Film in review: “John Carter”
“John Carter” is a sci-fi movie that brings to the big screen a very old novel.
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Film in review: “Wanderlust”
The premise of “Wanderlust” is fairly believable, on the face of it: not-so-young-anymore couple, George and Linda (Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston), suddenly finds themselves jobless, and now they can’t afford to pay their bills.
Film in review: “Silent House”
“Silent House” is of interest because of style points. The whole 85 minutes was done in one “take.” No cuts, no editing, no “tightening” of the scenes, no excess footage on the cutting-room floor.
Film in review: “Friends With Kids”
“Friends With Kids” is one of those ensemble comedies that follow the awkward antics of a set of four couple-friends through marriage and early childhood.
Film in review: “Being Flynn”
Here’s an unguarded generalization: one of the issues in every man’s life is the relationship with his father. And, of course, every man’s relationship with his father is different from every other man’s, so there are few rules, and every man’s relationship with his father evolves over time, so the way is fraught with unseen perils.
Film in review: “Act of Valor”
If you were going to make a promo film about the ideal life of a military strike team, this would be it.
Pakistan vows to support religious minorities’ rights
Presbyterian leaders oppose rush to war with Iran
South Sudanese face deadline to leave the north
Peace train: Colombian pastor’s non-violent conflict resolution program goes global
BogotÁ (PNS) What began as a coincidental nonviolence training session has blossomed into a vocational passion for one pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.
When life tumbles in
Lousville -- I was expecting February to be a typical month in the life of the Moderator of the General Assembly: visits to Riverside and Northern Waters Presbyteries, meetings in Louisville of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Mission Council, and the NEXT Church conference in Dallas.
A core story for all people
Iran, Russia and the end times
Film in review: “Undefeated”
As a documentary, "Undefeated" is compelling because it seems so honest and down-to-earth. Bill Courtney, a successful small-business owner in North Memphis, has a wife and four kids and lives in an affluent (white) suburb. Nothing unusual there.
Film in review: “In Darkness”
This one was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign film. It’s “Schindler’s List” in the sewer. Literally. A Polish sewer maintenance man hides some Jews in the sewer underneath the city of Lvov while it was occupied by the Nazis during World War II.
Presbyterian leader George Telford dies at 78; Pastor, theologian was active in Presbyterian reunion efforts
The Rev. George B. Telford, a leader in the Presbyterian Church before and after reunion, died Feb. 28 after a battle with pancreatic metastatic cancer. He was 78.
The changing face of camp & conference ministry
Camp and conference centers in the PC(USA) continue to play a vital and expanding role in the denomination. They provide and support Christian education, disciple-making, young adult leadership, congregational support, retreats of all varieties, evangelism and outreach.
Conference center doubles as animal rescue facility
W ith dollars being hard to come by and congregations and presbyteries feeling the pinch, many Presbyterian camps and conference centers are in a season of re-evaluation. Some have closed, and some are reconfiguring to diversify and firm up their financial base.
Beyond the box
T
he book was published 10 years ago. The traveling show — presenting full-day seminars on the subject by the authors Bill Easum and Dave Travis — circled the country around that time, too. And a big impact was made, if only by putting the title in front of the church: “Beyond the Box.”
Compass Points certification program for camp and conference leaders
The Compass Points Certification Program was developed by the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA) in partnership with Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga.
Proposal would ‘hit the reset button,’ allow non-geographic presbyteries
DALLAS
The General Assembly Mid-Councils Commission has voted 15-5 to permit non-geographic, “provisional presbyteries” as part of a “designated season of reflective experimentation” in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
MCC calls for initiatives on agencies, ethnic ministry
The General Assembly Mid-Councils Commission is calling for reviews of the denomination’s top-level agencies and its racial ethnic ministry.
Work all four doors
You know about the front door, the one painted red. But you have three other doors as well. If you work all four doors, your church will grow and thrive.
Let’s take these doors one by one:
The Other 80 Percent: Turning Your Church’s Spectators Into Active Participants
The Other 80 Percent: Turning Your Church’s Spectators Into Active Participants
by Scott Thumma and Warren Bird
Jossey-Bass (a Leadership Network publication). 256 pages
reviewed by ANDREW PLOUCHER
What about the inactive members? Where’d they go? If you’ve ever asked this question, deflected it during a tense session meeting or been frustrated with the challenges of developing a more active church membership, “The Other 80 Percent” is a must read.
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help
by Robert Lupton
HarperOne, San Francisco. 208 pages
reviewed by MIKE LITTLE
Can our charitable efforts to help the poor actually harm the very people we set out to help? In his most recent book, “Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help,” Robert Lupton contends the answer is unequivocally “yes.” In fact, he believes the harmful consequences of our charitable work are a national scandal.
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