by Iris Subel Davis [ene_ptp]A few years ago, I went through a difficult period that is described in God’s Promise of Victory. By way of introduction to this monthly blog, I’d like to offer this first entry to the reader as an insight into some of the topics that might be discussed in this…
by Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle Now that a few weeks have passed since the whirlwind visit of Pope Francis to the United States, I think it would be worthwhile to pause and explore some of its significance. However, I have to begin with a disclaimer. For the first forty five years of my life,…
by Chris Surber We’ve forgotten how to grieve. In our efforts to sterilize and glamorize our lives we have ostracized anguish. It isn’t allowed in our smoke filled light show worship services because it’s frankly a downer. It’s not welcomed in our mass marketed DVD Bible Studies because it doesn’t draw crowds. Today we…
by Kent Ira Groff Bless the Lord, O my self,* and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name (Psalm103:1). *nefesh Hebrew soul What do folks mean when they talk about soul? It seems so nebulous. Spirituality often gets a bum rap for seeming disconnected from the stuff of life. “Soul”—nefesh in Hebrew)…
by Drew Smith I teach a survey course on world religions each semester. In that course, we begin with discussions on defining religion and how we can approach the study of religion. The university is an academic setting and in the course we approach the study of world religions from an academic position that is…
By Steve Kindle It’s almost impossible for a congregation to spiritually thrive in America. The American ethos is constructed to oppose it at almost every turn. According to the apostle Paul and the witness of the Book Acts, New Testament churches were egalitarian societies—societies whose chief concern was the well-being of the community. Everyone…