Series: Columns

January 1, 2024

Rudy Hagood

The Practice and Art of Surprise: Marriage Practitioners

By Rudy Hagood My wife, the unbelievably beautiful Osharye, recently shared an article titled, “We’re Talking About (Marriage) Practice.” In it, she reminded us of the cultural phenomenon from 2002 when basketball star Allen Iverson famously said, “We’re talking about practice . . . not a game . . . we’re talking about practice.” (If you haven’t read it, you might enjoy doing so before reading this.)    Osharye’s words got me to thinking about the areas of our marriages that are underdeveloped due to a lack of, well, practice. One area where we could become proficient is in the art

January 1, 2024

Laura McKillip Wood

Mental Health Support Important for Those on the Field

By Laura McKillip Wood  When Troy and Roma Jean Backhuus started taking short-term mission trips in 1996, they had no idea they were beginning a ministry that would become a huge part of their lives. On that trip and subsequent ones, they witnessed how hard it can be for cross-cultural ministers to get the care they need, including mental health care.   Studies indicate the majority of missionaries experience a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, or burnout during their time of service. These servants may not have access to counseling, psychiatric services, or even friends to support them in

January 1, 2024

David Faust

Remembering Mike / A New Team Member / Defaulting to Mercy and Grace

By Shawn McMullen  I WRITE MY FIRST COLUMN AS EDITOR of Christian Standard with mixed emotions. As humbled and grateful as I am to have been given this opportunity to serve Christ and our fellowship of churches, I continue to mourn the loss of the former editor, my friend Mike Mack.  When the sister magazines were given new life through the vision of The Solomon Foundation and Christian Standard Media, Mike and I worked together for three years. He edited this journal while I edited The Lookout. During that time Mike and I talked regularly, traveled together occasionally, and supported

January 1, 2024

Jerry Harris

Avoiding Leadership Burnout

By Jerry Harris  All church leaders are dealing with stress right now. Stress can come from every area of our lives.   You might be under pressure, facing big changes, feeling a lack of control, shouldering heavy responsibility, or feeling uncertain about the future. You might be facing multiple issues simultaneously or feeling the effects of past experiences.   Your stress might be triggered by illness, injury, parenting, infertility, bereavement, abuse, marriage, divorce, relationships, or caregiving. You might have lost your job, or be seeking a new job, or just started in a new role. Perhaps you retired recently. You might be

January 1, 2024

David Faust

What Motivates You?

By David Faust  Remember the song “Winter Wonderland”? It contains a line about a talking snowman that a cheery couple imagines to be an ordained minister. They nickname him Parson Brown. “Are you married?” he asks, and they respond, “No man, but you can do the job when you’re in town.”  Parson comes from the Latin persona. In the past, some ministers were called “parsons” and their homes were known as “parsonages.” In his Commentaries on the Laws of England, the 18th-century legal expert Sir William Blackstone wrote that a parson’s job is to “carry out the business of the

January 1, 2024

Christian Standard

‘I’m Fine!’

By Jim Estep  Upon seeing a familiar person in the church lobby and asking them, “How are you doing?” we all know the answer that is expected: “Fine!” . . . even if it is not true.   I have often wondered what would happen if someone were open and honest about their struggles.   “How’s it going?”   “Well, do you really want to know?”  I remember a church member calling to share about a family member who had suffered a heart attack. They asked for prayer and whether someone from the church could visit with their loved one and the family.

January 1, 2024

Christian Standard

Healthy Insights

By Kent E. Fillinger “Hurting people hurt people” is a familiar and true phrase. But on the flip side, “healthy people help people.” A minister’s spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health will directly affect his ability to lead, serve, and help others. The healthier the leader, the more fruitful he can and will be.  A recent Gallup survey found that workers are more stressed this year than last year. This coincides with a 2022 survey by ValuePenguin (a research and analysis company) that reported 84 percent of Americans feel stressed at least once in a typical week. A U.S. Surgeon

January 1, 2024

Christian Standard

A Path for Healing in the Midst of Despair

By Chris Philbeck  Having served as a pastor for more than 43 years, I know how challenging ministry can be to a person’s mental and emotional health. I also know how difficult it is for pastors to be honest about this challenge. A tension often exists between despair we feel over certain realities of life and our commitment to faithfulness. Tension can also be found in the pages of the Bible.  LEARNING FROM DAVID  In studying David’s life, we see he experienced times of great despair even though he’s described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14;

November 1, 2023

Chris Philbeck

Preaching with Depth

Preaching with Depth

By Chris Philbeck   “I’m pretty sure no one will go home and say, ‘That’s the best sermon I’ve ever heard.’” I spoke those words recently as part of my sermon introduction.   Let me explain. I’m preaching chapter-by-chapter through the book of Romans in a series called, “Unashamed.” I love Romans because it gives such a thorough explanation of the gospel. Paul begins with the sinfulness of man, moves to the grace of God that makes salvation possible through faith, and then focuses on our continued pursuit of righteousness.   MEAT AND POTATOES  On this weekend I was preaching from Romans 6

November 1, 2023

Jerry Harris

The Lies and the Truth About God's Love

The Lies and the Truth About God’s Love

By Jerry Harris This is the time of year for thankfulness, celebration, joy, and love, but it also can be a time of loneliness and longing, discouragement and depression. We may think this is a product of our own minds and circumstances, but something more sinister is at work. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Paul described a constant spiritual onslaught that is happening behind the scenes; it’s a battle for our hearts and minds that must be defended with the truth of God’s Word, especially as the enemy tries to rob us of that which God has richly provided.  First Corinthians

