by social@thebtscenter.org | Jun 30, 2016 | 21stCenturyCulture, 21stCenturyMinistry, Bearings Review
Gertrude and Lloyd were members of a church I served for 25 years. They were both in their 80s, and though they made it to Sunday worship once in a while, they were part of that catch-all category of “shut-ins” who received pastoral visits from time to time. During...
by social@thebtscenter.org | Jun 23, 2016 | 21stCenturyCulture, 21stCenturyMission
Recently, I was at a missions event at a conservative Christian university. There, I met a white missionary who had been working in India. As we talked, he spoke patronizingly of the Hindu temple and the many gods displayed. So I took out my phone and Tweeted: An...
by social@thebtscenter.org | Jun 16, 2016 | 21stCenturyMinistry
Like many Americans, I still am reeling from last Sunday’s shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. I am haunted by the death and destruction that separated 2 AM’s celebratory last call from 5 AM’s bloody wakeup call. Three hours. 180 minutes. Forty-nine individuals...
by social@thebtscenter.org | Jun 10, 2016 | 21stCenturyBible, 21stCenturyMinistry, 21stCenturySpirituality, Bearings Review 2016
Jesus could be a real jerk sometimes. I’m not referring here to the times he got angry (John 2:13-17), cynical (Matthew 21:18-22), or sarcastic (Mark 12:18-27) with people. I’m talking about the times Jesus was just plain mean to them. Case in point: the Canaanite...
by social@thebtscenter.org | Jun 3, 2016 | 21stCenturyMinistry, Bearings Review 2016, ChurchChange
“So,” I said, “what I reckon it all comes down to is, how can I preach if I don’t have any answers?” “Yes, Mr. Crow,” he said, “How can you?” … “I don’t believe I can,” I said, and I felt my skin turn cold, for I had not even thought that until then. He said, “No, I...
