Category Archives: Index

Dealing with Tough Financial Times: Money, Morale & Momentum, Part 2

The next 3 points from Mark Driscoll’s advice on coping with the recession — 4. Fairness When financial cuts need to be made, don’t subscribe to fairness and make cuts across the board and across all ministries and staff members. … Continue reading

Posted in Church Finances and Business, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Future of the Progressive Churches of Christ: Shrinking Congregations, Part 1

It’s been an interesting week. I spent Tuesday meeting with Todd Deaver, Phil Sanders, and Greg Tidwell planning our GraceConversation dialogue. Toward the end of our meeting, Greg described how many Churches of Christ that have added an instrumental service … Continue reading

Posted in The Future of the Progressive Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | Tagged | 25 Comments

Dealing with Tough Financial Times: Money, Morale & Momentum, Part 1

My congregation’s giving is under budget. Tuscaloosa is actually much better off than many communities. I imagine there are many churches in near-desperate circumstances. And so I thought I’d share some financial advice from Mark Driscoll, at Seattle’s Mars Hill … Continue reading

Posted in Church Finances and Business, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Instrumental Music: A Question About Transitions

In a recent Christian Chronicle article, it was noted that Churches of Christ in the United States had elected to omit 21 congregations that have added an instrumental worship service, but several other congregations with instrumental services had been included … Continue reading

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Announcing GraceConversation.com

I’m beat. I just drove to Nashville and back today — nearly 4 hours each way — to meet with Todd Deaver, Phil Sanders, and Greg Tidwell to plan an online conversation about grace. It’ll take place at graceconversation.com starting … Continue reading

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An Email About Grace and Divorce (Help from the Readers Needed)

I get emails. This is from a divorced and remarried couple who are being treated as second-class Christians in their home church. Hi We attend a [conservative, non-Church of Christ] church. My husband and I have been married for 27 … Continue reading

Posted in Divorce and Remarriage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

How to Argue Like a Christian: Answering

Now, the second-most common problem I observe in Christian discussion groups is the failure of one side to finish the conversation. For me, the common pattern is: a conservative Christian announces that progressives have no well-defined theology of when someone … Continue reading

Posted in How to Argue Like a Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged | 17 Comments

How to Argue Like a Christian: Listening

I follow a number of Church of Christ internet forums. I don’t have the time to participate as I once did, but I do enjoy seeing what people find interesting or controversial – and I pitch in now and then. … Continue reading

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Email Regarding Divorced Elders

I get emails — Fundamentally, I believe we have dealt with families who have come to us with divorce in their background in a manner similar to what you suggest in your summary list on MDR. That is, we have … Continue reading

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | Tagged | 21 Comments

New Commentary on Hebrews by Edward Fudge

I’ve just finished reading an advance copy of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today, by Edward Fudge. Most readers will be familiar with Br. Fudge, who occasionally comments here and authors the popular GracEmails. Edward has using the Internet to teach … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged | 6 Comments