Series: Columns

November 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Beyond How-to

By Mark A. Taylor Roy Lawson once wrote at this site that he generally avoids books about leadership. I haven”t pressed him, but I”m guessing his point is something like this: There must be some substance beneath our leadership methods. “Casting vision” and listening to the team and being decisive, along with a dozen other useful tactics, don”t mean much from a would-be leader who is not himself a person worth following. So let”s read books that nourish the soul and expand the mind before we go looking for technique. And yet many among us devour leadership books and seminars

November 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Providing Meals to Children Each Weekday

By Jennifer Taylor “Almost every church has a kitchen,” says Jane Dugan, a member at East Bartlesville (OK) Christian Church. “There”s no reason they couldn”t do something like this.”  “This” is providing a meal each weekday for 60 to 130 children at the nearby Boys and Girls Club, an after-school and summer program for kids. The club is a safe place for kids to do homework, play games, work on the computer, and eat dinner while waiting for their parents to get off work. EBCC volunteers cook every meal for the club”s hungry kids. Dugan meets with the club”s nutrition

November 24, 2011

Christian Standard

His Twice

By David Empson “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This has been my favorite verse my entire life. Growing up, I attended the New Hope Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana. Every Christmas, church leaders would give us an orange, an apple, a candy cane, some penny candy in a brown paper sack, and then a gift. Some of these gifts included a Bible dictionary, a Bible atlas, and a pictorial life of Christ. One year I got a plaque with Romans 5:8 written on it.

November 20, 2011

Christian Standard

“˜Drop in the Bucket” Ladies Ready to Bring Blessings

By Jennifer Taylor Beth Ladd, a teacher and the wife of New Hope Christian Church senior pastor David Ladd (Everett, WA), met each Monday to pray with her friend Debbie Powell. After the 2004 tsunami hit Indonesia, the two friends said, “I wish we could go there and help.” After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, they said, “We can go there and help. Let”s do it.” Like other volunteers around the country, Ladd and Powell organized a group to travel south and help the churches and people of New Orleans. However, their yearly “drops” have continued””to Louisiana, Oklahoma,

November 16, 2011

Christian Standard

What Do You Want?

By Mark A. Taylor All of us know people who never stop wanting. They”re always after the next trend, the newest gadget, the latest fashion, the next promotion. They”re like a dog chasing a porcupine. The hunt is exciting, but the catch doesn”t satisfy. And so they”re perpetually pursuing another challenge, a goal or a goodie they want even more than the last one they grabbed. It”s easy to criticize people who want the wrong things. But some Christians are burdened by an unexpressed fear that it may be wrong to want anything. After all, the Bible lessons and sermons

November 13, 2011

Christian Standard

WJU Makes Connections in One-Day Fund-raiser

By Jennifer Taylor  This fall, William Jessup University (Rocklin, CA) tried a new approach to fund-raising””and set a record in the process. Vice President for Advancement Eric Hogue had three goals: to recruit new donors, help WJU students, and to raise the money without taking the staff away from work. “Give:24″ accomplished all three. Every member of the staff, faculty, and administration was encouraged to participate by asking 24 friends and family members to give $24 each. They made the requests and promoted the effort via social media and e-mail during the month of August; donors could give online during

November 7, 2011

Christian Standard

Negatives We Can”t Ignore

By Mark A. Taylor A quick skim of the newspaper on a Friday in September reminds me of other correspondence I had seen earlier in the week. “¢ A Wall Street Journal report quotes the Pope who warned against increasing apathy toward religion in Germany. “We are witnessing a growing indifference to religion in society,” he said in Berlin. “¢ A column appearing a few pages later chronicles and decries efforts of the Obama administration to promote sermonizing by rabbis on such topics as the President”s jobs bill, the impact of budget cuts on the poor, and the country”s need

November 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Equipping Volunteer Leaders

By Jennifer Taylor Churches around the country struggle with the wonderful problem of how to expand their work by involving enthusiastic new leaders””people who may have limited Bible knowledge or ministry experience. The Crossing (Quincy, IL) created its Ministry Development Institute in 2009 to equip and encourage these volunteer leaders. The 18-month course of study provides in-depth biblical teaching and training in ministry skills. Classes include Old and New Testament surveys, the book of Acts, biblical interpretation, worldview and spiritual formation, practical ministry, and more. The institute posts syllabi and reading lists for each course on its website, and the

November 5, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Starts Arts Academy

By Jennifer Taylor Trombonist and jazz musician Stan Wilkerson has played with Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. This fall he”ll be leading the Academy of the Arts at Common Ground Christian Church (Tampa, FL). Common Ground launched the academy this fall to provide lessons in piano, guitar, drums, woodwinds, and brass. Students may choose private or group lessons at reasonable prices, and older students also receive opportunities to play in jazz combos, ensembles, and recitals. The academy also emphasizes music as worship; students may share their music as part of weekend services at Common

November 4, 2011

Christian Standard

Two Books about Hell

By LeRoy Lawson Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived Rob Bell New York: HarperOne, 2011 Hell Is Real (But I Hate to Admit It)  Brian Jones Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2011 In July, I met with an exciting group of campus ministers from universities around the world. These engaged and engaging young men and women never fail to challenge me with their penetrating questions about today”s leading theological issues. This time there were two issues under consideration: gay marriage (one by one the states are voting to approve it””what are

November 4, 2011

Christian Standard

Families Enjoy Outdoor Fun at “˜Journey Jubilee”

