Seeing the elephant: A war story
Veteran Chris Bell shares his writing.
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Mnemonic devices and the desires of our hearts
When I was a child, our Sunday school was large enough to have six separate classes for children in the primary grades:..
Welcome to Groundhog Day 2020
Being a pastor during this pandemic feels something like the life of Bill Murray’s cynical weatherman character, Phil Conners, in the classic..
Presbyterians respond to gun violence
LOUISVILLE – How are Presbyterians involved in responding to gun violence? Next June, when the General Assembly convenes in Baltimore, gun violence..
Gun violence: Pastoral reflections from a parent
April 20, 1999. I had been out of high school for almost a year when the country stood stunned at what unfolded..
The speaking gun
While preaching from the Gospel of Mark, Brian K. Blount, president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, used a word in his sermon to..
The manifold tools and skills of Pastor Barbie
When I was a young girl, I absolutely loved playing with my Barbie dolls. I loved dressing them and playing out different..
We are better than this
I am sitting in a cozy café in Washington, D.C. Seated at the table beside me are two elementary school age children..
Climate change and the impact on the Louisiana bayou
(OGA) Descendants of the Biloxi, Choctaw, and Chitimacha tribes in Louisiana find themselves at a crossroads, thanks to the corporate quest for..
Start with high intensity workouts, finish with prayer
APEX, N.C. (RNS) — On a Tuesday evening under the roof of a public picnic shelter, a group of women ages 20..
Let it dwell
The writer of Colossians is a bit of a genius. I don’t know that he always gets the credit he deserves. His..
Managing secrets maturely: Family systems theory for church leaders
Every pastor faces the constant challenge of how to handle personal and congregational “secrets.” Because of the unique relational nature of..
Navigating the wilderness: Commission plans how to lead, communicate, engage relationships across denomination
LOUISVILLE – The Moving Forward Implementation Commission is starting to drill down into the work before it – trying to keep on..
Robust church rising
We are all tired of it. We are tired of the handwringing, blaming, wailing and general angst over the demise of church-as-we-have-known-it...
The good in people
Fatigue creeps into her face. The school year has kicked into high gear with little or no ramp-up time. Advanced Placement classes..
‘Connecting the dots’ between faith and climate change
LOS ANGELES (RNS) —Tackling issues like climate change or protecting the environment often requires a lot of boring, behind-the-scenes work, far from..
MRTI directed to continue policy of corporate engagement for now, companies added to short-list for divestment in 2020
ST. LOUIS – No divestment today. On June 22, the 223rdGeneral Assembly elected (with a vote of 409 in favor and 106..
Planetary Solidarity: Global Women’s Voices on Christian Doctrine and Climate Justice
Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Hilda P. Koster, editors Fortress Press, 392 pages Reviewed by Cynthia Holder Rich “Planetary Solidarity” is a rich..
Religious leaders call for prayer and action following Florida school shooting
(RNS) — “A child of God is dead.” That message came Wednesday (Feb. 14) not from a religious leader, but from CNN..
Remaining together in Russia
What comes to mind when you hear Russia? Do you think of the tsars: Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Catherine the..
Good culture: Hadara in the Middle East
by Scott Parker Hadara means “good culture;” it refers to something that’s a positive influence on the community. Education, for example, is..
Hard rain
The people of South Carolina October 2015 A hard rain on dry ground, grief in torrents whelms and washes away all..
Presbyterian Mission Agency Board confronts financial realities
There are hints that serious budget difficulty is looming for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Marilyn Gamm, chair of the Presbyterian Mission Agency..
Beneath the Skin (Of Monsters and Men)
Beneath the Skin Of Monsters and Men (2015) Republic Records If there's a common thread between most of the recent music that's..
‘Responding to School Violence’ conference expands healing camp ministry
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (PNS) Layers of beauty are in the air. The kind you expect, and the kind you don’t—which runs deep, taking..