This is a continuation from The Scopes Trial and the Birth of a Divide The Scopes Trial Revisited In 1925, a courtroom in a small Tennessee town drew the attention of the entire country. John Scopes had been accused of violating state law by teaching...
THE QUIET SHIFT IN GENEROSITY How Gen X approaches generosity differently and why that matters for the future of ministry Let me begin with a bit more candor than I typically use. The strategies that worked with Boomer donors are not producing the same response from...
I just got new glasses—and they’re driving me crazy. My most recent trip to the eye doctor showed little change in my prescription—just a tweak—so I splurged and ordered two pairs of stylish new frames (approved by my daughter). I was so excited when I...
PART 2 - HISTORY OF BAM: EARLY FIGURES & BIBLICAL CONTEXT This is part 2 of 2 in a “History of BAM” series. Click here for Part 1. When you read the headline “early figures” of BAM, you might think 20 years ago, maybe even 50 years ago. BAM is not...
Somewhere in the World One of my favorite stories in my faith journey begins with my praying momma. In 1985, Christian artist Wayne Watson released a song called Somewhere in the World. One lyric especially captured my mom’s heart: “And I don’t even know her...
For days the discussions stretched late into the night. Drafts were written, revised, and intently analyzed. Words were chosen carefully. Diverse opinions had to be honored. Intense discussions arose from every corner of the room. Their decision here would pave the...
In the summer of 1925, a small courtroom in Dayton, Tennessee became the stage for one of the most consequential legal and cultural confrontations in American history. A high school biology teacher, John T. Scopes, was charged with violating Tennessee’s Butler...
A few years ago, I spoke at a faith-and-work event here in Indianapolis. It was a day-long gathering filled with popular speakers talking about God’s work through the business world—tech CEOs, entrepreneurs, sports personalities…and me. I had 13 minutes to talk about...
I found myself in a recent conversation that felt heavier than I expected. It started casually. Coffee. Catching up. A friend talking about faith, culture, and the state of the world. At some point, the word radical came up. He said Christianity was supposed to be...
A couple of months back, my wife and I were enjoying a rare, peaceful midweek moment in the living room, most likely running on fumes after a full day of teaching preschoolers for my wife and chasing the rush of everyday life. In walked our 17-year-old son, RJ, the...
Most Christians assume their work is secular. These three marketplace believers prove that the sacred-secular divide was never real to begin with.
Your Work Is Holy Ground: The Biblical Case Against the Sacred-Secular Divide The sacred-secular divide has shaped how Christians think about work and calling for nearly a century. Here is where it came from and the theology that tears it down. The Guilt Most...
The Question Most Pastors Are Afraid to Ask Where does your church go on Monday morning? For most congregations, Sunday is the only moment pastors can account for. The rest of the week, their people scatter into offices, hospitals, construction sites, courtrooms,...