By Jennifer Taylor Instead of a traditional Vacation Bible School, this summer Journey Christian Church (Apopka, FL) created “Journey Jubilee,” a three-day event designed for families and friends. “The older people need to teach the younger ones, and parents need to teach children,” said teaching pastor Harold Armstrong to the Journey family in an announcement about the event. “And often we don”t know how to do that, so we want multiple generations to come together.” The event, held on Journey”s campus July 28-30, centered around a “Tent of Meeting” in the church courtyard where the campers gathered for worship and

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

Emmanuel Institutes Seeks Top Students

This week the Emmanuel Institutes announced a new program–and an opportunity for 15 students to earn a full scholarship. Next August the institute will host its first-ever Ministry Immersion Week as an opportunity for emerging church leaders from undergraduate programs. Students will gather for a week of “comprehensive exposure to the ‘ins and outs’ of ministry best practices.” The organization is inviting other Restoration Movement colleges and universities to encourage their top students to apply, and 15 will be selected to participate with no expenses beyond the $50 application fee. The East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation and contributions from 33 partner churches and organizations are

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

Forefront Gathers Religious, Nonreligious for Conversation

On Thursday, Forefront Church (New York, NY) will hold its next “Conversation That Matters,” a regular gathering to discuss a problem, issue, or article as well as offer one or two people the opportunity to share their own stories. “There are too few places where nonreligious and religious people can listen to one another graciously and learn from one another’s perspectives,” the church writes. Forefront posts links to discussion questions and suggested readings before each gathering.

November 2, 2011

Christian Standard

What a Guide!

By Ben Merold I grew up knowing that the Bible was the Word of God. In retrospect, I consider that fact strange for several reasons. I do not recall reading the Bible in my early life, and my attendance at a Sunday school class or a church youth group meeting was limited to a few short periods of time. I heard very few sermons and remembered none of them, but in spite of these things, I really believed the Bible was the Word of God. Yet, even though I had this conviction about the Bible, it had very little influence

October 30, 2011

Christian Standard

You Must Read This . . . Beyond a Job Description

By Teresa Welch The Pastor: A Memoir Eugene H. Peterson New York: HarperOne, 2011 For those of you who have read Eugene Peterson”s other works, you will anticipate his memoir to be a collection of well- crafted stories about this author/professor/pastor who has already shared so much through his writings. What he provides in his newest work, The Pastor: A Memoir, exceeds those expectations. Interwoven into Peterson”s memories about his childhood, vocational discernment and formation, planting a new congregation, and responding to the needs of his community are words of exhortation and hope for the church and for those who

October 30, 2011

Christian Standard

You Must Read This . . . Setting Limits, Taking Control

By Jennifer Taylor Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to Say NO, To Take Control of Your Life Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992 Think about the frustrations you”re currently experiencing in your relationships. Maybe you resent your spouse for a recurring hurt or feel exhausted from chauffeuring your kids to countless sports practices and play dates. Maybe you can”t say no to a friend despite his constant demands on your time and energy. Maybe you”re struggling with an addict, an abuser, a manipulative leader, or a selfish family member. All of us experience (and contribute

October 30, 2011

Christian Standard

Good Writers, Universal Truth

By Mark A. Taylor  What makes a good writer? American novelist William Faulkner in 1950 gave his answer to the question. Faulkner accepted the Nobel Prize in literature in 1950, a time when the world lived with a growing fear of nuclear holocaust. “There are no longer problems of the spirit,” he said then. “There is only the question: When will I be blown up?” He encouraged the young writers of his day to forget “anything but the old verities and truths of the heart, the old universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed””love and honor and

October 29, 2011

Christian Standard

You Must Read This . . . Recognizing Leadership Potential

By Mandy Smith The Contrarian”s Guide to Leadership Stephen B. Sample San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003 It seems the church is ready for some contrary thinking on leadership, not for the sake of being contrary, but to challenge assumptions that may not be scriptural or right for our era. Consider several examples: “¢ Rex Miller explains that for the past 60 years, organizations have rewarded “skills like persuasion, a high-profile image, innovation, risk taking . . . leaps up the success ladder, interpersonal skills, the ability to think on one”s feet, and so forth. . . . But congregants in the

October 29, 2011

Christian Standard

You Must Read This . . . Looking Afresh at “The Least”

By Brian Mavis Same Kind of Different as Me Ron Hall and Denver Moore Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006 I gravitate toward “heady” books, but if you want a book to make your heart smart, read Same Kind of Different as Me. It is the true story of three uncommon friends, Ron and Deborah Hall and Denver Moore. The Halls are white millionaires, and Moore is a homeless black man. The book alternates between the perspective of Ron Hall and Moore as they tell their inspiring story of enduring tragedy, repenting from prejudices, and forging an authentic friendship. And really, it”s

October 28, 2011

Christian Standard

You Must Read This . . . Contemplating the Image of Christ

By Patricia Magness Silence Shusaku Endo (translated into English by William Johnston in 1969) Marlboro: Taplinger Publishing, 1980 “Everyone should read this book!” was the emphatic conclusion of class discussion””not coming from the professor, but from a student. The rest of the class agreed, and someone added, “It is painful, but it has changed me.” The comments were like an echo of the very words I had spoken when I finished the book. And each person who reads this book on my recommendation thanks me, even if the thanks is accompanied by tears. Silence, by Japanese Christian writer Shusaku Endo,

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