toxic Leaders: How to Work for Flawed People in Churches, Schools, and Christian Organizations
By Kenneth O Gangel, Wipf and Stock, 2008 Toxic leaders. The topic frequently pops up in both secular and religious news. Undeniably, toxic leaders even flourish within fundamental churches and organizations. Kenneth Gangel’s book, Surviving Toxic Leaders, answers two main questions: what does toxicity look like and how should people under toxic leaders respond effectively. The author [...]
How Do You Define Worldliness?
The very word “worldly” immediately conjures lavish sights and sensual sounds in our minds, conscientiously inscribed there by preaching and teaching we have heard over the years. The nightclub’s throb and strobe stroking embodied sensuality is instantly associated with a more blatant side of worldliness. More sedate icons of worldliness include the sleek BMW parked [...]
The Harvey Dent Solution
Darkness rules in Gotham City. Although Batman’s vigilante attacks against evil have caused a glimmer of hope to shine in the hearts of the faithful, Gotham continues to be engulfed in corruption and crime. New district attorney, Harvey Dent, enters the story as the city’s great hope for addressing real problems. Touted as the “White [...]
Ministry: A Career or a Call?
My ‘day job’ is all about ‘career development’. I help people achieve their goals by analyzing their skills, providing development training and arranging targeted job interviews. It is satisfying to help people grow their careers, achieve their objectives and increase their pay packets. Ministry: A Career? However, I have previously spent time in paid pastoral [...]
Is Gay Marriage an Attack on the Gospel?
Let me put my cards on the table about marriage: I don’t believe the government should have any say in marriage. Marriage is a religious ceremony established by God. So to be consistent, why should atheists even bother getting married? To be further consistent, why should Christian couples bother getting a marriage certificate issued by the [...]
