Plenty of people like to play with puppets, in fact, you could say most people love puppets.  But on the other hand, no one really loves you if you are a living puppet.  No one wears a tag like in the picture above saying, “I’m a puppet,” still, […]

Sadly, it looks like 2014 might be remembered mostly for its combination of painful events: Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson MO and Eric Garner’s death in NY, plus the ensuing riots/peaceful protests that followed their Grand Jury decisions.  We won’t easily forget the multiple beheadings of innocent people by ISIS, or the continued unrest in […]

When I was a student at Harding in the late 90’s, our Bible professors were certain “women’s roles” would usher in the next big split in the churches of Christ — before the turn of the century they predicted.  It would be like 1906, and the census report by David Lipscomb.  Only now, they said, […]

Religion column for Timesnews 11/21/14 Have you seen the recent youtube video featuring Boyd Bushman?  Bushman supposedly was a retired Lockheed Martin research engineer with insider access to the infamous Area 51.  His “deathbed” confession exposes intimate details of aliens from the planet Quintonia.  According to Bushman, a handful of these intergalactic travelers (who live […]

“Slow Church” IVP publishing, 2014 I had never heard of either C. Christopher Smith or John Pattison, the coauthors of “Slow Church,” and I’m guessing you haven’t either.  They aren’t Seminary professors or famous church growth gurus. Yet, they are insightful writers with a timely message.  As the title suggests, this isn’t a book with […]

My own standing desk After reading a few good posts on the health benefits of using a standing desk, and the dangers of sitting for several hours at a desk, I build my own standing desk.  It took me less than a 1/2 hour to put together.  I found a piece of shelving board out […]

(No plot spoilers planned here) Few trailers get me choked up, but the trailer for Interstellar did; that’s why I had to see Interstellar.  I’m not really a huge Matthew McConaughey fan, but that might be changing.   Last night Tammy and I arrived at the theater about 30 minutes early so we could get […]

It’s hard to estimate how many articles, books, and blog posts I’ve read concerning the topic of “why” children abandon church as they transition into adulthood.  People blame culture/peer-pressure, lack of quality youth programs, and the irrelevance of the modern consumer-driven church.  I have a sneaking suspicion the real reason is closer to home. Each […]

(Last Friday’s column, 8/29/14) I have a confession, in over 20 years of ministry, I’ve never preached on gluttony.  It’s not that I’m opposed to being fit, nor am I ignorant on the dangers of gluttony.  By the way, how many sermons have you heard about gluttony…? For most of my adult life I’ve been […]

Several social media sites have similar images, as the one above.  What’s up with the hashtag: #NoIceBucketChallenge? My wife accepted the #ALS ice bucket challenge, and “called out” a few of her friends.  I’ve been called out a few times, and though you are supposed to do the challenge in 24 hours, I’m sure I will, […]