November 1, 2023

Laura McKillip Wood

A Lifetime of Dedication

A Lifetime of Dedication

By Laura McKillip Wood  Jody Hesler was in Poland helping with a day of pampering and self-care for refugees from Afghanistan when she felt her phone vibrating persistently in her pocket. Absorbed in helping those she was serving, she opted not to answer. When she finally took a moment to read her texts, she saw a string of messages from several Ukrainian friends. They were all reaching out for help getting themselves or their children across the border.   It was February 2022. The invasion by Russia had begun, and her friends needed help getting to safety. Jody and another worker

November 1, 2023

Kent E. Fillinger

Evangelism Matters

Evangelism Matters

By Kent E. Fillinger  Guilty as charged!   I admit I’m guilty. And maybe you are too. I’m guilty of not loving my neighbors and those in my network enough to share my faith with them as I know I should.   Thomas Dewar said, “An honest confession is good for the soul, but bad for the reputation.” Regardless, maybe it’s time for more of us to confess and repent from living a Christian life that looks holy but may be hollower than it should be. Loving our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers enough to share the good news of the gospel

November 1, 2023

Osharye Hagood

Never Alone: The Power and Importance of Oneness

Never Alone: The Power and Importance of Oneness

By Osharye Hagood  I am one of seven siblings and grew up in densely populated Los Angeles. Even in a family and city so large, it’s easy to feel alone. My late brother Hussin was only 14 months older than me, but he was my hero. No, he was my superhero. We shared an unbreakable bond. Even when we were apart, I felt I was never alone. I mean this both emotionally, but also, in a way, tangibly.   For example, a school bully once targeted me. The bully saw me by myself and assumed I was vulnerable. When he approached,

November 1, 2023

David Roadcup

Agape Love in the Life of an Elder

Agape Love in the Life of an Elder

By David Roadcup  Cornerstones were critical in the architecture of the ancient world. A cornerstone was traditionally the first stone laid for a structure, with all other stones set in reference to it. Thus, a cornerstone determined the position of the entire structure. Cornerstones have been around for millennia. A poorly crafted or placed cornerstone can compromise an entire structure.    In the life of an elder or church leader, several critical cornerstones need to be identified, grown, and matured. Examples include these:   POWERFUL AND IMPACTING LOVE  Scripture uses four Greek words for love: eros (extreme self-gratification), storge (love for family), filos

November 1, 2023

Megan Rawlings

The Best Next Step in a Crisis

The Best Next Step in a Crisis

By Megan Rawlings  When I was in my twenties, I experienced what I now refer to as my “quarter life crisis.” Looking back, I suspect that many of my friends who had recently graduated college or just started their lives as adults in the workforce were also going through this existential crisis. The pressure of knowing what I would do for the rest of my life was one of the heaviest pressures I have experienced to date.  MY ‘CALLING’  I started college with the “calling” to be a medical missionary. I was under the impression that my purpose in God’s

November 1, 2023

Tyler McKenzie

'Tis the Season for Justice

‘Tis the Season for Justice

By Tyler McKenzie  Did you know that in the past century at least three countries outlawed the public recitation of Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)?  • Before the end of British rule over India, the Magnificat was prohibited from being sung in churches.   • In the 1980s, the Guatemalan government banned it because they believed Mary’s words provoked revolutionary zeal.  • And the military dictatorship that ruled in Argentina from 1976 to 1983 also banned the Magnificat. During that time, those in command “disappeared” 30,000 people. Mothers created signs emblazoned with the names of their abducted children and Mary’s song and took

November 1, 2023

Michael C. Mack

Inaccurate Assumptions About Evangelism and Christians

Inaccurate Assumptions About Evangelism and Christians

By Michael C. Mack When I became a follower of Jesus 35 years ago, I had several faulty assumptions about Christianity. I thought, for instance, that everyone who followed Christ shared their faith in him faithfully and frequently with others. I actually believed evangelism was the norm in the church! After all, the Bible says Jesus commanded it, and the early church practiced it regularly. And several Christians had shared their faith with me. So, I did the same.   As I got more involved in the church, I found that my assumption was mostly inaccurate. For many of the Christians

September 1, 2023

Jerry Harris

A Hard Lesson in Hope

A Hard Lesson in Hope

By Jerry Harris   Some years ago, a church member phoned and asked me to make a hospital call on their distant relative who was dying in the hospital. This relative had a terminal brain tumor and no relationship with Jesus. I had not been invited by the immediate family and so I figured it was going to be a bit awkward.   I stepped into the hospital room with complete strangers and introduced myself. I wasn’t greeted warmly. The person in the bed was Benny Robertson, and he appeared to be close to death. He was in a half-seated position and

September 1, 2023

Kent E. Fillinger

The Hope Quotient

The Hope Quotient

By Kent E. Fillinger  It’s been said that a person can live 40 days without food, four days without water, four minutes without air, but only four seconds without hope. Hope is a power that energizes us with life. The available research on hope is limited, so Christian Standard conducted an online survey in May 2023 to assess how hopeful people are about the future of the church. The survey size was limited—just 141 responses—but the results were informative.   It’s worth noting that 87 percent of the survey participants reported attending church “more than once a week” or “once a

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